Reflections and Visits (Vincent, Jo Kang)
âA very persistent one.â Â Tank replied wryly. Â Looking back to Jo, he added, âI suppose we shouldnât keep your father waiting. Â Heâll at least want to know about Vincentâs arrival. Â Though, I wouldnât be surprised if he wasnât already aware of you. Â The man doesnât miss too much. Â Weâll meet you at the house.â Â
At her nod, he turned and guided Vincent to the ranch home, where there were at least two young men bustling about, setting up a grill and table on an enclosed . Â Tank introduced the men to Vincent. Â âRalph, Harry, this is my friend, Vincent Mikaru. Â Vincent, meet Ralph and Harry Kang.â Â
Harry was a taller individual, roughly Vincentâs height, but significantly gangly in comparison, with blue eyes that reflected the easy grin on his face as he shook Vincentâs hand. Â Ralph was somewhat shorter and a bit stockier, but his brown eyes were equally happy. Â âWelcome to the ranch buddy. Â Any friend of of Tankâs is welcome to join us anytime.â Harry greeted, moving aside for Ralph. Â He looked to Tank with a question. Â âWeâll be startin soon. Â You want it medium?â
âIndeed, thank you.â Â Tank replied as he moved out of the way, leaning against the railing. Â
Ralph was still focused on Vincent, looking over the Echaniâs attire. Â âYou certainly stand out. Â Lookin sharp in these leathers. Youâd make Cletus jealous, and he runs the leather shop in town. Â And is that hair natural?â
Tank smirked. Â After he was âoutedâ due to the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ralph couldnât help but ask all sorts of questions. Â Especially when he came zipping in with Jo on his speeder bike. Â âEasy Ralph, the man did just get here, let him at least get a chance to meet Joseph before you proceed to interrogate him.â Â
Vincent looked down at his hands and the leather that clad them and his arms, âWell, I am known for my tendency to stick out when In my normal dress. I will need to go out and buy some more, local attire?â He looked back up, âMy assistant is in the process of fabricating me some paperwork, ID, currency, the like. With no offense to your overall infrastructure she could probably take over your planet right now if she wanted to, so much of it is tied together and so⊠undefended. As for the hairâŠâ
He sighed and reached up, undoing the central knot of the braid and letting it all come undone, all the way down to his backside. â100% Grade A Echani⊠But it also makes me stick out so Iâm going to need to cut and dye itâŠâ He ran a hand over it, then shook his head. âJust once Iâd like to be undercover in a place where White hair isnât unusual.â
âNo, I reckon keeping him waitinâ ainât the best thing to do,â she agreed with a thin, wry smile. She took that as her cue to leave and let her father know ahead of time that they had an extra guest on the propertyâeven if Tank was right. Not much got past her father when it came to the ranch. She passed by her brothers on the way into the house proper, as they were setting up the grill. Just before she disappeared inside, she heard them turn on the new piece of prime entertainment. The rumble of voices followed her inside, although she tuned it out as she wove her way through the rooms to the kitchen near the back.
Her father was already setting up platters laden with seasoned meats and vegetables. He was working on a platter of kebabs when she walked into the kitchen. He glanced up at her, gave a curt nod and smile without missing a beat in skewering a piece of meat.
âI assume youâre here tâ tell me about our guest?â
ââŠUm. Yes?â
He snorted softly, finishing off the last kebab and putting it on a platter with other completed ones. âI noticed the flyby earlier when I was preppinâ the steaks. I assume theyâre here now, judging by the rambunctious rabble from your brothers.â
Jo sighed, but she smiled nonetheless. He really didnât miss much. âHm. Iâll be out soon to greet our guest. That young man of yours still here as well?â
She nodded again. âHm. Help me out with these platters and Iâll greet him right proper then. Be rude if I donât.â
âGot it,â she said, already picking up several platters. âThe grillâs already gettinâ set up and whatnot.â















