sleazeoverstyle | (no subject)

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"Strap in, Chuck." He does the final check and all systems are a go. Of friggin' course they are; he does the maintenance on this helicopter himself whenever he can. Shin-Ra 3, ready and waiting. Because he can, he reaches over and adjusts the noise-reduction phones on Charlie's head, shows her how to use the mic so she can talk to him over the noise of the rotors, makes sure her seat belt's all fastened up the right way, and hands her a map of the known world, or the planet Gaia, whichever she wants to call it. There's a big red X next to Midgar.

"We're here. We got enough fuel in this thing to make it just about anywhere, and I can always put down for more if we need it. Any of those place names strike your fancy, Pie Lady?" There are some places he'd talk her out of goin' on general principle. Like... he just went to Costa del Sol and Gold Saucer with Lara and he ain't sure how much more fun in the sun he can stand. But there's all sorts of shit to do, from the port at Junon to a flyby of the Northern Crater, to the pretty little town of Nibelheim. The only place he ain't gonna go is Wutai, 'cause there's people there who don't like him real well.

Wait, what the hell's he sayin'? There's people everywhere who don't like him real well. But still, he ain't goin' to Wutai.

"Except here." He points the skinny little sliver of world out to her. "Or if nothin' calls to you by name, we can just fly around for a while and stop where we feel like stoppin'." He has to file some sort of flight plan, but he'll figure that out.

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One eyebrow raised, he glances over at her. "Lowell, you met him. He's only four years older than me. You try bringin' a girl home when you have a brother four years older. He was like a friggin' magnet to 'em. Bowie and Riley, they were too old for that."

One of these days she's gonna ask him about Riley, 'cause he wasn't at the party for her to meet. But maybe they can get to Costa del Sol first.

Maybe.

Or maybe not.

Charlie looks over at him, frowning a bit. "Does Riley travel a lot?" It's totally not a non-sequiter to her.

"Nah."

The coffee really is pretty good; he swallows it back.

"He's dead."

Charlie blinks, her jaw dropping open.

"Oh." She says softly. "Sorry..." For the loss, for bringing it up, for any number of things.

Her gaze focuses down on her hands in her lap and she grows still. She doesn't say anything else, afraid to ask about something else she shouldn't.

"Don't be sorry, Charlie. I didn't say whatever the fuck you do, don't bring up my oldest brother. No, it's cool. He died a while ago. He was a Turk too. Worked for Shin-Ra. Got killed in the line of duty. But if he hadn't, you would've met him yesterday. Me and him were pretty close."

If there's pain behind the informative nature of the statement he sure as shit doesn't show it. He ain't shown distress over it for friggin' years now.

"If we go back to my place, I'll show you his picture. People said we looked alike, so you can tell me if they were right or full of shit." The Western continent is just now visible in front of them. It was a good call, decidin' to touch down at Costa del Sol. He could use a stretch.

"Hey, look. Over there. That's where we're going." In the distance, the water changes from deep blue to brilliant turquoise.

While he's talking Charlie reaches over and wraps her arms around him in a hug. It doesn't occur to wonder whether that's dangerous since he's piloting.

"I'm still sorry," she says softly. Then she lets go, still watching him closely. When he directs her gaze outside again, she turns and brightens slightly. "It's beautiful," she whispers.

He ain't ever gonna say that hug makes him uncomfortable. There's a time and place for everything and he gets just as physical as anyone with as many women as possible. But the thing's this: he does it on his terms, and in his own way. And usually he likes the foolin' around just fine, but he's not a real hug-me-hold-me person.

It's stupid and he knows it, and he ain't gonna even start to think about it now. "Shit, Chuck. You don't have to be sorry. Shit happens." Fuck, he's sorry she got killed. There's always somethin' to regret, ain't there? Turning for just a second, he lifts her chin with his index finger. "Repeat after me. There's nothin' to be sorry for."

Even if there's really every reason to be sorry as anything; his hand goes back to the controls. "Costa del Sol, this is Shin-Ra Three on approach for landing. You got that open helipad you promised me?"

This time when he glances Charlie's way, he gives her a wink and a small smile.

"Shin-Ra Three, you're cleared for landing at Helipad One. Repeat, Helipad One, copy."

"Helipad One. Over." The airport there's right on the water and the numbers on the landing pads are visible from way up here. It's cool. It's probably his favorite place to bring in a chopper on the whole friggin' planet.

Charlie's smile is wavery as she obediently repeats after him, but it firms up at his obvious pleasure as they come in for the landing.

"Oh my gosh!" she exclaims looking out at the perfectly blue water as it rolls up onto the beach. "That's beautiful." And just like that her shadowed mood is gone.

He ain't been piloting for as long as he has to do a shit landing, especially when he's got precious cargo along for the ride with him. And she is: she brings him pie, for fuck's sake. No one brings him stuff. So he sets Shin-Ra Three down nice and soft, like landing on a friggin' cloud.

Then he turns to her and smiles, takes off the headset -- finally -- and helps her off with hers, and the seatbelt. "All right, there, Charlie. You stay put till I open your door. No gettin' out on your own." She might already be dead but he doesn't want to see her die all over again. Odds are she'd be just fine -- this is a big helicopter -- but still. So he gathers up his few things and opens the door and hops out, then makes his way around to her side and opens the door, motions for her to keep her head down, and helps her down and out.

First thing he always notices here is that blast of heat, and it's a big friggin' contrast to the Northern continent and the crater there.

Once they're away from the helicopter and down off the landing pad, he lets go of her hand. "Welcome to the tropics. Charlie." And just 'cause, he gives her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Town's this way."

The truth is that Reno's spoiled her for helicopters. The chance of her ever flying in one again may not be high, but the chance of her doing it with as skilled a pilot is nearly zero. She doesn't have enough experience to realize that this isn't how it always goes.

"It's humid," is the first thing Charlie says as she exits the air-conditioned cockpit. She's not complaining, really, but it is unexpected. She's used to a much drier sort of heat.

Her eyes dart every which way, trying to take in everything at once, even as she follows Reno's directions and keeps her head down and clear of the swirling rotors. And then he kisses her and her face heats up bright enough to compete with the tropical climate.

"Th-then we should go that way," she stutters, trying to cover the fact that he'd thrown her off balance with that.

It's a real quick and simple matter to order up a refueling on Shin-Ra's tab and once that's taken care of, he grins off-handedly at Charlie. She's blushing again.

That means they're even: payback for that unexpected hug. Everything's back to normal; he sticks his right hand in his pocket and nods her in the direction of town. "Good weather for somethin' nice and cool to drink, don't you think?" And they could do whatever people call it -- freshen up -- and get somethin' to eat.

And he'll get her that piece of jewelry too. Shit, why not. They know him here.

"Oh, it is!" Charlie agrees with a grin and a laugh, flush moving from embarrassment to excitement. "Like a real beach vacation!"

A real beach vacation's gonna have to wait for some other time; he doesn't have the time to spend on it just now. But at least he knows what she wants, so maybe next time, if there is a next time, and if he learned his friggin' lesson from bein' around Lara he'll make it a quick beach vacation. He does wonder how Lara's doin', though. She was brave here. They had that thing with the Beachplugs and everything, and she fought 'em. Then again, that's what she does.

He ain't seen her since, and he won't see her here now. Different day, different story.

"Come on, pretty lady. This way." They take the short distance to town in stride and he gets a couple hello sirs on the way, and it's 'cause of what he's wearin' and he knows it. This town likes him and the rest of the Turks for whatever reason.

At the very end of the road's the inn, and that's where he leads her. He ain't sure what she needs, but he knows he could use a pit stop. He's the one who drank a bunch of coffee on that long flight.

Charlie's blush at the appellation is reflexive rather than really self-conscious and she smiles and nods politely to everyone they pass. "Wow," she says at one of the points they have the road to themselves, "they're really polite here."

As for a stop, she's totally in favor of that. It's a chance to see more people, to talk and listen and get something cool to drink. Maybe they have some sort of exotic fruit juice!

Once they're set at the bar, he orders himself an ice-cold Wutai Pale. "And whatever the lady wants." It's kind of a standard line, but it works and just like last time, the bartender won't take his money. That's all right by him. They must get it worked out with Corporate somewhere along the line, 'cause he ain't done no personal favors here in a long time. Whatever, it still works.

"What's it gonna be, Chuck?" Shit, she lives at a friggin' bar. He ought to know what she drinks by now.

But he doesn't ever pay that kind of attention to things. Why should he?

Charlie leans over to whisper in his ear, "Is there some sort of exotic fruity drink that's a specialty here?" She wants to play tourist, but she doesn't want to be obvious about it.

Yeah. Good luck with that, Charlie.

"Yeah." He whispers it back at her. "I'll get you one." She really is so friggin' cute, he hardly knows what to make of her. She doesn't have his head spinnin' or anything like that. His eyes haven't turned into red beating hearts sproinging out of their sockets. But fuck it, he likes her and she's fun. He's havin' a good time with her, and for him, havin' a good time where he ain't either piloting or kicking ass or drinkin' to distraction is a pretty rare thing.

"The lady will have a Gaia Breeze." Now he leans forward, motions the bartender closer. "And easy on the Icicle Village Hard. She's a lightweight."

He happens to love that shit and has it in his own liquor cabinet at home, or at least he did before his brothers and sister came and helped themselves to everything yesterday. Turning back to Charlie, he explains. "It's kind of strong, that stuff, but the rest of the drink is all like... tropical fruit juices blended with ice and syrups and stuff. Comes out bright pink, so don't be surprised."

For his gil, he could never stand more than a couple of 'em. Too sweet. But he bets it'll be just the right drink for Charlie.

"And also, give us a bar menu. Can't fly on an empty stomach." Yeah, it's mostly just an excuse to kick back and take it easy for a while. Refueling's pretty friggin' fast.

Charlie laughs. "Pink sounds just fine!" And she's not kidding. Still, when she glass is set in front of her she's cautious on her first sip. Reno had warned her, after all.

Her eyes widen and she turns to Reno. "Wow! It's good!" And... it does weird things to her tongue. It sort of tickles.

She giggles.

He almost tells her try drinkin' it straight but he'll keep that in his back pocket for a need-to-know situation. Could come in handy one day.

So could food; he orders them some stuff from the bar. Easy little things: shit they can pick up with their hands and eat. Fried stuff, greasy and good: seafood fritters and onion rings, things like that. Beach food. It's practically the law here.

"After this, you gonna let me take you to the shop, get you a souvenir?" The fuck, right? They're only gonna be here one time, probably. Might as well make the most of it. He got Lara the platinum bangle, but maybe they'll have a couple different kinds here. He likes the carbon ones himself, and titanium's always good.

Or maybe there's somethin' else that ain't armor. somethin' that's just pretty. His friggin' sister always knows where to find that shit. Thankfully, she ain't here yellin' in his ear about treatin' Charlie good. He could do that all on his own, thanks for nothin'.

Simple fried food also has the advantage of arriving quickly and Charlie digs in with gusto. She hadn't really realized how hungry she was.

She's not really very lady-like about it, but her enjoyment's pretty obvious. She nurses the one drink through the entire thing, and even with all the starch and grease that made up their excuse of a meal she was visibly more flushed than normal. Reno's comment about her being a lightweight had been a huge understatement.

"Souvenir shopping!" she exclaims. "That sounds like fun!"

Again, the 'tender won't let him pay, so he leaves a big tip instead. "Come on, Chuck. You could go... ogle the guys at the surf shop or whatever." Standing, he offers her his arm as if he's some polite gentleman.

But part of him says why the fuck not. He's here, far from home, with a pretty lady on his arm. Why not pretend? Everyone else does it when they're on vacation. Maybe, just for an hour or two, he could drop bein' such an asshole and be a nice guy. See what it's like.

Wait. Who the hell's he kiddin'? Himself?

Maybe.

'Cause maybe he's just the same stubborn asshat who demolished Sector 7 and didn't think twice about it. Or maybe he's a guy who grew up a little and deserves a break.

...nah.

"Race you over there. Just kidding."

His just kidding is lost in her laugh as she takes him at his word and rushes off.

Which would be far more effective if she had any idea where she was going. But it was pretty obvious that she didn't and was just sort of running around aimlessly.

"Hey. Chuck. This way." There's the little stand that sells softs, but he ain't interested in that. No, once he catches up with her he takes her by the hand and steers her toward the weapon shop. He could go ahead and explain that the bangles are armor, but if she wants to see 'em just like pretty jewelry, that's okay by him.

"Pick somethin' you like."

Sky's the limit. Shit, she could get the friggin' bazooka if she wants. He don't care.

"As long as we can fit it on the helicopter to get it back home."

Charlie giggles and lets him lead her into the shop. She looks around, eyes moving past the huge swords and the gloves (and was that a giant prosthetic boxing glove?) to the various pieces she thought of as jewelry. "Wow, some of these are really pretty," she told Reno.

As if he couldn't tell for himself.

"See anything you like?" If not, they could try someplace else. He ain't in a huge hurry, and sure, an afternoon hanging out on the beach might have its merits but for a couple redheads like them, it's a recipe for bein' cranky as hell later on.

No matter what, he's gonna take her to this sweet little jewelry store in Edge when they get back and turn in the chopper. It ain't too far away. For whatever reason, it matters to him that she has a great friggin' time here.