XP Holiday: Do You Like Pina Coladas?
Dec. 25th, 2022 02:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_changeling posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsKevin and Gabe have a chat at the bar on Christmas Day.
"Gabe." Kevin found him at the bar, multiple drinks arrayed around him as he sat down next to him. The older man was deeply tanned (although he'd just shifted slowly while sunning himself rather than tanning properly, and had been bouncing between people for once. Kevin being sociable was a little uncommon, as he made an effort to connect and relax. The bar staff moved quickly, having discovered he was also one of many of XF that tipped significantly higher than most, and a bright blue cocktail appeared within moments of him sitting.
“Kevin.” Gabriel raised a piña colada in greeting, then put it down and instead drank from an iced coffee he’d only just requested. “You wear snowbird well.”
"All I need is a white suit and panama hat and I could be a Graham Greene novel." He took a sip from his drink; it was ridiculous and sweet and citrusy. "Enjoying your down time?"
The younger man shrugged. "Mostly, I think I prefer my down time when it doesn't come with some half-hearted attempt at group bonding. We all spend plenty of time together, you know?" He switched to the piña colada again. "But I can't say I'd have come to Turks and Caicos on my own, so I'll take what I can get."
"Hey, there could have been trust building activities and group sessions. Instead, we get an open bar and a clothing optional beach. Take the easy win." Kevin said, plucking out a pineapple top from his drink that was attempting to cost him an eye. "Most of the time, our group bonding involves laying low in Eastern European safehouses trying to figure out how to sneak out under the cover of darkness."
"Yeah, time wasted on me. That's the one spycraft lesson that gay hook-up culture already taught me." Gabriel felt that joke was probably wasted on Kevin, but it was all he had. "And I wish the beach were a little less clothing-optional, if I'm being honest."
"This is a team that body modesty missed a long time ago." Kevin said, ignoring the fact that he had been one of the offenders. "Look, I know it's been a tough year but... I don't know. This is the touchy-feely part I make a point to be bad at. But, you need anything?"
"Another week off," Gabriel quipped. He had suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, an action he never would have considered had he not been moderately buzzed. "I'm fine," he shrugged. Clearly not buzzed enough. "You know, that whole thing. Time heals all wounds. And I've got time in spades or, you know, whatever."
"You know, if you need some extended leave, you can have it." He took another sip before pushing the drink back towards the bartender and collecting a Carib instead. "Seriously, shitshow you've been through. Take four weeks. I'll arrange to cover your assignments. To be honest, Colbert or I should have already been the ones to suggest it."
"I take my time when I need it," Gabriel said with another shrug. He took a long sip of his drink. "And anyway, we've all been through shitshows. I don't think mine stands out all that much."
"Everyone has a limit. You say you're good, then I won't push. But if you change your mind, just let us know and we'll make it work." Kevin said. There was no sense pushing the younger man. "I'm going out on the catamaran later if you feel like getting out on the water."
"Yes, always." Gabriel nodded. He knew Kevin knew as much, and that's why he suggested it. "All I want out of this trip is to be either tanning or on the water, preferably with many, many beverages, and in a position to avoid chatter from the few of our colleagues who never know when to shut up."
"What a horrible thing to say about Emma." Kevin said jokingly.
"Gabe." Kevin found him at the bar, multiple drinks arrayed around him as he sat down next to him. The older man was deeply tanned (although he'd just shifted slowly while sunning himself rather than tanning properly, and had been bouncing between people for once. Kevin being sociable was a little uncommon, as he made an effort to connect and relax. The bar staff moved quickly, having discovered he was also one of many of XF that tipped significantly higher than most, and a bright blue cocktail appeared within moments of him sitting.
“Kevin.” Gabriel raised a piña colada in greeting, then put it down and instead drank from an iced coffee he’d only just requested. “You wear snowbird well.”
"All I need is a white suit and panama hat and I could be a Graham Greene novel." He took a sip from his drink; it was ridiculous and sweet and citrusy. "Enjoying your down time?"
The younger man shrugged. "Mostly, I think I prefer my down time when it doesn't come with some half-hearted attempt at group bonding. We all spend plenty of time together, you know?" He switched to the piña colada again. "But I can't say I'd have come to Turks and Caicos on my own, so I'll take what I can get."
"Hey, there could have been trust building activities and group sessions. Instead, we get an open bar and a clothing optional beach. Take the easy win." Kevin said, plucking out a pineapple top from his drink that was attempting to cost him an eye. "Most of the time, our group bonding involves laying low in Eastern European safehouses trying to figure out how to sneak out under the cover of darkness."
"Yeah, time wasted on me. That's the one spycraft lesson that gay hook-up culture already taught me." Gabriel felt that joke was probably wasted on Kevin, but it was all he had. "And I wish the beach were a little less clothing-optional, if I'm being honest."
"This is a team that body modesty missed a long time ago." Kevin said, ignoring the fact that he had been one of the offenders. "Look, I know it's been a tough year but... I don't know. This is the touchy-feely part I make a point to be bad at. But, you need anything?"
"Another week off," Gabriel quipped. He had suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, an action he never would have considered had he not been moderately buzzed. "I'm fine," he shrugged. Clearly not buzzed enough. "You know, that whole thing. Time heals all wounds. And I've got time in spades or, you know, whatever."
"You know, if you need some extended leave, you can have it." He took another sip before pushing the drink back towards the bartender and collecting a Carib instead. "Seriously, shitshow you've been through. Take four weeks. I'll arrange to cover your assignments. To be honest, Colbert or I should have already been the ones to suggest it."
"I take my time when I need it," Gabriel said with another shrug. He took a long sip of his drink. "And anyway, we've all been through shitshows. I don't think mine stands out all that much."
"Everyone has a limit. You say you're good, then I won't push. But if you change your mind, just let us know and we'll make it work." Kevin said. There was no sense pushing the younger man. "I'm going out on the catamaran later if you feel like getting out on the water."
"Yes, always." Gabriel nodded. He knew Kevin knew as much, and that's why he suggested it. "All I want out of this trip is to be either tanning or on the water, preferably with many, many beverages, and in a position to avoid chatter from the few of our colleagues who never know when to shut up."
"What a horrible thing to say about Emma." Kevin said jokingly.
