[ TEXT ] SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. TO THE WORLD

[goddamngrenades]

Quick Check in for Members of Project Freelancer, the UNSC, and our mutual associates- or anyone that wants to get word out about themselves having changed or not changed or...whatever. Has questions? This is Agent York and Delta, so far we're unaffected by this time ripple thing. Connie, North, Wash, Grif, Chief, Theta, Cortana, Locus, Azucar, Parker, Pidge, Fareeha, Amélie - and anyone else I'm forgetting, shoot me a text back, alright?

I'll deliver pancakes and blankets or other care package items if needed. If you'd rather come talk in person swing by my habitat, I'll be hanging in the bar. Directions are below. Also, Jason- buddy? Swing by, I feel like I owe you a beer.

[ In neat green lines there's a little holographic map showing how to get to York's dive bar from the recipient's current location, wherever they might be. ]

Specific refreshments are available upon request.

Comments

[kingtyrantranger]

I learned a long time ago never to turn down a free beer.

[goddamngrenades]

I got plenty of variety, swing on by. I have sudden and *intense* empathy for the shenanigans you put up with here on a daily basis.

[kingtyrantranger]

Why do you think I spent so much time doing martial arts here?

[He jokes, he jokes. But still.]

I'll be by in a bit. We can brainstorm information packets for the folks who forgot things. Try to warn them away from the Jolly Green Kidlet there.

[goddamngrenades]

My therapist says catharsis is healthy.

[ you do you, bro. ]

Brainy is a salty little teenager, isn't he?

[kingtyrantranger]

[Salty's one word for it. There's another, but it needs an extra letter.]

I wonder if he's frustrated because the older one's working with stuff he doesn't understand?

[goddamngrenades]

Man, if I was used to understanding everything immediately? That'd make me a salty ass teenager too.

[kingtyrantranger]

Dude's got a brain the size of a planet. Probably has to invent math just to talk down to us. I think if I took, like, a dozen steps back, I'd be pretty pissed all the time.

Just one more reason to keep everyone else out of snapping distance.

[goddamngrenades]

Was that a Hitchiker's Guide reference?

[ York's proud. Very proud. ]

Heard that. It feels like a lot of this is gonna be preemptive damage control.

[kingtyrantranger]

Don't bother Brainy, don't irritate Cortana... Says something when the first two that come to mind are 'don't bug the big brains'.

...Oh shit, that psycho cop chick. Is she still playing nice or did she get zapped back into 'I can shoot criminals and it's cool' mode?

[goddamngrenades]

Haven't seen her yet, but I'm keeping an eye out. If we're very, very lucky? She'll be the same.

video

[googledox]

I understand my notes and the principles behind these experiments and projects perfectly. [He's lying. There's quite a bit that his future self has learned over the years. That said, he is teaching himself very quickly. (They're good notes.)] I just resent the fact that barely any of it is my personal work.

That means that my future self has apparently deigned to sacrifice all of his individual aspirations and his interest in scientific progress to [he affects a faux cheerful voice] hold hands with everyone around the campfire and sing happy songs~

[He keeps slamming things around the lab as he works, like he's just absolutely disgusted with the state of things. But he'd hoped this whole "Legion" nonsense he'd been drafted for would be done by now, or that he'd at least have been released from his obligations so he could move on.]

Even my future self's verbal logs are infuriating. He's so cloyingly cheerful.

Video

[goddamngrenades]

Oh shit, future you has found some kinda fulfillment in a greater cause and enjoys his life and work with a group of peers and friends that work for the good of the universe. How terrible.

[ Boo motherfucking hoo, bitty brainy. ]

Kinda hard to work on the progression of science if super powered assholes are blowing the universe up, you know. Can't work in the universe if it's gone. Probably the more pragmatic choice and hey- if he enjoys it? More power to him.

Video

[kingtyrantranger]

[Whistle while you work.]

[googledox]

It seems less like fulfillment and more like traumatic bonding. What's the human term? Stockholm's, I believe?

I knew I should've just draft-dodged, treaty be damned.

[goddamngrenades]

Yeah, like that wouldn't have caused some kinda shitstorm and you're too smart for that.

[googledox]

Oh no. Colu might've had contentious relationship with the rest of the United Planets, perish the thought.

Surely, in this future timeline where the treaty was upheld, they get along swimmingly with the rest of the UP.

[goddamngrenades]

Far as I can tell it's not better or worse but I don't really pay too much attention to interplanetary politics.