coldbloodRED

Queenie Packard, RED Spy /// Currently assigned to 5Gorge Base

[abluspy]

A Decent Proposal

[abluspy]

[...]

“No, you are not.” He had to admit she made a good point. And if she spoke to her TFI liaison friend, perhaps she could find out if the parent company was already aware of the bunker and its contents. Should TFI have no former knowledge of the underground base, they may sanction additional supplies to cover further exploration. Or they might take it over entirely and upheave the whole operation. Of course, that could be diverted if necessary.

Taking a drag off his cigarette, Philippe nodded his acceptance of her proposal. “Speak wiz ‘im. If ‘e chooses to come ‘ere, I would meet wiz you bozh, and we can discuss terms.”

[coldbloodedred-blog]

Queenie’s smile widened, her poise brightening with authentic relief. “I’ll get him on the wire ASAP. You’re the only one I’ve spoken with about this...I guessed your team would most likely get behind the idea if you led the charge. My team seems to have more varying opinions on collaboration, but I’ll manage it.”  

She huffed out a plume of smoke, gazing up a moment at the jagged cutouts of the the tree tops against the starscape above. “I would hate for management to ruin our fun.  After all, there’s so little to do on this miserable cliff…”

“Our last base was too exposed, and now we are too secluded. Per’aps we should commission Monsieur Clark to build us a movie zeatre next.” Philippe snickered quietly then paused. It wasn’t entirely a bad idea. Maybe something for the summer. Dell would love a project like that…

“If our teams can continue to work in tolerable peace, zere can always be parties, non?”

[abluspy]

A Decent Proposal

[...]

“I tasted the ‘62 Clicquot Grand Dame…I wish I could remember it, but I was already two sheets to the wind at the time…” The RED Spy appeared, nearly out of nowhere.  Unmasked, the firelight glinted off her pale curls as she fluffed the fur collar of her coat up around her neck.  “New Year’s is a terrible time for a birthday, don’t you agree?” Her gold eyes flashed.

“Certainly as bad as ‘aving one’s birzday on any ‘oliday, I imagine. At least zere is always a built-in soirée for ze new year.” Gingerly sipping from his glass, Philippe met Queenie’s eyes steadily, and only briefly did he want to try on her coat. Then he reminded himself that his own coat had a fur collar, albeit less extravagant and voluminous. His lips curved into a pleasant smile. “Are you enjoying yourself zis evening?”

[coldbloodedred-blog]

“Oh, I think it’s been a lovely night! All things considered, the potential for someone instigating a brawl and whatnot…” Queenie paused to click open her cigarette case, allowing an extra half-second for her BLU counterpart to opt in before taking one for herself and slipping the case back in her pocket. “It’s all gone awfully well.”

She lit up, and took a bracing puff. “Listen, Mr. Renard, you ought to know everyone in our camp is so appreciative of your...assistance, in averting crisis. Obviously, I’m happy to hear there was no harm done to your two young ladies, either. All competition aside, it would be a shame to lose anyone to an act of God or bad luck.”

“I agree, Madame. If we ‘ave all come ‘ere to die, it is repeatedly, not permanently, non?” Taking his cues from the other Spy, Philippe produced his own cigarette and lit it. It always paid to be safe, even when in neutral territory. For example, he wouldn’t put it past JT to make an attempt on a BLU life--Philippe’s, in particular--were RED’s other Spy not stuffing his own face with miniature crab cakes.

“At least, for now, everyone is agreed to stay out of ze bunker for ze sake of safety. Once ze Engineers ‘ave adequately amplified ze respawn zone to encompass zat area, we will begin exploring again.”

“I agree, safety has to be the priority, particularly if we don’t know what is actually down there. I mean, we haven’t entirely had the best track record for that sort of thing, have we…” Queenie gave a short, mirthless laugh. “After all, when we finally do lose one, whose is it going to be? At that point, the companies will have to become involved, and -- well, you know how ugly those sorts of things can get…”

She flicked ash to the ground with an anticipatory pause. “That’s, ah...that’s why I have a suggestion. A proposal, really.”

[astroengie-blog]

New Year's at the Observatory: Setting Up

[astroengie-blog]

"I ain’t ever met a decent-lookin’ Ivy-Leaguer that looked at me twice, s’ I don’t know how lucky I’d be there. But it sure would be nice t’ be somewhere big an’ flashy with dancin’ an’ all. Maybe when all this is over, I’ll give up th’ inventin’ business an’ make th’ best damn nightclub th’ world’s ever seen." Ben laughed, only partially joking. Owning a nightclub wasn’t exactly something he’d never thought about before. In fact, he’d been thinking about it even when he was still working at NASA, and it was an option he’d been heavily considering prior to being contacted by RED.

Pushing away from the tree, the Engineer went over to inspect his counterpart’s work. “Yeah, ya know, it might not be a bad idea t’ do a li’l landscapin’ with him around th’ base. I love projects. Ya want a big rock to sunbathe on, Miss Queenie? Heh. Nice goin’, MERLE. Stand-by mode.”

MERLE complied and went into the ordered mode, and Ben looked around trying to decide what else they needed to do to get set up. “I figure most a’ both teams’ll show. JT said ‘no way’…until I told him th’ BLU Spy was bringin’ food. He couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough then. What d’ya think? Anything else we need that I might be forgettin’?”

[coldbloodedred-blog]

"Get the fire going and bring enough booze and what else is there, darling?" Queenie slid nimbly down the tree after him, rubbing bark fragments out of her finger pads as she crunched through the needle brush.  

"It'll be dark soon....let's build a frame for this fire and go get everyone else. I'd rather walk back in a group than just the tw--three of us. Besides, I'm sure whoever's staying behind will want us all out of their hair."

[astroengie-blog]

New Year's at the Observatory: Setting Up

[astroengie-blog]

"BLU, though I don’t know how many a’ them’re goin’ t’ show. Th’ Spy an’ Dell will for sure, since they were th’ ones who offered t’ bring food, an’ I took ‘em up on it. I ain’t s’ good at makin’ appetizers an’ little food an’ whatnot like them, an’ I didn’t want t’ try botherin’ Leo with it. He’s got enough on his plate as it is. MERLE!" Ben called over his shoulder at the currently inactive robot Engineer. When it had come to manual labor, the robot was surprisingly useful and took instruction well, which Ben had only discovered after he’d been blown to bits numerous times trying to get into its inner workings. Pointing to a spot on the ground, he instructed: "Clear a hole here, about a foot deep an’ four feet in diameter. Flat, ya understand?"

The robot grinded and chugged for a few moments as it processed the commands and then confirmed acceptance, waiting for Ben to move before beginning its work. Sidling over to Queenie, the human Engineer leaned against the tree near her. “So, Miss Queenie! Ya lookin’ forward t’ socializin’ with anyone in particular tonight?”

[coldbloodedred-blog]

"Oh! Hardly..." Queenie laughed out a cloudy breath, then glanced skeptically down at the Engineer. "Oh, don't look at me like that, sweetheart, you're enough of a social butterfly for all of us! I'm coming for the people-watching. And the drinks, of course." She shrugged lightly, ducking down into her scarf. "Besides, you always yell at me for trying to scare them...it's only good fun."

It wasn't entirely true, of course. There was one conversational goal she'd established for the evening, but she wasn't quite ready to jinx it yet.

"I wonder if either of those little girls will be here. Seems like they both got quite a scare the other week. I suppose I can try to be gentle -- oh MERLE, that's wonderful! Ben, look how fast he's finished! Gosh, if we could only get him to dig us a pool." 

She shifted a little closer back to the tree trunk. "Oh, Ben, imagine -- if we were anywhere else. Champagne. Lights. Crowds! We could find ourselves a pair of Ivy-Leaguers and be completely indiscreet..." The Spy trailed off with a sigh, plucking a pinecone from overhead and tossing it off into the brush.

[astroengie-blog]

New Year's at the Observatory: Setting Up

Neither RED nor BLU had been back to the bunker since the falling incident upon mutual agreement: they’d wait until the respawn zone had accurately been expanded to encompass the area. The Engineers from both teams had agreed to wait until after the holidays to begin that work.

When Ben wasn’t busy taking care of interpersonal relationships between his not-so-compatible teammates, he was trudging out to the observatory to put on the finishing touches. A real party had been long overdue, and given the state of morale around these parts, he’d bet his life that everybody could use a party. Hell, everyone could use a party all the time. That was just one of life’s givens, as far as the Engineer was concerned.

Once he’d finished, Ben sent a message through the line they’d specifically designated for bunker communications between teams and invited the BLU team to a New Year’s party at the newly completed observatory. There was plenty of bad blood between most of each team, but he hoped that at least a few folks would be willing to mingle under the promise of free-flowing booze and good company.

And that was why—despite acknowledging how hostile the feelings were for BLU and RED—Ben chose to spend his day setting up for the party, confident that at least a few folks would show closer to midnight. He had already strung up spare holidays lights and hooked them up to a generator (not yet turned on) as well as set up empty crates as tables for food and beverages around the clearing surrounding the observatory tower. At the end of the clearing furthest from the tower itself, Ben stood with his brow furrowed slightly as he stared at the ground and turned around in a little circle. “Wonder if I have enough time t’ dig a li’l fire pit…”

[coldbloodedred-blog]

Queenie uncrossed her knees and crossed them again, perched on a low-leaning tree limb. "Why don't you have the robot do it..." She took another cigarette out of her case, waving it at the general expanse of the clearing where Ben stood. "Or just...blow it out of the ground or something."  She opened her lighter with a sharp click.  "You must have some kind of shortcut. We'll likely freeze without one." 

She admired the Engineer's dedication toward sportsmanship. If she'd had her druthers (and the bases had been as close by as they once were) Queenie would probably spend more time with the BLU team as well, if not in a somewhat more antagonistic fashion. Their Engineer was just so entertainingly jumpy when he suspected her presence. "Who's catering this thing?"

[scout-next-door]

Padding from the kitchen in socks and a thick brown sweater handed down from Pips, Molly gingerly sipped from the steaming mug of cocoa clasped in her hands. Its preparation had caused her tardiness, but she’d kept an ear on the conversation in the common room and was especially interested in what Ben had to say. Stargazing had been a favorite hobby since she’d picked it up at Target, and the prospect of seeing them even closer intrigued her.

"Yo, Ben, when ya think you’re gonna be done buildin’ that thing? I really wanna-"

She stopped short, slowly swiveling her head back and forth between Ben in his lone chair and nearly the entire remainder of the team piled together on the couch.

"…Is there even any friggin’ room for me in there?"

[coldbloodedred-blog]

Jonah gestured to a spare rectangle of sofa cushion between his own hips, Leo's sprawled knees, and the combined bulk of JT and Pips. "You're gonna have to hold on to keep from falling off, but..."

Queenie blew out smoke, craning her head away from the group, then glared back at the Sniper. "Molly, you stay away from him, you don't know where he's been."

"Oh, please --" Jonah rolled over halfway, one heel nailing Leo in the stomach as he did so. "Everybody thinks I'm a predator..."

"All men are, darling." She patted her lap. "Over here. Come get warm and watch Ben do science."

[astroengie-blog]

"Hell no, I’m just hopin’ t’ be able t’ look at th’ stars an’ whatnot closer." Ben gestured up at the currently unseeable sky with his own alcoholic beverage.

"But what is the point of that?" JT asked as he waved Queenie closer to him and Pips. The diminutive Pyro gave off as much heat as the flamethrower Pips wielded on the battlefield. Or at least that was how it seemed. "Or are you gonna blow up asteroids or meteors or whatever, too? Ooh! Can you see aliens?"

The Engineer’s head cocked to one side as he gaped at JT. “…What? Aliens—no, goddammit. I just like space. Space is awesome. We have no idea what’s out there, an’ th’ possibilities are endless…” For a moment, his eyes glazed over, lost in thought over all the things that he might’ve discovered had he not fucked up and fucked his supervisor’s son. Was it worth it? …Yeah, it was. He wouldn’t be here now without having done that. Suddenly, he refocused on Queenie with a dirty grin on his face. “Say, would your friend happen t’ be a dashin’ fella with a nice li’l ol’ behind on him?”

[coldbloodedred-blog]

Taking care to relocate her brandy mug where it would be within reach, Queenie clambered over to the more fully-occupied couch to snuggle in between JT (and Pips, who was settled contentedly in the other Spy's lap) and the couch arm.  "He was last time I checked. Company research and development usually sees fit to preserve aesthetics when they're playing Frankenstein, thank goodness..." 

[astroengie-blog]

"Well, these are just some internal convex—oh! What’re they for? They’re for m’ observatory. Remember that li’l field trip we took out past th’ base a few months back? You an’ me an’ Leo, an’ we found this great spot still inside the respawn zone. Natural clearin’. An’ I said: ‘This’d be a great place t’ do it!’ An’ then we…" Ben trailed off, suddenly aware of how quiet everyone else had gotten and all of the wide-open eyes focused on him. Chuckling a little, the Engineer just grinned.

"Anyway! What we were actually doin’ was pickin’ out a spot for m’ observatory. Been workin’ on th’ buildin’ in m’ downtime. Got t’ work on th’ telescope itself now. That’s what these are part of. Got th’ bigger ones in m’ shop."

[coldbloodedred-blog]

Jonah nodded slowly. "I remember. I remember that...that was a fun day." He slouched into his brother's shoulder, turning to put his feet up in Leo's lap. "Fun day."

"I'm telling you, Ben, I have a friend in the administrative branch who would just love your little stargazing hobby." Queenie clicked her cigarette case shut, a slim already bobbing from her lips, then reached for the ashtray and matchbook on the coffee table. "Look at you all piling on over there...can't a thermally-compromised girl get some body heat to share around this base? Honestly--" She paused to pull a light onto the end of her cigarette, then shook out the match. "What're you going to do with a telescope when you get it built? Chart us a yacht course out of this mess?"

[astroengie-blog]

"Hey, now, I been workin’ on that goddamn furnace all day," Ben grumbled, ruffling at the insinuation that he hasn’t been doing his job. Okay, so maybe he hadn’t been working on the furnace the entire day, but that piece of crap from the coldest depths of hell took up the grand majority of his day anyway.

"I only sat down with this here lens five damn minutes ago. Right after I made ya that there Hot Toddy." He tried to throw his cleaning cloth at Queenie, but it was intercepted by Leo, who swiftly tossed it back at him with an admonishing wink. All hostility was forgotten with that wink, and the Engineer grinned. "B’sides… Ya know how long I’ve been tryin’ t’ get m’ observatory done. All th’ goddamn rain lately’s been givin’ me fits."

[coldbloodedred-blog]

"No self-respecting sports league plays in weather like this, at least not when it's forecast." Queenie sniffed, pulling her feet up onto the sofa. "I can't imagine how much more proof they need that their guns work in the rain." She shuddered, slitted eyes narrowed.

"Try seven hours straight marching in the rain," Jonah cut in, entering from the kitchen where he'd finally been browbeaten into finishing the dishwashing. "Every day. For about a week and a half. Then tell me again about how bad you've all got it."

Queenie snorted. "You should've read the brochure before you signed up."

[coldbloodedred-blog]

Laying the fireplace poker on the hearth with a clatter, Queenie twitched a kimono sleeve out of range of any sparks, then turned around with a huff. "This thing isn't doing the trick. Am I the only one freezing in here?"

The Spy stalked back to the couch seat and hot brandy she'd vacated. "Sure would be nice if somebody would work on the central heating duct instead of fooling around with lenses all day."

[blutundgerechtigkeit-deactivate]

Pulse check! Reblog if you are an active TF2 rp blog.

[granitemagnolia]

Today was brutal as hell, with RED coming at them like bats out of hell. Lola couldn’t remember the last time she’d fought against such an aggressive team, but what was shocking was how easily they all killed themselves to get it done. It seemed like they didn’t even mind getting blown to pieces as long as they took out as many BLUs as possible beforehand. That was a strategy that could get really ugly.

Suddenly, a shadow and a flash of BLU inform fell in front of her, crashing into her sentry. Shit! They couldn’t afford to have that knocked out. Lola’s first instinct was to check on her younger teammate as she moved to help the Scout up. “Oh, honey, are you—?” But then the alarms were going off on her PDA. “SPY!”

Forgetting all about Shannon, the Engineer crouched low, trying to get the sapper removed as quickly as possible, trying to make sure her sentry didn’t blow up in her face.

[coldbloodedred-blog]

Shannon scrambled behind Lola, catching her breath for a moment, listening to the metallic ringing of the wrench coming down once, twice, again on the sapper and wondering if either of the Pyros would care to respond sooner or later.

As soon as the device clattered harmlessly to the ground, the Scout lunged forward, wrapping long arms around the Engineer to drag her back from the thrumming, swiveling device. "Oh darling, wrong choice--" The BLU Scout disguise shimmered and wafted away.

[coldbloodedred-blog]

It was a fine day for fighting, a fresh breath off the sea making Queenie grateful she hadn't wasted time having a lighter uniform made. The wind and Respawn kept things cool enough. BLU was losing badly, two points lost and a third waiting for surrender.  The Sniper had seen BLU Engineers' sentry nest situated perfectly broadside of the gap in the wall and the point itself...of course, the observation had been followed by some ill luck with a grenade cluster, but it was useful information nonetheless.

"Time to shine..." Queenie tucked a curl back beneath the edge of her mask, then reached for the concrete edifice and began to pull herself up the sheer side. The BLUs in the area were engaged around the point, trying to press in for a recapture, and she reached the top unobserved, shimmering into oblivion for several precious seconds.

There, the new Engineer. She had a cute figure, that one, and lovely hair. They'd taken the trams several times to exchange necessities as they'd brought their respective bases online, but little more than that. 

Opening her disguise kit, Queenie became the BLU Scout she'd seen fly so gracefully over the cliffside earlier. This time, her flight was far less graceful, tumbling down into the cluster of machines with a screech and a grunt. "SHIT -- FUCKING ROCKETS..."

The Sentry she'd knocked over began to hiss and spit sparks, and the Scout -- clutching one knee and pushing herself free of the metal tripod, dragging herself towards safety behind the Engineer. "Did I do that --shit, sorry! SORRY!"

[ragobeard-red]

“Eh—” There was a faint, embarrassed flush from Rago as he busied himself in grabbing another package of pork and begin searching for vegetables. “—was not—was just—es teammate, why es—” he set an onion and a pair of tomatoes on the counter next to the pork, sighing. “Was thinking of dish from Detva—es like strips of pork en pan with tomato and pepper and vegetable. Es supposed to be spicy, but em not finding…”

He glanced at Molly, with a smile. “Miss Morgan! Em figuring hev not personally helped with food en while. Could always use another pair of hands, too.” 

[scout-next-door]

“Yeah, it ain’t been since… I dunno, March or somethin’. I didn’t like bein’ in the kitchen around all those BLUs, ya know? But that stuff sounds good! I’ll help ya.”

She hopped over to Ragomir’s side to elbow him. “But none a’ that ‘Miss’ crap. I’m Molly.”

[coldbloodedred-blog]

"I am so glad--" Queenie drifted over the conversation, "-- I've wound up in the midst of this many skilled gourmands. Please, have at it. Right away." Really, if they didn't get started nobody would be eating until close to eight, and while that was terribly European she wasn't sure the gin would hold out.

"You, uh..." She snapped her fingers, grasping for Leo's name. "...there's a jar of cocktail onions in the refrigerator, would you mind? I need to get started on my own special project..."

[ragobeard-red]

“…Suppose could be of use.” Having set down the book he was reading in the common room—he figured no one would mind if he left it with a bookmark on the coffee table for a while—Ragomir wandered past Queenie into the kitchen. The afternoon had felt rather lethargic for the Heavy thus far, and as such the idea of preparing dinner for the base didn’t quite appeal to him. He soon figured such laziness wouldn’t be very useful to indulge in further, however. 

Still, though, that left him with a lack of ideas, and so he gently picked through the contents of the cabinets and refrigerator for inspiration. “Are having suggestion or idea, then?”

[coldbloodedred-blog]

"Hm? No, nothing. Ideas are somebody else's department, darling, I tapped out on my last can of corned beef on toast." Queenie boosted herself up onto the counter, crossing one knee over the other. 

"They dropped off fresh groceries when you all arrived -- we shouldn't be depleted yet. At least I hope not." She paused to scrutinize a fingernail. "Have you bulked up, Ragomir, you're looking entirely strapping since wintertime..."

[coldbloodedred-blog]

Not quite five. Daytime television was about to dwindle to a depressing motley of early evening newscasts, and Queenie wasn't hungry, but she would be.

The kitchen was dark and cool, as was the dining room, and the Spy flipped on a lightswitch before coming to stand beside the butcher block with a frown. Not a pot on the stove. She'd been accommodating as possible -- given everybody a good long while to settle in, and done her best slapping together snacks for herself during the narrow windows when other less-familiar folk were navigating the kitchen layout.

But it was beyond time to get a cooking rotation in gear, particularly since she'd been opening her own soup tins for close to a month now waiting for everyone to hurry up and get there. Kirk was no help. The boy could subsist on bark if necessary.

Finally, bracing both arms in the doorway, she peered around each corner testily. "Is somebody going to get in here soon? I can't be expected to cook during happy hour."

[astroengie-blog]

The Strangest Base

[astroengie-blog]

[...]

They waited for the female RED Spy to approach them, looking less like a Spy and more like a civilian, the way they all did in between assignments, although perhaps not as fancy as she did. ‘Spies’ and ‘fancy’ seemed to go hand in hand. Ben opened up his free arm to offer Queenie a hug. “Sure glad t’ see ya again, Miss Queenie. How long’s it been now? Three, four months? Shit, it don’t matter. I’ll buy ya a drink as long as we get th’ rest a’ this off th’ boat.”

[rustbucketred-deactivated201706]

[...]

The metal head lifts, swivels jerkily once left, once right, then returns to center. The eye lenses brighten and dim several times as if adjusting. The metal Engineer begins a quick but methodical run through a series of testing routines, putting each joint and limb through its own range of motion. The left knee is tested twice; a small wrench is produced and a minute correction made. It – he? — is still for a moment, nods once as if in satisfaction and turns to the expanded crate. Withdrawing a PDA from one of several belt pouches – also metal, more like boxes bolted to his torso than actual pouches — he punches a button and the crate contracts, impossibly swiftly and neatly, into a standard toolbox. This is lifted in metal hands and shouldered, and the newest RED turns expectantly toward his teammates.

[coldbloodedred-blog]

Queenie beamed at Ben as she dropped a kiss on his cheek and pulled back. "I haven't seen your handsome face since before the holidays! I heard a few crumbs here and there about the adventures this winter -- I expect to be filled in on every sordid detail."

Golden eyes darted to Molly then, slit pupils focusing with interest. "And aren't you the most charming thing -- Miss Morgan, I presume--" A doeskin-gloved hand extended in greeting until the sudden racket froze it mid-reach, the Spy's other hand reaching into her sweater for her woefully non-existent sapper.

As the robot shouldered its toolbox, however, looking for all the world like a diligent employee, Queenie could only gape. "Magnificent!"