goddamngrenades | RP Open Post

"Damn right. I'm twice the musician he is." He crosses his arms, scowling at the far wall.

"Wouldn't know, I've never heard his music to compare." Her voice is fairly even, no hint of a tease. She's not going to pander to egos, anyway, and she finally starts moving, heading over to refill the coffee maker and start a fresh brew. They're both awake enough to need it.

"He uses autotune." He spits the word out like it's satan's name.

Oh Musicians.

"Still reserving judgement," she informs him, quietly turning two mugs upright, setting one aside for him. "Creamer? Sugar?" Coffee's almost done.

"He's terrible and he can take himself and fuck himself with himself." All the muttering. "One cream, two sugars. Thank you."

She's sure he could come up with a more descriptive insult once he was more awake. As it is, that one doesn't even get a snort, Carolina preferring to hand over the coffee without further delay.

"Should probably be giving you decaf. Still a good few hours out until that post-tour press conference of yours, you know."

"I won't sleep. I could try, but I will fail." Which'll leave him wound tight and cranky during the Press Conference but, hey, he usually is. Nothing new there.

"Nap later, then. Or at least lie down with a damp cloth over your eyes in the dark before everyone has to be up and going." She knows a little about insomnia, with dealing with the headaches that follow too little sleep. Her own coffee lacks both cream or sugar - much as she enjoys a good latte, she knows she'll need strong stuff for dealing with today.

And once the day and conference are done, she'll be on her way. She's not sure why that thought leaves her a little disappointed.

"Not a bad idea." He settles back against the sofa, mug cupped in his hands. Sleep he'd love but sleep isn't gonna happen. Till now he'll sip and try to unwind. Not like it'll work but- it's worth a shot. "...Thanks. For coming in on such short notice."

"Thank Delta for that one," she gives him a lopsided smile. He asks so very rarely for help, how could she justify saying no to one of the few members of her family who treats her kindly and with respect? "I tend to be a very hard sell."

"I'll thank him when he wakes up." With a hug, probably. Delta looked like he needs more hugs in his life. "Don't normally protect popstarts, huh?"

"Don't normally get a lot of offers for that sort of service nowadays. Just happens I was between jobs, made it easier to accept."

Not everyone was so luck as York to find work that suited them after mustering out.

"This is why I love D. He's my Lucky Charm." He grins, sneaking a leg out to toe at her foot. A casual little nudge. "Being without work sucks but- I'm kinda glad you were long enough to help us? It would've been awful without you."

A casual nudge that gets no response. She's being professional right now, even if they are engaging in conversation. "Fortunately we don't have to worry about what could have been. Though you may find the police will want to take time to interview you today." Her too. To follow up on Delta's reports to them, and cover their own asses where required, no doubt. "So are you going home? Or do you have a holiday planned next?"

"Skiing or Surfing somewhere quiet. Though honestly? I'm thinking skiing. I haven't seen snow in a long time and the idea of sand right now..." He winces, finishes his coffee, and flops down on the sofa. Ugh. Sand. "I think D'll enjoy that more too."

She manages to withhold an instinctive shiver at the mention of snow. "You aren't one to take it easy, are you? Or has the great outdoors always been more appealing?"

"If I sit still to long I think too much." Remember too much. He's alive. He made it.He'd rather keep pushing forward.

"..Not healthy to avoid it." There goes the voice of experience, hiding her grimace behind a swig of coffee. "But I understand." Focus on the out, leaves little time to let things focus inwards.

"I don't think I've a had a holiday outside the country since I was a child." If you don't count shore leave while on deployment. She doesn't.

"Now you sound like Delta." Take your time, York, stop running so hard, York, please see a therapist oh dear god, york. "Maaaaybe you could come with? D likes having a bodyguard with us even if we're way out of the way. After last night? I'd be more comfortable with one too."

"He's been around many who should listen to him and often don't." Somehow, the impression she gives is that she isn't talking about him. She is however genuinely surprised by his offer - perhaps she shouldn't be, but Carolina was used to contacts ending. Not an offer of a second to follow the first.

"..I get the impression you don't often include a bodyguard with your entourage on holiday?" Her brow arches, evading providing an answer right away. "What would you be expecting from me?"

"Not often. When I wasn't a big deal we didn't need them but D's been antsy about them lately and...I kinda see why." The past few years might've been building up to this. They both need the break and they'll need one with someone they can trust to do their jobs without winding either of them up. "Pretty much what you've done so far, with allowances to actually sleep and some off time while we're sequestered in the cabin so you can go chill on your own. I know I can be a bit much sometimes."

"Can you now," she replies evenly, allowing some amusement to show, but the offer certainly sounds valid, extended though it is without consulation with Delta.

But she doesn't think he'll need to take long on that. Delta plans, plays the long game, and likely had her staying on for longer in mind long before he contacted her.

Damn him, she thinks affectionately. She hadn't been struggling lately, and her last job had been temp, with good chance of rehire the following year. But this job, she'd actually had to put her skills to use. And working with her client wasn't quite as stuffy or politically tiring as bodyguard duty elsewhere had been.. "Talk with Delta when he wakes up. If there's an offer to be made that won't look like nepotism, then I'll consider it."

Given she's being paid very well for One Night Only, she can't say she's not intrigued by what a longer term job might provide.

"Being one of D's friends and his highest paying star doesn't make him give me preferential treatment. I dunno if he knows the meaning of the word." It wasn't possible for him as far as York knew. Still, the possibility of having Carolina on longer- that was a nice one. She was stern, but not stuffy, patient but didn't put up with his shit. Now that he thinks of it? It seems like the familial resemblance extends beyond the green eyes.

Stupidly green eyes.

There are others that would exploit it, however. That rival of his, for example. But if it's only for a holiday..

One vacation would allow them to see if it were possible for something more long term. If they couldn't handle things while at peace, then it mattered little how well things went during 'business hours'. Said stupidly green eyes regarding the emptying contents of her mug, before she looks up at him. "All right. If you can talk Delta around to it, then we can give it a trial. If we can survive it, and each other, then we can talk something more long term."

That he's cute doesn't hurt, either. Even if she knows exactly how far flirting with the management can go in these cases.

He reaches one hand up to shoot Carolina a finger gun. "Sounds like a plan. I'll get on that when he gets out here."

Till then? Futile attempts to nap, go. Eyes closed, scarred cheek tipped against the pillow, deep and even breathing.

Still won't work but it's better than nothing.

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