127.0

[encryptedlock]

[It was bound to happen sooner or later. He knew that. He'd always known that - it's what this place does. How many people--how many hundreds of people--had come here a day, a month, a year, and then left again without warning? How many dozens of people had he, personally, cared about and then had taken from him?

Nothing like this, though. Never like this.

He'd awakened in his own room, the first sign that something was wrong. He hadn't been here except to pick up the occasional supplies ever since he'd moved in with Carolina. His initial feeling of dread is compounded when he finds only her dogtags and lighter on the nightstand next to him.

He doesn't want to believe it, at first, but of course when he runs up to her room in a blind panic, it's empty and the nameplate is blank. Of course it is. Why should it be otherwise? When has this place ever managed to hold on to anyone he cared about?

It's about an hour later when he finally writes into the journal, not trusting his voice.]

Carolina's gone.

[Friends]

I'm going to be away from the castle for a while. Don't bother coming after me.

[/Friends]

[If anyone is quick enough they'll be able to find him at Kat's hangar, outfitting the Warthog for a week or more's travel. The Dead Zone's not really an option, not with Delta, but damned if he's going to stay any closer to the castle than he has to.]

Comments

York

[hard_talker]

Fuck.

... Let me know if there's anythin' I can do to help. Stupid as that sounds.

Mark

[encryptedlock]

[...huh. A familiar voice, there, but not one he'd expected. Still, Carolina had trusted him, so maybe that counts for something. He writes back in response.]

Doubt it, but thanks for the offer. Nothing's going to bring her back.

York, to end

[hard_talker]

[UGH, he knows that, York, geez. give him a second to shove down that Instant Teenage Reaction of "duh, I know that, I'm not stupid". ... and then to be glad that he's finally learning to DO that]

Well ... just 'cuz that's the case, don't think it means I'm gonna stop helping you guys.

Mark forever

[encryptedlock]

[Oh, good, because York's really not in the mood. His mind is anywhere but on the big picture right now.]

Appreciate it. I'm sure someone will let you know if there's anything you can do.

Action

[i_got_this]

[South had taken the news quietly, letting it sink in and fish around for clarity, realizing she was going to miss the other woman more then she cared to let on.]

[But, probably not as much as York. He'd miss her as much as she has missed North, she suspected.]

[And there's the realization that Carolina had helped her along, forced her to face her fears and come out a better woman for it, and while she didn't always feel she was successful, she had to admit she wasn't sure what she would be without Carolina's prodding.]

[She's running up to the hangar now, carting a fairly large duffel bag that clinks.]

Hey York! Wait up, I got something for you.

[encryptedlock]

[He turns around robotically when he hears his name, with none of the usual spring in his step. Still, despite his first urge, he doesn't yell at her to go away. Why bother? She'll go away soon enough, just like everybody else.]

What.

[i_got_this]

[She's not goinv to ask if he'll be okay, not going to remind him of the good fimes or any smarmy, useless shit like that. Instead, as soon as she's close she sets the duffel down and unzips it for him to inspect.]

Three kinds of whiskey, four bottles of vodka, some soda for mixers, and assorted chips.

[She zips it back up and hauls it into the warthog without preamble.] If you need a resupply let me know, I'll bring it out.

Have a drink or two for me. [Her own little way of saying I'll miss her too.]

[encryptedlock]

[That's...okay, he appreciates the thought, anyway. York nods appreciatively. He's not really much for talking right now. Still, he'll zip it up and load it carefully into the back of the jeep.]

Thanks.

[Wow yeah no he's really not feeling talkative right now. Even if this is a really nice gesture, and more thoughtful than he would have expected from here.]

York

[ol_northy]

[He's only just arrived, but the pain of Carolina's loss does strike him. Of course, maybe that's just because he knows about her relationship with York. Still...]

If you want to talk when you get back, I'll make time.

North

[encryptedlock]

[Right, like North really wants to hear about how the castle does this to him every goddamn time he starts to care about someone. York writes in response.]

Doubt it. Thanks anyway.

York

[ol_northy]

I meant about something else. Take your mind off it for a while. Anyway, be careful.

North

[encryptedlock]

[Yeah. Like he's going to be able to think of anything else. Still, it's a nice thought.]

Thanks. I'll let you know.

York

[originalcopy]

Hey... you gonna' be ok?

I know you have Delta with you... but if you need someone, I guess to talk to.. or whatever.

[Ok, so he only talked to Carolina once and it didn't really go as well as he had hoped. But, he totally knows how it feels to loose someone you love. And well, Church figures it's his turn to be all concerned about someone else. Like it or not, he considers York a friend.]

Church

[encryptedlock]

No, not really.

[Not a no to the offer, a no to the "are you going to be okay" question. Why should he be okay? He knows what Carolina is going back to.]

If I feel like talking I'll let you know.

[Which, well. He doesn't. Not now, anyway.]

York

[originalcopy]

[God damn he knows that tone of voice way to well. Even if he's never heard York use it.]

Even if you don't feel like talking... which I know you don't and you won't.

[Shit he feels lame. He should have something better to say, like at least Carolina didn't choose to leave him. But he knows that there is literally nothing he can say right now that would help. And he doesn't want to make things worse.]

Just... come back in one piece alright?

[And with that, Church is going to go outside to watch York go. Tempted to follow despite what York said. Since he's all but invisible... York would never have to know.]

Church

[encryptedlock]

Not really. Sorry.

[But it's flat and without much conviction. Sure, Carolina hadn't wanted to leave him - but after she goes back home and gets her AIs and thinks they'll all betray her? There isn't going to be any kind of happy ending for her or for him. And while he knows there's a small chance she'll end up in Paris or something and thinking she'd always lived there, waiting for someone during a world change to spark her memories...there's a much higher chance that if she does show up again at all, she won't remember him or anything that happened here.

Funny, though. That's the second person who's told him to come back in one piece.

He can follow if he likes, but after heading out to the hangar to grab a Warthog, he'll be heading at full speed out to the border of the Dead Zone. He won't go into it, but he'll start setting up a temporary camp just outside. ]

York

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Damn it. Of all the people it could have taken... [Up until North arrived, he'd have wished the damn castle took South instead. But he wouldn't wish that on North. And that was the sound of something hitting the wall. Hard. But hey, it's the castle. It can be fixed.] Just, be careful out there. And if you need anything, get in touch, York. I'll be here. Think the castle either likes me or hates more too damn much to get rid of me.

And while it's not exactly the same, I remember all too well what it is to lose someone here and know they'd go back to hell. If you need to talk, let me know.

Wash

[encryptedlock]

[Yeah, as bad as he'd felt when Kat left the first time, York hadn't felt this bad in...not never, but at least since the first time Wash himself had left. So yeah. Not going to trust that Wash will be there either.]

Yeah. Sure. I'll let you know.

[...well, he doesn't want to talk now. Maybe that'll change. Maybe it won't. Why bother, if everyone is just going to leave on him anyway?]

York

[dontpatr0nizeme]

York...

I'm worried about you. And I won't be the only one. Please. Don't do anything stupid.

And damn it, don't start pushing people away. You need people, and we need you, York. When you're ready, I want my friend to come back. Understand me?

York

[bustered]

[Zack knows this feeling, it's that same tight lump he'd felt on discovering Cloud had gone. He doesn't offer sympathy, because after enough of it the words start sounding hollow. But he does offer what he can.]

You need anything, write me. I'll find you, and no questions.

[Because sometimes people just don't want to talk.]

Zack

[encryptedlock]

[Usually he does want to talk - he's a pretty social guy. But usually doesn't apply to today, so he writes back.]

Appreciate it.

[Because yeah. Nothing anyone can say would make it better right now, not when he knows what she's going home to.]

York

[bustered]

Any time. I mean it.

[When York gets back, they'll probably go find that drink they both surely need. But that thought goes unsaid as well, Zack sensing that it's simply not the time for it.]

[ino]

[she doesn't know york that well, but judging by the sound of his voice, that was the person he really, really didn't want to lose. she knows that tone well, even if she doesn't know him]

York?

[encryptedlock]

Yeah?

[He doesn't sound particularly enthusiastic in his response. Nothing at all like he usually does.]

[ino]

Is there anything I can do for you?

[because sorry doesn't help, and she knows that very well]