[ 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.
[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.]
[ 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... ]
[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.]
[ 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.
[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.]
[ 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. ]
[ 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.
[ 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. ]
[He's probably right, but for once, Mako thinks she might be okay with not having a concrete plan. They're a bit aimless, but maybe that's okay for right now.]
[ 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.
[ They pick up a lot from drifting, but the fact is they really haven't known each other very long and only did it a few times. Raleigh wants to learn more about Mako, too, and they'll have the time for that now. To really get to know each other. ]
Fluently? English, French, Japanese, Hungarian, and German. And little bits I picked up visiting other places... like my Spanish is passable but it varies so much by region I'd want to pick up a book before going anywhere specific.
Kind of. Mom taught me French and we lived in Budapest, Munich, Tokyo, Spain, Lima... you learn a ton in full immersion and then I got the rosetta stones to keep it up.
[Of course he would want to keep his mind occupied. She knows that's why he spent so much time working on the wall, too—little details picked up in the drift.]
[ Raleigh actually takes a moment to consider that. Things have been so busy since he came back to the PPDC, even after the mission's success. It's still been a flurry of debriefings and parties and interviews that are only just now starting to die down. He's different, having drifted again. The space where his brother always was doesn't feel quite as empty. Part of Mako is there now, he can still feel her, but the fact is... they're not going to do it anymore. So the silence that's haunted him the past five years might still be an issue, when life is quiet again too. ]
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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.
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That sounds... nice.
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--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.
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...Would that be okay?
[So much for playing it cool. Mako sounds almost painfully hopeful.]
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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. ]
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I'd like to stay with you.
[That's the only thing that feels certain right now.]
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She brushes their fingers together and Raleigh turns his hand over for her, an invitation to hold on properly. ]
Paris or Marseille?
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Where was your mother from?
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A little town called Saint Sauveur. It's outside Bordeaux.
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Would you like to go there?
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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. ]
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We can start there, then.
[But wait.]
I don't know any French.
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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.
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[Fix his accent, is what she means.]
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You're a little out of practice.
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Okay. Fix my accent, then, I can do better.
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[Really, he's not. She was impressed with his fluency.]
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[ He's not actually offended, which is probably made more obvious as he squeezes her hand again affectionately. ]
Languages are sort of a hobby for me.
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What other languages do you speak?
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Fluently? English, French, Japanese, Hungarian, and German. And little bits I picked up visiting other places... like my Spanish is passable but it varies so much by region I'd want to pick up a book before going anywhere specific.
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How did you learn that many? Did you teach yourself?
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It helps to keep my mind occupied.
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Do you still need to keep your mind occupied?
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Honestly, I'm not sure. I guess we'll see?
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