righthemisphere | IC CONTACT

He must've nearly talked himself out of this about ten different times. He's still questioning if this is the right move all the way up until he gets to the front porch and knocks. He's got a small bag slung over his shoulders over the layers for the cold and while he seems to be in pretty good shape he definitely seems a little low in spirit.

Doesn't stop him from trying for a smile when the door opens, suddenly feeling incredibly awkward. "Uh, hi. Sorry if I should've called first I was---I was out."

Which isn't untrue. He's spent more time out lately cause he didn't like being in the house without that familiar presence he got used to with Bob there.

It's just by chance that Raleigh is by the door when Connor gets up onto the porch. He isn't expecting anyone and the movement puts a little trepidation in his stomach but the familiar face sends it off again with a soft whoosh.

"No, hey, I'm glad you stopped by."

He smiles and juggles the firewood he's got in his arms, stepping back and keeping the heavy, newly reinforced door open with his boot.

"Come in, it's cold as balls."

He manages a small grin when the door opens, and at the greeting.

"I was around," he offers, heading inside and nodding towards the firewood in the other guy's arms. "Need a hand? I don't mind."

A laugh at the mention of the cold out. "No kidding. I've been in a lot of different climates but, well, guess this one never really made it to the training list."

Which is to say he's really not prepared for it outside of layers and stuff.

Which isn't all that surprising if Connor's spent a lot of his life South of the equator.

"Well you came to the right house, I'm from Alaska," Raleigh answers and gestures for the guy to take a couple logs which he directs with a nod towards the fireplace.

His little house is the same as it was at Thanksgiving but far more serene without the crowd and the leather sofas have since been swapped for far more comfortable navy velvet. A recent gift.

"I mean we lived all over but when we enlisted.. the academy and then our assignment was back in Alaska so I never really got to escape it."

Just call him John Snow.

"Kinda sucks 'coz I hate the cold," a laugh as he sets his wood down as well, gesturing that the logs need to be stacked into the basket sitting to the right of the hearth but he's heading for the open plan kitchen. If you show up at Raleigh Becket's two things will happen. You'll be put to work and fed. Which is exactly what's going on.

"You like grilled cheese?" Not bothering to ask if Connor is hungry, he's a teenage boy.

Hey, that's top secret information there, buddy.

"Alaska, really? Pretty sure the furthest north or midwest I've been is Colorado." Mostly they stuck close enough to where they could cross the border if need be. Get away from whatever heat they picked up on their trail. He takes a couple of the logs and heads over to the fireplace.

It does feel a little different without all the people in it, but still just as homey.

"That does suck," he agrees with a grin. "Just remind me not to pick a fight with you out there." Not that he's ever been in a snowball fight either. He follows his example for stacking the logs and then it's to the kitchen after brushing his hands off.

"Yeah, love those," he nods. Raleigh isn't wrong about the appetite. "Need any help? I've been learning to cook from this other guy in town." It's something he's realized he actually doesn't mind doing.

Oh, right. Snowball fight. That isn't where Raleigh's mind went immediately and he nearly asks but is immediately distracted once they're in the kitchen.

"Yeah, sure. It isn't often that people offer. Turn the gas on for me? Pan's there."

It's nice to cook with someone. He pulls cheese and mayo from the fridge, laying them on his kitchen island before cutting a few pieces of bread off a home made looking loaf. He's had time on his hands and learning to bake felt like a necessary skill to have when things like food shortages are a thing. Back home they hadn't even had the flour much less bread and after being caught out here in October Raleigh has made it a goal to be as well stocked as possible. Food insecurity has been a major theme in his life. Is what it is. And he wants to change that.

"So," as they work. It's not a difficult meal to make.

"What brought you all the way out here? You don't live in Clarke Acres, do you?"

Not usually the first place his mind goes to either, but it seemed fitting.

"I kind of like it," he says, getting the pan on the stove after getting the gas going.

When they were doing training they didn't have a lot to go around. Or it was weird cause they would be living off the land and that was a toss-up what you'd get. He hasn't had to worry a lot about food shortages. Not something he has to actively consider, outside of this town, until he's older. Fun perks of knowing the future. "Fun".

"No, I'm in Brahms," he tells him. "I uh---it's just me in the house now and I don't know it's weird and too quiet. Just wanted to see if there was anything I could help with and---" Yeah, he knows it sounds pretty lame.

Right, right, Brahms. That sounds kinda familiar now maybe he's already asked. His memory was never amazing but after Knifehead? Whoo boy you could use his head like a seive.

Empty house though.. ah. Connor doesn't have to spell it out. His friend is gone, his only link to home.. and he's alone now.

It's a fear Raleigh has but tries not to feed too much. People come and go here and there's nothing you can do about it. That scares the hell out of him.

"Yeah, no-" picking up the slack to save more awkward fumbling for painful words. He gets it. Poor guy.

"I'm glad you did, actually. I could use a hand servicing the ATV, do you know anything about cars?"

John's not really sure if he said, still, he doesn't stay there often really. He's not liable to make it a habit now though the weather might force him to for a little while.

John, outside of his mother and a few asshole would be fathers over the years, has spent most of his life alone. Moving constantly to stay ahead of machines or the FBI. It's not much of a life. He nods, clearing his throat and grateful for the distraction.

"I know a thing or two. Just don't ask me if all of it is legal." Hey, he survived his life so far, might as well have a little fun once in a while.

It makes Raleigh laugh.

"Man, you are my type'a guy. Cmon."

Bring your sandwich, he's talking them around to the garage.

Realistically Raleigh leaves the ATV to Chuck to service but it sounded like a good thing to suggest and all they're really going to do is flush and level the fluids. Anything more complicated than that and it's Chuck's problem.

"My brother woulda loved you."

It's surprisingly nice to find share something like that and it make someone else laugh. He's always kind of wondered what it would be like, anyone else finding out who he really was and if it would change things. Maybe it's just a weird benefit of this town.

He takes a bite as they go and follows Raleigh towards the garage.

When he was in foster care he had a dirt bike, one that's here in town now, and he rebuilt that damn thing from scrap. Todd didn't want to help him with it, thought it was a lost cause, so it was just him and his buddy out there every day after school just about.

"Yeah? Is that cause of the working with this or the maybe not so legal things I get into?"

"Can it be both?" He asks with a grin, tugging down cans of fluid from a shelf. Oil her up, make sure she's happy. ATVs aren't the most complicated of vehicles tbh.

And honestly she's fine and Chuck will probably be mad he's even out here doing this but he likes to keep his hands busy and he has a feeling the kid is the same.

It's easy work. Check this out, wipe this down, fill this up.

"I've been thinking about getting a job here in town. Save up for something with a roof and windows."

"If it's both it makes me wonder what kind of trouble you've gotten yourself into in the past," he tells him, taking a bite of his sandwich before setting the plate away so he can help.

Even if the other guy might be a little upset, John's glad for the brief distraction.

"Yeah? What kind?" he asks. "I don't really do much outside of help out at the Goodbye Home."

The way Raleigh laughs says yes, he has absolutely gotten into Some Trouble in the past.

Alas, he shrugs.

"I'm not sure. I was helping out a guy called Neal at the college but it didn't really pan out.."

There's a story there.

"I like making things. Using my hands.. I was thinking maybe salvage or metal work? Back home after I wasn't a pilot anymore I worked in construction. And I'm pretty good at it."

Like John is one to talk, really. Delinquency was what put him at odds with his foster parents when he was there.

"Didn't really pan out? Something happen?"

Might as well ask, right? The worst he gets is not answered or a deflection.

"There's the junkyard, I've been there a few times. Sometimes you can get lucky and find stuff that isn't a dinosaur like most of the stuff here." he tells him. "A pilot, did you fly?" Cause they've talked about some of John's stuff but they haven't really dug into Raleigh's all that much.

"Uh," processing the questions as they work. He thinks better with his hands busy.

"I sorta flew." More falling than flying but what are details.

"I didn't pilot a plane but close enough. A Jaeger is more like a giant...giant mech. We built 'em to fight big ass monsters that came up through a rift in our dimension."

Good, focus on that. Let him sidestep the thing about Neil. Means he can sidestep talking about his big ol gay ass romance.

He was just about to ask how sort of fits into that when he starts to explain. John knows helicopters and that's about it. His eyebrows go up towards his hair and then he grins.

"Sucks about the monsters but that's kind of an awesome way to deal with them?"

Yeah, he sees the mental sidestepping there. He'll let it go, mostly cause he wouldn't know what to do with that info anyway.

"Way better than junky old helicopters."

IC CONTACT

action. mid to late december.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject