Drills

Note: merger of "Crowds" and "Frustrate" with a small new bridging scene
Date/Timing: 6 January 2019
Setting: The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
Pietr wakes suddenly, nose twitching.
He sneezes, blinks, and his eyes burn.
Mobile buzzes under his pillow.
Fumbles for it.
AGNIS: FIRE. There is a fire. Please evacuate.
Rolls his eyes and out of bed. Feet in slippers, out the door. Down the corridor with the herd of staff, into the muggy Sydney air, to his rendezvous point.
Yawns.
Mobile buzzes from pocket.
AGNIS: Congratulations, Officer. You have successfully completed your first fire drill at the Sydney Shatterdome. Central Monitoring has been notified of your continued existence.
Huffs.
AGNIS: However, if this had been an actual fire, your delay in leaving your quarters likely would have resulted in your death.
AGNIS: Sloppy, Vos. Real damn sloppy.
Glowers.
p_a_vos: Yr teh reason I was slow!!!
AGNIS: Evacuation is your first priority once you detect wasabi.
AGNIS: Distractions should be ignored.
Makes an obscene gesture at the mobile's camera, jams it back in his pocket.
It vibrates indignantly.
Snorts.
The crowd starts shuffling toward the Shatterdome.
Pietr joins them.
A tap on his arm.
Officer Davega!
Pietr beams, steps in from of them, walking backward. ::Good morning!::
::Good morning, Officer!::
::Pietr, please.::
::Tsuki, then, Pietr.:: Davega smiles. ::Zhi-zhir-zhir.::
::He-him-his.::
::So? Is it true?::
Pietr raises an eyebrow.
::You're going to be a Ranger?::
Shrugs, 'maybe'.
::But you succeeded to Drift with Little Hansen?::
Mouth twitches up. ::More to it than that, right?::
Tsuki laughs. ::Seems to be, but I'm just a humble mechanic, what do I know of such ... things?::
'Pfft!'
::Have you had breakfast yet?::
Shakes his head. ::Need. Coffee. Badly.::
::I'm heading to the canteen to meet some friends. Want to join us?::
::After I change.::
::What's wrong with what you're wearing?::
Pietr looks down at himself, raises an eyebrow. ::I'm in my pyjamas?::
Tsuki blinks. ::Your what?::
::Pyjamas.::
::That looks—:: Frowns in frustration. ::—sorta like 'housecoat', but I'm not sure what you mean.::
Pietr sighs. ::Sorry. I sign weird sometimes. I meant 'sleeping clothes'.::
"Oh!" Tsuki brightens. ::Pajamas!::
::Right!:: He beams. ::I can't go to the caf in my pyjamas.::
Tsuki 'pfffts'. ::No one'll notice.::
::I have a rank to uphold, now! Maybe!::
Tsuki shakes zhir head. ::Fiiiine.:: Once-overs him. ::You and I are about the same size and my room's on the way, so you can borrow something.::
Pietr grins, sweeps a bow.
With a laugh, Tsuki offers an arm.
Pietr accepts and away they go.
A short time, a dark grey jumpsuit, and Pietr's pyjamas in a laundry hamper later, they stroll into the caf.
Pietr joins the line and collects a mountainous breakfast and—
"Three cups of coffee?" says the brunet next to Tsuki.
Pietr grins, drops in across from them, gulps a mouthful.
::This's Juliet,:: says Tsuki.
"She-her-hers," adds Juliet. "Nice to meet you."
Pietr waves, bobs his head, 'same'.
::And this's Andrea.:: Indicates the tiny Spare from Ranger workouts.
Andrea mumbles something.
::Would you have her repeat that?:: Pietr asks sheepishly. ::I didn't catch it.::
Tsuki pokes Andrea.
Andrea turns pink, says, "She-her-hers," enunciating carefully.
Pietr beams. ::Great to have a name to go with the pretty face.::
Tsuki translates.
Andrea goes carmine.
Juliet laughs, turns to Pietr. "She's more than a little spoken for."
Pietr's face heats. ::So am I!:: Brandishes his wedding ring. ::Not flirting! Just a compliment! I saw you on Tuesday—::
"It's okay, Ranger," interrupts Juliet. "She blushes whenever anyone says something nice to her."
Andrea nods fervently.
Pietr flicks imaginary sweat from his forehead.
The trio giggle.
He grins, turns his attention to his eggs.
They're gone and he's on to the sausage when there's motion in his peripheral.
Officer Riley, frowning.
Pietr bobs his head.
Riley's mouth turns farther down. "You're getting the Jaeger, ay?"
Shrugs, 'maybe'.
Riley says—turns away.
"—off him, Lachlan," says the sunny blond with the teeny limp, plunking into the spot beside Andrea. "'s'not his fault he's Compatible with Chip." Grins, eyes sparkling. "That's punishment enough, ay?"
Pietr feels Riley huff.
"What're you boys doing here, anyway?" asks Juliet. "I thought you were leaving for Anchorage this morning."
The blond leans back, laces their fingers behind their head. "We got lucky and our appointment with Dame Science's been canceled. 'parently, she's coming here to check out—" Bobs their chin toward Pietr. "—our new friend."
All eyes turn to him.
::First I've heard of it.:: Furrows his brow. ::And who's Dame Science?::
"None other than Doctor Caitlin Lightcap herself."
::To check on me?::
"Yup."
Pietr blinks. ::Why?::
Juliet says, "You Drifted with Chuck—"
Andrea cringes.
"—and you're okay?"
::What—?::
A hand on his shoulder.
Pietr twists around.
Ranger Jones the Older frowns down at him, says, "C'mere a minute."
Pietr shrugs, stands, waves to Tsuki, Juliet, Andrea, and the blond, bows to Riley, scoops up his empty tray and mugs, and follows Jones to the exit and the bin, and then out of the caf.
Right into what looks like the /Vulcan Specter Rangers' suite, straight into a bedroom. Lots of big books on shelves, stacks of notebooks, including a couple which look like sketchbooks.
Jones opens a dresser drawer, paws through.
Pietr creeps closer to the sketchbooks—
Twists—
—freezes, waves.
—gives Pietr a frowny head-to-toe. "You're new to the whole Ranger thing—" Turns away, digs in the drawer a bit more, turns back. "—so you need to know we don't wear each others' colours in the 'Dome." Hands over a muted purple [jumper]. "Put that on over top."
Pietr's eyebrows climb.
"It's disrespectful to your team."
Eyebrows twitch a little higher.
Jones sighs. "It's a loyalty thing, like if we were knights wearing a different royal's colours."
Nods, stuffs himself into the [jumper].
Jones frowns. "A little snug." Shrugs. "But you'll only need it until you get back to your room. Then general colours until you get SE kit, ay?"
Crosses his heart.
Jones rolls his eyes. "C'mon, let's get you outta here." Bows Pietr toward the door.
Pietr leads the way, then falls into step as Jones catches up.
At the intersection with his hall, Pietr stops.
So does Jones, eyebrow raised.
::Thanks for this!::
"What? I don't—"
Pietr hugs him.
Jones flaps—
Pietr keeps hugging.
—relaxes, pats Pietr's back.
They separate.
Jones rubs his neck and kinda waves, and heads with slumped shoulders towards the pool.
Pietr shrugs, aims for his quarters.
There, he strips off the jumper, folds it neatly, sets it on the bed to return after work.
Shucks the jumpsuit, drops it in the hamper, climbs into standard navy blue shirt and trousers.
Checks his reflection, then his watch.
Off he goes at a brisk walk, reaching /Lucky Seven territory lickety-split.
Presses the doorbell of the Ranger suite, bounces on his toes on the steps.
The door remains firmly closed.
Pushes the bell again.
Chuck flings open the door. "Wha—oh. You."
::That's what I get?::
"Where's your mobile?"
Pietr scowls, his movements all sharp angles and jerks. ::Learn to talk with me.::
"I'll learn, mate, but right now I don't understand."
Winces and drops his eyes. Pulls out his mobile.
- Sorry. Get frustrated -
Chuck rubs the back of his neck. "I can't imagine what it's like. Not bein' able to talk."
- Talk fine -
"But no one understands."
Nods.
"Umm ... how long you been like ... this?" Chuck waves a hand vaguely near his head.
Preens.
- Handsome? -
Chuck rolls his eyes.
Pouts.
- Deaf -
"Yea."
- Always -
"Haven't heard anything? Ever?"
Shakes his head.
"What's it like?"
- Quiet -
"You're fuckin' with me now."
Grins.
- Stupid ??? -
"Get asked it a lot, ay?"
- OMG YES -
Chuck snorts.
- Rdy 2 wrkout? -
"Sure. Lemme grab Max."
Chuck ducks back inside.
Pietr checks home time on his watch, sighs.
A few moments later, the ball of wrinkles waddles out the door.
Pietr scoops him up before he can topple down the steps.
Max whuffles happily, licks Pietr's chin.
Chuck closes up, asks, "Ready?"
Pietr lifts his head out of tongue range, smiles, 'lead the way'.
As they stroll side-by-side down an empty corridor, Chuck says something.
Pietr frowns, wiggles a hand free, tugs his sleeve.
Chuck stops, turns to face him.
Raises an eyebrow expectantly.
"Oh, give 'im here." Chuck lifts Max away and sets him on the floor. "I asked—"
Pietr shakes his head.
Out comes the mobile.
- U weren't facing me -
- Can't read lips side on -
Chuck files this away.
Pietr nods, 'go on'.
"Sorry." Chuck's eyes slide to Pietr's left. "Were you ... wearing grey? This morning? In the canteen?" Tosses his head. "Squire was going on about crap, probably doesn't know what—"
- VS mech lent me a jumpsuit -
Chuck's eyes flash.
Pietr rolls his.
- Didnt kno it was bad -
- Dont have th manual yet -
"But it's /obv—"
- Rthr I been in pjs? -
Chuck turns a rather pretty pink. "Why would you /ever—" Realizes. "Fire drill."
Nods.
- Jones #1 lent a [jumper] 2 cover up -
Chuck's eyes widen in shock. "The /Klingon?!"
Eyebrow asks, 'yea, so?'
"He /hates us!"
- Ben nice 2 me -
Shrugs.
"Well," Chuck huffs, "don't ever do that again."
Pietr slips his mobile into his pocket. ::Never in front of an audience, I swear.::
"That better've been an agreement."
::Of course it was.::
Chuck scowls. "Right. When can you start teachin' me?"
::Right now.::
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