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[ "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. ]

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[Yep, definitely been too long since he got drunk. They hadn't let him drink in hospital weirdly enough. Or in prison.

He leans his head on his hands and watches Maine try to explain what had happened on the mission. It's been entirely too long since he got to do this, and the nostalgia is a warmth in his gut. He's missed Maine so much that it hurts. It was worse when the Meta was right next to him.]

Uh-huh, I'm sure it was very impressive.

[ The big man huffs in mock-offense. Again, he demonstrates the awesome arc and the deadly plummet. Whoosh! As his hands collide, he grumbles something that would be completely lost on anyone but Wash:

[ "Midair!"

[ Then the arc continues, down and down, until it disappears beneath the bar. Another growl.

[ "Into a tunnel."

[ It was fucking awesome and so is he. ]

[Wash reaches over, pretty drunk since his tolerance has gone to shit since he hasn't drunk in so long, and pats Maine's arm.]

I believe you buddy.

[ Maine, on the other hand, is still in his partying prime. He's got the tolerance of a guy whose outlets consist of exercise and alcohol. Combine that with the sheer size of him, and it takes a lot to get Maine drunk.

[ Which is why, even as one part of him notes that Wash initiating contact is a welcome improvement, he decides that he definitely needs Wash's drink more than his friend does.

[ Excuse him while he smiles and oh-so-subtly (read: blatantly) tries to snag that drink. ]

Edited 2017-08-04 13:19 (UTC)

[It takes a moment but Wash does notice Maine stealing his drink.]

Hey! That's mine!

You can't steam my drink. I've waited four years for drinks! You know what they give you in prison? Water.

Just water.

[ Maine relents with a roll of his eyes — "Fine, fine" — and signals for another drink from the bartender, instead. It'll take longer, but fine. He'll wait. ]

Prison?

[ He doesn't think Wash mentioned prison. Well, there was that part about the Project locking him up and fucking with his head — Maine signals again, impatient and needing that next drink — but that wasn't in a prison, was it? ]

[Wash snags his drink back and gulps it down quickly. It goes straight to his head and he doesn't give a fuck.]

Yeah. The UNSC doesn't like it when you blow up top secret government projects. And when idiots don't turn over the evidence that shows they deserved it to the authorities.

[ At this rate, Maine will probably wind up carrying Wash out of this bar. That's perfectly fine with him.

[ The drink arrives, and Maine growls at the bartender to keep them coming. Hopefully the man will listen, because Maine's pushing the newly arrived drink over to Wash.

[ The shit he does for his friends....

[ Eventually, Maine's pleasantly fuzzy mind figures, Wash will run out of fucked up future events to drop on him. Until then? Drinks, a curious tilt of his head, and a low, questioning hum.

[ "What evidence?" ]

[And Wash will keep drinking as long as they keep coming. Being blackout drunks sounds pretty nice honestly.]

Epsilon. Epsilon remembers what they did to the Alpha. They tortured him. They fucked us up.

[ Epsilon? He frowns. Didn't Epsilon kill itself in Wash's head? As much as Maine doesn't want to think about that — doesn't want to consider the damage it caused — he leans in, seeking clarification.

[ ... But not before he turns to the bartender and barks out: ]

Shots!

[ Never mind the fact that Maine's raised voice sounds like a drill instructor from hell. Getting blackout drunk does indeed sound pretty damn good. ]

Vengeance?

[Shots! Yeah, Wash can get behind that. He perks up a bit and gives Maine a bright smile for once before what Maine wants to know is registered.]

AIs can't properly die-die. Unless they're destroyed. They took him out of me, and they put him in storage.

[ It's a smile that Maine would like to see stay in place. Wash looks better now than when he first removed his helmet, but he still looks like shit. Not the rookie that Maine remembers like it was yesterday, because for him, it was. ]

Fuck A.I.

[ He says it with authority, like that's the definitive word on the subject. He's known about them for all of a day, but he's heard more than enough. Fuck 'em. ]

[Wash laughs softly and nods.]

Yeah. Fuck them. They can all go to hell.

[The shots arrive then, and Wash grabs one of them and downs it.]

If you call righting wrongs vengeance then, possibly.

[ Maine gulps his down in tandem. The liquor burns, and he grins. That's more like it. ]

And water.

[ It can go to hell, too! ]

[ That's one issue taken care of, making sure she knows where he is while he gets settled. And more than that, having Maine back is something she never expected. ]

York told me, I'm sure he's already gone off to find him.

[ And she's looking forward to seeing him, too. All these old friends she had thought she'd made her peace with. So much for that. ]

Any other questions? I know things are pretty strange right now with everything going on.

[ York. That conversation — the way it ended — is next on his list. The mission is complete. Carolina knows North's status. Time to find out about the "shitshow" York mentioned.

[ Scattered. York said they scattered. As though there could ever be a reason good enough to justify it.

[ A low, irritated growl rumbles in Maine's chest. He looks down at Carolina — older, but whole and alive — and he shifts his weight back. Adjusts his stance so that any forward trajectory won't be aimed at her. He's not threatening her; he just wants a goddamn answer. ]

Project's status.

[ Of course. She sighs, hand rising to rub the back of her neck unconsciously. She's not the same person Maine would remember, all that intensity and anger mellowed into someone more stable than she was. And much as she wishes she could lie to him it won't do anyone any good for her. ]

It's long over, Maine. The Director-- he pushed things too far. Everything fell apart.

We fell apart.

[ It's not a familiar gesture. It's one that signals discomfort. When's the last time he saw Carolina uncomfortable about answering a question? Or about anything? It's jarring. It's genuine. And it makes her words hit all the harder.

[ Maine would believe her anyway. She's Agent Carolina. He trusts her completely. Isn't that why he'd wanted to get the answers straight from her?

[ He just hadn't expected that answer.

[ ... Fuck. ]

The war?

[ At least that question she can answer with good news. It's a small mercy but it's one she'll gladly hold tightly to. ]

The war is over, Maine. For a few years now, actually.

[ And now Carolina is fighting a new war on a different planet far, far away. Because some things never change, like the fact that she doesn't know how to live a peaceful life. ]

[ He doesn't have to ask who won. If humanity hadn't, Carolina wouldn't be around to tell him.

[ It's good news. Undeniably good news. He should celebrate, or something. Later. When he's in a celebratory mood.

[ Right now, he doesn't know what he feels. Doesn't know what he should feel. Doesn't care to puzzle it out, either.

[ He nods and asks nothing else. His other questions seem unimportant. ]

Yeah! Who needs water when we can have booze?!

Not anymore. Better relations than thirty years ago from my pull point anyways, some lingering grudges aside.

[ Yeah, Relay 314 was kind of a Thing. ]

I'm Nihlus Kryik. Presently the owner of a small tech ship in R1 Kauto. If you need anything repaired, I've handled a range of projects varying from ship engines to bionics.

If you need any help settling in or any further information on the situation here, I'm happy to assist there as well.

dedicated
i'll pay you if money's an issue

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it's alright! i lost track of this too!

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