001 {dictated}

[ol_northy]

[Well, after having arrived a little while ago, North has kept a watchful eye on the communications of others, and he's got an idea of what he ought to be doing.

It's been a harrowing trip--mentally, at least--and he's still slightly confused by the situation. Last thing he knew, he wasn't conscious. And now he's been deposited in a place that's about as mysterious as it gets.

He stands in the lobby of the castle in full armor, book open, and decides to introduce himself. Voice muted by the helmet, he addresses the general populace.]

Don't stop me if you've heard this one before. This is North, and I'm less lost than I am confused. Anybody care to give a guy the grand tour?

[After which point he just shrugs at the damn thing and tucks it away in his armor. With a shake of his head, he takes off his helmet, and begins to wander the lobby.]

Comments

Wash

[ol_northy]

[He tries, and holy shit it works.]

I'm gonna nurse this while I wait for you.

North

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[Wash is almost there at this point. With a bottle. Because he damn well needs it.] For reference, Carolina won't approve...

[And there's Wash looking North over.] It's really you.

Wash

[ol_northy]

Well, what Carolina doesn't know isn't going to hurt her, in this case. I'm not big on the big secrets, but the little ones?

[He'll just clink his glass against the bottle.]

Yeah, it's me. In the flesh. Don't look so shocked.

action

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Considering her feelings about how often I drink? Thanks. I'd rather not get her after me again.

North... I have reason to be shocked. Last time I saw you? You were dead. I was the recovery agent sent to handle your beacon. Then again, you'r not the only one here like that.

[ol_northy]

I won't tell if you don't.

[North takes a deep breath.] So I did die. I thought so. [He takes a drink.] It's really weird, but... I remember being dead? Just not how I got there.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Done.

Maine. Maine went insane, started hunting fellow Freelancers down for their AIs and armor enhancements. By that point, he was the Meta.

[ol_northy]

The Meta?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

The Meta.

I suspect it was Sigma's idea. Remember his... Ambition.

[ol_northy]

Sigma. Right. He was creepy.

[To put it mildly.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Very creepy. [Wash pulls his helmet off, taking a drink. He can't hide the fear in his eyes regarding Sigma.] He also was very successful.

[ol_northy]

Sounds like it.

[And his voice sounds hollow, now.]

Hey, does South know I died?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

... She cam from before it happened. Before Theta. She never experienced it.

But she knows.

[ol_northy]

How'd she find out?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

She was told.

[ol_northy]

Tactfully?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

I assume so. I didn't tell her.

[ol_northy]

Good enough for me.

[But he wonders if he shouldn't be going to her right now to bring the issue up, to get it out of the way so maybe things won't be so damned dramatic. But she always was dramatic.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Carolina dealt with it. Among other things.

She's good at that.

[ol_northy]

I know, I know. And I wasn't here to take care of things, so I'm sure that was a hell of a mess.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

She might shove you away, but trust me... I've seen enough to know she still needs you.

[Looking away] I'm fairly sure she's said some things to me drunk she'd never have said sober.

[ol_northy]

I've seen enough to know that. I can't say it didn't hurt a little bit. She's told me off plenty of times, but it's never been quite like that.

[A shrug, and he takes another long drink. The glass is almost empty already.]

Do I want to know?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

She's touchier than she used to be... Probably doesn't help that I've tried to kill her twice... In my defense, one of those times, I was sick.

You don't.

[ol_northy]

[He takes a deep breath through his nose.] I'm really only going to say this once: stop trying to kill my sister. Please.

Then I'm glad it was you and not me.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Short of something like that disease coming up again? I won't. I promise. I had no control... All I knew was I wanted revenge on the world. I hurt York, North.

We should probably figure out where the castle put your room, North.

[ol_northy]

York? You're kidding. This just went from minorly disturbing to completely messed-up.

Yeah. I think I need to sit down.