realityshifted

Entry tags:

red vs blue (d1) washington

♖ 2

[this time, Wash arrives on the Plane unarmed, all weapons left safely behind on the Mother of Invention. not that he needed to be armed right then, not during a mission briefing. in fact he would still be there if it weren't for one single reason: someone who should be there isn't. and this fact alone bothers him...]

Where the hell is she?! Damnit, of all the times to come here...

[...probably more than it would have prior to their first gaining access to the Plane. he grumbles a bit under his breath before he regains his composure. he'll just have to search for her and bring her back.]

[while he's here, though, he can take care of another matter. he removes a small datapad from a compartment in his armor, the device's screen glowing softly once he turns it on. it isn't the first time--nor will it be the last--that he's had to do something in secret and keep it from his friends. at least he doesn't have to worry about the insurrectionists and what they might be doing to get into the program, but here...it's another matter entirely. and from the people he's spoken to and what he's seen so far, he's definitely convinced something must be done, especially since he still doesn't know what happened to cause all that noise recently.]

[but he can't do it on his own. so, while he's searching for a certain colleague of his, he can at least speak to people about helping him with a side project. hopefully he can meet people who are interested in protecting others on the Plane...]

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[he finds it vaguely curious that he's wearing sunglasses when there is no actual sunlight around, but then again, he can't talk. not when his own visor is polarized and all.]

No, thanks, but...maybe you can help me with something else. Were you around to hear that really loud crashing noise that took place about a week ago?

[And Riku's pretty wary of the Plane, but full armor? That's pushing it a little. Oh well...]

Yeah, the "technical difficulties". [And he has a few theories, but... best not to share those, probably. For now.] Why?

[he nods] Because I don't trust things to continue to stay the way they are. I think we're on a path towards something very dangerous for us all. And I don't know about you, but I'd like to be ready when everything goes to hell.

[Riku... actually smirks, just faintly.] You’re new, aren’t you?

[But then he gets serious.] It won’t be the first time everything goes to hell. We’re already in danger, just because we’re here. [He’s not bitter at all. :| … but his expression does soften a bit before he continues.] You’re right, though. It’s better to be ready. And it’s good to see someone else thinks so.

[Riku has never understood how people could treat the shadier happenings on the Plane as just minor inconvenience.]

[he bristles very slightly from that observation, but thankfully, his helmet hides his expression--and the bristling lasts only a few seconds. he hasn't been "new" anywhere in a long time.] Guess you could say that.

[hearing that only continues to confirm his thoughts about the Plane. he holds his hand out to Riku] I agree. [holds his hand out] I'm Agent Washington. What's your name?

[He takes the offered hand. He even manages a small, friendly smile.] Riku.

So, do you have something in mind?

[gives the hand a firm, brief shake before he quickly types Riku's name into his datapad. he'll fill out other details later.]

Yes. I figure if we have a unified security force, people here to patrol the Plane and intercept trouble to protect others from harm. We'll...have to figure out a way to communicate with each other between the worlds so we can call for back-up, but if there are enough people involved, we should be able to make things a little more safer around here.

Yeah. It would help. [Still, he looks concerned.] It won't help with everything, though. A lot of what the Plane does to us can't be fought directly. A patrol couldn't stop it, but it could help lessen the impact. And it could definitely mean getting everyone to safety a lot faster, at least.

And communication between worlds... [Amused] Do they make telegraph wires that long?

[he nods, having already thought about that] No, I don't entertain any thoughts of stopping the experiments, but yes, at least we can be there to keep others safe--and to keep an affected person from hurting oneself.

Telegraph wires? [lets out a little dismissive laugh] I doubt it. That's ancient tech! No one uses it anymore.

Yeah. [He nods... and then shrugs a shoulder.] Count me in. I can ask other people if they're willing to help, too.

[Okay, now he's even more amused.] Really? Lucky for you.

Good idea. I can't always be here to recruit, so it'll be good to have someone else to help. Plus, it sounds like you've been around the block here. [though he does wonder what's happened, not to mention, he wonders how old Riku is]

[raises an eyebrow, cocking his head to the side a bit] Oh yeah? Why do you say that?

A few times. [He shakes his head.]

Because it isn't ancient for me. That's why I go without. It's too much trouble.

Can I ask what happened?

[is silent for a second] A different time, then. Makes sense. Telegraph wires were cumbersome and could only reach parts of the world. It'll get better soon enough.

Yeah. Want to find somewhere to sit down? [He shakes his head]

[Riku laughs juuust faintly, amused, and smiles a bit. Meanwhile, he's wondering if he'll live to actually see that...]

[thinks about it for a second] Yeah, sure. Lead the way.

[Convenient that the bar is right there, yes~? He goes inside, starts for one of the tables.]

So, you really want to hear everything? It won't be a short story. It won't be a happy one, either.

[follows after, being sure to grab a seat where he can easily see the exits]

Yes, the more I know, the better I can help coordinate things later on, especially since I'll know something of what we'll be up against.

[He nods, as he takes a seat as well. Perfectly reasonable. Part of him can't believe he's about to actually tell the truth to a complete stranger, but... another part of him finds this a lot easier. Besides, this will help people in the long run.]

I'll start with what's happened to me, then. Work my way backwards. [He crosses his arms.] A few months ago, some people came across pieces of candy. Seemed innocent enough, but if they ate it, they... changed. Turned into something horrible. Their worst fears, or something along those lines. Nightmares.

[softly] What...? I take it they were changed back, else I would have run across someone still afflicted.

Yeah. They were. [His expression darkens considerably.] There were two ways to fix it. The first way we knew about was... death. And before we were told about the other solution...

[He trails off, not entirely sure how to finish that. "People died"? "I killed yet another someone who didn't deserve it"? Right. Funny how it still stings...]

[he frowns, noticing that shift in expression] Something tells me not everyone effected managed to survive to see the other solution.

Yeah, you might think that. [Have a bitter half-smile.] Except that death doesn't last here. The machine brings you back to life.

[sits up straighter] Wait, death isn't...death? What machine are you talking about?

The Plane. It’s also called the machine. You can hear it, if you listen carefully enough. And... no. Death is still death. It’s just not permanent.

[he frowns. he had been able to hear something like gears turning, but wasn't able to pinpoint a source.]

You realize how contradictory that sounds. Death typically is permanent.

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