#thomas lasky

Hey Halo. They're both alive, yeah? Both of them? And they're kicking ass? Just wanted to check in about that.

(drawing is from today! For the sake of archiving, January 2026)

Close-up and colors under the cut

Thomas Lasky was the Captain of the largest space ship humanity ever build.

He had recieved commendations for his bravery and wit, his devotion to his troops.

Families and friends of long lost comrades had thanked him for his kindness.

But today, one member of his crew would get to see a side of him, that he thought had died with Cadmon:

The unfiltered mischief of a little brother.

When the Master Chief was permanently stationed on the Infinity and when Thomas became Captain, he had made a quiet promise to himself.

He wanted to bring out more of the Chief's humanity. To hear him laugh. Just once.

A real unfiltered laugh.

To achieve that, he had channeled a whole lot of time, effort and years of repressed silliness into today.

He had spent days researching harmless pranks.

While he didn't believe he could seriously injure John-117, he also wanted to avoid scaring him or embarass him.

After all the man was a highly trained, and traumatized, super soldier, who was also very secluded.

He didn't want anyone catching a stray fist or anything.

So the best prank option was: confusion.

He had spent alot of thoughts on the best tactic until Roland, his trusted and ever so nosy ship AI had presented him with the most terrific idea.

Roland was also the one who provided him with a detailled analysis of the Chief's routine.

Right now, at 0600 hours ship time, the Chief was in the gym.

"Captain, you might want to hurry, he just reracked the last weights and got on the treadmil.", his partner in crime provided.

"Deploy fail-safe.", he ordered as he booked it double time to the Chief's quarters, almost dropping the plastic bag he was carrying.

The "fail-safe" was no other than Sarah Palmer, who got roped into the plan somewhere along the way.

It was her task to stall the Chief as long as possible, so that Thomas could set everything up.

Upon arrival at the quarters, the Captain keyed his override code into the control panel next to the door.

The small room was pristinely clean.

It almost looked like it was unoccupied.

Almost.

A small black chip cartridge laying on the night stand.

A pang of guilt overcame Thomas after he realized, that he was intruding on the Chief's privacy.

He quickly shook his head and got to work.

He had just placed the finishing touches and had put the note on the Chief's crisp bedding, when Roland chimed: "Captain, get moving asap. He's coming."

With a toothy grin, ear to ear, he ran back to his own quarters, hoping the Chief had a sense of humor.

.

.

.

John-117 was trudging to his quarters after he got finished in the gym and completed the ridiculous tasks that Commander Palmer had given him.

He had lost count of the jars he had him open across the entire ship.

For some reason there were some, that were hidden in air locks, ventilation duckts and hell even one in the fresher.

His instincts were telling him that she was distracting him, but he decided to trust her.

She was his superior officer after all. And she seemed too by the book to pull anything off.

But he couldn't shake the feeling.

Arriving at his destination, he punched his code in the panel and was already looking forward to a shower after half a day in sweaty gym clothes.

Then he caught a faint smell.

Nothing bad. To faint to place. Definietly familiar.

He spotted the piece of paper sitting on his bed a split second later.

His jaw set. The hair in his neck bristled. Muscles tensed.

He moved very slowly and deliberatly to the paper and carefully unfolded it.

A small, bright yellow plastic duck fell to the ground.

The Spartan bent to pick it up.

The note read:

Hi Chief!

Hope you can find my 499 brothers and sisters!

They are hidden all over your quarters.

If you can find them within 24 hours you might get a reward!

Happy April Fools Day!

Cpt. Tom Lasky :)

The Chief decided his shower could wait.

.

.

.

9 Hours later

Thomas just pulled his blanket over him, ready to be enveloped by sleep after a hard day, his prank on the Chief almost forgotten, when a soft knock sounded from his door.

Before he could stop himself, a groan escaped him and he went to open the door, only to be met with a broad chest and a scent of bar soap.

"Captain, I apologize for the disturbance. May I come in?", the Chief's voice rumbled.

Sighing, he shrugged and slughishly moved out of the taller man's path, gesturing for him to enter.

"What can i do for you at this late hour?"

"Captain, I have completed your challenge and found all 500 ducks.", the Spartan plopped a bag into his hands.

"Huh. I almost forgot. To be honest Chief, I didn't think you'd take the bait."

"Why would I not?", the Chief asked, genuinely confused, head tilted to the side.

"You are always so... serious. I hope you are not too upset that I intruded...?"

"No, Sir. It was fun. What is my reward?"

"Rewa–, oh, yeah wait."

Fuck, were did he put it?

After some rumaging through the packaging that the ducks came in, he had found it.

Grinning, he turned to the Chief, holding his reward hidden behind his back.

"Close your eyes and hold your hand open."

The Chief obliged.

Giggling, the Captain placed a rubber duck, wearing a General's uniform and aviators into the Chief's palm.

"Chief, may I interoduce you to the one and only, General Quacks!", the Officer pressed out, trying, and spectacularly failing, to stop his raging laughter.

The Chief carefully cracked his eyes open. Looked at the duck. Then to the red-faced, doubled-over Skipper.

Slowly, but surely, a faint smile cracked John's lips. Growing wider and wider until he too, was teary eyed from laughter.