recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Little Boxes

## Meta

**Date:** Late 2017, early 2018

**Setting:** somewhere in Sydney

## Text

And Jackson's down on one knee with a dopey grin on his face and as small box in his hand and he's stammering something and Charlie just flat tackles him, knocks him over and he's laughing so hard he's crying and she's kissing every bit of his skin she can reach.

He finally gets a hold of her chin, giggles staggering to a halt. "Think I missed your answer in all that."

Chuck erupts in her own storm of laughter.

"Don't tease me like this, please, Charlie."

Chuck hears the hurt in Jackson's voice and her eyes prick. "Yes, Jackson, I'll marry you!"
Generic Black Socks

Charlie opens the door.

"Good evening, Mx Darling," greets one of the Uniforms as both tilt their hats. "Is Ranger Macrossan here?"

"Uh, no," replies Charlie. "Just me, the kids, and Derek."

"Our records indicate Ranger Macrossan is in the area."

"She lent me some clothes?"

"Would you get them, please?"

"Just a minute." Charlie closes the door, returns a moment later with a jumper and hands it to the Uniform. "There's a pair of socks somewhere, too."

Uniform Number Two checks their phone, frowns.

"Would you get those, too, please?"

"You want me to find a specific pair of generic black socks in a pile of generic black socks." She sighs, 'if that's what you really want'. "Mind waiting for an hour?"

The Uniforms exchange looks.

"That's fine, Mx Darling," says Uniform Number One. "Thank you for your time."

They tip their hats, turn on their heels, return to their black SUV, and drive away.

 Jackson's first successful escape attempt: Figure | GLITTER | **Generic Black Socks** | Matte
Echoes

Inspired by and expanded from "Lachlan"

## Meta

**Timing:** after Jereka have set up housekeeping together

**Setting:** Jereka's home

## Text

[[[Andrea Hill|Andrea]], tucked against Jason's side in bed after Derek's left for work, swipes through pictures in her tablet's photo gallery.

She pauses on one of Lachlan's selfies—his hair especially wild, his smile especially wide.

"I miss him," she whispers.

"Me, too," murmurs Jason.

Andrea cringes. "'m s— I sho—" Swallows. "I don't know what it's like. 'm sorry."]

"I still hear him sometimes," Jason blurts.

"What does he think of this?" Andrea asks[, snuggling closer.]

"He's happy for us."

"So 'm I involved with two people or three?"

"Just two." Jason tries for a smile, fails. "Don't know if it's actually him or just an echo." [He sighs. "He /**seems** real enough ... but 'm not sure I want my best friend—my /**dead** best friend—living in my head."

Andrea sets the tablet aside, twists around to face Jason, stretches to kiss his cheek.

He kisses her forehead.

She smooths his hair. "What's it like? Hearing him?"

Jason lets out a shaky breath, rests his chin on Andrea's crown. "He's ... Lachlan. He teases me, laughs a lot." Swallows. "Does his best to keep me going when I'm feeling old and useless." Sighs. "Mostly it's just ... weird."

"Weird?"

"I felt him die, Ray," he murmurs, "and now he talks to me."

Andrea shivers.

"I mean, I pass out with him dead and wake up two years later with him chatting away, but no one else can see or hear him." Sighs again. "Maybe it's brain damage."

"Maybe it's a Drift thing?" offers Andrea. "Logan sees cats."

Jason leans back, blinks down at her. "Uh, what?"

"He, umm, sees big, fluffy cats out of the corner of his eye. Jackson said it started happening when they started Drifting." Almost laughs. "They scare him sometimes. He jumps."

He snorks. "Big, tough Ranger afraid of imaginary cats."

Andrea pulls him close. "At least Lachlan's not scary."

Jason smiles against her hair. "Do still want to shove him sometimes."

"Sounds like Lachlan."

"Yea, it does."]
Break In

## Meta

**Timing:** after Jamie 'meets' Jackson

**Setting:** 1st Darling-Jones house

## Text

Charlie comes awake.

Something at the back door.

Some/**one** opens it.

Steps inside.

Too heavy for Jackson.

Back door closes.

[Too much noise for Logan.]

Shoes come off.

She slips out from the too-big bed, rolls her shoulders, and stretches.

A chair scrapes back.

Sitting, now.

Steps silently into the hall.

Listens at the babies' door.

Deep, even breathing from two tiny sets of lungs.

Continues to Derek's door.

Deep, even breathing from one average set of lungs.

Continues to the stairs.

Listens at the landing.

Newspaper rattles.

Back to the entry? Really?

Charlie rolls her eyes, loops her braid over her shoulders, hops over the railing, lands on her toes in a crouch without a sound.

Newspaper rattles.

Stands up.

Nine long, quick strides, leans down close beside him, puts her arms around his neck and a hand over his mouth, muffles his yelp, won't let him jump.

Two of her heartbeats.

"Wake my kids and I'll break your neck."

He nods.

"Why shouldn't I call the police?" She uncovers his mouth.

"I /**am** the police."

"ID?"

"Inside pocket."

Aha.

"You're a police /**reporter**."

"I have word from Ranger Jones and contacts inside the Shatterdome."

"Why did you break into our house?"

"Couldn't think of a way to talk that wouldn't get me a door in the face."

Good point.

She withdraws.

He rubs his neck. "Was gonna make you coffee—"

"Message?"

"Right. He loves you, Derek'll do fine on his exams, he'd like more pictures of Baby if you've any printed, and it's almost time for Wom-wom's annual trip to the plushie spa, but don't let Book see you sneak her out of the house or there'll be tears."

Charlie swallows. "There's some decaf in the freezer ...."

"'s fine, but thank you."
Half Bad

[Charlie, Book, and Baby have arrived at playgroup/daycare; Book shot right to Jackson and is now happily hanging out on his shoulders, Baby's in Charlie's arms (hair secured in a [tuft] at the top of the head with a blue elastic), and the adults are exchanging reports.]

Baby stares at Logan.

Logan stares back.

Baby's eyes are big, dark green, and rather unblinking.

Logan moves to pick Baby up but Charlie's got her back to him and he has a vague recollection from Jackson that relieving people of their offspring without warning isn't always welcome.

So he steps into Charlie's peripheral.

She smiles in greeting, eases Baby off her shoulder and into his arms.

Baby's expression hasn't changed but there may be a smile lurking in all that green.

Logan gets a good grip on the warm and squishy thing and flips it upside down.

Baby vibrates.

He peers over the mess of legs.

Baby's almost smiling but that green twinkles away happily.

Charlie says, "You're pretty careful, ay?"

Without looking up, Logan replies, "I won't drop your kid."

"I know," says Charlie. "Just needed to hear it out loud."

Logan /**does** look up, then, gives her Jackson's 'I recognize this is not a criticism of me but something that needed to be said for my own benefit' nod.

Charlie nods back, returns to making eyes at Jackson.

Baby kicks his chest.

Logan untwists his arms, flipping Baby right-side-up (though not as elegantly), sprout of hair flopping accordingly.

Baby smiles an entire face-scrunch smile, then tucks one Logan's neck-sized head under Logan's chin.

The fit's not half bad.
Mail Order

## Meta

**Timing:** March 2, 2020

**Setting:** Somewhere in China

## Text

A black person and a white person walk into a diner.

Liu snorts, drains the tea cup.

There must be a joke in there, somewhere.

A grandmother raises her eyebrow.

「My friends are here,」 Liu explains.

「I'll bring over lunch.」 Pinches Liu's cheek. 「You need to eat more.」

Bows head, looks up through lashes.「It's stress.」

「All the more reason.」 Fixes Liu's hair. 「Now, shoo.」

「Thank you, Grandmother.」

She snorts. 「You /**are** keeping this place open.」

「With good reason.」

Grandmother huffs. 「Off with you.」

Liu smiles, pushes away from the counter, strolls across the diner, slides into the booth.

Pentecost asks, "You order something?"

"A puppy."

Becket mumbles.

Pentecost nods. "He'll need medical attention, probably therapy, too."

"That can be arranged."

"You wanna see 'im?"

"I would."

Pentecost stands, pulls Becket to his feet. "He's in the car."

Liu falls into step on Becket's other side, helps lead him outside.

Pentecost heads for a generic silver four-door, leaves Becket against Liu, pops the trunk.

A mangy, pathetic, awfully life-like golden retriever plushie nests in a cage.

"He's perfect," coos Liu.

Pentecost nods. "Your ride?"

Liu indicates a generic SUV.

"Right then." Pentecost carefully hauls the cage from the car.

A bodyguard appears, offers to carry it.

Pentecost hands it over, takes Becket's arm.

They head across the lot, Becket mumbling, listing to Pentecost's side.

The SUV's trunk opens, the bodyguard loads the cage, and Pentecost scratches the plushie's ears.

"Pleasure doing business with you, sir," says Liu.

"Likewise, Mx." Casts a last look at the cage. "Be well."

"Same to you, sir, thank you."

Pentecost inclines his head, squeezes Becket's arm, returns to his car.

The bodyguard leads Becket around the SUV, helps him in, steps aside for Liu.

Pentecost drives off.

Liu nods to the bodyguard, climbs in.

Becket pools against the far side, right eye looking somewhere near his mouth.

The bodyguard joins them, closes the door, alerts the driver.

And they're off.
Locker

## Meta

**New home:** "Vanish"

**Categories:** Ficlet, Logan, Pietr, Tsuki, Scott (mention), Sydney Shatterdome, Gym, Pietr (descriptions), Baby (descriptions)

## Text

Logan hefts his gym bag, goes for the empty locker nearest the door—

A firm hand checks him.

Logan yanks his arm away, glares.

A serious expression shakes its head, blond, fluffy curls springing like B—

"What?" snarls Logan.

The serious expression just shakes his head again.

"What's your—"

"Sorry, um, sir?"

Logan turns to the new player: average height, average build, bottle ginger hair.

"He—" Points to the blond. "—can't talk."

Logan rolls his eyes. "So what's his problem with me?"

"That was /**Scott** /**Hansen****'s** locker."

"Who?"

"Y-you don't know?"

"I got here two days ago."

"You living under a rock before that?"

Logan replies with a bland look.

"Well, there are a lot of stories. Like that he, uh, got into some, shall we say, trouble with the locals. Might've killed someone, even."

Logan huffs. "Fuck off." He gets a hold of the door—

Everyone with a line of sight on him—except the fluffhead—titters with worry.

Logan rolls his eyes and takes the locker one over.
Accent

## Meta

**Timing:** after Book and Izzy have known each other from the CDL for a while, probably first quarter 2023

**Setting:** Vos residence

## Text

""Kids!"" calls Izzy's mum from downstairs. ""Tam fa snecks!""

"Your mum talks funny," declares Book, giggling a little.

Izzy puffs up. "No, she doesn't."

Book sobers. "Sorry."

Izzy acknowledges with a nod.

"But she doesn't [say things like everyone else]."

""There's Vegemaht!""

"/**Be**-cause she grew up in South Africa speaking Afrikaans. She's tri-lingual." Izzy beams.

"Well, /**my** mum speaks another language, too," huffs Book.

Izzy lights up. "Which one?"

"Gangglida."

"Cool! Do you think she'd teach me?"

"I dunno?" Book shrugs. "We can ask her."

""Ah'm gonna let your ded eat it all!""

Izzy's eyes become enormous. "C'mon! We gotta go!" He grabs Book's hand and tugs. "Dad really /**will** eat everything."

Book squeaks and drags Izzy from the playroom and down the stairs.
Bolthole

## Meta

**Timing:** after Derek's moved in with Jackson, before Jackson's abducted (obviously), flexible otherwise

**Setting:** one of Logan's SRO flats in the Sydney area

## Text

Jackson twists the key in the lock. "You ever see one of these before?"

"Uh, n-no." Derek glances over his shoulder, shudders.

The door opens a few inches, catches on the chain.

"Oh, you're fuckin' kidding." Jackson looks heavenward. "His /**own** perfectly good door and the bastard /**still** goes through a window."

Derek snorts.

"C'mon, let's go get the super and some permission to bust in." Jackson puts a hand on Derek's shoulder and guides him back down the hallway to the manager's door. He knocks.

"What?" The manager scowls. "You've already got the key."

"Sorry to bother you again, but the chain's still on."

"The chain ...? Jones didn't die in there, ay?"

Jackson chuckles weakly, jazz hands. "No, no, he just, uh, moved to another part of town and asked us to clean up the place."

The manager sighs. "Gimme a moment." Closes the door.

Derek and Jackson exchange a Look.

The door opens.

"Here. Use these." The manager proffers a set of bolt cutters.

Jackson takes the tool. "Oh. Uh, thanks. We'll bring these back."

A grunt and the door slams.

"Well, suppose we should get this over with." Jackson hefts the cutters, trudges back to Logan's door. He cuts the chain, fumbles for the light switch.

The light from the bare bulb flickers, catches, holds steady.

"Home sweet Logan's home," sighs Jackson.

"This's it?"

"Yep." Jackson crosses the room in two steps, opens the cupboard. "One room, hotplate, sink, window, shared washroom down the hall." Pulls down a couple of boxes, sets them in the sink. "'course he probably has two or three of these around the city. This is just the one he told Nanny about."

Derek shuffles over to the mattress, lifts the blanket, finds a thin pillow.

Jackson checks under the sink. "See a backpack over there?"

"Yea." Derek picks it up, pokes around inside. "Couple days of clothes, few dollars, some energy bars."

"Toss it here and I'll load up the rest of his stuff."

The bag arcs through the air.

Jackson catches it one-handed, stows boxes.

"He really lives like this. All the time," murmurs Derek. "Well, except for when he crashes at [our] place."

"Yea. This is the glorious life of Logan Patrick Jones: scofflaw."

"I thought he was go—"

"He /**is**, far as I know." Jackson leans against the sink. "He's just not, um, /**greedy** about it."

Derek snorts.

"Probably why he's only in for thirty days; nicks just enough to get by."

"It's, well ... sad. Him living like this when we've got a nice place."

Jackson shrugs. "This's how he's happy. Probably go nuts living in a proper house in the suburbs." Chuckles.

"What?"

"If you think about it, he did kinda go crazy in that sort of house."

Derek rubs his neck. "Uh, r-right."

Jackson cringes, pushes off. "C'mon. Grab his coat and let's go. Nanny's waiting on us dropping this by."
Jaegers and Meta

## VS series

Vandal Savage is a really cool name! Make good play clothes, I reckon.

Wish I could take full credit for that name, but it's been used before. "This Jaeger sponsored by Warner Bros."?

's good idea. One of the original pair was a DC fan, maybe. Think they ever appeared in cartoons?

I'm sure many of the Rangers appeared in cartoons and comic books over the years. Riley and Egan were the bubbly, enthusiastic, friendly sort, so they wouldn't turn down a chance at it.

\*running through list of Rangers\* Beckets would too, I bet.

God, yes, the Beckets totally would. Probably have their Squire **calling** artists and studios to try and get them parts.

Along with the morning paper, the Beckets also get a list of potential guest star roles XD

Perfect on the Beckets.

## Sponsorship

"This Jaeger sponsored by Warner Bros."?

's good idea. Lachlan or Egan was a DC fan, maybe.

Jaeger sponsorships is the logical step forward from Valve and Ellen McLain offering up GLaDOS for the AI voice, right.

I was musing that if they were taking sponsors for Jaegers, the Jones brothers were lucky Richard Branson didn't front some money and they wind up driving Virgin Something ... then the universe stepped in again and handed me this on Wikipedia: "Branson is a Star Trek fan and named his new spaceship VSS Enterprise in honour of the famous Star Trek ships, and in 2006, reportedly offered actor William Shatner a ride on the inaugural space launch of Virgin Galactic."

This is, what, the third or fourth time the universe's stepped in?

At least. The Universe is out to get us, methinks.
Wreck

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</noinclude>

What was that?

Jackson peeks out of his blanket burrito.

Another knock, louder.

Jackson ... can't deal with anyone right now, burrows back in.

Banging and—

""Jack!""

Pulls the blanket tighter.

""/**Jackson!** Open the fucking door!"" A beat. ""Open it right /**now** or I'm kicking it in!""

Jackson whines, rolls off the couch, schlumps to the door.

The /**teensiest** rattle from the knob.

Jackson manages the locks, eases the door open, peers about.

Nothing.

Jackson shuts—

Resistance.

"Gimme a sec, Jack."

"You," croaks Jackson, looking down.

"Yea, me," replies Logan, rising from his knees and tucking away his tools. "I /**knew** someone needed to check on you. Ye look like shit."

"World's /**actually** ending. Whad'ye expect?"

Logan rolls his eyes, puts his hands on Jackson's shoulders, steers him into the flat, kicking the door closed on the way. "World's not ending, 'actually' or not. It's just a little more fucked up than it was."

Jackson snorts.

Pushes Jackson into the bedroom, onto the bed. "Scoot."

Jackson twitches over, mumbles, "'Fucked up'."

"Yea, 'fucked up'." Logan flops down beside him. "Got a better shorthand for 'giant monster wrecked half the city'?"

Jackson whimpers, pulls his wrapping tighter—

Pillow's yanked away.

—squawks.

Mattress grumbles.

Jackson wads up some blanket under his head.

Snoring.

That's ... comforting, somehow.

Jackson wiggles nearer, closes his eyes, and sleeps.
Breakdown

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</noinclude>

"Earth to Junior," calls Logan.

Blank stare.

He raps Claire's forehead with his taped knuckles.

Claire starts, jerks her hands up to guard her face.

"Where's your brain tonight?" Logan steers her toward a quiet spot along the back wall with a hand on her shoulder.

"Kodiak," sighs Claire, sliding down to sit on the floor.

Logan quirks an eyebrow, drops beside her.

"Ames signed on with the Defense Corps—"

Logan wrinkles his nose.

"—went to their Academy in June, and this week Auntie Jess got a visit from some guys in uniform." Deep, shaky breath, wipes an eye. "Said Ames'd had some kinda breakdown and run off."

"Doesn't sound like her."

"Nope." Claire hugs her knees. "Something stinks."

Logan scoffs. "It's the army. The whole enterprise stinks."

Claire huffs. "Would you rather be stomped by a Kaiju?"

"'course not." Grins. "But I figure Sydney's already been struck by lightning and we're in the clear."

"So it's someone else's problem."

"Pretty much."

Claire sighs. "Someday I'll remember you're wrong in the head."

Logan shrugs.

She takes a deep breath. "There's something else weird."

"This should be good."

Claire punches—

"Ow." Logan rubs the spot.

"Two days after we hear about Ames, some Uniforms show up at /**our** door and try to recruit /**me**."

"What'd you tell 'em?"

"'Fuck off'. Politely, though."

Logan snorts. "Good call, Junior."

"Thanks, Buttercup."

"What's your gut say about all this?"

"That it's dangerous."

Logan rubs his thumb against the scar on his palm. "Maybe ... maybe you should stay off the scene for a bit. Keep your head down."

Claire blinks at him. "Never expected /**you** to say /**that**."

"Never thought I would, either, but I've got a real bad feeling about all this all of a sudden."

"For everyone or just me?"

"Not sure, but especially you."

"And you, [Mr] Sociopath, care about me, why?"

Logan scratches the back of his head. "'cause I promised your dad."

"/**Serious—**"

""Buttercup!""

Logan pushes off. "Duty calls!"
Experiments

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</noinclude>

Yun perches on the branch outside Sean's window, peers inside.

Sean hunches, knees to chest, absorbed in something on his tablet.

Deep breath and Yun raps on the window.

Sean slowly lifts his eyes.

Red and shiny.

Yun smiles hopefully, waves.

Sean moves like all his limbs are full of wet sand.

Up goes the window.

Yun slides through.

Sean closes the window.

Yun eases himself to the floor, back against the bed.

Sean crashes down next to him.

"I brought ginger chews?"

Sean grunts, waves them off.

Ten seconds of Sean's uneven breathing.

"You ever read their file on your parents?"

"Mum showed me before I flew here." Wrinkles his nose. "Pretty awful."

"My—" Sean swallows. "She was my age when they grabbed her, started—"

Yun blinks.

"I keep thinking of them nabbing Anni and—" Shudders. "She was a /**kid**."

Yun bumps his shoulder. "So are you."

Sean huffs, kicks his tablet farther away. "I'm a science experiment. I shouldn't /**exist**."

"Same here, mate." Chuckles. "I'm even less likely than you."

Sean snorts. "That /**almost** makes me feel better." Lets his head fall back, studies his ceiling. "Can you believe they thought the two of us would come out perfect, obedient little soldiers?"

Yun laughs. "I think they got into their stash of hallucinogens. I mean, our biological dads are pretty much the /**least** reasonable Rangers they ever had."

"And it's not like our bio-mums were angels, either. Yours got arrested how many times?"

"'least half a dozen. She won't tell me the total," pouts Yun.

"Mine's disciplinary record's almost as bad as mine. "

"'bout her ...." Yun ducks his head, tugs an ear. "I, uh, kinda mentioned her name to Logan and he turned this really unhealthy colour and said he knew her when she was little. Said he could—if you want—introduce you to her family."

Sean swallows, takes a deep breath. "I can't wrap my head around the fact he's your dad."

"What's so hard to get about it?"

"He squicks at /**kissing**, fruit loop."

"Which means what, exactly, when two science experiments are talking to each other?"

"Good point." Sighs. "So, how long have you known about him?"

"Since I was /**tiny**. Mum told me right away." Frowns. "The hard part's remembering not to call him 'Dad' in public."

"Ye really think of him that way?"

"Uh, yea? How else /**would** I think of him?"

"I don't—" Blinks.

"I grew up thinking of Mum and Logan as my parents, like you grew up with your mums and the bio-parents were these, umm—" Fluttery gesture. "—things."

"Yea ... you're right, but it's still /**weird**."

"What's 'weird' when you're talking to a science experiment?"

Sean laughs.

Yun giggles, leans against him.

Sean sighs. "Tell—" Grins. "—tell your dad I'd like to meet A-Amelia's family."

"Roger!" Yun snaps a salute.

"Later, though."

"'course."
Lachlan Riley

Birthday
 Language(s)
 Ethnicity
 Build
 Hair
 Eyes
 Rank & title
 Home 'Dome
 Jaeger team
 Drift partner(s)

Right hemisphere pilot of VS-01

## Brief biography

Possessing a commanding presence and charisma to spare, Lachlan is sought out by the PPDC and recruited as part of an effort to bring Indigenous Australians into the Jaeger program. He quickly proves himself Ranger-class and notable for his stamina and toughness.

At the Academy, he is paired with Jason Egan, whom he has never met before, because of similar COROs and physical capabilities. The two quickly prove highly Compatible and become nearly inseparable, developing a friends-with-benefits arrangement which continues after their deployment to Sydney, through Lachlan's numerous flings and Jason's budding love affair with Andrea Hill.

In December 2021, the PPDC approaches Lachlan about extending his contract as a Ranger past its original five years. Ready for a change and a new adventure, Lachlan turns it down and plans to return to Darwin. He continues to refuse even as the PPDC offers more money and benefits for him to re-enlist.

The PPDC then changes tack and threatens Lachlan's sister, Lennon. Under 'normal' circumstances, the threat would be to make Lennon Lachlan's replacement, but, as her bipolar disorder makes her unsuitable as a Ranger, they instead threaten her life and safety.

When Lachlan still refuses to sign, Lennon is badly injured in a carefully engineered car wreck. Terrified for her life, Lachlan agrees to re-enlist.

The knowledge that his actions could cause serious harm to his loved ones and realization of what sort of organization he's working for drives Lachlan into a deep depression. PPDC psychologists flag him as Code Violet and a suicide risk and begin monitoring his mental state and actions. Lachlan's depression soon begins to affect Jason and both Rangers are placed under close watch.

Lachlan eventually arrives at the conclusion that the only way to protect his family is to render them useless to the PPDC and the only way to do so is to remove himself from PPDC interest and control permanently via suicide.

Despite the increased surveillance brought on by his Code Violet status, Lachlan manages to steal a box cutter from the Team VS Quartermaster's, hide it from a search, and sneak it into the hangar, where he uses it to slit his wrists. The trauma of his death causes Jason to fall into a coma.

The PPDC immediately spreads the story Lachlan was killed in an accident, a story only Pietr Vos (who found his body) and the attending medical staff can contradict.

## Special skills

* natural commander
* exceptional athletic stamina

## Relationships

* Jason (best friend-with-benefits, copilot), Andrea (friend), Herc, Chuck, Chantell, Bubbles (colleagues), Nguyen (boss)
Jackson Jones

Nerdy stay-at-home dad turned Jaeger pilot

## Special skills

* drawing & painting
* CAD modelling
* accomplished amateur triathlete

## Quirks

* always cold, and thus generally wears a jumper (or two)

* stops eating when stressed

* sucks at tools

* font of sci-fi and internet trivia
* tends to hop when excited
* has an extreme (and violent) berserk button when it comes to his family

## Relationships

* Nanny (paternal grandmother); Lily, Juliet, Dan, Pietr, Jamie, Griet, Jason (friends); Andrea (live-in childcare provider); Chuck, Herc, Bubbles, Yoslene, Noah, Chapman (colleagues)
Chakoleigh scraps

## Bounce

[A pile of fluffles bursts into Mako, Raleigh, and Chuck's room and bounds onto their bed.]

"Good morning good morning good morning!"

Chuck grumbles and Raleigh sorta lifts his head and squints.

"Good morning," Mako greets sleepily, gives Raleigh a bit more duvet.

.

Raleigh checks the clock—six a.m.—and stifles a groan.

.

"Were you guys having sex?" chirps a blonde.

Chuck splutters.

"Yes," says Mako.

"Knew it."

Another blonde says, "Mom said we shouldn't have sex 'til we're older."

"Griet's very smart," Mako agrees.

"I'm gonna have sex with Book when I'm older," Fenna declares. (for whatever reason, I can't shake the feeling this is Fenna. Not like she has crush, it's just a thing she's decided will happen.)

Baby frowns.

Rika says, "Book doesn't work that way." (I have no idea what she means by this.)

(Griet, Pietr, Charlie, and Jackson decided that because any one of them's bathing/dressing any combination of fluffles, they would start sex ed as soon as they could, plus maybe the PPDC/Australian school system's caught up with the Dutch system. )

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</noinclude>

Mako yawns, stretches her arms over her head—tugs her tank top back down—and strolls into the kitchen.

"'morning," greets Chuck.

Mako blinks sleepily at the empty room.

"Up here."

"Why are you sitting on the fridge?"

"Liked the view."

Mako frowns skeptically.

Chuck shrugs, then leans over, opens a cupboard, retrieves a box of fruity ring cereal, and stuff a handful in his mouth.

Mako sighs.

"Whuf?"

She rolls her eyes."It was a spider, wasn't it."

"Of course not," scoffs Chuck.

"More specifically, that spider." Mako points.

Chuck is now sitting cross-legged on the fridge, eyes half the size of his head and flicking about frantically.

"I'll get a magazine," chuckles Mako.
Wash

## Meta

**Timing:** sometime between "Sparklers" and "No One Older"

**Setting:** Jackson's flat

## Text

Jackson sprawls against the pillows, watching Charlie pace (which, a traitorous little voice supplies, means he didn't do a good enough job. Jackson will admit he prefers an afterglow where Charlie's a spent pool beside him, but he will not give the voice the satisfaction of bruising his ego).

Her eye settles on the frames in the bookshelf, eyebrow arching at his diploma.

"What? Surprised I graduated?" That came out sharper than intended.

Indicates with her head. "'Eugene'?"

"Family name," Jackson mumbles. "Someone had to get stuck with it."

"Meaning 'well born'. Western Europe, late sixteen-hundreds."

"Meaning 'nerd', right about ... oh, now."

"Pejoration."

"Do you know /**everything**?"

Shrugs.

"What's yours?"

Runs her finger along a book's spine. "'Kirra'."

"'Kirra,'" Jackson rolls it around in his mouth. "That's pretty."

Charlie shrugs.

"Meaning ...?"

"'Leaf'."

Jackson's eyes light up. "So I should watch you soar?"

Tiny frown.

"Like a leaf on the wind?"

Less tiny frown.

Jackson deflates. "Movie reference? /*Serenity?*"

"Don't watch many movies."

"Well, you're going to see this one," he declares. "Right after we marathon /*Firefly.*" Leaps out of bed, trips on the quilt, yanks it back up around his waist—

Charlie casually snatches the quilt away, drops it to the floor.

"Prefer me like this?"

A laugh glints in her eye as she scans titles.

Jackson grabs the case off the shelf and presents it with a flourish. "Compelling, well-written stories, lovable characters, and blatant racism in one convenient package."

"You're serious."

"Deadly." Grins. "You can't spend any time with me and /**not** see /*Firefly.*"

"Who says I want to spend time with you?"

Jackson winces, rallies. "You're standing in my bedroom, wearing my jumper." Smirks. "/**Only** my jumper."

Charlie considers herself, concedes.

"May I ask you back to bed? I'm cold."

Charlie smirks, steps closer, runs her fingertips across his chest— "You're /**freezing**."

"You really thought the quilt was for modesty?"

Charlie goes on tiptoe, wraps her arms around his neck, kisses him, nudging him backwards.

Jackson holds Charlie close, back of his knee coming up against the bedframe. "I like your way better." Pulls her down with him.
Nate Barclay-Harvey

Pronouns
 Romantic & sexual orientation
 Language(s)
 Ethnicity
 Nickname(s)
 Build
 Eyes
 Tattoo(s)

The Queen of Sydney's Jaeger Flies.

## Brief biography

Nate's family controls Shinohara Heavy Industries, a major contractor for the Jaeger program, providing hydraulic systems for many Jaegers, including all of those built in Australia. The firm also provided substantial funding for the construction of *Lucky Seven* (LS-01). Because of this, Nate is invited to many formal PPDC events.

## Special skills

* Extensive repertoire of seduction techniques
* Cut-throat negotiator

## Relationships

* Jamie (friend, information trading partner), Fawn (protégée)
Lily Prince

* **Full name:** Lily TBD Prince
* **Pronouns:** She-her-hers
* **Height:**
* **Build:** Thin
* **Hair:** Ash blond, straight
* **Eyes:** Blue
* **Lifemate, Children:** N/A
* **Sibling(s):**
* **Parents:** Victoria (Vicki) and TBD
* **Birthday:** 27 August 1990 (Bonny Hills, NSW, Australia)
* **Language:** Australian English (mother tongue)
* **Ethnicity:** White Australian
* **Nicknames**
	+ Lil: Jackson
* **Text ID:** LilyPrincess
* **Relationships:** Kisten (friend, flatmate), Jackson (friend, ex-datemate), Juliet (friend)
* **Special skills:** internet research, knowledge of Australian law
* **Quirks:** can switch to a perky 'cheerleader voice' on demand
* **Distinguishing marks:**
No One Older (Pt 1)

## Meta

**Timing:** Six weeks after they meet, I think?

**Setting:** University of Sydney

## Text

Jackson strolls to a halt outside the Charlie's discussion session.

""—see why we hafta do this shit.""

Checks the door. This is in fact Charlie's discussion group.

""/**Language!** We've got babies in the room!""

Checks his watch. Five minutes early.

""Oh, come /**on**! Everyone here's an adult!""

Gives himself a mental pat on the back.

""Not Charlie!""

Wait ... what?

""She's the same age as the rest of us!""

Of course she is.

""No, she's not!""

A beat.

""How old /**are** you?""

He can /hear her chin tilt that tiniest fraction upwards.

""Nineteen.""

Nineteen ...?

""Seriously?""

She's a ... teenager?

""For reals?""

The arch of her eyebrow becomes just the tiniest bit more pronounced.

/**Fuck.**

""On that revelation, it's time to call it a night. See everyone next week."

Books close, chairs push back, feet scuffle.

Charlie reaches the hallway first, braid swinging and green eyes flashing.

Oh, I'm gonna go to the special hell.

She doesn't look at Jackson as he falls into step beside her.

He succeeds in holding his tongue for exactly as long as it takes to reach the lobby but then—

"Why didn't you tell me you were only nineteen?!" hisses Jackson.

"And give you another thing to you against me?" she sneers.

"Wha? Use against— Charlie, I wouldn't do that! Why would I want to hurt you?!"

She scoffs.

Why are you like this? Jackson does not pull out his hair, opts to grind out, "Why is it so hard for us to talk!?"

"Why /**should** we talk?"  Charlie snaps.

"We're in a relationship!"

"Are we now."

"I stay the night!" exclaims Jackson.

Charlie picks up her pace. "Doesn't mean anything."

"We make dinner together! And breakfast." He jogs after her. "We play video games!"

She whirls on him. "Does. Not. Mean. A. Thing."

Jackson flounders.

"Do /**not** follow me."

He nods.

She turns her heel and then ... she's gone.

Jackson stumbles to a bench.

Just like that.

She's gone—

He swallows.

She's gone, he's going to hell, and ....

The world tips every way but flat.

She doesn't care.

She's gone and she doesn't care.

She's gone and she doesn't care and he's going to hell.

O dear god.

She's gone and she doesn't care.

Everything gets kinda staticky.

"Uh, 'scuse me?" says a tall person.

Charlie's skin is two shots of paler autumn from theirs.

"Custodial's locking up so you hafta—"

"Leave?"

Charlie left.

"I was gonna phrase it as 'mope elsewhere' but your way is more tactful."

"Okay." Jackson heaves himself to his feet. "'night."

"Take care."

She doesn't.

He pushes through the door of the cold engineering building into the cold weather raining—that doesn't make any sense he's being dramatic and failing.

And it's raining.

And it's cold.

Perfect.

Just ... perfect.

He starts walking.

Need No One: ****No One Older (Pt 1)**** | Time to Think | No One Older (Pt 2) | Wiser
Pigtails

Izzy frowns at the washroom mirror. "Be good, you!"

The stubborn curl, just above his left ear, continues refusing to lie like [its] fellows.

He pokes it. "I gotta get ready for playgroup," he whines. "Please?"

The light flickers.

Dad!

Izzy turns to the door with a smile.

::Can I help?::

::Fix this?:: Izzy wiggles his head.

The curl dances.

Dad tilts his head to one side, then the other. ::Braid or tails?::

Izzy studies his reflection. ::Tails,:: he declares. ::With black and red.::

Smiling, Dad reaches for the bowl of elastics and ribbons, waves Izzy up onto the countertop with his other hand.

Izzy perches, swings his feet happily, heels banging against cabinet doors.

Dad raises an eyebrow—

Feet still.

—sets down the bowl.

Fingers card through Izzy's blond curls, coaxing them into even sections.

Quick twists, and, one-by-one, elastics create a multitude of pigtails.

Izzy gives an experimental head shake and grins at the way the tails bounce and sway.

Dad beams.

Each tail receives a two intertwined ribbons tied in a neat bow trailing long streamers.

Dad straightens the final one, gestures to the mirror with a flourish.

Izzy spins, ends with his knees on the counter, gives his hair a critical examination. Another shake. He giggles.

Dad raises an eyebrow.

Izzy turns back and hops back to the floor.

::Tickles.::

A smile. ::Like it?::

A storm of black and red and blonde flops back and forth. ::You do the best ribbons.::

Dad ducks his head.

::Can I do yours?::

Dad shakes his head sadly. ::Our turn to clean today. The mud and oil will ruin the ribbons.::

Izzy heaves a sigh.

Dad kisses his crown. ::Next day I don't have to crawl inside, okay?::

Beams. ::Thanks, Dad!:: Izzy dashes off in the direction of breakfast.
Psychology

## Meta

**Timing:** After Andrea takes on live-in child caring (she's been thinking she's fine, but the re-emergence of /that VS unit's making her deal with this).

**Setting:** Andrea's room, 1st or 2nd Darling-Jones residence.

## Text

Andrea wakes up suddenly, heart pounding and PJs clammy.

What ...?

Jason bleeding in her arms, [asking why she took so long].

Andrea shudders, burrows into the sheets—regrets it immediately; kicks the bedclothes to the floor, followed shortly by her nightshirt and pants, then grabs a a clean set and blanket from the end of her bed.

Dry-ish, dressed, and still shaking.

She fumbles for her cellphone.

Her mom picks up on the first ring. ""Ray-Ray? Isn't it the middle of the night?""

Andrea stifles a sigh. "'nother nightmare."

Mrs Hill /**does** sigh. ""Love, I think you need to talk someone.""

"Yea, I've booked an appointment with the on-site doctor."

""There's a wonderful psychologist downtown—""

"I don't think that's a good idea."

""Ray-Ray, I don't want them anywhere near you.""

Andrea takes a deep breath. "I don't know what's in my head that they don't want people to know."

""That's what NDAs are for, sweetheart.""

"It's not like—it's not classified, Mom. I don't want to say something and get someone hurt."

""The only person this's hurting is you, Ray-Ray.""

"No, Mom, I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing and the psychologist ...."

""Why would the PPDC hurt a psychologist?""

Andrea scrubs her face. "They—the—" She presses her lips together, inhales deeply through her nose. "They did ...  stuff. Are still doing."

Mrs Hill doesn't reply.

"Mom?"

A sigh. ""How on earth did you turn out so well?""

Andrea grins. "You raised me."

A chuckle. ""This is all you, Ray-Ray. I could never be so selfless.""

"Except for that time you adopted an infant right out of the trauma ward."

Mrs Hill concedes. ""Maybe you're a good influence on me.""

"We'd already established that."

""True."" Pause. ""You'll be well?""

"That's the plan."

""You'll speak with your father?""

"Yep, in the morning."

""Good."" Papers shuffling. ""Try and get some more sleep.""

"I'll try."

Mrs Hill's voice warms. ""I love you lots, Ray-Ray.""

"I love you lots, Mom. Take care."

""Thanks, love. Night night.""

"Bye," Andrea smiles.
Tang Compound scraps

## Scrap #1

Knowing Liu, this will likely take place before Button's even born.

Liu invites Blossom to breakfast one morning (or tea/some other meal).

"If you were to make it Sydney," says Liu. "Whom would you like to meet?"

"Bubbles," Blossom replies immediately.

Liu nods.

"My parents."

Liu nods again.

"And Button's f--" It dies on her tongue.

"Button's family of the immediate variety?" Liu offers.

"Yea."

## Scrap #2

(possibly attached to Scrap #1)

Blossom points out that her parents have no reason to be invested in the life of a stranger so all the questions could seem suspicious.

Liu considers.

[Blossom action break]

"How do you feel about being married for a week?"

[Liu arranges a civil ceremony for Wei Tang Lan and Wei TBD in Sydney.

Blossom dutifully writes out invitations to two people who will befriend her parents and bring them along as their +1s.]

## Scrap #3

Blossom pushes through the door of the compound's canteen with a yawn.

"Good morning, Miss Collocott," greets Liu.

Blossom pauses.

"I try to eat here at least once a month," says Liu. "Though of late I haven't been successful."

Blossom considers this.

Liu adds more cream to the bowl of porridge.

"Which is why I've never seen you here before."

"Exactly."
Portrait

Charlie leans against Jackson's desk as she puts on her pants.

His laptop wakes up.

"What's that?"

Jackson dives over, slams his laptop closed. "Nothing." Hides it behind his back.

"Okay." Spies her shirt, goes to pick it up.

"It's you." Jackson claps a hand over his mouth.

She twists around, eyebrow quirked.

"I was painting you." Jackson grimaces.

Charlie pulls on her tank top. "Cool."

"You're really pretty."

"Thanks." Snags her jumper.

"Your hair—it's like it's got stars in it."

Puts on one sock.

"If I had every colour on the planet I don't think I could do your eyes justice."

Puts on her other sock.

"And your skin is the most beautiful, expressive shade of brown I've ever seen."

She stands, glances around.

Jackson flutters just outside her personal space.

Charlie tugs him close, kisses him.

Fi~re~works.

"I have to go."

"Do you have to?"

"I wanna graduate."

Jackson pouts.

She flattens her palm and against his t-shirt. "Bye."

"Bye."

And she's gone.

Jackson plays it cool for /**exactly** twelve seconds and then gives up, yanks something on, books it to shoes and the door, and sprints downstairs and from the lobby.

Charlie, tying her backpack to Whisper, turns slightly towards him.

"Should I delete it?"

A wrinkle between her eyebrows.

"It's, uh," Rubs the back of his neck. "You didn't say anything."

"What do people normally say when someone paints them?"

"'Can I see it?'"

"Is it done?"

"No?"

"Then I'll see it when it's done."
Evicted

Formerly "Cyclone"

## Meta

**Timing:** between "Tit for Tat" and "Pretty Good"

**Setting:** Jackson's flat

## Text

Jackson jogs up the stairs to find the door to his flat ajar. He gazes heavenward and pushes through. "What is it this time?" he calls, ditching his shoes.

""My landlord sucks,"" answers Logan from the living room.

"What'd they do?" Jackson flops into the easy chair, sets his bag down beside it.

"Tried to turn me in." Logan taps a few commands on the game controller, slouches deeper into the couch. "Asswipe."

Jackson sighs. "Do I want to know about your inevitable revenge?"

"Nope."

Ambient gaming sounds.

Jackson scrubs his face. "What the hell went wrong with you?"

"Not everyone's cut out to be a model citizen."

"Have you even /**tried**?"

"Brain's not 'right', remember? 'm a certified sociopath."

"Don't call yourself that. You have antisocial personality disorder."

"Same diff—"

"It's not the—"

"How many times have we had this argument now?" Logan side-eyes Jackson.

"Too many." Jackson makes a frustrated noise. "I just wish—"

"You wish I was normal, yea, yea." Logan makes a 'talk, talk, talk' motion.

Cheery victory music erupts from the TV.

Another sigh from Jackson as he retrieves his laptop from his bag. "Why my place and not Nanny's?"

"The warnings are still up," says Logan, shutting down the console.

"That was a really dumb stunt to pull." Fishes out a stylus.

Logan shrugs.

"No, uh, 'work' while you're here, ay?"

Logan huffs, "I remember our deal, Jack."

"Just checking." Opens the screen, clicks through to his work in progress.

"I brought some cash for groceries. It's on the table."

Jackson snorts. "I'll hit the shops on the way home from work tomorrow. Try not to eat everything before then."

"I feel the brotherly love."

"Doing /**this** much makes me an accessory to—" Jackson waves his hands. "—whatever you did."

Logan rolls his eyes. "Should only take a couple of days for things to cool off, then I'll be outta your neatly coiffed hair."

"For a while, at least," grumbles Jackson.

"/**Totally** feeling the love now."

Jackson scowls. "Don't you have a nap to take or something?"

"Already did that. /**And** gave myself gamer's thumb."

"Go find a book to read."

Logan heaves himself out of the couch, ambles into the bedroom.

Jackson adds another layer of highlights to his painting.

"Who's that?" asks Logan.

Jackson jumps, sends a streak of silver across the canvas. "Don't /**do** that!"

Logan smirks. "I'll try to keep my ninja skills under control around you." Cocks his head. "Still wanna know who you're painting."

"A girl." Undoes the damage.

"Thanks, Captain Obvious. Who's she to you?"

"Probably the coolest person I know." Jackson breathes a dreamy sigh. "Her name's Charlie and she /**actually** agreed to go out with me so it's Saturday, dinner; I'm thinking maybe that little Thai place by the park—"

"I'm sorry I asked," Logan groans.
Ending Theme

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</noinclude>

""Come along with me—""

Blossom lifts Logan's bandaged arm—

He grumbles sleepily.

—examines the state of things.

"—And the butterflies and bees—""

Blood's stopped seeping through.

Checks his face.

""—We can wander through the forest—""

Colour's creeping back, too.

"Congratulations, Buttercup, you survived five episodes of /*Adventure Time*," announces Blossom. "You can sleep now." Pats his head.

""—And do so as we please—""

"/**Thank** you, Princess Bubblegum," he grumps. Eyes flutter shut.

""—Come along with me—""

Blossom sighs.

""—To a cliff under a tree.""

Logan cracks an eye. "Ye wanna be a pillow or ye wanna give me something with more stuffing?"

"Here's a pillow, you—"

And she smothers lightly him with it.

He lies there like a lump.

Blossom peeks underneath.

"Takes more than that to kill me."

She snorts, slides out from under his head. "I'll get you a blanket."

"Awe/**some**." Tucks the pillow under his head, flops on his side.

Blossom's back in a moment, drapes a quilt over Logan.

"Thanks," he murmurs. "'night."

"Goodnight, Buttercup." Blossom pads to the hallway, flicks off the light.

Logan snores.

Blossom rolls her eyes, sighs, heads to her bedroom and a good night's sleep.
Noah Gagnon

The first VS-04 Handler

* **Full name:** Noah Gagnon
* **Pronouns:** He-him-his
* **Height:**
* **Build:**
* **Hair:**
* **Eyes:**
* **Lifemate:** Genevieve Lam (married 16 Mar 2022)
* **Children:** N/A
* **Sibling(s):**
* **Parents:**
* **Birthday:** 22 Apr 2000 (Canada)
* **Language:** Canadian English (mother tongue), Canadian French (native speaker)
* **Ethnicity:** White Canadian (French extraction)
* **Nicknames**
	+ Rosie: Gennie (because he blushes easily around her)
* **Relationships:** Jackson (Ranger), Logan (Ranger), Wills (commander), Charlie (Ranger's wife), Book (Ranger's child), Baby (Ranger's child)
* **Special skills:**
* **Quirks:**
* **Distinguishing marks:**
Lockdowns & Kaiju (meta)

Let's say all Shatterdomes go on high alert while there's a Kaiju in the water and all Rangers are on lockdown until the Kaiju is dead. All times assume an average Kaiju speed of 50km/h.

I think we planned for at least one or two more 2023 Kaiju, but these are the only ones we've already set dates for.
Wom-wom

## Meta

**Timing:** Immediately after Book comes home from hospital, probably 11 July 2019

**Setting:** 1st Darling-Jones house

## Text

Jackson strolls into the kitchen, a little confusion mixed with his new-dad-beam. "Derek?"

Derek looks up from his under-construction sandwich. "Yea, Jack?"

"You buy another plushie for the baby? A giraffe?"

"Uh, no?"

"There was one in the crib ...."

They look at each other. "Logan."

"Looks like it got into his head after all," chuckles Jackson.

Derek opens the pantry door. "All the energy bars and powdered drinks are gone."

Jackson gives a low whistle.

"What?"

"Must be in deep trouble. That's what he takes when he needs to lay /**really** low."

"Umm, do we need to worry about, uh, receiving stolen property?"

"Nah. Doubt they'll arrest a baby."

Derek snorts.