homeless, voice testing

[reclaimer]

[ There's an emptiness in the back of his mind, no matter where he is. He's been told he might find her out here, but it won't be the same. She'd said so herself.

But maybe there is something worthwhile in being here. Even if he can't find her, maybe he'll come across others. He hasn't forgotten his team. ]

If you're going to do this, then make it count.

Otherwise, send me home. There's something I need to do.

Comments

[curtained]

Looking for someone, John?

[ gives a smile. ]

[reclaimer]

[ --anything else he might have said is entirely stalled by that voice coming out of an actual mouth. ]

You're-- how?

[overthought]

Tell me it's not trouble.

[reclaimer]

It's always trouble.

[ Monotone or not, he knows she can hear how he really feels. ]

Especially with you.

[overthought]

[oh, don't put it that way. she feels guilty enough for doing what was necessary - which is illogical. but.]

What are they going to do with you? [there isn't a "we" anymore.]

[reclaimer]

[ That stings through the relief of seeing her again, even though it's true. Even when the Gravemind had her, she was still part of him. ]

Deployment. At least, that's the plan.

[ And you know how those go when it comes to him. ]

[overthought]

[she'll always be a part of him, don't ever forget that. she might be there physically, but maybe she's still there. deep within him.]

And then you'll do what you do best.

[reclaimer]

Mm.

[ A pause. ]

--It's not the same.

[ Without you. ]

[overthought]

I'm sure you'll teach the IVs how to properly blow something up.

[don't dwell on the fact that she's not there. sacrifice, remember?]

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

Going to find someone? [and he knows exactly what he's going through.

or, it's the chief, does he really know what's he's going through?]

[reclaimer]

{ well this is different.

but john supposes there's not much he can hide from-- well, himself. ]

Yes.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

She's out there. [he knows it; she has to be out there.]

[reclaimer]

I know.

We found her once. [ He thinks back to the nightmare of Flood-infested High Charity, of stifling corridors and the endless onslaught, how they'd made it back out in one piece despite the odds. ] We'll do it again.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

I know. [we give excellent peptalks. go us.]

[reclaimer]

What about you?

[spartansneverdie]

There's no end to it, is there? Always got something to do, [ a short bark of a laugh ] don't you, John?

i already know this is going to make me sad as hell

[reclaimer]

[ He'd been told it was possible, and the other John had said the same, but it's nothing-- nothing like seeing Sam for himself, flesh and blood and breathing like it hasn't been thirty-plus years.

He barely knows how to deal with the living anymore. What does he doe with a ghost?

There's no question of it, though. He knows Sam as well as he knows himself, no matter the years in between. ]

Sam-- it's really you.

making master chiefs cry is my life's mission.

[spartansneverdie]

In the flesh.

[ there's a small shrug there. kind of like he doesn't believe it himself, really. ]

For now, I guess.

it's what you get for playing sam

[reclaimer]

[ He's shorter than John remembers. Or maybe it's just that he's that much taller. Older, too. He hadn't realized just how heavy thirty years could feel until now.

There's more warmth in his voice, the kind only a fellow Spartan could hear. ]

You're late.

'-' pretty much

[spartansneverdie]

[ he rubs the back of his head, his eyes flicking up. sam is young, sam will always be young. in a way he's never quite grown up. the spartans are not bright-eyed to say the least, unless you compare their eagerness to wolves on a hunt--all snapping jaws and white teeth. ]

I am not. I'm just in time.

[reclaimer]

[ John looks him over. He's like a wolf who's only just caught the scent of fresh prey, without knowing what's out there to meet him. He hasn't hit his prime yet, doesn't know what's to come, but he's brave enough to face it. He always was. ]

Hn.

[ A tip of his helmet, questioning. ]

Can you still ring the bell?

[spartancommander]

Getting mouthy with the person at the controls is probably not the best of ideas, Chief. Or that's what I've noticed so far with the useless civilian who picked me up at least. Hopefully you'll have better luck than I. [Palmer's lips set in a thin, disapproving line.]

[reclaimer]

I can handle her.

[ The gravelly voice is monotone, but there's the barest flicker of amusement in the tip of his visor. ]

Luck's never been my problem.

[spartancommander]

I'm sure you can, Chief. [Palmer agreed absolutely deadpan. There was no hint of mocking or condescension in the officer's tone so perhaps she was being sincere? It was hard to tell with Palmer.

The older Spartan's next comment had one dark brow arching ever so slightly however. There was a serious look in the woman's gaze that spoke of embittered experience.] Everyone's luck runs out eventually, Chief.

[The Commander stated softly, maybe even a little sympathetically.]

[spartan051]

No rest for the wicked, huh? [The man in the SPI armor looked innocuous enough though the voice was passingly familiar. It had been over twenty years since Kurt had seen his fellow SPARTAN but he recognized that armor anywhere. Once upon a time, he'd worn armor exactly like that though it had been retired along with his SPARTAN tag.]