Dreaming Wide Awake [Fourth Wall/Open]

[revenancemods]

Who: Everyone! Current characters, fourth wall characters, whoever wants to show up.
What: The portals are closed. Everyone's in Traverse Town, including a whole bunch of new people. This should be interesting.
Where: Traverse Town
When: Throughout the day
Warnings: Depends on the characters. Expect language at least.

You didn't expect to be here. You really didn't. The technicolor buildings are a surprise, as is the little white flying bear telling you you're in the dream world. He gives you a bag full of what looks to be currency, enough shiny things to create a creature of your own (or so he says), and sends you on your way.

Good luck.

Comments

[chatterbox_recon]

Hey he'd be a happy if he had his armor back; this certainly wasn't wearing this penguin suit by choice.

"Well, I had the rare qualification that I was a living Spartan." And it probably helped being one of the more congenial ones, PTSD or no. "They're certainly interesting, I'll give you that." He nods at Jorgie, and then glances down at the Meow Wow leaning against his legs. "This fella still needs a name."

[spaceracist]

"You got off planet, then." There's a note of satisfaction in Emile's voice. At least one of the team did, then. Someone who could keep Noble alive, at least in memory. "So the war really is over? Or you just off the active roster for now?" It would surprise him if Jun had been rotated off for psych purposes. Hell, Emile had almost been off the team for rehab before Reach, but then, well, Reach happened.

"Mine are Spikes--" he pointed to the Hebby Repp, painted to match Emile's armor colors "--and, uh, Jorgie there."

Don't ask don't tell.

[chatterbox_recon]

"War's over. Fighting hasn't stopped. We got splinter groups to deal with now; human and former Covenant. And Forerunner. It's a madhouse out there, but at least now we're on top. They got me recruiting and training the next company of Spartans, as luck would have it." Sometime Jun should tell you about the statue that's been erected in their honor.

"Jorgie?" Jun gives him a knowing smile, and then squats down and offers Jorgie his hand to sniff. "Maybe I'll name mine Carter."

[spaceracist]

Emile snorts in amusement. Little bouncy Meow Wow named Carter? "Least he's blue." And, well, maybe it would make Carter show up and demand they change it. The strategy hadn't worked with Jorge yet, but there wasn't any reason not to try. Right?

He's more thoughtful about the state of things back home, though. This is going to take a while to process. "Forerunner." It's a request for more information, Emile-style. Dafuq is a Forerunner?

[chatterbox_recon]

"Remember the stuff Dr. Halsey dug up? That's all Forerunner. The Covenant's supposed Gods. They weren't gods; just ancient long-dead people that had been hyper-advanced. It's a long story, man, I'll sit you down and tell you the whole thing sometime."

'Carter' seemed to approve of his new name, rolling over and waving his paws in the air with happy whuffles.

[spaceracist]

"Huh. Yeah. They got a coffeeshop here." And food that isn't MREs, which Emile is still a little distrustful of, especially if Jun gets anywhere near it. But then again, they should probably figure out what's going on before they sit down for coffee and chitchat.

"I got a room in town. You can stay with me long as you like." That's as close as he's likely to get to an invitation.

[chatterbox_recon]

For the love of everyone's tastebuds don't let Jun near a kitchen. One thing certainly hasn't changed since Noble.

"That'd be great, man, I'd appreciate it." He's looking at Emile with something of a distant, almost wistful expression. "It's good to see you again. You know --" He shifts his weight, cupping his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "We get a monument. Big-ass statue, with an inscription and everything."

[spaceracist]

That makes him fall silent. A monument? That can't be right. They never even really officially existed, so how could there be a monument to them? Hell, aside from the rest of Noble, there probably wasn't anyone who even knew his real name. Jun did, obviously, but where would he have got the money for that?

Nah. They wouldn't do something like that. But Jun wouldn't lie to him, would he?

When he speaks again, it's in a subdued voice. "For what? Losin' the planet?"

[chatterbox_recon]

"That AI we saved? She's Master Chiefs. They're the ones that break the Covenant." He's smiling softly. No, they lost the planet, but it certainly wasn't through any failure of Noble's; they'd given everything in offense, defense and evacuation. They deserved recognition.

Jun himself felt a little odd at having been included, to stand there and look at the ghosts along with his own armored representation. That part hadn't felt right.

[spaceracist]

Master Chief? Who--oh, right. Jorge's first squad leader. "117? No shit. So that latchkey thing Kat found was really worth somethin'?" Who knew? Of all the things that had happened on Reach, that one had almost slipped his mind.

Anyway. If Rarity hears him talking about his death she'd probably just get all weepy again, and Emile isn't really prepared to deal with that. So he changes the subject.

"How long's it been from your end?"

[chatterbox_recon]

"A few years. War ended but the fighting hasn't stopped." he crossed his arms and frowned slightly. "Insurrection is going strong. Covenant splinter groups all over the place. Plus side is they're struggling for resources and we just produced the most massive warship anyone ever thought up, so we're doing pretty good for ourselves."

He quirked a crooked smile, "Spartans are our own branch now."

[spaceracist]

That takes Emile aback a little - but the lack of a concentrated battlefield does explain why they'd have Jun in a more admin role rather than on the front lines. That and, well, Emile doesn't want to ask any questions, but Jun had PTSD before Reach. Maybe this was just what the doctor ordered.

Hell, Emile knew he needed a psych eval, and Jun had had to love with it afterward.

"No shit. No more Army brass breathing down our necks?" Carter would have loved that.

"Wish I had somethin' excitin' like that going on here, but mostly it's been go here, fight some powerful thing, turn into a pony."