[oom] Miami

[justcallmefee]

She opens the door for him and lets him precede her through into the expansive marble foyer of a fantastically huge house. Their footsteps ring in the empty space.

"Right this way, sir. There are cocktails waiting by the pool." She waggles her eyebrows at him.

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[latino_menace]

He looks around and wishes he'd remembered to bring his shades.

'You've moved up in the world,' he remarks. 'Got another rich boyfriend hidden away?'

[justcallmefee]

She wrinkles her nose at him, grinning, leading him through a series of rooms, all the furniture covered in white cloth.

"Only here for the week. Needed it for the cover. But. That doesn't mean we can't enjoy it while we're here."

The sun is setting so he shouldn't be uncomfortable for too long.

"There's a sound system for the back, but I haven't figured it out yet. It must take a staff of ten to keep this place going when it's in full occupancy."

[latino_menace]

'Where is it? I'll take a look since your secret call is so important.'

Not that he particularly cares about music but it can set a good scene. As he heads to a likely looking room to search for it, he shoots back over his shoulder.

'And this place has nothing on my main house.'

[justcallmefee]

"I know. Castle fortress in the impenetrable mountains." She shakes her head, laughing as he goes.

"Nothing like this, I hope," she says, checking to make sure she has service. The phone finishes reacquiring the signal and the time comes up.

"Come on, Barry. Don't let me down." The phone rings right on cue.

"Hey," she says, spinning on one heel to pace around the room. "Tell me you have something."

"..."

"No, that won't work. No, trust me, a yacht is nothing. Gimme something else."

"..."

"No, got one of those too. Yes, he's the most difficult man to shop for on the planet. Surely you've got something -- bigger."

"..."

"Wait, go back. Read that again?"

"..."

"That. Yes, that will do nicely. And the guy has it bad for --?"

"..."

"Oh cards. Oh this should be easy. Thank you Barry. Email me the details will you? You're a doll!" She makes kissy noises at the phone and snaps it shut, smiling like the cat who just caught the canary.

[latino_menace]

He can hear her talking in the other room but when it comes down to it, he's a man. And there are wires and buttons to press on an impossible looking sound system. he's nonplussed by the ultra-mini remote control for a moment but on investigating some leads and sockets, it's not too hard to figure out.

If she's anywhere near the back doors, she'll hear some quiet Spanish music start to waft over the pool area.

...OK no, it blasts out at maximum volume for a while until he discovers the volume control. But then it's quiet, and tasteful. He looks very pleased with himself as he heads back out.

'Done. Drink?'

[justcallmefee]

"Drink."

She piles her shades, portfolio and mobile on the bar, and strips off her jacket, revealing a little white blouse underneath. She's even wearing a bra. Imagine that.

She pulls up a few bottles, poking around. "Ah here we are."

A bottle of Patrón Silver, some orange juice and a bottle of grenadine.

"Tequila Sunrise, perfect for a sunset."

[latino_menace]

'Obviously.'

He smirks, sits and picks up her portfolio. Doesn't actually open it (yet) but pretends like he might.

'And it's not a castle.'

This is said in something of a throwaway tone but he does want to make that point.

'What would be wrong with being like this place?'

[justcallmefee]

She gives him a look and rolls her eyes at him. (There's nothing in the portfolio, if he looks. Just some real estate brochures and blank paper in varying colours.)

"Here. Drink," she says, putting his down in front of him and leaning in to kiss his cheek.

[latino_menace]

'Thanks.'

Real estate? He's confused but maybe its just for show.

'You didn't answer my question.'

[justcallmefee]

"Nothing's wrong with it. But in my mind, anything bigger than this place is dangerously close to castle territory. Okay, maybe palace is a better word. Is it palace like at all?"

She leans on her elbows, smirking at him.

[latino_menace]

He raises an eyebrow at her, sardonic.

'I'm king of the world, remember?'

The real estate brochure on top seems to be for luxury homes and he picks it up, leafing through casually.

'It's not a palace.'

The page turning stops and he turns the brochure to her, tapping a photo. It shows an interior sitting room decorated in dark but lush colours, rich and luxurious but warm too.

'A bit like that downstairs. Open through the main sitting room, into the bar and pool room. And that overlooks the outdoor swimming pool through a glass wall - because it's on the side of a mountain, you get the best view over the Andes and Bogota below. It's almost a sheer drop from the edge of the patio outside so it's defendable from that side at least.'

He shrugs and closes the brochure. He loves that house and nothing he can say will do it justice. She'll just have to see it for herself - but he doesn't want to give the impression it's cold and impersonal. It's very much his home and he's all about comfort.

[justcallmefee]

She listens, leaning in to look at the pictures, but watching his face as well, catching that deeper sentiment. She's survived by being able to read people, and he's grown less guarded around her over the past few months. It's easy to see he feels at home there. It's a good look on him.

"When was the last time you got back there?"

[latino_menace]

He lights a smoke to give his hands something to do. Not being able to go home gnaws at him constantly and it always seems to be worse at this time of year.

'Random took me back...fuck, three years ago? Only for a night. It was a year before that since I lived there.'

He figures it'll be hard to get things back to the way they were before he got arrested - especially with the situation with the virus - but he has to try.

'I gave it to Random but I don't think he'll mind if I move back in. If I can. It'll be under constant surveillance.'

A problem he has yet to figure out how to solve.

[justcallmefee]

She reaches up and touches his chin, lifting his gaze back to hers.

"Happy memories, then. Like me and Dublin, aye?"

[latino_menace]

'Never just memories.'

His face is neutral but his eyes are dark and hard.

'They're not taking my home away from me.'

He doesn't usually care about houses. But it was the first place he bought when he got rich, it's his base of operations and more importantly, his first son lived his life there. There's no way in hell he's not taking it back.

[justcallmefee]

"Did I say they were?" Her accent grows a little thicker as she bristles. She's putting herself out on a limb to find him some place spectacular for Christmas, and she's not in the mood to suffer his mood swings today.

"Did I say I was never going home again?"