D12:LM:Perimeter - Milk and Toast & Honey

[Richard Winter]

Richard, was in a good mood, frighteningly good mood and therefore decided to spend the morning outside, the warm sun was a welcome change from the last few days and he could hardly believe that almost two weeks ago there was snow.

He had brought a little snack and some tea and coffee in a thermos and invited a good friend.

Armed with a coffee cup and a shit eating grin he waited.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I got your message I've never seen you use so many smiley faces, what's up?" Mei said as she approached Richard. Seeing everything he had brought with him she looked happily confused. "Are we having a picnic?"

[Richard Winter]

"Hey!" he greeted her warmly, "A little picnic, yes! We have good weather and it's a change from the old canteen, isn't it? We'll be seeing it for months after the mission anyway."

He pulled out a TRO he had in a pocket and his grin got even bigger, "Command gave me the EXT-4Db, besides it wasn't the only thing I got" he replied with a wink

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei felt like she had been hit with a one-two punch and wasn't sure where to begin right away.

"Wha? Wait, OK hold on. You got the Exterminator? How the fuck did you pull that off?"

[Richard Winter]

He shrugged and said, "I think it has to do with the fact that Yori and I are responsible for the Exterminator coming into our possession in the first place. Sure, Tanaki, Ducky and Charlie did their part too, but Yori and I literally bled for it."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I just didn't even know that we were getting it. I mean I knew there was a chance but I didn't know that had been resolved. I haven't been paying much attention to things that aren't my raging uterus lately. But that's awesome, what a fucking win!"

[Richard Winter]

"That bad currently?" he asked, slightly concerned, "Do you need anything?"

"As for the EXT, the negotiations were pretty intense. The Sheriff had questioned me pretty hard and when Charlie negotiated the deal with Yori, I thought for a moment that the deal was going to burst. Ducky also made a good picture, would not have thought that she could stand so blatantly against the Sheriff, but she really was in her element."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Wait, did you just call her Ducky?" Mei fist pumped. "Yes I am so glad that has actually become a thing. She is amazing and I am super grateful she was able to help you out. Not that she needed to but she has TOTALLY earned the ride I'm gonna give her."

[Richard Winter]

"Oh do you want to just take her or let her pilot as well?"

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I'm gonna take her out somewhere clear and let her have a go at it, neither of us are very big so she should fit well-enough in my lap so I can grab things if she gets out of control. I still can't believe no one else has ever do it with her.

But enough about that." She grew a devilish grin and cocked an eyebrow. "How was it? I'm guessing by your glow it was pretty good."

[Richard Winter]

Richard offered Mei a cup and pointed to the two thermoses.

He grinned, "It was like all things Yori, very intense."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Well you're smiling so I assume it was a good kind of intense." It was taking all of Mei's meager self restraint not to press him for details. "Two thermoses, what's in them?"

[Richard Winter]

He pointed to the right one "Coffee," then to the left one "Tea."
He waited until Mei had poured herself something and buttered himself a piece of toast. He knew Mei long enough to know that she was usually too curious not to dig deeper.

After he had taken the first bite of his toast, and felt he had put Mei in suspense long enough, he told her the 'juicy' details, at least as far and deep as he was comfortable doing so himself, he couldn' let his Surrogate Sister down, could he?

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei poured herself some tea and listened, giggling like an idiot into her cup.

"Sounds super hot, well done sir." She held up her hand for a high-five. "I am so happy right now, I've found someone AND you've found someone; if I could just find someone for Turtle all would be right in the world. Unfortunately that isn't likely to happen but two of three aint bad."

[Richard Winter]

Richard high fived Mei, and laughed, "Looks like Turtle just needs to get out of his shell. On the dropship, sooner or later he will meet someone who suits him, I think."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei smiled and sighed. "Well, Turtle is a special case, he has his heart set on someone he can never have but won't move on. One day he will meet someone for him but I don't think that will happen as long as he is with us."

[Richard Winter]

Richard raised an eyebrow, "Don't tell me he has a crush on you?" he asked, taking a sip of coffee, "That would be a little complicated for your lance."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei snorted. "No you idiot he has a crush on you. Since before I ever joined the Knights. Why do you think I didn't try to hook up with you when we first met, do you think you weren't my type? I did it to spare his feelings. I mean he never leaves his room and knows you prefer women so it's not like he's gonna suddenly confess to you but yeah, there it is."

[Richard Winter]

Richard blushed "He's into me?" he was honestly surprised, "And you didn't because of him,...?" That was a bit much info all at once.

"It would never have occurred to me.... " he said, shaking his head,

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I don't imagine it would, it isn't like he speaks to you much. Pickle, being Pickle, spilled the beans upon introducing me to him. He envisions you as like a detective out of a noir romance or something which I get. If it hadn't been for that I probably would have hit on you within my first week with the Knights but it just seemed cruel to do that to the guy. SO I made a personal vow not to hit on you. I also promised never to tell you any of this but there has to be some sort of statute of limitations on that because he hasn't done anything with the years of time he has had. So instead of a one night stand I got a best friend so it's worked out well for me at least."