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[sightsset]

[The username reads as 'Bismarck.' The picture is of a nondescript piece of purple-painted metal. Is there a pattern here with the previous post? Huh, he didn't notice.]

Tell me a little about your world?

[The request is simple, and harmless enough. No one is obligated to answer, no one is obligated to answer with details if they do.

[It's just a little bit of recon, that's all.]

Comments

[sightsset]

I let the bears eat it.

[Flat-out response, no hesitation.]

This is my new one, how do you like it? [He lifts his chin for her to see.]

[startpoint]

Bears, huh? I think you might want to ask for a refund, whoever did the new one gave you a defective model.

[sightsset]

Ouch!

[He's laughing despite the response.]

Look, it's been a while since I've had access to a decent razor. I'd rather not dull my knife on my hair, and besides, I'm harder to recognize now.

[startpoint]

You know what else makes it harder to recognize you? A helmet. Though I will give you points for effort.

[sightsset]

Carolina, with all due respect, I'm Barney the Dinosaur out here. A beard's a better shot.

[He does lift the helmet up next to him, though, so she can see it's here.]

[startpoint]

You don't need to worry about being recognized here, you know.

[ So please shave that monstrosity away. Please. ]

Though I always thought your sister was the more Barney colored of the two of you.

[sightsset]

That wasn't true for me a couple hours ago, alright?

[a pause]

... If I thank you for that comment, you have to promise me you won't tell her about it if she shows up.

[startpoint]

[ She's not about to say that if South shows up she'll be more worried about what York does to her than telling her she looks like Barney. ]

You have my word. We never really did much chatting anyways.

[sightsset]

No, I wouldn't call what you guys did "chatting" either.

[He sighs.]

We gotta meet up at some point. It'll be good to get everybody here together.

[After a pause.]

If... Wash'll talk to me.

[startpoint]

I live near York, I can drop by with Maine once I convince him to put on some civilian clothes.

[ Which... might take a while. Though the mention of Wash makes something in her expression twist with regret, something she can't quite hide. ]

He's not really talking to me, either.

[sightsset]

... We'll bring him home somehow. If he'll let us.

[That reassuring tone is so strong he might as well have a hand clapped on her shoulder.]

I don't know what went on, and... you don't need to explain it all right now. I have Theta, we have Maine back. Let's focus on the good.

[startpoint]

Maybe later, once we have you and Maine settled. I'll tell you the whole story.

[ And she means it. She's told York what she's been up to, the war on Chorus. But... everything else, the secrets she's been sitting on are still under wraps. Tex knows because of who she is. What she is. And Wash knew because of Epsilon. ]

I'll see you soon enough, I'm going to get Maine settled at my place because if I leave it up to York he'll just start stacking you up in his closet.

[sightsset]

[There's a light laugh at that.]

That's for sure. He's determined to make sure I'm within arm's reach of him right now, and I can't say it's unwelcome. Haven't seen anybody but South in almost a year.

[startpoint]

[ She keeps her face utterly straight, but a trace of humor can't help but work its way into her voice. ]

You have my sincerest condolences.

[sightsset]

[She might escape the face cracking, but North doesn't.]

It was fine, y'know... for me, anyway. Couldn't imagine anybody else lasting that long.

[startpoint]

[ Knife, meet heart. It was so much easier to deal with missing her team when they were gone. ]

I'm glad you're doing alright, especially considering the company you were dealing with. Is Theta doing alright with the whole new universe situation?

[sightsset]

He's... adjusting.

[This is said with the tone of a man who has had a lot of patience since showing up here.]

Ingress travel wasn't easy on us, and when I nodded off for a few, Maine woke me up, so. You can imagine what the sight would do for the poor kid.

[startpoint]

I can imagine very well.

[ She still has nightmares about being thrown from the cliff. Not as frequently as before but often enough that Epsilon has called her on it before. ]

If you need anything, North, let me know. York isn't the only one glad to see an old friend.