Sterling's leash had been getting a little bit restrictive.
For the most part he could play the game; stay in line, jump when told, bark when commanded, the usual. But it wasn't exactly thrilling for him either, and he knew that it was all a very precarious situation, because it likely took one wrong turn before the rug would be pulled out.
And for the most part, that was fine. Sterling was good at landing on his feet, mostly. And he wasn't really expecting this to last terribly long either -too many awkward personalities, too many dumb people with stupid questions or innane ramblings and natterings. He felt he was constantly on the edge of a near constant migraine and that would do nothing for his control on his temper. Or his slightly homicidal tendencies.
So getting off the leash, even just temporarily, it was enough to scratch a very real itch that was all too frustrating at times.
He'd been to Honolulu before, it'd been work related then too, so he wasn't too concerned with the weather or even their purpose on the island. Why people would hide out on an island with limited routes of escape, he didn't know. That part seemed exceptionally dumb to him and he was very close to explaining that when the objective had been completed.
Of course at the time he'd been a little distracted by the sheer comfort of having the heat of his powers tingling along his veins again. Even if that hadn't lasted long enough in his opinion.
Still, it was one demonstration on following orders, not killing everyone in sight -because again, not a sociopath, just a little psychotic- and following Rachel's orders to the point of not even flinching when she'd shifted his powers back to dormant. She was fairly straight forward, there was a degree of calm and organised efficency to her that he liked dealing with at least. And Cleo, well her company was surprisingly decent.
She was just a treat to go out with, none of the simpering or hesitating. Just there to get a job done and doing it. He liked her sass too.
Enough to not instantly break off when they got back to base, go off and sulk somewhere or instantly collaspe in bed to sleep off the time change. Suggesting a drink to unwind was better than leaving the pent up adrenaline to linger anyway. The folks passing through the cafeteria should just know better than to approach too enthusiastically.
"Think they'll let us skip Monday on the basis of being fuckin' drained?" Sterling wasn't one for hard liquor, but he hated watered down beer more, and it was harder to get decent draft in this place. So a neat scotch would do, since he already knew how to barricade the door to his room -or use the sharpened pencil as a weapon as an alternative.