Paris, France, New Year's Eve

[vdistinctive]

Eliot had spent the week in Oklahoma, visiting with Tru and hiking around some the state's larger parks, just generally reminding himself who the hell he was without his crew along for the ride.

And it was good. Cold, a little bit lonely, but just what he needed. Hell, he'd even thrown in a visit to the local VA center to check in with the counselors there -- people who actually knew a thing or two about PTSD, thank you very much Hardison -- and got himself a prescription for anti-anxiety meds, in case Fandom decided to throw something extra nasty at them again. All told, it'd been a very successful week.

But this? Hanging out with his crew in what was basically the romance capital of the world, on a holiday when tradition called for lots of kissing?

He absolutely needed this, too.

[ooc: for the crew, up early for sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowplay.]

Comments

[whoisalicewhite]

"I like this place," Parker said, leaning against the balcony railing. "Mostly for the view. But also for the desserts." She pointed her champagne flute at each of the guys. "And 'cause we're all here together."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Hardison had only wanted Eliot to talk to somebody! He just figured Eliot would put up a bigger fuss about being told to see a professional!.

"I'm glad I'm allowed to just enjoy the view an' not have to worry about jumpin' off it," Hardison teased, raising his flute to Parker. "Y'all an' the desserts kinda fight for second on that."

[vdistinctive]

Eliot put up a fuss about being told to do it. This wasn't his first rodeo. Fandom just made some coping strategies extra hard.

"You two go for simple pleasures," he noted, clinking his glass against both of theirs. "Who knew."

[whoisalicewhite]

Parker took a sip of her champagne, giggling as the bubbles went up her nose, and hooked her toes over the lowest rungs of the balcony railing. "I like complicated plans, not complicated fun. I mean, a vodka-and-caviar massage? What is that about?"

The in-spa services here were really ridiculous.

Parker tilted her head back and let the wind blow her hair around. "I'm mostly glad you were done vacationing from the Island in time to be here with us."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"My chakras ain't never felt so aligned," Hardison declared. "I think it was cause they used Swarovski crystals on 'em durin' the salt rub."

Hardison had nearly laughed himself sick at seeing that on offer and then had immediately decided he needed one.

[vdistinctive]

"Chakras nothin'," Eliot said. "You seen the room service menu? I can't decide if those variations on steak tartare are genius or horrifying."

[whoisalicewhite]

Parker snickered, leaning into him for a second. "Bet you could do it better." She grinned over at Hardison. "We should jump off the Eiffel Tower tomorrow. Right? Oui?"

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Now why you gonna make me dread 2018 like that?" Hardison asked, unable to not agree to it if she really wanted him to. "That's just mean, mama. Eliot, tell her she's bein' mean."

[vdistinctive]

"Wasn't jumpin' off stuff like your all's first several dates?" Eliot said. "Sounds romantic to me."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Ain't nothin' romantic about screamin'," Hardison groused.

The expression in his eyes when he looked at Parker suggested he might be overselling it a bit, though.

[whoisalicewhite]

Parker smirked at him an leaned in. "You liked the tandem jumps. Don't lie. I could tell."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Mama, I keep tellin' you," Hardison said, leaning in to steal a quick kiss, "that's a different kinda yellin'."

[vdistinctive]

"I dunno, man," Eliot teased. "I think all this is a show. You secretly love it."