Gunpowder Green Tea

== Revised text ==
Date/Timing: 25 November 2019 >note the change to accommodate the official timeline<
Setting: The Icebox; Anchorage, AK, United States
.
Last night sucked, so Yancy's out for an early morning walk trying to shake off the fear lingering from Raleigh's nightmares.
The kid's sleeping it off under Yancy's blankets, so things are hopefully going the right direction.
Yancy steps around black ice, careful to keep it in sight, and plows over a person.
"Ah, hell. Sorry about that."
The person pushes themself up to sitting, gives their head an experimental shake.
"You okay?"
They nod, put out a hand for help up.
Yancy tugs them back to their feet, sizes them up: a little shorter than himself, blond, the start of a scruffy beard growing in, wearing a new-ish thick jacket and a bright blue t-shirt that says
- Research Bunny -
- Return to DriftSci -
Research Bunny reaches into a jacket pocket, pulls out a cellphone, then frowns mightily.
Yancy leans closer. "What—aw, man. That sucks. Busted screen."
Bunny sighs, tucks the mobile away. Their hands flutter. >::Thanks for the help. This ice /sucks.::<
"Oh. Hold on," Yancy mutters. He slowly signs what he /hopes is 'hello'.
Bunny lights up and their fingers fly through shapes Yancy can't even begin to understand. >::You sign! Wanna grab a snack at the caf and talk?::
«Way to get their hopes up, dummy,» Yancy scold himself. He points to his face and enunciates carefully, "I don't understand, but I know someone who signs better than I do. I'll take you to him."
Bunny smiles, but shakes their head and points to their shirt.
"Someone in the lab can interpret for you?"
Bunny beams for an instant before sagging. They mime walking with their fingers, then shrug hugely.
"But you have no idea how to get back there."
Bunny nods sadly.
"Good thing I do, then." Yancy offers an elbow. "And I know how to spot black ice."
Bunny laughs silently, accepts the arm.
It's barely a minute back to the 'Dome. They tap their boots against the Shatterdome side entrance to get rid of the snow and salt from the paths, steps inside, and Yancy leads the way to Cait's DriftSci lab.
Chuck-with-the-hair meets them at the door, smile fading to a scowl when she claps eyes on Yancy.
Bunny grins and waves.
She brightens a little, signs. >::Where did you get to this time?::<
Bunny replies, tilting their head toward Yancy at one point. >::Took a wrong left turn at Albuquerque? Wound up outside ice-skating. He helped me up and back here.::<
Chuck sighs, addresses Yancy. "Thank you for bringing him back. Now, excuse us, we have work to do." Takes Bunny's arm.
He resists, frowning, and signs. >::No, we don't. What's going—::<
She glowers, snaps something. >::I don't like him.::<
Bunny rolls his eyes.
"Umm ... I'll just be going."
Bunny grabs his sleeve, signs something to Chuck. >::Ask him if he'd like to go to lunch with me, please?::<
Chuck huffs. "He wants to know if you'd like to share lunch with him."
Yancy blinks at Bunny. 
Bunny turns nearly Raleigh-class puppy dog eyes on him.
Yancy snorts. "Sure. I was just gonna go make breakfast for me and Rals in our quarters." Looks to Chuck. "You're welcome to come, too."
She scoffs. "I have work to do."
Bunny sighs at her.
Chuck keeps up the dirty look.
Bunny shrugs, remembers something, and hands her his busted cellphone, batting his eyelashes.
She huffs, "I'll requisition a new one for you."
Bunny beams, sweeps her into a hug.
Chuck tightens her coat as soon as Bunny releases her, turns on her heel, and stomps back to her desk.
Bunny snags a tablet from desk near the door and tilts his head, 'lead the way', to Yancy.
As they stroll toward the Ranger barracks, Yancy floats a warm, gentle nudge along his link to Raleigh.
Raleigh brushes back the same feeling.
―I'm bringing you a stray. I think you'll like him.―
―Yeah?―
―But get ready for sign language, 'cause that's all he speaks and it doesn't look like ASL to me, kiddo.―
Sleepy curiosity and a mental stretch and Yancy feels Raleigh yawning and shuffling around as he wakes up.
Yancy smiles softly to himself as he lets himself and Bunny into the suite he shares with Raleigh. He catches Bunny's eye and gestures toward the comfy chairs. "Take a seat wherever. I gotta wake up my brother, then I'll start cooking. We've got a vid-con later, but you're welcome to join us for that, too."
Bunny salutes, plops himself in the green rocker, powers up the tablet. He types, then flips the computer around.
- Thanks! -
"You're welcome. You, uh, you drink tea? Coffee?"
- COFFEE!!! -
Yancy grins. "Yeah, Rals is gonna need a double-dose himself since we had a long night." 
- Patrol? -
"I wish. One sec." He turns away, digs about in the tea cabinet until he locates the heavenly scent of the Colombian beans.
A /shoofing of socked feet and warmth plastered against his back.
«Hey, kiddo. You sleep okay?» he asks absently as he grinds the coffee and preps the French press Jazzy sent them.
«I've had better nights,» Raleigh mumbles into his shoulder. "Who's the stray?"
"I'm not totally sure, but he's deaf, he's a 'research bunny' in DriftSci, and Chuck-with-the-hair seems to like him."
"Huh. Imma go sit an' chat with him."
"Make sure you speak English, Rals. I don't think he can lip-read French," Yancy points out as he pours the water into the bottom of the press, screws on the top, and sets it on the stove to boil while he pulls out the crepe pan.
"Uh-huh. There's this thing called signing, you derp," Raleigh hums as he buries his face in Yancy's back.
"Alright. Hey, we still have the raspberry jam?"
"Uhh, I think so."
Raleigh doesn't sound sure so Yancy rolls his eyes heavenward to ask for patience. "Go check to see if we do and ask the Bunny if he eats crepes," he orders with a huff.
Raleigh laughs as he bumps Yancy's shoulder with his own. "Sure."
―Translate for me, will ya, so I know what's going on?―
―Will do, bro.―
Yancy watches Raleigh and the Bunny in his peripheral as he starts the crepe batter.
―I'm introducing us.― Raleigh's fingers form complicated symbols and Bunny lights up like Christmas has come early. 
He signs back quickly.
Raleigh grins, his hands do a twist and then Bunny laughs. "His name's Pietr, he speaks British Sign Language, he'll eat whatever's put in front of him, and the coffee smells great," calls Raleigh.
"Means it's done. Grab the cups?" Yancy hums as he turns on the radio to pre-Breach alternative songs. He wonders if Pietr can feel the vibrations or if it's just pure silence.
"Whatever, Yan," scoffs Raleigh, but their link flares with /warm.
Yancy, pleased Raleigh's feeling better, takes down the cups, fills them, brings them over.
Pietr takes his with a wide grin.
"Cream or sugar, Pietr?" asks Raleigh, signing simultaneously.
Pietr shakes his head. ::I don't mix my drinks.::
Raleigh snorts.
Yancy laughs. "Just like Tendo."
Pietr raises an eyebrow. ::The LOCCENT guy?::  Pushes back his curls into something like pompadour.
"Yeah, him. /Never mess with his coffee." Yancy winces. "Bad idea on the best of days."
.::Wouldn't dream of it. It's an idiot who gets between a person and their coffee.:: He grins mischievously.
"Smart. Well, someone once switched his good stuff—real Guatemalan, mind—with the standard-issue instant crud—"
Pietr hisses.
"—and, I don't know how, but Tendo found out and the thief found themselves transferred to Vladivostok the next week."
.::Aww, Vladivostok's not that bad.::
"Maybe not, but it's colder than here and the Russians don't take stupid shit well."
.::True.:: Pietr takes another mouthful of coffee, smiles ruefully, sets his mug down. ::Learned /that in a hurry.::
"Do we wanna know what you did?"
Pietr makes a face. ::Probably, but I'm not telling.::
Raleigh pouts.
.::I'm immune to that look.::
Raleigh's turn to raise an eyebrow.
.::I have kids back home. They've built up my tolerance.:: Pietr grins, but the expression quickly falters.
"You miss 'em."
.::More than you can imagine. I just came off parental leave—:: Takes a deep breath, rubs the center of his chest. ::—and it hurts like crazy.::
"Oh, man," breathes Raleigh. "That's rough." He chews his lip. "Where's home?"
.::South Africa.::
Yancy whistles. "You're a long way from home. Being a 'research bunny' bring you here?"
.::Sorta?:: Another sip and Pietr sets his mug aside. ::I enlisted; made it through the Academy; qualified as a Fightmaster; worked at Lima, Panama City, Vladivostok, Los Angeles, and Sydney; qualified as a Ranger; got a Jaeger; lost a Jaeger; now I'm here to be a test subject for Doctor Lightcap while the brass figure out what do with me next.::
"That's a hell of a career path."
Pietr shrugs.
"You almost had a Jaeger?"
Pietr nods over his coffee.
"Which one?"
.::/Striker Eureka.::
"/Striker? But she's the Hansens'."
Pietr sighs. ::That thing in Manila?::
Yancy cringes. "What a mess."
A grim nod. ::Before that, Chuck and I were the choice to jockey /Striker. Brass changed its mind last month and decided Herc was better suited to the job.::
"Ouch."
Pietr shrugs, 'c'est la vie'.
"You're taking it pretty well."
.::A new baby helps a lot.:: Grins, gives another shrug. ::'sides, I want to be a dad more than I want to be a Ranger.::
Yancy sets down the finished crepes and slowly signs that it's a free-for-all. He takes his usual seat while Pietr and Raleigh claim the other kitchenette chairs.
"By the way, if Raleigh hugs you, please don't flip him," Yancy warns.
Pietr raises an eyebrow.
"What he's trying to say without hurting my feelings is that I have Asperger's Syndrome. I'm affectionate and the cuddling stops my mind going a million kilometers an hour." Raleigh gently elbows Yancy out of the way. "You okay with that?"
Pietr grins. ::Let me know if I squeeze too hard.::
"Awesome." Raleigh holds his hand up for a high-five and Pietr slaps it, so Yancy shakes his head in bemused wonder. "What? The awkward 'so hey I have this disorder-thingy' conversation's over. Definitely something to celebrate."
Yancy concedes.
All three pile crepes and jam on their plates.
"You know, Pietr, you're pretty easy-going for a guy who's Drift Compatible with Hansen Junior," says Yancy. "Hear he's difficult to work with even on a good day."
Pietr sets down his fork, straightens, and presses his feet flat to floor, frowning.
Yancy gestures surrender. "I'm not dissing the kid, just repeating what I've heard."
―You should know better Yan,― Raleigh chides. "What's he really like?"
.::He's the little brother I didn't have,:: Pietr declares.
"Well, shit," sighs Yancy. "My bad. Family's important and I'm sorry about what I said."
Pietr nods and returns to his crepes, easing his posture as he does.
Yancy's shoulders drop their tension as he releases his involuntary fighting stance. "We're pretty big on family 'cause ours is pretty small. You said you had kids?"
.::My wife and I have three.:: Pietr absolutely glows. ::We had our second daughter—Anni—on the first of the month and Elize is four and Izzy's two.::
Raleigh's pulse of gooey warmth hits Yancy right in the gut.
He hauls Raleigh out of his chair and drags his plate along before Raleigh can protest.
Raleigh makes a happy noise and buries his face in Yancy's neck, humming with contentment.
"You're such a goober, kiddo."
"But you make an awesome pillow," Rals murmurs.
Pietr raises an eyebrow.
"We, uh, we had it tough for a while an' ... well, the only thing we could depend on was each other. We cuddle a lot and Rals here has no shame," Yancy explains as he feeds Raleigh one bite of crepe at a time. "So, you have pictures of your kids handy?"
Pietr leans—barely not tipping his chair over backwards—nabs the tablet with his fingertips, taps and swipes for a moment before scooting closer. He points to the caption.
- Anni's first laugh -
The kid's got blond fuzz on her head and she looks like Raleigh did when Yancy first held his baby brother so many years ago.
"Cute. She reminds me of Rals before he turned into a holy terror."
"Hey!" Raleigh thumps his shoulder, but then gently bumps foreheads with Yancy as an apology flickers through the link. "Did I really look like that?"
"Mmmhmm. All cute and cuddly."
"Still cute and cuddly, thank you very much," Raleigh mumbles but there's a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Your leg is totally falling asleep because of my weight. Lemme get off and properly see these pics."
Yancy winces when his brother's weight leaves his leg and Raleigh massages it briefly to get the feeling back.
―Sorry, Yan.―
―Eh. I'm used to you laying on me.―
A memory of Raleigh curling up against Yancy's side as they traveled by train to the Czech Republic flares up and they both smile.
Raleigh swipes to the next picture. "This's your wife?"
Pietr's giant grin somehow gets giant-er and he nods enthusiastically. ::Griet. We grew up together, married as soon as she got old enough.:: He practically melts. ::She's the greatest.::
"Your daughter takes after her," Yancy says as he compares their photos.
.::Thank goodness.::
"They're in South Africa? If you don't mind me asking, that is?"
Pietr's smile collapses. ::Yea. I had to leave them behind.::
"Aw, crap," murmurs Yancy. "Sorry, man."
.::It's alright. They're close to our family and've got nothing to worry about with so many people watching out for them.::
"Big family?"
.::Close to a hundred just in town.::
"Holy /crap."
Raleigh nearly chokes on his mouthful of crepe trying not to laugh.
Pietr and Yancy watch with concern as he gets his breath back.
Raleigh manages, between snorks, to wheeze out, "That's why you're a research /bunny, right? Your family multiplies like—" He doubles over.
Pietr rolls his eyes.
"Heard it before, huh?"
Raleigh keeps giggling.
.::More than I can count, honestly.::
== Original text ==
Gunpowder Green Tea
(Tea Lovers Association}
23 November 2019
Anchorage, AK, United States
It's not often Yancy's alone but today is different. Raleigh'd had a bad night and was sleeping it off under Yancy's blankets. He takes an early morning walk to shake off the lingering fear. Yancy steps around black ice, careful to keep it in sight and before he knows it, he plows over a person.
"Ah hell. Sorry about that." He pulls the person up and it's a guy a little shorter than him. "You okay?"
The guy's long-sleeved shirt under his thick jacket reads:
-Dr. Lightcap's Research Bunny
Please return to lab if found-
The guy starts gesturing and .... "Oh. Hold on," Yancy mutters. ―Rals, I ran into this guy and he's signing something at me.―
―You woke me up to help you sign?― Raleigh sounds exhausted but Yancy doesn't know this like his brother does.
―It doesn't look like ASL, kiddo,― he admits frankly as he slowly signs what he thinks is 'hello.'
The guy brightens and signs something Yancy can't even begin to understand.
Yancy curses soundly in French before he points to his face and enunciates carefully, "I know someone who signs better. Are you alright?"
A smile lights up the man's face. ::I'm fine. I don't understand much ASL, {mate}. I speak the British edition. I'm Pietr.:: He holds out his hand.
―Thanks for the translation, bro,― Yancy sends with affection.
Raleigh brushes the same feeling back across their link.
Yancy shakes Pietr's hand and grins in return. "Yancy Becket, but you can call me 'Yancy.'" Yancy makes sure that Pietr can clearly see his lips. He offers his elbow and Pietr laughs. "Alaskan ice is tricky. Don't want you slipping on it."
::Yea, definitely done enough of that.:: Pietr smiles, then gives Yancy an appraising look. ::You're the rare guy who's stopped to help. Didn't expect it from the top guy in our class.::
"Damn shame. Lot of jerks around here." Yancy hesitates. "Did you say 'our' class? As in 'our' Academy class?"
Pietr looks down. ::You probably don't remember me. I barely got through.::
Yancy nudges him. "What's with the shirt? How do you go from the Academy to 'research bunny?'"
::All the doc's idea,:: the guy signs with a rueful grin. ::The shirt's actually helped me out.::
"Oh?"
::Yeah. The LOCCENT guy, uh, Choi? He steered me back to her when I got lost. Decent guy.::
"Just don't get between him and his coffee. Bad idea on the best of days." Yancy winces at the memory of the day someone had pranked Tendo by switching his coffee to the instant crud no one likes but drinks anyway.
::Wouldn't dream of it,:: comes the reply. ::What idiot gets between a man and his coffee?::
"Smart words. I don't know how, but Tendo found out and, well ... let's just say they were transferred to Vladivostok faster than you can think."
::What's wrong with Vladivostok?:: Pietr asks as they tap their boots against the Shatterdome side entrance to get rid of the snow and salt from the paths.
"Nothin'. It's just colder than here and the Russians don't take kindly to stupid shit," Yancy quips with a laugh.
::True. I was a Fightmaster there for a while. The Rangers were great to work with.:: He smiles. ::Rangers everywhere are great to work with.::
"Nice. So you're a qualified Fightmaster?"
Pietr nods.
"That what you're here for? Besides being a research bunny?"
::Not yet, anyway. Just a research bunny.:: Pietr shrugs. ::The doctor's wanted another peek in my head since I almost made the left side of Striker Eureka.::
"Striker? You 'almost made' .... Wait, what?"
Pietr sighs. ::That thing in Manila?::
Yancy cringes. "What a mess."
A grim nod. ::Before that, Chuck and I were picked to jockey Striker together. Bosses decided Herc was a better choice last month. Sent me here until they figure out what to do with me.::
"Huh. Well, take a seat wherever. I gotta wake up my brother and then we've got a vid-con but you're welcome to join us."
Pietr takes the green rocker and looks at Yancy with something close to confusion.
"Wondering why the hell I'm being nice to ya?"
::Somethin' like that.::
"Let's just say I'd be a shitty brother and a shitty person if I looked down on you," Yancy says after a long pause, thinking about how his brother might perk up at the sight of another stray; especially on today's date. ―I brought you a stray. I think you might like him.―
―Yeah?―
He can feel Raleigh yawning and scuffling around in the next room as he wakes up more.
―Turns out he was supposed to be one of Striker's pilots and he's traveled the 'Domes as a Fightmaster.― Yancy turns back to Pietr to find the man relaxing into the chair. "You, uh, you drink tea? Coffee?"
::Coffee.::
"Yeah, Rals is gonna need a double-dose himself since we had a long night." Yancy says before he locates the heavenly scent of the Colombian beans just behind the array of teas they own.
::Patrol?::
"I wish," Yancy grumbles and then realizes he's not facing Pietr. Oops. He hears Raleigh shuffle into the tiny kitchen with socked feet and he definitely pays attention to the warmth
plastered against his back. «Hey, kiddo. You sleep okay?» he asks absently in French as he grinds the beans and puts them in the percolator that Jazzy had sent them in 2017 for Christmas.
"I've had better nights. So, former Fightmaster and pilot who's now a research bunny? Definitely a path I had no idea you could take," Raleigh mumbles into his shoulder. "Imma go sit an' chat with our guest."
"Make sure you speak English, Rals. I don't think this guy can lip-read French." Yancy points out as he pours the water into the bottom of the percolator, screws on the top and sets it on the stove while he pulls out the crepe pan.
"Uh-huh. There's this thing called signing, you derp," Raleigh hums as he buries his face against Yancy's back.
"Alright. Hey, we still have the raspberry jam?"
"Uhh, I think so."
Raleigh doesn't sound sure so Yancy rolls his eyes heavenward to ask for patience. "Go check to see if we do and ask Pietr if he eats crepes," he orders with a huff.
Raleigh just laughs as he bumps Yancy's shoulder with his own. "Sure."
Raleigh's fingers form complicated symbols and Pietr lights up like Christmas has come early. He signs back quickly and Raleigh's hands do a twist and then Pietr laughs.
"He said he'll eat whatever's put in front of him and that the coffee smells great."
"Means it's done. Grab the cups?" Yancy hums as he turns on the radio to pre-Breach alternative songs. He wonders if Pietr can feel the vibrations or if it's just pure silence.
"Whatever, Yan." 
[But the link flares with warm. 
Yancy, pleased Raleigh's feeling better, takes down the cups. 
Pietr takes the steaming coffee with a wide grin.
Raleigh signs and mouths a question. 
Pietr shakes his head. ]
"He likes his coffee like Tendo does."
A few more finger movements cause Pietr to smile against the rim of his cup and nod.
"Probably would get along with with him."
Yancy sets down the crepes and slowly signs that it's basically a free-for-all breakfast. He takes his usual seat, his mind lingering on the feather hanging from a braided leather cord that's pressed against his heart. Maybe today he'll confess to Hermann, but not in English; that would be embarrassing on so many levels.
"You're pretty easy-going for a guy who's Drift Compatible with Hansen Junior. Hear he's difficult to work with even on a good day."
Pietr sets down his cup, straightens, and presses his feet flat to floor, frowning, and Yancy realizes what it sounds like.
"Oh, I wasn't dissing the guy; I really don't have much say when my copilot's my brother. What's he like?"
::He's special. If he can learn control, he might be the best pilot we'll ever have. Brash but ... sweet where it counts,:: Pietr admits after Yancy's back-track to safer ground. ::He's my little brother.::
"Well, shit."
―You should know better Yan,― Raleigh chides and, yeah, Yancy really should've known better than to listen to the gossips.
"My bad. Family's important and I'm sorry about what I said."
Pietr nods and returns to his coffee, easing his posture as he does.
"You have family? Besides Chuck, I mean?" Yancy's shoulders drop their tension, his own body having responded to Pietr's fight stance. "We're pretty big on family cause we're pretty small."
::Not us! We're big on both!:: He grins. ::My wife and I had our first daughter this month.::
Raleigh's pulse of gooey warmth hits Yancy straight in the gut.
Yancy hauls Raleigh out of his chair and just drags his brother's plate along before Raleigh can protest.
His brother makes a happy noise and buries his face in Yancy's neck with a hum of contentment.
"You're such a goober, kiddo."
"But you make an awesome pillow," Rals murmurs as Pietr raises an eyebrow.
"We, uh, we had it tough for a while an' ... well, the only thing we could depend on was each other. Yesterday wasn't so great for either of us. We usually cuddle and Rals here has no shame," Yancy explains as he feeds Raleigh one bite at a time. He knows it's weird by most people's standards but he's learned over the years that he couldn't care less what everyone else thought about him. "So, you have pictures of your daughter?"
::I have an whole wallet set aside for Griet and our little Anniek.:: Pietr pulls out a simple leather wallet and an entire stack of actual photos, shuffles through them. ::Here's her first laugh.::
The kid's got blonde hair and she looks like Raleigh when Yancy first held his baby brother oh so many years ago.
"Cute. She reminds me of Rals before he turned into a holy terror."
"Hey!" Raleigh thumps his shoulder but gently bumps foreheads with Yancy as an apology flickers through the link. "Did I really look like that?"
The wide blue eyes make him chuckle as he replies to his brother's question with a soft look, "Mmmhmm. All cute and cuddly."
"Still cute and cuddly, thank you very much," Raleigh mumbles but there's a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Your leg is totally falling asleep because of my weight. Lemme get off and properly see those pics."
Yancy winces when his brother's weight comes off his leg and Raleigh massages it briefly to get the feeling back into it.
―Sorry, Yan.―
―Eh. I'm used to you laying on me.―
A memory of Raleigh curling up against Yancy's side as they traveled by train to the Czech Republic flares up and they both smile.
Raleigh holds up a picture. ::This's your wife?::
Pietr's giant grin returns and he nods enthusiastically. ::We grew up together, married right outta school.:: He practically melts. ::She's beautiful.::
"Your daughter takes after her," Yancy says as he compares the photos.
::Thank goodness,:: Pietr signs with a grin.
"Are they here or ... If you don't mind me asking, that is?" Yancy's a little more aware of his words now that Raleigh's pointed it out.
Pietr's smile collapses. ::I had to leave them back home.::
"Aw crap," murmurs Yancy. "Sorry, man."
::It's alright. They're close to our family. They'll have nothing to worry about with that many people watching out for them.::
Raleigh signs something and Pietr signs back with a frown.
His brother does a different hand move and Pietr nods as he goes back to eating.
―Sometimes he and his wife fight about how he has to be away all the time but they work it out. I asked him if he wanted to come along with us to our vid-con with Hermann.―
―Right. Y'know, by this point I should have already told him with the amount of flowers and small gifts I gave him that pretty much say the same thing.―
Raleigh's end of the link pulses with a soothing warmth and encouragement.
"By the way, if Raleigh hugs you, please don't flip him," Yancy warns.
Pietr raises an eyebrow.
"What Yan's trying to say without hurting my feelings is that I have Asperger's Syndrome. Sometimes I do and say stuff that's socially unacceptable so he's trying to prepare you. I'm affectionate and the cuddling stops my mind going a million kilometers an hour." Raleigh gently elbows Yancy out of the way and signs while he's speaking. "You okay with that?"
Pietr only grins and replies, ::Let me know if I squeeze too hard.::
"Awesome." Raleigh holds his hand up for a high-five and Pietr slaps it, making Yancy shake his head in bemused wonder. "What? The awkward 'so hey I have this disorder thingy' conversation's over. Definitely something to celebrate."
"Only you, Rals." He looks down at the pictures and some of them are from places they've never visited. "Hey, look, a place we haven't been to yet."
"Sweet. What's the weather like? We're Alaskan born and bred but we traveled a lot before Trespasser." Raleigh asks as he carefully picks up each photo and sets it back down in the order he got them in.
::Hot in summa, cold in winta, and a bit nice in autumn and spring. Best time ta visit, actually. We're in a little place called Koffiefontein and it's about 150 clicks from Kimberley. My folks are close enough to the diamond mine we got goin' without bein' on the doorstep. I've neva met an Alaskan who decided ta stay here. So, same question.:: Pietr gestures expansively and Raleigh's translation sounds a bit like an Aussie but isn't so Yancy assumes his brother's actually bumped into a South African at some point during their travels.
"Well, we were born here and our Dad worked oil rigs so we spent most of our time with him or extended stints here with Maman and our Uncle. Traveled a lot but Alaska ... she grows on you. Short summers that are gone in the blink of an eye and grey autumn and winter with a sliver of weather that could be called something like spring if you ignore the tendency for blizzards and white-outs." Yancy laughs at the last bit as Raleigh takes up the next part.
"We're a little outside Anchorage in a two-story cottage that hasn't been used it ages. We rent it out now but not many folks wanna come too close to the Pacific Rim unless they're thrill-seekers." Raleigh pulls out a couple of Polaroid pictures and the camera he uses around the Shatterdome to catch moments like Tendo biting into his bagel after the first cup of coffee or Lightcap hanging from a rappelling harness and welding Brawler Yukon herself with a mask on and sparks flying. His brother, had the K-War not started, would've made an excellent photographer.
"Or they work for the Icebox 'dome and just want some peace. Rented it out to Tendo a few times, remember?"
"Yeah. Hey, Pietr, you still hungry?" Yancy asks as he dips his last crepe into the pile of raspberry jam on Raleigh's plate.
Raleigh rolls his eyes and just reaches over to steal the last of the butter they brought out with a grin.
::These are great but I'm full. I had a ton. Where'd you get the recipe?:: The man looks genuinely interested and it warms Yancy that someone who has a big family still cares. He likes this guy on a level that's close to what he has with Raleigh; Pietr's just one of those people that you can't help but enjoy because they're sweet even in the face of the obstacles they've had to overcome.
"Maman." Yancy answers before facepalming; right, deaf guy with no other languages.
"Yan, English. It was Mom's family recipe passed down for generations; she taught us every dish we know in the kitchen. We're half-French and Yancy picked the French for Mom and I chose the American English." Raleigh laughs as he offers their guest more coffee and fixes Yancy's just the way he likes it.
::She sounds amazing,:: Pietr says as he takes another sip of his black coffee.
"She was." Yancy flicks through the pics he knows Raleigh still has in the pile and pulls out the one where Maman is dancing in the kitchen with their deadbeat Dad when they'd been so close. "She got sick and passed on." He turns around the pic and shows their guest. "That's her."
::Oh. She's incredible.::
"Yeah. Rals takes after her a lot; so does our sister. Spitting image and just as spirited." He pulls out a picture of Jazmine the Christmas before they had to leave for the Academy; she's covered in snow and laughing with Raleigh as they sing goofy renditions of carols to the neighbors. Pietr seems to pick up on the fact that talk of their Dad isn't welcome and for that Yancy's grateful. "Anyway, you want a tour so that you don't have to alway rely on the shirt? Our vid-con's not until later so that we can talk to Doc at a reasonable hour in Australia.
::Sure. It'll be nice ta navigate by myself without gettin' lost half a meter outside the labs.:: Pietr helps clean up but keeps his tar masquerading as coffee close. ::Can I take this with me?::
"Of course. Rals is making us tea but you're welcome to the coffee we've got and the set of thermoses is in the cabinet above the stove."
::Oh. Nice. Probably gonna have ta get my own and explore Anchorage, too,:: Pietr replies as he stretches up and Yancy watches as the man snags the thermos closest to the edge with his fingertips.
"Hey, if we're not kickin' Kaiju tail or out on patrol you can come with us and we'll do the same thing," Raleigh signed as he spoke, making motions that Yancy did not understand.
::You're definitely a lot nicer than the rumors say, but, then again, I never put much stock into 'em after I got to know Chuck,:: Pietr comments as he pours the remainder of the coffee into the thermos.
Yancy takes apart the percolator and rinses it out for the next use. Raleigh's already done with the tea water and is contemplating their collection of teas when Yancy snags the unopened loose leaf bag that says 'Gunmetal Green' and sets it down.
"Trying the new flavor? Okay." Raleigh scoops up two tablespoons into the canvas bag, sets it into the steaming water, and they watch the water darken into a rich brown that smells good. His brother signs to Pietr and the man smiles.
::I'll try some but I'm not really the tea type, {mate},:: comes the honest reply.
"At least you're trying. Most people have to get the puppy/guilt-trip look in order to try it," Yancy points out as Raleigh pours three cups of the tea.
::Puppy look?::
Yancy just glances at Raleigh and he does his usual, cocking his head to the side with wide eyes and a soft smile.
Pietr's lips try not to move but he caves to the cute like everyone else does and practically coos at Raleigh. He blinks after Raleigh grins in success and shakes his head with the smile still on his lips. ::Surprisingly effective.::
"Happens to everyone at least once. I live with him and even I'm not immune to the damned thing. He gets Tendo and the cooks on a regular basis. They have no built-in sibling resistance." Yancy admits with a shrug before he takes a sip of his tea and nearly groans at the smoky yet smooth taste of the tea. "Good tea. Where'd we get it from again?"
"The pair of Norwegian twins that worked at the falconry." Raleigh answers and pours the tea into two thermoses and Pietr pours the last of the still-warm coffee into the last one.
"Huh. Okay, main areas first and you already know the way to the labs from your room and back, right?" Yancy asks to make sure.
::Yeah and to the mess hall from my room and the labs.::
"So you've got a base. We can work with that." Raleigh hums as they exit their quarters. Once they pass the doorway leading to personal quarters, Raleigh signs and Pietr signs back. They continue to the main areas and Tendo's in LOCCENT monitoring Brawler Yukon and Chrome Brutus's patrols when they make their last stop.
"Hey, Lab Bunny! What're you two doing with the Bunny?" Tendo asks as he turns around in his swirly chair with an obnoxious sip of his coffee.
"I knocked the poor man over. Figured a tour of the Icebox and breakfast was the least I could do," Yancy replies as he leans on the desk. Raleigh's hands are almost fluttering like a bird's wing at this point, moving three different ways before responding to Pietr's incredibly fast signing.
"I didn't know that Rals knew sign language," Tendo mutters as he fishes another bagel out of the box that never seemed to be empty.
"That's actually British Sign Language and I had no idea there was a difference," he chuckles softly as Raleigh makes a face at something Pietr signs before laughing. "He learned it from his deaf friend in India; also the one who taught us Hindi at a speed that would spin a tutor's head."
"Damn. You do get around. Go on any interesting dates lately?" Tendo asks as Pietr pulls out more pictures and signs (Yancy's guessing here) the stories that come with them and Raleigh's doing the same in return in a lesser-used corner of LOCCENT.
"Nope. I told you, man, Becket special means dating's off the table. I wouldn't be attracted to any of 'em and leading people on isn't nice," Yancy huffs with a wry smile. "'Sides, my guy is different enough that I don't want anyone else." He presses a hand gently against the feather and smiles at the memories that come with it.
"What is that?" Tendo's not an idiot and Yancy thinks carefully.
"A memento they left behind," he answers, still feeling warm from the few memories he has of Hermann.
"Ouch. So they were here and transferred." He has to hand it to his friend; the man's extremely perceptive when he wants to be.
"Yeah. Miss him but Rals an' Kaiju keep me from thinking too much."
"Do I know this guy?" Tendo glances up at him with the edge of a smirk on his lips.
"Uh-huh and nice try, Tendo. I'm not giving up his name unless I'm piss-drunk and defenseless, which isn't happening until the end of this stupid War." He snorts and Tendo groans in disappointment.
"Damn, I thought I was being smooth."
"Not even close, Tendo," he quips as he looks up to see Raleigh headed his way with their new stray in a one-armed hug. "Hey, kiddo."
They bump foreheads and hum softly, startled out of their usual routine by an amused laugh from Pietr. ::You look like the cats that hung around my neighborhood.::
"Oh?"
::The littamates always did that to each otha.::
"Well, Rals can fit under the PPDC-issued beds like nobody else, so maybe we were cats in a former life," he replies as he continues to press against Raleigh and wraps his brother in a hug.
"Definitely cats. As to what breed, no idea, but I can see why you'd say that, Pietr," Tendo mutters as Yancy pulls away from Raleigh with a warm look at his brother.
"Lunch anyone? I hear they're serving fish today." Raleigh glances at Yancy and they just crack up laughing.
After lunch is a nap and Pietr is kidnapped back by an in-serious-science-mode Caitlin. Yancy goes through as many levels of Devil May Cry 4 as he can remember while Raleigh attempts to out-do his own record for beating the Pokémon League in Blue on the old Gameboy color they carry with them for the boring briefs that really mean the higher-ups (the UN) just want to talk at someone for an hour and a half. He once saw Marshal Pentecost texting during the meetings and the man is a stickler for the rules.
"What time is it over there?" Raleigh asks after he snags a can of peach slices and offers one to Yancy out of pure habit. Yancy chews the peach thoughtfully as he does the calculations.
"'Bout an eighteen-hour difference so Hermann's probably
just getting his breakfast. We'll give him another hour or so and then rescue Pietr from Cat's clutches," Yancy lists as he steals another peach slice with his fingers.
Raleigh just sighs and defends his peaches from Yancy by way of fork. "Ouch!"
"My peaches. Go get your own." Baleful blue eyes look at him and Yancy throws his hands up in defeat.
"Whatever, bro." Yancy digs around in their tiny pantry for more peaches and comes up with what he knows is the last can. "Aww, c'mon!"
"Last can? Have to share then." Raleigh makes a peace offering with a sheepish grin and Yancy plops next to him on the floor as he takes the peach. "'Member when we used to sit on the rooftops of the hotels we stayed at eating canned fruit?"
"Ha, 'cause it was the one thing you could charm off the kitchen staff," he counters as he licks peach juice off his chin.
"Jazzy did it, too." Raleigh counters with a pout that Yancy doesn't dare admit is cute on his brother for fear of it being used more often.
"You were the one they cooed at, Rals. You were a cute kiddo." Yancy chuckles while he nudges Raleigh as they eat the remaining slices. "Hey, didn't we have to rescue our new stray?"
"Oh yeah. Oops." Raleigh drains half the peach syrup in one go and wipes his lips as Yancy drains the other half. "Poor guy; Cat's a nice lady and all but her in science mode is scary."
"Ditto." They slip on their boots and square their shoulders, releasing a deep breath at the same time. "Okay, sorry but you're gonna have to be cute to get Pietr out from under Cat."
"Dammit. Thought you were the distraction." Raleigh curses before shrugging.
"Used to be before she realized what's up. Like I said, you're bait. Teach me how to sign 'run while you can,'" he says
as they slowly walk through the Icebox on the way to the K-Sci/Jaeger division.
"Okay, you move your hand like this and then like this."
"Pretty simple."
"Most of it is, Yan, it's just hard to combine them into proper sentences," Raleigh counters with a laugh. That's what Sabal said.
Good to know this years later, Rals. My Hindi never was as good as yours or Jazzy's and you both know it.
Sabal's Mom said your Hindi didn't even have a trace of accent, though. Maybe cause you actually think most of the time before you speak, Raleigh answers as they knock on Cat's office door.
"Come on in!" Cat's voice is in what sounds like 'happy sciencing' mode so Yancy grins as he pushes the door open fully. She's unhooking Pietr from her new-and-improved Pons that's in the latest Jaeger as her eyes read over the data she's gotten. "Becket boys? Didn't expect to see you down here for a while. Your Jaeger acting funny again?"
"No. We, uh, came to get your Bunny. We've got a vid-con with Doc in less than an hour and we promised he could come with," Yancy blurts and Raleigh starts laughing in the link as Yancy facepalms.
"Oh? Tell Dr. Gottlieb that his adjustments to Striker's AI are perfect."
Pietr whips his head around to look at Caitlin when Raleigh signs and grins at her.
::I know Dr. Gottlieb.::
"He's had to adjust Striker but it seems to be working out," she says and her eyes are full of sympathy for Pietr.
::You don't have ta tip-toe. I'm on the reserve pilot list so I know what goes on. Striker is amazing but what the suits say
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