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]

[There's a stirring under those blankets -- looks like he's trying to find a way out. His good hand emerges first, feeling around on the nightstand for the Gunslinger.]

Think I got tangled up somewhere in the night.

[Or at least that's what it sounds like he's saying, his voice muffled from the blanket.]

[not_onyourside]

[ Spy just smiles and goes over to unroll him. ]

You sleep like you are dead mon ami.

[sentryslinger]

Got to make up for those nights when I don't sleep at all.

[He manages to escape his cocoon, taking in a deep breath of the morning air when he does. It's a good thing he keeps his head shaved, or he'd have an awful case of bed head.]

What time is it?

[not_onyourside]

A little after nine.

Would you care for some tea?

[Spy on the other hand looks like he just stepped off a fancy yacht.]

[sentryslinger]

[So Engineer has noticed.]

Not me, thank you. I'm more of a coffee man in the morning.

[He peels himself from his bed, reattaching his Gunslinger and stretching. He's still wearing just those boxers, by the way.]

You did get some sleep, didn'tcha?

[not_onyourside]

I certainly did.

[With visions of those boxers dancing through his head.]

I have not been awake for more zhan an hour. Zhe rain has actually just stopped and I have been trying to savour as much of zhe view as possible before we leave.

[sentryslinger]

I assume we're checkin' out soon?

[not_onyourside]

We do not need to be out until noon. Perhaps we can take one last walk around zhe lake before we leave.

[sentryslinger]

I think I'd like that.

[Another stretch, and his back cracks. Ah, that felt good.]

Guess I oughtta put on some clothes.

[To the suitcase he goes.]

[not_onyourside]

I suppose.

[Insert wistful sighing here.]

Eet seems we shall have zhe lake to ourselves, most everyone must have left early zhis morning.

[sentryslinger]

It oughtta be nice and quiet for the two of us, then.

[Ah, his options: dress pants, more overalls, or a pair of slacks he barely remembers owning -- someone must have found them when packing his suitcase for him.

He slides into those, grabbing a button-up shirt and undershirt while he's at it.]

We'll have to save that kite-flying you wanted to do for another trip. Probably best to do that in a place where storms don't sneak up on ya.

[not_onyourside]

Oui, I would prefer not to be incinerated while flying a kite.

[He gathers all his clothes and personal items, packing up his suitcase to be ready to leave.]

I am glad zhis was a success and I was able to convince you to come. Eet would not have been as good of a Holiday wezzout company.

[sentryslinger]

That's assumin' you'd have come at all without me. I think I've figured out why you wouldn't, though.

[not_onyourside]

Oh really?

Do tell me about me zhen.

[He grins.]

[sentryslinger]

Well, you've said before that comin' out here alone wouldn't be appealing to you, and you even dismissed the idea of havin' just a night with some pretty young thing.

[He starts on the bottom buttons of that shirt, working on them as he works out his theory.]

So gettin' away for a vacation ain't the point, and it never was. You said yourself that if I hadn't come, you might've just canceled the reservation and stayed home.

[not_onyourside]

You are deceptively attentive.

[ That might be too close for comfort. Thats what he gets for letting his guard down. ]

But you are correct. Zhe point was to get you off base and to remember how to relax and have fun.

[sentryslinger]

Which you mentioned a couple of times yourself.

[He turns from Spy, looking out the window as he continues on those buttons.]

But why you'd go and do all that for a man you've only dealt with on the battlefield and in a blizzard was beyond me, so I got to thinkin' of why. I'm not sayin' you aren't all that altruistic, but puttin' yourself out there like that -- riskin' your life by fraternizing with the enemy, even if we aren't at the same base and are off-duty -- doesn't seem like a thing any of us would do.

So I start askin' myself this: what is it you get from all this?

[not_onyourside]

A respite from crushing lonliness. Someone to converse wez. And time away from zhe base for myself.

Even I sometimes forget how to relax.

[sentryslinger]

That's one conclusion I came to. Another was that maybe you saw somethin' in me that you see in yourself. You want to help even if you don't know how. You want to do what you can to defy the people who own us now, even if it is somethin' as simple as a vacation with the enemy.

It makes ya feel like you're still alive, don't it?

[not_onyourside]

Makes me feel dangerous, oui.

[He grins.]

How about you? How are you feeling about your brush wez zhe law?

[sentryslinger]

I can't say I am. I can't say I haven't enjoyed this, though. I did need it.

[He glances back at Spy.]

Well? Was I close?

[not_onyourside]

Indeed you did.

[He has a private smile to himself. Engie was very observant, except for one glaring exception.]

You are shockingly accurate. Do you feel better now zhat you have solved zhe mystery?

[sentryslinger]

A little. I get the feelin' there's more to you than that, but some things I can't solve on my own. I'm not gonna figure out your real name without a hint, I'll tell you that.

[He turns back to his companion, sliding into his shoes.]

[not_onyourside]

Well I must wezzhold some secrets oui? I am hardly a man of mystery eef I give everyzzing out on zhe first try.

[sentryslinger]

[He chuckles.]

Fair enough, my friend. Fair enough.

[He gets back to his feet.]

Ready for that walk?