Shaky voice test oh Christ what am I doing

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

 Mun, with all due respect, if you have enough time on your hands to make me a 'journal' with the sole purpose of putting me in surreal and/or dangerous situations for your amusement and the amusement of others, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one in your life who thinks you need to take a step back from the computer.

Walk around. Get a drink. Leave the house tomorrow. I don't know - make some kind of effort to stop your muscles from atrophing at the very least. Make the most of the time you've got here , don't waste it in front of a screen-

That's not 'rich' coming from me; just, decide what you're doing and see it out. And please, don't make me regret saying that.

Comments

[fitforbattle]

You make some excellent points, our muns really should listen.

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

We can hope, I guess

[scout_tactical]

I've learned it's best not to argue. They're like brick walls. Pretty one-sided conversation when you're trying to tell them they can actually go out there and do something with themselves.

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

I'm starting to see that, but it was worth a try.

[scout_tactical]

It is. Sometimes you actually win. Got mine to go out running once in a while. Puttin' those pink running shoes to good use. I wish I could get them in pink. I think I'd look dashing.

[He may or may not be grinning sarcastically, but he relaxes to an easy smile.]

I bet you're a lovely woman under all that... armor. Oh, my name's John, by the way. John Lugo. Everyone usually just calls me Lugo, though.

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

[There's the hint of a smile]

Well there you have it - perhaps there is still hope for the masses

Anya, Stroud. And that's something you'll have to leave to your imagination.

We are sincerely sorry for his... behavior... lol.

[scout_tactical]

[He chuckles a little, shifts his weight on his feet.]

Eh, well, time will tell, but yeah. Anya. It's good to meet you. So... uh... what's all that armor... for? I mean... there's an awful lot of it.

It's fine - she's used to it!

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

[She gives Lugo a nod of acknowledgement]

And you.

Where I'm from, armour's sort of a necessity. I never used to wear it, but then things..they went from bad to worse. I had to go from control to the front lines, as it were.

[scout_tactical]

[Lugo looks like he's about to say something, then his jaw drops. He's stuck like that for a while, then, somehow, manages to regain his composure.]

Front lines? Are you serious?

[This is definitely a big deal, after all. Sheesh. Where he's at, it's the year 2012, and women are still pretty much banned from combat roles.]

Must be really rough... Where I'm from, they don't allow that. I'm with Delta, US Army... No girls allowed. Literally.

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

[At the mention of 'no girls allowed', her expression very rapidly matches his. The idea of there still being those sorts of views in the COG is too ludicrous to even entertain. Small world though - she's part of Delta squad.]

There have never been rules like that where I'm from - every able bodied person has the option to join the COG; the threat's too great and too continuous to think about stopping people from fighting if they can and they're willing.

[The human race is pretty much an endangered species on Sera, so if women can fight, they do. And they're treated just the same as the men who fight as well]

[scout_tactical]

[Lugo pauses for a long time, head lightly canted to the side as if he can hear some music playing off in the distance. He looks like he's focusing hard.]

It would be interesting... I mean, I know some women who could probably still kick my ass. I think most of the concern is that guys might get... over-protective. Kinda makes sense, right? I mean, then there's also the thing about -- well I'm just gonna throw this out there now, not to be rude -- but sex issues. I mean, I know I can barely stop myself getting excited when I see a lovely lady. To be perfectly frank, I'm pretty uncomfortable downstairs right now... but the way you're acting, it seems like you guys have had a lot of time to work out the kinks, no pun intended.

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

[Going to go right ahead and tactfully ignore the downstairs comment]

That happens, yes - the overprotective part. But I guess we all watch each others backs. But the 'sex issues', that doesn't tend to be a problem, or not as much as you'd expect. There's a lot of rules against it.

To be honest, when your race is close to being wiped out, things like that tend to get put on the back burner, you know?

[scout_tactical]

The world is ending...

[He seems... well... pretty shocked to say the least. Now that he's mentally fully engaged, he's not really trying to put on any game. He fiddles with the bill of his hat for a moment, thinking.]

The world is pretty much ending, and you're forgetting to have sex? Shit, I'd be getting it on like there's literally no tomorrow... but yeah, I guess I can understand it. Didn't have much time to consider... anything, really, in Dubai. Maybe whether or not they'd find my body...

[He's quiet for a while. Very, very quiet, the light catching his eyes for a moment. There is open, unadulterated horror in that glassy, far-off stare.]

I try... not to think about it... but it comes back a lot.

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

((ooc: curious - have you played much of 'Gears of war'? :) ))

[She laughs lightly]

It's not so much 'forgetting' as it is not really having the time. When you're on duty pretty much 24/7, any free time you have is normally spent sleeping. Haven't had much of that recently though

[Free time, not sleeping - although when she does it's never for long, or particularly restful]

[scout_tactical]

((Lord, I can't remember the last time I played... but I've been through the whole series, excluding Judgement. I love Gears... Great story, surprisingly enough.))

[Lugo nods delicately, looking as though he feels sorry for her and is concerned simultaneously.]

Well... knowing that, is there anything I can do for you, Ma'am?

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

((Sorry! Totally forgot I owed you a tag! And that's awesome - I didn't know if you knew her canon or not - I've heard many good things about Johns :) ))

[She gives him a curious look, as though she isn't used to bing offered help, as it were]

No, not that I can think of. Why do you ask..?

[scout_tactical]

((This... kind of actually makes me want to play through gears again... lol. My roomie will be happy - it's his favorite series ever - and maybe my Dom muse will come back to life... XD ))

Well... if you needed some down time, or something like that... I'd be more than willing to... I don't know, stand guard or something. Anything, really. I know how bad it is, trying to operate on no sleep.

[Honesty. Of the brutally clear variety. He smiles a little, maybe to take some of the edge off of the intensity of his expression, though it probably doesn't work well.]

You probably deserve it a lot more than I do, anyway... and... well... Sniper. I can do some crazy shit to keep myself moving. There's no one better to keep an eye out, if you need the time.

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

((You totally should! Dom's such an awesome character - do it for him!! haha))

[After being around Marcus as long as she had, intense expressions are hardly something she notices anymore. But it works well enough - he even earns a smile in return]

I'm fine, really - but it's kind of you to offer

[Not to mention that she's more than capable of looking out for herself, but let's not shoot the guy down completely]

Can I ask - what sort of conflict are you used to..? I mean, are you against other humans?

[scout_tactical]

(( Ha! Looks like it's time to get the Xbox out again... it feels like ages since I've played with it. I've been trying to catch up with my PS3 lately... lol. ))

Other humans... yeah.

[He's been drifting around the whole 'multiverse scene' or whatever this is long enough to know that there's much, much worse out there than fellow US soldiers. Still, just thinking about the concept of shooting his fellow man... it makes him feel a little sick. They hadn't exactly been... well, enough of that.

He clears his throat and looks away for a moment, coughs politely in an effort to hide a gag. Yeah. Humans. War is not a pretty thing.]

I kind of wish I were shooting at something else. You... you been around it a while, you kind of just... take yourself out of the situation, you don't think about it. Then someone... I shouldn't really say anything.

I just... wish I could have done better... been a better person.

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

((Me too - just finished 'The last of us'))

[At the end of the day, you're killing something. You're taking another life. It was only easy, if that's even the right word, for the gears and for Anya simply because the Locust had no intention for the human race other than extinction. There was no room for negotiation. Kill or be killed.]

[She listens in quiet understanding to what he has to say, before offering a piece of advice]

Look..the only thing I can really say is that dwelling on things you can't change will only change you. You can't..you can't bring back the people you've lost, or the lives you've taken.

You can still be better. If you want to change, if you feel like you need to? There's still plenty of time to do that

[scout_tactical]

((Oh my, yet another game on my list... XD ))

[She has his rapt attention. There's something distinctly soft in his eyes, like he's sure he won't be getting any release... no redemption. He nods still, seems to darken a little, lowers his head. The bill of his hat is clearly there for much more than just protection from the sun.]

Some of us can't go home... but I hope like hell you get to... And whoever's waiting for you... I'm sure they'll be glad to see you.

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

((Oh my lord it's so good - you'll love it, or at least I hope you will! Best game I've played in a long time))

The rest of Delta are the only reason I want to go back..well, I want to keep fighting, to see if we'll ever see the end of the war..but I do miss the others

I worry, you know? While they're there and I'm just sat here, doing nothing

[scout_tactical]

(( ... just started playing it. Game got hijacked by someone visiting. So I'm going to have to start it over. :| ))

[The rest of Delta... simultaneously his heart aches and his stomach flips. Delta. Adams... Walker. He closes his eyes lightly.]

Yeah... best not to worry, though... They'll be fine, right? They're tough. When you get back, they'll be all kinds of happy to see you.

My guys... I did the most I could for them. I just... hope I never see them again, that's all. Same time, I want to be back there with them. I don't know how to describe it. Makes my head hurt.

[He chuckles softly, even if the joke isn't that funny.]

[we_have_a_tomorrow]

((Noooo, urgh that sucks. Well, I hope you enjoy it either way :) I have to crash now, but I'll tag you back first thing tomorrow! ))

[She gives him a sympathetic look]

I know what you mean..don't worry

Come on..we should talk about something else. All this is going to do is dredge up the past.

[scout_tactical]

[Lugo looks up, nods carefully. His eyes are dark, but there's something... lightened in the way he carries himself, maybe. He nods delicately, reaching back for a reassuring brush of his fingers on his rifle's stock. It's all but useless these days, but he likes having it handy.]

All I got is the past, these days. Would be nice to have a bit of a future, but I guess that's what this place is for.

[He takes himself a few steps, poking around with a boot, before folding down into a nice corner, laying out his weapons in front of him and digging in his pack for solvent, lube, and a rag. As always, he starts with the M9.]

Where do you come from? Like... uh... I guess, what planet are you guys from?