The Love Boat - Day 1

[notjustaface]

It's supposed to be an easy mission, kick back - take a cruise, maybe work on their tans in the process. Baggage, check. Engagement rings, check. Wedding bands, check. Tuxedos, check.

Hannibal and BA boarded first thing in the morning as crew, giving them more than ample time to install some weaponry and a pair of clean cell phones in their cabin and start sweeping for suspicious signs of gun running.

The happy couple took the opportunity to sleep in and have a nice breakfast before heading down to the marina to board.

"It's a nice cabin," Face murmurs, depositing his suitcase on the large bed before heading to the closet to hang up their carefully wrapped formal wear.

Comments

[notthatcrazy]

Lovely. At least he'll get to fly again.

He leans back, testing the mattress. It's true that they're used to sleeping wherever they can catch a little shut-eye, but this is something special.

"Fantastic."

He'd suggest giving it a more thorough workout, but he really does want to go explore the ship.

[notjustaface]

Looking back at him with a fond smile, Face rocks his hips and suggests; "You know... we could always take it for a spin..."

It's not like they need to be seen on deck right away...

[notthatcrazy]

"Knew you were gonna say that."

He shakes his head, smiling.

"We start that now, we're never gonna wanna get *out* of bed."

Which wouldn't be so bad, really, if they weren't there to do a job.

[notjustaface]

He's right, of course. Not that Face would give him the satisfaction of admitting it.

"Fine, but tonight..." Her raises an eyebrow that says it all before fixing his shirt collar.

"So, what do we hit first, the launch party or the sauna?"

[notthatcrazy]

Among his many linguistic talents, Murdock speaks fluent Eyebrow.

"Party."

[notjustaface]

It was an informal sort of event, a dozen same,-sex couples - all on the verge of purely symbolic matrimony - and perhaps another fifty assorted guests and staff they'd have to work their way close to.

They knew the smuggler was a woman, Fiona, but no idea what she or her partner looked like.

Escorting Murdock was both familiar and the slightest bit terrifying - for once they had to actually look like they were actually an item. They had to mix with people that weren't practically raised under the lumbering shadow of DADT.

"Ready for this?" Her murmurs, leaning in close with one hand pressed to the small of his partner's back. "Don't forget your cover ID."

[notthatcrazy]

"Ready as I'll ever be."

They'd spent a good bit of time coming up with cover identities they could convincingly pull off for the duration of their stay. Hannibal had vetoed "bunny wrangler" and "professional log roller" right off the bat.

It's awesome in a way, but also a little scary. Their relationship's never been subject to that kind of outside scrutiny.

[notjustaface]

Rodeo clown, shark fighter and astronaut were also ruled out after a second of consideration.

Offering an almost shy smile as they made their way toward the open bar, Face asks; "What are you drinking tonight, honey?"

[notthatcrazy]

The boss has no imagination sometimes. He totally could have pulled off astronaut.

"Oh, I don't know... surprise me, we're celebrating."

He wraps an arm casually around his waist. This might just be fun after all.

[notjustaface]

Grinning wide, he turns into the embrace and brushes a kiss against his cheek to whisper; "Go mingle by the stage, I'm gonna check out the bar."

With a false chuckle, he pats Murdock's chest affectionately; "You be good while I'm away."

[notthatcrazy]

"Hurry back, punkin'."

... Okay, now he's just being a brat.

[notjustaface]

His eyes say 'Punkin', really?' but he only rolls his eyes and kisses him again before heading for the bar for a few fruity looking drinks with umbrellas in them.

The crowd is mostly subdued, milling around in small groups of people that seem to know each other - which naturally means it's time to turn on the Faceman charm when he saddles up to the bar.

"I need something in a very large glass, preferably fruit-flavored with an umbrella in it - times two." He catches the eyes of a woman in a sundress and flashes her smile as she knocks back a whiskey shooter that's looking pretty good. Still - he's decided Chad the accountant is more a blender kinda guy.

[notthatcrazy]

Meanwhile, he's heading over towards the stage, cheerfully greeting a few fellow passengers as he slips into his alter-ego of James McArthur, a mild-mannered flight attendant from Houston.

So far, nothing seems out of the ordinary. If the bad guys would just wear black cloaks and eyepatches or something, their jobs would be a lot easier.

[notjustaface]

Makes one yearn for the days of black hats.

"So what's a pretty girl doing sitting all alone at the bar on the big gay love boat?" He smirks, turning his attention away from the whirring blender.

"Let me guess, a groom's brother?" She asks in a soft purr that draws another smile across his lips.

"Who, me?" He replies innocently enough; "No, no... I'm engaged." He holds up his hand to show the thick silver engagement band. "I just happen to think it's a shame when a girl wearing vintage Gucci is sitting alone." He licks hips lips, trying his best not to follow the scandalously sheer fabric; "Here with your girlfriend?"

[notthatcrazy]

He's watching this play out from across the deck, and while he can't hear what's being said, he can make a good guess. Odd that it doesn't make him jealous in this context... whether it's the shiny silver ring that screams 'back off, he's taken' or the fact that it's really just work-related information gathering, he's not really worried.

In any case, it looks like they might have a suspect.

[notjustaface]

"Ahh, fashion conscious..." she quirks an eyebrow, obviously not too impressed but still talking at least. "No, I'm here to support my little brother throwing away his money on a wedding that means approximately nothing." She scoffs into a fresh whiskey, rolling her eyes.

Almost instinctively, he turns his eyes to the small crowd and finds Murdock's brightly colored shirt mingled in with drab polos and sundresses before replying; "Yeah, well... some of us just want to have a special day to make things official."

The woman laughs; "Meaning your boyfriend talked you getting hitched or he'd leave."

[notthatcrazy]

Murdock does tend to stand out in a crowd. He sees the glance and gives him a slight nod - not enough to call attention to himself, but enough to acknowledge him.

The woman's body language isn't exactly indicating 'happy vacationer.' That might not be significant, but they still can't rule anything out.

He pulls his eyes away from the bar long enough to greet the young twenty-something couple who take the seats next to him.

[notjustaface]

"No... no..." he shakes his head, a slightly warmth building behind his ears as the blender clicks off. "He's a good guy, we're... uh..." He looks back toward Murdock again and finishes; "we're in love."

"Mmmhmmm..." the woman rolls her eyes, shaking her head. "How many times have you cheated on him?"

A little stunned, he looks back to her and shakes his head; "None!" He tries to laugh it off, hating the sinking sensation that he's just been called out when that's not entirely true. "And I won't."

"Trust me, honey - as easy as it was for you to check out my tits..." she leans in closer, brushing her lips against his ear as she steps off the stool - glass in hind. "You're gonna break his goofy little heart."

Before he can even get a name, she's walking away and he's looking like the kid that got caught with his hand in the cookie jar as the cold pink drinks in little fishbowl glasses are slid onto the bar.

[notthatcrazy]

And... that's enough mingling. He heads back over, sliding onto the recently vacated stool.

"You look like someone kicked your dog. Get any information out of her?"

... It's probably a good thing he couldn't hear them.

[notjustaface]

And thank God he did, because after an accusation like that part of him is tempted to chase after her - and he can't say for sure exactly what that would lead to.

"Other than a the fact that she's a bit of a bitch wrapped in vintage Gucci slinging back whiskey like water? Not really, no. She's definitely a suspect, though - said she's here as a guest of one of the grooms."

He takes his drink, letting the frozen banana and tropical thing mingle with rum on his tongue.

[notthatcrazy]

He eyes the drink with some amusement.

"I was wonderin' who'd pay the big bucks for a cruise vacation just to look like they hate every minute of it."

He gives Face a long look as he samples the fruity alcoholic slush.

"Are you okay, though?"

He's seen him get slapped, get drinks thrown at him, and in one memorable case get put in a headlock by the irate recipients of his attentions, but he's never seen him look like that after talking to a woman.

[notjustaface]

Those were not some of his most proud moments, though he has to admit in the last couple years his success rate hasn't been perfect.

"Mmm? Yeah, fine." He brushes it off with a slight laugh, leaning in to press a kiss against his cheek. "What about you? Anyone look interesting?"

[notthatcrazy]

He leans into the kiss, somewhat glad for the public display of affection.

"No one who looked like an international arms dealer. Met some nice people, though."

Yes, Face, this is your life now. Badass one minute, sweet and domestic the next.

[notjustaface]

That much he can handle, at least. Though, what the girl had said still weighs heavily on his mind. Not to mention the fact that he had kind of checked her out... a little. Hey, looking isn't touching.

"People can be deceiving," he murmurs into his drink; "we don't exactly look like a flight attendant and an accountant from Texas."

[notthatcrazy]

"Guess not."

He sets the glass down, leaning slightly harder against his side.

"This would be so much easier if people would just wear the 'hi, I'm evil' t-shirts."