2020-02-13 - The Whirlwind and the Mountain

The day was the day. It was around 11. Leon had the tickets on the table near the front door. He was packed the night before. He had left his morning open, his calls going to an answering service that was tasked with letting people know he would be out of town and documenting anything he'd have to follow up on when he was back.

Coffee was made, and breakfast had been cooked as well, but he had been quiet and let Maggi sleep. For once, she'd find one of his t-shirts unwashed, something hed only worn for a few hours the previous day. It was an loose end, an untied thread... But he allowed it, because she'd said so. They had a few hours until the flight. Plus, if all else failed, he'd packed a few things for her in secret anyhow.

He reclines on the couch, dressed in a comfortable T-shirt and jeans, a cup of coffee in his hand, The Great British Baking Show quietly playing on the TV. It was always so calming amd enjoyable to watch.

Organized and prepared were not words to describe Magdalena. She had been living with Leon, yet many of the things she did not wear or use on a regular basis were still at the apartment in her name. While she did prefer his home to her cluttered box it felt irresponsible to give it up just in case...In case of catastrophe. Despite her best efforts she dwelled on the ‘what ifs’ often.

The concept of packing is nightmarish, a reflection of her capabilities at any missed item in any scenario. Leon had insisted she was bringing a bag that was not academia related, and she had put it off.

Bounding down the stairs desperately she is wearing his too big t-shirt tucked in the front to pair of faded black jeans. Hair is tied in a wild knot that not even someone who enjoyed arduous puzzles would wish to untangle.

Ruining the peace of his morning she calls out to him, struggling to hop into boots that had been sitting at the bottom of the stairs. “Do I need like a swimsuit? I don’t even know that I own one. Also have you seen that black tank with the black flag logo? Oh shit...Hey Siri, what is the weather like in Las Vegas?!?!”

Not hearing a response, she realizes she has misplaced her phone, curses being issued, still struggling with the boots.

Still quite calm, and lips curling into amusement, he sips his coffee slowly. "Nah, if any hot tubs are involved in this weekend, you won't be wearing anything." He replies matter of factly. Yes, he was saying it just to get a rise out of it, but sometimes she was just so damn cute when she was flustered.

"Was that the one I took the knife to?" He asks, Still probably teasing, "Cause if not, laundry. You have a lot of black tanks." His phone is finally lifted, Still unerringly serene as he enjoys the warm caffeine. He checks the time, noting they still had about thirty minutes to leave before time would get uncomfortable. The weather is pulled up.

"It's going to be slightly cold, so I'd say your usual jacket and maybe that classy wool one?" he finally levers himself of the couch to head in the direction of the kitchen so he can reheat her some breakfast.

Maggi stops fighting with her footwear long enough to narrow her eyes towards the comment of nudity. “That actually sounds rather unsanitary.” Is what she manages, though her heart rate increases with the notion in panic. The words teasing the destruction of property are ignored, best not to give ridiculousness more attention than necessary.

Winning the battle, her boots are tied and she stands, humming an acknowledgment of appreciation with the advice on jackets. Part of the sentiment is humorous, as though she would go anywhere without her leather jacket. Her adult version adult version of a security blanket lasting much longer than any jacket should. She grabs said article, slinging it onto her shoulders and following Leon’s broad frame into the kitchen.

Preparation on coffee into a to-go mug begins hastily. Mental time calculations started. Ten minutes to get to the apartment, ten there, ten back. Frantic Ten to fifteen over back at Leon’s to snatch last minute items. This was sure to make him grumpy, he didn’t like being pressed. She kept waiting for the commentary on why she even had her own place still, or how in the world she got any assignments done in a timely fashion.

“I’m probably going to be just a couple minutes behind, do you think metal heeled stilettos will make it through security?” Distraction tactics were the best avenue here. He would feel her becoming anxious rather quickly. Maggi much disliked disappointing him.

"Depends on the quality of the hotel." Leon calls back through the door to the kitchen, a lower voice going on to explain, "...and the amount of people in the tub." which she may or may not hear as she follows him in to get her coffee. It was a credit to the time they'd spent together so far that she had at least predicted his next comment, "Wouldn't have to if you just moved your stuff here." he jibes, smirking. Stubborn. Noting how she'd be flying here and there, but wanting to make sure she ate, he grabs a tortilla and hastily rolls her a breakfast burrito, wrapping it in foil and handing it off.

"TSA has seen plenty of that on the way to Vegas. You'll be fine." he remarks with a smirk, eyes flitting down her, the distraction working as he imagines her in shoes like that. "Just don't be late. Do you need me to pack you anything here?" Sensing the anxiety, he reaches out to soothe her, hand to hand, and mind to mind. He was calm. He had planned. He liked being able to fit her whirlwind into his life.

A tornado charging towards something as stable as a mountain was still a danger to it. That's the way she saw things anyway. Leon was so good and she, destructive. Maggi relaxes as she feels him close, his familiar tingling at the tip of her brain. She takes a few deep breathes, exhaling with his calm pressed to her storm. Maggi found some of his humor irksome on occasion, usually at the points of him causing her inner disquiet. When he held her hand this way she couldn't complain. Leaning forward on her tip toes Maggi kisses Leon's freshly shaved cheek. The occasion was rare, but she had decided to concede to his legitimate points, the hot tub not being one of them.

"We can talk about if you have the room for all my mess. Also I will probably be late." This was as close to telling him he was right that he would receive from her sober at the moment. She wanted to get going before he processed the inevitable tardiness. Snatching the burrito from his hand, she scampers to the door, yelling backwards to him. "If you make sure we have essentials we won't miss the flight though!" With a wink she shuts the door behind her.