Airport goodbyes with doesntsing

[allbedestroyed]

There wasn't really much to pack. Muldoon is an efficient traveller, and an even more efficient packer. Everything was already pretty much tidied away before he'd turned his attention to it, and that was even after he'd spent 'too long' at work, and then spent another while focusing intently on paperwork.

It was all an attempt at distraction, of course. A futile attempt, at that. He'd enjoyed his time with Midge while he was here. Far more than he'd ever expected. Too much, really. It makes going back to Kenya difficult. Even though he longs for the barest hint of wilderness, he also wants to go to her next show, he wants to surprise her with a late night date, he wants to be able to call and check on her the next day. All in all, it's much, much easier to focus his attention on work.

He is so deep in his own head that it takes him a moment to acknowledge the knock on his door. When he swings it open both happiness and surprise flash across his features, though he's quicker to hide the first. 

"Midge! What are you doing here? It's two in the morning!"

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[allbedestroyed]

There will be other places. Hopefully with Midge. Other nests and nooks and places for them to have moments and fun and meaningful conversations. Muldoon isn't thinking that far ahead, though. Or too far back.

"You're dangerous enough without it," he jokes back. She does have a gift for putting him in a good mood. Already he's back to smothering his smile as he heads out of the room and down the corrido. "Are things going to be busy for you?"

[doesntsing]

“Oh am I?” she asks with a cheeky grin. Midge can’t help flirting with him. It’s like asking a fish not to swim.

They get into the elevator. “Actually, they will be,” she says. “I’m going on tour with Shy Baldwin as his opening act.”

Having a lady comedian as an opening act for a rhythm and blues singer is kind of a strange choice, but Midge can’t say no to the exposure she’ll get out of it.

[allbedestroyed]

"You are," he confirms easily with a smile of his own. He likes reminding her that she's formidable. He wouldn't want her to forget it.

It takes Muldoon a moment to remember who that is before his brow shoots up. "That's a big name. Congratulations! You're going to be very busy, then!"

Good. Good, she needs to be busy. It will make them being apart easier for her. It definitely won't be tempting as she travels around with a famous singer, and tours around cities with their pick of handsome men. Well. At least they'll find out how long their relationship lasts this way.

[doesntsing]

Robert knows how to make feel like a sexy, mysterious woman. He celebrates her boldness, and she loves that.

“Thanks!” Midge grins at him. “I’m very excited. It’s going to be a short tour though, so I should be able to come visit you by spring.”

No, she’s not going to forget about that. Midge is already looking forward to it.

[allbedestroyed]

Muldoon would never be truly happy with someone who didn't have a wild streak in them. It's all the better that Midge is so proud of hers. He loves it.

He also loves that she's already planning her visit into her timeline.

"As long as it doesn't interrupt your work. It's as important to you as mine is to me. I won't have you choosing me over it, alright?"

[doesntsing]

Of course she is. Midge is a planner. That doesn’t mean she can’t be spontaneous from time to time, but she likes to know what she’s doing.

They exit the elevator in the lobby of the hotel. “Alright,” she replies. “You’re one of the only people who realizes that my work is important to me.”

[allbedestroyed]

"You're too good for it not to be."

He has to swing by the desk to check out, but that's quickly done, and he heads off to the car that has been instrumental in their outings. It doesn't take long to load up and get on the road one more time.

Muldoon does hesitate before they take off. "Are you sure you want to come out to the airport? It's so late. Will you be able to get back alright?"

[doesntsing]

“Yes,” she replies firmly. “I’ll be fine. There are taxis at all hours.” Worse comes to worst, she’ll stay at the airport until morning, when she knows there will be a lot of taxis available.

Midge looks at him with determination. “I want to see you to the gate.”

She probably won’t leave until the plane takes off.

[allbedestroyed]

Muldoon nods and sets the car in motion. There's no point arguing with her. No matter how much he might worry about her getting home safely, he won't win that fight. It's irrational anyway. She travels late at night all the time. She's in her element here.

"I'm going to miss you, you know. I'll end up going to comedy clubs in Nairobi just to feel a little closer to you. Except that they probably won't make me laugh."

[doesntsing]

“You’re going to cheat on me with other comedians?” Midge teases. “How dare you. I’ll be very upset if they make you laugh. I wonder what kind of comedy scene Nairobi has.”

It’s something she plans to investigate when she visits. Midge knows nothing about Kenya. It’s a completely exotic place to her and she has no expectations about it.

[allbedestroyed]

"No one can make me laugh like you do," he assures her. "I'll only be going to remind myself of how good I've got it with you."

As for the comedy scene... "I've never really looked into it before, but I thought I'd do some investigating for you before you come. If that's alright."

[doesntsing]

“Of course,” she tells him. “You scope it out and report back to me.”

Reaching over, Midge runs her fingers through Robert’s hair. She’s going to miss doing that. If she allows herself to think too much about missing him, she starts to ache.

“I’m sure they’ll be glad to have you back at the park.”

[allbedestroyed]

Try as he might to hide it, Muldoon's contentedness at that touch slips out in an all too quiet sigh. He doesn't remember the last time someone touched him like that. He doesn't want to think about how long it will be before he's touched like that again after this. Hopefully by Midge. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

"They'll have left all the paperwork and decisions for my return," he tells her. "That's always the way."

All the more reason not to be happy about returning. Even if it does also mean freedom.

[doesntsing]

She too will miss his small touches to her waist or arm. Little intimacies. To be fair, she’ll miss the big intimacies too. The sex will be sorely missed. Most other men treat her like porcelain. Robert’s not afraid to go a little harder, something that she greatly enjoyed.

“That’s what the boss does,” Midge says. “I’m sure you hate paperwork.”

Robert’s an active man and probably likes to be out around the animals, not stuck in an office running figures.

[allbedestroyed]

"I do," he confirms. Maybe a bit more vehemently than he strictly needs to. "We've got people for admin, but there's always something I need to read over and sign. Always some report which needs to be written up."

With a glance to her he adds, "I don't imagine you're much for desk work, either. You light up around people too much."

[doesntsing]

“That’s why I’m not a secretary,” Midge replies. “I’d hate it. You, however, are a very important man, which is why you get stuck with all the paperwork. I have no doubt that you’re very good at your job.”

In Midge’s experience, Robert is thorough about everything. That kind of attention to detail is necessary in his job, and very much enjoyed in his romantic life.

[allbedestroyed]

"It's the one problem with being good at what you do. Eventually they think you're too important to put out in the field." He shakes his head at the very idea of anyone keeping him from involving himself in the animals' lives. The only thing that might come close is Midge, if she were to visit. He might actually force himself to stay in civilisation for a decent stretch.

"What about you? Is there anything you don't love about your work?"

[doesntsing]

Forcing him to stay in civilization? Midge didn’t know she was capable of performing miracles.

She leans back against the car seat, thinking about Robert’s question for a moment. “The traveling takes me away from my kids… and I don’t like having to sleep in hotels.”

The hotels she can get over. Missing her kids, less so. Sometimes she feels like an absent mother, and that people are judging her for it.

[allbedestroyed]

He hums and nods. It's not quite a sound of understanding. He doesn't have kids himself, and even if he did, he's not sure he'd be the same. His own father made leaving them look pretty easy, after all. But he knows Midge would do anything for them. That he does understand.

"You're doing right by them, you know," he says after a moment. "It's better for them to be at home, with family."

[doesntsing]

“It is,” she agrees. “I just wish I didn’t have to travel so much. But I know I have to do more than just play clubs here in New York if I want to further my career.”

New York’s a big city, but Midge still has to get her name out there. The only way she does that is by having as wide an audience as possible.

“Sometimes I worry that I’m still hurting my kids by not being there.”

[allbedestroyed]

At this Muldoon scoffs playfully. "They're certainly not the first kids who've had to stay with their grandparents or nannies while their parents worked."

"I think it's better you follow your passion," he adds more seriously. "It sets a good example of dedication and hard work."

[doesntsing]

He’s right about that, of course. It doesn’t necessarily alleviate all of her worries, but it feels good to be supported.

“That’s what I hope,” she says. “Do you think I really can make it?”

Robert doesn’t work in the entertainment industry, so he probably doesn’t know, but Midge just wants some reassurance that she’s not doing all of this for nothing.