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

[notjustaface]

This group is a lot less feisty than the woman at the bar, at least. They seemed decent enough, but not deceptively so.

"Sure are, babe." He murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of Murdock's head that drew out a soft 'aww' from the unengaged wedding guest.

"I'm Mia," she extends a hand toward Murdock first, offering another warm smile. "And this is Anne, my best friend, and her partner Jill."

[notthatcrazy]

He doesn't have to fake being madly in love, thankfully.

"Nice to meet ya."

He shakes the offered hand. "I'm James. This is Chad."

They're really going to have to have a talk about cover names.

[notjustaface]

He feels awkward, but there's nothing faked about the easy arm that loops around Murdock's waist instead of holding his hand after shaking the woman's - offering him someone steady to relax against.

"Pleasure to meet you," his smile spreads slightly and he asks; "Your first cruise?"

She shakes her head, and then glances back to the couple now both enamored with a flock of seagulls. "Their first, it was sort of my suggestion. You guys travel a lot?"

He nods quickly; "My, uh... fiancee here... works for an airline and I'm a frequent flyer."

[notthatcrazy]

He nods, leaning into the casual embrace. Still having a hard time with the fiance thing, apparently...

"It's not always an easy job, but it's got its perks."

[notjustaface]

"Our first time flying together was... some kind of crazy magic."

It's not a lie, just not what he's implying at all. That first flight pretty much sealed their friendship - which led them to where they happened to be.

"Mile high club?" She jokes, raising an eyebrow.

[notthatcrazy]

His laugh isn't entirely put on.

"A gentleman never tells."

[notjustaface]

Face, however....

He grins a little too wide and answers; "Not the first time."

Face licks his lips and adds; "But I'm a frequent flier."

[notthatcrazy]

He nudges him, but it's mostly affectionate.

"He never did claim to be a gentleman."

[notjustaface]

"It's one of my finer qualities," he murmurs against Murdock's cheek, pressing a kiss.

"Okay, you two are almost too cute for words and I might just throw up a little." Mia rolls her eyes, shaking her head. "Have you checked out the buffet yet?"

[notthatcrazy]

The sad thing is that that part isn't acting.

"Oh, not yet. Sound good to you, babe?"

[notjustaface]

It is kind of freeing, though, to be close when it's not just the two of them.

"I could eat, sure." He shrugs, finishing the last of his drink before depositing it on a table. "Lead the way."

"The last cruise I went on, the food was terrible... but I met one of the catering guys this morning, said they were changing up the menu a little bit."

[notthatcrazy]

"Great. I haven't eaten since breakfast."

He puts on the Normal Person Smile one more time.

"Nerves, you know. Was nice meeting you ladies."

[notjustaface]

"Nothin' to be nervous about, baby..." for as much as Murdock's twang wanes when he tries to act, Face makes up in laying it on with a Texas tilt. "Told ya, you're stuck with me as long as you can tolerate it."

He means that too.

[notthatcrazy]

He knows it. He's said the same thing before.

"You're such a romantic."

[notjustaface]

"Hopeless." He laughs, keeping a close eye on their escort as she cuts through the crowd of strangers directly to the end of the fairly small buffet line. She certainly does seem familiar with the setup if nothing else.

"So, Mia..." he asks casually; "you do a lot of cruises?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Completely and totally," he whispers as they're led to the line.

"I've been on a few," she smiles. "You get used to the routine."

[notjustaface]

Like it or not... totally.

"Yeah, I guess..." he shrugs, taking a plate for some tidbits of anything that looked good despite being far more interested in the mission than the food.

"Probably gets pretty expensive, though."

The woman turns and offers him an easy-going smile. "I'm not exactly hurting for money."

[notthatcrazy]

"Oh?"

He keeps an expression of polite interest on his face as they make their way through the line. This could be something.

[notjustaface]

"Mmm, try the stuffed grape leaves." Face murmurs, pressing one into Murdock's mouth with a smirk.

The girl shrugs and flashes them an innocent smirk.

"So, what about your plus one?" Face raises an eye; "You can't tell me you're here all by your lonesome."

"No... there's someone..." she giggles, turning to scan over the crowd; "She's just not too big on crowds."

[notthatcrazy]

Face gets a significant look over her shoulder.

"Yeah, I can understand that... not really a huge fan myself sometimes."

[notjustaface]

Licking the lemony oil off his fingers, Face responds to the significant look with one raised eyebrow that slips back easily behind the rim of his fake glasses.

"That's why we work so well together, babe. I get to do the talking."

[notthatcrazy]

Message received, then.

"Yeah, babe, that is true."

[notjustaface]

Loud and clear, she doesn't seem the type - but you never know.

"I'll get you a plate, why don't you get us a couple drinks?"

He raises an eyebrow toward him, ready to guide the girl to a table for a few more casual questions.

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah, sure."

The old 'divide and conquer' strategy. Only they're not so much conquering as lightly questioning.

[notjustaface]

It's easier when he can get a girl alone, work a little bit of the charm angle. Attraction or no, he knows how to talk to women.

And how to get her talking about her partner - which is stopped abruptly when a couple of men in dressed down suits pull up chairs and dig into friendly small talk.

"Mel!" One grins wide, offering a warm handshake. "We cruised the Bahamas last summer, remember?"

"Right... right! Dan, right?" Mia shakes her head, trying to play it cool despite the fact that she looks a little shaken at the name. "You have had one too many umbrella drinks, sweetie... it's Mia."

"She's a kidder," the second man grins even wider; "My uncle's named Mel - I never forget a gal that reminds me of that old bastard."

"Anyway," Dan continues; "you are the woman of the hour! I met Charles on that fateful cruise..." he holds up a finger bearing an elaborate rainbow and diamond engagement band; "and now we're making it a lifetime."