Trying to catch up on some sleep.

[dontchaserabbits]

Mako and Raleigh are theoretically in Moscow right now. Or is it Saint Petersburg. Raleigh doesn't even remember anymore.

What he does know is that the door to Milliways opened right after their thirty-seventh state dinner, and he was more than happy to grab his co-pilot and run away for a little bit.

He knew there were rooms upstairs, but tonight is the first time that Raleigh's taken advantage of one. Mako acquires two adjacent rooms for the both of them, and they quickly say their goodnights.

Raleigh's on his belly and snoring in less than ten minutes.

Comments

[co_pilot]

She shrugs both shoulders.

"I wanted to travel, originally, but we are already doing that now."

Beat.

"I think I would like to go somewhere quiet. A lake, or up in the mountains. Or a lake in the mountains."

Not the ocean. Not now that she knows how deep it truly goes.

[dontchaserabbits]

"Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe? I imagine now that they are tearing down the safe zone structures, it'll be pretty as hell again.

"We should go sometime."

[co_pilot]

"That is in the States, yes?"

She shakes her head.

"I have never seen it, aside from pictures. It looks lovely."

[dontchaserabbits]

"Maybe there'll even be a place where you can -- mmm. Rake sand? I don't..."

He remembers the flashes from the first Drift, but.

"...you looked happy while you were doing it."

[co_pilot]

She smiles at the memory.

"It is meant to hone concentration. To achieve perfect lines, to develop patterns - it is as much a mental effort as physical.

"Of course, when you are a child it is much harder."

[dontchaserabbits]

Raleigh looks a little bewildered.

"When I was a kid I wrestled people."

Different circumstances?

[co_pilot]

"Why am I not surprised?"

Of course, if Stacker had not interrupted them, things could have taken a different turn on the mats.

[dontchaserabbits]

Would have.

"I'm a pretty easy-to-read guy, Mako. You always made it seem that way, at the very least."

[co_pilot]

"And yet."

The predictable thing about her co-pilot rests in his unpredictability.

"You do still surprise, at times."

[dontchaserabbits]

"So do you."

[co_pilot]

She quietly eats a grape.

"How so?"

[dontchaserabbits]

"For all the surety you want to...project, you're..."

Taking a grape from Mako's plate, just because, "...kind of scrappy."

[co_pilot]

"Remind you of anyone?"

There is a reason their hemispheres link together so well.

[dontchaserabbits]

Launching the grape at Mako's head. "Duly noted."

[co_pilot]

She lifts a hand to shield herself from the projectile.

Raleigh may find a similar one launched in his direction seconds later.

[dontchaserabbits]

Which Raleigh catches in his mouth.

"Don't waste food, now."

[co_pilot]

Her eyes widen in surprise - and, yes, momentary admiration.

"Show-off."

[dontchaserabbits]

"You haven't known me long enough to be annoyed by it yet."

[co_pilot]

"Give it time."

She plucks another grape off her plate for herself.

[dontchaserabbits]

Not too much, he hopes.

"And what about you? What are your annoying habits?"

[co_pilot]

"Well - "

She pauses, to reflect.

"I know you do not like the faces I make when I could be - giving opinion instead."

[dontchaserabbits]

"I don't know if that's annoying so much as a poker tell."

[co_pilot]

"Then it is a good thing I have never played poker."

[dontchaserabbits]

Raleigh's eyes get wide.

"I'll fix that."

[co_pilot]

Mako chuckles.

"When will you find the time?"