savetheearth | this time it is that kind of vacation

Who: Randall Lyall and Nick Burkhardt
When: May 14th
Where: Vacationing outside Locke
What: Another vacation for the full moon

Nick'd written much better notes to himself this time. He knows he'll remember the last time they went out of town, and he's hoping that he'll remember the important stuff, but he's not taking any chances.

He doesn't mention that the more things they do outside of the network's boundaries, the more memories they'll have together that can't be affected by them. The more they'll have in case things go bad. He's thinking it, of course, especially given the number of friends he's lost to lack of pulses, but it's a little too strange - and too sentimental - to write down among the rest of his notes.

This time, he has his notes out as they get ready to cross the border, and when it happens, he - already knows what to expect. This again, apparently, and Nick looks down at his phone resignedly to read what he'd written to himself. He actually remembers most of it - the trip last month, he definitely remembers, and he remembers what happened after.

Nick likes to think he's not the kind of guy that would just forget kissing someone.

"...I'm starting to be really grateful I never used to take my sick days."

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Thankfully, the driver isn't the sort to forget the kissing event, either. That much stays with him as they drive across the border. Lyall chuckles a bit at the comment, despite the moment of disorientation. "I'm actually out of mine, by now... I'm taking today, but tomorrow and Friday are unpaid. Before long, I'm afraid I'm going to have to come clean to the principal or get written up."

Because he also remembers their last trip, crystal clear, and so he definitely believes that post-it that says in big block letters: "WEREWOLF FULL MOON". That little bit of change and just how disturbing it was is quite firmly in the forefront of his mind, so believing there could be worse isn't hard, at all.

"Thank you for coming, though." He reaches over without looking, only a little tentatively, for Nick's free hand.

Nick grins, slowly and a little bit smug, even as he gently threads his fingers through Lyall's. "Wouldn't miss it."

That first comment worries him a little bit, though, especially that part about coming clean to the principal. Between last time, the vague memories he still has, and all of the arrests at the station, he knows that the network members aren't the bad guys, and there isn't as much danger in coming clean any more, but he still has the kneejerk reaction of secrecy.

He still remembers the police picking Lyall up, awhile back, and now it pisses him off a lot more than it did before.

"Are you sure? Couldn't you come up with some kind of cover?"

"Not one that wouldn't require some kind of professional's note. I could claim an illness, except I know I don't seem ill, and even then, I'd still need that note." Mordin could probably write him one, but he's a bit hesitant to ask, let alone come up with something appropriate for being ill three nights out of every month, on a regular schedule. "I think the truth might just be easiest for everyone."

Those are... all very good points, and ones that Nick can't really argue with. He smooths his thumb absently over the back of Lyall's hand, frowning slightly. "Yeah, I guess. You don't think the principal will hold it against you or anything, will she?"

"She might. If she does... I can apply at the other high school, I suppose." He sounds dubious of his success there, but he can tell this is a train of thought he's followed before, and the next conclusion comes naturally enough that he's obviously considered it already: "But I don't think it would reflect well on her-- the only way she could get away with it is by taking my condition public, and I don't think that would count as a valid reason to terminate me."

He glances away from the road and over at Nick, tightening his fingers around Nick's. "It'll be all right. If I have to, I have to, and I'll find some way to work it out."

The frown only deepens as he thinks about that. The idea of someone getting fired because of a condition, because of what they are, something beyond their control - well, normally it makes Nick really annoyed, but right now, the thought actually makes him smile a little.

He squeezes Lyall's hand. "I bet I could get it classified as a hate crime, maybe as going against the ADA. Or at least I could make her think it would be, if she gets any ideas."

"Oh, are you offering to threaten my boss, Nick?"

Lyall is somewhere between amused and touched at the suggestion, but he's pretty sure it's not serious-- thankfully. Since it's probably not a good idea, and the thought of Nick threatening someone for his sake, boss or not, is a bit embarrassing, but it's still a bit funny to consider. And nice, too, since apparently during that time they couldn't remember clearly they had gotten pretty close.

Nick chuckles. "Not threaten. Just convince her the idea wouldn't be worth it."

It's not a serious suggestion - although if they were back in Locke City, it might have been a little bit more serious. At the very least, when they get back, Nick's going to give him the name and number of a lawyer who owes him a favor, just in case.

"Though if I did, they might suspect we're just making it up so we can take monthly vacations."

"If only." Because while he's looking forward to this for the things that might happen, and the fun they might have-- and still is, even after crossing the pulse boundary, or whatever it is-- it's definitely tempered by a little dread at what's definitely going to happen. He's not naive enough to think that the change and aggression from last time is a fluke.

His fingers tighten some on Nick's; he can't help it.

His mind is still somewhere between considering what to do about the principal and thinking about those kind of monthly vacations, he hasn't really gotten to focusing too much on the real reason they're headed out of town. But that doesn't mean he doesn't get it, as soon as Lyall's grip on his hand tightens.

He lifts Lyall's hand, pressing a kiss against the back of it. "How are you doing?"

"All right." He glances over to smile at the kiss, then looks back to the road and answers, a bit more truthfully: "A bit nervous, I'll admit. Last time I didn't know what was coming, or even if anything was happening, at all. This time, I do." And that makes it a little harder to think about.

There's a pause, and he finishes, "I don't like how I think and feel when I'm like that. It's... disturbing."

this time it is that kind of vacation

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