January 2nd. With Vasquez' trip so soon, there's been plenty of work to get done in preparation. The sun is just beginning to set when the holographic form of Fergus materializes on Vasquez' desk. The emitter in the ceiling makes a soft whirring as his familiar green visage forms. He places his hands behind his back and walks briskly around a coffee cup that's nearly half his height, taking a position beside Vasquez' keyboard before
#RedrockAgency – September 18, 2023
bowing his head respectfully and looking up at her. "Ser Wolfe has requested an audience with you in your quarters, milady."
Vasquez is in the middle of double-checking the preliminary budget plans for the coming year when Fergus materializes, her eyes lifting from the datapad that she's cross-referencing with the numbers on her terminal's screen to look to the miniature green form. She lets out short sigh. "I'm working, Fergus," she replies, fingers lifting briefly from rubbing her temple to gesture in dismissal before tired eyes return to the
The gestured command causes the green knight to flicker and become less opaque but, before he can fully dematerialize, he seems to pull himself back together, "Ah, yes. I am terribly sorry, Lady Vasquez, but Ser Wolfe was quite insistent. I have been assured that it regards matters of the utmost urgency."
Vasquez lets out another sigh, longer this time, and leans back in her chair, bringing her hand up to rub her eyes. "Alright. Alright, be there in a sec," she mutters, collapsing the datapad and sticking it in a pocket before locking her terminal with a swipe of her hand and getting up.
The holographic knight gives another polite bow of his head. "I will inform Ser Wolfe of your arrival, milady." he says before sharply turning on his heels and marching back the way he came, slowly growing less opaque until he disappears behind a paper organizer.
Vasquez makes her way up the stairs and starts down the corridor towards her and Jason's room with a yawn. It doesn't take long to reach the door and give the interface a tap.
The door slides open to reveal a dimly lit room. Inside, Jason is stood where the couch and coffee tables should be. In their place is a table that wasn't there this morning. As a matter of fact, it appears to be the round table from the rec room with two chairs sitting opposite of each other. It only takes a quick scan of the room to see that the couch and coffee table have been shoved up against the far wall out of the way. He's
dressed down from his work attire, donning a simple pair of jeans and a dark blue button-up shirt that's been left unbuttoned overtop his usual white undershirt. Aside from the rapidly-setting daylight that filters in through the windows, a candle is set on the table to keep the room from getting too dark.
Jason is in the middle of lighting a second candle when the sound of the door opening draws his attention. He levels a lopsided smirk Vasquez' way. "Hey, beautiful." he says as the candle finally takes a flame and he sets it down opposite of the first. On the table in front of each of the chairs are square styrofoam containers with plastic knives and forks arranged neatly on each side. The disposable silverware are accompanied
Vasquez wears an impatient look as she stomps through the door. "Jason, I told you I have a lot to-" Her words are cut short as she takes in the scene before her, stopping in place with a blink. "What-" Her face is stuck in an odd grimace, tired frustration replaced by surprise and some undecided emotion. "What are you...?"
Jason taps the lighter against the palm of his hand a couple of times before setting it down on the table. "Just-... uhh-..." he shrugs, unsure of what the look on Vasquez' face means he decides to turn his attention back to the table, looking it over with furrowed brows to make sure everything is where it should be, "...know you haven't had dinner yet and-..." his attention turns back to the woman near the door and he rounds
the table towards her, dopey smile returning, "...figured with you leaving tomorrow it might be nice to-...." he trails off and another shrug follows, this one a bit more sheepish than the last. "Too much?" he snickers.
Vasquez ' gaze sweeps across the table before returning to Jason as he approaches, expression softening as she steps closer. Her hands find his sides, and she studies the mismatched setup on the table over his shoulder. "No, it's-..." she shakes her head. "It's a nice thought," she assures, fingers of her left hand tracing idle patterns up his back as she leans a little against him. "But Jason, I-... I have to work. The year
Jason brings his arms loosely around Vasquez as she leans against him, hands resting on her lower back. He listens quietly as she speaks, giving a few absent nods as she does. As she finishes he allows some space between them, only his left arm remaining around her as his right seeks out her chin to gently urge her gaze upwards towards his. "I'm gonna take care of everything around here." he assures through a relentless smirk.
Vasquez doesn't look quite as reassured by this as one might hope. "I-... I know, I just... want to be sure everything is under control. This is an important time for the company," she insists, shifting back a little, but her stomach rumbles as her gaze lands on the styrofoam containers again.
Jason gives a playfully unamused lift of his brow as Vasquez doesn't seem as put at ease as he expected, culminating in a snort and a shake of his head. But as he catches her sending more looks towards the food, he follows her gaze over briefly, lopsided grin returning. "Well, guess that means I'll have to eat all of that varren kebab on my own, then." he gives an exaggerated sigh of disappointment. Bribery it is, then.
Vasquez ' eyes snap back to Jason's with a scowl. "That's not fair..." she protests, attention darting back to the table and then him. She looks up at the ceiling, running a hand through her hair with a drawn-out sigh. "Playing dirty, honey," she complains with a warning look and an accusatory poke to the chest, but the sound of a smile threatening to break through laces her voice, and her body language relaxes as she relents.
Jason's smirk widens and his shoulders rise and fall in a shrug. "Didn't have to be this way. You forced my hand."
Vasquez ' smile manifests despite her best efforts, and she shakes her head. "Fine. Let's eat," she concedes, running her hand across his back again before slipping away to take a seat. She studies the candles with furrowed eyebrows, hand resting on the back of her chair as she stands just behind it. "Did you buy these...?"
Jason snickers, following Vasquez over towards the table. Committed to the 'romantic dinner' setting, he steps over to the chair Vasquez seems to have chosen and uncharacteristically pulls it out for her, gesturing for her to take a seat. "Nope. Handmade by yours truly." he says flatly, delivery way too confident for what's obviously a lie.
Vasquez ' hand lifts from the backrest as Jason pulls out her chair, watching with a bemused look on her face. "Right. Forgot you're a chandler," she comments as she takes a seat, studying the... unconventional dinner setup again.
Jason blinks, studying the seated woman for a moment. "A cha-... Uhhh-... Linda?" he starts, concern in his voice. "I know you grew up on Mars and they did things a little differently there, but these are candles. Not chandeliers." he explains matter-of-factly before giving her a 'there, there' pat on the shoulder and heading over to his own seat.
Vasquez looks a little baffled, but her mouth turns into a thin line as Jason pats her shoulder. "That is not what-... nevermind," she sighs, cutting herself off and tugging her styrofoam container a little closer to open the lid and have a look at the contents while Jason takes a seat.
Jason follows suit, dropping into his seat and tugging his own container closer, amused smile still plastered across his face.
True to his (bribing) word, the take-out container holds within it Vasquez' favorite. A #3 from the 'Varren Piece Diner'. It even seems to still be hot, implying a level of forethought and planning not often seen from Jason.
Jason flips open his own container and glances across the table. "You got everything packed up for tomorrow?" he asks as he reaches for his plastic utensils.
Vasquez takes a moment to reply, attention diverted by the beautiful sight before her. "...huh?" She looks up. "Oh. Yeah, of course," she confirms while reaching eagerly for her own cutlery. It's all too easy to lose track of how hungry she is when working, even with Halisi's admonishment. It doesn't help that her needs have been ever-shifting lately.
Jason gives a few small nods. "Excited for the trip?" he asks as he begins to dig in to his gourmet meal.
Vasquez wastes no time in digging in herself, her response to Jason's question delayed until she's swallowed. "I..." A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, expression soft as she nods. "Yeah, I am," she admits with a snicker, sounding a little surprised herself at the words. "It's been..." A tired puff of air and a shake of her head. "...ages since I went to something like that."
Jason snickers, nodding once more. "Enjoy it." he says. A short silence passes as he pokes at his food but, before he takes another bite, he glances back across the table. "I mean that." he says, seeking out her gaze. "I know I-... uhh-... I probably don't say it nearly as much as I should, but I appreciate everything you do around here, Linda. You work your ass off for us. You deserve to get out and have a good time every now
and then." he continues, well aware of the way she likes to beat herself up whenever she takes any time off.
Vasquez ' eyes linger on Jason, the soft smile returning as she listens. She almost interrupts, but his final addition makes her go quiet, gaze slipping away with a half-hearted nod. "I know," she assures, trying to sound convincing, before scooping up another forkful of food.
Jason's gaze remains on Vasquez for a few more moments, looking as if he has more to say before deciding against it and turning back to his food. Rome wasn't built in a day. "Not sure what I'm gonna do with a whole week to myself." he muses, smirk returning.
Vasquez snorts quietly. "Work, I'm hoping," she remarks with meaningful look across the table before taking another bite.
Jason avoids meeting her eyes this time, smile remaining. "I'm sure I'll fit some in." he teases, shoveling another bite into his mouth.
Vasquez sighs, but she can't keep her smile away for long as she studies him. Her gaze falls to the table, a chuckle slipping out as her eyebrows furrow. "...how did you even get this through the door on your own?"
Jason's attention snaps Vasquez' way, an offended look on his face. He lifts his right arm and flexes, undeterred by the fact that there's technically nothing to flex, then gestures to his right arm with his left hand, as if it should be obvious. "I'm kind of awesome?"
Vasquez raises an eyebrow. "Right, didn't consider that," she concedes with a small smirk. "Just remember to put it back, yeah?"
Jason gives a roll of his eyes at the sarcasm. "Go ahead and pretend like you're not impressed." he teases, gesturing her way with his fork before going in for another bite.
Vasquez doesn't respond, but she does shoot Jason a smile over her fork before her next bite. She's starting to look more relaxed, and soon her gaze wanders the room. "This time next year we'll have an actual dinner table. And an actual dining room," she muses, smiling a little at the thought, fingers of her right hand drumming against the table.
Jason draws in a breath, nodding to himself. "...And a third person to share it all with." he adds, shooting a glance back Vasquez' way before reigning in his smirk and taking another bite of his food.
Vasquez lets out a breath and shoots Jason a slightly nervous smile as she nods. "Yeah..." she says quietly, eyes falling to the flame of the closest candle as she eats, thoughts of the future swirling in her head.
Jason's attention turns back across the table, lingering on Vasquez as her thoughts turn elsewhere. Scooting his chair in a bit, he reaches across the table, seeking out her hand.
Vasquez 's attention turns back to the present as she spots Jason's hand, her own reaching out to meet him halfway, watching the synthetic joints shift.
Jason gives her hand a gentle squeeze, smile softening. "Still not sure it's set in all the way yet." he admits.