[video] Checking In

[whyarewehere]

[ It’s that time again, gang! Grif’s broadcasting from scenic his room. You can tell it’s Grif’s room because it is an absolute disaster area. There’s all kinds of empty containers strewn everywhere, a pizza box, his other uniform (it’s rumpled and in serious need of a wash), and scattered bits of an orange suit of armor. Of note to those who’ve born witness to this appalling scene before, the far wall has a shiny little plaque on it. That’s new.

All of this is visible in the frame because Grif’s slouching back in his chair with the comm propped up on his desk. He’s a scruffy, somewhat flabby guy swiveling his chair lazily to and fro with one leg while eating… something as he talks. With his mouth full. Because Grif. ]

Alright guys, it’s come to my attention, as the one who tries to keep track of this shit around here, that we have new people. And when we have new people, that means we have new superpowers to figure out how they work.

[ Because clearly, clearly Grif is the only member of the team to take an interest in others and what they can bring to the table. It’s not that he’s nosy and just wants to know if anyone has eye lasers yet. He just gives and gives for this group, he swears.

Grif deigns to swallow before he continues. ]

So: New people. Lay it on me. Who are you, and can you do anything awesome? If it’s not awesome, make it sound awesome, cause that’s what I’m here for.

I’ll start for you:

[ He thumbpoints at his chest, getting space twinkie crumbs everywhere because he’s using that hand. ]

I’m Grif, Doubletime if you want to be that nerd who uses my code name, and I’m pretty much the fastest thing on this ship. Which is awesome.

[ He pauses for a moment, then adds, ]

…And the rest of you should probably come say hi? Tell them stuff? And tell me about the mission because I was stuck back here babysitting the ship and I mean... I took a lot of good naps, but...

[ He shrugs. Then he finishes off the space twinkie, balls up the wrapper, and throws it over his shoulder where it lands on top of the orange helmet. He is not even remotely concerned by this. ]

((( This is a free for all mingle post! Grif will reply to everyone who responds, but if you want to have a character jump into a thread with anyone you are absolutely welcome and, in fact, encouraged. This is set after the end of Lantern Plot, so characters who've been away on that are able to tag in too. )))

Comments

[unrecovered]

I think my life would have turned out a little differently if I'd been assigned to a team of Spartans.

[Let's just say dumb shit! That's a great plan of action! Good job. Fuck.]

No, this is standard-issue armor for UNSC Project Freelancer.

[prettycoolguy]

[ "Assigned". Just the language used here reassures the Chief that this guy doesn't know anything dangerous. Good. ]

It would've.

[ He agrees because it's true. ]

I haven't heard of that project, but that doesn't mean anything. You lose track of those when you spend a couple years in cryo.

[ He pauses. Wait. He should probably introduce himself. The Chief supposes his identity might be a little obvious, but it's rude to assume that. And kind of hypocritical, considering how uncomfortable it makes him that he's so high-visiblity these days. ]

I'm Spartan One-One-Seven.

They're just calling me Master Chief, here. Old habits.

[unrecovered]

[Nah, Wash has too much information about a completely different UNSC project.]

That's probably a good thing. Freelancer was a failure on every level.

[...oh..]

Agent Washington. Good to meet you.

[Not pictured: Wash turning off the omnicom and leaning heavily against a wall, trying to process what just happened. Master Chief. The Master Chief. The Time Trapper sure knows how to pick 'em, holy shit.]

[unrecovered]

[He turns it back on less that a minute later, because ending like that is kind of a terrible first impression.]

Sorry. Technical difficulties.

[prettycoolguy]

Not a problem.

[ In the safe, invisible confines of the Chief's helmet, a single eyebrow was raised. He accepts this explanation, though. ]

At least the equipment wasn't a failure if you're still using it. R&D's been trying to scrape out a non-Spartan MJOLNIR variant for years.

[unrecovered]

[Huh. Evidently armor isn't as common in Master Chief's dimension...which may not be the same as Wash's dimension, but similar enough?]

[...okay, so dimensional travel is weird.]

I don't think Freelancer created the armor - we just had access to it. Freelancer focused on AI integration.

It didn't work out.

[It may not be intentional on Wash's part, but that sure is a Subject Closed tone of voice.]

[prettycoolguy]

Even when it does, it's... messy.

[ But really, the Chief doesn't especially want to talk about it either and he doesn't go any further. His feelings about the situation with Cortana are still pretty raw. ]

Hopefully with the war over, we won't need to get desperate anymore.

[ He says it, but he doesn't actually believe it. ]

[unrecovered]

Nah, now we just need to clean up the mess.

[He is not bitter! ...he is incredibly bitter. It's kind of obvious.]