Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

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[nostalgiabomb]

[ He gets in one more kiss -- gentle, this time -- before he sighs. ]

Hate to be That Guy, but we're still on the clock and still liable to get riddled full of bullet holes, so we'd better get going.

[phaselocknroll]

Yeah, I'd rather not spend any more time in the Laundry of the Damned than we have to.

[ There's shelves and shelves of sheets and pillowcases and bins everywhere. One set of double doors leads to what Maya presumes is where they do all the washing, but there's another door on the opposite end of the room. She grabs Peter's hand and leads him in that direction. ]

... If anything good has come out of this, though, it was kind of fun pretending to be married for a little bit.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ -- URK, um, he literally stumbles at that, but it's only because he was busy twisting around, getting one of his blasters into the digistruct device. Honest. ]

You think so?

[phaselocknroll]

[ u ok there Peter ]

Yeah? It was just... I dunno. Not something I really thought about before?

[nostalgiabomb]

I-- guess I hadn't really, either. [ But then again, he never saw himself in a steady, monogamous relationship, either, and here he is. ] I mean, in general terms, anyway. Just-- marriage is weird. Is all.

[phaselocknroll]

Just so you know, I'm not expecting a proposal or anything. It was just kinda fun.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His sigh and his, ] Oh, thank God-- [ are totally by reflex.

And then his eyes kind of widen when he realizes what he said. ]

-- Shit, sorry. I just-- I mean, it's fine for most people, just, you know, I think I-- am going to shut up now so we can focus on escaping.

[phaselocknroll]

Yeah, better not dig yourself any deeper there. [ She's amused as she says it, and she leans up to give him a a peck on the cheek. As far as she's concerned, they're practically married anyway, but man, if she ever wants to watch Peter stammer and flail around a bit, now she knows all she has to do is bring up the "m" word.

She puts her gun back into her digistruct device and pulls out her sweater, slipping it back on ]

Shall we?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ no maya plz

Wisely, he keeps his big trap shut as he stows away the rest of his gear (and for a moment he thinks, "but what if I just hide one blaster--" before he realizes that's stupid, and he can just call them back out at a moment's notice anyway).

He slips his hand into hers before managing to wrestle his expression from tight-lipped and panicked and I'm on the verge of saying a lot of stupid things to something far more serene. ]

I think I'm ready to go home, now, sweetie.

[phaselocknroll]

[ Her own gear goes back into storage. She feels a little naked without her shield, but it's far too obvious to leave on her belt

She pats him on the shoulder, a sweet smile on her face. ]

Me too, dear.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He pushes the door open, and it looks like they've exited into a quiet, nondescript corner of the facility. No guards in sight, luckily, and if anyone's in the area, they don't seem to pay the couple any mind.

He thinks for a moment, trying to remember the blueprints they had only had a few hours to look over before the two of them were thrown into the fray-- and if he remembers right, the courtyard should be-- that way. He heads off down the path, walking at a steady pace (even if he seriously wants to run full pelt to the exit). By the time they reach the courtyard, the presentations had long been over (he thinks, Oh, gosh darn it). The stage is still intact, and there are still people hanging around the area, and he thinks he spots Tukkir speaking to his adoring fans.

Peter keeps his head ducked down towards Maya, as though they were in the middle of an intimate conversation, though he keeps his eyes peeled for anyone paying them too much attention. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ When she spots Tukkir out of the corner of her eye, she resolutely averts her gaze. If she dared to even look at him- really look at him- she'd break character in a split second.

Instead her gaze falls on the stage, and she offers Peter a fond smile. ]

I was just reminiscing. Do you remember that fancy party we went to? The one with the big crystal chandeliers?

[ Which is code for I'm about to cause a distraction. And she does, raising her hand as if to brush something off Peter's shirt- but what she does instead is set the podium on fire with her phaselock. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The effect, naturally, is immediate. Once the podium bursts into flames, everyone in the immediate area splutters and cries out in shock, with shouts of, “get an extinguisher!” and “what the hell!” and “holy shit!” ringing out in unison. Once again, Peter has to stifle a laugh in favor of looking surprised as well – though after a quick glance around, it seems pretty pointless. No one has any eyes on them. He backs them up to the entrance and palms the control for the door, nodding his head for Maya to go first. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ She slips through the door, which puts them on the road to the mines. There's something like a car port nearby, that holds about a dozen small buses, likely for shuttling workers back and forth. She can see a few other structures along the road- supplemental housing and other facilities for water and electricity. Nice little empire he's got set up here.

There are no guards outside the doors, but she supposes they don't have to really worry about people trying to break in from this way. Not when the population has either been brainwashed or is directly working for Tukkir.

She glances back at Peter. ]

What do you think, husband dearest? Shall we find a spot to hunker down and call in the cavalry?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He smiles, and a lot of it is from sheer relief from having gotten in and out without dying, defying every single logical outcome saying they should’ve gotten captured or turned into Swiss cheese.

(Probably not worth thinking about the "what-ifs" right now, seeing as how they’re kind of freaky.) ]

Darling wife, I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She breaks off from the road, heading out into the wilderness, just in case someone happens by. There are large enough trees a short distance from the edge of the road to keep them hidden. Honestly, she just kind of picks a direction and goes. ]

Doing okay?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He keeps up with her, walking side-by-side toward the forest. At her question, he gives her a slightly puzzled look and a small smile, then slips his hand into hers. ]

Pretty sure that’s my line, actually.

[phaselocknroll]

Maybe it's both of ours.

[ there's a pause, as she turns her gaze upwards, looking at the glimpses of sky showing through the trees ]

I'm... better. Is it weird that I think that whose excursion helped a little?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That-- actually makes him kind of peer at her thoughtfully, but then he shrugs. ] I guess it’s kind of like, an immersion therapy type of thing. So-- it kinda makes sense, in a way.

That, and like, I guess shooting down a bunch of red shirts must’ve helped, too.

[phaselocknroll]

Could've done without the part where I thought they were gonna brainwash you, though.

[nostalgiabomb]

-- Well, you swooped in and saved the day yet again, right? It turned out okay. [ He tries for a reassuring smile, batting his eyes in true Disney Princess fashion. ] My hero.

[phaselocknroll]

It this the part where I sweep you off your feet and take you away to my castle so we can live happily ever after?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That stops him dead in his tracks as they reach the edge of the overgrowth, and he feigns a look of astonishment. ]

Hang on. Is this the first time I’m hearing about your castle? Have you been holdin’ out on me all this time? Because "I have a castle" is totally something you should tell someone on the first date.

[phaselocknroll]

[ Totally deadpan: ] Yes, Peter. I have pretended to be a lowly commoner all this time. It was the only way I could escape the pressures of castle life.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ With a knowing nod, ] Somehow, I’ve always known. Your secret is safe with me, Lady Maya.

If you’ll excuse me, though, I believe I have some fire and brimstone I need to call in. [ And then he bows low, sweeping an arm out, before withdrawing his helmet attachment from his digistruct and stepping away. ]