drear | god, he called for rain

[ it's true that the food was nothing to cheer about, but it was food. and heine hasn't been off-base for more than a week or two at a time for the last seven or eight years. ]

...yeah. [ an even more grudging pause. ] Me too.

[ finally, he punches a button inside the escape pod, replying curtly to the now-panicking mission control transmission. ]

You think we're going to have to do publicity tours again?

[ because he really doesn't want to. they're a huge pain, and he really just wants to lie down and sleep. ]

[While the admission isn't a surprising one, what is was the fact that Rammsteiner would willingly say so. She shot him a look that was half-amused half-curious as he replied to mission control, settling a bit in her pod.

The expression is gone however, at the thought of having to do publicity tours. She's a reticent person by nature, and being paraded around and patted on the back was more of a punishment than a pleasure.]

I'm sure a higher up would be happy to do all the talking.

[And taking the credit as well, but she would rather be a prop than a mouth piece.]

[ heine has to agree with that, but honestly, if it meant he wouldn't have to talk, he'd be glad to have someone else take the spotlight. he's... tired. he doesn't want to have to do with this anymore, but at the same time, he doesn't know what else he can do.

the noise of chopper blades overhead catches his attention, though, and ladders are thrown down. at this point mission control is cheering for them, congratulating them. ]

...here's our ride.

[ heine just wants to sleep. ]

[The next hours passed by in a blur. Naoto could only vaguely remember clambering up the ladder into the helicopter, making her statement to one or two officials before she nodded off and they let her go to her room. Of course as soon as she was awake she was questioned again, shuttled to the one quiet room in the base since it seemed the rest of the place was exploding into a celebratory party.

Once they were sure she had nothing else to add, that's when they started talking about the publicity tours and the rounds they'd have to make. At least for that portion they seemed to think it was okay to have her and Rammsteiner in the same room.]

Do you think they would be open to pretending someone else had done this?

[The words were tired and haggard. She was sure someone like Badou perhaps would be eager for the spotlight, or someone as dependable as Mihai would be a better choice.]

[ heine goes through a similar experience, sleeping for a good thirteen hours before climbing out of bed to sneak into the back room of the kitchen to get something to eat. he's just about to try slipping away again when he gets dragged back into prep for the talks and publicity.

by the time he and fuyumine meet again, he looks mildly more well-rested, but no less testy than usual. ]

Probably, but they've got video. Hard to pull a cover-up of that size.

[ he shrugs, slouching back in his chair. other officials and the man who ran the resistance effort are talking on the other side of the table, but the general consensus is that the pilots should be left to their own devices for at least a little while. ]

...think they'd be open to us not being here? [ he sighs, resting an elbow on the table. at least for a little while, he'd like to be away from this. ]

[It was a pipe dream anyway, but Naoto couldn't help but sigh. There was always the possibility that they could still argue their case, but it would be a losing battle. Right now, unfortunately Naoto was too tired to even consider it. Her usually impeccable posture was slouched a little, her attention prone to wandering.]

They should be.

[Considering they had managed to complete their mission and possibly have saved the world, getting a bit of breath of fresh air wasn't asking for much.

She pushed out of her chair, ignoring the looks that got, tilting her head to the side.]

Hungry?

[ heine's gaze is drifting and unfocusing. there's nothing much to pay attention to, honestly. the question from fuyumine, though, is arresting. ]

...yeah. [ he gets up as well, shoving his hands into the pockets of his fatigues. ] We'll be back, so don't wait for my input on the new merchandise.

[ because he really doesn't care about it. heine starts walking towards the exit, shoving back a few unruly strands of hair. already he's moving more quickly, back straightening at the prospect of being out and about again. ]

[The prospect of there being action figures of them, of having their unsmiling faces stamped on lunchboxes or t-shirts, of having statues of them and their jaegers popping up all over the world almost makes her laugh, the thought so strange. She half expects that she's dreaming or they never made it back from the mission. None of this seems real, underneath layers of tediousness.]

How long do you think they could be avoided?

[She jerked her head back towards the room full of people deciding their fate, their tour schedules, their financial futures. Honestly Naoto would be fine just receiving the stipend she has now and settling somewhere quiet. She has an urge to walk out the door and keep walking.]

At least until they start calling. [ pauses. ] Maybe an hour after that.

They'll find us if it's really important. [ an unspoken "whatever". they reach the elevator and take it down; there few people still in the shatterdome at this time of night, now that they're free to travel without fear of kaiju.

it's so foreign to him, the idea that kaiju simply don't exist anymore. or won't exist, at least, for them. heine puts his hands into the pockets of his fatigues to keep from fidgeting and glances at fuyumine for a second. ]

...it's humid out there. [ he says after a second, in lieu of anything actually substantial. ]

[She couldn't stop the heavy sigh that passes her lips at the thought of only an hour or so of time to collect herself, crossing her arms wearily. If she had only so much patience for the people who had helped make their operation a success, she could only imagine how quickly she'd burn out if they had to do all the press tours they wanted them to do. Disappearing would be the easy part, but actually surviving might be more difficult. Her only marketable skill, through her own actions, was now obsolete.

Rammsteiner's innocuous observation startled her out of her thoughts, and she turned to him, half amused and half incredulous.]

You want to talk about the weather?

[It was almost enough to make her laugh. They had saved the world but Rammsteiner seemed as unmoved as when she had first met him.]

It'll be nice to go somewhere less muggy. And warmer.

[She'd give him that at least.]

What else is there?

[ the whole "saved the world" thing doesn't seem like an appealing topic to him. ]

I don't like sunny weather. [ heine burns like nobody's business, pale as he is. ] But drier would be good.

...have you thought about going home?

Home decor.

[The answer was flat, only the small uptick of her mouth any indication that it was a joke. It wasn't exactly better than the weather, but perhaps a bit more useful now that the base was going to be closed down soon.

She nodded at his assessment, not too big of a fan of sunny places. She'd rather be cold than warm, not to mention colder places tended to be a lot less populated which was ideal for her.

The question made her turn to look at him, her expression a mix of consideration, anxious, and a tinge of frustration.]

I have. I have business there, but I don't plan on staying.

[Did Rammsteiner have family and a place to call home other than this place?]

Would you want to come?

You're going to switch professions now? [ there's some joke to be made here, some attempt to lighten the mood, but heine doesn't make it. too hard. too weird.

the idea of fuyumine working in interior decor is enough to make heine half-smile for just a second at his feet, though.

her question dashes the expression from his face. he has to do a double take and realize she's actually being serious in the inquiry. ]

Depends. Where's "home" anyway?

I don't enjoy the thought of just spending the rest of my days collecting checks.

[She had always known that she was restless, always needing a goal to strive toward. Even though she had met most of her goals, she still had the urge to do more, to keep striving.

Naoto was careful not to meet his gaze, shrugging slightly.]

Vladivostok is where my family is.

[Not really a home, but closest she had known.]

After that...

[Well who could say.]

You're going to have to find a new job, then. Unless you want to just be a celebrity for the rest of your life.

[ vladivostok is fuyumine's previous base, so it makes sense that she'd want to at least go back once. heine pauses at a crosswalk. ]

Yeah.

Where did you want to eat?

[A new job... Naoto can't say she has skills that can translate to other occupations. Maybe a bodyguard? A pilot? She'd have to ask around, see what some of the other pilots were thinking of doing.

She paused next to him when he stopped, tilting her head to glance at him.]

Canteen?

[She would have never thought she'd get attached to the food, but something known and familiar was a comfort.]

Have you given thought to what you're going to do?

[ he'd be lying if he said the food in the canteen was particularly good, but it was certainly close and convenient. he agrees with a nod. ]

Not really.

[ he's been trying to not think about it, to be honest. ]

Don't have anyone to visit.

[Naoto started down the familiar path towards the canteen, wondering if she should pry or leave it be. It really wasn't any of her business, and though she knew he could take care of himself, she felt oddly protective of him.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes, a bit concerned.]

What about accompanying some of the other pilots?

[It seemed like he had gotten along with some of them.]

It's not like they need me.

[ though he knows them and they've been through similar things, fuyumine really is the only one who's seen it all—that other world of wispy miasma and beings beyond comprehension—and made it back through with him. ]

I'll figure it out. Whatever. [ heine slides into the line, and the familiarity of the location is almost soothing. the idea of going somewhere with another pilot, traveling with a companion, is a little weird, but not... wholly unlikeable.

he'll think about it. but first: some of this cafeteria food. ]

You can come with me.

[The offer would have sounded flippant from anyone else, but she can't seem to find the same levity. She hasn't dwelt on what she was going to do after this all, either, but at least she has some places to go. Some people to see. It sounds like Rammsteiner doesn't have any of it. Perhaps she wants to look out for him because she still owes him that much, or because they are partners now, for better or for worse. It's difficult to say. Usually the people she knows find her for various reasons. She has little practice extending herself.

She falls in line with him, her gaze turned away from him. It's his choice to make, so she won't press it or be disappointed if he turns it down.]

[ You can come with me.

she sounds like she's being genuine, at least. heine doesn't react, doesn't even make a vague noncommittal noise like he sometimes does. he moves some food over to his plate and tray, shuffling forward in the line.

eventually, he says something, just as they're moving to sit down. ]

When are you leaving?

[Rammsteiner's silence was nothing new so Naoto did not think too much of it, instead trying to decide if it was just the knowledge this might be her last meal here or if the meals were actually spruced up that was making it difficult to pick what she wanted.

Her stomach was protesting by the time they sat down, and Naoto was eager to dig in when Rammsteiner spoke. She glanced up from her food, a bit surprised that he hadn't just left the offer where it was, and even seemed like he might be considering it.

She shrugged, sighing slightly.]

Hopefully before they have us go on a publicity tour.

[Which was a pipe dream at best, but... She took a sip of her drink.]

I'm not in a rush. I can give you notice.

Then we'll probably have to leave tonight.

[ he's joking, but not really. plans have been made for the next week already. ]

Okay. Don't have much to pack, anyway.

[ he shovels some more food into his mouth to avoid having to say any more, prepared to eat in utter silence as usual. ]

[Impulsiveness wasn't a trait Naoto usually possessed, nor was she one to shy away from duty. But Rammsteiner's suggestion, no matter how flippant, was one that made her pause. Going on a publicity tour wasn't a duty, it was going to be a circus with the two of them being show ponies forced to perform.

They deserved better than that. They had done their job. So was it really necessary to go through with it?]

We could.

[Her voice surprised even her, her grip on her utensil tight, and she leaned forward slightly. Her gaze was serious, if considering. The consequences for skipping this tour could be far reaching and devastating, but...]

I don't have much either.

Tonight? [ really? could they make it? heine thinks about it, thinks about the airport and logistics and getting out of base in a way that they wouldn't be able to follow... ]

I've got cash. They'd expect you to visit your old base, though.

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timeskip to a bit after return?

sounds good to me o/

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