Cultural Exchange scraps

==January 20==
===Quietly===
This section includes ficlets that are now a part of "Quiet" or have been cut from it
Not My Problem
Date/Timing: 20 Jan 2019
Setting: Helicopter, then above Victoria Harbour; Hong Kong, China
Notes: Xiong lets a thing slide /once and while hell's breaking loose, quietly adds that thing to the rule book. And make the team responsible pay for the damage. Upon Nguyen's arrival, she hides the updated copy of the rulebook, grabs her husband, her kid, and her suitcase, strolls onto the helipad, calling, "I /will be coming home in a week." (The significance that she expects the Shatterdome in one piece but doesn't care otherwise). 
.
Less than a half-kilometer from the helipad—
/BOOM
Fei Yen presses her face to the helicopter window.
The second officer twists around. 「Uh, ma'am—」
「Not my problem.」 Xiong settles back in her chair, adjusts her pillow, starts on her first decent nap in four years.
Seating Arrangement
(Before it occurred to ALC to look up whether Fei Yen should have her own seat or sit in someone's lap)
Xiong offers to take Fei Yen. 
The second officer smiles apologetically, closes the door—
Fei Yen wails.
「Is that "Let It Go"?」 asks Mr Xiong, settling her in Xiong's arms. 
Nang sighs, 「I believe it is.」
The door /thumps closed, cutting the music off mid-warble. 
Xiong chuckles, smooths Fei Yen's hair. 
The pitch of the engines rises. 
「「We'll be taking off momentarily. Seatbelts, please.」」
「In you go,」 says Xiong, hoisting Fei Yen into her carseat. 
The plane rolls forward.
In moments, they're in the air, taking a wide turn to reach the proper vector. 
Nang touches Xiong's arm. 「You may want to look out the window.」
Xiong tucks Fei Yen to her chest and leans closer to the window.
====Fishing====
「Nuji, do you have a /Lady Danger?」
	
「Go fishing, Mummy!」 Fei Yen squinches at her cards. 「/Coyote Tango, Nang?」
「Nope! Go fish.」
Fei Yen pouts, draws one.
「Any /Lucky Sevens, Marshal?」
Xiong passes hers over.
「Yes!」 crows Nang, setting aside a pair.
「Sorry to interrupt, Marshal,」 says the second officer, 「but we're about five minutes from the airport and landing. Safety belts on please, everyone.」
「Thank you, Officer.」 Xiong sets down her cards. 「Time to pack up.」
Fei Yen sighs spectacularly.
「You'll have plenty of time to play in Sydney, Nuji.」
「With Triplets?」
「Yes, there will be Rangers for you to play with.」
「Triplets!」 Fei Yen claps and bounces.
Xiong smiles, straps herself in while her husband manages Fei Yen.
====Whiskey====
(From "Highest", inspired by the whiskey; now a part of "Quiet"!)
[du Croz and Xiong exchange pleasantries.]
"And there's a bottle of whiskey behind the dictionaries if you should feel the need. Thomas asked me to relay that you are to help yourself."
"Thank you, Officer." Xiong settles a little lower in Thomas's chair, a special glint in her eye.
The back of du Croz's neck prickles.
"But I doubt I shall be needing it."
===Tea Time===
Date/Timing: 2019 January 20
Setting: Marshal's office, Hong Kong
At ten to eleven, Nguyen tidies Xiong's desk and sets out after morning tea—
Quartermaster ... not Tim. Dammit. appears with a tea service. 
"I'd forgotten this," says Nguyen. "Thank you, Quartermaster."
She shakes her fringe from her eyes, smiles, sets out a cup of tea and she still remembers how to make it—
—while he can't remember her name.
"How was your first night?" she asks. 
"I wasn't kept up by logistics for the first time in two years." 
"That's wonderful." Returns the tea pot to the tray, steps back, bows—
Nguyen nods around his cup.
—steps away—goes sideways and then backwards and the back of her head hits the edge of the walkway and she lands in the reflecting pool. 
Because this day couldn't stay at all sane, now, could it. 
And then Nguyen gets himself around his desk because Quartermaster Yeung just fell in and is possibly drowning. 
He grabs a hold of something not-pool-coloured and drags her out by her sleeve and her apron strings. 
"My ap-pologies," she says, voice strained. 
"No, no, it's fine—are you well?" 
She nods, pale as a ghost and trembling—
Nguyen stands—"I'll find you a towel." 
"It's fine." She pushes herself over onto her knees and collects the broken tea service. 
He picks his way across the china. "Leave that for now; I'll call Custodial." 
The shard under his foot slides and his center of gravity swings off kilter—
Oh, for the love of god—
===Information Exchange===
See "Information Exchange"
===Cadeboss===
See "Cadeboss"
==="Timeout"===
===="Filing"====
""For Christ's sake, Chuckles,"" hollers Jones, ""didn't you learn the alpha—""
""Fuck you, Klingon! /You're the one—""
Xiong clears her throat.
Silence.
Papers resume rustling in the file room.
====Demotion====
(When Logan was still involved instead of Jackson)
Chuck demoted to file clerk! Logan pinned under an administrative assistant! The Rangers never speak of this day again, do they? 
====Spider Hunt====
They never speak of this day again, do they? 
Weeeelll, sorta. They team up (the one and only time) according to the "enemy of my enemy is my friend" drive (because she's not /their Marshal) and catch spiders. When it fails, they never speak of it again. 
Ah, the Great Sydney Spider Hunt of 2019. This might be the most normal thing 15-year-old Chuckles has done in a looooong time: Pranking an authority figure. 
Good lord, the madhouse that is your Hong Kong Shatterdome continues to entertain me immensely.
(There was actually a fire—two of them, in fact. One of them was an indoor firepit for marshmallows (because they could and there's no rule against it) and the other was a bunch of tiki torches.)
===Cultural Exchange IV===
(Originally uploaded 15:21 August 27, 2015‎, categories were added 22:09 December 7, 2015)
Xiong: How was Hong Kong?
Nguyen: I got there and the sprinklers went off for no reason. Disney started blasting 'Let it Go' and didn't stop for hours. The triplets introduced themselves four times separately. All the lights in one of the wings exploded. I got eight calls from a giggly girl about washing fireflies. One of the monks fell down the stairs. HOW DOES A MONK FALL DOWN STAIRS? All of LOCCENT disappeared for an hour. Did you know there are thirty cats in the mess hall? I didn't either until someone set off fireworks in the hanger.
Xiong: Sounds like an exciting week.
Nguyen: THAT WAS THE FIRST DAY.
Xiong: You shouldn't have trouble with Sydney anymore.
====Incidents====
Also wondering how many of those incidents Nguyen reports where the direct result of the triplets.
Definitely the fireworks and maybe the extra cats. Feng's pirouette was his own idea.
If this was post January 2020, I would guess the lights and sprinklers would have something to do with K-Sci (NEW-TOOOOON!).
====HK LOCCENT====
One mass order of drywall, coming up!
All of LOCCENT disappeared for an hour: The LOCCENT /room vanished {like just not existing anymore} along with all the staff.
LOCCENT accomplished this by drywall-ing over all signs of LOCCENT and giggling to themselves as Nguyen paced outside where the door used to be, muttering to himself in disbelief.
===Xiong 'Cat got the Cream' Li-hua===
She didn't do a thing; she did the bare minimum of Marshal-y things (and okay, maaybe improved efficiency here and there.) but otherwise enjoyed the vacation and the sweet serenade of only two or three people arguing. (Xiong shall never admit it, but at high noon, when a number of crocodiles crawled onto the helipad to sun themselves, she found it a /touch perturbing.) 
She pretty much put her feet up on Nguyen's desk (if she would stoop to such behavior) and basked in the relative sanity.
===Pronouns===
See "Pronouns"
==January 21==
* Jumpers
* (Not) Cute
==January 22==
* Busy Busy Busy
* Hyunxi
==January 23==
* Confession
==January 24==
===Sunbathing===
On Thursday, Nang's heart leaps when the [landline] rings but answers it as promptly as expected: "Marshal Xiong Li-hua's office, Lo Nang, Equerry, speaking. How may I help you?" 
""We have a situation on the helipad,"" says the Master of the Horse.
"What kind of situation?" 
""The kind you should come see at your earliest convenience, Officer.""
So Nang goes out onto the helipad, or rather, the hall leading into open air. 
"What seems to be the problem, officers?"
"Not so much a problem, Officer, just a situation." 
Nang puts up a hand as a shield against the noon-day sun. "Are those crocodiles?" 
"At least thirty of them, Officer." 
Uh, okay. Think, Nang, think! 
"What d'you recommend?" 
"Is there a precedent?" Did Nang just see some shoulders deflate? 
A beat. 
"Yes." 
"Which is?"
"Just leave 'em be. They'll head off soon enough." 
"They like the sun," adds another ground crew. 
"That settles it," smiles Nang. "Have a nice afternoon." 
"You, too, Officer." 
"Actually ... Can I take a selfie with them?"
===Adventures in Babysitting===
This section includes ficlets that have been merged with "Adventures in Babysitting"
====Jamie====
Jamie with regards to a floundering Logan and Jackson with Fei Yen: "When they said babysitter I din't think they meant actually small humans."
See "Adventures in Babysitting" for more.
I'm seeing a lovely conversation with Fei Yen about bail money and why the (actual) triplets don't need bail money however it's not internally consistent, nor does it make much sense, so it may stay in my head :D
====Local====
(Originally uploaded 15:20, August 27, 2015‎ as "Sounding Like a Local")
Fei Yen beams "Mm goi- Naa... Wool mm be bad." 
"Heh," Jackson says shakily. "She sounds like a local!" 
(something something) 
Xiong gives them a nod. "Take care, Rangers." 
Elbows shoot into sides and Jackson and Logan bow hastily. 
And they're off. 
"Jackson," mutters Logan. "We can't go back to Hong Kong." 
"No, we cannot."
==January 25==
===Xiong vs Fauna===
====Crocodiles====
Xiong shall never admit it, but at high noon, when a number of crocodiles crawled onto the helipad to sun themselves, she found it a /touch perturbing.
====Spiders====
She's gotta have /some run-in with the craziness that is Australia. 
No spiders? Do you think that someone in Sydney would try to test her rep as being unflappable and able to handle anything? Of course, they couldn't manage anything as spectacular as what happens in Hong Kong, but ...
I'm trying to figure out which brave/foolhardy soul would willing;y handle something potentially deadly XD
Considering the way Logan Jones intentionally provokes several potentially deadly things named Chuck ...
(Huntsman spiders move around by cartwheeling. They're very hard to catch for this reason. Logan thought "how much more bizarre can you get than a cartwheeling animal?!" and smuggled one into her office. They apparently aren't venomous though.)
====Marshal 'Give it Yer best shot, Straya' Xiong====
(also known as "Cartwheeling Spider" and, formerly, "Spider" (the name it had when ALC uploaded it from an omnibus)
「Nang?」
「Yes, ma'am?」
「Would you be so kind as to bring over that cup and some cardboard?」
「Right [away, ma'am.」 Nang comes] over. 「Marshal, were you bitten by that spider?」
「Yes, and I appear to be having an allergic reaction. Will you bring it to Medical please?」
「Of course, ma'a-AAHHHm!」
「That will have to do. Come along.」
.
Xiong and Nang enter Medica; Xiong's arm swelling and Nang walking rather robotically. 
"I have reason to believe I am in need of anti venom." 
The EMTs gape. 
"Where would I find it?"
Nurse Irwin splutters. "Which kind?" 
"Nang?"
"Small, black and red, somewhere in my clothes."
"A redback, then! Mighty fatal, them. We've got just the thing! Nurse, if you will. I have me a spider to catch!"
.
"Right then," says Nurse Leslie. 
""GET BACK HERE, YE BLIGHTER!"" 
"I've applied an anti-histamine—"
""CLOSE THE DOOR!""
"—as well as anti-venom." 
""IRWIN IT'S OVER HERE GET IT AWAY FROM MEEEE!""
"Your symptoms should clear up—"
/CRASH
"—within the hour."
""AHA!""
"Thank you very much, Nurse. Am I free to go?" 
"If, in 15 minutes, you haven't had another reaction, then yes."
"Excellent. Nang, my tablet please."
.
「Ma'am, there is a cartwheeling spider.」 
「We have a catwheeling Jaeger. Carry on.」
「Yes, ma'am.」
===Give It Yer Best Shot, Straya===
Please see "Give it Yer Best Shot, Straya". 
==Unknown==
===Wizard===
Inspired by 
Herc knocks on the door to the marshal's temporary quarters. 
Mr Xiong answers. "Good morning, Ranger." 
Max woofs and sniffs Mr Xiong's socks. 
"Good morning, sir," greets Herc. 
""Mak!"" coos Fei Yen from the backroom and then there's a thud and tiny footsteps. 
Herc presents Max's leash. "I'm taking him for a walk; could use the company if you and the tyke'd like to join us." 
Fei Yen tugs Mr Xiong's pant. "Walk wit Mak, Baba?" 
"Thank you very much, Ranger, just let me put Fei Yen's shoes on." He steps back. "Would you come in?" 
"Obliged, sir." 
.
They make it outside ten minutes later. 
Fei Yen tugs Herc's hand. "Walk Mak pease?" 
Herc glances at Mr Xiong. 
Gets a nod. 
Hands over the leash. "Here you go, kiddo." 
"Ta, Tipet 'uk. Walk Mak." Fei Yen wobbles off. 
"Enjoying the weather?" 
"I find it a bit warm. Is this average?" 
"Summertime, so ..." Herc shrugs. "Weather Down Under, for you." 
splish splash splish
"Quite the storm, last night." 
"Yea. Anklebiter OK?" 
""Ah, Mak! Tay.""
Mr Xiong shakes his head. "Slept right through it. 
""Baba, wizard!""
Mr Xiong calls, "Where does he teach, Nuji?" 
""Fei pet wizard.""
"Pet the--"
Herc rushes forward because there's a crocodile moseying along and a Fei Yen and a Max scant centimeters away, at least until he hauls both away by the scruffs of their necks and ushers Mr Xiong along. 
"Should we head in?" 
"Yea." Herc hands him Fei Yen, hefts Max. "Saw a snake. Gotta let Security know." 
"Bai bai, wizard!" 
===BeeBee-Great===
(Based on an as-of-yet unposted PPDC rule)
/Beebeebeeee? asks the .... 
Droid. 
A BB-like robot. 
Thomas sighs. 
The BB unit tilts its head, sways back and forth. 
Thomas leans forward, steeples his fingers. "You and the army have survived all these years, then, ay?" 
/Beeeewheeep--
"Ohmigosh it's so cute can we keep it, Dad?"
"I think what lives in Hong Kong stays in Hong Kong, Telly."
"But Da-da, it's so cute? Pleaaaaaase?"
"That still won't work on me." 
"Can you really say 'no' to this face?" 
"I can."
"What about this face?"
"It doesn't have a face, Telly."
"Yes, it does!"
"Decision stands regardless."
"Daaaaaaad." 
/Bobeeeeeeeeeep
"Won't work. From either of you."
===It'll be Fine===
"You're leaving?" squeaks Chantell. 
"For a few hours, yes." 
"Oh thank /god." [action]. "I've renewed my appreciation for how insane this place is." 
"I--" Yeung tucks her hair behind her ear. "This may not be the best course of action." 
"'re you kidding? If it gets me away from this place, it can't be that bad." Links her arm with Yeung's--"Let's hit it--is that a /limo?"
.
Chantell tucks close. "Please tell me that wasn't a bit of Kaiju I just saw." 
Yeung smiles. 
Chantell hugs her arm tightly. 
.
Daiyu leaves the young student to her homework--
It's just Mimi going through the account. 
Daiyu leaves quickly. 
.
"Are you well?" 
"Just quietly freaking out here, thank you, I'll be fine, just like how my dad said Hong Kong would be even though I told him a thousand gazillion times that it would totally not be but oh no, 'Let's go to Hong Kong', he's says, it'll be a cake walk, he says, there'll be no arguments! no Jaegers under construction!" Twists. "They have fucking Disney and Typhoon's goddamn third arm! What the fuck did you expect?!" Rolls her eyes, puts her chin back on her knees. "It'll be a nice break', he says as if we didn't live here for two fucking years!"
===Speak===
Daiyu escorts Chantell to an office, sits her in a comfy chair, and serves her a cup of tea. 
"Thanks." 
Daiyu acknowledges, takes the seat opposite. 
Chantell hides her swallow with a gulp of almost-too-hot tea. 
"You have noticed I do not speak often." 
Chantell nods--"you have a beautiful voice." 
"Thank you." Daiyu smooths her [dress--a navy and gold cheno ... whatsit.] "You have noticed I do not speak often, [so] you know what I will ask is important." 
Chantell nods, swallowing her tea. "Yep, awesome, got it." 
"How fares Miss Darling?" 
"Well, she's an officer now." 
Daiyu nods.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say I can't hedge my way out of this." 
"You are correct." 
"I don't really think it's my place--"
"Officer Nguyen." 
"She's getting better, if only out of spite, but the last time I saw her she seemed more optimistic." 
Daiyu nods. 
"May I ask why?" 
Daiyu twists her teacup. 
Chantell sips. 
"Myself and ... Myself and some others are responsible for the well being of employees and their dependents." 
"Chuck worked here?!" 
"Officer Darling did not work for me, nor did she work here but at our former location before ... before we were moved here." 
"Oh, okay, that ... that is a lot less completely [terrifying." 
"Would you like to finish your tea?" 
"Would I--yea! Sure, I'd love to." Twists her teacup. "It's good tea." 
"I will pass that along."
"Thank you!" 
They sip. 
Chantell uncrosses and recrosses her ankles. 
They sip. 
"I like your--" Fuck. "I like your dress," says Chantell. 
"'Cheongsam'." Adds, "But 'dress' is appropriate." A flicker of irritation. "Thank you, Officer."
Chantell cringes. "Figure I should know that, being somewhat Vietnamese after all."
"Then you would know of a [vietnamese dress]."]
Category:Scraps
Category:Cultural Exchange
Category:Ficlet
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Nang
Category:Logan
Category:PPDCharms' school (mention)
Category:Jackson (mention)
Category:Pasta
Category:Comments
Category:Ficlets with comments
Category:Ficlets made redundant
Category:Ficlets (incorporated)