for derpmcnerd

[driftsolo]

this is a catch all!

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The class has arrived. Ahem.

[zealed]

The news that they'd gotten their hands on another jaeger rushed through the shatterdome like wildfire. It would need quite a lot of repairwork done, but that didn't matter half as much as the fact that repairwork could be done. She was salvageable.

The other bit of news that traveled along with that triumphant message was of a decidedly more gossipy nature.

There was a new pilot candidate in the shatterdome, and he was very much of the opinion that he should be the one inside the new jaeger's conn pod. Word was that he was making no friends in his quest to make that happen.

They said that he was among the best that had ever been trained, with only one problem...

He was an absolute pain in the ass to Drift with. When the jaeger program was officially closed down, he'd still never been allowed to actually see combat in one of the great machines because finding a co-pilot had been so hard.

Word was he would have been let go even if the program hadn't been closed, but now he was back, apparently determined to get what he considered to be his due.

[rosenbridges]

Jane had heard about the new pilot and jaeger before most people did. As one of the top scientists (and engineers - she'd designed quite a few of the old jaegers internal wiring systems), she was privy to a lot more information than her friend Filly.

That included a salvaged Jaeger and a new 'pilot'. So of course, she told Filly everything.

After she directed the crew on where to put the Jaeger, she was just unfortunate enough to be seen standing there, in her lab coat, by Stacker Pentecost. Mako was busy, and Jane was going to go have to deal with the new pilot.

I'm a scientist, not a babysitter! She'd argued, but few argued with Stacker and won. Soon enough, she found herself stomping to 'greet' him, clipboard still in her hand. His back is to her, and she's grumbling, just a little.

"Okay, so -- I don't really have time for this, so let's make this quick, okay? I've got a jaeger to get into tip top condition by tomorrow, and about a million other things I need to do."

[zealed]

When he turns around, it's with a look of haughty arrogance that has been perfected over years of using it on absolutely everyone.

"Then I suggest you get to them and get my Lady operational."

Yep, he's talking about the jaeger. As far as he's concerned, she's already his.

[rosenbridges]

"She's actually not assigned yet." Yes, he's cute. Yes, he's everything she and Filly had discussed. Just...

Darker. More egotistical.

Sexier.

Ahem.

"I'm actually going to be assisting in getting her assigned, so." Jane clicks her pen. "What's your name?"

[zealed]

"Zelos Demetriou."

He steps in close, consciously towering over her with the intention to intimidate. His voice is dark, and he speaks with quiet authority.

"And that is the only name you need to put on that list. She's mine."

Tryouts, because I'm great at action writing

[derpmcnerd]

Her palms are sweaty, she feels as if she is about to throw up any second and she is surrounded by leanly fit people who all look like they could snap her in half.

Not to mention the itty bitty detail that last time she saw the person she's sort of here to see... she embarrassed herself completely and he has probably changed his mind about wanting her here.

Oh and of course there's the fact that whatever his opinions are on the subject she isn't actually supposed to be standing in this group of people, and she is likely to get in trouble for it.

Just another fantastic day in the life of Filly.

I don't even have a staff... sword... thing..

When this is over, she is going to pull Raleigh into a corner and strangle him for making her think this was a good idea.

[driftsolo]

Raleigh's there, of course, and he's bouncing on the balls of his feet as he absently twirls his staff in his hands. Mako and Stacker stand towards the back of the room, Mako's face expressionless but still somehow giving off an air of frustration and irritation. Stacker looks like he always looks; tall, brooding, almost regal.

Raleigh isn't paying attention to either one of them. He's too focused, to ready, to hyped up to do anything other than get this over with.

He moves through the first few rounds of 'contestants' easily enough. He's skilled, he's strong, and he's ready.

[derpmcnerd]

Filly knows her name won't be called, because she knows that she's not on the list, so she just stands back and lets the candidates out on the mat. For every fight she becomes more certain that she has no business being there. It's a pleasure to watch Raleigh though, even in spite of the fact that the fewer candidates are left standing around her the more she fears the moment he'll catch sight of her.

[driftsolo]

He shoots every candidate down despite the fact that the numbers in the room are dwindling. Mako Mori looks increasingly annoyed, as does Stacker.

But Raleigh can't help it. It's not working. They aren't Drift compatible -- not with him.

Then -- and it's Filly's bad luck, really -- Raleigh catches her eye. He grins, self-assured as always, and downs the opponent he was fighting, backing up and holding his hands up, staff in one of his fists.

"This isn't working, Stacker. Let's try something different."

[derpmcnerd]

Oh no. Nonono. Raleigh please don't do this...

But why shouldn't he? It's what she came for, isn't it? He asked her to come to the tryouts and here she is.

She really wishes that she could be somewhere else, even if that grin Raleigh sent her way made her feel a little warm inside.

Men are pigs. Or maybe that's just Zelos.

[derpmcnerd]

Work is harder for Filly now since she crashed the tryouts. She isn't invisible anymore, and all those curious stares makes her self-conscious and clumsy.

She's feeling guilty too because it feels as if she's messed things up for Raleigh. It probably hasn't gotten easier for him to find someone to drift with when he knows that there is someone in the 'dome that he's compatible with and they won't let her in the conn-pod.

After a long day that felt like it would never end she's finally back in her room, curled up with a book and snacking on a bag of cashews.

bit of both

[rosenbridges]

Filly might be relaxing, but Jane is in a snit.

She bursts into Filly's room without knocking and slams the door shut behind her so loudly that the place rattles.

"I'm going to murder him."

The way Jane says it, Filly should probably be worried that the woman is serious.

but mostly Zelos

[derpmcnerd]

Cashew's fly everywhere as a startled Filly jumps in fright at Jane's dramatic entrance.

"Jane, what the fuck?"

Filly doesn't usually swear much but damn, girl, you scared her. What's going on, and will she actually have to prevent her friend from committing a very serious crime?

...yeah

[rosenbridges]

Jane's hands are in her hair, gripping at the brown strands that have now fallen out of a ponytail. She's without her labcoat, and is dressed in the dark BDU pants and tank and missing her jacket.

She's also not wearing shoes.

"That asshole! Oh my God I fucking hate him!"

[derpmcnerd]

"All right, back the truck up, who are we hating?"

Because if someone's upset her best friend Filly will be more than happy to hop on the hate train.

Jane and Zelos' excellent adventure, also known as the first Drift, or Armageddon

[zealed]

Zelos isn't sure what on earth had made him decide that he had to get Jane to Drift with him. Perhaps it had just been that sense you develop after a while, that little voice in the back of your head that says this one when you meet someone you're compatible with.

But no, it was more than that, and in some ways it was less. Zelos is almost physically incapable of resisting a challenge, and there was no one in this 'Dome quite as challenging for him personally as Jane.

Well, maybe Chuck, but you can't Drift with someone you hate and Zelos has already concluded that yes, he does indeed hate that man.

He doesn't hate Jane. Sure, she'd punched him and then tasered him but that's nothing he wouldn't have done himself. She's not arrogant enough to make an actual enemy of him, but still driven enough to be interesting.

Still, Jane isn't the only one having second thoughts about this, even though it doesn't show as he's waiting for her. He'll never admit that he might be in over his head but...

It's possible that he's in over his head here.

[rosenbridges]

It’s been a long time since Jane was able to say that she actually hated someone. Zelos is dangerously toeing that line with everything he does; ever since he set foot in the ‘dome, Jane’s been on the edge with the man, bordering between intense dislike and hate.

It’s closer to hate this morning as she comes in, suited up, helmet gripped in her hand and her hair freshly cut and tucked behind her ears.

Yeah, thanks, Zelos – she’d had to cut her hair because you can’t twist anything up in those helmets and you damn sure can’t hand hair down your back, blocking the sensors.

“Oh good, you’re already here. Lets get this over with.”

[zealed]

Zelos cuts a pretty imposing figure in his own gear, and the way Jane is glaring at him quickly quells all his doubts because she looks like fun.

"Ladies first."

He gestures for her to take the lead with an impetuous smirk.

[rosenbridges]

She shoots him a glare and pushes her way past him and into the conn-pod, automatically heading to the left side.

"Take right. I'm used to being on the left."

[zealed]

"All right."

He does as told, because Zelos' relationship to following orders is somewhat complicated. He is an odd man in many ways, though he doesn't quite realise it himself.

[derpmcnerd]

Filly is a little early, which probably wasn't the best decision considering the fact that she can't actually get inside the conn-pod without Chuck so she's left just sort of... standing awkwardly outside it, hoping that no one who isn't Chuck will pass by and wander what the hell she's doing there. She could probably think up some reason or other, but she'd really rather not.

[suicidemission]

Chuck doesn't know what the fuck he's doing here. He doesn't indulge in this kind of shit - ever - because he's always got more important things to do. It isn't because he devalues human life or social interactions, it's simply because he was born to pilot and anyone that holds him back or detracts from that is automatically dismissed as inferior or a distraction.

Filly is a distraction. She's dangerous, because he needs to always be able to focus on what he's doing.

Can't hurt to just...talk to her though, right? Besides, it's been a while since he's just...sat with Striker anyway, and after she leaves, he can take a minute to talk to him and just...fucking vent about everything.

He's on time, but she's already there.

"One of the tech crew, aren't you." It's not a question. There's no other way she could've gotten up here.

[derpmcnerd]

And there he is.

Filly's mouth immediately goes dry as her hopes that maybe she could handle this as a socially competent person since they have already spent hours 'talking' are brutally crushed.

"Yep."

She tries for a smile, and while it is small and a bit timid it's at least genuine.

"Don't tell me, you're a pilot, right? You just have that sort of look about you."

Damn that was a terrible joke, and it even makes Filly wince a little.

By now Chuck has probably figured out where she's from too, since there is nothing subtle about her kiwi accent.

[suicidemission]

Where Raleigh has lost most of his original cocky swagger, Chuck makes up for it tenfold. There's arrogance in his every step, in his every move; from the way that he holds himself to the way his cap is angled on his head, he oozes confidence and surety.

When he stops and slips his hands in his pockets, he sort of relaxes on hie heels, head tilted back a little so that he can look at her from under the brim of his cap.

Her joke makes his eyebrows inch up his forehead, and he actually snorts a laugh.

"Clever, aren't you?" He smirks at her, then eases his way past, swiping his ID card to grant them access to Striker's pod.

The doors slide open and he goes in first, then waits by the swipe pad on the other side for her to come in so that he can lock it back from the inside.

[derpmcnerd]

Everything about him is more or less the direct opposite of Filly. She doesn't seem confident at all, her posture more or less indicating that she's trying to make herself as unnoticeable as possible. No swagger here, no sir.

"I try to be."

Her movements aren't exactly clumsy, they're just not very graceful either. They get the job done and they leave it at that, so to speak.

She enters the conn-pod with a sense of trepidation, since once the door closes she will be locked inside a small space with just the kind of guy that inevitably makes her act like an idiot.

Why did she say yes to coming here again?