[OPEN]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Who: The Freelancers and anyone else
What: Nightmares
When: Through the Nightmare plot
Where: The Mother of Invention
Rating: TBD, potential warning for torture or other really bad things, as RvB Freelancer era isn't very nice

This is the Frigate Mother of Invention. The home base of the UNSC's top secret Project Freelancer. As much as the frigate might have been lively before, now it's full of eerily empty echoing halls, windows into the empty blackness of space, and alarms that seem to be going off all too frequent. The training areas have grown a darker, more sinister air. As for the medical areas and the research labs? You really don't want to go there.

[OOC: Okay, there will be specific nightmare threads within this that I'll be linking on the main post and I will put warnings if any of those might be too bad. If you'd like to join in from outside cast, either hit one of those or start a new thread. We'll be tagging around, and I'll link any new threads you might set up.]

Locker Room (York)  |  Ranking Board (South)  |  Implantation Room (Washington) (Warning, not sure how bad this might be)  |  The Director (Carolina)

Comments

The Director

[youfallback]

[Carolina feels too worn, too thin, exhausted and surprisingly frail. Standing in front of her is the Director, his hands tucked behind him as he stands with his back to her. She knows what's about to happen is bad, that she even though she did her goddamn best it won't be enough. She won't ever be enough and the thought drags a thick spike of pain through her. In front of her is that scoreboard, Texas's name above hers.]

Our next phase is ready to begin, Carolina. We'll be asking you to do a great many things. Some of these things might be... questionable.

[Hearing his voice again sends her heart racing, feeling his disappointment weigh her down, physically tug on her limbs as she tries to find the air to speak, but she doesn't have any. The words that come out of her mouth almost don't feel like their hers.]

I'll do whatever it takes. You've given me everything, I would do anything for you.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[Washington wasn't sure what was going on or how he'd gotten here... And he's fairly sure he wasn't supposed to me hearing this...]

[youfallback]

[Carolina turns to find Wash standing there and she's not sure if she's embarrassed or relieved that he heard that. The Director remains where he is, hands behind his back as Carolina shifts to glance back at Wash.]

Wash, what're you doing here?

[She's the only one who's supposed to be in here with the Director right now. Or that's what makes sense to her.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

I don't remember how I got here. [Flinching away] I'm sorry sir. I will not mention anything. <i[Lowering his head as he continues backing out of the room.]

[youfallback]

[Carolina watches Wash with alarm, glancing back to the Director and finding that she suddenly needs to decide who's more important. Her gut churns uneasily as she watches him move but stands her ground right where she's at, despite the weight in her stomach.]

May I be dismissed, Director?

[He gives a short nod before Carolina follows after Wash.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[He's in a rush to put a distance between them. The feelings of impending doom are starting to worry him a little, as is the small lapse in memory.

He didn't even notice Carolina following.]

[youfallback]

[Carolina respectfully exits the room and follows Wash down the hallway, unable to shake the terrible feeling settling around her peripheral. If he hadn't walked in, would she have felt bad about the things she just said?

It's about twenty-five feet before she finally calls out to him,] Wash.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[He freezes at that.] Carolina?

[youfallback]

[Carolina doesn't pause, instead continuing her movement toward him down the hallway, only stopping once she's standing right next to him.] Did you need something?

[She tries to hide the guilt in her voice, but honestly it's just not quite good enough.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

No. I don't. Really.

[The unease is not fading. At all.]

[youfallback]

Oh. [Carolina doesn't shift her weight, but her lack of immediate reassurance leaves a heavy and awkward pause in the air around them.] I'm sorry you heard that, Wash.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

It's not my business, boss.

[youfallback]

[No, it's not his business, but that doesn't change the fact that he just heard it. Carolina takes a moment to think before speaking,] You're not to repeat what you heard to anyone.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

I said I wouldn't, Carolina. I will not say a word. Don't you trust me?

[youfallback]

I trust you, Wash. [Despite her words, part of her wonders if she doesn't still need to reassure herself that he won't tell anyone. ]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

I know my duty. To the Project. To the Director. To the team.

[youfallback]

[Carolina frowns underneath her helmet. Despite knowing that this is what she considers home, she can't help but think that there's something she's forgetting somehow. Something very important.]

Good. Need anything else?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[She's not alone in forgetting...]

No. I'm fine, boss.

[youfallback]

[Carolina nods one more time before glancing back down toward the room they'd just had a meeting in.] I'll see you in training later, then, Wash.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Of course, boss.