"Gah!" 

Maia's sharp surprise woke BFF up a little more completely, and he crumpled his expression in exaggerated irritation as she asked how his nap had gone. He was about to respond with a joke about his arthiritis when Avice interjected. He unfolded like the paper tiger he was, and was about to animatedly explain about his psychic powers, maybe tell the story about the Mantis that his kids used to like when a sharp rap at the side of his Handou distracted him further. To this he began to chuckle to himself-- not the first time he hadn't gotten a chance for a word when it came to the ladies in his life.


"Rise and shine gramps!", oh shit it's the boss lady, "Really, Bernard - you're setting a bad example for the newbies!"

A pad and paper landed in his lap as she stalked off like the angry kitten 
Bernard had come to respect her as, hissing all the way at all the other chickadees. He would follow the kitten's orders with his life, the resolve of a diamond dog; Bernard caught that as his cue to start meaning business. With an amicable shrug, he stood and stole an apologetic look at Maia and Avice before he started to batten down the hatches. As he began to pull, he saw-- Elaine.

He gave her a nod. Morgan's girl. Elaine. Smoke and dust had hardened his voice, his face, but she knew that Old Snake could understand what a hard life was. He closed the hatch with a metallic clang, and shook his head. His systems were already up and grumbling of course-- BFF was more like his machine's heartbeat than anything. Yeah, he needed to he there, but the Snake Eater? It was his body. He sat back into his seat, comfy as Satan as he snuffed his cigarette into it's metallic case. He turned on the coms with a link to everyone, turned on his smile. He felt more comfortable talking from here anyhow. His words were for the ones he'd seen so far. Faces that he wanted to see smiling again.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Bernard's voice was a jovial rasp, like sandpaper would sound if it liked you and wanted to buy you a drink. "Wish I was this popular when I was a younger man! Don't  hesitate rookies! Make sure that when you see your path in front of you, make it yours!" 

It seemed he was in good company, and the team grandpa was in fine spirits as he spoke to his family. His smile made comfortable wrinkles in his face like familiar leather, and he addressed each of his teammates with a little laugh in his voice. It would be just as well, maybe he could put some spirits more at ease before they had to pick up their guns. Yeah. That would be enough for him. A crackle of static, and he was online with the kitten.

"Emmerich reporting in, Snake Eater is ready for battle!"