making my way downtown

[un_beau_coquin]

[The big issue here isn't getting fired. No, Spy will be fine for now, considering all that he's saved. Losing a resource as powerful as RED and Mann Co in general is a blow indeed, but Spy can get by. Right now, he's more concerned about living and making sure none of his loose ends catch up to him.

Most of the things he's taking back with him are either essential or expensive. The weapon magazines and catalogues sent by RED are still sitting in his old quarters, along with some leisure books and even some pieces of his old uniform. The suit has always been a part of his look, so he keeps some of it; they make for some decent padding for the wine stored in the trunk of his car.

With his tie slung around his neck and his jacket over his arm, Spy makes a mental checklist of all he needs. His life is pretty much stowed away in his wallet: bank cards, multiple IDs, cash, miniature cloaking device, plane tickets... He pats his pants pocket for the only thing that doesn't fit in his wallet: his passport. Not that he'll need it for the flight, but it's good to have these things just in case.

A tiny part of his brain nags at him, urging him to feel sentimental about leaving his workplace of over four years. But to hell with that - god knows this won't be the last he's seen of them.

When Scout hobbles up to his car, a mess of stupidity and arm casts, Spy is tempted to slam the door in his face and make him eat his dust trail. But, of course, the little mongrel has to pull the mother card and all of a sudden Spy feels responsible.]

I have a jet leaving in fifty minutes. You've got twenty. Get in the car.

Comments

close enough

[un_beau_coquin]

[Spy catches his expression from the corner of his eye and smirks.]

It's a joke. Come now, t'is is a 'appy time. Don't be so serious.

[He might be more convincing if he wasn't so smug.

Still, eventually they end up in another small town somewhere in the desert that seems to stretch on forever. He stops for gas before he parks somewhere he deems acceptable, then goes for the box under his seat. There's a knife, a gun, and another wallet in there filled with cash and a few of his fake IDs.]

I'm sure I should 'ave enough money in 'ere for at least a 'ot dog.

[bonking]

[ Spy's right - Scout shouldn't let Spy get anywhere near his fun. ]

I changed my mind. I want a friggin' steak. And lobster!

[un_beau_coquin]

[While Spy rolls his eyes, there's a hint of a smile on his face. His good mood can't be ruined just yet.]

Now we're talking. Let's find out if t'ey even serve such food in a tiny place such as t'is, shall we?

[He locks the car, though he's slightly distracted by the cards in his wallet. A frown pulls at his mouth, then he sighs and reaches for his mask.]

I'm so sorry for the delay, friend

[bonking]

[ Well that was meant to put Spy back a couple paces, but you know what? Scout could eat a steak and some lobster. He certainly thinks he deserves it after all that time in the slammer. ]

Prob'ly not, but we can go big somewhere else. Ain't like either of us can fly outta here til we cross the state lines anyway, right?

no problem! i'm happy to see a tag anytime :)

[un_beau_coquin]

Well, we can put t'e idea on t'e backburner for now, but I'm still 'ungry. Pasta and 'otdogs shouldn't be too demanding.

[Ducking his head, he pulls off the balaclava. He touches the skin near his eyes, then glances back at his ID.]

If t'ey 'ave a phone, I should be able to get a more convenient mode of travel set up. For now, per'aps we should focus on getting some real food in us.

[As one might expect, Spy is pretty self-conscious about going without his mask after working with RED for so long, but it's way too conspicuous for an everyday setting. Hell, the jumpsuits are one thing; add the mask and he's basically a criminal walking free. Not that that isn't true, but.]

you're still my favorite, you know. it's just been all the school lately

[bonking]

Let's not talk, let's just fuckin' do.

[ Man, all of this is making Scout hungry as hell. It's all he can do to entertain himself by lining the little figurines he has up on the dash, flipping through the other things he's plucked to pull money from wallets or the stray small knife. ]

You mean someone actually talks to your ass outside of the states?

[ Because really, Scout can't not talk when a thought occurs to him. ]

:') i understand completely. hell's gonna break loose for us over here in like two weeks ahhaha

[un_beau_coquin]

Did you forget I'm not from 'ere? Or is t'e accent not clear enough for you anymore?

[Rolling his eyes. He reaches out to lightly cuff Scout's ear before he gets out of the car.]

Come now, or else I will get you t'e most phallic looking 'otdog I can find.

we will survive

[bonking]

Hey, you told me you lived in America for a while. How the hell should I know?

[ Like a year or two should put you on an American accent. Should. Man, maybe Spy's accent is a disability, how should he know, now? ]

Like you control the hotdog production.

[ Grumble. Man, he loves hotdogs, though. ]

also curious, what's your time zone? if you don't mind me asking.

[un_beau_coquin]

I own a knife and t'e skill to carve out whatever my imagination supplies me. T'at should be enough.

[The town is as small and dusty as Teufort, but the patrons are smart enough to look wary as the two enter. Spy tugs at his suit jacket, closes it over his jumpsuit, smooths back his hair.]

Anyway, I 'ave contacts bot' 'ere and overseas. 'Opefully my absence will be overlooked.

I'm EST, so it's 4am right now and I'm tagging cuz ILU. And you?

[bonking]

[ Scout blows an unimpressed bubble of a huff, thankful for little and not obliged to immediately give credit where it might be due. He's got his own skills. ]

We been in a long time, Spy. What if your contacts have moved on?

yeeep same i should really go to sleep but... like... tagging...

[un_beau_coquin]

T'en we're fucked, basically.

[Scout gets a grin at that, a crooked, almost mirthless thing.]

T'ough I suppose we could always resort to petty crimes. Or, if you are feeling brave and per'aps reckless, we could do somet'ing bigger.

[There's an eyebrow waggle with that one.]

welp I ain't helping lol

[bonking]

[ He reads that; it makes him pleased, because it makes them pretty much even. Scout doesn't have shit for connections, besides the family and friends he has in Boston. ]

We've always got Boston.

[ He smirks at the other man. ]

But if you got something exciting, bruddah, I'm there.

CLEARLY but i love it

[un_beau_coquin]

Depends on what you mean by exciting. If you mean t'e possibility of my old employers trying to eliminate me in an attempt to remove a t'reat, t'en yes, I might 'ave somet'ing for you. Or I might not. At t'is point, it's all up in t'e air.

[But he does find a phone eventually, something similar to the deal Sniper always used back home. His face is composed the entire time he messes with it.]

me 2

[bonking]

[ Scout can offer a wider grin then; the danger is like a drug to him. ]

Either way.

[ He hangs out as Spy chats on the phone, at first starting making funny faces at him through the screen or pulling himself into handstands. When he gets bored, however ( all too soon ) he's back to the car, lounging with the door open, singing softly to the figurines. ]

[un_beau_coquin]

[When Spy returns, his face is blank. No more little smirks from him.]

It's 'ardly what I would call trustwort'y, but someone may be willing to provide plane tickets to Boston once we get out of the Badlands. T'ey provided coordinates, so I may need some assistance navigating...

[He trails off when he notices Scout's position in relation to his toys.]

What are you doing.

[bonking]

[ He perks up at what are you doing, having not listened a goddamn bit. ]

What? You got somethin'?

[ Tossing the toys to the floorboard for now. ]

[un_beau_coquin]

[The smirk returns as he reaches to snatch up a toy.]

Do you know 'ow to read a map?

[bonking]

[ Scout tries to kick him in the knee. ]

Hell yeah I do! Who doesn't?

[ Somewhat. ]

[un_beau_coquin]

[Is kicked in the knee because apparently, even after all this time, he wasn't expecting it.]

Idiots like you.

[He whips the toy in the direction of Scout's head before trudging over to the driver's seat.]

What I was saying is t'at I was given coordinates somewhere outside of t'e Badlands. Apparently t'ere will be someone waiting for me who 'as tickets to Boston.

[bonking]

[ Not a terribly hard kick, at least, more like 'be gentle with my memorabilia' than anything. As long as Spy didn't crack the figurines, Scout would be okay. ]

Fine, but you mean us, right? We got a map in the glove compartment.

[ For the better part of New Mexico and Texas. Scout knees the glove compartment and pulls the thing just to be sure. Yep. ]

So... we gettin' some chow or not?

[ Spreading the map before Spy to observe. ]

[un_beau_coquin]

I told 'im I 'ad company. Per'aps we should see if you could fit into a dress.

[He cracks a grin before leaning over and examining the map.]

Oui, oui. Let me just...

[He stretches his reach to grope around the glove compartment for a pen. When he comes up empty, he sighs and pulls out his knife to scratch a mark into their destination.]

Alright. T'at was my original intention when we stopped 'ere, I suppose I got distracted.