Todd Grisham hasn't been to New Orleans in quite awhile so he's almost forgotten about how bright and lively the place is, especially around Bourbon Street. He amuses himself by wandering around and just absorbing everything while Striker heads into the gas station, muttering angrily about worthless car rental places that can't even give cars out with full tanks of gas.
When Striker comes back out, a group of people are ambling nearby Todd, who slowly heads back to the car, ready to go do his job so he could spend the evening checking out more of what New Orleans has to offer. He's half way there when one of the girls in the group squeals a bit and runs towards Striker, a large grin on her freckly face. "Matt Striker!" she calls happily, stopping at his side, almost bouncing up and down in her joy.
Striker blinks at the girl, as if uncertain where she came from. "Oh. Hey?"
She stands for a long moment, gazing up at him and Todd thinks even he can see the stars in her eyes from his position by the street, despite the many lights twinkling around him. "Welcome to New Orleans!" she exclaims finally, leaning up to drop a set of beads around his neck. Before he can respond, she takes it a step further and presses a kiss to his cheek before dashing back to the safety of her friends, leaving a dumbstruck Striker behind.
Todd snickers after a few moments, slowly heading back to the car, reluctant to break up the comedic moment-- the horrified look on Matt's face is golden. Sure enough, when he slams the car door, it snaps Striker out of his funk and encourages him to return to the car too.
"Not a word," he grumbles, angrily starting the car up. "Not a WORD." Todd lets his mouth close obediently, a grin still on his lips. He doesn't need to say anything, anyway. It's obvious in the dull glow of passing street lamps that Striker's blushing.
They arrive at the arena with no blood shed or shouting, and Todd's about to head inside when Striker stops him with a gruff arm against his chest, his free hand fumbling with the beads. Once they're off his neck, he thrusts them into Grisham's hands. "Keep them. They're ... more suited for you." He's still muttering unhappily as he marches into the arena.
"I'll treasure them!" Todd calls after him, laughing slightly as Matt stops momentarily, twitching. He laughs a little more once his broadcast colleague is inside the building, despite the knowledge he shouldn't tease Striker like this, especially about crazy fans. Oh well, he can't kill me till after the show anyway... Shrugging, he drops the beads over his own head and follows Striker, the grin still glued to his face. "Gotta love New Orleans."
