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]

It is. Got to start somewhere.

[He glances to Spy.]

What about you?

[not_onyourside]

Me?

I know exactly what I want.

[He concentrates on the end of his cigarette instead of looking at anything in particular.]

[sentryslinger]

[He raises an eyebrow, waiting. When Spy doesn't seem to be continuing, he gives him a little nudge.]

And?

[not_onyourside]

I am a complex man wez very simple tastes.

I just want someone who will let me cook for zhem and keep me warm at nights. Zhe difficulty ees finding someone who does not mind what I am.

[Someone with overalls convenient for tugging around is a bonus.]

[sentryslinger]

You mean someone who won't mind that you're a mercenary? A hired gun?

[not_onyourside]

And a convicted felon. And a walking mass of scar tissue.

[sentryslinger]

You're also a considerate fella who tries to help people, even those he doesn't hardly know on occasion. You keep your word, and I can't say you aren't a determined man when you put your mind to something.

[not_onyourside]

I would not consider myself considerate, but I will accept zhat as a compliment.

[sentryslinger]

It was meant to be one. You could have left me to freeze in that blizzard, or turned me over to your teammates. Hell, ya could've just shot me the moment we got back to your base.

Instead, you went through a whole lotta trouble you had no need to go through, just to make sure I stayed in one piece. If that ain't considerate, at the very least, then I don't know what is.

[not_onyourside]

I would like to zhink I am not a monster. But... my zhanks Engineer.

I was simply returning zhe favour for not shooting me on sight or pulling your entry eento zhe building.

[sentryslinger]

You've got to start thinking higher of yourself, partner.

[not_onyourside]

I am a Spy. I hold myself een zhe highest regard.

[sentryslinger]

Not high enough to consider yourself considerate, though. Or to see what merits you've got under all those layers.

[not_onyourside]

Hmm.

[ Those don't fall under the categories of what makes a good Spy, so they don't count. ]

Perhaps. Often I am considering. ... ozzer attributes.

[sentryslinger]

Such as?

[not_onyourside]

My ability to steal zhings wezzout notice. I am fairly proud of zhat. How well I preform on zhe field. Zhose are zhe most common zhings I rate myself on.

[sentryslinger]

Well, while I'm learnin' to relax, maybe you oughtta take a few lessons in how to evaluate yourself.

[not_onyourside]

And you can teach me such zhings?

[sentryslinger]

I sure can try.

[not_onyourside]

Eet ees a deal zhen. I will teach you zhe fine art of relaxation, and you can teach me how to like myself more.

[sentryslinger]

Deal.

[He offers Spy a hand to shake.]

[not_onyourside]

[He hesitates, eyeing that metal hand. But he does smile and offer his own hand in return.]

So we can help each ozzer be better people, while trying to forget zhat we are enemies. I like eet.

[sentryslinger]

[There's a moment where Engineer sees that hesitation and feels badly for having offered his Gunslinger without a second thought, but he relaxes as Spy takes it. Ge gives Spy's hand the most careful shake.]

Me too, partner.

[He looks to the sky, then to the hotel that's getting closer as they return to the town.]

[not_onyourside]

[Relieved that his hand made it through unscathed, Spy turns to the lake to watch some ripples on the surface where a fish has caught an unsuspecting mosquito.]

Eets a shame we have to go back.

[sentryslinger]

We wouldn't be able to appreciate all this as much if we stayed here. Goin' back just makes us look forward to gettin' away from it all.