Vacationing

[sentryslinger]

[Continuing this thread, in which Spy has convinced Engineer to spend a vacation with him. Fishing, fine dining, and some enemy bonding ensue.


Engineer steps into the elevator, hitting the button for their floor, pulling at his collar to loosen that next button.]

Hey, thanks again for the dinner and the suit. I'll have to put it to use some other time to justify your spendin' money on all this.

Comments

[not_onyourside]

I am not sure zhat body parts count een strip poker.

[sentryslinger]

That's probably because most people can't take 'em off like I can.

[Observe as he sets his cards down and does just that.]

[not_onyourside]

[ He is less than thrilled. ]

Does zhat hurt?

[sentryslinger]

[He puts it back on, trying not to grin at Spy's discomfort. He knows you don't like this, buddy.]

Nah, not anymore. It used to back when I first got it. I still get that ache sometimes, thinkin' my real hand is still there.

[not_onyourside]

[Instant Spy deterrent.]

Zhat sounds horrible.

[sentryslinger]

You get used to it. And it is a handy little contraption in the end.

[not_onyourside]

I would not get used to eet. You have. Eet ees different.

[sentryslinger]

I'm sure there are other things you've had to get used to for your job that I'd find less than ideal. Maybe like whatever it is that allows you Spies to hide so well behind enemy lines.

[not_onyourside]

[On cue Spy suddenly goes transparent.]

I zhink you would enjoy zhis a lot eef you knew how eet worked.

[Something he hopes Engie won't find out and then try to take him apart.]

[sentryslinger]

[You can practically see Engineer cringe in his seat, nervous purely through conditioning.]

You about to enlighten me on that?

[not_onyourside]

Non.

[Though it can't be seen, his grin is practically audible.]

I must keep some of my secrets.

[sentryslinger]

[Engineer shifts in his chair, his eyes still on the seat in front of him as he tries to perceive Spy from the thin air.]

I imagine the company wouldn't be too happy if you did. Not that you seem to care all that much what they think.

[not_onyourside]

I do not.

[ He poofs back into existence. ]

Een any case, I only barely understand how eet works, so I would have little to tell you.

[sentryslinger]

[The relief on his face is immediate. It'll be gone again the minute he looks at his cards and is reminded of all the nothing he has.]

It's got to have somethin' to do with that watch. I'm thinkin' there's an implant in you somewhere that it triggers remotely.

[not_onyourside]

Ees zhat so?

[ You're not getting anything out of him Engie. ]

[sentryslinger]

[Doesn't mean he can't take some educated guesses.]

That's how I figure. It'd be a little like the Mediguns and how they can trigger the implants in our hearts for that Ubercharge they do. It's got to be remote because I've seen you Spies remove your watches and change 'em out. I'm assumin' each one has different functions.

[not_onyourside]

You are getting warmer but still not close.

[ Instead of continuing to tell Engie he's on the right track he lays down his hand. His three of 7s isn't much, but he's hoping he won't be losing his watch and proving Engineer's point. ]

[sentryslinger]

[Engineer laughs ruefully. He has nothing in his hand, and he's about to have nothing on his body, either. He sets down his whole lot of nothing as he continues, his mind still turning over his hypotheses in his head excitedly. The alcohol helps.]

I would've thought they somehow harnessed the heart implants, but those watches don't have any effect on the rest of us, so it's gotta be somethin' they put in you Spies only. That invisibility doesn't make you invulnerable, so it ain't like the Ubercharge, and I'd think if your Medic was the one who put it in that there'd be a lot more invisible Medics on the field.

[not_onyourside]

Zhis really excites you does eet not?

I am not going to tell you how eet works, but eet has nozzing to do wez zhe heart implants. Nor Medics.

[sentryslinger]

[He rubs the back of his head with a sheepish grin.]

Guess it shows, huh? Can't really help but get excited over things like this. I've been like that ever since I was a kid, always wantin' to take things apart to see how they work.

Not that I'd take you apart or anything. That's more Medic's expertise.

[not_onyourside]

I would greatly prefer to not be taken apart. I am sure eet will not work anymore eef I am een pieces.

I must keep some secrets non?

[sentryslinger]

I suppose we all have to. I'll figure it out one of these days. Just got to give me enough late nights to work it out.

[not_onyourside]

And what will you do when you figure eet out?

[sentryslinger]

Have myself a congratulatory beer. I'll even save one for you.

[not_onyourside]

Zhat ees very kind of you.

I may even let you gloat about your victory.