god, he called for rain

[shooteverything]

[ the shatterdome is too loud, smells of seawater and sweat, and half the time k-science won't even let him stay in the lab, one of the few quiet places in the entire base. but it's home, in some ways, because heine has lived here for more than half of his life.

and that reason is also the reason why he's doing the introductions for the new pilot arriving today. she's not new new, but new to this shatterdome. heine has read her file.

now he's in his fatigues, arms crossed as he waits on the tarmac for her to arrive. there's a lot to go through before her jaeger even arrives. ]

Comments

[shooteverything]

Harbor, then. [ he watches the guidebook in her hand, but with only a passing curiosity. ] And we can get something to eat there.

[ after the plane trip, he's hungry. ]

[antisheep]

I know a restaurant with good German food.

[It was one of the few places Naoto had been to personally, and their sauerbraten was the sort of food she had envisioned when she was stuck with whatever questionable food was served in the canteen.

She hailed a taxi, wrapping her scarf tighter around herself. She hadn't missed the cold, though.]

[shooteverything]

Yeah? [ it's quite a change from hong kong, almost too much of a change. heine's not dressed for the weather, but he's trying not to show it. ]

I'll take your word for it. Not that I care much what we eat.

[antisheep]

The canteen's gotten to you.

[Not that she can speak much either, considering that's been most of her experience with food, but she does shoot him an almost pitying look.

Thankfully it's warmer in the cab, though she does glance over at Rammsteiner thoughtfully.]

Should we get you winter clothes first?

[shooteverything]

Maybe. [ heine's less concerned about the death of his tastebuds than she is, apparently. ]

It's not that cold. [ ... ] Let's just go eat.

[antisheep]

[She hoped Rammsteiner could read the amount of disbelief she has at that simple statement, and how much she was unconvinced he was even remotely warm. Still, eating in a nice restaurant was a lot different than walking around the windy snowy harbor, and she supposed the weather would win out over his stubbornness.

After a few beats, she shrugged her shoulders.]

Do you have a favorite kind of food?

[It occurred to her, not for the first time, that she didn't know too much about Rammsteiner's preferences and tastes.]

[shooteverything]

Uh... not really. Like you said, the canteen got to me.

[ heine shrugs, unconcerned. ] You're picking where to eat—do you even like German food?

[antisheep]

I do.

[She hasn't had too much different cuisine, but there's something homey and hearty about German food.]

It's very filling and they're generous with their portions.

[Plus she had some good memories associated with it, so she might be biased.

She paid the driver when they got to the restaurant, stepping out into the brisk air, turning back to Rammsteiner.]

But if you don't like it there's a lot of other options.

[shooteverything]

[ well, those are all good points for a food. heine can't help shivering a little when they get out of the car, shoulders hunching. ]

It's fine. Let's go.

[ the maitre d' seats them at a two-person table in a private little nook. as badly as the kaiju hit the world, there are still places like this with real waiters and real food.

heine's impressed, despite himself. he reads the menu he's given. ]

Any recommendations on what to get?

[antisheep]

[She almost asked what sort of food Rammsteiner enjoyed, before stopping herself as she recalled the poor state of his taste buds.

She pointed to the pictures of the menu, one elbow leaning onto the table top.]

Their sauerbraten is my favorite, but many people seem to enjoy schweinshaxe.

[She paused, eyeing Rammsteiner thoughtfully.]

Gaisburger marsch is good if you want to get warmed up.

[shooteverything]

[ mock-offended, heine makes a face. he's really not that cold, especially not that they're inside. he gives in after a moment, though, and takes her advice. ]

Fine. I'll order that, then. [ he sets the menu down. ]

I'm really not that cold.

[antisheep]

Meaning that you're still cold.

[The remark would be flippant if her tone wasn't so dry, her hand going to prop her chin up.

Still, if Rammsteiner was going to be stubborn it wasn't her concern. She signaled for their waiter, before pausing to look at Rammsteiner thoughtfully.]

Do you drink?

[It seemed kind of wrong not to, but she'd never been one for alcohol. More trouble than it was worth.]

[shooteverything]

I'm no— [ ah, fuck it. heine sighs and orders from the waiter, german dish name slipping off his tongue for the first time in so long that it's almost unfamiliar. ]

Some. But water's fine for now.

[ that, and he doubts there's decent liquor here, and it's fairly early in the day to be drinking the hard stuff. ]

[antisheep]

[It shouldn't make her smirk to ruffle Rammsteiner a bit, but it does, and instead of teasing him further she merely nodded in agreement, instead watching some of the other patrons in the restaurant.

It was so lively and noisy, but comforting in a way. It was nice that the world hadn't ended, that this could all continue. It almost didn't feel real in a way.

She didn't bother with conversation until their food arrived, which she dug into contentedly. After a few bites she glanced up.]

What do you think?

[shooteverything]

[ the taste is oddly nostalgic, even though he can't remember ever enjoying his time in germany. not when he'd lived with the professor and her partner, the househelp, and no one else, locked in with no hope of ever being his own person.

and now he's here, which makes things very strange indeed. ]

—huh? [ he'd been thinking about other things. ] Sorry. What'd you—the food's fine, I mean.

[antisheep]

[There's an odd look on Rammsteiner's face, and Naoto raised an eyebrow at him, lowering her silverware.]

Something wrong?

[shooteverything]

No. [ he goes back to eating. ] Shouldn't you be calling your family or whatever?

[antisheep]

I'd rather not.

[Spending time with Magato had been one thing. The rest of her family were not so easy to get along with.

She polished off a few other spoonfuls before asking:]

What about your family?

[shooteverything]

Your old crew, then?

[ heine taps his fork on the plate a few times. ]

...they're dead. [ except for giovanni, whom he refuses to talk to. ]

[antisheep]

We'll be meeting up with most of them later. One of them made this dress.

[The look was pointed, saying that she could tolerate what Rammsteiner thought about it, but any negative opinion would be kept between the two of them.

Her gaze softened at that admission, her mouth curving downwards. Not unexpected, but nevertheless sad to hear.]

My condolences.

[shooteverything]

[ heine nods slowly, as if a warning will dissuade him from being possibly rude to someone. ]

They're gone. [ a pause, and he rubs the soles of his shoes on the floor. ] So it's—whatever. Your family, on the other hand. Are they all like that guy, Magato?

[antisheep]

[There's a small spark of curiosity about Rammsteiner's family, but his tone and words make it seem wiser not to ask. At least for now.

The question made her shrug delicately, pushing her finished plate to the side.]

No.

[She paused, to try and find the right words.]

In some ways they're worse. Magato at least is straight forward. I'd rather not see them right away, if I don't have to.

[shooteverything]

Are you just going to avoid them forever?

[ heine isn't done eating yet, and he keeps picking at his food, which makes his consumption of food slower yet. ]

[antisheep]

[That question put her on edge, mostly because she was aware of how childish her behavior was. Her mouth curved downwards, her eyes narrowing as she focused on him.]

Why are you so interested in my family?

[shooteverything]

Well, you were asking about mine. [ disregarding who started the conversation. ]

And meeting Magato just makes people curious.