[Post-apocalypse, life goes on very quickly. If you believed all those zombie movies, society should have fallen apart within hours, resulting in a every-man-for-himself wasteland. But it didn't while the Breach was still open, and it certainly didn't after it was sealed. For a while, Jaz found herself at loose ends. She'd been riding in Bad Karma with Mako for Operation Pitfall, and miraculously, everything had turned out...okay. The plan didn't go exactly perfectly, but in the end everything worked out, the Breach was sealed, and they didn't even lose any pilots.
(Which isn't to say nobody was injured; no, that's definitely not something anyone could claim. But they all walked away with all their limbs, and the prognosis was good for everyone's recovery, and that's really all you can ask for.)
Jaz had kicked around Hong Kong for a few months, spending time with Mako and bugging the PPDC staff who were still around, but after a while, she grew bored and decided she needed to go somewhere else. Being almost painfully predictable, she went home to Alaska, bought herself a little house in the countryside, and prepared to hole up for the winter. It really is a little house, two above two, basically, but she doesn't need it to be much bigger. It has a quaint little porch and a covered parking space that she mostly uses to store wood, and it gets cable TV and internet, and what more could a girl ask for? Technically, it also has central heating, but Jaz has always loved the warmth of a fireplace, and so she doesn't have her heating cranked up very high, compensating with a nice cozy fire every night. (And an electric blanket for her bed; there's nothing worse than climbing into an ice-cold bed at night.)
Her house backs onto a patch of forest, and once a week, Jaz goes foraging for wood, dragging fallen logs and the like home so she can chop them into useable pieces. It's what she's doing today, dressed in jeans and her snow boots, a wonderfully stereotypical flannel shirt draped over her shoulders, her hair tied back haphazardly, and a smudge of dirt on her cheek. The blisters on her palms have long shifted to hard calluses, and while she's always been muscular — you can't be waifish and pilot a Jaeger — there's new muscle cording her shoulders, muscle acquired from the hard labor associated with living out in the wilderness.
She's worked up a healthy sweat by the time she sees the glint of a windshield winding its way up the narrow country road that leads to her house. It's rare for her to get visitors, and so she finds herself slowing, thwacking her axe into the stump she uses as a chopping block when the car pulls into what amounts as her driveway. When the door opens and the driver starts to get out, however, she moves from her position, almost tripping over herself as she goes careening down her driveway.]
Chuck! [She throws herself at her visitor, flinging her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. Chuck has never been much of a hugger, but Jaz definitely is, and while she enjoys living out here all alone, she's definitely missed some human company.] You came!
[Chuck is barely out of his car where there's a flying ball of ex ranger flinging herself into his arms. He gives a soft ooft as they collide and she pulls him into a hug, which, he does eventually reciprocate with a little grunt.]
Well it was either come or listen to you nag at me for another six months.
[And we know how Chuck feels about nagging. Well. He'd say he hates it? But the fact that someone cares enough about seeing him to constantly bother him about it is actually really nice. Not that he'd ever admit it. Not that he will ever admit it.
He'd never expected to live past Pitfall. He had an expiry date. Just like all Jaeger pilots. The idea was to get in, kill a bunch of mother fucking kaiju and then go out in a blaze of glory.
He'd never expected to finish the job.
He'd never expected Pentecost to eject them at the last moment.
But he did and they had and that was that. And then came the long recovery and the poking and prodding and press. The Victory Tour and endless, endless interviews. It was alright, though. He was alive. And the world was safe and that... well that was pretty much the best case scenario so he should feel lucky.
It had taken a long time to wrap his head around it but after he finally managed to he'd just said fuck it! Maybe I get to live my life after all. And that wasn't something he'd even gotten to think about before. There hadn't been a reason to think about a career beyond the PPDC. To think about school or travel or experiencing life. Maybe even finding someone to share that with. He didn't think about any of that and then all of a sudden he wanted it all. And he got it. He traveled and wandered and actually did stuff..and that.. well it's an entirely different life. And as much as he had liked his life before he had to admit this one was a hell of a lot better.
Of course it also came at the expense of about forty extra pounds but to be honest he really hadn't thought all that much about it. With the bedrest and the new and exciting food and his body wanting a certain shape naturally, it had just sort of happened. And without killing himself in the Kwoon and piloting a a Jaeger to keep him fit it was difficult to maintain. But he's young. He figures it'll shift soon enough. And as disappointed as he is in himself he guesses at least he's not disappointing anyone else. Not anymore than usual, anyway.
Which brings him back into the moment, Jaz's death grip around his middle actually a little tight for his living. He's squishy now please don't. Please please don't.]
Besides, Mako an' the Marshal an' my old man ganged up on me. I didn't have a choice. But I brought Max so you have to deal with that.
[And at hearing his name Max barked from inside the car, sticking his slobbery mouth through the hole between the driver's headrest and the door.]
[The Victory Tour had been dizzying, and while Jaz is one of those people who flourish under a ton of attention, she has to admit she's more than a little glad that she was able to escape. She missed Alaska. She missed the cold air and the way it would bite every time you breathed in, she missed the hard, frozen ground, she missed the pine trees and the wildlife and the shockingly beautiful display of the Aurora every night.
She's also missed human companionship, but now that she's bullied Chuck into coming to stay for a little while, she's going to get it in spades.]
They're very good at that, aren't they? [She pulls back a little to grin at him, not mentioning his soft middle at all. Instead, she reaches up to touch the gingery beard covering his cheeks, one sandy eyebrow raising up her face.] I'm liking the wildman look, Hansen. Very fetching.
[Max's barking is getting insistent now, and so Jaz peels herself away Chuck properly so she can ho greet his portly pooch, opening the back door and making the appropriate cooing noises as Max hauls his bulk out to cavort around her ankles and slobber up her jeans.] Well, someone's happy to see me, aren'tcha buddy? Max gets a kiss to his wrinkly head, and then Jaz stands again.]
C'mon, you must be starving. I've got a stew in the crockpot, let's go in and get warm and you can tell me all about what I've missed. Oh, pop your truck, I'll get your bags.
[Chuck just nods and absently touches the beard he's been growing. He hadn't meant to but, again, lazy. And turns out it hides the fact his face has filled out a little so he elected to keep it for a while.]
Sounds like a plan to me.
[He pops the trunk but Waves Jaz off. He's only got the one big military pack and he hefts it onto his shoulder with a little grunt before closing the trunk again and locking the doors.]
I figured sure, Alaska.. should probably try to fit in. Glad you like it.
[She grins at him over her shoulder as she leads the way into the house, conceding defeat about his bag very easily.] All I have to do is get you a beanie and a nice flannel shirt and you'll be able to pass for a local. If you don't open your mouth, that is. [Alaskans sound like Canadians, not like Australians. Chuck will stick out like a sore thumb the moment he says anything to anyone.
She kicks off her boots before going inside, not wanting to track the scant amount of snow she's collected on her boots inside, and then heads off towards the kitchen.]
Just dump your bag in the hall, yeah, I haven't made up your room yet. [Her room, really; a house as small as this one doesn't have a guest room. And since she wasn't sure if he was coming or not, she hasn't washed the sheets. That's something easily fixed, though.] You want a beer? I have a sixpack in the fridge. Or there's wine, water, I think I have Coke. Coffee?
Chuck it all together and I'll drink the lot, yeah? [He tosses back with a grin, whistling for Max and putting his bag where instructed. Even after all this time he's still exceptional at following orders.]
And what are you kidding? [He asks, moving towards the kitchen because that beer does sound good. He's been traveling for ages and he's tired and smells like rental car.] I have an awesome American accent.Like totally, dude.
That's disgusting. No way. [Even the thought of wine and coke and beer all mixed together is enough to make her nose curl. What are you, some kind of animal?
She grabs a bottle for him and one for herself, popping the tops off before handing it over with a little huffed laugh through her nose. Grabbing one of her big pots, she hauls it over to the sink and starts to fill it.] Sit down, take a load off.
[She definitely wants to laugh at his atrocious accent, but all she does instead is slowly turn her head and arch both her eyebrows at him, an incredulous look on her face.] Oh wow. So convincing. I definitely stand corected.
It's okay. Many people make that mistake and are humbly reminded of my amazing greatness [He says, pulling out the wooden kitchen chair and flomping down in it. So grateful to be out of his car.]
[Chuck stretches out his legs and arches his back before going half rag doll in the chair. Noodle or not. He is a noodle. A big ol' chuck noodle.]
Been drivin' for a week, mate. Flew into Texas and crawled around for a bit before hiking it up here. Figured if I was gonna come I'd make it a road trip.
You drove a week to get here? [She sounds torn between incredulity and pleasure, like she can't imagine someone making that much of an effort to see her. Still, she's certainly pleased he did. Picking up her beer, she comes over and joins him at her tiny little kitchen table, deciding to hang out with him for a bit until the water for the pasta's boiling.]
Hell yeah I did. Left in a right hurry, too. Max started chasin' the kid near the edge and then her mom got mad.. it was awkward. Woulda been easier to push'em all over the end. Pack of cunts."
I see you're still as charming as ever. [She's smiling, though, sounding fond despite herself. Chuck is a grumpy asshole, sure, but she's known him for years and he's her friend. That counts for a lot, in a world where she has a hard time truly connecting with people — how can you relate to someone who can't even hope to understand your life experiences?]
I try. S'why I get all the big interviews. [He jabbed himself in the chest with his thumb. This was exactly the reason why he did not take the lead in interviews. And when he did he was very careful about what he said and how he said it. If not for any other reason than his father's already questionable sanity.
Still, he takes a long sip of beer and reclines a little bit more before pitching forward to rest his forearms on the table.]
So Jazzy Becket. Livin' in the woods like a serial killer. That's not what this is, is it. You're not gonna kill me and wear me like a people suit.
[Poor Herc, having to deal with Chuck all the time. Lord knows he doesn't make it easy for any of them, least of all his father.
She makes an "oops, caught me!" face and lifts her shoulders in a very innocent shrug.] You've discovered my cunning plan. I should have known better; you're just too smart for me, Hansen.
[Jaz shrugs again, this time glancing around her, at the small, homey kitchen they're sitting in and the countryside outside her window.] I kind of like the solitude, [she admits after a minute.] We've spent so long on the go, y'know? On call every damn second of the day, always surrounded by PPDC staff, always ready to go at the drop of a hat.
Out here, there's nobody telling me what to do. I can wake up at dawn if I want, I can sleep in 'till noon. I can spend all day watching TV or I can try to plant a garden. I get to decide everything. And I don't have to be "on" if I don't want to.
[She glances back at him and smiles a small, conspiratorial smile.] I won't be here forever, but for right now? I like being in the middle of nowhere.
Well, you can always find out... [Jaz had definitely not counted on having a roommate when she bought this place, but it would be nice to have some company for a change. Company that didn't disappear after only a few days.
Her smile broadens and she chucks another noodle at him before standing to dump the rest of the package in the pot.] I don't think I can be considered a hermit if I have guests.
I might take you up on that. And you are a hermit, embrace it. A pro though is that no one recognizes me out here. That's pretty ace. That bein' said we've been out of the media for a while, ay.
I don't think less than a year really counts as "a while," even after all is said and done.
[She empties the packet of pasta into the water and sets a timer, then goes about finding them both plates and futzing with the crock pot.] Well, nobody's going to recognize you with that beaver on your face, that's for sure.
That's one of the other reasons I wanted to come back to Alaska. Most people don't want to make a big fuss over me. It's kind of refreshing, to be honest.
[She smirks at him.] I don't have the luxury of a full beard, though.
I think I'll leave the lumberjack beard to you, mm?
[Grabbing the colander off its hook on the wall and placing it in the sink, Jaz takes the pasta off the stove and dumps it all into the colander so it can drain. Narrowly avoiding scalding off the skin on her face from the steam, she reaches for a bowl and spoons first some noodles and then some stew into it.]
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timeasmymeasure
it's too cold for you here
Date: 2014-11-21 07:48 pm (UTC)(Which isn't to say nobody was injured; no, that's definitely not something anyone could claim. But they all walked away with all their limbs, and the prognosis was good for everyone's recovery, and that's really all you can ask for.)
Jaz had kicked around Hong Kong for a few months, spending time with Mako and bugging the PPDC staff who were still around, but after a while, she grew bored and decided she needed to go somewhere else. Being almost painfully predictable, she went home to Alaska, bought herself a little house in the countryside, and prepared to hole up for the winter. It really is a little house, two above two, basically, but she doesn't need it to be much bigger. It has a quaint little porch and a covered parking space that she mostly uses to store wood, and it gets cable TV and internet, and what more could a girl ask for? Technically, it also has central heating, but Jaz has always loved the warmth of a fireplace, and so she doesn't have her heating cranked up very high, compensating with a nice cozy fire every night. (And an electric blanket for her bed; there's nothing worse than climbing into an ice-cold bed at night.)
Her house backs onto a patch of forest, and once a week, Jaz goes foraging for wood, dragging fallen logs and the like home so she can chop them into useable pieces. It's what she's doing today, dressed in jeans and her snow boots, a wonderfully stereotypical flannel shirt draped over her shoulders, her hair tied back haphazardly, and a smudge of dirt on her cheek. The blisters on her palms have long shifted to hard calluses, and while she's always been muscular — you can't be waifish and pilot a Jaeger — there's new muscle cording her shoulders, muscle acquired from the hard labor associated with living out in the wilderness.
She's worked up a healthy sweat by the time she sees the glint of a windshield winding its way up the narrow country road that leads to her house. It's rare for her to get visitors, and so she finds herself slowing, thwacking her axe into the stump she uses as a chopping block when the car pulls into what amounts as her driveway. When the door opens and the driver starts to get out, however, she moves from her position, almost tripping over herself as she goes careening down her driveway.]
Chuck! [She throws herself at her visitor, flinging her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. Chuck has never been much of a hugger, but Jaz definitely is, and while she enjoys living out here all alone, she's definitely missed some human company.] You came!
Tell me about it. My nuts are freezing.
Date: 2014-11-21 08:37 pm (UTC)Well it was either come or listen to you nag at me for another six months.
[And we know how Chuck feels about nagging. Well. He'd say he hates it? But the fact that someone cares enough about seeing him to constantly bother him about it is actually really nice. Not that he'd ever admit it. Not that he will ever admit it.
He'd never expected to live past Pitfall. He had an expiry date. Just like all Jaeger pilots. The idea was to get in, kill a bunch of mother fucking kaiju and then go out in a blaze of glory.
He'd never expected to finish the job.
He'd never expected Pentecost to eject them at the last moment.
But he did and they had and that was that. And then came the long recovery and the poking and prodding and press. The Victory Tour and endless, endless interviews. It was alright, though. He was alive. And the world was safe and that... well that was pretty much the best case scenario so he should feel lucky.
It had taken a long time to wrap his head around it but after he finally managed to he'd just said fuck it! Maybe I get to live my life after all. And that wasn't something he'd even gotten to think about before. There hadn't been a reason to think about a career beyond the PPDC. To think about school or travel or experiencing life. Maybe even finding someone to share that with. He didn't think about any of that and then all of a sudden he wanted it all. And he got it. He traveled and wandered and actually did stuff..and that.. well it's an entirely different life. And as much as he had liked his life before he had to admit this one was a hell of a lot better.
Of course it also came at the expense of about forty extra pounds but to be honest he really hadn't thought all that much about it. With the bedrest and the new and exciting food and his body wanting a certain shape naturally, it had just sort of happened. And without killing himself in the Kwoon and piloting a a Jaeger to keep him fit it was difficult to maintain. But he's young. He figures it'll shift soon enough. And as disappointed as he is in himself he guesses at least he's not disappointing anyone else. Not anymore than usual, anyway.
Which brings him back into the moment, Jaz's death grip around his middle actually a little tight for his living. He's squishy now please don't. Please please don't.]
Besides, Mako an' the Marshal an' my old man ganged up on me. I didn't have a choice. But I brought Max so you have to deal with that.
[And at hearing his name Max barked from inside the car, sticking his slobbery mouth through the hole between the driver's headrest and the door.]
suck it up! put on some flannel!!
Date: 2014-11-21 08:51 pm (UTC)She's also missed human companionship, but now that she's bullied Chuck into coming to stay for a little while, she's going to get it in spades.]
They're very good at that, aren't they? [She pulls back a little to grin at him, not mentioning his soft middle at all. Instead, she reaches up to touch the gingery beard covering his cheeks, one sandy eyebrow raising up her face.] I'm liking the wildman look, Hansen. Very fetching.
[Max's barking is getting insistent now, and so Jaz peels herself away Chuck properly so she can ho greet his portly pooch, opening the back door and making the appropriate cooing noises as Max hauls his bulk out to cavort around her ankles and slobber up her jeans.] Well, someone's happy to see me, aren'tcha buddy? Max gets a kiss to his wrinkly head, and then Jaz stands again.]
C'mon, you must be starving. I've got a stew in the crockpot, let's go in and get warm and you can tell me all about what I've missed. Oh, pop your truck, I'll get your bags.
waah
Date: 2014-11-21 09:23 pm (UTC)Sounds like a plan to me.
[He pops the trunk but Waves Jaz off. He's only got the one big military pack and he hefts it onto his shoulder with a little grunt before closing the trunk again and locking the doors.]
I figured sure, Alaska.. should probably try to fit in. Glad you like it.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 09:33 pm (UTC)She kicks off her boots before going inside, not wanting to track the scant amount of snow she's collected on her boots inside, and then heads off towards the kitchen.]
Just dump your bag in the hall, yeah, I haven't made up your room yet. [Her room, really; a house as small as this one doesn't have a guest room. And since she wasn't sure if he was coming or not, she hasn't washed the sheets. That's something easily fixed, though.] You want a beer? I have a sixpack in the fridge. Or there's wine, water, I think I have Coke. Coffee?
no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 09:55 pm (UTC)And what are you kidding? [He asks, moving towards the kitchen because that beer does sound good. He's been traveling for ages and he's tired and smells like rental car.] I have an awesome American accent.Like totally, dude.
[It was not an awesome American accent.]
no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 10:13 pm (UTC)She grabs a bottle for him and one for herself, popping the tops off before handing it over with a little huffed laugh through her nose. Grabbing one of her big pots, she hauls it over to the sink and starts to fill it.] Sit down, take a load off.
[She definitely wants to laugh at his atrocious accent, but all she does instead is slowly turn her head and arch both her eyebrows at him, an incredulous look on her face.] Oh wow. So convincing. I definitely stand corected.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 10:31 pm (UTC)Nggh. A real chair. Thank fuck.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 10:50 pm (UTC)His little moan has her glancing back over, a little concerned despite herself.] Cooped up for too long, eh? We can go for a walk after dinner.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 10:58 pm (UTC)Been drivin' for a week, mate. Flew into Texas and crawled around for a bit before hiking it up here. Figured if I was gonna come I'd make it a road trip.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 11:05 pm (UTC)Did you see the Grand Canyon?
no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 11:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 11:49 pm (UTC)Still, he takes a long sip of beer and reclines a little bit more before pitching forward to rest his forearms on the table.]
So Jazzy Becket. Livin' in the woods like a serial killer. That's not what this is, is it. You're not gonna kill me and wear me like a people suit.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 11:57 pm (UTC)She makes an "oops, caught me!" face and lifts her shoulders in a very innocent shrug.] You've discovered my cunning plan. I should have known better; you're just too smart for me, Hansen.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 12:09 am (UTC)Seriously, though. This is like.. actually the middle of nowhere.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 12:21 am (UTC)Out here, there's nobody telling me what to do. I can wake up at dawn if I want, I can sleep in 'till noon. I can spend all day watching TV or I can try to plant a garden. I get to decide everything. And I don't have to be "on" if I don't want to.
[She glances back at him and smiles a small, conspiratorial smile.] I won't be here forever, but for right now? I like being in the middle of nowhere.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 12:26 am (UTC)I. Yeah, mate. I see the logic. Can't blame you, really.
[He absently itches just behind his right ear, then along one side of his jaw and beard.]
Spent my whole life being told what to do. Suddenly havin' that choice.. I'm not sure what I'd do with myself.
But it's nice, all this. Suits you. Little hermit, you are.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 12:36 am (UTC)Her smile broadens and she chucks another noodle at him before standing to dump the rest of the package in the pot.] I don't think I can be considered a hermit if I have guests.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 01:50 am (UTC)[And he's changed a bit. Okay maybe a lot.]
no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 02:16 am (UTC)[She empties the packet of pasta into the water and sets a timer, then goes about finding them both plates and futzing with the crock pot.] Well, nobody's going to recognize you with that beaver on your face, that's for sure.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 02:20 am (UTC)[Until they do and then pictures start happening and it's awkward and he flees. But he digresses.]
no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 02:43 am (UTC)[She smirks at him.] I don't have the luxury of a full beard, though.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 03:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 03:20 am (UTC)[Grabbing the colander off its hook on the wall and placing it in the sink, Jaz takes the pasta off the stove and dumps it all into the colander so it can drain. Narrowly avoiding scalding off the skin on her face from the steam, she reaches for a bowl and spoons first some noodles and then some stew into it.]
It's venison, hope you like it.