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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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[Wash's expression is tight and tense and angry and full of other feelings that he doesn't like thinking about.]

Lots of things happened. Everything is fucked up.

[ Yeah. Yeah, it's fucked up.

[ He would ask where he was. Why he didn't get Wash out of there. Loyal as Maine is to the Project and to the mission, his priority is protecting his teammates. But he doesn't ask. He thinks he already knows.

[ Sigma.

[ Something in Maine's chest twists unpleasantly. He grits his teeth and shoves it aside. Later. He'll deal with it later.

[ He reaches out to rest a large hand on his friend's forearm. ]

Here now.

[ It's less reassurance than a declaration. He's here now, and he's not being used by Sigma. Whatever happened to Wash isn't going to happen again. He'll make damn sure of it.

[ As for what happened with Carolina? ... He can figure it out later. He can figure all this shit out later. ]

[Wash gives him a small smile and nods.]

Yeah. You are. I'm glad.

[Maine is here, and he's him, not the Meta. At least there's one person who didn't knowingly leave him behind.]

[ A little huff and a quirk of his lips: "Damn right." Maine's not glad to be here, but it's pretty fucking obvious he's needed.

[ For now, he leaves his hand right where it is. He looks for the next round of shots and, when he doesn't see them, scowls. ]

Should take the bottle.

[ "And leave," by the look he's giving the (admittedly busy) bartender. ]

We should, yeah.

[They can drink just as well in his room as they can here.]

Let's get going.

[ Maine grunts in agreement and stands up to get the bottle. It's not exactly normal procedure for the bar; selling bottles is what liquor stores are for. But who's going to argue with a seven foot tall wall of muscle in heavy-duty combat armor with a bladed grenade launcher on his back? No one, that's who.

[ He returns shortly, brand new bottle in hand, and raises an eyebrow at Wash.

[ "Good to walk?" ]

Of course I am.

[Absolutely. Totally. Fine.

He stumbles against Maine with the first step and has to steady himself, the room spinning wildly for a moment.]

[ Feel that shaking, buddy? That would be Maine laughing. He'll just toss an arm over Wash's shoulder and pull the smaller Freelancer securely to his side. He can do the balancing thing for both of them.

[ Let him just make sure they've both got their helmets (which Maine can carry; focus on walking, Wash), then he'll grunt: ]

Which way?

[ And start steering them out of the bar. ]

[Wash huffs and gives Maine a look. He is totally stable thank you very much. But he is grateful for Maine's arm around him, pulling him close to make sure he doesn't do it again.

He squints for a moment and then points in the direction he's pretty sure he came from.]

[ That look gets another laugh from Maine. Wash can deny it all he wants. Maine will just keep on holding him upright.

[ He starts off in the direction Wash indicated. People are quick to get out of their way: even in their inebriated states, the Freelancers don't look like easy targets. Nor do they blend in, but that's no concern of Maine's. He's not aware of any tension with the natives.

[ When they get to an intersection, he pauses and looks to Wash for further direction. If Wash isn't sure, Maine's fairly certain he can get them back to Carolina's. Wash might not like it, but Maine's sure (as he can be, given the situation) that Carolina would allow it, regardless of what happened. Will happen. Whatever. ]

[Wash is absolutely certain of where he's going.

Well, fifty percent certain. There's only two directions so it can't be that hard. Eventually though, the streets start looking familiar. Sort of run down but not terrible, and he's pretty sure that they're close.]

[ Fifty-fifty odds? Could be worse. They're not even getting shot at.

[ He keeps them moving along at a steady pace, eventually asking, ]

Close?

Yeah. Yeah we're-

[There! He points, more excited about recognising his own apartment than it really warrants.]

[ Maine snorts another laugh and grins. This is worlds better than the sullen, troubled mood Wash was in before. Clearly, alcohol is the answer.

[ Up to the apartment door they'll go. Hopefully Wash has his keys on him. ]

[Wash grins back and stumbles ahead. He does, in fact, have his keys on him, and he fumbles open the door.

It really isn't much to look at; there's what can charitably be called a bed, and a couple of crates serving as a table and... well, not a whole lot else. He'd left York's place before really getting settled.]

[ It's not much, but it's something. As always, it could be worse. Briefly, Maine wonders again what, specifically, happened with Wash and Carolina. Her place would definitely be a step up. Or a staircase. Then he pushes the thought aside and — after setting down their helmets — opens the bottle.

[ Less thinking. More drinking. ]

[No-one is shooting at him here. More importantly, no-one knows how to find him here. And if they do, it's easy enough to pack up and leave. If he doesn't own anything, if he doesn't get attached, then he doesn't have to care if things come crashing down.

He goes to sit on the bed and takes the bottle when it's offered, taking a long swig.]

[ While his hands are free, Maine starts unfastening the clasps securing his chest armor. If he's gonna try to relax, he might as well get comfortable. They're no longer in public, and this is a place where Wash feels safe enough to sleep. That's enough to convince Maine that it's safe to remove his armor.

[ Well. The plating, at least. The bodysuit is protection in itself, and a far cry from the civilian clothes Carolina had suggested he wear.

[ Like he'd actually agree to that.

[ The newly patched chest piece comes off easily. Underneath, there's still a hole in his bodysuit from the sniper's bullet. He hasn't had time to patch that yet. Maine looks at the newly repaired area for a moment dropping the whole thing unceremoniously to the floor. Then he reaches for the bottle.

[ His turn. ]

[That... is not what he had expected. He watches for a moment as Maine starts to strip off the armour. It's as much a show of trust and security as anything else they could do. They'd worn the armour for longer and longer as the Project had gone on, until sometimes they wouldn't see each other's faces for days.

And then the Meta... well, he's not exactly sure how the fuck that worked. He'd caught glances, but he'd never cared to look closer, to see if it still looked like Maine. Didn't want to know.

Eventually, he passed over the bottle and strips down to his undersuit. The hole on Maine's suit doesn't go unnoticed.]

[ Maine drinks deeply and lets out a satisfied rumble.

[ "Better than shots."

[ Who knows? He might actually get drunk tonight. He'd sure as fuck enjoy it.

[ He pointedly doesn't think too hard on what it means that Wash is comfortable removing his armor as well. Doesn't think about North recoiling, or York's scars, or Wash saying that he — Sigma, whatever — had done terrible things. Just notes that it's happening, and waits until Wash's hands are free before offering the bottle.

[ Once he's stripped off all the plating, he takes a seat on the bed as well. It creaks under his weight. He ignores that, too. ]

How long?

[ Asked with a gesture to the room. How long has Wash lived here? Been here, for that matter? ]

[Another swig and yeah, he is definitely pretty drunk now. But it settles warmly right through his veins and he can't bring himself to care right now.

At the gesture he shrugs.]

A few days. And I've been here a couple of weeks.

[ That explains the lack of ... well, much of anything in the place, aside from the bed and the crates. Maine hums and declares, ]

Chairs.

[ That'll bring things together. ]

I don't need chairs. I'm not exactly planning to bring anyone else over.

[ Maine stills for a moment as that sinks in.

[ Wash has been alone here. By choice? Necessity? The pile of shit calling itself the future? Doesn't matter. Point is, he's been alone.

[ ... Well. Not anymore.

[ Maine looks at Wash with a raised eyebrow and points to the crates. "Way too low." How is he supposed to sit there? Wash needs chairs. And a table. ]

[When Maine points, Wash gives a small, tired smile. Okay, Maine is here now.]

Okay, I'll get one chair.

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