song_tra_bong | (no subject)

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Mary Anne is pretty sure she's found the right world. That knowledge isn't as comforting as she'd thought it would be.

The trail leads her to a hotel, where she almost drops the ball. The description of the man sounds like Ramon, but the presence of two kids throw her. She almost lets it go.

Almost.

But then she figures the guy could be mistaken, or maybe it's part of Ramon's cover, or maybe...

She follows the lead.

Ramon (she's assuming it's Ramon) did a good job of covering his tracks. But there are still things to point the way: someone cleaned the cabin, stocked it with food. Even false names on rental paperwork are names, and they're names she's seen before.

(Spain, France, Switzerland)

She doesn't think she's assuming any more.

She rents a motorcycle, an offroad number with chunky tires and an engine that growls like a bear. She rides it most of the way up the mountain, before parking it and hiding it off the side of the road. She continues the rest of the distance on foot.

There's a gun in the small of her back, money and ammo in the bag at her hip; knives in all the usual places. She thinks she's right, but it's important to be prepared.

She steps up onto the porch, careful not to let the boards creak, then knocks on the door.

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It's warm inside - there's central heating as well as the fire - and the fridge is being ransacked by two sweaty teenagers. Ramon scowls at them and says, 'Stop that,' before pointing at the tallest.

'That's Rafael,' he tells Mary Anne. 'And thats Raul. The only other two male Salazars.'

His tone of voice says he doesn't hold out much hope for them. A hand is waved at their guest.

'This is Mary Anne. She's staying a few days. Go and shower, you stink.'

Introductions over, he cracks two beers and exercises his hospitality.

The boys get nods and smiles and "Nice to meet you" while she slips out of the jacket.

Jacket thrown over a chair, she snags her beer and takes over the boys' investigation of the fridge.

Edited 2008-11-08 09:19 (UTC)

Ramon has no intention of helping; he just sits on the counter-top opposite her and drinks his beer, legs swinging slightly. She's not bad to watch from behind.

'Any new life forms in there yet?'

"Nothing's attacking me so far," she says, pausing in her evaluation for another swig of beer.

(Possibly she's thinking about his vantage point. Possibly she's thinking about a pool table in a Russian mob bar.)

There's a package of chicken that looks safe, so she sets it on the counter. She shifts the rest of the meat in the fridge to the freezer--better to not court food poisoning--then goes to check out the pantry.

'Give it time,' he laughs, only there's more tnan a hint of innuendo in his tone.

He watches her walk to the pantry too and he'd be lying if he said he hadn't thought of that night in Russia many times.

She gives him an 'oh really?' sort of glance at his tone, then turns her attention back to the pantry.

Aha, rice--something she knows she can't screw up.

That goes onto the counter next to the chicken. She crouches down in front of another set of cabinets, searching for the right pots and pans while she nurses her beer.

He answers with a casually raised eyebrow - yeah - before pointing to a cupboard above the oven.

'I think they're in there.'

Ugh, finshed beer. He looks at her, then at the fridge, with a beseeching sort of expression.

Mary Anne ignores said beseeching expression until she raids the top cupboard. Having met with success (and finished her own beer), she makes a trip to the fridge.

"Here you go," she says, handing over a fresh bottle.

'Thanks.'

Only he says it with the most Ha, you know you'll do what I ask tone he can muster (he can muster a lot) - and the cheekiest grin he has.

Mwhaha!

Her answering eyebrow arch translates pretty closely to I could just let you starve, you know.

"Welcome," is all she says before turning back to what will (hopefully) be dinner.

..he hadn't thought of that. Shit. He looks abashed.

Only not really.

'What we having? Make a lot, they eat like horses. And after its done, you and I are going to put a dent in that alcohol pile over there, OK?'
And then fuck like rabbits all night

Hah. Serves him right.

Only, y'know, not.

"Chicken and rice; nothing fancy but there should be plenty go around and it'll taste alright," she says, putting water on and looking for seasonings.

She flashes him a grin over her shoulder. "Sounds like a plan."

'Good.'

He hops down off the counter and heads for the stairs.

'Back in a minute, I just need to talk to them.'

Another cheeky grin and he flicks a bottle top at her.

'Don't burn anything.'

"For that, I'm burning just your portion!" she calls after him, before she turns her attention to...well, trying not to burn anybody's portion.

He's laughing as he walks upstairs.

'You know you wont!' he calls back.

The 'talk' to the boys goes like this; 'You're eating up here and I don't want to hear noise. You can have a couple of beers each and we'll do some fun shit tomorrow. Give me any grief over the next couple of days and I'll drop you at the top of the mountain and fucking leave you there. We clear?'

Rafael looks pissed off, Raul shrugs unconcernedly. He's just happy to be getting beer. Ramon gives them both a hard stare, then leaves.

'They're staying up there,' he informs Mary Anne when he gets back down, as if it was their choice. 'They probably won't be such assholes tomorrow. Food ready?'

"Just about."

The rice is done, and she's working on the last pieces of chicken.

"We making plates up for them, or are they sneaking down to eat under cover of darkness?" she asks, the question gently teasing.

He almost snaps at her for that but restrains himself.

'Plates. They're happy, they're getting beer.'

Ramon, it has to be said, would probably agree that he's a terrible father if anyone told him but would also point out that he doesn't give a shit. He doesn't think about it though really; as he takes plates up to his sons, his mind is most definitely on other things.

Mary Anne makes up plates for her and Ramon while he goes.

She thinks she knows what those other things are; she thinks she isn't going to think about them right now.
what is it you want?

While he's upstairs, he takes the opportunity to do a couple of lines. Speed will help him stay awake through the drinking he's plannign on doing later and he'd rather not face disapproval downstairs as it would only ruin his mood.

As for what he's thinking - he's not, and knows he's not on purpose. He's been on his own for months now and is really not alright; he definitely knows that something has to give and if it gives this weekend, perhaps its for the best. He is resolutely not thinking about Random.

'Smells good,' he announces, on arriving back in the kitchen. 'You're a useful sort to have around.'

"Killing and cooking, all in one nice little package," she quips, setting the plates down on the table and doubling back for silverware.

"Need another beer?" She's still got enough left of her second, but since she's up...

'Yeah, thanks.'

He looks at the food and then back at her.

'So versatile and in such a nice package too. Lucky me.'

She hip-checks the fridge shut before bringing booze and cutlery to the table and pulling up a chair.

"I aim to please."

'I bet.'

No attempt whatsoever to hide his double meaning there; he hadn't meant to be like this ut the drugs have given him a boost and it's been fun this afternoon. Nice to see a freind again.

She just responds to that with a smile, mostly because she's hungrier than she'd thought and there is tasty (if she says so herself) food set to go cold on the table.

Oh yeah, food. Ramon tries a bit and it's nice but he doesn't have much appetite.

'Taught yourself to cook in Vietnam? Or did you have the apple-pie upbringing with mommy showing you how to do all this stuff?'