Log...Final

[encryptedlock]

[York's voice is a bit more hesitant and subdued than usual. This has been coming for a while, but it's still not exactly easy for him to say.]

Hey there, everyone. I just--wanted to let you all know that it's time someone went and checked out that spot on the map marked New York and, well, I couldn't think of anyone better to do it than me. Carolina's going with me, of course.

The thing is, I'm not planning on coming back.

We'll be taking the car that the Spartans made. The sleds are for everyone--they're in the garage out back of the castle. Bet most of you didn't even know we had a garage, huh?

So, uh. I guess this is goodbye, castle.

[Wash and South]

The hangar and the second Danger Room are up to you guys now. The teleporter on the roof of the hangar is keyed to the Danger Room, and it's located at three degrees north of due west in the mountains, about 50 kilos out from the castle. Keys are on top of the fridge in the hangar.

[/Wash and South]


[Friends]

[If you think you're on this filter, you probably are.]

I'll be checking in with Dr. Brewer in Fairfield from time to time, so if you really need to get a message to me, just leave it with him. Or if any of you ever want to join me out there, well, there'll always be room.

[There's a long pause.]

You guys are the only thing that's made it worthwhile to stay. I'm not leaving because of any of you, or anything you did or didn't do or could have done. It's me. I've been here almost five years now, and--it's just too much. Maybe I'll be back some day, but if you all go home before we meet again, I just want you all to know that each and every one of you is special. Not because the castle chose you or because you have some special power or because you're important in your own world. It's because you're my friends, and there's nothing more important than that. Nothing the castle does can take that away.

Not to sound cheesy or anything, but I thought you all should know that. And, well.

Goodbye.

Comments

[Action]

[youfallback]

[Carolina's finishing tucking the last of her things into her pack as York finishes his entry and she pads out from the guest room she'd been staying in when they were back at the Castle. She watches him for a silent motion before shouldering it in a simple motion.]

They'll be alright. [She doesn't exactly sound the most confident, but it's not like she's been had much confidence to spare these days. Month after month of battling depression had been rough on her self-esteem.

Him choosing to take her with him despite that is what she needs right now. Him trusting her to have his back.]

[encryptedlock]

[His armor's packed away and Delta's safe in his Tamagotchi. First order of business is going to be visiting Flora and figuring out how to get some real power out there. Hell if York's going to let his best friend stay in a little digital pet for the rest of his life.

He finishes rolling up the last of his possessions that he's going to take with him--a beautiful, vibrant painting of a New York City that never was given to him by a former resident--and slings his own pack over his back. The rest is already outside and ready to go.]

Well, or they'll have a nervous breakdown. But I think being all right is probably more likely. God knows I've had enough people leave on me without even a goodbye before.

[youfallback]

[Carolina takes a deep breath as she looks around the room. It's not like it had been her room or what they'd had before, but it's still somehow sad to be leaving the Castle semi-permanently. Something feels somehow final about what they're doing. There's a lot of memories inside the Castle itself, memories that she wouldn't have had if she'd never come here. The Castle had gotten them together, after all, one December two years ago.

And, she reminds herself, it had just as easily torn them apart on multiple occasions. Leaving it would be for the best for both of them.

She leans against the doorway to his bedroom, a half-smile quirking the corners of her lips.] They know how to reach us.

York

[hatesgoodbyes]

Jesus I hate that word.

Can we just call it 'see you later' instead? I don't do goodbyes so well.

Take care of Carolina, she needs it more than she'll ever admit, except maybe to you.

Tex

[encryptedlock]

Well, I know I'll see you later, even if it's only for about a minute before I die. But as for everyone else, well. I don't know that, so....

I will. As much as I can.

York

[hatesgoodbyes]

[Yeah, that didn't help matters really. But it was true.]

You...

Fuck.

You're a good guy, real stand up soldier and it has been and will be an honor to serve with you. I wish there was more I could do or say to make things easier..better for you and Carolina. But I'm just not that good.

[She failed, but this time they were going to be ok. Just ok somewhere that wasn't here.]

You both deserve better than all this, I hope to hell you get it.

York and Carolina

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Don't know if you're going to see this, but if you do? I promise I'll take care of things back here and keep an eye on South. Someone has to. Just keep yourselves alive out there, all right?

Thanks for everything. I owe you, York. And take care, Boss.

Goodbye and good luck.

Wash

[encryptedlock]

I will. And if you ever feel like you've had enough, we'll be waiting out here for you.

You've been a better friend than I deserved, you know.

Wash

[youfallback]

If you need us, you know how to reach us, Wash. [She's probably more sad that he has to shoulder their work than to say officially say goodbye.] But don't say goodbye. We're just not here right now.

Master York and Master Delta

[inafadingcrown]

I know I need not say, but take care, my friends. Galo Anor erin râd gîn; may the sun shine upon your path.

Lady Galadriel

[encryptedlock]

We will. Thanks. I--that means a lot to me. To both of us, really.

...You're probably the only person I don't have to tell that your patience will be rewarded, huh? I know you'll see him again. ["Him" being obviously the extremely good-looking guy she's married to.]

Freelancers

[i_got_this]

You, uh ... you sure about this?

[She's trying to sound strong and she's trying not to let on just how hard she's taking this, but considering all the loss she's suffered recently there's no way to hide it.]

Freelancers

[encryptedlock]

I'm sure. I've been thinking about it for months, South. I--

Look, I know this isn't easy and you've lost a lot, but we're not leaving you. It's this place. it's just that I've had enough, you know? It's time to try something new. Try living my life on my own for once.

Freelancers

[youfallback]

We are. [She tries to think of something, anything to say, but to be honest Carolina hadn't been there for South recently. Hadn't been there for her since arriving back in Paradisa back in April.

She sucks in a breath.] Take care of yourself, South.

York and Carolina

[lonenoble]

Good luck, you two.

I'm glad to have met you both.

Six

[encryptedlock]

Likewise. And you know you get to be in charge of the vehicles now, right? Make sure the others don't do too much damage or Kat would have my head.

Noble Six

[youfallback]

You too, NOBLE.

Dictated

[whistles_the_blues]

[Someone makes a disgruntled noise before simply saying.]

Bye.

[encryptedlock]

[Aww, you do care.]

Take care, yeah?

[wizard_redfive]

[Welp. York and Carolina are leaving? Dairine might have only talked with them on rare occasion, but she had grown to see them akin to Seniors: people she could rely on as support when Paradisa life got rough. What will the residents do without these two to help them along.

After a long pause of consideration, she speaks up.]

Well, if you're really sure about this, there's no better place to leave the castle for.

[encryptedlock]

[York would deny that he was ever that responsible, but the truth is he's probably helped out more people than he has any idea about. Just because he sees things like defense and evacuation and keeping up the CastleNet as a kind of duty doesn't mean it's any less worthwhile to the people who use things like that.]

It's--not something I've come to at the spur of the moment. I've been thinking about it for a long time. And, well. I can't just leave it as a blank spot on the map forever, you know? New York is my home. Even if it's only some weak imitation, I have to go see what it is.

[originalcopy]

So that's it huh... well, don't make Delta stay trapped in that toy for too long.

And try not to die doing something stupid.

[encryptedlock]

Believe me, getting a real power source is going to be a priority. [York's not letting his best friend be trapped in a Tamagotchi for any longer than absolutely necessary.]

And, well, thanks. I'm sure D will keep us out of trouble, but we'll be careful anyway. You keep an eye on the castle for us, okay?

Carolina

[hatesgoodbyes]

[Goddammit she tried, she tried to just let it go and not say anything. It shouldn't have been hard right? After all she wasn't really Allison, she wasn't really her mother anymore than Church was her father. But that didn't make the replicated emotions any less powerful than real ones could have been.]

So, this is probably as good as we'll ever get for not fighting when we talk. And you don't have to say anything, not sure I deserve anything after all I've done. But you know what I am, so you know when I say this it's because it's true. Your parents loved you and were more proud of you than you know. Things just got... they got all fucked up. That's not your fault and it shouldn't rest on your shoulders.

And I'm sorry you have to hear this from me and not them, but I wanted you to know it. For what it's worth I'm proud of you too, I know I'm not really Allison but I guess that's just one of those things that's too strong to move on.



I don't do goodbyes, I'll just know you're out there and not here right now. Take care of York, you know how he is; and take care of yourself, Jillian.

Allison

[youfallback]

[It's a long, long while before Carolina responds to this. An hour or so at the least. Tex is right, it is weird to hear these words from her. It makes her want to fight back, despite no threat being present. Having the person who represented everything she lost telling her this is world-shaking, but a part of Carolina knows she wouldn't lie about this. Not now.

She doesn't say thank you. She doesn't say goodbye.

But she does at least say,] Take care of yourself, Allison.