xp_logs | Kevin & Darcy | Birthday Plans

xp_darcy posting in

(backdated) Darcy takes Kevin out for his birthday, but the birthday man's got his own ideas for a good ending to the evening.

"I'm not sure if I should compliment your choice of restaurant for the food, the decor, or the fact that they don't allow children in at any time." Kevin said as they walked through the lobby of the Wynn hotel, leaving the Delilah Lounge behind. "It's a challenge which I appreciate more."

"All of the above, the decent cocktail menu, and the live music with a small dance floor?" Darcy's tone was half quip, half question, lips curved into a satisfied smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," she continued, giving his elbow a light, affectionate squeeze as they made their way outside. "Happy birthday, Kevin. Is the other part of your gift okay? I know they're more personal than the ones I've given you in the past."

She'd given him a pair of cufflinks, but this year's edition was a simple silver circle stamped with daisies rather than something that could be useful in the field. "I had a plan for a useful pair, but didn't manage to get them made. Maybe next year. Have to find a new engineer that does ridiculous shit and can be bribed with food."

"These are lovely. I like understated ones." Kevin said although paused for a moment. "Wait, are you trying to find me superspy gadget cufflinks? Because Chris and I have a standing bet who can get the first pair of actually working and useful laser cufflinks since 1983."

Darcy came to a full stop, fingers lightly tugging on his elbow. "Of course I'm trying to find or make you subtle things that are useful. Generally, at least. Data storage, a kill program, magnifying glass, handcuff lockpick... actually that set is potentially so useful I've considered just doing a budget line item for them. I figure you've probably got a pair already that can store capsules or poison." She shook her head, then continued their walk. "This year's plan was... not quite a laser, but I was going to try and get a panic or bug out alert on one side and a tiny, very bright light on the other. Didn't work out though. Maybe next time. Still trying to figure out the logistics for a mini weapon that isn't super obvious."

"Actually, thanks to my powers, when I'm in the field, I mostly hide my kit in my body. Easier to just make a little skin pocket for most things. But, I mean, laser cufflinks... or one of those superspy cars with the ejection seats and rocket launchers hidden behind the headlights." He said with a grin.

"I think you need to talk to Scott and some of the other gearheads for a superspy car," she replied. "And yeah, it's easier, but why not have functional cufflinks? I suppose I could just go with ones like this that only have a personal touch, but I like a little bit of practicality in my gift-giving."

"I'm teasing you. These are lovely." Kevin said, pausing so he could look at her. "I like them a lot. Don't think my dumb bets affect that."

"I try to balance what I give you. Something useful and nondescript, something personal. Little bit of me with you in spirit regardless, always hoping you'll make it back safely." Darcy rubbed her fingers over the metal with a small smile. "Emotional nonsense and not a guarantee in our lives, I know. But enough of me getting emotions on you for now, what else would you like to do for your birthday weekend?"

"Hate to say it, but we've got a bit of work to do tonight." He said as they exited the hotel and he waved for a cab. "Feel like running a scam on a casino?"

"Am I changing first, or are we going in live?"

"We're good as we are." Kevin rooted through his pockets for a second. "I said scam because it sounds a lot more impressive, but we need to get this into the hotel house safe." He held up a rather nice looking pendant, sporting what looked like an impressive crust of small gems. "There's currently a hidden drive stored in there, and I want it wiped. This will generate a small and tight EM field inside that will wipe any electronics."

"Well, as long as it's not going to wipe me," Darcy eyed the pendant dubiously. "Dare I ask what's on there that you want wiped?"

"There's some information getting transferred that I'd rather not get transferred, and it would be an extra special cherry on top if the people who paid a lot of that info think they just got screwed out of a lot of money when they discover a blank drive."

"Mm, causing chaos among the rich? Is this my birthday present or yours, Boss?" She grinned up at him as the cab pulled up, letting him hand her into the backseat and settling in quietly, the smile on her face settling into something fond.

"More likely it will involve people who I don't like trying to have other people I don't like killed, and no fingerprints to us at all." Kevin said with a sideways smile as he sat down.

"Of course. What sort of gift would it be if it blew up in our faces? I'm not into that sort of pyrotechnics," she bantered back easily. She was half pressed into Kevin's side for warmth, half turning her face into his shoulder to hide the flare of her eyes as she reached out for tech in the immediate area as they got close to the casino. "Alright, before we're in range of the cameras, what's the plan?"

"Distressed date. I'm going to be the drunk lurching towards the craps table. You need to convince them to put your pretty birthday present in the house safe because we're staying here before you get me." He paused long enough to produce a bottle of gin which he swirled around his mouth. "Always drink gin with a mark. They can't tell if you cut it."

"You have an idea of when they're planning to transfer the data? Probably best if we're well shot of the place before it, in case anyone gets suspicious." She let out a soft sigh as the pendant draped around her neck with the lightest brush of fingers before the pearls she'd been wearing ended up in her hands. A few seconds of work had them wound around her wrist like a wide bracelet and secured. "Be as grabby drunk as you need to be, but if you break these pearls I'm going to stab you," Darcy said semi-seriously. "The way Gran tells it, dad saved up to get them for mom once he found out she was pregnant. It's the only really nice piece of jewelry she owned aside from her wedding set."

"Not handsy. I'm the chaos agent. You need to be the one that had a glass of the three bottles from tonight." The car let them out and Kevin was instantly different. He made sure the gin bottle was easy to see, staggering along to the doors. He pulled Darcy along with him, while pointing randomly at things that didn't matter but his commentary made no sense. As they hit the lobby, he suddenly produced a stack of bills and in an aggravated gesture, stormed off.

Darcy had just a few seconds to decide how to play up her part. The corners of her eyes pricked with tears as her face crumpled into something confused and upset at being left alone as he stormed into the crowds at the tables, fingers nervously plucking at the pendant around her neck before she spun and slumped to the nearby bar. The sigh she let out as the bartender asked for her order was dejected, followed by a soft "Arnaud's French 75, please."

"Rough night?" The woman said as she built Darcy's drink. "Is that your... yours?" She tipped her shaker at Kevin in the distance.

"Y-Yeah, he is." An undercurrent of fondness threaded through the dejection. "We're celebrating my birthday, and he–little too much gin, far too much running into one of his buddies from the yacht club. You know the type, only having fun when they're getting everyone around them to be an asshole," she continued, eyes flitting nervously over the bartender and into the crowd, always clocking the dark hair. She took her drink with a nod, giving the bartender a small smile as she took a sip. "I'll let him get it out of his system a bit, I think."

"Looks messy. And you wade into that-" She paused to pour a couple of shots. "That looks like a birthday present. Maybe don't risk it?" She poured two shots and took the one closest to her down in a single motion.

"It is." Darcy sipped her drink slowly until it was about half gone, then set her drink down long enough to fumble with the tiny thing she was calling a clutch tonight. The pearls she'd wrapped around her wrist slid into it easily, and she spent a few moments jostling and seemingly attempting to arrange things before her face fell even more. She drained the last of her glass in one go, letting it wobble clumsily as she placed it back on the bar. "Are you–" her voice was soft, hesitant. "Um. Would it be possible to place my necklace in the casino safe for a bit? We're staying upstairs, but–" a bitten lip, slightly hunched shoulders. "It's too rigid to fit into my clutch, and if he doesn't see it maybe he won't remember I've got it for him to bet away. He wouldn't normally, but sometimes when he's in a mood..." she trailed off, letting the bartender fill in the blanks as she saw fit. "I could pick it up before we leave for the evening?"

"Sure. Hang on. Angie, I'll be back in five." She came around the bar and motioned Darcy to follow. "Come with me, hon." They walked through the casino to the lobby and she motioned to the man behind one of the desks. "Bennie, friend of mine needs to store a necklace in the safe for a bit."

"There's normally a-"

"It's only going to be a few hours. They're guests at the hotel." The man looked hesitant for a moment and then shook his head.

"Yeah, fine. It's not a big deal." He rummaged around behind the desk for a moment and came up with a metal case with a digital tumbler. "Miss, you can put it in here. Choose a four digit pin once it is closed." He made a note. "This is box 16. Just give this ticket to anyone at the desk and they'll retrieve it for you."

She smiled at Bennie as she carefully draped her necklace into the case, fussily ensuring the heart-shaped blue and accompanying small clear stones along the stiff neck and looser sides were laying correctly with the dropped pendant tucked carefully before entering a pin and accepting the ticket. "Thank you Bennie. I really appreciate your assistance," she said, watching as the necklace disappeared into the safe along with other boxes, then turned to the bartender as they turned back to the bar. "And you've gone above and beyond for me tonight, I really appreciate it." Darcy's eyes were still tracking Kevin, less loud but still drawing attention. "I think it's time to take him upstairs. We'll be back to settle my tab." With that, she moved into the crowd, coming to a quiet stop near his elbow.

"Hard fours, bitches! I'm rolling hard fours!" Kevin had already pulled in a cluster of observers, drunk and belligerent. He tossed the dice and cheered as they came up twos. "Damn right! I'm on fire. On fire! Baby, kiss these dice." He said, sloppy and wavering as Darcy got close.

Darcy crinkled her nose, but put a steadying hand on his hip and stretched just enough to press a kiss to his cheek. The fingers on her free hand brushed over the dice at the same time, causing the light to catch the stones of the ring on her hand. "I think it's about time to head upstairs," she said as she watched the next toss of dice.

"But I'm on a-" The dice came up snake-eyes. "Ah, fuck it." He collected up a stack of chips and she fell in beside him as he made his way unsteadily towards the bar. Once there, this unsteadiness vanished. As he passed the bar, Kevin pointed towards the door in the corner.

"That lead out back?"

The bartender that had helped Darcy earlier looked a little puzzled but nodded. Kevin didn't break stride as he passed, plunking the stack of chips on the bar. "A little extra for this never happening." He said, catching her second nod. They were through the door, past a supply idea and out in the back of the casino in an obvious employee smokers area, festooned with butts. "No issues with the safe?"

"No, even have the ticket for pickup if we want to retrieve it. Send me in a little mussed up, bartender will assume you made it up to me quite nicely and slipped her the extra for letting us get handsy in the back alley instead of making the trek upstairs." Darcy wiggled her eyebrows at Kevin without shame. "Of course, I was going to ask how long it takes to activate, but for now I'll settle with where we're getting to next."

Kevin produced what looked like an automobile fob out of his pocket and pressed the button. It beeped twice and he tossed it into the overflowing dumpster as they passed. "It's activated. That drive is now a paperweight. And we won't be going back. In thirty days, as per Nevada law, they remove any unclaimed valuables from the house safe and quickly determine that it is just a bit of cheap costume jewelry made to look nice and toss it on the same heap as the thousands of fake diamond engagement rings and nothing carat gold jewelry that gets left behind in this town without a second thought. You might want to keep an eye on that bartender though. She looks like a shrewd one, and a casino bartender can be a very useful asset at times." They reached the strip and he waved for a cab.

"And with work done, I know a little diner in the old part of town that makes a terrific pineapple upside down cake that I intend to finish my night having. Maybe even a scoop or ice cream with it. Living dangerously, you know."

Darcy let out a laugh, and one of the curls from her careful updo fell free to bounce against the side of her face. "Cake and ice cream this late at your age? Dangerous indeed."