Cadeboss

Date/Timing: 20 January 2019
Setting: The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
Notes: Merged in "Gnomes" and ends with a new scene
.
Pietr and Tsuki face each other from a pair of comfy-ish chairs in the general staff rec room.
::So it's tall summer and hot and they—Ruby and Mia—they're—:: Tsuki folds up giggling. ::—they're drinking chocolate milk with /hills of whipped cream, trying to make—:: Waggles fingers above zhir upper lip. ::—mustaches—::
Pietr snickers into his elbow.
::—and they're dripping and melting—::
Laughs harder.
::—/everywhere because Irwin had them /convinced it was part of their job!::
Wipes away tears. ::Whyyyy?::
::Because we call them 'garden—'::
::Sorry. 'Garden whats'?::
Tsuki repeats the word.
Smiles sheepishly. ::I don't know that one.:: Offers his mobile.
"Wha? Oh!" Tsuki takes the mobile, taps, passes it back.
- Gnomes -
::Gnomes.::
Pietr grins. ::Garden gnomes.:: Snickers. ::Did they have hats?::
::Well, there was this time—:: Attends something to zhir left.
Glances over.
Juliet!
Pietr waves.
Juliet waves back.
::Who's here?:: Tsuki asks her.
"Marshal Xiong and her people." Sparkles. "Get this: she brought her /daughter, too."
Pietr straightens. ::Baby?::
Tsuki translates.
"Toddler," amends Juliet.
Pietr bounces his knees. ::Where?::
"Last I heard, they were in the Marshal's office. What're you—?"
And Pietr's out the door, down the hall, around a bunch of corners—two of them wrong, dammit—into Chantell's—
New person!
Pietr skids to a stop, waves.
New person smiles, "May I help you?"
.::Hello, Officer! I'm Pietr Vos and pleased to meet you. You are?::
"Ah, you must be Cadet Vos!" New person smiles apologetically. "I'm sorry, I recognize you, but I don't sign."
Smiles, 'it's okay', types, offers his mobile.
- Yr name plz ofcr? -
New person glows. "Officer Lo Nang, they-them, Marshal Xiong's Equerry. How may I help you, Cadet?"
- May I meet hte marshal's daughter? -
Nang's eyes sparkle. "You're not here to see the Marshal?"
Shakes his head.
- In bby withdral -
Grins.
Nang laughs. "I think Fei Yen will be happy to help you with that. A moment, please."
Bounces on his toes as Nang knocks at the open door of the Marshal's office.
「Yes, Nang?」 calls Xiong.
「Cadet Vos would like to speak with Miss Xiong for a moment.」
「I'll ask the co-Marshal if she would like to receive visitors.」
Fei Yen looks up from her favourite colouring book (the one with all sorts of robots!).
Mummy asks, 「Fei Yen, Cadet Vos would—」
「Cadeboss? Cadeboss is a triplet?」
「Yes, Cadet Vos is a cadet, just like the triplets were before they became Rangers.」
「Yes yes yes!」 Fei Yen twists. 「Come in!」
"Come in," calls Mummy.
A person with curly yellow hair springs in—
"Good morning, Cadet Vos," greets Mummy. 
—crouches in front of Fei Yen's chair, and waves.
Fei Yen smiles big-ly.
The person bows and their hands flutter.
"Fei Yen, this is Cadet Vos, he-him-his," says Mummy.
"Hi-hi, Cadeboss—"
Mummy touches Fei Yen's head.
Fei Yen bows at the waist. "It is so nice to meet tipet!"
Cadeboss grins and his hands make shapes in the air. >It's nice to meet you, too, Miss Xiong.<
Fei Yen looks to Mummy.
"Cadet Vos cannot speak or hear. He uses his hands to talk."
"Oh." Ponders. "Cadeboss can fight?"
"Very well." Mummy gives Cadeboss her attention. "May I help you with something, Cadet?"
He brings out a mobile, types faster than even the /triplets, shows the screen to Mummy.
Mummy smiles her glowiest smile. "Yes, Cadet, you may borrow my daughter, if she's willing." Turns to Fei Yen. "Would you like to go play with Cadet Vos?"
Cadeboss glows at her.
"Mmm!" Shuffles off the chair to the floor.
He scoops Fei Yen up, settles her on his shoulders.
Fei Yen giggles (Cadeboss' curly hair tickles her hands). 
Cadeboss takes Fei Yen's left hand, guides it to the tip of his ear—
"Haha, Cadeboss and me are playing Jaeger like wis tipets!"
Mummy glows more. "Exactly, Nuji: You and Cadet Vos are playing Jaeger like with the triplets." 
Cadeboss looks up with a grin. 
Fei Yen laughs, drums her heels against Cadeboss' shoulders.
He sets off, bouncing Fei Yen gently—
She twists around, waves—
Mummy waves back.
—faces front and signals for a left.
—turns, breaks into a jog.
"EEEeee!" squeals Fei Yen.
They fly—workers laughing and waving to them—along halls painted Jaeger colours—
Cadeboss hops sideways, bangs into a black and gold wall; Fei Yen grabs his hair to stay on.
"Sorry!" squeaks a yellow-haired person with glasses riding the back of a bigger, browner person.
"[Jaeger]!" cheers Fei Yen. "[Two Jaeger drop]?"
The other Jaeger exchange looks, then smile big-ly.
"But where's the Kaiju for our Jaegers to fight?" asks the pilot.
"[There]!" Fei Yen points.
The other Jaeger turn, blink at the officer with two braids.
"/Rawr!" growls the Kaiju, jumping toward them—
Fei Yen squeals.
—then it turns and /runs.
"It's getting away!"
"Catch it!" Fei Yen drums her feet against Cadeboss.
He and the other Jaeger run after the Kaiju.
"EEEeee!" squeal Fei Yen and the other Jaeger pilot.
"Jaegers comin' through!" shouts the Kaiju, zipping around a corner.
Officers jump out of the way, shrieking and laughing.
They chase the Kaiju into a room with sofas and squishy chairs and officers talking and the Kaiju dives onto a sofa. 
"Nooooooo!" it yells, rolling onto its back.
"Gotcha!" laughs the other pilot as the Jaeger grabs its wrists.
"Noooooo!" The Kaiju squirms.
"Get it!"
Fei Yen fires the cannon. "[Fei Yen-ish sound effect!]"
The Kaiju squeaks, flails.
Another shot!
Gurgling.
Another!
A twitch and the Kaiju lies still.
"You got it!".
"We're saved!" cheers an officer with [big, funny-coloured hair.] >however Fei Yen would describe Tsuki<
Cadeboss squeezes her ankle.
"Good job!" chirps the other pilot. They steer their Jaeger closer. "High five!"
Fei Yen smacks their palm.
The Kaiju sits up, smiles big-ly, says, "We're going to meet Andrea for an early lunch. You two wanna tag along?"
Fei Yen pats Pietr's head.
He twists around.
The darling says—yawns enormously.
Smooches her knee, slides her down, tucks her against his shoulder.
Fei Yen gets a good hold of his shirt, snuggles closer.
Nuzzles her hair, sighs happily. 
"Guess it's nap time for you." 
Nods. 
"Have fun!" 
Beams. 
Juliet, Riley, and Egan head off. 
Checks Fei Yen—breathing deep and even—walks quietly to his rooms. 
Up the steps.
Door.
Gazes heavenward, gently whistles a trill.
The light on the lock blinks to green.
Resettles Fei Yen, works a hand free, manages the door. Pads as smoothly as he can to the couch, eases them down, pillows her on his chest.
She shifts, relaxes into a comfortable puddle of baby.
Pietr oozes against the cushions, closes his eyes.
Elize taps his chin, “Time to play, Daddy!”—
Pietr pries open his lids, blinks rapidly.
Sighs.
Smooches Fei Yen's crown.
Motion in his peripheral.
Herc.
Pietr smiles, waves around Fei Yen.
Herc sketches a wave, ducks his head, slinks into the kitchen, raids the fridge.
Yogurt'll do.
Snags the container and a spoon, settles in at the table, takes a mouthful.
Where'd Pietr find a kid?
Eyes creep back over to the sofa.
Pietr and the tyke are both dozing now.
Must've had a big adventure.
Another spoonful.
Didn't know they made /Typhoon gear with that much lace.
Swallows.
Must be someone's little princess.
Tyke snuffles.
Pietr smooths her hair.
Tyke sighs, cuddles up.
Chuck used t—
Herc's holding an empty spoon.
He sets it down, drags a hand over his face.
Forces a chuckle, murmurs, "Now there's two of 'em picking up strange women and bringing them home."
Sighs to a stop, snacks in earnest.
Container's in the trash, spoon's in the sink, Herc's heading back to the table—
Doorbell chimes.
—tiptoes over, peeks out.
Marshal Xiong greets, "Good morning, Ranger."
Herc bobs his head, "Marshal."
"AGNIS informs me Cadet Vos and my daughter are inside."
"They're having a nap on the sofa." Herc opens the door, steps aside.
Xiong crosses to the couch, strokes the tyke's hair.
A sleepy noise.
Pietr blinks awake, smiles at Xiong.
Xiong smiles back.
Pietr sits up, shifting his hold so smoothly the tyke doesn't seem to notice the change. He kisses the girl's temple.
Herc's eyes slide to the floor.
"Mummy!" greets a tiny voice.
Forces his gaze back up.
"Did you have fun with Cadet Vos?" Xiong reaches for the tyke.
"Mmm!" Tyke climbs into her arms. "[We found another Jaeger and chased a Kaiju and killed it!]"
Swallows.
"Sounds very exciting."
Feels metal under his fingers.
"[Play more with Cadeboss later]?"
Forces his hand to his side.
"Cadet Vos is very busy—"
Tyke pouts.
"—but I'm sure you'll have another chance to play together."
Tyke turns to Pietr.
He glows at her, nodding.
"[Promise]?"
Pietr draws a cross over his heart.
Tyke narrows her eyes, then sighs enormously. "[Later]."
Xiong nods to Pietr. "Thank you, Cadet. I'll make sure the two of you have another playdate before we go."
Pietr bows deeply.
Xiong nods to Herc. "Ranger."
"Marshal."
Pietr leads the way to the door, opens it for Xiong and daughter.
"Bai bai, Cadeboss," chirps the tyke.
Pietr waves, closes the door behind them, takes a deep breath.
Herc studies his hands.
Pietr strolls over, displays his mobile—
- Lunch? -
—grins hopefully.
Herc clears his throat. "Sure. Let's go." Pushes off.
Pietr falls into step before they make the exit.
Category:Ficlets (incorporated)
Category:Ficlets with merges
Category:Comments
Category:Ficlets with comments)
Category:Ficlet
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Cultural Exchange
Category:Fei Yen
Category:Fei Yen (ficlet)
Category:Xiong (ficlet)
Category:Xiong
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Pietr
Category:Wei triplets (mention)
Category:Pietr's mobile
Category:Pietr (description)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Pietr's POV
Category:Tsuki
Category:Tsuki (ficlet)
Category:Juliet
Category:Juliet (ficlet)
Category:Ruby (mention)
Category:Herc
Category:Herc (ficlet)
Category:Juliet (description)
Category:Jason
Category:Jason (ficlet)
Category:Jason (description)
Category:Lachlan
Category:Lachlan (ficlet)
Category:Lachlan (description)
Category:Andrea (mention)
Category:Elize (mention)
Category:Chuck H (mention)