Media Monday

Date/Timing: 5 September 2016
Setting: Hong Kong Shatterdome; Hong Kong, China
.
Jamie rolls into his Cadets' suite bright and early on their first Media Monday—his own little addition to their regularly scheduled business—to find Andrea already in the kitchen, waiting for the toaster to do its thing.
"'mornin'," she yawns.
"And a sunny, happy one to you, my little early bird!"
She ducks her head, pulls her housecoat more tightly closed.
Jamie saunters over to a safe distance, leans against the table, radiates 'no threat'. "No need to worry about me trying anything, Ms Hill. I'm so gay I sneeze rainbows."
Andrea snorks behind her hand.
"And god forbid I come down with the flu." Arms wide. "Glitter /everywhere."
She actually laughs a little.
"That's settled, then." Pulls out his mobile. "There's this press thing—"
Andrea de-sparkles.
"—at ten-hundred hours, but it's for a real 'bro-centric' magazine, so I recommend taking a pass on it."
"O-okay." She picks lint from her sleeve. "If you think it'll be okay."
Smiles brightly. "It's great. I'll give 'em your regrets." Pokes the mobile with a stylus.
/ploing!
"I'll take that as my cue to leave you and your brekkie in peace. See you at lunch for post-call?"
Andrea nods and grabs the toast with tongs.
Jamie moseys to Jack's room, knocks, then slides open the door.
Blankets lump.
"Good /morning, Ranger Jones!"
Nothing.
Jamie flips on the lights.
Blankets hunch.
"None of that now, Ranger. Up'n at 'em!"
The pillow shifts and a bleary eye peers out.
"That's the spirit. You've got an interview in ninety minutes, so ye best get your morning routine started. Your growing legion of fans want to see you at your best."
The blanket-and-eye combo groans and rolls toward the edge of the mattress.
Jamie trusts gravity to wake Jack up the rest of the way and strolls down the hall to Logan's room, knocks, then slides open the door.
A decently-made bed greets him.
Jamie flips on the lights.
Still an empty bed.
Jack grumbles past in the direction of the washroom.
Jamie pokes his mobile. 
""How may I help you, Officer Walker?"" says AGNIS.
"If you have a cycle to spare, would you please tell me where I can find my prodigal cadet?"
""Please be more specific.""
"Cadet Logan Patrick Jones, nominally assigned to the room in which I'm currently standing."
""Cadet Jones is located in the suite assigned to the Cadets Lin.""
Jamie sighs.
""To be even more specific, he is located in Cadet Lin Feng's bed, apparently on top of Cadet Lin.""
Jamie ....
""Shall I summon Medical to your location?""
Jamie shakes his head clear. "Shall I give the cadets a moment or is it safe to interrupt them?"
""Define 'safe' in relation to a Cadet Jones awakened before he feels he has satisfied his need for sleep.""
"/Very good point, there," Jamie snickers. "Can you do the 'simulated sunrise' thing with the lights in Feng's room?"
""I have that capability.""
"Please start a cycle timed to reach full daylight just before I get there, assuming I make the entire trip at a brisk walk."
""As you wish.""
"I've always known in my heart of hearts that you loved me."
""Please check your personal calendar for the time of your mandatory sexual harassment training.""
"Thanks for taking care of that for me, AGNIS."
""You're very welcome, Officer.""
Jamie disconnects and aims himself toward the /Shaolin Rogue Rangers-to-be suite, at which he arrives after collecting a handful of mocking 'congratulations', a plethora of sympathetic looks, a few side-eyes, three mobile numbers, and the combination to a room in science division housing. He tucks this last into his pocket and knocks on the suite door.
Lin Chao opens it with a bow and a "Good morning, Officer."
Jamie greets with "Good morning, Cadet." and a bow of his own. "I believe one of my charges is hiding in here."
Chao sighs, steps aside.
Jamie strolls in.
"Down the hall, on the left, Officer."
"Thank ye kindly."
Chao mutters something which's probably Kiang-Che for 'don't thank me yet'.
Jamie moseys to Feng's room, knocks, then slides open the door.
Blankets twitch.
"Good /morning, Rangers!"
A hand appears from under the covers, then a foot.
Jamie flips on the lights.
Blankets groan.
"You need help there, Lin?"
The hand thumbs up.
"Cool, cool."
Some wiggling and grunting later, Feng slides to the floor.
Face-first, of course.
Jamie offers—
Feng pops up, chirps, "I'm okay!"
""Sh'up,"" grumble the blankets.
"Sorry, Ranger, no can-do. You've got an interview at ten-hundred and you need to make yourself handsome as possible by then."
""Fu'off.""
Feng coos something.
Blankets whine, ooze toward the edge of the mattress.
Jamie trusts gravity and Feng to wake Logan up the rest of the way and strolls down the hall to the kitchenette to find Chao there waiting for the toaster to do its thing.
Scuffling from down the hall.
"This a regular occurrence?"
"Unfortunately," sighs Chao.
Feng strolls in, humming.
/ploing!
Jamie checks his mobile. "You two free at ten-hundred this morning?"
Water starts in the washroom.
"What for?" asks Chao, setting toast on plates and applying jam.
Feng inches back towards his room.
"Interview," says Jamie. "About your houseguest and his brother."
"Ah."
"Should we pretend not to understand the questions?" asks Feng.
"Whatever floats your boat," replies Jamie. "And I know you have a cat in there."
"In where?"
Said cat worms its way from under Feng's arm, leaps from his robes, gives him a dirty look, and shoots off under the couch.
"Pets are not against the rules,"
"I won't tell."
"Thank—"
"If—"
Feng's mouth clicks shut.
"—you owe me."
"Owe you what?"
"Dunno yet."
Feng swallows.
Chao rolls his eyes. "Toast, Officer Walker?"
"Thank you most kindly, but I have a date," says Jamie, bowing and heading out for science division housing.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Hong Kong Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Jamie
Category:Jamie's POV
Category:Jamie (ficlet)
Category:Andrea
Category:Andrea (ficlet)
Category:Jackson
Category:Jackson (ficlet)
Category:Jackson is not a morning person
Category:AGNIS
Category:AGNIS (ficlet)
Category:Chao (ficlet)
Category:Feng
Category:Feng (ficlet)
Category:Feng is a marigold disaster
Category:Feng's cats
Category:Logan
Category:Logan (ficlet)
Category:Logan is not a morning person
Category:Jamie's mobile
Category:Ficlets with images