[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/EzQI717.png[/img][/center]
With the main threats slain and the remaining monstrosities turned to nothing more than fertilizer, the mission concluded in a rather uneventful manner. The Chi-Mechframes performed more or less as expected in the end, even with the extra wrenches tossed in their way. He had managed to foist the glory of the kill upon Faye, the rest managed to get their little commendations in, and the soldiers could live to fight another day. Job success, in the end.

Well, now, his other job began.

A cold shower cleared up what sweat had built up, and a half hour of stretching afterwards had insured that his muscles would be fine come morning. Though the Horizon wasn’t so luxurious as to afford something like a swimming pool inside it, the gym was a place to visit after everything got wrapped up. Dressed now in sweatpants and whatever t-shirt he first saw when he opened up his closet, Xuan-Yu slipped into the mess hall just in time for Teodora to shatter his eardrums with her screams. He turned briefly to Norika, who looked even more reluctant than he did about entering, before flashing a grin.

[b]“C’mon kiddo,”[/b] he said, tapping his foot against the back of her knee. [b]“If you’re not quick about it, they’ll snatch you up n gobble you whole.”[/b]

And with that, he stepped into the mess hall as well, taking all of ten seconds to cross past the infusion of estrogen that was a trio of girls giving themselves diabetes, before slipping past the doors and into the kitchen.

…

Another minute later, and Xuan-Yu walked back out, balancing four 16-packs of beers on his shoulders. The boxes dug into his flesh and his hands already felt like they were freezing over from the cold, but work was work and it wasn’t as if any of the others were budding alcoholics. Probably. Pilots that had drinking problems were a big problem, in some part of the world at least. As he made to make a swift exit once more, his eyes caught the mountain of snacks that Hoshiko now had before her, and, well, what could be said?

[b]“Keep up the good work, punchgirl. You’ll be a rollin’ boulder in no time.”[/b] His head tilted, a brief contemplation. [b]“Save the sweets for morning though, unless you're interested in night watch.”[/b]