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[ It's a little strange for Raleigh, to actually want the Drift. It had been a thing he was accustomed to back when he and Yancy were piloting, just a way of life, and then something he very nearly dreaded risking again after his brother's death. He hadn't been itching to get back in that pilot's seat or anything when he returned to the program a few weeks ago. But now, sitting with Mako knowing they'll likely never do it again, he's longing for the connection. To be able to just understand, without her having to force her feelings into inadequate words. He's been inside her head, and now he isn't. No echo can really let him know what she's thinking.
He nods at her words even though she's not looking at him anymore. It's different for him -- becoming a pilot had never really been his life's goal. He'd never achieved a dream, then had it be over. Despite it being good that it was over, it's also the age old question: What becomes of a soldier, after the war? There's nothing else in the world like piloting a Jaeger. Time for a new dream, he supposes. But what? ]
It paid off.
[ He'd known straight away she'd be an amazing pilot. Honestly, Mako seemed like the type to excel at anything she put her mind to, but part of it was also just innate. Raleigh himself hadn't been a natural like that -- Yancy was the better of them, though he did pick it up quickly enough. But Mako? 51 drops, 51 kills, and everyone knew that with a simulation record like that if it hadn't been for Pentecost she would've been stuffed into a real Jaeger years ago. It was an honor to have gotten to be her copilot. ]
He nods at her words even though she's not looking at him anymore. It's different for him -- becoming a pilot had never really been his life's goal. He'd never achieved a dream, then had it be over. Despite it being good that it was over, it's also the age old question: What becomes of a soldier, after the war? There's nothing else in the world like piloting a Jaeger. Time for a new dream, he supposes. But what? ]
It paid off.
[ He'd known straight away she'd be an amazing pilot. Honestly, Mako seemed like the type to excel at anything she put her mind to, but part of it was also just innate. Raleigh himself hadn't been a natural like that -- Yancy was the better of them, though he did pick it up quickly enough. But Mako? 51 drops, 51 kills, and everyone knew that with a simulation record like that if it hadn't been for Pentecost she would've been stuffed into a real Jaeger years ago. It was an honor to have gotten to be her copilot. ]
[It did pay off, more than she could have ever imagined, and her connection with Raleigh was more than she'd ever hoped for. She thinks that if she'd been partnered with anyone else, they wouldn't have been as successful. Drifting with Raleigh just felt right in a way she can't explain. It feels like he understands her, but looking out at the empty hangar is still overwhelming. Sharing this particular fear isn't something she thinks she could do with anyone else but him.]
But what do I do now?
But what do I do now?
[ There it is. Strange that she'd ask right after he had the thought, or maybe not strange at all. Either way, he doesn't have an answer for her. ]
I wish I knew. I don't have a plan, either.
[ They've likely got some time to figure it out. Saving the world affords a person a certain amount of leeway with rejoining society, and he doubts he'll have to work double shifts for ration cards again anytime soon. But that's sort of worse, having nothing in particular to do. ]
You can write your own ticket, though. The world always needs engineers.
I wish I knew. I don't have a plan, either.
[ They've likely got some time to figure it out. Saving the world affords a person a certain amount of leeway with rejoining society, and he doubts he'll have to work double shifts for ration cards again anytime soon. But that's sort of worse, having nothing in particular to do. ]
You can write your own ticket, though. The world always needs engineers.
[She knows that, logically. It won't be hard to find a job or start a new career, it just seems so... Surreal at the moment. The PPDC has been her life for so long, and where does that leave Raleigh? Where does that leave them?
For a moment, Mako stares down at the grating under her hands, tracing the diamond pattern as she considers what to say. She doesn't quite look at him.]
They want us to leave soon. Are you going back to Alaska?
For a moment, Mako stares down at the grating under her hands, tracing the diamond pattern as she considers what to say. She doesn't quite look at him.]
They want us to leave soon. Are you going back to Alaska?
Why would I? There's nothing there for me.
[ He has no attachment to Alaska as a place anymore. It had been where he was assigned, and then seemed an appropriate (if extremely morbid) choice for where to go to work on the wall. But Raleigh hadn't truly lived in Alaska since his childhood in Anchorage. That was a long time ago, and everyone in those memories are just ghosts one way or another. ]
Where do you want to go?
[ He has no attachment to Alaska as a place anymore. It had been where he was assigned, and then seemed an appropriate (if extremely morbid) choice for where to go to work on the wall. But Raleigh hadn't truly lived in Alaska since his childhood in Anchorage. That was a long time ago, and everyone in those memories are just ghosts one way or another. ]
Where do you want to go?
[Mako has a similar issue. Japan isn't really home anymore. Her extended family has never had any interest in her, and her parents are gone.]
I'm not sure. I've always gone where Sensei was stationed.
[Which meant, most recently, a long stint in Anchorage, from her time at the Academy there until moving to Hong Kong.]
I'm not sure. I've always gone where Sensei was stationed.
[Which meant, most recently, a long stint in Anchorage, from her time at the Academy there until moving to Hong Kong.]
[ Raleigh is quiet for a moment, just thinking. He's lived a lot of places, and visited many more, but nowhere ever really felt like home. Yancy had been his home, and then... there was nothing. Everything in him wants to just tag along with Mako, but just because they've drifted doesn't mean she wants him following her around forever. He shouldn't really put her in that position. ]
We don't have to settle right away. You can think about it, travel and see what fits. My uh... my mother was French but we never actually spent any time there. Maybe I'll try that out for awhile.
We don't have to settle right away. You can think about it, travel and see what fits. My uh... my mother was French but we never actually spent any time there. Maybe I'll try that out for awhile.
[He says "we" and her relief is palpable, at least until he mentions going to France, separating them again. It's not surprising. They've drifted, sure, but only a few times, and they haven't known each other much longer than a month. There's no reason for them to be attached at the hip, and she shouldn't have expected it. She wasn't, really, she tells herself, but she can't fight the rush of disappointment. Mako nods, fingers curling in the grating again.]
That sounds... nice.
That sounds... nice.
[ The way she says it sounds nice is hollow, like she doesn't really think so, and Raleigh feels something sink in his chest. Disappointment. Maybe her opinion matters more to him than he really understood? He'd be going on a whim and without a plan, after all. Or maybe--
--is it coming from Mako, not him? He wouldn't have predicted the ghost drift to be so distinct, after only a few times. Even if it is, he's not sure what it means. He's not actually in her head anymore. They're quiet for a moment, until Raleigh decides to take a deep breath and a risk. Just play it cool... ]
Do you like French food? You could come with me.
--is it coming from Mako, not him? He wouldn't have predicted the ghost drift to be so distinct, after only a few times. Even if it is, he's not sure what it means. He's not actually in her head anymore. They're quiet for a moment, until Raleigh decides to take a deep breath and a risk. Just play it cool... ]
Do you like French food? You could come with me.
[Oh. Mako peeks over at him, trying to read his expression. It's not like he would joke about something like that, but after being in his head, she's realizing communicating normally leaves so many gaps that she'd never noticed before. Besides, this feels important, almost fragile somehow. Going with him is exactly what she wants, she just doesn't know how to navigate it.]
...Would that be okay?
[So much for playing it cool. Mako sounds almost painfully hopeful.]
...Would that be okay?
[So much for playing it cool. Mako sounds almost painfully hopeful.]
[ Between the way she's looking at him and the eagerness in her voice, Raleigh's pretty sure his heart skips a beat. Staying together is what she wanted too, they were both just too uncertain to be the one to suggest it. His mouth curves into a tiny smile, and he nods at her. ]
Yeah. I'd like that. And it doesn't have to be forever.
[ Whoops. That came out wrong. ]
France, I mean.
[ Wait, maybe that's worse... ]
Or us. I-- you can always go if--
[ Someone please stop him. ]
Yeah. I'd like that. And it doesn't have to be forever.
[ Whoops. That came out wrong. ]
France, I mean.
[ Wait, maybe that's worse... ]
Or us. I-- you can always go if--
[ Someone please stop him. ]
[Mako smiles back, and it slowly turns into a little grin when he fumbles. She hesitates, then moves her hand closer, just enough to brush her pinky against his. Maybe both of them just aren't used to this. Raleigh has spent the last five years working on the wall, isolating himself, from what she understand of it. Before that, his drift partner was his brother—they were always going to be important to one another, co-pilots or not. She's utterly out of her depth, but maybe he isn't that far behind.]
I'd like to stay with you.
[That's the only thing that feels certain right now.]
I'd like to stay with you.
[That's the only thing that feels certain right now.]
[ Oh thank god, Raleigh thinks, letting out the tense breath he'd drawn when he fumbled and wasn't sure what part she'd choose to focus on. He's still reluctant to dump the full load of his codependent tendencies on her, especially not knowing what they are to each other at this point, but... they're something.
She brushes their fingers together and Raleigh turns his hand over for her, an invitation to hold on properly. ]
Paris or Marseille?
She brushes their fingers together and Raleigh turns his hand over for her, an invitation to hold on properly. ]
Paris or Marseille?
[ His fingers curl around hers, thumb stroking the back of her hand affectionately. It's been... a very long time since he held anyone's hand. He's not even sure he remembers how long. But it's really nice right now, with Mako. They could make a habit of it, he thinks. ]
A little town called Saint Sauveur. It's outside Bordeaux.
A little town called Saint Sauveur. It's outside Bordeaux.
[ It's contagious. As strange as it feels to be planning anything at all, he's also... happy. When was the last time he was happy? The joyous rush of relief and victory has been a thing recently, sure, but this is different. He almost wants to just attribute it to Mako as well, but it's more like she just reawakened his ability to be happy again. He'll have to relearn what it's like, along with how to think ahead in the first place. Living one moment to the next isn't gonna cut it if he wants to stay by her side. ]
I'd like to see it at least. Probably wouldn't find any work there, though, I'll have to stick to cities.
[ Unless he wants to actually go to school for something, all he knows is industrial construction. Not much call for that in a small town. ]
I'd like to see it at least. Probably wouldn't find any work there, though, I'll have to stick to cities.
[ Unless he wants to actually go to school for something, all he knows is industrial construction. Not much call for that in a small town. ]
[ Raleigh grins again at that, because it's a smaller problem than she might think. Immersion does wonders and she might recognize a little bit if she hears it, after drifting with him. ]
I can teach you. We hopped all over the world when I was a kid, you'd be surprised how fast you can pick things up.
I can teach you. We hopped all over the world when I was a kid, you'd be surprised how fast you can pick things up.
I'm actually pretty fluent, but I don't speak it all that mu-- [ oh, that's what she means, isn't it? ] -- hey. I'm not that bad.
[ Well he can't actually argue that. He squeezes back, ceding the point. ]
Okay. Fix my accent, then, I can do better.
Okay. Fix my accent, then, I can do better.
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