ghostthatlingers | Sanctum IC Contact

"I didn't pay attention to what time of year it was after the crash." She was too busy being picked up by the Meta and all that came with that. Seasons were not a concern. "Still thinking about joining the militia?

Well hey, he at least was trying to keep track of the length of time. "I think so. There's always other options, but...kinda wired that way, you know?"

Not literally. Not literally wired that way. Hopefully.

"We'll see if it works out. Hey, if they hate me and my shooting, and I get thrown out, I'll just find something else. I'm not a one-trick pony."

"Just don't get too wrapped up in Bifrons. They're in charge of them." That's her only concern with the line of employment and the main reason why she's not going anywhere near them. Given Church's skill level, he might get saddled with an easy desk job and that would be fine with her.

"No, I'm not gonna go join the creepy big brother dystopic mad scientists. I think everyone's had enough of that in their lives, thanks." He could guard something. Or be on watch for something. Maybe he'd get sent out to do some cool shit? But then Tex might have a fit. God forbid he get given command of a couple soldiers himself again.

She rolls her eyes. "Making sure because I'll kick your ass if I find out otherwise." And kick others' asses if they force him into any experiments. That's far more likely to happen.

"Yeah, Tex. Totally on their side here. I'm all for kidnapping people and shoving them in bodies and sending them out into a new world and not giving a whole lot of info. Sounds just like me, huh."

"The part where you get your own body does. And that I got dragged here, too." Even he has to admit the timing is a little too coincidental.

"We're also pulled from pretty much the same time, unlike all the other Freelancers. It's really weird. Maybe because of that, that's why we both got here so closely together? Fuck if I know how this space and time hopping bullshit works." Though now he has to think. "Well, Delta and Theta are here...what if some of the other AI are, too? There's still plenty missing from the roster."

"If they are, they haven't made themselves known. Theta was telling me there was a UNSC AI here, as well. Black Box or something. Only one I've heard of from outside the Project." There was an abnormal amount of them here and she's not sure what that could mean.

"Not like the Freelancers were ever the only project going on, and not like there weren't already rules and regs set out for using AI. And see where that got us."

Wow this is getting dark as shit. Let's back it up a bit. "I'm glad we're not alone. I mean, I'm glad you're here, even if it sucks that we're here, you know? And you're not stuck with just me."

Backpedaling is good. They're still out and about after all. Her arms fold over her chest as she tries to relax muscles she didn't realize tensed at the subject matter.

"I know. I want to figure this place out, but even if we do, there's not much for us to return to."

"We'll figure this place out, and then we'll figure out what to do about it." He's not touching the idea of nothing to go back to. He doesn't want to stay here. This isn't home. Not...gonna thing otherwise, just yet. "Hey, we take things one thing at a time, or we'll never get anywhere, okay?"

"Yeah, and right now, we need to worry about getting more clothes. I need alcohol before we talk about anything else." Lots of it. First thing they get home she's taking a couple of shots.

"Right, anything shiny you see in a window, you just drag me in and try things on and I'll pretend to tell you everything looks good on you. Also, food, and also booze. You have the best plan. I like this plan. This day rocks." Hey, maybe fuck going back to where they came from if they can have days like this, right?

"Pretend? You better damn well mean it if you want me to pay for your clothes, too." Or he could with the meager amount of money he had. His choice and he won't have too much longer to make it since the store she's chosen isn't too far now.

Wait. Wait, she was going to pay for all of his shit all day? Why the fuck didn't she say so?! "I mean, uh, I'm gonna make you feel like a beautiful and buxom radiant queen. And mean every damn word of it." Or make it seem that way.

"Don't lay it on too thick." That would be worse, especially if he uses words like 'buxom.' "And don't get used to this. I'm only doing this to get us set up."

"Right, right, just--figure out what sizes we are, start trying shit on. Pretty sure we can't fuck up something like clothes shopping too bad." Just so long as nobody comes out looking like an asshole. Wait, that might be harder than it sounds.

"I don't want to take that long with it." Clothes shopping isn't her thing and she's only going out of necessity. The place she picks to stop at proves that as it's more on the practical side of the scale than stylish. She doesn't plan to stick by him while they shop and wanders off to the women's side of the store to find whatever passes for fashion here.

No, he's not gonna be that much of a needy little puppydog following her around. He's got his own needs, too. It's really...weird. It's weird to be standing around in a store with a shirt in his hand wondering if it's the right size is it too expensive does he like the fabric is the color okay.

(Fucking Donut would be helpful here. He is finding he kind of maybe misses some of those stupid bastards.)

When is the last time he ever wore an honest to god shirt before coming here? So it ends up that he mostly starts grabbing things that catch his eye and, arms full, tries them on all at once. Not in a panic. Definitely not in anything like a panic of 'what the fuck do I do'. Nope. There is definitely some nice blue going on in his mini-wardrobe. And absolutely nothing at all ever in the vague vicinity of red. Old habits die hard. He's not the most handsome thing to ever walk the streets of the Sanctum, but hell, he doesn't think it's a bad look, workable jeans, cozy button-downs, a little of this, a dash of that to branch out, but it's...something.

A start. It's a start. This is the start of something new. A new life, here, with Tex, in a house, going on dates and shopping for clothes and food and cooking for each other. With neighbors who aren't an opposing army.

There's a dumb, simple t-shirt that's just the shade of blue that makes him think of Caboose and his fucking downgraded armor that he can't help but stare at before he pulls himself away. Dear god, what if any of those assholes end up here? What if it's the Blues and the Reds all over again, but with the addition of Freelancers?

It might be...pretty cool, actually.

She's having more trouble in the women's department. Much of what she's going for are practical - t-shirts and jeans are a good stand-by as are a few button-up shirts. All things lace and glitter are avoided like they carry a deadly virus that will turn her into a glitchy zombie (and who's to say anything here won't do that anyway?).

It's difficult to keep her mind from straying from this mindless task. It feels wrong to be wandering around like a damn civilian when she should be doing... something, anything that might get them closer to figuring out what the fuck is going on in this city.

But it's about time something went well for her. It's almost like a vacation despite the baggage from the last 48 hours looming overhead. And there's still the matter of the housemate that she has yet to inform Church of, but even he's not in the way if it took over a day for them to cross paths. Shit will hit the fan once the other agents discover the Director's around and maybe that's an issue she should handle after Christmas, if he doesn't press it sooner.

In the here and now, she's got an armful of clothing and a few dreaded bras to try on in the fitting room.

He doesn't know how much is too much or not enough, and, well, it just has to last, right, until the weather warms? This is going to be so hit-and-miss, being human for one and being 'normal' and 'domestic' for two.

...Of course now he's curious how Tex is making out. Since obviously she's not gonna go for anything really hot and slinky, or anything sparkly or colorful, or anything...Sister-like. (That last one's probably a little bit of a blessing, really.) Don't mind if you come out and he's lurking around, Tex.

He will be waiting a long while because she's not coming out until she's finished trying out the pile she started with. The more she tries on, the more she gets a feel for what she's looking for. Maybe she only needs a few t-shirts and can opt for something different for once...

She's narrowed down her initial pile and has found plenty of pants and some kind of bra size that'll work. She doesn't notice him until after she's put back what didn't make the cut.

"What?"

Well, he didn't see her around, and didn't know which dressing room she was in, wandered around, tried on a few more things, came wandering back--it's a process trying to figure out how to act.

"Nothing." He's almost as surprised as she is. "I was just...waiting on you, mostly. I mean. I dunno what the fuck I'm doing but I've got some stuff? We're gonna laugh about this after, right? I definitely need this to be one of those look back and laugh about situations."

What the hell is wrong with him? She's confused now and eyes him to make sure he hasn't tripped and fallen or something. "Laugh about what? We're just grabbing clothes."

Speaking of clothes, she hands over the pile she plans on getting so far. "I need to check out a few more things and get a few pairs of shoes."

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