battle scars;;

Isabelle sighed, running her fingers through her hair. Liyuan was one of her favorite Rangers to deal with, mostly because ze didn’t ask invasive questions or was all about anyone’s business. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you, Ranger Peng.” She offered zir a smile and held her tabled close to her body. “Just feeling somewhat under the weather. But the Marshal needs these drills to be done, so whenever you find your partner, will you let me know?”

Liyuan watched Isabelle closely. Ze wasn't really all that knowledgeable of everyone's lives, friends, and all that-- and ze certainly wasn't close to many people, but ze did care about those around zir. The shatterdome was filled with people from all walks of life, and that was something that Liyuan loved about it. There was something about humanity getting together to defend itself that Liyuan loved. "Right-- yeah. I'll find her ASAP." Liyuan gulped, began to turn to leave, but thought better of it. "You, ah, sure you okay? 

"I’m always working, drills don’t apply to me as much as you. I guess I could inspect some things but I was going to do that anyhow. If I don’t do it, you gonna tell on me, Peng?" He narrowed his eyes at zir. He, of course, had only meant it in jest. 

"I dunno man, my tongue might just slip..." Liyuan shrugged and made a face, feigning innocence. "I can't lie-- if you do end up... Not..." Liyuan shook zir head, confusing zirself rather quickly. "I'm not that good with these jokes, now am I?"

"It was, yes, a Category IV is predicted, but nothing is for certain at the moment." She gave a single nod to punctuate her statement with. "It’s fine, really. Your concerns are valid and I do try to take into consideration as many as I hear of." Elsa reassured Liyuan, pausing to think of how best to respond to the comment. "It hasn’t made any move to leave the breach as of yet so I can’t send any Jaegers after it. I don’t want to deploy any rangers so close to the breach and risk something happening to them because of my own eagerness to try and make for an early attack. We still don’t know enough about the breach itself, how it works and the hazards it presents for us beyond it being a gateway for the Kaiju, so I don’t want to make any rash decisions and face the would’ve-been-avoidable threat of losing anyone."

Liyuan listened closely to every word the marshal said. Ze respected her more than anyone else. Marshal Morozov was one of Liyuan's role models, and ze hoped to be as capable as her at some point in zir life, even if it was on zir deathbed. "Has anyone in the k-science department found out anything different? Are we still fighting somewhat blind?" Liyuan rubbed the back of zir neck, "They're only getting stronger, it feels."

"You think they’d miss us? Bet we could pay some cadets to take our place." Charlotte flashed a smile her way before she sat up, aware that she would actually have to move soon. Stupid drills, she thought. "We could steal some snacks then run for it. I know a few spots that no one would ever look in."

"Well..." Liyuan was an A+ procrastinator. And... Well... Putting off the drills for a little while wasn't really going to hurt all that much. They were just drills. "I mean... Hiding for a bit won't do anything bad. The kaiju isn't here... So..."

"Yeah, that’s right. Go do the things you’re supposed to do." Phoenix spoke in a somewhat authoritative manner. He then laughed. "Juuust kidding, I can’t tell you what to do. But, I would do your drills. Don’t want the boss getting mad at you."

Liyuan looked over to the familiar face and smiled broadly. Ze crinkled zir nose and pushed zir hair away from zir face, tying it back ritualistically. "And what're you dong. Aren't you supposed to be rushing to your station too?" Ze asked, an eyebrow raised in question.

"I think we should just hide instead. And sleep, you with me?"

Liyuan laughed. "Oh, god, I wish." It was easy to skirt away from duties when the threat was not imminent, and Liyuan knew that. Sometimes one could even forget what was going on. "Hide and never be seen again. Take all somewhat decent snacks..."

"Few are keen on them, but it’s a requirement set by the PPDC to ensure everything is still fine. I hope to make this as quick as possible."

"Yes, ma'am." Liyuan swallowed, saluting the marshal. "Was a kaiju were sensed approaching the breach? Is it still too far to make contact?" Ze spoke quickly. "We shouldn't let them get too close, someone should be sent--" Liyuan stopped zirself. "Sorry." Ze paused, taking a step back. "I spoke out of turn. That was disrespectful."

"Where is your partner, Ranger? Marshal wants these drills to be done by the end of the day."

"Oh-- well. I think the ah, tracking... Device..." Liyuan abandoned zir attempt at a joke. "Nooot... Quite sure-- but we'll be sure to complete what's required by the end of the day." Liyuan noddded. "Are you, ah, okay though?"

"Yeah. Family, duty, honor, and your own being. Four most important things to hold onto in any circumstance. Not always in that exact order." she smiled brightly, taking a another few bites of food, nodding to the xir advice. "Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to take a deep breathe every now and then."

Liyuan smiled. "Alright," ze said, scooping up more of the delicious food. Ze ate in silence for a moment, thinking on what to say next. "Thank you," ze said finally, "I'll find a way to pay you back, but I kinda don't eat well enough, or often enough," Ze twirled a piece of zir hair then pushed it back, "it means a lot." Ze ate a few more bites and stood, then sat down again. "I almost never have guests," ze admitted, "nooooot really sure how to handle these situations, hah..."

"Wait a minute," He replied, placing his hands on his knees and raising his eyebrows in disbelief. "You mean, you’ve never gone day drinking before? Good lord, what do you do when I’m not around?”

"Oh you know," Liyuan began, the sarcasm already obvious from the moment ze opened zir mouth. "Mope. Cry. Wait until you come back once more." Liyuan shrugged. "I guess it's just something I've never really thought about?" Liyuan laughed in embarrassment, taking off the arm guard and tossing it into zir bag. "I'm uncool, Jack. It's a deadly case. You might catch it."

Jack let out an amused laugh, raising his brows at Liyuan in a fluster of terms of protest being said by zir. “Relax, relax. We can go whenever you like. Since when have I been known to force people into things?” He half joked. “If you really want to go now, we can. I’m totally game for day drinking.”

The redness on Liyuan's cheeks faded away, and a newfound bravado replaced it. Ze licked zir lips and stood with zir shoulders back, pushing zir hair away from zir face. "Daytime drinking-- first time for everything right?"