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]

[He turns to look, admiring the mirrored surface of the lake, barely moving the further they got from the shore.]

Oui. Zhat ees where we are going?

[sentryslinger]

That's right. And if we're real quiet gettin' out there, we might be able to wrangle in whatever's livin' it in.

[not_onyourside]

Won't we just get tangled wez eet?

[He looks over the edge of the boat, trying to see below the surface without much luck. Who knew what kinds of things lived at the bottom of lakes.]

[sentryslinger]

Not if we're careful.

[The water reflects the sunlight and looks pretty on the surface, but beneath it is a muddy mess. Just how Engineer likes when he's fishing.

A little bit more rowing and they drift over to the log. Perfect. Tucking the oars into the boat, Engie grabs the nearest pole and reaches under his seat for the pail beneath it. This one, unlike the one that has their drinks in it, has worms.]

I'm expectin' this is somethin' best left to me, isn't it?

[not_onyourside]

[The boat lightly comes to rest against the log, holding them in place. Spy is briefly distracted by a small turtle that is sunning itself on it, reaching over to poke its feet so they get sucked into the shell and grinning.

Spy grimaces at the worms, wondering if he has the stomach to skewer one alive on a hook.]

Where did you even get worms zhat big?

[No he doesn't want to touch one.]

[sentryslinger]

You'd be surprised what you can find in the mud if you look.

[He laughs, hooking the worm and passing the rod over to Spy before digging out one for himself.]

There's a bait shop down the road. Got these little fellas from there.

[not_onyourside]

I am sure you are shocked, but I never go digging zhrough mud to see what ees een eet.

[He holds the rod, gripping the line so he can see the worm wriggling on it.]

Zhis seems cruel.

[sentryslinger]

It's how you catch the good ones. I'd have gotten us some lures, but I was actually hopin' to catch something big enough to eat.

[not_onyourside]

Alright.

[he tries to not imagine the worm is wriggling because it's in horrible agony and instead turns to the side of the boat.]

Now what do I do?

[sentryslinger]

[He takes his own rod in hand.]

You're going to want to hold your rod like this and cast. Watch.

[With a precise flick of his wrist, his bait goes flying, landing with a watery plunk far out in the lake.]

Don't swing too hard, now- don't want that hook in my eye.

[not_onyourside]

[He has no idea what Engineer just did. It seems the hook just flew off into the distance by magic.]

I -- what?

[He adjusts his hands to be in the right position just like Engie's are.]

[sentryslinger]

Here.

[Setting his rod down and propping it under his perch, he leans over to Spy and adjusts his hands on the rod, pushing his index finger over the line.]

You're gonna want to flick your wrist. Bring the end of the rod up over your head, then let go of the line when you're bringin' it down.

[not_onyourside]

Right. Very well.

[He does as instructed, but tentatively, clearly expecting the hook and the worm to somehow get embedded in his head. The hook plops into the water about half a meter away. Spy frowns.]

[sentryslinger]

Let go a bit soon there. Just reel it in and try again.

[not_onyourside]

[At least that part he can do without instruction, reeling it back in and silently breathing a word of thanks that it didn't get caught on the log. Or dredge up a boot.

He diligently puts his hands back in the proper position, flicking the line over his head and sending it sailing a good distance from the boat. It's not as far as Engineer's, but at least he didn't get their lines crossed.]

Like zhat?

[sentryslinger]

Perfect.

He grabs the bag of baked goods.]

Now we wait.

[not_onyourside]

How do I know eef I have a fish?

[He wedges the fishing rod in between his seat and the edge of the boat.]

[sentryslinger]

You'll see the string start pullin'. Got to react quick when it happens, but I expect we'll have to wait at least a little while. That's why we went ahead and got breakfast.

[He offers the bag to Spy.]

[not_onyourside]

[ Spy fishes out a sprinkled doughnut, watching his fishing rod while he munches. ]

And zhen I just reel eet een?

[sentryslinger]

We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, just enjoy the peace and quiet.

[not_onyourside]

[ Peace and quiet is not something Spy often stops to appreciate. He sits back in the boat, finishing off his doughnut and watching the turtle swiftly swim away from them.

It really is beautiful out there. His eyes keep coming back to the fishing rod though, waiting for something to happen.]

[sentryslinger]

[With the chaos both on and off the battlefield, Engineer doesn't get as much time to relax as he'd like, either. He's happy to take in the view and enjoy the serenity around them, though he does look to the clouds that are rolling in on the horizon- they're not blocking the sun yet, but it won't be long before they do.

He's not bothering watching his pole, though he notices Spy is.]

A watched pot never boils, Spy.

[not_onyourside]

Zhat ees entirely untrue.

[But he understood the sentiment, trying to look elsewhere. Fortunately he was easily distracted, watching some dragonflies skimming the surface of the water without leaving any ripples.]

Maybe zhe fish are still sleeping.

[sentryslinger]

They might be. The rain oughtta wake 'em up, though.

[not_onyourside]

[ He glares up at the sky, silently scolding it for possibly getting him wet. ]

Ees rain good or bad for fishing? Will zhey all just run away and hide?