ZRP-2: Chapter Two, Paradise in Hell

"Cooper. I don't know. Try asking someone."


Eve sighed, kissing Sam's cheek. "Ok...um...who showers first?"

(Sam)
"You first, I'll stay out here and keep the cat company."

(James)
=I rolled over to a solider standing in the lobby=
"Hey, excuse me we're looking for a guy named Cooper. Is he around here?"

*Solider*
"Cooper? Yeah he should be in the dining hall right now."

(James)
"Okay thanks."

Eve nods, getting up and going into the bathroom. The sounds of a shower soon started.

Hibiki rolled her eyes and followed James.

(James)
=We entered the dining room, more of a large cafeteria really, soldiers occupying much of it. Throwing caution to the wind, I called out Cooper's name=
"Is there a Cooper in the house?"

(Sam)
=I sat on the bed, rubbing Sammy's fur while Eve took her shower=

=I feel the sting of words, visibly reeling=

Oh shit...oh shit...oh shiiiiiiit...

=I feel my mind go in a thousand different directions=

Don't screw this up, man...

Well...just give you some time to relax. Have some time to yourself.

The door opened, and Eve was standing there, mostly dry. the ends of her hair were damp, and the towel she cluthed around her was pretty damp, too. She walked over and rummaged through her pack, pulling out cargo pants and another Halo 3 T-shirt. "I already have clean underwear on." She said, then blushed. "Can you close your eyes Sam?"

Hibiki waited.


Mira sighed. "Fine." *She buries her head under a pillow.

(Sam)
=Blushing, I turned my gaze away from her=

(James)
=I saw a familiar face look up from his food when I called out Cooper, and he got up and walked over to us=
"Cooper I presume?"

=I smile and get my clothes off of the floor, groaning every now and then=

Well...it was one wild night...

=I then sigh=

Well...let's hope I didn't screw up royally...

=I then start to put on my clothes, mulling over recent events in my head=

Eve quickly gets dressed.
"I'm decent." She said softly.


Hibiki smiled at Cooper. "Hey."
He nodded. "Hello again." He looks to James. "What do ya need?"

(Sam)
=Turning around, I found Eve, fully clothed. I stood up and grabbed a towel=
"No sneaking in...."

=I closed the door behind me, stripping and getting in the shower=

(James)
"We wanted to tell Clarissa....we're in."

Eve called back. "Not even for a peek?" Her voice was light and teasing, different from monotone, scared, nervous, or happy for once.

Cooper nodded. "I'll go tell her."

=I look back to Mira, and sigh, shaking my head=

I've probably screwed up, haven't I...?

=I then finish putting on my clothes, and put on what was left of my equipment=

I miss the .45 already...I feel nearly defenseless without it...

=I then sit in the chair, debating on whether or not I should wake up Mira=

(Sam)
"Not even a peek Eve."
=The sound of water falling may or may not have drowned out my voice, as I washed myself. I couldn't help but think though, my cheeks (upper and lower) blushing at the thought of Eve stealing a peek, watching me in the shower. It was wrong in a way, but the thought wasn't entirely unwelcome=

God when did this happen to me? Even around James, never thought this....okay yeah actually I did.

(James)
"Okay, we'll be here."

"Just one?" She called back louder, sitting on the bed.


Hibiki nodded as Cooper ran off to contact Clarissa.

"If you don't kiss me goodbye Andy, I'll hunt you down."
Mira looked up from the bed, grinning.

(James)
=I wheeled off towards the buffet table=
"Let's grab some food."

(Sam)
"Not even one Eve. Besides you already saw me naked."
=By accident sure=

"Just a glimpse of your top half!" She retorted. But her tone was playful.
She was having fun.

Hibiki nodded. "Please."

=I get up from the chair and grin back at Mira=

I'll go have that chat with James.

=I lean over and give Mira kiss on the cheek=

Rest well, Mira. I'll send James and Hibiki your regards.

=I groan a bit getting back up=

(Sam)
=I turned the shower off, stepping out to dry myself=
"And that's all your seeing for now Eve."

(James)
=Grabbing a plate, I piled on eggs and bacon=
"Any idea where they get this stuff?"

"Fiiiine." She responded, letting it go.

Hibiki shrugged. "Dunno. Santa's bag?"

Mira smiled. "Seeya."

=I smile back=

Seeya.

=I then head out to get something to eat, my stomach growling like a beast possessed=

Well...guess I've built up quite an appetite...

=I head towards the cafeteria, humming a happy tune as I went=

(James)
"Heh, would be nice if it were true. Maybe they're growing their own food or something."
=Plate on my lap, I wheeled over to a table=

(Sam)
=Drying myself off and wrapping the towel around me, I walked out of the room. Sadly, hotel towels being what they were, the towel barely allowed me any modesty=

=I then walk into the cafeteria, occasionally groaning=

Totally worth it...totally worth it...

=I then walk over to the buffet, looking for something to fill me up. I then feel a sharp pain trickle up my back, and I let loose a curse in German=

Real classy Andy...real classy...

Eve looks at her, then closes her eyes respectfully, blushing and smiling.

Hibiki follows. "I'm starving..."

(James)
"Same here."
=With that, I started digging into the eggs and bacon, a bagel on the side. However, I was soon distracted when I saw Andrew, standing up straight, and cursing in German=

"Uh, Andrew, you okay?"

(Sam)
=I got dressed as quickly as possible so I wouldn't be torturing Eve=
"Maybe we should go grab a bite or something?"

=I look to James, my face wearing an expression nearly shameful=

I'm fine. But let's just say last night for me was...

=I pick my words carefully=

Well...intense.

=I feel my face turn beet red out of embarrassment, and I groan once again=

"I'd like that." She smiled again, then stood and held out her hands.


Hibiki dug into her food as well, but remained silent.

(Sam)
=Smiling, I took her hands, and we left the room together=

(James)
"Oh really...."
=There was something in my voice, a tone I usually reserved for Harry when he was hiding something=

"And would that intense moment happen to start with the letter 'M?'"

Eve held onto Sam's hands tightly, staying close.


Hibiki chuckled. "Hopefully she had as much fun as you did."

=I feel my face turn a bright red=

That would be a resounding yes.

=I grin sheepishly=

That is also a resounding yes, Hibiki.

=By now, I felt really embarrassed=

(Sam)
=We walked through the hallway, coming into the dining hall. I almost died when I saw James and Hibiki sitting at the table together. Oh god my two biggest fears for this scenario, together=
"Uh, maybe eat later?"

(James)
"Heh, well I'm sure she enjoyed it just as much as you......I think I'll stop talking like that while I can still feel my legs."
=I saw Sam and Eve at the door to the dining hall, and I waived at them=

"Sam, Eve, over here!"

"Best to tell them now or later." She smiled. "Please. If we hide it, we'll just...just have a hard time being happy. Please. Be brave."

Hibiki frowned, although.
She just knew something was up.

(Sam)
"I don't know......you sure you don't want to wait for a bit?"
=I was on the verge of sweating out gallons=

(James)
"Come on, foods good!"

"We have to do it sometime. Time won't make it easier."

(Sam)
=Already I could see the conversation playing in my head, my fears fueling the scene=
Hi Hibiki. Good food huh? So, on a side note I want to finger your daughter until the cows come home.

=My head was going to get chopped off, I just knew it, even as I walked to the table=

Eve tightened her grip. "It's ok."

When they arrived, Eve smiled. "Hi mommy."
Hibiki reached over to touch Eve's cheek. "How are you sweety?"

(Sam)
=While Eve and Hibiki talked, I sat down across from James=
"So James.....how's the chair."

(James)
"Eh, give me a day and I'll be doing tricks in this thing."

Eve sat beside Sam, her free and hanging onto Sam's sleeve.

"Sleep well?"
Eve nodded. "Yes."
Hibiki smiled. "Eat up."
Eve smiled back, and dug in.

(Sam)
=I snorted a little=
"Bet that would make for a good sight. You start doing wheelies in that thing though, and I might just shoot you."

(James)
"Aww, I knew you cared."
=I resumed shoveling eggs into my mouth=

Eve giggled. "Don't shoot him. Mommy loves him too much for that."

Hibiki smiled, leaning over to kiss Eve's forehead.

(James)
=I had the fork right in my open mouth, when I stopped, eyes on Eve. I pulled it away, eyeing the girl=
"You giggled.....you never giggle."

Abel had been leaning his back against the wall, while his legs were stretched out unto a bench seat, napping slightly in the dining hall. He saw James and the rest of the group, he had considered joining them, but didn't wish to intrude on their conversation. After all, they were a family. Instead he walked over and grabbed whatever they were serving for breakfast, grabbing as much as he could before someone told him to lay off.

Eve blushed, glancing at Sam, then her lap.

Hibiki frowned. "She laughs shortly..." She blinks, unsure of what to say.

(Sam)
=James never struck me as being that pensive, and I was nervous when he noticed the change in her=
"So uh anyway....what's the word on the Elites? Those jobs they were offering?"

(James)
"We're waiting to hear back actually."

=I just sit down, still kinda red faced=

That's good news to hear.

=I dig into my meal=

Eve looks at her lap, then slowly takes Sam's hand.
"Tell them..." She said quietly, not making eye contact.

(James)
"Uh, tell them what?"

(Sam)
=I felt my face heat up as I looked up, eyes locking with James=
"Uh, nothing, nothing at all James."

(James)
=Oh god.....I knew that look. It was the same look she had on her face when she confessed her love for me....and when I looked in the mirror and thought of Hibiki=
"Sam.....did you meet someone at the compound?"

Eve bumped against Sam.
"Sam..."

Hibiki leaned back, crossing her arms.

Sammy jumped on the table and stood sentinel.

(Sam)
=I was sure of it. I was going to have a panic attack right there, and then Hibiki would lop off my head=
"Uh, I uh....yes, I did meet someone."

(James)
"Well, who is it?"
=Was I being pushy? Yes I was. Did I enjoy it? Maybe a little more than necessary=

(Sam)
"Well, you see.....no one really plans these things....and with the world going to hell, you grab hold of those that make your heart soar...."

(James)
"For fucks sake, while we're still young, who is it?"

(Sam)
"I'm....in love with your daughter, Hibiki. I'm in love with Eve."

=My eyebrows raise in shock and surprise=

Well...that's, well...Shocking...

=I continue to eat, not focused on the reaction of James and Hibiki=

Eve rested her head against Sam's shoulder, not daring to look up.

Hibiki blinked once.
Blinked twice.
Rubbed her eyes.
"Um...Uh...."

Quite frankly, Hibiki had to fucking clue how to respond. Not one bloody clue.