First Round's on Me
Posted on Tue Aug 4th, 2026 @ 6:27pm by Colonel Jonathon Raynor & Master Sergeant Ezekiel Chambers & Technical Sergeant Xander Drake & Scarlett Hayes Dr. & Chief Petty Officer Marisa Harlan & Commander Aaron Wander & Pilot Officer Aisling Quinn & Major (майо́р) Lyudmila "Mila" Sorokova
Mission:
Down Time
Location: Perma-Frost
2884 words - 5.8 OF Standard Post Measure
The cold hit different at McMurdo after a gate mission.
Not the sharp, dry heat of Abydos that still seemed lodged somewhere in Raynor’s boots and collar, but Antarctic cold, bitter and clean, the kind that cut through fabric and found skin anyway. The wind coming off the ice field had teeth tonight. It had not locked the base down, not yet, but it was mean enough that everyone crossing between buildings kept their heads low and their pace quick.
Raynor stepped through the door of the Perma-Frost and felt the warmth roll over him in a wave of noise, heat, and the smell of actual food. The place was doing what it always did after teams came back through the gate. Quietly pretending not to notice the extra edge in everyone’s faces while giving them somewhere to let the mission bleed off.
He paused just inside, glancing over the room.
A few of his people were already scattered around. Weapons gone, jackets open, shoulders a little less rigid than they had been a couple hours ago. Nobody was talking too loud. Nobody was talking about Abydos either. That, more than anything, told him how the mission had sat with them.
Raynor pulled off his gloves and tucked them into a pocket, letting his eyes adjust to the low amber light.
For the first time since stepping back through the gate, he allowed himself to breathe.
Just the low murmur of voices, glass against wood, and men and women trying to remember how to be off duty for a little while.
He moved toward the bar, resting one forearm against the worn edge as he looked over the room again.
“Alright,” he said, not loud, but enough for the nearest few to hear. “Nobody says the word pyramid for at least one drink. And the first round is on me.”
“I’ll take you upon that.” Scarlett responded as she closed the door and took off her jacket. For once she wasn’t carrying any books or notes, she was just planning on having some time to relax.
The colonel looked over and saw the red head and smirked. "Alright, I'll take a whiskey, and whatever the lady would like."
“Sex on the Beach.” Scarlett answered with as straight a face as she could muster, as several heads turned to look. “The drink that is.” she grinned a wry grin as she walked across to the bar.
"You really know how to cause people to turn heads," John replied as he smirked before shaking his head.
Scarlett grinned. “Well if you can’t have a little fun, what can you have?”
"Sleep?" John asked with a slight shrug and smirked a little grin.
Xander explored McMurdo base a bit, coat closed over him and zipped tight. The slight chill seeped into his neck, mashing with his internal warmth causing him to stay in some kind of limbo between cold and warmth. The personnel seemed nice, but in a hurry. He realized this place would always be cold, no matter how many times he stepped out of a warm building. At lease, after hearing about the Stargate sending him to other planets, it would be the furthest he would go from the ordinary. Stopping before the building named The Permafrost, he raised his eyebrow at that interesting name and opened the door. The wind gusted for a few seconds as he entered and removed his coat.
Stepping inside, he recognized Raynor, having met him during processing. Approaching him and another person he didn't recognize, he politely introduced himself, "Xander Drake."
Scarlett offered a polite smile. “Scarlett Hayes, SG2 nice to meet you.” She looked towards Raynor.
Aisling came in a moment later, still looking as if part of her had been left somewhere between Abydos and McMurdo. She had changed out of mission gear, but not quite out of mission mode; her hair was looser now, red curls trying to escape where she had pinned them back, and there was a faint strip of plaster across one finger from the crystal incident she was absolutely not planning to discuss unless someone made the mistake of asking.
The warmth of the Perma-Frost hit her first, then the noise. Not loud, exactly, just human. Glasses, voices, chairs shifting, people being people again. After dead air, old stone and a sarcophagus whispering in a language she did not know, it felt almost indecently normal.
She caught the tail end of Raynor’s offer and Scarlett’s drink order just as she reached the bar. Her eyebrows lifted, and despite herself, she let out a small laugh.
“Well now,” she said, tired but amused, “that’s one way to make sure no one says…” She stopped, realising exactly where the sentence was going, then pointed vaguely at the room as if the word itself might be hiding in the rafters. “Nope. Not doing it. I’ve had enough ancient architecture for one day.”
She glanced toward Xander as introductions moved around, offering him a polite nod. “Aisling Quinn. SG-2 as well. First day off-world, still in the one piece, so I’m calling that a win.”
Her eyes flicked to Raynor, then to the bartender. “If the first round’s truly on you, Colonel, I’ll have whatever cider you’ve managed to smuggle this far south. And if that’s a tragic ask, a beer will do. I’ll only complain a little.”
"Nice to meet you," Xander replied to the group. Turning to the bar, he accepted the drink placed on the counter and picked it. It was labled Glacier Highball, which consisted of vodka, soda, and a twist of lime served in a frosted glass. Studying it, he quietly debated on whether to drink it or not.
Raynor watched Xander study the drink like it was some alien artifact rather than a glass sitting in front of him. A small smirk crossed his face as he lifted his own whiskey.
“Careful, Drake,” he said, nodding toward the Glacier Highball. “Around here, the drinks are usually easier to survive than the missions. Usually.”
“First rule after a gate mission: you don’t overthink the drink, you don’t replay every decision, and you definitely don’t start writing the after-action report in your head before morning.”
Raynor raised his glass slightly.
“To coming home. That’s the part we celebrate.”
He took a sip, then looked back toward Scarlett and Aisling with a faint grin.
“And for the record, I’m still holding everyone to the no pyramid rule. I don’t care how creative you get with avoiding the subject.”
Zeke walked into the bar completely bundled up, it was only a quick trip but this was not the weather he was used to. He hated the cold, but the desire to be a part of this was bigger than his hate for weather. As he walked in, he shivered before he spotted members from the two SG teams. Part of him wanted to pick a different table because they were officers. Didn't feel right consorting with them, even after all of his time in and his rank. He finally made the decision and headed to the table.
"It's cold enough to freeze the teats off a brass monkey," Chambers said as he started to take off his coat. "Why couldn't they have put this base somewhere sunny?"
The Russians sat slightly apart from the other SG team members - casual intermingling was not encouraged, but to be completely absent could possibly be seen as outright insult...and given how their superior officer's first outing went (ah, the scuttlebutt was alive and well), it was even more important now to be seen as...approachable?
"We would not have complained." Mila chimed in.
"I thought you Ruskies loved the cold," Zeke replied with a warm grin despite the cold temperatures. "Or is that why y'all wanted Cuba so bad?"
He couldn't take the classified parts with him, but there were enough forms to fill out he'd have been in his office for too long. So Aaron had taken what he could and sat it at the table in front of him. He motioned to the others and smiled a little as he clicked his pen against the table to started to fill out the general forms and such.
After they had gotten back through the gate, Marisa took her time to have a hot shower. Wanting to get the grit she picked up from Abydos out of unwanted areas.
She knew the others were heading towards the Perma-frost, a place Marisa would be going to shortly. She had just finished getting dressed, when Marisa's eyes stopped upon a small framed picture, that of her and a man, sitting at a wooden table, having a drink and laughing.
Someone had taken a snapshot of them, of which she was thankful for. A bemused smile appeared, as she reached out to touch the frame. The man there with her was Mihkail Sorokova. There was an unmistakable family resemblence. Once again, it seemed that the universe decided to have a little bit of fun. Setting the picture back on its shelf in the locker she had, Marisa closed the door and headed on out towards the Permafrost.
The bitter cold still hit, even though she was bundled warmly. This certainly was opposite of Abydos, and even her home during the summer. Her breath puffed out in small clouds, as she made her way to the door.
It opened, her face feeling the difference between the harsh cold and the warmth. Marisa closed the door quickly, stepping further inside. Her hazel eyes took in where everyone was settled.
Divisions in some aspect a group not closely knit yet, but who knows, it could possibly happen.
"Hey all, looks like we are here for the same reason, a good drink and maybe being able to thaw out our innards?" Marisa giving a grin.
“That and a break away from everything work!” Scarlett grinned.
"Indeed for some. for others." Marisa had noticed that Wander was working on paperwork. "Not exactly though not as intense as would be in the office."
She walked over and ordered her drink. The Dark'n'Stormy, Dark rum mixed with ginger beer.
When she received the drink, a taste of it and smiled, "Good stuff." lifting her glass Marisa gave a nod towards Raynor.
Aaron glanced up at Scarlett and chuckled. "I'll have a drink soon enough. Almost done." He looked over the papers once more and signed off on the few that still required signatures. There were a couple that needed Raynor's as well, but he'd get those later. Let the guy enjoy the first round.
Scarlett sipped her drink enjoying the chance to get to know everyone socially rather than just working together. “I’ll admit it’s nice to be able to talk over something other than work. I do tend to to be something of a workaholic.”
Raynor looked around the gathered mix of SG teams, paperwork casualties, and people trying very hard not to think about old stone and deserts. He lifted his whiskey slightly toward Xander first. “Drake, welcome to the deep end. If you’re here voluntarily after feeling this cold, we’ll keep you.”
Xander turned to Raynor, smirking a little. Nodding, he raised the frosted glass toward him and took a sip. A small gulp.
He nodded toward Aisling. “One piece counts as success. Standards are flexible around here.”
Looking toward the growing crowd, he smirked faintly. “Couple ground rules. No mission talk unless someone starts paying overtime. Paperwork stays at least one table away from alcohol.” His eyes briefly landed on Aaron.
“And for the love of God, nobody say the word that definitely isn’t ‘pyramid.’ I’m trying to buy morale tonight.”
"Does this mean, after your ruling of not saying the 'P' word or does this mean your are buying this round." Marisa feeling a bit cheeky, grinning at Raynor.
Aaron rolled his eyes and sighed before lifting his radio to his mouth. "This is Commander Wander, could I get a courier to Perma-Frost for a Document Pick up."
There was a pause from the other end as the request was processed before the voice on the other end responded with "Acknowledged."
Putting the papers and files into their folder, he closed the flap and wrapped the string around the button to keep it sealed. He tapped the folder on the table and shrugged. "Does that still stand if they're in the folder and on their way home?"
Raynor stared at the folder, then slowly looked back at Wander with an amused disbelief. “Aaron, I’m impressed. Most people need a desk, a computer, and at least three cups of coffee before they start torturing themselves with paperwork.”
He took another sip of his whiskey and shook his head. “And no, the rule still applies. If the paperwork is physically close enough that you can reach it without leaving your chair, it counts.”
Raynor glanced toward Marisa with a smirk.
“And yes, the round is still on me. Apparently buying morale is cheaper than explaining why everyone ignored the ‘no mission reports at the bar’ rule.”
He raised his glass slightly toward Wander. “Enjoy the drink when you finally remember you’re off duty, Commander.”
Scarlett smiled at the interaction between everyone it was nice to be able to spend some time in a social setting rather than a work based one.
Marisa gave out a laugh, and slung back her drink, then ordered another one. "Thank you, Colonel." stated. "Much obliged."
Looking around once more she grinned, this group was definitely coming together, especially after their last encounter.
Aisling accepted the cider when it arrived and gave the glass a cautious look, as if it might have been issued from stores rather than poured from behind a bar. One sip later, her eyebrows lifted in mild surprise.
“Alright,” she said, settling a little more comfortably against the bar. “That’s not tragic at all. I’ll take back at least half of what I was about to say.”
Raynor’s comment earned him a tired smile, the sort that still had a bit of dust from Abydos clinging to the edges. “Flexible standards might be the only thing keeping me upright, Colonel. First trip through the gate, no bits missing, and only minor accidental ancient nonsense. I’m calling that a tidy result.”
Her eyes flicked toward Aaron’s folder, then quickly away again because she was not nearly senior enough to police anyone’s paperwork habits. Still, the look said plenty before she covered it with another sip.
“And for the record,” she added, glancing between Scarlett, Marisa, Xander, and the others with a faint grin, “I am fully respecting the no ancient-architecture rule. I’ll not say the forbidden word. Not even if someone puts another round in front of me.”
She lifted her glass slightly, warmer now, the tension in her shoulders finally starting to ease. “To coming home, then. And to whatever poor soul has to write today’s report without making it sound completely mad.”
“I for one, have had enough of gods and archaeology for today!” Scarlett grinned before sipping her drink.
"This poor will accept that toast as a precursor to a good night." Aaron said as he walked up to the bar and motioned for the bartender to get him a drink. He turned back and waved to the soldier taking the files back to his office before taking the offered bottle. "Tomorrow is a new day Doctor, but let's hope for a proper beach on the next trip."
“Now that would be nice” Scarlett grinned.
Marisa piped up, "For now though, we've got things to occupy ourselves and good drink to be had with people to get to know."
Raising her glass in the air. "To those of SG, I salute you. " Marisa downing her drink, setting it down upon the counter.
Raynor raised his glass with the others, looking around the table as the last of the tension from Abydos finally seemed to loosen its grip.
“To those of the SGC,” he echoed, giving Marisa a small nod. “And to making it home.”
He took another drink, settling back as the conversation shifted toward beaches, food, drinks, and everything that had nothing to do with Goa’uld, ancient ruins, or mission reports. Even Wander had finally abandoned his paperwork, leaving the Perma Frost to do what it was built for.
Raynor listened more than he spoke, watching the teams slowly become less like separate units and more like a group that might actually learn to trust one another.
For tonight, that was enough.
He took another sip of his whiskey and let the conversation carry on around him, allowing the mission to finally fade into the background.
Jonathon Raynor, Lt. Colonel
SG-1 Leader, SGC
&
Major Lyudmila Sorokova
SG-1 Member, SGC
&
Master Sergeant Ezekiel Chambers
SG-1 Member, SGC
&
Chief Petty Officer Marisa Harlan
SG-1 Member, SGC
&
Commander Aaron Wander
SG-2 Leader, SGC
&
Major Amy Ludd
Off World Diplomatic Liaison
&
Dr Scarlett Hayes
Chief Archaeologist
SG-2 Member, SGC
&
Pilot Officer Aisling Quinn
SG-2 Member, SGC
