[ TEXT ] SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. TO THE WORLD

[goddamngrenades]

Quick Check in for Members of Project Freelancer, the UNSC, and our mutual associates- or anyone that wants to get word out about themselves having changed or not changed or...whatever. Has questions? This is Agent York and Delta, so far we're unaffected by this time ripple thing. Connie, North, Wash, Grif, Chief, Theta, Cortana, Locus, Azucar, Parker, Pidge, Fareeha, Amélie - and anyone else I'm forgetting, shoot me a text back, alright?

I'll deliver pancakes and blankets or other care package items if needed. If you'd rather come talk in person swing by my habitat, I'll be hanging in the bar. Directions are below. Also, Jason- buddy? Swing by, I feel like I owe you a beer.

[ In neat green lines there's a little holographic map showing how to get to York's dive bar from the recipient's current location, wherever they might be. ]

Specific refreshments are available upon request.

Comments

[goddamngrenades]

Well...this ain't our universe for one. We win the war, shit goes down...a lot of shit goes down.

[ Shit he's not gonna go over with teenie North. Putting the dish together is- well he has Delta look up the recipe as his hands work, slow and careful. ]

We kinda got pulled into another dimension where we became superheros. Hence the powers and stuff.

[nofortunateson]

I guess it beats getting jacked up with some kind of super-science.

[He looks over Taylor's shoulder at what he's doing, curious.]

Anything I can do to help?

[goddamngrenades]

That still kinda happens. It's a long, weird story.

[ One that's sad and bittersweet, really. ]

Uh, sure. You can cube the beef?

[nofortunateson]

[Gabriel gives him an uncertain look, but goes for the knife block anyway, opting for a long chef's knife and setting it down next to the sink as he goes to wash his hands.]

Sure. How big?

[goddamngrenades]

Bout an inch on each side.

[ He measures out the rest of what he needs, gets a skillet going. ]

Doesn't have to be perfect, either. This is home cook'n, it's never perfect.

[nofortunateson]

What are you making?

[He sets to cubing the beef as directed, methodical if not the most efficient in his technique. He doesn't have a ton of experience making anything involved enough to require raw meat anywhere in the preparation.]

[goddamngrenades]

My notes say 'gingerbread beef' but I think it's...Saurbraten?

[ He mangles the pronunciation but that's nothing new. German's not his language of choice. ]

[nofortunateson]

Sauerbraten?

[He looks down at the beef he's been chopping, then carefully leans over and gives it a sniff, placing familiar flavors in the sharp, vinegar tang of the marinade now that he's looking for it.]

Geez. You have to marinade this for days, right?

[goddamngrenades]

Yep. [ It was his turn in the 'feed the bros comfort food' dance; North had managed some kinda chili approximation not long ago and this was York's return serve. ] I think I got it right.

Key word being think.

[nofortunateson]

You do know it takes forever to cook.

[Okay, so. Two hours and change from start to finish. That seems like forever when you spend most of that smelling it roasting and bubbling in gravy in the oven.]

[goddamngrenades]

Mhmm. I'm sure we'll think of something to keep you occupied in the meantime. We've got video games and movies and shit.

[ Or more flying shenanigans. Just. Hanging with his bro that's a third of his proper age. ]

[nofortunateson]

[Well okay then. Maybe he doesn't have awful tastes in friends. Gabe gives a lift of his eyebrows, smirking.]

What would we be doing if I was the older version?

[goddamngrenades]

Honestly? More of the same. We're chill bros when I remind you to dial it back and we don't have to train all the goddamn time.

[ It's a work in progress. ]

[nofortunateson]

I never thought about the training part of being a superhero. It's not a lot?

[goddamngrenades]

It is and it isn't. You go at it like we're still in the Project and you're scored by how well you do with bullshit arbitrary standards.

[nofortunateson]

Yikes. Gonna have to play a lot of video games just to break even.

[goddamngrenades]

Yeah, shit, that's gonna suck now, innit?