#ccsemberclub

"Did I screw up , Boss?"

"No, Rocco. I am simply a suspicious bastard. Do you think you could follow up with... what was his name?"

"Guy Cadly... no seriously, his name is Guy"

An eyebrow "Guy -Cadly-? A bit on-the-nose?"

"Worse part? He has a mustache. Not a curly ended one, but still"

"I am sure a bit of wax would resolve that."

"So. At least we can be aware on ... even further on-guard. Do you have a way of contacting him?"

"Yeah. You sure you want me to?" He says

"A gentle call, just to see if all is well and perhaps what changed his mind; one security professional to another. Keep Miss CC and I out of it, hm?"

He looks dubious "Well, it seems a bit odd to me but I can try to play it smooth"

"You were looking forward to having him on the team. Let me know how it goes."

The recap looks dubious "Okay. I'll give it a try"

"If it gets sticky, walk away. Thank you, Rocco."

"Sure thing, boss. " He walks out

"Excuse me, miss?" he hails the server.

She comes in "Yes?"

"You heard?"

"Yes. " She says "Guy Cadly? Really?"

"With a mustache." he reminds her, making room on his lap.

"Am I off the mark with my suspicions? Too paranoid?"

"I'd say too paranoid, but I almost got kidnapped and you got into a fireight.. not sure 'too paranoid' is possible right now" She concedes "Rocco thinks you're being squirelly here, but he also knows the paycheck comes from us and he respects you"

"He has skin in this game; they shot him, too. He failed in his primary mission; he will not do so again."

"I actually try NOT to think of what ROcco did when he trackeed those men down" A shiver "Redcaps, we need them, but lordy for once I don't want to watch"

"Only -one- of them suffered, Dearest." he comforts.

"I know" She says " ANd I LIKE Rocco. He's become a good right hand to you in some matters"

"Agreed, and I continue to hold him in high regard."

"But he does have something to prove now, mostly to himself. " She slips into his lap "now, about the others we DID interview today? Any favorites?"

He makes a happy noise as she joins him. "Frankly, they all had points to recommend them. And we -will- need coverage."

"Yes. But after the job is done, we'll let some of them go. Which do you think might be a keeper?"

An eyebrow. "A keeper?"

"For a permanent position? Not to body guard me after this, but a security option?"

"Hm. I hadn't thought on it. Do you promise to feed and clean up after them, take them for walks?"

She taps his nose "Behave"

"You have been very indulgent of me today." he acknowledges and admits. "Let's get through this, first, and you can have your pick of the remaining litter."

"you're impossible. Good thing you're cute" She kisses him

"In your eyes, perhaps, which is enough for me." he kisses her back.

The two make out for a bit, and CC lifts up "You do know that with my disquises I can just go out and about as someone else?"

"No bodyguard needed?"

"Too many unknowns, Dearest."

"mmmph"

"I spent years honing my magics and now they're not worth anything?"

"You put words in my mouth, Dearest. Usually I do not object to anything you put in my mouth but in this case...."

"Let me learn a bit more after we have secured our surroundings and then yes, it may be time to have you go undercover. As it were. I am not comfortable with that at the current time."

"You're right, I'm not being fair to you." She admits "We'll do it your way." there is an unspoken 'for now'

He tucks a tendril of hair behind her ear. "Just a bit more information about this Evil Belgian Gentleman and we'll move forward." he promises.

"Okay" She cradles against him

And he cradles her. "We've survived worse, separately and together. This? Nothing more than an inconvenience."

"True. Nothing like a cancer report to put things in perspective. Every day now is a gift. Maybe it always was"

"Every day a gift.... since I met you." he agrees softly.

Her eyes get very large, almost luminous, at that wording