Bellagio, Room 714

[dead_hooker_2]

Trina Echolls is not much of an actress (and enough of a realist to know it, if not to, you know, actually admit it out loud). But she’s a pro at acting like Trina Echolls the persona. (She has less of a handle on Trina Echolls the person

Comments

[obligatoryass]

The plane touched down at McCarran International Airport just after 5 a.m.

Logan had taken a the first available red-eye out of LAX mostly because he was afraid he'd miss Trina's 'marriage' altogether. She was probably already working on an anullment, and he couldn't stand to miss the opportunity to rib her - and to possibly take another swipe at Chad. It was a remote possibility, but one he woudl relish.

An even remoter possibility was that Trina might be glad to see him. After all, last night's phone call was the first time he'd spoken to her since the funeral, and it hadn't been what one would call conducive to mending their relationship

[obligatoryass]

"Yeah," Logan says, still dry. "They're trying to figure out why he went all Dr. Evil and Columbine combined. Because wouldn't just one or the other be enough?"

Tact? Taste? Logan knows not these things.

[dead_hooker_2]

Chad racks his brains for comforting things to say, and draws a giant blank.

"Your friend Dick must have had a tough time," he says, finally.

[obligatoryass]

"Yes," Logan says, with evident glee. "Especially because his dad is in hiding from the IRS and I totally banged his hot stepmother. And yet he carries on, because he's a simple guy."

[dead_hooker_2]

Chad is in so very over his head.

He casts a look hopelessly Trina-wards, and the look says, 'HELP'.

[dead_hooker_2]

Trina has paid absolutely no attention to any of this. She's still not paying attention to it.

"No, I won't get married again. . . .Well, for one thing, I'm pretty sure they have a one per customer rule. . . . Yes. Really, I'm all right."

She glances up, finally, just in time to catch the HELP look.

"Hey, I need to go. . . .Yes, I'll call as soon as I get back. . . . SKSK."

She snaps the cell phone closed.

"Well," she says, "what an unpleasant surprise."

[obligatoryass]

Logan beams. "Hello, sister dear," Logan says. "I couldn't help but come to congratulate you in person. I would have brought a gift, but it was all so sudden, you know?"

[dead_hooker_2]

Trina looks up at him. The bare feet (specifically the lack of three inch heels) had effectively doubled his height advantage over her.

Also, it's the first time in about six years that he's seen her without make up.

"Thank you. Congratulations accepted. Now go away."

[obligatoryass]

"Can't do that," he says, gesturing at the television. "Game's not over yet, and I'm going to go crazy if I can't find out who wins."

She's all cute and tiny! And looks like his big sister from when he was a kid. If he weren't enjoying all this so much, he'd feel bad.

[dead_hooker_2]

Cute? Cute? Baby ducks are cute.

Trina turns the television off.

"What are you doing here, Logan?"

[obligatoryass]

"I told you - I came to congratulate you," Logan says.

The smirk fades slightly as she continues to glare. "And also make sure you hadn't gone totally insane?" he offers.

[dead_hooker_2]

"Oh, of course. Which explains why you came without calling first, came into the room under false pretenses, and promptly picked a fight with Chad. How silly of me. Can't think why I didn't see it at once."

[dead_hooker_2]

Chad feels it his Duty to Intervene, here.

"We weren't fighting, honey; Logan was just filling me in on the news from Neptune," he says, and glances at Logan.

"Right, kid?"

(Logan was 'kid' eight years ago, and as far as Chad is concerned he is still 'kid' now.)

[obligatoryass]

"Right, dimples," Logan says, referring to Mr. Witherspoon's erstwhile nickname, Dimpled Chad. "Besides, you hung up on me last time. Didn't think you'd even answer if I called again."

He wonders how she knows about the false pretenses. Then again, it's probably pretty obvious. And typical.

[dead_hooker_2]

Trina knows her brother. And the room service tray is a bit of a clue.

"You do follow the flaw in that logic, right? So, why don't you try being honest for a change, just to see how you like it, and tell me why the hell you're really here? 'Cause my guess is snark and gloat, and I cannot tell you how much I'm not playing that game right now, baby brother."

Chad's attempts to Intervene, while noble, are going to be more or less hopeless.

[obligatoryass]

Logan opens his mouth to respond, then closes it again.

There's not much to say in response to the unvarnished truth, is there?

"Yeah," he says meekly. "But now I officially feel like a giant asshat. Is there anything I can do to help out?"

It's a sincere, if pathetic, offer.