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]

"Not even when we're old and gray."

He pauses, his hand still tangled in Face's hair.

"When I'm old and gray, anyway. You're probably always gonna be annoyingly pretty."

[notjustaface]

It's enough to draw a small laugh, and real smile that curls his lips and creases his eyes where it's clear he hasn't gotten enough sleep in far too long.

"That's why God invented hair dye and tanning beds." He reaches up to gently stroke across his lover's cheek; "So you'll always have a bit of arm candy to drag through thrift shops and Disneyland."

[notthatcrazy]

He loves that smile so much. It's something real underneath all his layers of artifice and bullshit.

"We totally need to go to Disneyland."

[notjustaface]

It's a rare bird that some might think only lives in Murdock's mind... at least it's in good company.

"Hell yeah," he murmurs, "you'd love Space Mountain."

[notthatcrazy]

He believes in the real, even if Face can't.

"With our luck, we'd get stuck on the Small World ride."

[notjustaface]

"You couldn't pay me enough... we've seen the real thing - hell of lot bigger."

He chuckles again; "But we can get a picture in front of the castle."

[notthatcrazy]

"Perfect."

He snuggles in closer, resting his head on his partner's shoulder.

"So who's your favorite Disney character? I feel like I should know this about you."

[notjustaface]

"God..." he chuckles into Murdock's collar; "I haven't thought about that since I was a kid."

Briefly, he was a kid. A lifetime ago.

"You go first. I gotta think."

[notthatcrazy]

"I always liked Tigger."

What? Winnie the Pooh totally counts as Disney.

"But I guess if we're talking classic Disney, it'd be Donald Duck."

[notjustaface]

"Tigger? Like that bouncy guy in Winnie the Pooh?"

He's a little rusty.

"The movies... I think probably that tom cat from the one about the cats in France. You know, the orange one."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yep."

Come on, that can't be all that surprising.

"... And yeah, I can totally see that. Of course if we're talking movies that's a whole wide field to pick from."

[notjustaface]

He laughs again, nuzzling at the stubble on Murdock's cheek.

"The shorts? Like old stuff? Man... Micky was kind of annoying. And Donald was kind of dick."

He really can't believe they're having this conversation, but he's had more ridiculous ones in the middle of long detoxes and high-strung anxiety. At least this one is calm and doesn't involve socks. Or puppets.

"The dog was pretty cool though, and he could do that thing where his tail told you exactly what he thinking."

[notthatcrazy]

"Donald had a temper, but you didn't have to guess what he was feeling."

.... Someone's taking this seriously.

He chuckles. "Man... now I'm gonna have to ask who your favorite Muppet is, and that could take all day."

[notjustaface]

Now that he can work with.

"Now you're talking my language. I had like a dozen tapes of the show I used to check out at the library when I was in boarding school."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah?"

It's not often that he talks about his childhood, even little bits of information like that.

"Knew there was a reason I fell in love with you."

He squeezes him tight.

[notjustaface]

"Figured it was ass. Maybe my killer abs." His voice is clearly teasing, he does know better than that.

"Let me guess - you have got to be a Gonzo fan. Maybe Fozzie, but definitely Gonzo."

[notthatcrazy]

"Your ass was just a welcome bonus, darlin'."

He grins. "How'd you know?"

[notjustaface]

It feels good to laugh again, only a stifled chuckle but good no less.

"Wild guess." He murmurs, tracing down the line of his jaw to his open collar before dropping to rest on Murdock's chest comfortably.

"What about me? What's your guess?"

[notthatcrazy]

He immediately reaches up and runs his fingers through his hair again. When in doubt, pet like a kitty.

Or hell, even when not in doubt.

"Oh, tough one... you've got that 'calm under pressure' thing like Kermit."

[notjustaface]

"Ding ding ding." He grins wildly touching his finger to Murdock's nose before once more finding the soft cotton of his worn white t-shirt under the slip of rayon print.

"Give the man a fish."

It's silly, but kinda nice.

"He always held the show together no matter how crazy things got."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah..." He nuzzles against him happily. "You're good at that."

[notjustaface]

"You think so?" He asks, halfheartedly. He'll never really believe he's that capable, but he tries. He tries a lot.

"I bet BA likes Fozzie best."

[notthatcrazy]

"I think you don't give yourself enough credit for holding us together sometimes."

There was a reason Hannibal broke him out first.

"And Hannibal likes Statler and Waldorf."

[notjustaface]

He's just the trigger man in his mind. The guy that's not afraid to do the dirty work and try to keep a plan together with half a shoestring.

"Mmm, totally. But I bet he can dig some Animal too. We've all got a little bit of that guy in us."

[notthatcrazy]

Maybe so, but that means a lot.

"Oh yeah. And Rowlf the dog."