exsiliumlogs | There's a thousand reasons why I shouldn't spend my time with you.

[Sully was almost completely rested, sleeping off a mild hangover from the night before. He very rarely over did it on the alcohol, but he needed a little therapy and solitude. He heard rustling from outside his bedroom and assumed it was Sonic and/or Tails.]

Welp... Ahhhh I better make an appearance...

[He stretched and sat up in his bed, scratching his chest, realizing his shirt was unbuttoned and hardly hanging on. And where were his pants? He scanned the room with sleepy eyes and found them hanging from the doorknob. Slowly, he rose from the bed and straightened himself up before making his way to the door. He started to reach for the knob to grab his pants when suddenly the door flew open in front of him.]

SHIT!! The hell is-

[He stumbled back away from the opening door, starting to take a defensive stance, about ready to knuckle his way out of whatever trouble had found him, when he noticed that it was Chloe. Well, now he was obviously awake, no longer feeling the effects of the night before. He relaxed and wiped the sweat from his brow, closing the gap between the two of them.]

Sweetheart, you almost gave me a goddamn heart attack!

[He took note of her appearance, she looked like she'd been through hell on her way to see him.]

What's up? Everything okay? Need me to rough somebody up for ya?

[He flashed her a smile, but she didn't seem quite in the mood.]

Nice outfit. [She skips over the rest of his questioning, slipping past him to drop down onto her usual spot at the end of his bed, one leg folded over the other, arms crossed defensively over her chest. With Chloe, closed body language is generally a bad sign. So far, this isn't looking like much of an exception to that rule.]

Not exactly, no. Probably more the opposite.

I'm sure you remember how things went at the market the other day.

[He pauses and his state of undress dawns on him. He shuts the door behind her and snatches his pants, putting them on quickly and buttoning his shirt.]

Let me know if you see anything you like, hon.

[As she takes her seat he can definitely tell she's not in the mood for any sort of lightheartedness. He kneels beside the bed, rests a hand gently on her knee and looks up at her earnestly.]

Yeah,... uh what exactly was that about, anyway? I saw Flynn there... was he prickin' around...?

If he ever stops, it'll be a miracle.

We spoke briefly. Wasn't the highlight of my day. [Chloe pauses long enough to set her hand on top of his, index finger tapping against his knuckles in mild irritation.] I was trying to get a little work in. One of the boys I've been keeping track of had a stockpile of gold that I was convincing him to hand over.

Harry overheard, and he practically ruined the damn thing. And then-- then he had the nerve to ask to be let in on it! I mean, can you actually believe that? After pissing on the whole deal, he wants in.

Well... that "bloke's" never really been smartest chunk in the upchuck is he. He has about as much tact as a ferris wheel too.

[He thought for a bit, there had to be something they could do to get Flynn to stop antagonizing Chloe... She was definitely not her warm and coy self.]

Sorry he blew that deal for you... but what if... Now this is just spitballing here, sweetheart.

[He stood and started pacing a bit as he gathered his thoughts.]

What if we find him some of his own jobs or something. Something to keep him busy and out of our way. It might mean dealing with him more, but then... maybe it would mean seeing him a lot less?

[He stopped pacing and sat next to her on the bed.]

Okay, maybe that's a little stupid. I don't know...

No. No, that's just it.

I was thinking the same thing, myself. It's absolutely crazy, but I don't see any other way to keep him from causing any more trouble. [Because when it comes down to it, they've got no choice but to coexist here, and having a pacified Flynn is much better than a frothing, hateful, broken down man who's ready to kill the people he thinks are responsible for it.

And, even though she won't admit it, even though keeping him around wasn't her ideal outcome, some part of her is glad he's got a second chance at it all without the weight of his mistakes dragging him into the dirt.]

I don't know, Victor...you think you can manage spending time around him without tearing each others' throats out?

[He gave a quick sigh.]

I know it's less than favorable... but I'd rather him think we're on his side than have this bitterness. Who knows, maybe he'll simmer down and maybe it won't be so bad. It's probably not what you want to hear, but it's probably our best option.

I think I'd rather be able to keep some sort of tabs on him than turn my back on him and tip toe around. If that makes sense...

[He paused for a bit, he knew this wasn't an easy decision for her to face... but he wanted her to be sure he was going to be with her all the way through. He leaned over and nudged her shoulder with his forehead playfully.]

I'll be fine, hon. It's YOU I'm more worried about... what with that itchy trigger finger of yours, haha!

Mmhmm. [She cracks a smile at his last remark; there's entirely too much truth in it.]

I'll try to keep myself in line. No promises, though.

[He leaned toward her, brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and flashed her a toothy grin.]

You don't have to promise me anything. I'll be there too, I can keep you in line if I have to, sweetheart. Don't think I won't get rough if I have to!

[He laughed heartily as he put an arm around her waist, holding her to him.]

Really though, if we both keep an eye on him, we should be good. How do you want to approach him about this though? Might seem kinda fishy if you're suddenly willing to work with him after that little stunt at the garage sale...

Edited 2012-08-28 23:44 (UTC)

Oh, I'd be careful if I were you. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself in a fight you can't win.

[Chloe's cheek rests against his shoulder, she shuts her eyes in an earnest attempt to find a little zen.]

You leave Harry to me. Even after trying to get us all killed, he still couldn't stop himself from striking up a conversation with me. Between us, I think it's safe to say he'll listen to just about anything I have to say.

[Pause]

Which reminds me...do me a favor and don't mention the whole 'dying' thing, yeah? I might have told him that he managed to survive Shambhala.

Honestly, I think a tussle with you would mean everybody wins.

[He was going to laugh, but after Chloe rested on his shoulder he sensed that he should ease up and let her relax. He rubbed her side lightly as he spoke.]

Well, I'm gonna go ahead and trust your judgement... I think you probably know him a little better than I do. But seriously, Chloe, if he tries anything, anything shady at all... especially towards you. Let me know. I don't doubt that you can handle yourself... but... well you know. I'm ... I'm here for you.

[He recalled a time when Nate was young and he said something similar to him. It was almost the same conversation, but it was different with Chloe. He was worried about her safety, no less than he was Nate's... but there was a little something extra that he couldn't really put his finger on. It was familiar.... but, well he didn't dwell on it much longer, returning his focus to trying to help her relax a little more.]

My lips are sealed, honey. But honestly, I think it's probably easier for me to keep that information to myself than it is for you... I mean, I wasn't even there, I heard from you guys. I am sorry you had to be there though... I don't think I ever had the chance to see how you were going after that... Because now I'm here...

[Victor let his last sentence drift off, realizing he must have been rambling. He let the silence linger in the hopes that Chloe would continue to ease.]

Thanks, Victor. I always could count on you.

[Even if he can't remember it.]

That place was hell on earth, better that you weren't there to see it. We barely made it out as is, and I wouldn't have been the same if you weren't around to drag me back into your...dysfunctional little family.

[He had a feeling he was missing something, that she might have been referring to, but decided not to ask. It wasn't important at this point.]

Well, I'm not sure how exactly I got you to stick around, but I'm glad whatever I ended up doing worked! I'm sure Miss Sunshine appreciated having you around to keep Nate and I from getting out of hand, haha!

The pair of us against the two of you was more than enough work. I think the only reason we ever succeeded was because you were both so preoccupied with her recovery.

[ And even then, Nate didn't manage to work up the nerve to stay with Elena. It was, more than anything else, disheartening. Not because she'd hoped for a future with him (that ship had long since left the harbor without much regret) but that it was the last bit of proof that people like them just didn't end up with simple, fairy tale endings.

Restlessness would always win out in the end.]

You holding up all right? You know, without him around.

Well... I don't know what they're like now, but I know Nate, I'd never seen him look at someone quite the way he looked at her. If anything had happened to her, he wouldn't have been the same. She's a little sweetheart/pain in the ass... I'd have missed her too. I miss her now... Hell I'd be missing you too if I hadn't so damned lucky... if you could call this lucky.

[He wished he could see Nate now, and slap him for not fighting to keep things going with Elena. But again, he didn't know for sure what happened. Maybe it WAS for the better. Still, the idea hurt him a little bit. He leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees, head in his hands.]

Chloe, I don't really know how I'm holding up to be honest. I do know that I wouldn't really be holding up much at all if you weren't here. I don't know that I'll really ever be able to express how much that helps, because not knowing where those kids are, or how they're doing. Not knowing how they got to the point they did where you came from... it's just nagging at me, you know?

[He caught himself in the midst of the outpour. He was being way too soft around Chloe, he thought. This was affecting him more than he'd realized. He straightened up and tried to take her mind off everything he'd said.]

What I miss most is my goddamn plane. It's been too long since I've flown. I'm getting the itch....

Edited 2012-08-30 00:59 (UTC)

[Chloe's not much for emotional speeches. She's fine with listening, and a few short words of encouragement, but she knows she's not going to be able to put his mind at ease by spoon feeding him a bunch of nonsense about love that she doesn't believe. In her opinion, he doesn't deserve to be patronized like that.

So instead she just stays there, propped up comfortably against him, offering a nod or two at certain statements that resonate with how she herself is feeling.]

Well, I don't see why something can't be put together. I mean, we have a whole city full of aliens and engineers, scientists and treasure hunters. We'll figure something out.

[Sully smiles at her, appreciating the fact that she didn't chastise him for losing his edge briefly. He leaned over and grabbed a cigar from the small pile on his bed side table. Even unlit, chomping on one of them always eased him.]

I love your optimism there, sweetheart. But I can't see the big wigs around here letting my fly around in whatever bird I could get my hands on... Hell, I can't even see anyone here having access to one. Besides... aren't they all flying hover cars or something nowadays? ...Not really my bag... Hah, if we could get a plane, as well as Flynn off our backs, we'd be set...

Edited 2012-08-30 03:44 (UTC)

Yeah, till we cross the ocean and end up wandering into hostile territory. [She laughs morbidly, nudging him alongside her verbal jab.]

Funny how we were always struggling to get free of everything back home, then we wind up here with the whole bloody world on our backs.

[Her jab startles him, causing him to nearly drop his cigar. He quickly regains his composure and nudges her back, catching some of her infectious laugh.]

Well... maybe I'd settle for a remote controlled plane or something. ~~Probably not...~~

Yeah, it is a little funny. Come to think of it, apart from the quality time I'm getting with you, I actually sort of miss the sort of trouble we'd get in before. SORT OF. You know, megalomania-cal Serbs aside.

Oh yeah, naturally. I don't think anyone in the world would miss his ugly face. I know I sure as hell sleep more soundly with him gone.

[Chloe has to stop herself from reminiscing too much. A little fond recollection is all well and good, but if she dwells on everything that's changed she knows it'll only do more harm in the end. No point in pining for what you can't have anymore.]

Well I'm sure you'll manage to find trouble soon enough, knowing you.

[A sly smile spreads beneath his mustache at that comment.]

Hey now, I don't exactly go looking for trouble, little missy. Trouble finds me!

[He means it too, Victor has always tried to grease his palms through "honest" work. But with his forte, there's a lot of the wrong kind of people out there ready to shake hands. He tries not to dwell on the truth behind his statement, returning his thoughts to Chloe.]

What can I say, it's not just the ladies that find me attractive.

[He laughs out loud at his own bad joke, and stands to grab some refreshments from the kitchen.]

Want anything, sweetheart?

[As he wanders off, she scoots back on his bed, stealing a number of pillows and making herself a comfortable little resting place. As far as she's concerned, what's his is hers.]

Mmm, not tonight. I think I've had enough for one evening. [And the evening before, and the one before that...she may or may not be attempting to distract herself more than she means to.]

I don't care how often you try to avoid it, Victor, trouble is so close to you it might as well be your second skin. And in a place like this we can't afford to be careless, you know.

[He smiles to himself as she makes herself at home on his bed. The very thought of this happening, Chloe Frazer getting comfortable on his bed, seemed like a shot in the dark before all of this... and even then it only seemed likely in certain specific scenarios. Those still did seem far fetched though.]

Alright, well if you want anything, I got it sweets. Well... at least on the alcohol front now.

[He grabbed a pack of donuts from the counter and ate a couple, accidentally powdering his mustache. He filled a glass with water and returned to her with the donuts. Sully plopped himself on the bed and leaned against the wall next to her, munching away on the remaining donuts.]

I know I don't have the best track record, but I'm familiar enough with trouble to know how to keep myself at arms length. I'm doing my best, despite the adjustment here, but I think we'll be fine. It's always better when someone has your back.

[He finished the package and crumpled the wrapper, tossing it onto the bedside table.]

You know, despite the shit that goes on outside of this room, this is actually the calmest things have been for me in a helluva long time. I don't know if I should be glad or worried...

Glad. [There's no hesitation when she says it, wrapping her arms around a pillow that's pressed to her chest. No matter how much she tries not to consider how bad it all could be-- or tallies up the chances Lazarevic or the crazy cultists from London have of dropping in at any moment-- she can't stop herself from seeing the negative possibilities. The things she desperately wants to stay far, far away from her and Victor.]

We can always find adventure when we need it. Safety? That's much harder to come by, and even more difficult to keep.

[He nods his head in agreement, remaining quiet for a good while. Safety was never really a word that worked well with the name Victor Sullivan. Part of his appeal to the opposite sex had always involved the danger. He wasn't particularly proud of this fact, but it was hard to complain.

Now though, when bored housewives and exotic beauties weren't on the forefront of his mind, he was thinking about how much better things could have been if he had become better acquainted with safety.

... Well maybe it wouldn't have been better. Certainly not as much fun...]

We'll get by. I'd stake my reputation on it!

[He winks at Chloe and goes to smooth his mustache, noticing his fingers beginning to cake with the white powder from the donuts. Sheepishly, he brushes his 'stache with his hand, attempting to shake out the powder. When he thinks he's gotten it all, he clears his throat and recomposes himself.]

I don't know about you, but I've always been pretty good a rolling with the punches. I mean, I'm still here anyway, even with the shit I've been through.

My whole life has been nothing but, love. [She lazily reaches up with one hand, brushing her fingers against his lips to catch what powder might still remain.]

I won't lie, nothing in the world will ever fix my thirst for adventure. Doesn't mean you have to pick up every last one that crosses your path. Doesn't mean you can't walk away so you can keep breathing long enough to put a few more stories under your belt.

[She's talking too much, she knows it, but she can't help but want to warn him about what's ahead, about how stubborn and foolish Nate's going to become. If she couldn't make a difference there, maybe she could here.]

[At first he recoils a bit as she reaches towards his face, but when it registers in his head what she's doing he leans back toward her and lets her help. Her touch tingles against his lips, sending a small shiver town his spine.

Suddenly he's much more aware of her presence, and he can feel his pulse liven up a bit. Perhaps she'd managed to catch him a little off guard. He snaps himself back to the conversation, hoping to get his mind back on track.]

You know, I used to be pretty damned reckless... I got in over my head plenty of times, much more so than I do now. But with Nate, I've become more aware of my limits. I don't want to risk too much because I know I'm... well I'm not as young as I used to be. I want to make sure I'm around until Nate doesn't need me anymore.

Though, Nate's just like I was, he's reckless, he's stubborn, and he's not always good at knowing when to back down. I know though, that when he finds someone to care about, he'll change. He'll understand the risks.

That's why I was really hoping things would work out for him and Miss Sunshine. I thought she'd be the one to get him to calm down. Ah well... he'll get it together sooner or later.

[He pauses for an extended period, his mind roving over thoughts of Nate and Elena, until he finally drifts back and returns to his thought.]

Anyway, I promise you if things get hairy here for whatever reason, I know how to back out. And I will. I'm aware of my limits now.

[He gently held her hand to his lips briefly, planting a small kiss on it as if to punctuate his promise.]

You don't have to worry about me, sweetheart.

Edited 2012-09-09 11:30 (UTC)

[But Nate doesn't get better, he gets worse. So much worse. Not that it really matters; Nate's not here.]

Well there's no need to let all that sit on your shoulders, not here, anyway. [She takes the opportunity to lock her fingers with his after the kiss, scooting her pillow-nest close enough to rest against his side.] The most we currently have to deal with is our dear friend Harry, and I think that's far less dire than a war criminal with a thirst for immortality. Maybe we'll get lucky, find ourselves a nice, private beach with a well-stocked bar.

Or earn enough to make our own.

[It's wishful thinking, of course, but Chloe-- with someone so genuinely loving, someone willing to give up everything for a boy that's not even his, so close to her in the peaceful, late night hours-- feels enough hope to at least let the possibility tumble out of the storage cabinet locked away in the back of her mind. For a second or two, anyway.]

[Sully trows his arm around her and let's her rest agains him. He strokes her hair a bit as he imagines this beach]

I really like the way you think, sweetheart. Private. Bar. Those words alone had me sold.

[He'd always thought of Chloe as a very "in the moment" sort of gal. So her talking about goals, and pipe dreams, ideas for her future, came as a bit of a surprise. It was very endearing regardless, and he couldn't help smiling at how simple and peaceful this dream future was.]

Maybe we can have one or two of those sweet little cabana girls fawning over us as well... Although....

[His mind veered off track as he imagined Chloe, scantily clad, her browned skin glowing in the sun as she fanned at him with a giant palm frond. ...Well maybe that was a little much.... but it still sounded like a great place to end up.]

... I would certainly be fine with only you for company.

[He played with her hair absent-mindedly, thinking about what exactly it would take to get themselves to that point... or if it was even possible.]

[Yeah, sure. Chloe might not mind the scantily clad bit, but the palm frond fanning would be more like slapping him in the face with one for lounging in her spot.]

The future's not exactly what we'd expected...so I guess that means you don't get much choice, love. [She smirks, running a few fingers through his sleep-tousled hair.] Could be worse.

[Sully had to fight not to doze under her fingers. He exhaled slowly, and rested his eyes just for a second, continuing to paw lazily at her hair. Maybe he wasn't as well rested as he thought? Or maybe it was just that he couldn't remember the last time he'd just stopped for this long and just enjoyed a woman's presence over her "company."]

Mmmm... I'm gonna level with you, Chloe... I didn't really expect much outta my future. Just an image of myself and some beautiful, passionate, attentive dame flying off into the sunset, beer in her hand, cigar in mine. I didn't expect to be around for a thousand years. So this is a huge improvement. It could have been WAY worse.

[He opened his eyes, hooked his thumb into the waistband of his pants and stared out the window, the sky clear and inviting.]

I think Nate would be more disappointed though. I should have never convinced him the Back to the Future trilogy was based on true events...

Explains a lot when it comes to him. [She's only joking, of course, and as his gaze shifts, so too does her touch, moving down to settle against his collarbone, thumb rubbing a slow, easy circle over the skin just beneath his collar.]

I don't know, I never had much to hope for. A Ferrari might've been nice, though.

[Victor cocks a smile at her remark and starts to say something, but the words escape him at her soft touch. He relaxes as he feels a small tingling around his neck, which makes him stir a little. He reaches up and stops her hand with his, gently clutching it to his chest.]

You? Behind the wheel of a Ferrari? There's a lot to love about that image, Chloe. I've seen what you can do in a jeep, so in a little beast like that? I call shotgun!

[He realized how much he missed the sun on his face, and the wind in his hair. Whether on land, at sea, or in air... He sighed, audibly.]

Yeah, that would certainly be nice...

[Chloe's fingers tug hard against his hand, pulling him close enough for her to set one affectionate, sympathetic kiss against the edge of his jaw. There's no doubt in her mind that he's just as tired as she is-- well, without Nate, perhaps even more than her. He wasn't a loner, after all. The least she can do is offer a distraction, a little comfort.

And possibly steal a sliver of it for herself.]

Maybe we'll get lucky and find one worth salvaging.

[Sully's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting her to kiss him. He smiled at her coyly, raising an eyebrow at her.]

Oh ho! Someone's getting a little comfortable now, aren't they?

[He chuckled softly and gave her a quick peck on her cheekbone.]

Could you imagine... what a Ferrari would be worth today? Like ... a classic one. Goddamn, we'd be set...

Edited 2012-09-29 05:37 (UTC)

There's a thousand reasons why I shouldn't spend my time with you.

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Bad tag is bad sleeeeep

Shut face, perfect tag is perfect.

Re: Shut face, perfect tag is perfect.

Wow I am a bajillion years late.

You're always right on time in my book

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