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. ]

[overthought]

Tell me it's not trouble.

[reclaimer]

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

You're-- how?

[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]

[ He doesn't quite huff, but it's close. ]

They don't need me for that.

[overthought]

They're a little wet behind the ears, don't you think?

[reclaimer]

{ well this is different.

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

Yes.

[reclaimer]

They'll learn.

[ He leaves unsaid, or they'll die. No, Spartans never die-- but these aren't the same caliber as the IIs. ]

[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.]

[overthought]

They've had it easy. [to think about it, they've never had that crash course in forerunner and covenant lore.]

I'm sure you'll show them how it's done.

[reclaimer]

I might be busy.

[ You know. With things. ]

[overthought]

Try not to let the popularity get to your head.

[reclaimer]

What about you?

[reclaimer]

You know me.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

You know us. [that's a weird sentence to say, isn't it? how does he even begin to explain exitvoid?]

It's just the same old, same old. [there was a perk.]

Saw the Arbiter as a young Elite.

[overthought]

That's what worries me.

[reclaimer]

Cortana.

[ he doesn't need worrying over. ]