thelegion | Video

[ The feed flicks on to show York, smiling in the mess with a mug of coffee in hand and Delta hovering over his left shoulder in all his six inch green glory. ]

Good Morning, beautiful people- it's another serene day on Legion World and I'm here to offer a little Legion wide challenge, bet, wager, whatever you wanna call it, I'm offering one.

My name is Locksmith and anyone that can encrypt a file, secure a room, or seal up a safe that I can't crack? Gets me as an errand boy for a full twenty four hours. And, you know. Bragging rights. Get to rub it in my face that Delta and I couldn't hack or pick whatever lock you've got set up.

[ He pauses to take a sip, setting the mug down for a moment of seriousness, hands lacing in front of him on the table, shoulders lifting and dropping in a brief shrug. ]

Now, some ground rules- it's gotta be a lock. No setting a two ton weight in front of a door and watching me sprain something trying to push it out of the way. I get a time limit I set when I see whatever you've got locked or encrypted, I'll tell you and I'll stick to it, anywhere from half an hour to three depending on whatever you've whipped up. Lastly: If I end up your errand boy no humiliating costumes. Been there, done that, I am not cute in a french maid outfit, ok? Ok.

[ Here Delta pipes up, offering helpfully: ] Amusing hats and signs of shame are, however, exempt from the 'humiliating costume' clause.

[ York turns his head to squint at Delta. ] Seriously?

Further incentive for participation, and for us not to fail. I am attempting to assist in your motivation.

Well, thanks for that.

So if you feel up to the challenge? Drop a line here or find me in the mess, I'll be the guy talking to a green hologram, drinking coffee.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Is "nearly bulldozing people in the hall" one of them? Because it turns out he's really good at that.

[Who has two thumbs and nearly got wrecked in Chief's race to get to Cortana? This guy.]

[No harm, no foul, you whiner.]

Agent Washington, the Master Chief only hits what he's aiming for.

[Unless I'm holding the controller. Then he hits everything but.]

The fact you're not in intensive care means you were never in danger.

I've been run over by a few too many people nearly his size not to be wary.

[Maine. The Meta. Locus, on rare occasion.]

They weren't Spartans.

[Honestly, was Wash expecting a partnered AI to be on his side on this one?]

Which is why I'm still alive after being run over.

[Nah, he's just bantering for the sake of it now. He's gotten used to Arguments Over Dumb Shit with the Reds and Blues, and some part of him misses them.]

[Cortana's used to her Arguments Over Dumb Shit ending quickly and abruptly because the Chief has charged into whatever Dumb Shit she was trying to talk him out of and the point is now moot.]

If your problem here is with lack of effectiveness, I can tell him to aim for your head next time.

Nearly.

[ He did it because he knew it would be fine! ]

I'm welding a horn to your armor the next time I see you.

I had somewhere I needed to be.

[ There's an awkward little pause, then- ]

I'm sorry.

[ Okay, so maybe it merits an apology. Maybe? Probably? Only a few months ago he wouldn't have even thought of it. Admitting he might have done something wrong is also admitting that he made a rash, emotion-driven decision that he may not be entirely able to defend. ]

[The apology throws him, just a bit. Chief knows him better than that. Doesn't he?]

You realize I'm just messing with you.

[You're fine. He's fine. It's fine.]

[He does have a question, though.]

Is she the friend you told me about?

I still shouldn't have done that.

[ The Chief will hold to that. He knows Wash isn't serious or upset with him, but he still shouldn't have. Maybe not because he could've hurt someone, because he's still sure he wouldn't have, but because outbursts are not acceptable Spartan behavior. It's embarrassing. ]

She is. The Trapper pulled Cortana from four years in my past.

[ For anyone else, he'd stop there and he nearly does anyway. But he's more comfortable talking to Wash than he is most people. ]

I didn't think I'd see her again.

[ His tone is carefully suppressed, speculative, but the fact he felt like wading into a silly comm thread to begin with is a definite indicator that it's a good day to be the Chief. ]

[Looks like the dead are coming back to life for Chief, too, in far less traumatic ways than Wash and York's first reunion. It's a little heartwrenching but ultimately good - Chief could use more friends, especially one who'd know him as only a smart AI partner can.]

Sounds like you really did have someplace to be.

[Chief can be weird about emotions, and while this may be crossing a line somewhere, he's probably one of the few people here who can actually ask this.]

You know you're allowed to be happy about this, right? It's kind of a big deal.

I'm-

[ The Chief breaks off. Now it's his turn in this friendship to be taken aback by Wash hopping the fence and going straight for the center of a problem. He shifts the point he's looking at twice as he works out a reply, discomfort palpable. He's not good at talking about most things, feelings least of all. ]

I can't afford to lose my head.

[ He's not supposed to. It's not allowed. He would've been reprimanded for this in training, and rightly so if his opinion counts for anything. ]

[This is the same guy who suggested mutual treason so they could actually have a productive conversation. How is any of this surprising?]

I'd say you picked the one place where you can. There's no mission going on right now and it's a secure location - no consequences, aside from the horn I'm putting on your armor.

[Nope, can't resist the joke. His voice softens a bit as he continues.]

Plus, your friend is pretty much back from the dead. That's not situation normal for anyone. I think you're allowed.

[ A whole chorus of 'yes, but!' springs immediately to mind. He's a Spartan and that makes everything different, his self-control is supposed to be perfect, he shouldn't make attachments that can shake his judgment like this and it's proof he's failed to stop himself. They're very important reasons for the Chief, and they're all answers he doesn't think Wash will accept.

He exhales heavily. ]

...Thanks.

[ He's still not okay with this, he can't give himself permission to be happy just as he couldn't give himself permission to grieve, but he understands that Wash is trying to help. That's what matters, and that's what he's chosen to take away from this. ]

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