Percy groaned when he heard the obnoxious beeping alarm go off on the intercom. He looked at the clock - showing 4:30 am - and silently cursed whoever decided that four in the morning was a decent time to get up. It's not that he couldn't wake his ass up this early - he could - it's just his sleep schedule has been fucked up since he got there. He didn't hear Sophia or anyone say anything informing them that they needed to go to the meeting room, so he didn't - happily, actually. He didn't wanna go to a damn meeting with that asshole anyway.

[color=d3d3d3][i]Don't start the day like that, you're better than that.[/i][/color]

Percy put on his usual clothes - the only set of clothes he brought to base, actually - and he decided he'd just go to home base. [i]His[/i] home base, at least. 

Percy left his quarters and got himself fully awake after a quick trip to the mess hall for coffee. The lead-engineer, for the first time out of his suit and sporting his mane of graying hair, turned towards Percy in the hallway to outside. The lead-engineer, outside the suit, was a somewhat stockier middle-aged fellow, an oddly wild look in his gaze. He was wearing a more standard mechanic's jumpsuit.

"I see you're awake? Heh, pretty crazy getting up so early, huh?"

Percy rubbed the leftover sleep from his eyes, then nodded. [color=d3d3d3]"Not used to it yet."[/color]

"Eh, you will," he said with a small shrug, "Don't worry about it. Going out the base, it seems? Going to visit family? Don't let anyone else notice or anything. Sophia'd probably be mad if you just up and left without even giving a memo. I won't tattle, of course!"

[color=d3d3d3]"I would've given her a notice if I knew she needed one,"[/color] Percy said, a tinge of hostility in his voice. [color=d3d3d3]"But I'm only told the bare minimum around here."[/color] Percy left before the engineer could say anything, if he wanted to say anything at all.

[hr]
When Percy finally got to his home, he noticed that it smelled like someone was cooking - Zach, probably. Ana then ran out from her bedroom to greet him, leaping into his arms - she was smiling wide. [i][color=d3d3d3]Still not talking much, though,[/color][/i] Percy noted. Usually she'd say "hey dad!" or something like it. Running up and greeting him is a good development, though. She wouldn't even do [i]that[/i] for a while.

[color=cd5c5c]"Hey Pierce. Is somethin' wrong?"[/color] Zach chimed in as he stepped out of the kitchen.
 
[color=d3d3d3]"No, I just wanted to see my kid."[/color] Percy stated matter-of-factly, gently setting Ana down on her two feet.  [color=d3d3d3]"Why? You doin' something I need to know about, Zach?"[/color] Percy's gaze on the guy was icy yet burning into his skin at the same time.
 
Zach sighed, aggravation heavy in his voice. [color=cd5c5c]"Percy, come on,"[/color] he begged, [color=cd5c5c]"I'm not gonna do it again, ok? Promise."[/color]
 
Percy just scoffed, then directed his attention to his daughter that was obviously distressed. His tone changed immediately, [color=d3d3d3]"Ana? Ana, hey, what's up?"[/color]
 
She just pouted. Percy tried to read anything that could give him a hint on what's the matter, but he just couldn't. Ana then looked down to the ground, arms crossed loosely.
 
[color=cd5c5c]"Don't make Ana listen to our bullshit."[/color]
 
Percy's eyes widened slightly when Zach cursed, and spoke before he could get the rest of his statement out, [color=d3d3d3]"Don't curse-"[/color]
 
[color=cd5c5c] "She's going to be around people that cuss, Percy,"[/color] Zach interrupted, just like Percy did him, [color=cd5c5c]"This isn't 2051. It's 2677. Get over it."[/color]

Percy paused only briefly - he had a point, but at the same time, [color=d3d3d3]"She doesn't need to hear it,"[/color] Percy insisted.

[color=cd5c5c] "Shit. Fuck. Ass."[/color] Zach challenged.

[color=d3d3d3]"[i]Zach![/i]"[/color] Percy cried.
 
[color=cd5c5c]"Dick. Cunt. Tits.."[/color] Zach just kept listing curse words off the top of his head, keeping count on his fingers as Percy continued to get more and more panicked and flustered.
 
[color=ee82ee]"Guys..!"[/color] Ana's strained voice stopped the arguement from going any further, even if it was soft. [color=ee82ee]"Stop it."[/color]

[color=d3d3d3]"See? Even Ana wants you to-"[/color]

[color=ee82ee]"I said [i]guys[/i],"[/color] Ana corrected gently, [color=ee82ee]"with an [i]s.[/i]"[/color]

[color=cd5c5c]"She's known cuss words all her life - learned it from the one around her most, actually,"[/color] Zach said, gesturing to Percy.

The redhead's face showed his offense and his shock, [color=d3d3d3]"I've never cursed in front of her!"[/color]

[color=cd5c5c]"Even when you.. I dunno, stubbed your toe on a chair leg? Couldn't find house keys? Water didn't work? I could go on. "[/color]

Percy's face burned a bright pinkish-red when he brought those specific situations up - yes, he's cursed in those situations, but.. he didn't think Ana heard.

[color=cd5c5c]"I win,"[/color] Zach said simply, turning around to go back to the kitchen to make sure he wasn't burning the food he had cooking - rabbit.

[color=d3d3d3]"...You know that you can't say those words."[/color] Percy's tone of voice was more questioning than stating firmly.

Ana simply nodded.


[hider=OOC]
I felt like I needed to post so bewm. here's a post.
[/hider]