hands_of_blu | (no subject)

Western Canada in the late 1960s is a fine, upstanding part of the country. The cities aren't gigantic, glittering megalopoli by any stretch of the imagination, but they're modern, civil places to live, and they've got plenty of excellent cultural institutions. They're just miles and miles and miles from anything else whatsoever- including, in some parts of the Prairies, carefully concealed, hotly contested war zones.

The BLU sniper is not happy that he had to drive six and a half hours to get a decent drink*, but he intends to make up for lost time at the first bar he sees. His companion on the way into town will be doing the driving on the way back. For now, however, they've parted ways, which makes getting to Milliways and bringing Cata back without attracting attention so much easier.

*The driving is not a problem. The fact that his alcohol supply ran out because his teammates kept taking his stuff, thus necessitating wasting most of his down-time on driving to replace it? That's another story.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

dark_dancer

"I can certainly see where you might not have the time."
Or where he might not want to have it in the vicinity of his workplaces.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

"It does tend to eat up one's-"

He pauses; there was something about the voice of a fellow in the aisle on the way up to the restrooms that struck the wrong note.

"... it would be useless to ask you if zat man sounded French, wouldn't it."

From:

dark_dancer

"A bit, yes. Do you think he's trouble?"
She doubts he would bring it up if he didn't, but it's worth a confirmation.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

"Possibly," says the Medic. "Haf you ever recognised someone by ze vay he moves? I'm almost certain I've seen our Frenchman slipping around a corner und out of sight before..."

From:

dark_dancer

"I'll keep my eyes open, in that case."
And her ears. The accent may not mean much to her, but she's very familiar with the sound of someone trying to be very, very quiet.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

"Sank you," says the Medic.

The auditorium lights flicker.

"Hmf. Zat vos our two-minute warning. I sink perhaps it might not be such a bad idea to stay for a bit more und zen leave ze hall early, for safety's sake..."

From:

dark_dancer

"That sounds reasonable."
After all, if there may be a danger, there's no sense in pushing their luck too far.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

The Medic nods, and soon enough they're back in their seat and waiting for the music to come up.

It's a pity they're going to be leaving early. The orchestra saved the better stuff for the second half, it sounds like.

From:

dark_dancer

It is rather unfortunate - Cata's liking this part of the proceedings rather more than the first. But one does what one must, in the name of taking precautions.
She does enjoy the music, while waiting for their best chance for a quiet departure.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

The Medic scowls a little in his seat, irritated that he's going to have to leave early. It's been a long while since he got a proper concert and he's almost certainly going to take out his frustrations on the battlefield for the next week or so.

In the meantime, he makes a mental note to acquire a recording from these people if one is available, bides his time, and finally rests a hand briefly on Cata's forearm. It's as good an opportunity as any to slip away largely unnoticed...

From:

dark_dancer

Oh, it doesn't go unnoticed. Cata's a bit too observant for that.
But she has no reason to object. In fact, if he's paying attention, he might catch her smiling.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

It's not so much paying attention as it is checking to see whether she's noticed anything. The end result's the same either way- a smile of his own in return.

Well, maybe there might be some perks to getting out of here early after all. He nods briefly towards the exit and starts to stand up.

From:

dark_dancer

She nods in return, and follows suit; they get out of the concert hall with little fuss.
"That was... quite enjoyable." It may be a while before she has better phrasing than that, but it's a good place to start.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

"Sehr gut. I vos hoping you would approve." He nods towards the end of the street. "I sink we ought to haf a bit of a walk, at least, und zen back to ze Bar, ja? Zat should be safe enough."

From:

dark_dancer

"I would imagine so, yes."
And if anyone decides to try making it not safe... well, they're two very capable people. They can likely handle the situation, if necessary.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

If they're lucky, they won't have to worry about it...

... of course, if they're lucky they won't hear those footfalls from behind them that are just a little too heavy not to bear some ill will. Not that there's anyone immediately visible if one of them were to glance around, of course, but it's late and there are shadows.

From:

dark_dancer

Cata isn't one to rely on luck to that extent. "We may have company."
She says it quietly, hoping it won't draw the attention of whoever's following them. And she's already making a move for one of her knives.
(Those pockets she added to the inside of the dress were a wise investment.)

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

"So I hear," the Medic murmurs. "Und not so many people about to serve as witnesses..."

He quickens his pace a little as he slides one of his hands back up his sleeve. People notice when you reach for your pockets, after all. You could be carrying anything there. Up your sleeve? They don't look as closely.

Regardless, as they turn the corner ahead of them, there's a muffled metallic sound like somebody fiddling with the hinge on a borrowed folding knife. "Figures you'd try to run off and hide in the dark, ya Kraut," growls an aggressively American voice from behind them. "The respawners don't work out here, Nazi."

From:

dark_dancer

There's got to be some sort of context behind the insults that Cata's missing, but that doesn't matter for the moment. What does matter is that their company isn't keeping his business to business hours.
She doesn't have much patience for unprofessional people.
In short order, the voice's owner has a knife to his groin. "If you would like your testicles to remain where they are, I recommend you keep your mouth shut."
It's a casual statement, but she's not afraid to follow through on it, if necessary.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

"Ah. Herr Soldier," says the Medic sourly as he turns to face the suddenly wide-eyed, shaven-headed fellow. "Is zere a point to your life?"

"You wouldn't," says the Soldier; he may be wearing civilian clothes, but they don't suit him at all. "I've seen you at work, you're not the kind to-"

"Before you finish zat sentence, mein Herr, I should sink for chust a moment," the Medic interrupts. He slides his glasses up his nose with one finger. "My lady friend here is somesing of an unknown quantity, ja? Und zis is a decade in which women are proving zemselves in every profession at every turn. So sink back to vot ze lady chust said to you before you finish speaking, hmm?"

From:

dark_dancer

Oh, but she would. And the knife is that much closer to proving the point.
"You're not a very professional sort, if you feel the need to sneak up on someone outside of business hours. That's never been the sort of thing I feel inclined to respect in a person."
Besides, he wouldn't have seen her at work - and if he has, it had nothing to do with freelance castration. A good sniper stays hidden as well as possible, after all.

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

"I know zis man better zan I vould like. He's an enthusiast," says the Medic, in a dry, disgusted tone. It's the same tone the Sniper uses to describe men who're burdened with an overabundance of feelings. "As I recall, zere vosn't a single branch of ze American military villing to take you, vos zere? It takes quite a lot to rack up ze 4F across ze board."

"I ought to-"

"You ought to turn around und go back to your barracks. Now. Ve can settle zis during business hours. As you said-" The Medic glances meaningfully at Cata's hand. "-ze respawners don't vork out here."

There is a long moment of silence. Then, very carefully, the Soldier says, "I think I'd like to back up several steps before turning around and running like a little girl."

From:

dark_dancer

"That may be the smartest thing you've said in this entire conversation."
After he's gone, Cata puts the knife away and says, "Well, that was fun. Now, what exactly did he call you?"

From:

hands-of-blu.livejournal.com

"Ze first vord, 'Kraut'? An old insult for people of my nationality," says the Medic, dusting his hands off. "It means 'cabbage'- ve use a good amount of it in ze diet. Ze ozzer vun vos a reference to ze idiots who had control of ze running of my country in ze Thirties und Forties. I haf no love for any regime zat vastes a perfectly good opportunity to conduct priceless scientific research vissout limitation on somesing as stupid as indulging a dictator's petty racial und religious obsessions."