[ by now it's become habit for marta to seek kovacs out before a mission starts. at first it was to ask for help, seek advice. but then it just became habit to seek him out, period, regardless if she's got a viable pretense at all. this mission isn't any different, even if things have become... slightly more complicated. more and more, there are things between them that become unspoken, but things have been... tenuous lately. the delicate line they've been dancing along has become a little thinner as of late; the more they don't address it, the more it seems to stand out.
perhaps in another life, marta might have been brave enough to tackle the issue head-on. but when doing so could risk ruining things between them completely, whatever those things are? she'd rather wade in the dark. ]
Put that coat down.
[ they're in a small boutique on the craemore station, with hours yet to go before their train is to depart. with time to kill, money to spend, and a new cover story to work on, they naturally drifted towards the boutique to brainstorm and dress for the part.
she comes over to where he's standing holding a dark trenchcoat, taking it from his hands to set back on the rack. ]
Maybe this time "intimidation" can be plan b, hm? [ she gestures to another rack of clothing behind him. ] How about a sweater?
[ from a few feet away, a hovering shop assistant chooses that time to speak up. Oh! Are you two looking to revamp your wardrobe? You should know — we've got a honeymoon special!
marta's eyes widen, her face flushes. already a hand — ringless, thank you! — is coming up to wave the assumption away. ]
Oh — no, we—
[ and this is the part where kovacs starts being marta's voice :') ]
[ circumstances had separated them last time, practically worlds apart with the way he'd been sent to taeum while she was brought to sedorum. it'd been a separation that he hadn't realized would be as troubling as aggravating as it was until it had happened, with the month and a half spent without her around, something he'd just address as having been an inconvenience from just being used to her company.
despite his talks with clara, conversations where he'd insisted that certain directions would be impossible for he and marta, he still finds himself here as soon as they're sent into their next mission, magnetized to her side like he might fear her disappearance if he takes his eyes off of her for a second. ]
No. [ he answers bluntly with a frown when she points out the soft knitted sweater she's suggesting, a style that fairly obviously doesn't suit his typical style. as much as she might have a certain influence on him, there's still plenty of areas where he'd be ready to resist.
but any other word is halted when the shop assistant springs up behind them, making use of the word honeymoon and leaving marta in a fluster.
kovacs merely raises his brow, peering besides him to the quick reflex marta uses in denying it, but a rising smirk has him looking over to the assistant with an amused look. ]
Actually, we are. [ to emphasize his point, he brings his arm up around her shoulders, nudging her in a little closer. ] We're ... eloping actually. All pretty sudden, her disapproving family and all — we just grabbed what we could in our hands and we went right out the door. Barely had time to pack enough clothes so we're looking to stock up the wardrobe before we board.
[ he turns to her, a devious twinkle in his eye. ] Ain't that right, babe?
marta reels for a moment, but fortunately that look of alarm that flashes across her face could easily be mistaken for the look of a nervous new wife fleeing from her old life. when he prompts her to speak, her eyes widen, her look hardens. it's not betrayal, but indignation. does he want to be thrown up on??? ]
We... do need clothes.
[ she pauses to swallow back the faint tickle of nausea in her throat — it's certainly no lie, but somehow knowing it's wrapped up in deception is enough to get that annoying reflex of hers to pique its metaphorical head up in interest
she forces a smile on her face as she shifts against kovacs' hold, turning so she's leaning into him a little, one hand coming up to pat his chest like she isn't also considering throttling him in some way. blessedly, the smile looks friendly, and not too much like a grimace.
"Well you've come to the right place!" the shop assistant prompts, gesturing to the racks of clothing around them. ]
We'll take a few of those behind you to a fitting room, [ marta pipes up almost instantly, gesturing towards a row of sweaters and sweatervests — the same style he was so adamantly against just seconds before. she turns to kovacs then, flashing a smile that's all teeth and edge. ]
It might be nice to change things up a little, won't it... babe?
[ kovacs hasn't forgotten about marta's little problem, and maybe that's the idea behind the little challenge he throws out there, investing in a new backstory this time around, compared to the more easily believable circumstances he'd set up for them as business partners over in badrock. all it takes is one glance and he could see the panic set in on her expression.
the smirk plastered along his lips, a little proud of the teasing joke, is helpless, still there even when marta gestures out to the collection of clothing she's well aware is far from his style.
instead of looking to the assistant, he turns to keep his attention on the woman right beside him, his fingers giving her shoulder a light squeeze. ]
Oh, I don't think so. You know how it just feels like suffocation when I wear those things. [ he gives a vague waving gesture with his free hand, indicating the assortment of sweaters. ] Then again — [ he peers over at a different rack, reaching for a hanger to hold up a small, seemingly tight dress, one that might show more skin than it covers. ] Might be able to compromise if you show off a few of these for me.
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action | mission: 4:50 to vrefesea
perhaps in another life, marta might have been brave enough to tackle the issue head-on. but when doing so could risk ruining things between them completely, whatever those things are? she'd rather wade in the dark. ]
Put that coat down.
[ they're in a small boutique on the craemore station, with hours yet to go before their train is to depart. with time to kill, money to spend, and a new cover story to work on, they naturally drifted towards the boutique to brainstorm and dress for the part.
she comes over to where he's standing holding a dark trenchcoat, taking it from his hands to set back on the rack. ]
Maybe this time "intimidation" can be plan b, hm? [ she gestures to another rack of clothing behind him. ] How about a sweater?
[ from a few feet away, a hovering shop assistant chooses that time to speak up. Oh! Are you two looking to revamp your wardrobe? You should know — we've got a honeymoon special!
marta's eyes widen, her face flushes. already a hand — ringless, thank you! — is coming up to wave the assumption away. ]
Oh — no, we—
[ and this is the part where kovacs starts being marta's voice :') ]
no subject
despite his talks with clara, conversations where he'd insisted that certain directions would be impossible for he and marta, he still finds himself here as soon as they're sent into their next mission, magnetized to her side like he might fear her disappearance if he takes his eyes off of her for a second. ]
No. [ he answers bluntly with a frown when she points out the soft knitted sweater she's suggesting, a style that fairly obviously doesn't suit his typical style. as much as she might have a certain influence on him, there's still plenty of areas where he'd be ready to resist.
but any other word is halted when the shop assistant springs up behind them, making use of the word honeymoon and leaving marta in a fluster.
kovacs merely raises his brow, peering besides him to the quick reflex marta uses in denying it, but a rising smirk has him looking over to the assistant with an amused look. ]
Actually, we are. [ to emphasize his point, he brings his arm up around her shoulders, nudging her in a little closer. ] We're ... eloping actually. All pretty sudden, her disapproving family and all — we just grabbed what we could in our hands and we went right out the door. Barely had time to pack enough clothes so we're looking to stock up the wardrobe before we board.
[ he turns to her, a devious twinkle in his eye. ] Ain't that right, babe?
no subject
marta reels for a moment, but fortunately that look of alarm that flashes across her face could easily be mistaken for the look of a nervous new wife fleeing from her old life. when he prompts her to speak, her eyes widen, her look hardens. it's not betrayal, but indignation. does he want to be thrown up on??? ]
We... do need clothes.
[ she pauses to swallow back the faint tickle of nausea in her throat — it's certainly no lie, but somehow knowing it's wrapped up in deception is enough to get that annoying reflex of hers to pique its metaphorical head up in interest
she forces a smile on her face as she shifts against kovacs' hold, turning so she's leaning into him a little, one hand coming up to pat his chest like she isn't also considering throttling him in some way. blessedly, the smile looks friendly, and not too much like a grimace.
"Well you've come to the right place!" the shop assistant prompts, gesturing to the racks of clothing around them. ]
We'll take a few of those behind you to a fitting room, [ marta pipes up almost instantly, gesturing towards a row of sweaters and sweatervests — the same style he was so adamantly against just seconds before. she turns to kovacs then, flashing a smile that's all teeth and edge. ]
It might be nice to change things up a little, won't it... babe?
no subject
the smirk plastered along his lips, a little proud of the teasing joke, is helpless, still there even when marta gestures out to the collection of clothing she's well aware is far from his style.
instead of looking to the assistant, he turns to keep his attention on the woman right beside him, his fingers giving her shoulder a light squeeze. ]
Oh, I don't think so. You know how it just feels like suffocation when I wear those things. [ he gives a vague waving gesture with his free hand, indicating the assortment of sweaters. ] Then again — [ he peers over at a different rack, reaching for a hanger to hold up a small, seemingly tight dress, one that might show more skin than it covers. ] Might be able to compromise if you show off a few of these for me.