[ 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. ]
[Mako just nods. She understands that instinct to work yourself to exhaustion. It's something she's struggling with now, largely because there's nothing to work on. It gives her far too much time to think about Sensei and the others. She's not sure if leaving Hong Kong will help that or make it worse.]
I used to find things that were broken and try to repair them, or come here and help with maintenance.
[Even if that wasn't her job. The crews got used to it quickly enough.]
[And she does know. Whenever anyone else says that, she just agrees, maybe even bounces ideas back and forth with them, but with Raleigh, she defaults to something more honest.]
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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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I used to find things that were broken and try to repair them, or come here and help with maintenance.
[Even if that wasn't her job. The crews got used to it quickly enough.]
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Gotta keep busy. I know that feeling.
You won't find anything quite like a Jaeger to engineer, but I bet work will still be easy to come by. Just pick a field.
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[And she does know. Whenever anyone else says that, she just agrees, maybe even bounces ideas back and forth with them, but with Raleigh, she defaults to something more honest.]
Nothing will be the same as Gipsy.
[Gipsy kind of turned into her baby.]