Social BBQ during downtime.

[Wax™]

This is just a social/casual RP in response to Killinger's idea on in depth character development, however the thread was my idea, if anyone is interested in joining, feel free to, currently it is just me and Kill.

Staff Sergeant Jason Bowers

Large Community Park - New Alexandria Outskirts

Currently throwing some snags down on the barby!

Jason grunted and arched his back, backwards, giving it a good stretch before taking in a big whiff of the smell coming from the barbecue, everything was coming along nicely for this big social get together, his mother, wife, daughter and even his father managed to show up, as well as about ten other families, so there were a lot of kids and a few teenagers here and there, in total there was close to twenty two adults or so here which meant a lot of kids, and two men manning the two different barbecues, Jason was handling the sausages, lamb chops and burgers, while some other father took the steak's and fish food under the command of his tongs, Jason looked at some of the kids playing soccer while the majority of teenagers sat in a circle on their phones, only two or so teenagers were actually taking part in the soccer game going on against the younger kids, Jason lifted his right hand which had is beer in it and took a mouthful, before lowering it, looking to the barbecue and rotating all the food around.

"Sarah... Sarah!" Jason yelled out to his daughter. "...Get down from there please you could hurt yourself!" He yelled, seeing his daughter playing dangerously high in one of the tree's that shaded the seating area, there were a few tables set up with plates, a few bowls of fruit with plenty of chips and soft-drink for the kids and a good amount of alcohol for the adults.

"Let her play..." Jason's wife Sophie said as she wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder as he played with the food on the BBQ.

"Yeah well, what if she fell Sophie?" He said, acting like the paranoid parent he was when out of combat.

"She'll be fine... Y'know..." Sophie stopped to snatch Jason's beer and take a mouthful before setting it on the side of the BBQ. "...Your mom's told me the stories about when you were a kid... I'm sure Sarah couldn't do much worse" Sophie finished walking off with a laugh before talking to one of the other mothers.

"Yeah, yeah..." Jason smirked and muttered to himself before taking all the sausages off the barbecue and setting them on a plate, he then placed the tongs down and took up the plate, taking it over to the table and placing it down next to the buns some onions and the tomato and mustard containers, Jason then took the time to straighten out his shirt, he was wearing a gray UNSC PT shirt with beige cargo shorts and some casual sneakers, he looked around and nodded, it was good to be back in this environment after so long in the field, a few families were yet to turn up, and the Colonel was still a no show, Jason began to wonder if he would show up or not, he then looked over to one of the men. 

"Hey Brian... Could you take up the tongs and watch the chops for me..." Jason said to the man, the man nodded 'sure' in reply. "...Cheers mate!"

[MrKill]

Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Community Park
Lost

"John, I'm telling you right now the turn off was two rights ago." Beth said, shaking her head as John slowed near an intersection. John grumbled irritably and flipped a U-Turn. While he was a genius with a map, compass and a regiment of men - it appeared he couldn't navigate in a civilian car worth a damn if he hadn't looked at a map previously - in which he didn't. It had been so long since he came up this road, about fifteen years to be exact, and had forgotten it's layout. As a result his family was late for the barbecue, but not entirely.

"Okay," John said. "Then after the now left, it'll be a right, another left and we're there... right?" John said, turning his vehicle. Adrianna was in the back, listening to music silently - staring out into the beautiful array of trees and planets that were around. For a farming world, this park was almost natural. Kyle was talking to a buddy from OCS, which wasn't all that surprising to John. Kyle was rather sociable, so this should be an interesting time to see how his son interacted with fellow Marines.

"Yes," Beth said. "Park next to the kiosk. I want to buy some memorabilia. It's been a long time since we've been here." She added. John nodded and within ten minutes they had pulled up next to the memorabilia stand, which was just a few meters away from the parking lot. Beth bought a poster of the park and motioned she'd just walk the rest of the way.

John pulled up and put the car in park, popped the trunk and cleared his throat. Adrianna turned off her music and exited the car, and surprisingly was the first one to the trunk. Kyle lazily opened his door and stood up. It was clear that it was battle fatigue. Kyle had just gotten home a mere twenty hours ago. He had slept thirteen of them off in his bed, which he admitted there was no better feeling to be home.

While Kyle still lived with his mother and father, he was also offered a military house on Reach's base - a place where he could call his own. He declined it respectfully, and told his father he probably wouldn't move out while he was serving with the UNSC. He'd rather return home, where his parents were. It was a phase that'll go eventually. John himself was twenty when he moved in with Beth.

"Got the food, dad." Adrianna called out. John stepped out of the car and saw Adrianna carrying one of the two boxes towards the raising smoke. She was, clearly, following the aroma of cooking meat. John grabbed the second box, closed the trunk and proceeded to follow his daughter. Once he made his way through a narrow path, he came across a rather open field and instantly spotted the Staff Sergeant.

John was dressed more... casual. He was wearing his sunglasses, a grey T-Shirt and fairly standard shorts with sandals on. Kyle was wearing his Marine fatigues, proud of the silver bar he had earned... Though at the cost of scaring John half to death. Beth was wearing a casual dress while Adrianna was wearing a dark blue T-Shirt and cargo pants.

John also, obviously, had a cigar in his mouth by now. Unsurprisingly John startled himself on how it was lit. He had gotten so used to pulling it out, lighting it and returning the lighter to his pocket the moment had nearly blown right over his head. He just wondered when he did it? Was he driving with the cigar lit? Did he light it when he closed the trunk. Regardless, it didn't matter.

He had a cigar.

[Wax™]

Staff Sergeant Jason Bowers 

Large Community Park - New Alexandria Outskirts 

Playing soccer with the kids!

"He goes left... He goes right... He comes on the inside!" Jason tapped the ball somewhat lightly since he was playing with kids and managed to get a goal, the goal being two rocks placed a few meters apart. "And he scores!" Jason turned around, only to soon be tackled by his soon to be seven year old daughter Sarah, of course under normal circumstances he would still be standing, but his daughter was a super hero and possessed super human strength, dropping himself on his back, Sarah laughed and giggled as she began to tickle her father, soon three or four of the other younger children joined in, grabbing at Jason's legs and arms screaming 'we got him' Jason grinned and waited till he could stand up without stepping on anyone fingers, he then grabbed his daughter in one arm and one of his friends kid in the other and placed them on his shoulders before running around in a circle.

"Roaaarrr! I got you now... Time to to roast and eat you!" He said with a chuckle hopping from one foot to the next from left to right toward one of the barbecues, the two children giggling and laughing in response, though Jason stopped about several meters away from the barbecues and let the children go so as not to scare them, mainly for the sake of the other child, Sarah of course would have known it was a joke, kneeling down he grabbed Sarah by the arms and kissed her on the forehead before tickling her.

"Haha... I think... You should go and help your mom set the table!" He said, by now Sarah was on the ground.

"Hehehe... Stop it daddy!" She cried with laughter before quickly getting to her feet and tickling Jason under the neck, after a few seconds she then ran off and skipped toward her mother who was setting out a bunch of paper plates and napkins.

Jason smiled as he watched his daughter skip away toward Sophie, he then picked himself up and crossed his arms over his somewhat muscular chest, he was by far the fittest father here, Jason turned and spotted the Colonel and his family, strike that, Jason was now the second fittest here, not wanting to compare himself to that monster, Jason thought, laughing on the inside, he noticed the Colonel was carring a box, next to a young looking woman who presumably was the Colonel's daughter, Jason smiled and started to walk towards the family, stopping and giving the Colonel a nod.

"Great to see that you could join us Sir..." He said smiling, he then stepped over to the Colonel's daughter who was holding a box about the same size as the one the Colonel was holding. "Here... Let me take that for you" He said with a smile, sliding his hands onto the box and offering to take it for the young girl, if she allowed him to take it he'd step back and walk towards one of the barbecues, specifically the one closest to the actual dinning area.

"The boxes can go over here..." He said looking to the Colonel. "...I trust you didn't get lost finding your way out here?"

[MrKill]

Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Community Park
BBQ

"Nope," John replied dryly. The trust was hidden within the half ass'd effort of a lie. "I don't get lost." John added, keeping his face straight. He watched as the Staff Sergeant took the first box of food from Adrianna and started walking towards the barbecues. Adrianna returned an ear bud into her right ear and presumably started her music again, splintering off towards Kyle - who was heading towards the alcoholic beverages.

"Anna..." John said with a stern tone. She wasn't allowed to drink until she was eighteen, even though she's drank in the past it was his rule while he was there. Besides, she needed to prove she could handle the stresses of Officer Candidate School without relying on a stress reliever that makes you literally forget everything previously. She grunted and broke off, heading towards her mother.

John nodded, followed the Staff Sergeant a bit further and put his box where the man had set the other box down. He noticed a younger girl, the same one from the space port three days earlier. It was the Staff Sergeant's daughter. John chuckled as he remembered Adrianna at that age, but boy oh boy was her father going to have to deal with the teenage years of his daughters live. Typically, it was filled with drama, boys... more drama.

"How old is your daughter, Bowers?" John asked, refusing to say 'staff sergeant'. He wasn't on duty, there was no need for it. He'd just use the last name for now.

[Wax™]

Staff Sergeant Jason Bowers

Large Community Park 
Downtime with the CO

"Yeah well neither do I... I just missed three turns and delayed about thirty minutes on purpose... Testing the wife's navigational skills... You know how it is eh?" Jason said with a smirk as he continued to walk over to the closest barbecue to the dinning area where most of the women were setting up the table with the help of a couple of teenagers, while the rest continued to sit scattered around, listening to music from the music players or sitting on their phones talking on some sort of social network... Facetweet or Youbook... Whatever they were called.

Jason bent over and put the box down near the barbecue, a couple of the husbands who were cooking already began to unload by the time the Colonel had put his box down, taking his beer from the barbecue which had mysteriously become empty, he threw it in a trash-can next to the barbecue before leaning down over an esky and retrieving two beers, stepping over to the Colonel just as the older man began to reference Jason's daughter, Jason smiled and looked over to his daughter, the smile was apparent, he was proud to have had a daughter, his wife Sophie however was ecstatic when she found out, Jason looked to the Colonel and held one of the beers toward him.

"She's turning seven in a couple of months... She's real smart for her age" Jason smiled looking over to her daughter once more.

"How about your two..." He said gesturing over to the two young adults who had arrived with the Colonel, as he did he dug his hand into his pocket, looking for a beer opener, bypassing his wallet, car keys and a few other items before finally finding the opener, placing it against the metal cap of the glass beer bottle and peeling it off, usually he would whack it against a table but he was too far away, he then looked over to the Colonel, handing the opener to him, however he half expected the man to lift the bottle up to his teeth and remove the cap that way.

[MrKill]

Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Community Park
BBQ

Bowers offered John a drink, complete with a beer opener. John gratefully accepted the beer and simply opened up the alcoholic beverage with his thumb. It easily popped after the right amount of force was applied. Sure his thumb was a little red, but it didn't hurt. His hands had been steeled after firing rifles nearly his entire life, as well as his physical exercise routines aboard the Iowa that kept him in fairly decent shape.

"Well, the male over there that looks like a baby's ass is Kyle." John said, looking towards his oldest child - he was clean shaven, where as John had a neatly trimmed but still rather bushy goatee. Kyle was almost, ALMOST, twenty two years old... Just like a few days from now John would be forty three years old. "He is a 'First Lieutenant' in the Marine Corps, promoted after his recent operation actually. He just recently graduated from officer candidate school after deciding to go down the same career path as I did about two months ago now." John added.

"The teenage looking girl is Adrianna, my youngest child. She's only seventeen, and in a month will be officially considered an adult when she turns eighteen. Like Kyle, she wanted to go down the same career path as well since she follows how well the war truly is going for us. She was debating about just going to boot camp but Kyle actually convinced her to go through officer candidate school - and I helped a little by recommending her for the spot." John said about his other child.

"And the lovely lady next to her, eating what appears to be chips, is my wife Bethany, or just 'Beth'." John added. That was his family. Twenty five years ago they would have been much, much younger. Now John was nearly forty three, Beth was turning forty two, Kyle was nearly twenty two and Adrianna was eighteen in a matter of weeks. Time really did fly... when you spent most of it deployed.

"Savor the precious moments, Bowers." John said, taking a drag of his cigar.

[Wax™]

Staff Sergeant Jason Bowers
Large Community Park
Downtime with the CO

"Heh... If we're talking lovely ladies... Mine's just over there..." Jason said pointing with his beer to one of the tables, to his wife who was currently approaching 'Beth' to introduce herself. "...Sophie's her name... I like to make fun of her and call her soap... Heheh" Jason chuckled a little before looking back over to the Colonel, sliding the opener back into his pocket while simultaneously lifting his beer to take a small mouthful, he'd gasp for a little bit of air afterwards before sliding his free hand into his pocket, keeping his thumb sticking out.

"The rest of the family's over there..." He said with a smirk, gesturing to his mother who was sitting against a tree, reading a book, not like a holo-book or anything but a proper book, surprisingly proper book stores actually managed to stay in business all these years from the twenty-first century, laying down next to his mother was a dog, head in her lap and tongue out, he was a golden retriever. "That's my mother... Ann... And my buddy 'Tyson'." Jason then looked around, trying to spot his dad, he eventually did, his father was standing tall and proud, arms crossed tightly over his chest as he talked to two other elderly folk. "That's my dad... Major General Steven Bowers... He spends most of his time behind a desk these days..."

"That's about everyone except for Brendan..." Jason turns his attention to the Colonel, taking another mouthful of his beer. "...So if you mind me asking Sir... How's your downtime been?" Jason said, looking behind him he was checking to see if there were any chairs nearby, luckily there were a couple of blue foldout ones which he brought down, taking a few steps back he sat down comfortably in one and held a hand out, gesturing to the other vacant one for the Colonel to sit in.

Once Jason was sat down he took the time to observe the Colonel and take in exactly what he was wearing, just casual shirt, shorts and sandals, it was an interesting change of perspective from the usual BDU or marine armor covered veteran which he sometimes saw, and out here he just felt like another man, which Jason didn't get to see much, out of other marines.

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

Community Park BBQ

"Mommy! Evan stole my toy!"

Jackson's five-year-old daughter, Erin, looked so much like her father that Adrienne had to smile sometimes; she had Sam's dirty blonde hair and Adrienne's hazel eyes, just like Evan. This, however, was not one of those times, since right now, the little girl was doing her best to shrill in the car for her parents' attention. Sam was busy driving, so it was up to Jackson to turn around and find out what the commotion was about.

"Erin, honey, calm down," Adrienne said to her daughter. "What did your brother take?"

"My truck! He said girls can't play with them!"

Jackson heard her husband chuckle from the driver's seat. In the meantime, Adrienne rolled her eyes. Then she turned back again, this time to face her five-year-old son.

"Evan, did you take your sister's truck?"

Evan clutched at the toy in his hands, not saying a word. The lieutenant colonel let out a sigh.

"Okay. I want both of you to listen up. First of all, you're to share your toys with each other. That does not mean grab what you want out of your sister's hands, Evan. And Erin, you need to let your brother play, too. Fair?"

Both of the twins sat silent in the backseat for a moment, petulantly, before finally nodding their heads. Given her stern expression, they knew their mother was serious.

"Second," Lieutenant Colonel Jackson said. "Your daddy and I bought you toys you could both enjoy. It's perfectly fine for Erin to play with trucks just like it's okay for you, Evan. Remember that Mommy is a Marine - and a very high-ranking one. I do things that boys do too all the time. So lay off your sister about that and just play together."

Adrienne turned around in her seat then to face the front. They were pulling into the park's parking lot now. Jackson could see that there were already a number of families there.

A moment later Sam stopped the car and, now that the kids had gone quiet, leaned across the seat to kiss his wife. Jackson kissed him back.

"Thanks for handling that, honey," her husband said with a smile.

Adrienne smirked. "No problem. Sometimes those two are worse than dealing with a full battalion or even a regiment of Marines."

Sam barked a laugh. "But you love them."

"But I love them," Jackson agreed. "More than anything else in the world." She kissed her husband again. "Should we get going? I think we're pretty late."

"Yeah, let's make our big entrance." To the twins in the back, he said, "Ev, Erin, let's go!"

"YAY!" the little boy and girl cried.

Adrienne was still smiling as she got out of the car. Once on the pavement, she corralled their two small children while Sam went to the trunk to take out what they'd brought for the barbecue - a vast array of desserts for the military families to enjoy. As they walked out onto the grass, the twins' eyes went wide at the sight of the soccer ball in the field, and both forgot all about the toy truck they'd left in the car. Both looked up pleadingly at their mother to let them join in.

Jackson was hesitant at first because the twins were still so young. It was finally Sam who bumped her shoulder and said, "Let 'em go, Jack. They'll be fine."

Though still worried as any mother would be, Adrienne eventually acquiesced and sent Evan and Erin on their way. She kept a sharp eye on the two of them as they joined the game in progress, though.

"So who all do you know here?" her husband asked as they walked to set the food on the table. Meanwhile, the aromas coming from the grills were mouthwatering.

"Most of the officers' families. I'll admit that while I know most of the men under my charge, I'm not that familiar with their immediate relatives."

Sam winked at her. "I think the Corps can forgive you that. Now that you're the new regiment XO, you've got what, three thousand, five thousand Marines beneath you?"

"Thereabouts."

"Well, shit. I can't even remember a few people in my office sometimes, and there's only a little over a hundred-twenty of us. You're doing fine."

The lieutenant colonel grinned a little at that, then spotted an especially familiar face among the growing crowd - her new CO, Colonel Killinger. Also beside him was the staff sergeant they'd been with at the spaceport when they'd first arrived. Once Sam was done setting down the food, she slipped her arm through his and dragged him over to say hi.

"Colonel Killinger, sir. Good to see you. Sorry we're so late." Adrienne then turned to the staff sergeant and added, "Staff. I remember you from our transport down from the Iowa, but I don't think I caught your name. I'm Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, the new regimental XO. And this is my husband, Sam Garroway."

[MrKill]

Johnathon B'SHeau Killinger
Community Park
BBQ

John took a seat in the flimsy, pathetic pieces of shit someone would call a chair. How the hell did a six - five, two hundred fifty pound man fit, or even sit, in a chair designed to fold at the mid-section with just a little pressure. John remembered such an incident where it folded in on him. That specific chair was now in multiple burned pieces, absolutely obliterated as John had a fit of rage that made a canine on rabies look tamed. He cleared his throat and respectfully declined the chair. He had his own, much larger camping chairs that he would be able to fit in comfortably and wouldn't get overly angry at it either.

He took another drag of his cigar, followed by a rather long mouthful of the beer Bowers had offered him. He chuckled, realizing that a cigar and a beer resulting in an internal inferno if the two ever met. He laughed and dared the fate to come forth, but it never did - so he took another drag of his delicious, sweet... and clearly precious cigar. He loved them, absolutely loved them. He didn't mind forking out the credits for the expensive cigars.

"My downtime has been strangely relaxing. Usually I'm most relaxed around fellow Mar-" John started saying, realizing that he was surrounded by fellow Marines. "I meant before the barbecue," John quickly added. "I've been strangely relaxed for the passed three days with my family." He added, chuckling at how stupid it must have sounded. Then he realized his own kids were technically both Marines, with Kyle having been deployed already. "I'll be right back." John said.

I just never win, do I? John thought to himself, but didn't mention anything. John returned to his car and produced a rather large camping chair, and returned to Bowers with his beer empty. He unfolded his own chair and placed the empty bottle in the beverage holder before sitting down and admiring the trees around. He couldn't just sit and observe nature during a fire-fight, even though at times it was absolutely beautiful around him... until trees started on fire...

Then Lieutenant Colonel Jackson showed up. John honestly didn't expect the LTCOL to appear at the barbecue and was humbly surprised at the appearance of his new XO. Then she addressed the Staff Sergeant using his rank. It didn't bother the Colonel, but he decided to comment on it anyways. They were off duty, they all had names - why not use them for events like these?

"Welcome, Adrienne. For the record - I got lost too. And we are all off duty. Call me John, and his name is Jason. No one is superior or a subordinate to another here. While it may be in our instincts now to refer someone to their rank in the UNSC, I think it's vital to remember we all have life outside the Marine Corps too... And hello Mr. Garroway." John said respectfully. He stood up to shake the mans hand before returning to his chair.

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

Community Park BBQ

"Welcome, Adrienne. For the record - I got lost too. And we are all off duty. Call me John, and his name is Jason. No one is superior or a subordinate to another here. While it may be in our instincts now to refer someone to their rank in the UNSC, I think it's vital to remember we all have life outside the Marine Corps too... And hello Mr. Garroway," Killinger said. 

As Sam shook her CO's hand, Jackson shifted her stance a little. "Sorry, sir. John. I wasn't sure what the protocol was on this." She glanced at the staff sergeant. "And I would've used his name if I knew it. Hello, Jason."

[Wax™]

Staff Sergeant Jason Bowers

Large Community Park

Downtime with the CO



Jason was sitting down in his flimsy piece of shit chair and he wasn't getting up unless food was ready, his wife called him, or he needed to drop a giant shit, but luckily none of those things were coming up just yet so he decided to stay seated, he raised his beer up and tipped the end in the direction of the Lieutenant Colonel.

"Pleasure to meet you Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne... Beer or soft drink is in the eskie..." He said nodding to her with a smile and then looking to her husband/boyfriend. "How's it going mate..." He said leaning out of his chair to shake the mans hand, afterward he sat back, and was greeted with a surprise as a pair of small gentle hands wrapped around his face, covering his eye's, smirking he tilted his head upward and just as he did so was greeted with the face of his daughter, poking her tongue out at him as she removed her hands, laughing softly as she giggled he smirked.

"Daddy... Can I sit in your lap..." She said quietly.

"Sure thing hon..." Jason said, playing his beer in the chair's beverage holder before gesturing for her to come around. "...C'mere..." He'd then slid his hands under her armpits and sit her on his lap, she then rested her head into Jason's chest and wrapped her arms around Jason's waist, as if she was tired, but she just wanted to be closer to her daddy, despite being here for three days, Sarah still missed her daddy from the war.

"So... It's a bit awkward... A lonely Staff Sergeant around all this authority... Shiii----..." He looked to his daughter, before quickly looking back up. "...iivers... I thought having my dad around was bad enough being a friggen Major General" He said with a chuckle before taking his beer and lifting it to his lips, taking a small mouthful, he then would slide the beer back into the beverage holder and look from the Lieutenant Colonel to the Colonel.

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

Community Park BBQ

"So... It's a bit awkward... A lonely Staff Sergeant around all this authority... Shiii----iivers... I thought having my dad around was bad enough being a friggen Major General," Jason said.

Adrienne smiled back at the staff sergeant from beneath her sunglasses. "No worries. Like the colonel said - err, John - today we're all just people and parents. You have a beautiful little girl." She gestured over to the field where the other kids were running around chasing the soccer ball. "Mine's over there with her twin brother, probably wreaking havoc about now."

Beside her, Sam laughed. "Just like her mother."

Jackson smirked as she playfully elbowed her husband in the ribs. "Hey. That's usually the point of my battle plans. Not something to be mocked. If we're the ones dishing the hurt, it gives the enemy less opportunity to do the same to us."

"Right."

The lieutenant colonel let the flippant comment go, if only because she knew Sam had little idea of what life in the field was like. She'd tried to describe it to him a few times during her career, but some things civvies would never understand - nor were they always things she could really convey to him in words. You just had to experience it to know.

On that note, Jackson turned back to the other two men in front of her. "Anyway, I think I'll grab myself a drink if you guys don't mind. Sam? Want anything?"

"Yeah, Jack. Just a soda."

"Okay."


Adrienne stepped over to the cooler and picked up a beer bottle for herself and a soda can for her husband. She'd just moved to go hand the drink to Sam when something bumped into her. It felt like a toy, but when she turned, she was staring at a miniature of a ship...which in turn was in the hands of a small girl.

"Hey there, kiddo," Lieutenant Colonel Jackson said to the child. "Where's your - "

She was about to ask where the girl's mother was, but she spotted her, slowly trailing her young daughter. Jackson smiled.

"Think I found what you're looking for," she said to the approaching woman.

[MrKill]

Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Community Park
Relaxing

"Would you like some ketch-" The man behind the second barbecue started saying, but John raised his hand and chuckled lightly. John could very well get his own toppings for the two hotdogs he had requested. Various other meats were preparing on the grill of the BBQ's and the aroma absolutely made John's mouth water. He had, for the longest time, lived off second grade food while on the field. To get some natural, real hotdogs was a blessing in its-self.

"I can get my own, but thanks for asking." John said respectfully. The man nodded and handed over the two hotdogs. John thanked him, produced a dozen credits and handed them over to the man. He knew they were free, and John had purchased his own food, but he didn't mind paying for them regardless. Money had little value to the Colonel, despite him attempting to secure his families future if he were to die on combat. Still, twelve credits wasn't much.

John approached the table with various toppings, like relish, ketchup, cheese, onions and others. Personally, John took of both hotdogs while he placed his toppings on. He put a slice of cheese on both hotdog buns and placed the hotdogs back on, before putting another piece of cheese on top and smothering it with chili. He imagined himself foaming at the mouth, for he had his favorite variant of hotdog in his hands... and he had to of them. He also picked another beverage, but this time it was water. John didn't drink much anyways.

Chili dogs.

Oh the sweet, sweet flavor! John though had he returned to his chair and took a bite. "Mhhhmmmm," He said with his mouth closed. He finished chewing and swallowed the food. "This - this here is worth staying alive for." He commented off handily, savoring the food again as he took another bite and finished it off some water. "Though we need bacon. Bacon Chili Dogs... I can taste the pure awesomeness already."

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

Community Park BBQ

"So, decent sized barbecue party miss...?" the woman with the little girl said.

"Jackson," Adrienne finished. She dropped her arms at her sides, gripping the two cold drinks in each hand. "Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, although I hear it's bad form to go giving out your rank around here. Obviously that's kinda new to me." She shifted a bit. "I'd shake your hand, but mine are kind of full right now. Who're you?"

Before the other lady could reply, Sam suddenly approached on Adrienne's right, gently grabbing his soda can out of his wife's hand and popping the tab open. He took a quick swig before speaking.

"Honey, I love you, but you took a little long with those drinks. And you left me by myself with those military types and I don't have a thing to - " He seemed to notice the pair in front of them then, and looked embarrassed for a second. "Sorry," he said to the woman, stepping up and extending his free hand. "Didn't notice you there. I'm Sam. This is my wife Adrienne. And you are...?"

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

Community Park BBQ

"I'm Caitlynn, well, to be precise, Commander Caitlynn Evanna Woods of the UNSCS Hibernian, someone you'd call a military type," the commander said. The woman laughed and a small smile came to Jackson's face as well as Adrienne looked sideways at her husband. "Not sure why that'd be bad form, then again, I'd assume it'd be something to do with how people treat others, but since we are rank equivalents, at least I believe so, we should be fine."


"Yeah," Jackson replied. "No issues there. We're both O-5s. I just got a little grief from my CO about that."

Woods then introduced her daughter, and both Adrienne and Sam gave the small girl a little wave.

"Wasn't too long ago that our twins were that young, too," Sam commented. "Hi there, Alex."

The kid was too shy to reply, and the circumstances didn't get much better for her when Jackson's son came running up to his parents, all sweaty and red-faced and happy.

"Mommy, Daddy, guess what? I just scored a goal!" Evan cried.

Sam and Adrienne both grinned, though it was his father who picked him up and gave him a high-five. 

"Great job, bud! How's your sister playing?"

"Good. She's goalie for the other team and it was hard to get past her, but I did it!"

"Uh-oh. Don't make her too mad." Sam set their son down and gave him a small nudge. "All right, get back out there, little buddy."

"We'll call you and Erin in a few minutes for lunch, okay?" Jackson added.

"Okay, Mommy!"

"And try not to get your clothes all dirty!"

The lieutenant colonel feared her last statement hadn't quite made it past the five-year-old's hearing as he ran off; he already had plenty of grass stains on his shorts, she noted. Adrienne sighed, then turned back to the commander.

"That was our son Evan. His sister Erin is the girl with the light brown hair out on the field. They're pretty competitive with each other." She nodded to little Alex. "Just the one for you?"

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

Community Park BBQ

"Yeah, couldn't organize two even if I tried, organizing a ship with over 900 people seems easier honestly. Is that your other one there?" the commander asked.

Adrienne smiled. "I didn't think I could either, but mine came as a pair so I had to learn on the fly. And yup, that's our daughter over there by the goal."

The lieutenant colonel was about to say more when Sam bumped her shoulder, indicating for her to look to her other side. She turned and saw what he was trying to bring to her attention: the food being taken off one of the grills. Jackson gave Woods a sheepish grin.

"Well, it's time to go feed the clan. If you want to get to know some more people, we'll be sitting just over there, by my CO and a staff sergeant I met a while back - John and Jason. It was nice meeting you, Woods." She looked down at the little girl. "Don't have too much fun with that ship, kiddo."

As she and Sam walked off, Adrienne glanced in the direction of the twins, back on the field. Her husband must've known she was about to call them for lunch when he leaned in closer and took her hand.

"They're having fun, Jack. Give them a few minutes longer."

Jackson was puzzled. "I thought you were starving. That was the impression I just got from you staring longingly at the food."

Sam chuckled. "I am, but I'd like to sit and relax for a few minutes while they're being entertained. Come on."

He guided her to the grill that had just served up a fresh, mouthwatering selection of hot dogs and burgers. Sam grabbed a burger and bag of chips from the line, while Adrienne picked up two of the just-cooked dogs. She took a bite before they'd even gone back to sit down, and Sam laughed at her.

"Somehow I think you were the one who was actually starved there, honey."

"Shut up," Jackson said around a mouthful of hot dog and bun. "Do you know how often I get to eat real food in the field? Or eat, period? The answer you're looking for is never."

"Touché."

Finally they found some empty chairs in the vicinity of where they'd first arrived and bumped into Colonel Killinger and the staff sergeant. Jackson vaguely wondered if they noticed they were back, but right now she was too engrossed in her food - and it appeared that John was as well. The moment she and Sam sat down, Adrienne cracked open her beer and took a swig.

Her husband moved his chair in close to hers and then bit into his burger. Still, she found both of them focusing on their kids playing in the park with the other little ones.

"We should call them over soon," Jackson said.

"Yeah. Five minutes?"

The lieutenant colonel took another sip of beer, relishing the good mix of flavors. This was great; a well-deserved rest from the usual daily grind. She nodded. "Five minutes."

[Dutch]

Staff Sergeant Thomas Baker

Big Public Park in Suburban New Alexandria 

Preparing to face the music

Soldiers -ODSTs in particular- love nothing more than a good party chock-full of good chow. So it was no surprise that the normally quiet and tranquil park was alive with soldiers and their families cooking food, playing in the trees, shooting hoops, and generally having one helluva good time. It was a surprise to some though that -contrary to his gruff appearance- Tom Baker was capable of emotions like 'fun' and 'joy'. And apparently, he also could grill one mean burger. 

    "Now gentlemen, please gather 'round and see the master do his trick! Dormen, let's have a handful of those shells there!" Baker shouted out to the crowd of professional soldiers gathered around him all dressed in tank tops and muscle shirts. A thick muscular redhead stepped forth and tossed a pouch up towards the staff sergeant. 


    "'Er you go boss! Let's get 'er done!" Baker caught the pouch with a smile and spilled the contents into his hand, flashing bright red shotgun shells. 


   "Now you all want to burn beef like a man, you're gonna need a mans ingredients. Observe now, as the master chef does his work. First off, you'll want to take one standard-issue combat knife like so, and very delicately pry open the shell." Putting the 8-gauge lightly down on the cutting board besides the barbecue, he pulled out his combat knife and sliced the end of the shell clean off with a hard thud. The guys chuckled and grinned as he tossed away the brass head. "Now, once you're patties have cooked for about five minutes, you flip open the lid and proceed as so!"  


    Popping open the barbecue, Baker held the opened shell over like a salt shaker, then tipped it forward, sending a stream of gunpowder down on the cooking patty. With whooshing sound a tongue of flame flared up, sending a puff of smoke up and away. The men called out with cheers as Baker repeated for the other dozen or so patties. As the guys filed in with buns in hand, Baker gave a half-bow, his 'I killed the Chef' apron fluttering in the breeze. "Now, what do you savages all say?"


    "THANK YOU VERY MUCH STAFF SERGEANT!" Came the enthusiastic reply. Baker grinned.


    "Well you're very damn welcome." 

___________________________

    It wasn't too long later, after the burgers had been consumed, that fate befell the brave ODST NonCom. While the details may lost to history and distorted by various parties, it is generally agreed upon that an squad-wide arm wrestling match was the epicenter of it all. The outcome would be crystal clear in the minds of everyone there for years to come. A float, carried by ten of Bakers men, came down the center of the park. Behind it was a small wheeled wagon brimming with thick cream pies. On the float and tied to a post was one stoic looking UNSC Staff Sergeant, who looked grimly on as his turncoat squad carrier him into the midst of everyone else.


    "Attention to all brave men and women of the United Nations Space Command, today in this very park, the almighty has seen it fit to pour out his punishment upon this bloodthirsty tyrant! This abuser of humanity, who has taken poor innocent boots grunts to untold levels of degradation. But now the tables are turned, the tide is changed, for now we get to dole out due justice! And that is why for this hour only, you can personally shove a thick nice vanilla cream pie into the face of this unspeakable devil!" Arthur Graham was an excellent preacher and speaker, and now he preached and spoke like never before. "Ten credits only, and you will have satisfaction to last a lifetime! Next time some Covie SOB's got you pinned down with nowhere to run, at least you'll be able to think 'I pied staff sergeant Baker."


    With a flourishing bow, Graham stepped aside as LeGar and Patch rolled the wagon out in front, piled thick and heavy with rich pies. "You heard the good man, ten credits for a pie! And tell you all what, first one up here gets it for five!"

[AlphaWolf]

Hospital Corpsman Second Class Mark Phillips

Outskirts of New Alexandria

Downtrodden, Depressed, and Dejected

    Mark walked through the park, his hands stuck in his pockets and his cap firmly seated on his head.  Ever since coming on leave, he'd been nothing but downtrodden, depressed, and dejected.  Sure, he was welcomed warmly by civilians no matter where he went, due to his obvious military build and "Corpsman Up!" cap.  But they didn't help his spirits.  His relative lack of a social life slammed home whenever he took leave.  Now, he wasn't quite sure why he even took leave.  

    He had no family, no relatives to visit.  His parents were dead, killed in action three years ago.  His grandparents were dead, dying of natural causes nearly fifteen years ago.  His sister was in boot.  His brother was actively deployed.  He had no uncles, no aunts.  He had no significant other, no children.  He had made a few friends among his platoon, but no one he could truly call a friend.  He was....alone.  On leave, he felt as alone as he had ever been.  The long nights at the bars helped, but only until he had to quit drinking so he could report sober.  He had thought about trying to hook up with some women at bars--but it wouldn't help.  He had tried that before.  Hooking up was just not the same as being in a meaningful relationship.

    As he ambled through the parkland, wrapped in his misery, he heard a sound.  Laughter--the laughter of children.  And adults speaking with each other.  The smell of roasting meat wafted through the air, infiltrating Mark's nostrils.  Looking up, he stopped.  Standing on the walking oath, at the edge of the woods, he could see a group of families playing and chatting.  They looked so...content with their station in life.  They were everything Mark was not.

    Mark could still remember the days when his parents would take him, his kid sister and his older brother to parks to play with other kids.  Those days felt as if they were eons ago.  He longed for those days, when his parents were still alive, and he lived with his siblings.  Those were the good days, the days when Mark had been truly happy.  Now.......now, Mark hadn't been truly happy in months.  Being isolated from family while having no girlfriend made for terrible deployments and worse leaves.

    Standing at the edge of the woods, Mark watched, and he remembered.



((His hat looks like this: thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mdicoXSbKOHInWTohmUWwSA.jpg))

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines 

Community Park BBQ 

Five minutes later on the dot, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson stuffed the last bite of her second hot dog in her mouth and got up to go call the twins to lunch. She knew Sam would've gone without complaint, but she was home little enough as it was. Any time she got to spend with her two five-year-olds, she would gladly take. Small or large, these were the memories she'd later take with her the next time she deployed, far from the three people she loved most.

Before the heavy thought could engulf her, Adrienne spotted Evan and Erin down the field a ways; the teams had since switched sides, though she and Sam had kept a sharp eye on their kids the whole time. She brought her hands up to call out to them as she approached when she saw a lone figure standing by the trees on his own. He was wearing a "Corpsman Up" cap - obviously denoting him as a Navy hospitalman. She didn't immediately recognize him, but she'd had her ass saved in combat by medics enough times that she had the utmost respect for anyone who took up that job. Deciding her kids could play a little longer, she changed trajectory suddenly and started walking towards the man.

"Hi there, swabbie," she said to the sailor. "I'm Lieutenant Colonel Jackson." She stuck out her hand then, noticing how morose the young Navy corpsman looked, hoping this boosted his mood a bit. Adrienne quirked an eyebrow at him. "I'm not sure if we've met in the field before, but you and others like you have pulled my butt out of the fire more than once. Saved a lot of my Marines, too. Just wanted to say thank you for that in person."

[AlphaWolf]

Hospital Corpsman Second Class Mark Phillips
Outskirts of New Alexandria


Mark remembered.  He remembered the time his sister hit him in the head with a rock from a tree, then stayed in the tree--to his dismay.  He remembered the time he fell in the woods and hurt his leg, earning him a cast for weeks afterwards.  He remembered the time his parents took him and his sister and his brother to the park, and they played with the other kids till after dark.  He remembered the time he and his friends caught a badger in a sack, then had to let it go.  He remembered the time he hit his sister in the head with a rock from a tree, then stayed in the tree--to her dismay.  He remembered it all.

Tears formed in his eyes as he stood there, remembering his dead parents and his faraway siblings.  His failed relationships, his failed attempts at building a life.  Then a voice cut through the dreams.

"Hi there, swabbie," she said to the sailor. "I'm Lieutenant Colonel Jackson."

Mark blinked the tears from his eyes and looked down at the woman.  She was half a foot or shorter than he, and he almost had to laugh at the way she craned her neck to look up at him.  Almost.  Taking the offered hand, he shook.

"Hospital Corpsman Second Class Mark Phillips, ma'am."

"I'm not sure if we've met in the field before, but you and others like you have pulled my butt out of the fire more than once. Saved a lot of my Marines, too. Just wanted to say thank you for that in person."


A thank-you.  Not unexpected, yet not expected.  They were common when one served as a corpsman.  Marines liked having their skin in one piece, and anyone who helped to maintain that was nearly Christ-like.

"I think we have, ma'am.  I've had some.....special-duty assignments in the past, and I believe I saw you a few times.  And it's just a day's work, ma'am, not dissimilar from what you yourself do."

Over her shoulder--well, her head--he could see the kids playing.  It brought the memories back, but Mark quickly shoved them away, an expression of remembrance flashing over his face.

[Guardian Cat of Yappa's]

   Sergeant Maximilian Drake Fields

Really Late and Embarrassed

     Pulling up Extremely late for the BBQ, Sergeant Fields was completely embarrassed. "You can navigate a battlefield with plasma flying over your head but you can't find your way through town." He grumbled to himself, climbing out of the car he saw that a float with Staff Sarge Bowers getting pied. "Hmph, Bowers would volunteer for that." Grabbing his beer, Fields would start walking over, He was a single man, with his mother on Mars. Fields didn't exactly have family to relax with so he found the company of other soldiers comforting to him.

    Walking up to the Colonel he would smile and gesture towards him with his beer, "Hey, Colonel you started without me, whats up with that, since I've saved your butt a few times I figured you wait for me." Chuckling as he brought him in for a hug, he laughed as he spotted out different members of the regiment. "Great turnout today boss."

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Community Park
Drinking and Eating.

"Hey, Colonel you started without me, whats up with that, since I've saved your butt a few times I figured you wait for me." Someone said. The Colonel had never met the man before and only recognized the face because he personally transferred the Sergeant to the fifty first marine assault regiment less than a week ago. Killinger was left nearly dumbfounded, confused on who the Sergeant was talking too. John glanced over his shoulder to see if there was another Colonel sitting or standing behind him a distance - but there was nothing. The man was gesturing towards John.

What?

John, standing at the time, was suddenly hugged by the man, followed by the Sergeant laughing.

What...?

The man released his grip and stood back a bit, "Great turnout today boss." He said.

What......?

John straightened the wrinkles that had developed near the bottom of his shirt, a habit he had when wearing something uncomfortable. He preferred to be in fatigues by now, and if it wasn't fatigues he enjoyed wearing the suit the higher powers gave him... bare skin. Civilian clothes made him feel almost... vulnerable.

"Sergeant," Killinger started. "I have not even the foggiest idea what you're talking about, but I've never served with you and I most certainly never met you before. You must be thinking of someone different." John added. And I know I've never been saved by you. John thought silently to himself, looking normally but critically at the man.

"You need to visit a sick bay, son?"

[Guardian Cat of Yappa's]

Now it was Fields Turn to be confused. "Sir You are the commanding Officer of the 51st right? I was part of the 35th for awhile, We assisted in one of your operations, I remember being part of the team that was covering the 51st's main fighting force. That was about 3 years ago I believe?"

Looking around, he noticed that nobody had taken noticed of their conversation. 

Weird, I would have surely thought the Colonel would have remember that.

Looking towards the float now, he took a drink and told the Colonel "Atleast I think it was your guys in the 51st, I've been fighting to long, Seen to many squad mates die, you lose track of details like unit designations after awhile, you know what I mean Colonel?"

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Community Park
Drinking and Eating.

"You have someone else," John replied to the mans statements. "Three years ago I was a Major serving with the elite, highly classified unit called 'Task Force Seven Seven', which has been disbanded and unclassified. You would not have served with them at any point of your career, since they were deployed normally alone on high risk missions that resulted, often, in almost total annihilation of the unit. As such it was disbanded six or seven months ago." John said.

He returned to his seat and sat down.

"I've only been in command of the fifty first M.A.R for about that time. I've only been a Colonel for half a year and was immediately reassigned to command this regiment." Killinger said plainly. "My first operation with the fifty first, and last with task force seven seven, was in unexplored space on an unknown planet where the marine forces were unfortunately beaten in a Pyrrhic Covenant victory. During that time, however, I was on a different planet when I took command of the unit. A planet called 'Nectum'. They ferried me out as soon as they could." Killinger said, taking drink of his water.

John allowed a moment to pass before continuing. "I've been serving in the UNSC Marine Corps for twenty one years now, almost twenty two. I've seen entire planets burned to nothing. Oceans turn to steam and the atmosphere itself glows and boils away. The faces of vaporized men still fresh in my mind. I was on Harvest, Arcadia. I've seen more death than one man should endure." John said.

"And I've gone to hell and back for my men, and I expect you to follow me into it."

[Guardian Cat of Yappa's]

    "I've been serving in the UNSC Marine Corps for twenty one years now, almost twenty two. I've seen entire planets burned to nothing. Oceans turn to steam and the atmosphere itself glows and boils away. The faces of vaporized men still fresh in my mind. I was on Harvest, Arcadia. I've seen more death than one man should endure, and I've gone to hell and back for my men, and I expect you to follow me into it."



    "Ooh Rah sir." Sitting down across from the Colonel he looked straight at the man. "Don't mean to steal the Hell jumpers thing, but right behind you feet first and back again." He said finishing his beer, it was his first and probably his last for the night. "So Bowers volunteer for that pie thing or was he the unlucky bastard to get chosen for it."

[Cabel]

[Inner Colonies: Epsilon Eridani System: Planet Reach: Viery Territory: Eposz: New Alexandria: Outskirts: Large Community Park: First Lieutenant Mark “Spade” Seamus Sorelson: Year 2547] 

Taking a stroll through one of New Alexandria‘s largest community parks, Mark took in the differences between Manassas and the city of New Alexandria in that the former had been far more cramped in comparison. The veteran marine had decided to take the tram to New Alexandria more from the fact he‘d seen more than of Manassas every time he‘d been on Reach, and that the city of New Alexandria while being the capital of Reach had been largely an unknown to him. After the Tram had stopped at the New Alexandria station, he‘d set out on foot through the city and eventually found himself in one of the city‘s largest parks. His mind had been on the last mission, a mission that had been one of the most trying and had resulted in Task Force Seventy-Seven folding with the Task Force‘s assets being assigned to the new Fifty-First Marine Assault Regiment. Even with the replacements, the Fifty-First had to be a battle hardened unit with the veterans…the survivors from the Task Force Seventy-Seven being re-assigned to it yet he had his doubts. In any war, hardened units had oftentimes been found to be under strength or suffering from fatigue due to the action seen by many of the personnel.

His thoughts were given a reprieve when the aroma from marinated meat, from a barbecue caught his attention. The sounds of mirth, of laughter from children playing to adults enjoying themselves reverberated through the park and for even a short time Mark had to admit to himself that the war though distant hadn’t dampened the spirits of civilians. Even here on Reach, one hadn’t been able to ignore or overlook the costs and the ravages of the war. The toll on the human species had been one not even academic scholars had been able to predict even in their nightmares, but as with every conflict and conflagration throughout the history of the species the human spirit had deemed itself a unifying force. Stepping off the path, he’d follow his nose making his way to the camp site and found he’d missed this part of the human spirit and this part of his own life. He hadn’t taken his biological family to a barbecue in decades, at least not before his transfer from that training unit at Ft. Lewis on Earth. His thoughts went to a more solemn place, to the fate of Spike the Jackal he’d befriended and treated who later had saved his hide along with that of many of his men from the Oblivion One-One Pelican crash. He had promised Spike that he’d do everything in his power to put in a good word for him, but his clearance as a First Lieutenant hadn’t been enough to come anywhere close to revealing or even preventing what fate lay in store for the Jackal. If there had been a Heaven, a pizzeria or some bar in the sky, he hoped if worse had come to worse that Spike had been waiting there with a hearty pint at hand.

[Martial Virtue]

Second Lieutenant Gabriel Hawk, UNSC Marines

Community Park BBQ

Gabe sat straight in the passenger seat of his parents' car as his mother drove him to the barbecue they'd heard about after the ceremony. It felt a little empty without the rest of the family, but the young second lieutenant figured he'd better start getting used to it; soon, he'd be shipping out to his first combat mission. He was nervous about it and wondered where it might be, but forced himself not to dwell on it for now. This was going to be one of the last times he'd get to see everyone before he left.

Sensing his disquietude, his mom gave him a quick glance while they drove along.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" she asked.

Hawk gave a noncommittal shrug. "Nothing. Just thinking."

"About?"

"Stuff. Don't worry about it, Mom. Really."

Cooper sighed as she pulled into the parking lot, noting a lot of other families were already here. It looked like they were very very late. Right now, though, that didn't matter so much to her as the mental well-being of her son. As soon as she turned the car off, she reached over and squeezed his hand. She had one of her usual small smirks on her face as she spoke.

"You can't fool me, you know. You forget I've been though everything you're going through now at your age, too. And I was leaving your father behind when I shipped for the first time, which was a lot worse. We'd only been married three weeks before we had to go our separate ways with new orders."

"Yeah. I know."

"But we loved each other, and we made it work. You don't have to worry about anything like that. We're you're family, Gabe, and we'll always be here when you get back."

The young Marine officer scratched his head. "It's not...that that I'm worried about."

"Then what?"

"I'm just...anxious. I almost want it to be time already so I can stop worrying." He released a sigh of his own. "I don't want to let my Marines down, Mom."

Natalie squeezed his hand again. "You won't, son. You're a good man, a good Marine, and a good leader. You'll do just fine."

Gabe gave an ambiguous grunt of acknowledgment without needing to say he wasn't so sure about that. Cooper smiled then and grabbed him gently by the back of his neck.

"You know how I know? You're my kid. And you're your father's son, too. Genes like that won't let you down. Now how about some food to get your mind off it all?"

Finally, a weak smile broke out on Hawk's face, too. "Okay."

The second lieutenant emerged from the car then, taking in the sights around him for the first time - he'd been too lost in his thoughts in the car to notice. Almost immediately, he let out a groan.

"Shit. I told you we should've changed before coming here, Mom." He looked down at his dress uniform, utterly out of place in the casual setting of the get-together. "I look like a prick."

Instead of instantly reprimanding him, Cooper just laughed at her young son's outburst. "You do not look like a prick, honey. I already told you we didn't have time to stop by the base to change after I spoke at the Academy. And anyway, you're handsome in that. Just strut your stuff a little and you might meet yourself a girl or two before you leave."

"Mom!"

Gabriel was embarrassed to the core, thankful no one else was around to hear that. At the ceremony they'd just attended at the Academy, his mother had seemed like the perfect image of a proud, dedicated, no-nonsense senior Marine officer, with her silver eagle rank insignia of a full colonel and a chestful of medals hanging off the left side of her Class A's. Here, she'd just morphed back into her usual outrageous self. Eventually he shook his head and started after her.

"Hey, wait up!"

He caught up with her in a few strides, taking after his father in terms of height and putting those long legs to good use. 

"So when's Dad showing up with Damon and Logan?" he asked once he was beside her. "I thought they were supposed to be right behind us in the other car. I want to eat."

"Your dad and your little brothers will be here soon. They had to make a quick pitstop." She seemed momentarily distracted, the medals on her dress uniform clinking together as she surveyed their surroundings. Gabriel was again reminded that he had yet to earn any himself, and had some awful big boots to fill in the wake of his mother's illustrious career in the Marines. "I'm going to go look for an old friend for a sec, okay? Can you keep yourself busy till they get here?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine."

"Good." Finally she looked like she found who she was searching for - Gabriel followed his mother's gaze to another full-bird colonel by the food. Her gaze brightened for a minute, then she turned back to her son. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she looked up into his face and grinned. "I'm so proud of you, baby. And I know you'll give your father and I even more reasons to brag about you once you come back." Her expression went unusually serious all of a sudden. "I know we weren't around a lot when you were younger because of deployments, and it's something we'll always regret. But everything we did, we did for you and your brothers, Gabe. We never stopped missing you and we've always loved you, so much. Don't forget that."

"Right. I love you, too, Mom."

Natalie gave him another small smile and seemed satisfied with that answer. With that, she let go of him and started walking towards the other colonel. Gabriel was left standing there wondering what to make of the brief conversation.

Gee, wonder what that was about, he thought to himself. He chalked it up to a long day for both of them, and began looking around for someone to talk to as well. Everyone here looked to be folks older than him or significantly younger - like, kid younger - so he wasn't sure where to start.

And it doesn't help that I stick out like a sore thumb around here, either. Thanks for that, Mom.

[MrKill]

First Lieutenant Kyle, B. Killinger
Community Park...
...Bored.

Kyle sat in the shade with his fatigue shirt opened up to reveal a brown T-Shirt underneath, a regulation shirt provided my the CORPS themselves. On the back would be 'Marines', but it was concealed by his brown digital patterned fatigue shirt. He had gotten home about twenty two hours ago now and still wanted to sleep longer. His polished silver bar reflecting some of the sunlight that was shining on it back onto the ground, creating a funny shape of bright light in a shaded place.

He tossed an apple into the air and caught it before repeating again twice before eventually taking a bite out of the fruit. He tossed it into the air again, caught it and took another bite. Before he even knew he was tossing an apple core into the air, Adrianna caught it at its height peak and looked down at her older brother, grinning.

"What did you do to it?" Kyle asked instinctively. Adrianna had, roughly six years ago, dunked a peach he was eating into an unclean toilet when he was an the phone with one of his friends. At that time Adrianna was only eleven, but it still happened and he has never let her forget.

"To the apple?" The asked quizzically. "Nothing." She coughed and opened her hand. Inside it was one of Kyle's silver bars... and a finger print. His freshly polished silver bar and she had put her finger print on it. Never again would the bar be worth anything to him, ever again. Her filthy finger print was on it, smudging his pride like the dirt he was sitting on. He knew it was just Adrianna trying to energize him and he had to admit, he felt a bit of energy...

And shot his hand upwards, but Adrianna anticipated it. "I'm not eleven, bro." She said in a challenging tone. She wanted Kyle to get his bar back. "Took it off you when you were napping in the shade." She added, a full smile had cracked over her face. She was probably just as bored as she was. Kyle, however, wasn't as nice as she was either. He stood up and grabbed a medium sized rock.

"Three seconds to run," Kyle said, preparing to toss the rock. Adrianna stood fearlessly in front of Kyle, not even a meter away. He tossed, she ducked, leaned backwards and kicked out her leg. Next thing she knew, however, was her being on her back as Kyle countered the low kick with a grab and pull.

"Sista, sista, sista." Kyle mocked. "I've passed basic hand to hand training." He said, before getting kicked in the chest, which caused him to stumble backwards. Adrianna rolled and was up a second later, waving her hand towards her face. Common. She smiled and tossed him his silver bar. Kyle reached out, grabbed it, and was on his back two seconds later with the air knocked out of his chest... and so was his silver bar... again.

"God damn," He huffed as he tried to regain his breath. He finally stood up to see Adrianna running towards one of the gravball courts. As a community park there were many things to do. Kyle gave chase and was stunned by how fast Adrianna had become. She was quick, very quick, and actually beat Kyle to the courts in a full sprint before he was even half way there.

By the time he arrived Adrianna had inserted herself on one side of the court. "Last time you beat me... I plan on changing that, bro. If I win this time you have to wear a pink shirt saying 'My sister is better than me'..." She said.

"And if I win?" Kyle asked. The silver bar was at the doors entrance. He picked it up, brushed the fingerprint off with his fatigue shirt and clipped it back on to regulation standards. He accepted his sisters challenge. He grinned, until another girl walked up from behind Kyle, entered the box, and grinned. It was her best friend. Oh god he thought. She was a professional GravBall player.

"If you win I won't do the thing I want to do..." She said, grinning foolishly.

Her friend smiled.

"What?" Kyle asked. He realized what she meant. During his last year of officer candidate school, Adrianna learned that Kyle was attracted to a second year officer cadet. Her name was Sarah, and the only reason she knew Kyle was because his father had set various records at the school and had become something of a legend. He was assuming Adrianna would reveal his feelings for her.

"Go find someone to play with, we'll be here..." Her friend stated.

Kyle spotted a lone Marine in a dress uniform by the southern parking lot. He was the closest person to the GravBall court. He walked over as the man was staring towards a departing female and at the food tables. The female was in uniform, wearing the insignia of a Colonel. He immediately assumed it was one of his fathers friends.

"Hey," Kyle said, his fatigue shirt flattening against his frame as a gust of wind picked up. "I was wondering if you'd come play some GravBall with my sister, her friend and myself. We need another anyways." He added with a light smile. He held out his hand and offered a handshake.

"First Lieutenant Kyle Killinger," Kyle said. "Don't worry about your uniform. I've got some shorts you can use, but my shirts will be to big for you."

Kyle was 6'3. The Marine in front of him was maybe 6'1, he wasn't too sure. The man might be even smaller, but Kyle didn't care.

[Soulstep]

2nd Lt. Geoff Alexander Blake Mkvenner
Community Park
On the hunt for bacon.

Geoff finally arrived at the barbeque, and unusually for a UNSCMC officer, looked perfectly at ease in an olive green UNSC casual t-shirt and jeans. Whistling as he walked into the park, he immediately started looking for the nearest source of free food, his primary motivation for coming, other than it being something to do. He had turned up alone, apparantly unusually for those present. Not like anyone could blame him, his family being a smear on a glassed planet half the galaxy away, after all. He'd also walked here, and judging by the multitude of cars parked nearby, that was unusual too.

The young Lieutenant (while he was on duty, anyway,) strolled through the park, hands half in his pockets, and still whistling. He saw a few faces he recognised among the crowd, but he was mostly among strangers. He half reckoned he'd be asked to leave if it wasn't for the fact at least someone here knew he was a Marine. Probably the Colonel, whom he had glimpsed as he had neared the park's entrance, being apparantly glomped by whom he had assumed to be a very drunk Marine before the crowd blocked Geoff's sight of him.

Out of his platoon, he knew a handful of them were present, but for now couldn't see them. Most notably, Serena, aka. Sgt. Becker, had declared she'd be turning up, probably seeing it a prime chance to get completely hammered. He vaguely remembered that she had actually claimed it was to meet one of her PFC's kids, but she wasn't fooling anyone.

It wasn't like Geoff was overly concerned with her motivations, however. There was bacon somewhere around here, and, he swore by the Corps, he was getting some of it.

[Martial Virtue]

Second Lieutenant Gabriel Hawk, UNSC Marines

Community Park BBQ

Thankfully for him, Gabe stood there all of a minute before someone approached. The newcomer was tall, and had the right build for military; and thanks to his choice of wardrobe, Hawk could tell right away that he was going to be talking to a fellow UNSC servicemember. He just had to find out which.

"Hey," the other young man said. "I was wondering if you'd come play some GravBall with my sister, her friend and myself. We need another anyways." 

The dude smiled and stuck his hand out for Gabriel to take, and Hawk slowly did so.

"First Lieutenant Kyle Killinger," the newcomer said. "Don't worry about your uniform. I've got some shorts you can use, but my shirts will be to big for you."

Gabe laughed a little nervously. "It's cool, I've got my own shirt on underneath this and some sneakers in the car. I could definitely use a spare set of shorts though, gravball's going to be tough to play in dress trousers and fancy shoes." Encouraged by Killinger's friendliness, he continued, "I'm Second Lieutenant Gabriel Hawk. Technically I'm supposed to be waiting here for my dad and my brothers, but...let me go ask my mom for the car keys real quick and I'll be right back. I feel pretty stupid wearing this right now."

Before the other kid could reply, Gabe was racing across the field to catch up with his mother. It looked like she was close to striking up a conversation with the colonel she'd seen earlier. At first Hawk wasn't sure whether to salute or not but decided against it given the casual nature of the environment. 

His mom turned to face him with a perplexed look. "Are your dad and brothers here already?"

"Nope. Just need to borrow the car keys from you real quick. Please."

"Sure." Natalie dug them out of her pocket and gave them to him, then suddenly grinned and wagged a finger. "Now, no driving off with some girl while you have those, okay? I need them to get home, too."

Gabriel released an exasperated sigh as he felt his cheeks heat again. "Right, Mom. I'm just going to go change out of this."

With keys in hand and a little less of his pride intact, the young lieutenant then jogged back to the car and stripped off his uniform jacket, cover, and shoes. Dressed in a white T-shirt, dress pants, and sneakers now, he finally got back to Killinger.

"Sorry to make you wait, sir. I'm ready now." He offered a weak lopsided grin. "If you've got those shorts, that is."