UNSC + SOLDIERs meet-and-greet

[youfallback]

Who: UNSC (NOBLEs Two and, Six; Freelancers Washington, South, York, and Carolina; Lance Corporal Dante/Rookie) + SOLDIERs (Zack + Angeal) + Hard Hunter [a yet unnamed alliance/coalition]
What: Meet-and-greet/mingle/badassery.
When: Mondayish evening
Where: The Hangar!
Rating: Maybe PG-13


[Honestly, Carolina's a little nervous about everyone being under the same roof for a meet-and-greet. Not because of any real fear of fighting or danger, but more that it's been a while since she's had this many strong-willed people in the same room. Sure, there's the teleporter to the Danger Room on one side of the garage and an assortment of vehicles, but she expects most of the action to happen in the kitchen where she expects they'll spend most of their time. She'd sent out brief notifications to all interested parties earlier in the day, so hopefully everyone would come and be ready to chat about plans for this potential alliance.]




(ooc: This is mostly a mingle post! I'll put up a couple different areas in the hangar and please tag anyone/everyone! ICly, everyone's meant to meet everyone. Backtagging is very welcome but you can also just leave a comment saying what your character would agree to/wouldn't if it gets too busy/full!)

Comments

[bustered]

That is... [What is that story even.] That is awesome and really freaky all at once.

[It makes a person wonder: how powerful is the Castle, really? What could it do, if it tried again? If the residents really could threaten it, why did it keep them around? Was its own need so desperate to put up with what could be a very real threat to it? They are not comfortable questions, but they're ones Zack keeps to himself. He doubts the answers will be easily provided; secrets upon secrets this place seems, and assumptions could be more than dangerous.]

'Couple years' makes you sound like some kind of Castle war vet or something though. Guess we really don't age in here?

[encryptedlock]

Freaky castle. Awesome friends.

[Which...pretty much sums up his whole life here, really. Sure, it's a pain in the ass and a real danger some times, but his friends are what make it worthwhile, always. If it wasn't for them, he'd be out in the Dead Zone already.]

Ha! Yeah, at least it seems that way. I've been here almost four years, and there are a couple who are going on six. Not so bad when you're a middle-aged guy like me, but it kinda sucks for the kids.

[bustered]

Sounds like.

[There are days where the Dead Zone seems pretty appealing, Zack has to admit!]

Four years can be a long time. [Four years is about what he spent trapped in a Mako tube... but four years could also mean an almost-life for a man who can't go back home.] I see what you mean. Status quo isn't so bad, but to never grow up? That's a little weird.

[encryptedlock]

[It certainly has its advantages - and disadvantages, which is why they have a base like this still within the powered zone.]

Right? Think about it - being emotionally an adult, but stuck in a kid's body. That's the part that would suck. For someone like me? Not so bad. I don't mind staying at a pretty good physical level.

[bustered]

[And thankfully the Dead Zone has a dedicated boundary, and not one that fluctuates...]

Damn that would suck. [Because really, York has a point: being permanently physically fit, at the height of one's skill, is a definite perk of being here.] With the only hope for aging being sent home, and that at the Castle's whim? No thanks.

[encryptedlock]

[It had changed once, but been stable ever since then. York's willing to accept for now that it's stable.]

Exactly. Well, that or a temporary loss. People seem to get stuck on those a lot, whether it makes them older or younger. Something to keep an eye out for.

[bustered]

[Zack is okay with this assumption!]

Huh. I'll keep that in mind. [A pause.] I don't even know what my own loss is supposed to be.

[encryptedlock]

Most of the time if you're not sure, that means it's a memory that hasn't been triggered yet. I didn't figure mine out until the guy I forgot showed up here.

[bustered]

Yeah, I've got no clue. I was thinking that it's got to be something I don't remember. [There's a pause. Zack's honestly glad that it's not something that's affected him physically or anything-- like his ability to fight, or to defend someone.] I guess there's little enough sense in dwelling on it.

[encryptedlock]

Yeah. I mean, it's important--losses always are--but if you're lucky, it's something you can live with pretty easily.

[bustered]

I figure, 'long as I still got what I need to be a SOLDIER, I'm good with it.

[encryptedlock]

Good philosophy - and here's hoping, man.

[bustered]

Yeah. For us both, right?

[encryptedlock]

For all of us.