text;

[bloodbathing]

[ "Augusta" is the name attached to this TAB. The picture is of curved white metal with a stripe of dark orange — leg armor, for any who may recognize it. ]

UNSC. Marines. RT-636.

[ In order: the military Maine knows, the branch he's in, and the hull classification symbol for the Mother of Invention.

[ North insisted on gathering intel while keeping a low profile. Maine's only interest is in returning to their mission. This is the result of compromise. ]

Comments

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ ... That's ... the beginning of getting to know someone. He guesses. ]

Maine.

text;

[shiro2hero]

like
the place ?

text;

[bloodbathing]

Yeah.

[ He is named after the state. ]

text;

[shiro2hero]

[well his name is a COLOR so.]

huh

thats not bad

[infailtration]

[ York hesitates a little, knowing Maine won't want to hear this, but. ]

Yeah... there's no more Freelancer, when I'm from.

We scattered.

text;

[bloodbathing]

No.

[ It's a good name. He likes it. And he decides he also likes this very high guy. ]

Should rest.

text;

[shiro2hero]

[God save team Voltron]

trying
look how well its working

[bloodbathing]

[ No response. For a long time. Just ... nothing. Finally, more snarl than word: ]

What.

[infailtration]

[ Yeah........ yeah. ]

It turned into a real shitshow.

[bloodbathing]

[ This time, there are no words. There's just a low, furious growl. The entire goddamn war was a shitshow. That's not a reason to "scatter." That's not a reason for the entire Project to stop existing. That's not a fucking answer at all. ]

[infailtration]

[ okay man honesty time ]

You're probably going to hear a lot of things you don't like about the future. This isn't a conversation to have over the network.

[bloodbathing]

[ Another snarl, and, ]

Fuck that.

[ Fuck secrecy, fuck stealth, fuck York and his stupid fucking broken eye. What the fuck happened? ]

[infailtration]

I'm serious, not over the network. Carolina's coming for you, we can all meet and talk about this.

[bloodbathing]

[ He growls, still livid, but he stops pressing. Carolina is on her way. He'll wait. He'll find out what's going on, straight from her. ]

text;

[bloodbathing]

Texting.

[ That's not resting. ]

text;

[shiro2hero]

man
for me

this is restingg

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ In that case: ]

You're high. Sleep.

Re: action

[notyourrookie]

[He still watches Maine warily, waiting for this to be a trick, some trap to get him off-guard to take him out. But then... then Maine speaks and it's not Sigma's voice. It's Maine!]

Yeah. Yeah I did.

How you doing big guy?

text;

[shiro2hero]

sure

worth a shot

action

[bloodbathing]

[ He shrugs and grunts, noncommittal.

[ "Could be worse."

[ Could be better. Could be a lot better. Could've not found out all the shit that's making his head hurt. Could be in a place where things make sense, and if something pisses him off he can just take it out.

[ But his current mental state isn't important; the well-being of his teammates is his priority. ]

You?

Re: action

[notyourrookie]

Could be much worse.

[Because he could just... not be Maine anymore.]

It's been a long few years.

action

[bloodbathing]

[ What happens to him isn't his priority. Still, Maine tilts his head in curiosity. Texas told him that, eventually, he stops being able to talk. Maybe that's what Wash means. ]

Bad years.

[ That's the impression he's gotten so far. ]

Re: action

[notyourrookie]

Yeah, really bad years.

[He scruffs a hand against the back of his head. He hasn't been sleeping since he left York's place and it shows.]

There's a lot to catch you up on, if you want. If not, that's fine too. The future sucks.

action

[bloodbathing]

[ He snorts — "I noticed" — and moves to close the distance between them. Provided Wash doesn't move away, Maine will clap a big hand on his shoulder. It's a companionable gesture, born of concern. ]

Look rough.

[ Sugar-coating? What is that. Wash looks like crap, and Maine wants to know what's going on. If that involves catching him up on bad things ... fine. ]

Re: action

[notyourrookie]

[He tenses up a bit when Maine approaches, because last time the Meta touched him it left him in bad shape. But now? This is Maine.

He gives a soft snort of derision.]

I look like shit and you know it.