D12:LM:Perimeter - Milk and Toast & Honey

[Richard Winter]

"Poor Turtle, but hey it worked out for us, huh?" he took another sip of coffee, "If he ever loses interest in me and is into someone else we should give him a push right away so he doesn't wait forever for love to fall into his lap."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"How did you and Yori come together? I mean I get that comics and stuff played into it but what was your lightbulb moment, when did you know?"

[Richard Winter]

"Well, I can't really put my finger on it.... She's grown on me little by little." He looked off into the distance for a bit and then looked back at Mei, "I think the moment it really clicked for me was when she got shot. Before that I was just going for it, seeing where the journey would take me, casual dating, you know?,... But after the shot," his gaze darkened briefly before he shook his head, "The thought of losing her was too scary for me and that's when I realized I loved her."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"You aren't still blaming yourself for that I hope, you're really good at blaming yourself for things that are out of your control."

[Richard Winter]

He smacked his lips and sucked in a sharp breath, "Well, uh, I'll try not to think too hard about it anymore, is that enough?"

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Whatever helps, though talk about it if you need to. You know I am always here and I am sure Yori would listen."

[Richard Winter]

"I don't know how I'll ever thank you for just being you," Richard said honestly to her, placing a hand on the hand on his shoulder.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Eh you'll think of something, name a kid after me some day or just promise you won't write a tell all book about me when I become an arena legend. Dear lord if you wrote a tell a book about me..." Mei shuddered at the thought. "Thank fuck you aren't like that, or at least I hope you would cut me in on the profit." She smirked.

[Richard Winter]

He laughed heartily, "Sexy Mei: The Hidden Curves, learn things about the famous arena fighter you've never heard before, for only 99C-Bill* you get the Digital Copy asap. *Data transfer cost exclusive"

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Oh god." She said covering her face in embarrassment. "What's the cover just a bed post covered in notched and laser burns?" She laughed. "If you ever did that I would just write a book about you, remember that."

[Richard Winter]

He was still laughing, "I think I'd be too bad as a writer, besides I wouldn't have any stories to tell if your boyfriend asked me about you again" he stuck out his tongue,

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Oh? Have you and John been gossiping about me? I guess that's fair, Yori had plenty of questions about you. Yet despite my answers she still slept with you." She laughed. "So do you have any secret manly wisdom for me regarding John? I'm not worried about losing him or anything but any tips would help."

[Richard Winter]

Richard raised an eyebrow, "Maybe she just has taste" he said in a falsely arrogant voice, he then laughed.
"As for John? Well, I hardly know him," he shrugged, "From what he told me, I think he had a terrible grandmother, from the way she treated him, and i guess that left a deep mark on him"

He looked a little into the distance, "I think that he probably needs a good talking to, time, care and patience. And a person who shows him that what happened was not okay" he looked again at Mei, "I can also be completely wrong, it's not like we talked extensively about our past. He told that more or less in passing and I found that quite worrying."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"He doesn't really like to talk about it but his grandma wasn't cruel just strict, growing up on a farm is a hard life. She is actually the best thing about his early life, losing her was the problem and it caused a downward spiral. He blames himself for way more than could possibly be he fault. I'm working on it, it isn't easy but he is worth it. Every once in a while he smiles and all I want is to help make that permanent.

I still can't believe that I found him Richard. How many times did I ramble about wanting to meet him, wanting to bang him and now I'm in a relationship with him? It's crazy and if it weren't for the dangers of combat I would think I was dreaming. He's perfect."

[Richard Winter]

"Ahh" he nodded, "So that's how it is. I didn't really want to probe there."

He took another sip of coffee "I see you're not disenchanted 'never meet your hero' and all that." He stretched a bit, "If you would have told me just a year ago that I'd be sitting here drinking coffee and talking to you about my dating life I would have flipped you the bird, the most impossible things happen on our missions huh?" He grinned, "Was John actually serious about the farm? I didn't expect you to get excited about a farm life."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I have no reason to think he isn't serious, he and Ducky had already settled on the idea before I ever heard about it. Having the two of them working hard all day and them coming in to a hot meal I have been working on all day...it's a very wholesome dream."

[Richard Winter]

"I mean, sure, but the thought never occurred to me.... To be honest, I haven't really given any serious thought to what I'm going to do after all this." He looked up at the sky and let the sun warm his face, "Maybe drill master for some Lyran court?"

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I find it strange how few people seem to have given any thought to the future. I know there are plenty of people who make this a lifelong career but...why? Money and glory can be found in the arena. Some may say the chance to travel but you're just going from warzone to warzone most of the time. Why not come be my duo partner? I mean, I need to find a farming planet that also has a mech arena but there has to be plenty of those beyond my homeworld."

[Richard Winter]

He gave Mei a smile, "If it becomes something long term with me and Yori, we can also build up a carp farm. I'll build a workshop next door and make figurines, jewelry and furniture all day long."

He paused for a moment.

"And if I manage to buy the Exterminator from Eric, we can beat up other gladiators in the evening, and on weekends we can teach our kids how to control a mech".

He looked into his cup and then back at Mei, "Yep, that would be nice, I think."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Wow, kids huh? I never thought I would hear you talk like that. I gotta say I like the idea of keeping you around, I can't go home and I don't want to ever lose the only family I've got left." Her eyes were welling up and she gave him a brave smile as she fought back the tears.