007: AMAs, Third Round

[tarnishedavenger]

So, we've got a load of new people, and that means it's time for me to do the only thing it feels like I get on these comms to do anymore: AMAs.

For you new people, I find it helps when we get together and explain a little bit about ourselves, any powers we have, and our skillsets. That way we know what we're starting with and what we can build off of. So, please, come and introduce yourselves and be willing to answer questions.

Comments

[fuckingaqua]

[ Tucker, who probably heard about that w/r/t bearing heavy loads at some point and then managed to immediately forget it, files said info away for later examination.

It explains... some things about Caboose.

The back half actually pulls a short, sharp laugh out of him. ]

Oh, Church was totally an asshole. We were friends so I got that front and center.

Like, he wouldn't let anyone else use the sniper rifle even though he couldn't aim for shit. He'd eat all the good snacks and drink right out of the carton. He'd talk about how annoying we all were all the time, but then if something happened to you he'd get all worked up about it. Total dick. He'd argue about anything. He put together the plans we used to try to get stuff done, only he never figured out how to account for the fact that stuff he didn't plan could happen, so it always went off the rails.

And he was always trying to get me to give him piggyback rides "for science"! Dude, just admit you don't wanna walk somewhere. It's more respectable.

[ It is, as it turns out, possible to say all of that with measures of both petulance and genuine fondness. Church was always Church, Alpha or Epsilon or whatever, as far as Tucker is concerned, but there was kind of... a different vibe from one brand to the next. ]

He was the best at making big speeches and getting us all to work together, though. Kinda sucked when we got reassigned.

[bothbarrels]

[ North looks to Theta as Tucker talks about Alpha. Theta is excited to learn more. His hologram bounces at Tucker's explanation. But then he stops when he explains they'd been assigned to separate outposts. ]

Oh. Did you miss him?

[fuckingaqua]

[ His expression hovers a little bit in a complicated bummed-out zone for a couple of seconds. Just on the Church-missing principle. He's cooler about it than he used to be, though. ]

... I guess, yeah. You get used to people. The Reds were like our weird frenemies back then because we were around them all the time. But I guess that's how you roll in any army. Even a stupid training sim army. Reassignments happen.

[ It be like that sometimes. ]

Me and Junior got to travel around doing alien-ambassador Indiana Jones shit after Blood Gulch, though, and some of that was pretty cool. So it wasn't too bad.

[bothbarrels]

That sounds really cool! Too bad Alpha couldn't go with you. I bet he would have liked doing that, too.

[fuckingaqua]

Maybe. Church was pretty into feeling important and looking like a badass, so he might have been into it. Depending on how it balanced out with him not liking people or aliens or having to actually do stuff all the time.

I think it would've been cool to have company. Those standard-issue UNSC types are boring. All work, no play. At least Church mixed it up.

[bothbarrels]

Maybe he'll end up here, too! North's best friend is here. Agent York.

[ North shakes his head. ]

Now, Theta... It's not exactly good that we're here.

[ Even if arriving here did save him from certain death. ]

[fuckingaqua]

Yeah, it sucks that we're here. Jorgmund is total bullshit. But I'm the kinda person who likes making my friends suffer with me, so I won't be mad if he ever shows up here. Wouldn't be the first time he came back from the dead for no real reason.

[ He doesn't have to have complicated emotions about it or grief processing if he just ignores them. ]

If that happens, I'll introduce you guys.

[bothbarrels]

Thank you!

[ North chuckles. ]

Yeah, we'd appreciate that. I think Theta wouldn't mind spending some real time with him, would you?

[ Theta gives a little bounce. ]

I wouldn't!

[fuckingaqua]

Yeah, no prob. Just remember, he was a huge asshole. It's basically 9/10ths of anything he ever said. So you could basically tell him he's a dick and then ignore him anytime if he acted up.

And that's the secret to staying friends with someone. Keep that hypothetical on lock just in case.

[ Reasons Tucker's friend group hasn't really grown and didn't really exist before Blood Gulch. ]

[bothbarrels]

[ North looks amused at that. ]

Not sure I necessarily agree, but it can be a good tool in the arsenal.

[fuckingaqua]

Eh, everyone's different. Me and my friends deal better in the social version of those huge Legos they use for preschoolers.

[bothbarrels]

[ North laughs. ]

Well, whatever works.