not_meatbuns | Rebel 22 [Voice/Action] Forward-dated to late evening

[It's been a very long day. Litchi has been up since before dawn, tending to patients, straightening up the clinic, helping lost little boys, and overall working herself half to death. Only she's looking a ton more energetic than usual, and even as she's leaving the clinic for the night, she's still upbeat and smiling and cheerful.

~~No, she hasn't gotten into the drugs.~~ Just before heading out to walk home, she'll open up her journal for a quick message.]

Well, it's certainly about time things returned to normal, don't you think? I've had more than enough excitement for quite some time.

Mr. Goroh, David, Miss Yayoi... make sure you're all home within an hour or so, okay? Just because Tao isn't home to eat all your food right now doesn't mean you can be late for dinner. I should be home soon; it won't take long to get back from the grocery store.

[[ooc: AU info this-a-way~ :D

Also feel free to run into her anywhere in the plaza or on her way back to her house. ♥ Or... well, in the house, for her housemates.]]

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[Litchi, absently humming to herself, also gets to chopping up some veggies.]

Gumbo? I can't say I've ever made it, myself.

It can either be delicious... or awful. [He laughs.] Man, I tell you, the one time Yellow 8 tried to cook it, it was disgusting! We thought about using it as jet fuel, but I think even our Su-37s would've broken down from it!

[He seems in an unusually good mood tonight.]

[It's the first time she's ever heard him talk about his friends from back home in such a lighthearted way, but hey, she's not complaining. It's nice to see him smile like this. She laughs along with him.]

That bad, hm? I have to say, I'm impressed~

His failure at cooking... was something, alright. Thankfully, Eight was a much, much better pilot than he was a cook. He got through the war just fine.

[...That might be a tipoff that something's up.]

[She does glance over at him curiously at this point.]

...He did?

Yeah. He survived the war with 15 victories on record. He was an ace three times over. Not bad at all.

[He doesn't really notice the curious glance, he's busy chopping.]

Ah... yes, not bad at all.

[Her confused look only grows a few stages more confused before she shakes her head and turns back to her own chopping.]

...That's really rather impressive.

[The trailing off does leave him curious, though.]

Did I say something wrong, Litchi?

No, no, nothing. You've just... never really mentioned so much about your comrades before.

I haven't? I could've sworn I've told you a lot of my stories flying in Yellow Squadron...

You've told me a few stories, yes, but there's still plenty I haven't heard, I'm sure.

Huh... that's strange.

[He shakes his head, but continues cutting the vegetables.]

[She shakes her head as well, going to dump some of her vegetables into a soup pot.]

This day has certainly been a strange one, I have to agree...

Come to think of it, has anyone else in the village struck you as... different, today?

[Oh thank god. She was really hoping she'd have a chance to talk to someone about this.

Her tone is a mixture of relieved and freaked out.]

Have you heard from Mr. Goroh at all? He's acting really strange.

[He pauses his cutting, and looks straight ahead, almost into space.]

No, I haven't. But I was up at my normal time and Goroh was already up and gone by then. Usually he's been up a couple of hours after me every day... I thought it was a little weird.

But I didn't really give it much substance until you said he was acting off. What'd he do?

[Litchi is looking really uncomfortable.]

He's been really... polite. And he keeps calling me "Dr. Faye-Ling". I've never known him to be this formal.

[She gives Thirteen a worried look.] You don't think he's up to something, do you...?

Goroh? I doubt it. Not to you, at least.

Though that does strike me as rather odd. Guess we'll see if he starts calling me "Colonel Jordan" instead of "Dave".

[...Colonel is not his rank as he's told Litchi. He was a Major before...]

[That is striking her as odd, but she decides not to call attention to it. Though confusion does briefly flicker across her face.]

Yes, I suppose so. I'd certainly hope I'm not the only one he's going to be so formal with.

[All these changes all of a sudden really are bothering her, though. Her chopping slows to a stop as she stares blankly down at the vegetables.

Just what is going on...?]

[He glances over to her, noticing her stop.]

Guess we'll see. ...But I'm sure everything will work out. It has for us so far, right?

[She snaps back into reality with a small jump and a sheepish smile.]

Yes, I'm sure everything will be just fine. After all, we made it through much worse in this past week, hm~?

[Now THAT brings a smile to his face now that it's over.]

Oh, man. Between the earthquake and all of those monsters, I am done with excitement for awhile. I'll take some peace and quiet now, thanks.

[She laughs lightly, pausing for a gentle teasing before she can get to putting together the salads.]

And you seemed like you were having so much fun with that bird of yours~