Chapter Text
Ever since Black Sheep had come across a phone and subsequently contact with the world outside, she’d come to realize there were a lot of things her nannies left out during her studies.
Black Sheep would boast that she was well versed in geography and culture, but some of the more simple and obscure things fell through the cracks. Including…
“What’s I-hop?” Black Sheep asked innocently. A completely normal question for someone who had never been to or even heard of the establishment. Player said that he was there with his mom, the two of them didn’t eat breakfast before going to church so they decided to eat out. Conveniently, as of this moment she was in the restroom, and Black Sheep was alone, allowing the two of them to call.
“You’ve never been?” Player replied.
“No? Is it like, an acronym?”
“Yeah actually, how’d you know?”
“The way you said it was weird, and kind of official. What does it stand for?” The other line went silent for a second, Black Sheep would’ve thought that the call ended, if she hadn’t heard faint breathing through the speakers. Then Player spoke.
“International House of Player.” He responded casually.
“You have a house named after you?? Internationally?” She sat up from her spot in her bed. Black Sheep couldn’t believe it. Player had something named after him, and for it to be recognized ‘internationally’. Why hasn’t she heard of this before?
“Of course I do. I’m just naturally beloved by everyone.” Player said pridefully.
“You never told me about this! What-, what does the house do?” Black Sheep urged. More white hat hackers? But why would Player be there after church? What did it have to do with breakfast?
“Pancakes.” Player summarized.
“P-Pancakes?” Black Sheep doubted.
“Yeah.” He chuckled as he said this.
“Huh.” Breathed Black Sheep.
She was starting to pick up that he was messing with her. Black Sheep shifted her position to laying on her stomach.
“So, your guys’ entire thing is pancakes? What does that have to do with hacking?” She shot back. Even if it was only for a bit, Black Sheep was amused by whatever this was, so she pretended to still buy it.
“Hackers’ love pancakes I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Okay, so then why is it named after you?”
“Because I’m the best.”
“Mhmmm. ” Black Sheep hummed. Both were silent for a bit before Black Sheep started laughing softly. Player joined her and soon they were both dying of laughter. They both knew that the joke was by no means funny. It was rather dumb if they were both being honest. But who cares, the two of them certainly didn’t. Friends share stupid jokes, and this is one of them.
Black Sheep nearly fell off her bed and Player was lightly hitting the table; the clattering of plates could be heard from the other end from the shaking.
“Why is this funny?!” Player snorted.
“Honestly I don’t know??” Black Sheep wheezed. They continued to bask in their silliness. Black Sheep found herself clutching at her stomach as Player continued trying not to make too much of a scene from the restaurant. When the dust settled, Black Sheep finally asked.
“So, what does it really stand for, if not International House of Player?” Black Sheep mused.
“International House of Pancakes.” He recited. That definitely sounded real to Black Sheep, it’s a restaurant.
“Now that makes more sense. Not as funny though.” She grinned.
“It could be the House of Player considering I’m here almost every Sunday.” Player joked.
As they continued to talk, the joke was still sprinkled in during passing for the remainder of the call. The two refused to let it die, even in future calls. It was a joke that just happened to stick with them, they would not let it fade into oblivion.
One of the first things Carmen joked about, once she became Carmen Sandiego, was visiting the establishment with Player. Any time Player said he was going there, Carmen would joke about being invited to his house.
There was a time they had called each other both from an IHOP. Carmen was in a different state, but she wanted to grab something to eat. Her mind immediately reminded her that there was an IHOP nearby. She had texted him saying she was on her way to ‘his house.’ Carmen had been met with plenty of question marks before he caught on. The two of them set their devices on the other side of the table, pretending that they were eating together. The ‘House of Player’ jokes only kept resurfacing.
When your friends for nearly your whole lives, it only makes sense to have some joke only they understand.
Maybe they’ll explain it to the team one day. If the occasion ever comes up.