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]

No, our work brings trouble. We just stand by and let eet.

[sentryslinger]

It might as well be us bringin' it, then.

[The doors open to the lobby, but Engineer waits for Spy before exiting the elevator.]

The point is that I'd rather just let the folks unfortunate enough to live by the bases be. With as often as I get moved, chances are I wouldn't be around long enough to fix whatever mess I'd made.

[not_onyourside]

Zhat ees a dismal outlook for someone who ees a solver of problems.

I cannot argue wez zhe logic zhough. I suppose all zhe more reason I shall have to take you on holiday more.

[sentryslinger]

We mercenaries will have to keep each other company. Kind of hard when I get moved around all the time, still. I'd be happy if they just let me be at one base for more than a month or two.

[not_onyourside]

Have you zhought about putting een a request? Just word eet een a way where eet would be hard for zhem to refuse. Such as you zhink you could create an even more powerful machine eef you were stationed a particular base wez a certain natural resource and were uninterrupted for a while.

[sentryslinger]

[There's another smile.]

That's not a bad idea, Spy. The worst they can do is say no, right?

[not_onyourside]

And probably still give you what you ask for. Really you win eizzer way.

[sentryslinger]

Just got to pick a base that'd be plausible for my request. Preferably not Frontier. I don't think I can take pushin' that train another day.

[not_onyourside]

Ees zhere a reason zhe train cannot push eetself?

[He's not a mechanical wizard like Engie, but he's pretty sure that's how trains work.]

I am partial to zhis base zhat's by me. For convenience of weekend excursions.

[sentryslinger]

Can't say I'd complain about that, granted ya don't sneak up on me.

The base I'm at right now ain't bad, but let's see if I can't get myself into Double Cross.

[not_onyourside]

I make no promises mon ami.

[He takes the path off the sidewalk leading to the beach.]

I am not sure what you can say you need about Double Cross. Unless being able to drop your inventions off of a very high bridge is critical to your work.

[sentryslinger]

I'm sure I could think of some reason that'd sound believable. Maybe something involving the mountain wind that passes through the gorge, and how it can be used as a source of power.

[He follows along, the gears in his head going a mile a minute. You might have lost him, Spy.]

There's a river nearby too, as I recall, one that runs near a few bases. Something about harnessing that might land me at one of those rather than Double Cross.

[not_onyourside]

Could zhat power your machines?

[he has a feeling.]

[sentryslinger]

Yeah. Maybe I could use the river to power an entire base, along with the security system to go along with it. Somethin' real fancy and automated, that might...

[And he trails off.]

You know, on second thought, maybe I oughtta look into a base that's near Double Cross rather than Double Cross itself.

[not_onyourside]

Eef zhat keeps you from filling me wez holes zhan I am een favour of eet.

Also I would be required to break all your precious machines.

[sentryslinger]

Not that I think two mercenaries like us couldn't do our jobs, but it might be a conflict of interest.

[He tries to say that so casually, but his brow knits together. Yes, it absolutely would be a conflict of interest for him.]

[not_onyourside]

Eet would be a shame to ruin so many suits.

[And he'd feel bad stabbing Engineer. He doesn't want that.]

But zhere are many bases nearby where you could maintain your experiments and I could remain upright and alive.

[sentryslinger]

There are. At least I've got plenty to think about when I get home.

[Like how this friendship thing is probably a bad idea that's going to get them both killed, and how people like Sniper might have the right idea by practicing distance. Not everyone can live like that, though. People are social creatures some more so than others. Some would rather be dead than alone with their conscience for too long.

He casts his eyes past the shoreline to the water, his mind turning too hard on this subject. It's the hardest machine to shut down.]

[not_onyourside]

All right, zhat's enough of zhat.

[He puts his arm around Engie's shoulder, gently shaking him.]

Focus on zhe here and now.

[sentryslinger]

[He gives Spy a small smile, trying to assure him that he's all right.]

I know, I know. I can't help but get wrapped up in my own head sometimes.

[Or a lot of the time. He is a thinker, after all.]

[not_onyourside]

As long as you remember to come out from eenside your head and revisit society occasionally.

[sentryslinger]

I will. I just might need you to remind me on occasion.

[He looks out over the lake, stooping to pick up a rock. Spoiler: he's good at skipping them, as he demonstrates.]

[not_onyourside]

Zhat ees what I am here for.

[He raises an eyebrow, impressed.]

At least some skills never fade.

[sentryslinger]

What? Oh, that.

[He picks up two more, offering one to Spy.]

[not_onyourside]

Oui zhat.

[He turns it over in his hand before flicking his wrist and sending it skimming over the surface of the lake.]