[audio/video/text: open]

[too_high]

[The feed switches on and cycles through mediums, from audio of something softly growling, to black and white armored hands, flash of a gold visor, and blue sky above as the device is fiddled with, and then settles on text. A couple moments pass before any words are entered.]

AGENT MAINE TO COMMAND. REQUESTING STATUS. UNKNOWN DEPLOYMENT. CLARIFY.

Comments

[Audio]

[allfunandgamesuntil]

Maine?

[York has been wrestling for several minutes with how to ask "what's the last thing you remember" without references to Sigma. If Sigma were there, Maine would have mentioned it, right?]

How'd you end up here?

[Text]

[too_high]

WOKE UP.

[Seriously, he was in the infirmary like, two minutes ago.] STIREP?

[Audio]

[allfunandgamesuntil]

Okay, let me say it's gonna sound crazy. We're trapped in some kind of dream world and trying to figure out a way out of it. The Moogles - the flying bear things - have a pretty good explanation.

[And there are SPARTANs, but that isn't important right now.]

[text]

[brodakota]

[Admittedly, this was something North was pretty sure he wouldn't have to deal with for a while. Figures the universe would have other plans.

He's not sure how to engage. He says he's Maine, and not anything else, but from where on the timeline. It's scary to think that he can't trust a friend like this. Or that he has to be afraid of Maine (okay he is scary sometimes) rather than relying on him.

Theta senses North's hesitation and decides that he better take matters into his own hands.]

Uh....Hi! This is Agent North Dakota and Theta. You're in a dream world called Traverse Town and uh...yeah.

[He is trying to be helpful.]

[text]

[too_high]

[There's a hesitation. Theta? Who was Theta? North he knew, though, so by extension he figures for the moment he can float a bit of trust Theta's way.]

TALKED TO MOOGLES.

NEED OBJECTIVE + RALLY POINT.

[text]

[brodakota]

Good. They know a lot. You should also have a spirit.

I guess we can come find you. It's easy to get lost around here.

[unrecovered]

[He knows that sound- he knows that sound- but the Meta is dead and the Nightmare version is dead but really when has that ever stopped this place from throwing dead allies in his face-]

[And he'd introduced himself as Maine. And Sigma wasn't doing the talking. That...that said quite a bit, actually.]

[And if all else failed...well, Luna was disappointed she'd missed out on the fight with the Meta. If things went south, Wash knew she'd back him up here.]

Maine?

[text]

[too_high]

[Wash, what? He just said that. Was he having trouble reading? Maybe he lost an eye like York. Maine lost track of him after they all fell off the skyscraper.]

???

[what do you want cockbite]

[unrecovered]

[Nah, he didn't lose an eye; just his mind. Well that was helpful. He's still going to tread carefully, just in case, but...man, he really hates how badly this place fucks with him sometimes.]

Have you talked to the Moogles yet? They have a pretty good handle on the situation.

[Action]

[guerriera]

Mrewwww~

[ Green whiskers twitched as a bright pink cat-thing with strawberry tipped, triangle-ears skipped playfully along the quaintly cobbled streets. Carrying a small bag in its mouth, it made its way towards where the moogles had set up shop in the First District.

Or did, until it saw the stranger in white-ish armor. A type of armor that she recognised, even if the Person and the Person's spirit weren't remotely recognised.

Course was thus diverted - time to go say hello! - and the Frootz Cat headed towards Maine instead. It was hard to miss on a good day: Bright pink and carrying itself on SIX legs, the giant cherry that formed its tail spun, making the leaf capped stalk flutter like a flag. A peach dangled from a small collar at its throat, and as if to add to the weirdness, it had a aqua-teal bow around it's neck too.

Offering a very curious and musical meow from around knee height, it - she - seemed to smile up at Maine as she approached, another meow making her presence known. Hello, Person~! ]

[action]

[too_high]

[Maine's expecting company, but not a cat, and certainly not a cat as messed up looking as this one. Too many colors and fruits to process -- is it a cat or a rainbow farmer's market throw up? He brings his Brute Shot down, but stays his trigger finger.]

[His pricklemaine bounces forward a couple steps, then tries to posture himself all 'big and strong' in front of Maine, as if setting up a defense. His tail bounces from side to side, though, and his posturing gives way to excitement at seeing another dream eater. He falls into a stubby-legged bow and growls playfully.]

[action]

[guerriera]

[ Hey hey hey, she's adorable okay. Just ask York or Washington. And happy. BOY is she happy, and doesn't seem particularly worried when he lowers that strange weapon of his. She does pause to tilt her head at it, showing she's at least aware of what a weapon is - she's affectionate, but not actually stupid - before attention switched over to the Pricklemaine.

And giggled in musical girlishness, dancing in a circle once before bowing back at him. Are you new? I'm Lela! Is that your Person? What's his name? My Person isn't here yet, but I am sure she will like your person! ]

[video]

[raisethemoon]

[For a long moment, Luna just stares with narrow eyes. Then, feathers ruffled, she points a hoof at the screen.]

I am going to be watching thee, Agent.

[text]

[too_high]

[..... What is he even staring at.]

WTF?

Filtered to Luna

[unrecovered]

[Oh God dammit.]

Luna, don't. I never thought I'd say this about Maine, but I think he's safe.

Video

[fearmylaserface]

[Here, have an armored blue form staring at the message for a few moments. He's got his own pricklemane and a meowjesty in the background. ]. You have got to be fucking kidding me. What the hell are you doing here?

text

[too_high]

JUST ARRIVED.

[AKA Fuck you too that's one hell of a hello from a stranger.]

[video]

[alwaysfaithful]

[While Chris was surprised at seeing another armored figure much like York and North, he decided to ask the most relevent questions right now.]

Are you injured, Agent? The place you are in, despite how insane it sounds is this: a world of dreams. There are a good number of people trapped here already. You should have a Dream Eater Spirit that will help you in combat should you need to.

[text]

[too_high]

I'M FINE.

[Which he's not, really, he Was just in the infirmary and probably should have at the very least regular checkups and regrain from straining himself ... but really that would be too much to ask.]

WHO'RE YOU?

[It's been a while since he's seen anything remotely resembling a civilian.]

[text]

[statisticallyterrible]

Not great timing.

[text]

[too_high]

LATE? EARLY?

[Not that he's too concerned either way; he's here now so that's what he's going to worry about, but it was worth asking.]

[notquitedracula]

[Ohhh shit. Didn't you just nearly kill me with that big gun-sickle thing a couple days ago?]

...Please don't tell me we're going to have to fight you again. Between friendly fire and that damn thing you were swinging around last time, I almost didn't make it through the last time with my sanity.

[too_high]

[Nah, that wasn't him. But he does have the big gun-sickle thing knifle brute shot with him.]

[Anyway, there's a long pause before he answers, because the only fighting he recently remembers was against a group of rebels that shot him numerous times. Mostly in the throat. It makes him angry now to think about.]

YOU AN INNIE?

So late I am sorry

[colorbymemory]

[The growl made Namine a little hesitant. While she usually introduces herself to most everyone (because she generally checks most of the comm posts and it's only fair to let people know she's here if she's going to do that), growls aren't friendly. Then the text message arrives.]

Agent? Are you a friend of Wash's?

there is no late there is only now :3

[too_high]

[Definitely doesn't sound like a lot of people here are a fan of the growl.]

YEAH

[Though for how long is questionable, given the current disaster of a conversation.]