RP Open Post

[goddamngrenades]

Smut, Gen, Angst, Fluff, Anything, Everything.
PFL era, Post war, Pre Canon, AU, whichever
Brackets or Prose whatever you're comfortable with
Tag and go, baby!

Comments

[goddamngrenades]

"Some kinda library or a database that's been powered down in a library. That'll be connected to something larger in a bigger city and maybe if I can convince it to work and play nice we'll get a listing of all the military outposts and training bases set up during the war. That's a matter of public record. We take those and cross-reference with tactically advantageous areas and the duty roster I pulled up and see what fits. Then we'll know where they're likely working from and should be able to extrapolate what roads they use to get two and from, maybe fuck up their supply runs. You gotta feed an army if you wanna win a war, right?"

[beforeblue]

It's clever. Gotta give him that. How can one person throw such a spanner in the works, seriously? The look that Wash gives him is fond, affectionate. "Yeah. Gotta do that. It's a good plan. I've just been hitting up whatever outposts I came across. Harder to get enough stuff working alone."

[goddamngrenades]

"It's harder to plan large scale when you've only got one competent soldier." He shrugs and rests his cheek on Wash's hair. "We'll grab the most likely abandoned ones first. Give the kids time to get their legs under them."

[beforeblue]

"Yeah, it really is." And neither side was all that competent.

Oh that feels nice. He closes his eyes for a moment, enjoying it. "Sounds like a plan. Practice runs. Be good for them. Probably be good for us too."

[goddamngrenades]

"Get a better idea of what we're up against and maybe make trouble without having to make the kids actually kill anyone. I don't doubt that they could but...first time's always rough."

[beforeblue]

"Yeah. Yeah it is. And even if any of them were soldiers before this, they'd be fighting the Covenant, not humans. Makes a difference when your enemy is a giant space lizard."

[goddamngrenades]

"Suit up if you're coming." He doesn't even go for the dirty joke, just kisses Wash's temple before slipping out of bed to get dressed his own self."

[beforeblue]

"I'm coming." He nuzzles into the kiss, and climbs out of bed, stretching for a moment to work the dullness from his muscles. "You make it very hard to resist you, you know? Not surprised that all the kids are swooning over you."

[goddamngrenades]

"If it weren't for our tragic love affair, they would be. Most of the kids not in the squad have been trying and failing to hit on me." A beat. "Also if Palmomo asks you if I fucked you into a coma, you have my permission to hit him. I warned him."

[beforeblue]

"Why tragic? We both got laid." As far as things went, they were pretty successful for now. "How many hearts did you break?" It was kind of cute in a way. They needed someone to believe in. That could be a powerful reason to develop a crush.

"He actually asked that?"

[goddamngrenades]

"Cuz we thought each other was dead for yeaaaaaars and now we're in the romantic reunion honymoon stage. Apparently our week long spat was because one of us moved on in the interim or something. I dunno, kids have imagination." He shrugs and starts rolling the undersuit up his calves. "Yep. YOu're usually around throwing knives or talking to KImball. You were MIA, assumptions were made."

[beforeblue]

"Oh god, they're right," Wash says, pausing in slipping on his undersuit. "I guess moving on is a more romantic reason than me being an asshole merc." Pity it wasn't just that. "They want to change the world. Remember when we were like that?" They'd been so sure that they'd be the ones who'd win the war, save the world.

He lets out a sigh at that, shakes his head. "A guy takes one day off in the entire time I've been here."

[goddamngrenades]

"Still like that, man. I dunno about you." Fighting against incredible odds to save people he doesn't even know? Feels like the old him. He snorts a soft laugh and peels his suit up his hips. "Well they've always seen you working. THey're used to it."

[beforeblue]

He goes still for a moment. "Think I'm a bit too far gone to be trying to be a hero. If I'm doing it, I'm doing it 'cause you're here." And somehow that counted for everything right now. "You make me want to do better. Does that count?"

The suit sticks tight to his body like a second skin. Always a pain to get on, but essential equipment. "I guess. Never exactly tried to make friends."

[goddamngrenades]

"How did I go from being a terrible influence to the best one ever?" York plays it off as light- they're having a good day. Why ruin it? "Reminds me of how Carolina made me feel. Like I could be better if I tried hard enough."

No flinch this time just- idle acceptance.

[beforeblue]

"Must be your sparkling personality," Wash replies. "You got out, York. You knew something was wrong. It took till I was locked up by them to figure it out." He'd been an idiot.

He pauses at the mention of Carolina, stares down at his hands. "Yeah. She was a good leader."

[goddamngrenades]

"We'll just have to try to live up to the example she set." It's a high bar to vault, but he thinks they can manage it. Especially if the kids aren't fighting each other every damn day.

[beforeblue]

Her example. She'd been the best of them and now... "I'm glad I didn't- didn't see her fall. Or fail." It's the closest he can come to telling York the truth. "She was so bright."

[goddamngrenades]

"It was a long way down." He tries not to think about it. HOw long it'd take to hit the rocks.

[beforeblue]

He curls in on himself a little at that. Doesn't want to think of Carolina falling. Of how hurt she must have been when she dragged herself back. But she'd lost too much on the way down.

He focuses on sliding the undersuit shut instead, reaches for his armour. Each piece feels like building a wall to seal the Agent behind the mercenary.

"Let's go."

[goddamngrenades]

Plate after plate locks into place, the last thing to go on is the helmet. The HUD flares up bright, pinging motion on his left before he turns his attention to Wash. "Come on then, I'll borrow a mongoose, we can double up on that."

[beforeblue]

And just like that, it sort of feels like last night never happened. He hates the feeling. But it's easier to hide when his helmet is on, when there's nothing but grey armour between him and the world.

"Alright boss. Let's go."

[goddamngrenades]

"Don't call me boss, I might get a big head." He snorts, reaching over to nudge Wash in the shoulder on his way out the door. There is some catcalling from the passing formation of LTs, swiftly silenced by Smith's well placed glare.

[beforeblue]

"Too late," Wash says, and the smirk is obvious in his voice.

He's still not entirely inclined to be outright friendly to anyone on base. It comes with too much risk, so he follows York's lead, ignores the Rebels for the most part except as he needs to as they cross the base.

[goddamngrenades]

"Kimball knows I"m go'n, so we got about a four hour grace period before I need to radio in." He packs up what he thinks he'll need from the armory, sets a tracker on the mongoose (just in case) and swings a leg over. "C'mon, Wash."