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

[sentryslinger]

I am, but fraternizin' with the enemy is another story.

[not_onyourside]

A story I am glad to help you tell.

[He fixes Engineer with one of his most charming smiles.]

[sentryslinger]

[Engie hisses in response to that smile.]

And what kind of story would you tell them that wouldn't get us skinned alive?

[not_onyourside]

[Well that's not the response he was hoping for.]

I can be very convincing when I mean to be. Persuasiveness ees one of my strong points.

[sentryslinger]

And I'm sure they know that and would see right through it.

[not_onyourside]

How cruelly you underestimate me.

[sentryslinger]

[He sighs, frowning.]

Sorry, partner. I guess I just get on edge when I think about gettin' caught doin' something like this. I'm not used to sneakin' around like you are, doin' anything and everything that ain't on their agenda.

[not_onyourside]

What do you zhink zhey would do to you? You are far more valuable to zhe company zhan I am.

[sentryslinger]

It's not me they might do somethin' to, you know. Some of us have families outside of this work. Lives.

[He stops himself there, realizing that's probably not good territory to wander into with Spy.]

[not_onyourside]

[He lowers his eyes to the table.]

Ah. Yes of course.

[Not that that was a problem for Spy anymore.]

Zhough considering you were going to spend our holiday fixing zhe base, eet seems you do not have much of a life outside of work.

[sentryslinger]

[Engie is quiet, his eyes avoiding Spy as a waitress makes her way over to them to order. He's just getting something simple: a burger, a drink, something to drown his uncertainty in.

Spy is right, and he knows it.]

[not_onyourside]

[Spy resists ordering nothing but milkshakes and malts and ice cream, but don't think he hadn't considered it. Vanilla malt and a cheeseburger for him.]

Maybe you should change zhat.

[sentryslinger]

[Still not looking at you, Spy.]

I'm here with you, aren't I?

[not_onyourside]

Zhen you are off to a grand start.

[He smiles at Engie even though the builder seems to have found the surface of the table absolutely fascinating.]

Zhere ees still time to live a little, you are still young.

[sentryslinger]

[My, that is a fascinating spot on the table, isn't it? He finally does bring his eyes up to Spy, giving his companion a rueful smile.]

I suppose we should live while we can, since neither of us is probably going to live as long as we should.

[And just in time, the waitress returns with their drinks, leaving them at the table and promising their food will be ready soon. Engineer waits for her to depart before picking up his glass and offering it up for a toast.]

Here's to us and the unfortunate career that got us here. Though it might end badly, at least the company's good.

[not_onyourside]

I will drink to zhat.

[He raises his milkshake.]

And to many more holidays.

[sentryslinger]

[He clinks his glass against Spy's milkshake and takes a long drink, setting it back on the table once it's half-empty.]

And this one is just about over. Guess I'll have to start puttin' in work on the next one, as promised.

[not_onyourside]

I am holding you to zhat.

Zhough zhis company ees stingy wez zheir holidays. Eets almost as eef zhey forget we are people who would like to do zhings ozzer zhan blow each ozzer to pieces daily.

[sentryslinger]

I'm not sure exactly what kind of people we are anymore. We're not what some would consider human at this point, I'll tell you that.

[not_onyourside]

Non... No we are not.

But I believe we all can be again. Eet would take some work, but eet could happen.

[sentryslinger]

What kind of work are you thinking?

[not_onyourside]

Not shooting anyone for a day seems like a fine start.

I have not given a great deal of zhought eento reintegrating people like Demo or Soldier eento society, but I am sure somezzing can be done.

Scout would be easier. And Heavy, even eef he does have a bed for his gun.

[And he's not even going to consider Pyro or Medic.]

[sentryslinger]

I don't think some of us can recover from the scars we've gotten from this line of work, though. And some of us just ain't fit for the world at all.

[Well, someone had to consider Pyro and Medic.]

[not_onyourside]

Zhere should be a Team Fortress Industries home for wayward mercenaries. Where people such as Soldier can be kept safe from society and live out zheir retirement een peace and tranquility.

Which for him means a rocket shooting range een zhe back.

[sentryslinger]

There should be, but it's more economical to just kill us.