aubergines | ( #002 ) FAKE MARRIED AU

[ She gladly hooks her arm around his, also placing her other hand affectionately on it. As a wife shyly talking to her new husband might, she leans in and whispers into his ear in kind when he lowers his head to whisper to her. ]

You might need to worry about him trying to seduce your new wife, darling, but it's fine. I'm devoted.

[ Peter Quill, ever full of himself, replies quickly, ] Please. I definitely wanna meet the person who could seduce you away from me. They oughta be dreamy as hell.

[ While she manages to stifle a laugh, her lips still curl into a smile. ]

I don't know if anyone can be dreamier than you, dear husband.

[ He grins, but only for the briefest second. ] Other than you, darling wife.

[ By the time he pulls away, his expression is schooled into something more restrained, but no less fond, and he leads them down the hallway into yet another pitstop, where they're obliged to hand over (forged) paperwork in exchange for two keys and the location of their suite. That done, they're finally directed down another hallway, and welcomed into Refuge proper.

The hallways leads them into what looks more like an outdoor park than a luxury hotel, complete with fields of grass and flower beds and trees and benches. The only difference is that it's walled in by floors and floors of what Peter assumes to be rooms. There's a decent number of people hanging around, walking, doing park-type-things, and judging by the quality of their clothes, toys, and/or omnitools (some of which Peter recognized as models that wouldn't be out for months yet), everyone here was obviously on the wealthier side.

He wonders if money buys naivety as he walks toward the elevators to get to their quarters. It's not like a handful of soldiers and fighter ships could protect all these people from Reapers. ]

Should we explore after we settle into our room, sweetheart? Or would you like to rest?

[ Kasumi listens to the sounds around them as they walk through the open space. Idle conversations, some music, and even laughter. Now that's something you wouldn't hear on, say, Earth. Kasumi just thinks, my god, these people really don't have any idea nor do they even care to find out about what's really going on out there.

She would never forget what it felt like to see the vids of the Reaper attack on Earth for the first time. She was on Illium, in Nos Astra, and she looked on in horror as the large screens on the trading floor, usually saturated with stock market numbers, ads, and inventories, were showing what could only be described as the utter decimation of London. She remembers the reactions around her: utter shock, disbelief, a few misguided attempts at sympathy that ultimately amounted to "At least it's not Thessia," and even a "Shepard was right all along."

When the shock wore off, she knew she had to do something. She couldn't bring herself to join Shep back on the Normandy, but all along she knew she could use her skill set for something useful for the cause. For Earth, and hell, the entire galaxy. Stealing expensive tech for the Crucible was only one thing and so was stealing otherwise-wasted money to improve conditions for refugees. Infiltrating a suspicious settlement that promises protection from the Reaper threat with frankly alarming rumors surrounding it was another, and possibly the most dangerous. And that's why she knew she had to bring Peter with her. Some jobs you just can't do all on your own--she learned that much from Shep.

She takes note of all the details in their surroundings as they make their way to their quarters with much of the same results hat Peter found when they were entering Refuge: here's a camera, there's a few guards, probable location of a secret entrance over there, and so forth.

When they finally enter the McClains' quarters, the first thing she does is look for any more suspicious elements. She wouldn't put it past this place to have hidden cameras or at the very least audio surveillance and she's sure that Peter doesn't either, and so the act continues even in the privacy of their own "home." ]

Why don't we rest first, darling?

[ Let's see what we have to work with here. ]

[ For Peter's part, the footage had been terrifying, and brought to mind his annual "should I, shouldn't I?" decision in visiting Earth. He decided not to every time (what would be waiting for him, at this point?) and now he's regretting it.

He never did get check up on Gramps. Now it's probably too--

Peter always squashes that line of thought when it crops up. This time around, he busies himself with sending Kasumi a quick smile. ]

Of course. I know how exhausted you are after long trips.

[ He sets the suitcases to the side and moves further into their quarters. It's basically a small suite with a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom, and it's way fucking bigger than any place Peter's ever stayed, that's for damn sure. It's well-decorated in stark shades of white and black, and everything looks so expensive, that Peter's a weird mix of don't touch anything and take everything and sell it.

He gets over those warring instincts and checks for bugs under the guise of exploring and checking their new home for issues, checking switches and faucets, etc. ]

I'm just going to make sure everything's in working order. You remember the fiasco on Illium, don't you? When the shower wouldn't get hot enough?

[ He wants to punch himself in the throat as he says it. ]

[ She grins and shoots him a coy look because she just can't resist the comeback, even under the guise of Mrs. McClain. ]

Darling, I thought we did a great job of making up for the cold water, did we not?

[ Who says you can't mix work and play, anyway? In any case, Kasumi doesn't find anything telltale or alarming about their quarters just yet, but it's still better to be safe than sorry, so she doesn't make any moves to remove her disguise or drop the act. ]

[ Peter returns the look and smile in kind. ]

That we did, sweetie. I remember the knocks on our door, asking us to keep it down.

[ For his part, Peter shakes his head, both in amusement and as a signal to Kasumi -- Don't see anything. ]

[ She nods in response; I don't see anything either. ]

So, it looks like our quarters will do just fine for us, hmm?

I'd like to think so. [ He shrugs. ] But, as always, I'll defer to your tastes. You always did have the better eye than I did, sweetheart.

Edited (accidentally a word) 2014-11-03 01:25 (UTC)

[ She gives her husband a playful but loving swat on the arm. ]

Oh, you are such a flatterer, darling. Why don't we take a walk? I'm feeling a lot better.

[ Let's check out what else is going on here. ]

[ He laughs, then takes her hand in his and leads them to the door. ]

If you're up for it. It would probably do us well to meet with our new neighbors.

[ She knows it's all part of the act, but Kasumi can't help but let herself smile a little bit at the gesture. ]

You're right. Maybe they can show us around.

[ And maybe they'll know something about the rumors about this place. ]

Just be sure to tell me if you get tired. [ Tell me if you spot anything. ] I don't want you to exhaust yourself on our first day.

[ He leads them out again, walking back toward the elevator. ]

I think the courtyard may be a good place to begin, unless you have other ideas?

[ She nods her head in a way to let him know she got the message. ]

Courtyard sounds perfect, darling. Let's go.

[ And to the courtyard they go, Peter leading them, hand-in-hand, along the pathways, passing by people having picnics or families playing games. For a second he kind of sees the appeal in pretending none of the shit beyond this little planet is actually happening, and wouldn't it be nice to just flip the bird to the galaxy at large and just say, "Not my problem"?

Maybe a year or two ago, Peter would've been in the same boat. Maybe he would've conned himself into a place like this, or maybe he would've taken himself and his ship and ran as fast and as far as he could. Or maybe not. Maybe he would've helped where he could, at least to save his own ass. Self-preservation is a pretty big motivator, after all.

They're stopped along the pathway by another couple -- evidently, the couple recognize Kasumi and Peter as "newbies," and decided to introduce themselves. Several minutes of mindless smalltalk about the weather and how this place has done well to weed out the "riffraff" later (the majority of which Peter spends most of the time wanting to blow his brains out), they finally hit upon something useful.

"Be sure to stay away from the west wing."

Why? Is there some issue there?

"It's restricted."

It takes several more minutes of mindless chatter before the couple finally say their goodbyes, and once they've walked away, Peter turns to Kasumi, eyebrow raised. ]

They seemed nice, didn't they?

[ On Kasumi's end, the allure and luxury of the place make her cringe. These are people who truly, earnestly believe they're safe from the Reapers behind these walls. She could never turn her back on everything and live here--it would drive her nuts. Everything was too "perfect," and as the haughty couple they meet points out, there's no "riffraff." Kasumi just happens to like being part of that riffraff, so at the end of it all, when this mission is over, she'll look back and give them a huge "no thank you."

She gives Peter's hand a light, reassuring squeeze a few times during the conversation, just to let him know, yeah, this conversation blows, and gives it another when the west wing comes up to say, finally, something useful.

When the conversation finally comes to an end and Peter turns to her, she raises an eyebrow back and smiles. ]

Yes, let's invite them to dinner sometime, shall we?

[ He hums his agreement. ] I'm sure there's a directory we can access.

And how are you feeling? Do we need to head back up? [ They'll need their gear, after all, if they're going to tackle the restricted area. ]

[ She feigns a sigh of exhaustion, leaning onto her not-husband for a moment. ]

Let's do that, darling. I'd like to relax for a little bit; maybe we can find something else to do later tonight.

[ Let's gear up and do something that's actually fun. ]

[ He can't help it -- he smiles and thinks, Finally, as they head back up. ]

As you wish, sweetheart.

[ When they make it back into their quarters, Kasumi watches the door close behind them before almost immediately turning to Peter, a glimmer of wild excitement in her eyes (or what he can see of them, anyway). ]

Excellent job, darling Mr. James McClain. I think we've found the perfect little place to call our own.

[ Now let's go crash this party. ]

[ He's grinning by now, heading for the suitcases containing their gear. He's thanking every god available that there aren't any cameras in their quarters as he plops the cases on the table, popping open his own and running his hands oh, so lovingly over his blasters. ]

Why, Mrs. Elena McClain. You act as if your gorgeous, charming, stunning husband never delivers.

[ While Peter has his moment with his blasters, Kasumi's taking off her disguise, revealing her usual catsuit underneath. Then she's on her omni-tool, pulling up schematics of the building she had gotten before they began the mission. Sure enough, it had been easy enough to get blueprints of the complex, but it left a huge empty void where this west wing would be.

That, of course, didn't stop Kasumi, and it only took a little more extra sabotage and hacking to get what she needed, and while she wasn't quite sure what it was at the time other than the missing piece of the puzzle, she realizes now that it's a schematic of the west wing. It's not quite as detailed as the rest of the map she's got, which details each sector of residences, recreational areas, and offices, but it's enough for them to go on. Then she's popping open her suitcase. On most heists, Kasumi doesn't even bother to bring a gun; hand-to-hand combat usually suffices, if she even needs to engage an enemy, and she loves stealing guns out of her enemies' holsters without them even noticing. But this is Cerberus, so she picks up her trusty M-5 Phalanx and holsters it on her hip. ]

Oh, right. Best husband ever award goes to you, of course, for being so "gorgeous, charming, stunning, and really good at delivering things."

I'll expect my trophy in the next couple of weeks, Goto.

[ Even as he's saying it he's slipping his helmet attachment over his ear, and Jesus Christ he feels a whole lot better having it there. Maybe not safer, but certainly a great deal more comfortable. Next come his boots (because fuck trying to do anything that involves fighting in fancy shoes) and the jet attachments and yep, feeling about 50% more himself.

Last come his blasters and oh man, their weight at his hips reassure him far better than anything else could. He even sighs a little in relief once they're holstered. ]

So. Plan of attack? We crawlin' through vents or something? 'Cause I'm thinkin' that going through the courtyard's out of the question, seeing as how I doubt my outfit meets dress code, now.

Yeah, no kidding. Same here--the catsuit is kind of a dead ringer for "not here to get a two hour Shiatsu massage."

[ Meanwhile, she pulls up a holographic projection of the schematics she has using her omni-tool, showing a three-dimensional diagram of the entire complex. The entire west wing, however, shows up as something like a wireframe outline, whereas the rest of the schematics have everything from door locations to--yep, ventilation. ]

You know, vents are probably our best bet. I could get through most anywhere cloaked, but with these guys--it's probably best that we stick together.

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