revenance_comms | [audio/video/text: open]

YEAH

[More or less. He's been wandering but it hasn't been far.]

OMW

[Maine will be in roughly the same spot, just looking around and taking in his surroundings as his Pricklemaine leaps around and plays at his feet.]

[York waves as he walks up. He's got Max and Sparky with him; Max runs ahead, barking a cheerful hello at Maine's pricklemane. It's probably better to just act friendly and find out what's going on, as long as Maine doesn't try to kill him right away.]

Hey, how are you holding up?

[Maine tips his head back in greeting. His own dream eater bounces from side to side in excitement, then tries to settle into a defensive position and look intimidating, then loses it a moment later to excitement again and rushes awkwardly to meet with Max.]

[Maine hefts a growl, this isn't exactly the sort of engagement he'd signed up for.]

[York wasn't sure what that meant; this was part of why Maine had gotten Sigma. If Maine didn't have Sigma...well, that put him even more out of the loop than North. Well, if that was the case, York wasn't going to be the one to bring up all of that with him. Someone else could clue Maine in later. Who wasn't York.]

I know this is weird, but what's the last thing you remember before going under?

[Maine grumbles lowly and points sharply at his neck, then realizing that York probably wasn't going to understand the full implications of it, pulls the comminicator back out and sends a quick text.]

INFIRMARY

[He'd lost a lot of time in between, he figures.]

[It's about then that Wash shows up, Melody and Puddles in tow. He's actually chosen those two deliberately; after everything that's happened, he can't help but be paranoid, and he could use Puddles' size and speed if anything goes wrong. He can hear what Maine is saying, though, and part of him is relieved to know he can still understand the growls, especially after that Nightmare had been so...empty.]

How's the throat?

[York waves to Wash. He's just as glad not to have to give Maine the talk on his own. Hopefully Maine won't sit there and think they've both gone insane by the time they're done.]

Last thing he remembers is ending up in the infirmary after the skyscraper thing.

[Maine rolls his shoulders and shrugs at Washington's question. It hurts like a bitch and is still healing, but then pain was never much of an issue with him. He nods at York - that's pretty much it.]

Good to know.

[Which means Maine is either lying through his teeth as a result of Sigma playing a long game, or he's got less of a clue than North. Wash isn't ruling either of them out just yet and won't until he sees how Maine reacts to things - Delta, Theta, Carolina's presence, anything that could tip the scales one way or another.]

[For now, however, it's time to break the ridiculous and bizarre news.]

You're probably not going to believe this, but...we're all from different points on the timeline. Most of us have been through things that haven't happened for you yet.

[Oh good, Wash was taking point. Normally he'd be worried, but if any lying needed to be done, Wash could handle that without flinching.]

Yeah, it's gotten pretty weird to try to explain things to people.

[Maine looks from one to the other, a low rumble in the back of his throat, and then shifts his weight and grumbles unintelligibly. That might have some explanation for whoever 'Theta' was.]

[He's still reserving a reaction until he finds out just what's happened. No use freaking out now if it's just 'oh hey we won the war']

Yeah, it explains a lot. There's...a lot you don't know.

[And a lot that Wash doesn't want to talk about for a myriad of reasons. After a few moments, he hits on something he can actually say.]

But hey, we won the war.

[Worst copout ever. Of all time.]

Or will win the war. There's the whole time travel tenses thing going on.

[Oh, well that didn't sound too bad. He grunts and nods acknowledgement. Everyone else was making it sound like he went on a rampage or something.]

[He looks between the two of them with a little huff, where was everyone else?]

[And then Maine had to go and say that. Well, fuck. How was he going to explain the instant hostility?]

Yeah, about that.

[Uh.]

The way this place works is it keeps opening up...for lack of a better word, different worlds. One of the last ones it opened up was the Mother of Invention, and...in that world, there was a Nightmare that looked like you, attacking people. That's the reason people aren't happy to see you. [He's been monitoring this post. Not good.]

Yeah, it was pretty freaky.

[And he's stopping there. It being pretty freaky is entirely true if entirely unhelpful. Still contributing nothing of worth to the conversation.]

So, want us to show you around? We'll probably run into a few of the people here and we can give them the good word that you're one of us.

[Nightmare version of himself. That was definitely out of left field. ~~At least it doesn't give him any indication how awful he really becomes~~. He stares evenly at Washington while he processes the information, almost as if waiting for something else, but then he glances over and nods at York with a rumble.]

[Tour would be fine, although he's pretty sure he can handle himself if anyone decides to get rough.]

[~~Thank goodness for small favors.~~ Wash matches his gaze calmly, as much as he can do with both of them wearing helmets. It's the truth to an extent and a massive lie of omission beyond that, but "by the way, you turn evil and try to kill us all" isn't going to help any of them right now. Good thing York's good at changing the subject.]

Don't. Let us talk to them before you retaliate.

Yeah, most of the people here are pretty nice. And some of them have godlike magical powers or swords that are keys.

[Well, or keys that are swords. York isn't entirely clear on the key sword sword key thing.]

[~~The sword is a key? Isn't memory the key?~~ Maine huffs something of a sigh in response to Washington. Fine. He'd let them spoil his fun.]

[Then he pointed down to his Pricklemaine, who immediately went from a relaxed repose to growling and eager to fight, although there was still an element of play to his movements. Maine's wondering what he's supposed to do with it now.]

[ Did someone say Tour? Because a tour sounds like a GREAT idea! And look, there's someone else here to join you.

There's a patter of paws across cobbles, before something pink launches itself up onto one of the wall ledges that lead down to the main square of the First District. There follows a delighted MEWF! Two of her favourite Persons, Melody~~-sempai~~ and the New Person!

You found the Strong Person! He's really neat, isn't he?

The Frootz Cat doesn't even bother waiting further, dashing immediately over and into the middle of the group, aiming a headbutt at Maine's shin in greetings (again). There follows a headbutt for Maine's Pricklemaine companion, too. Wash belonged to Melody, so the Necho Cat and her grumpy owner get a tailwave as though no tantrum by purrs-truly had ever upset the delicate Person Balance. Then and only then did Lela trot and curl around York's feet, meowing at the man.

You'd think she belonged to him, or something, given how happy she sounds. ]

[~~And when you stick it in people, it unlocks their deaths.~~]

Only if you consider getting struck by lightning "fun."

[As for the Pricklemaine...] Feed it. Train it to fight alongside you. It's your new best friend - might as well get used to it.

[Puddles lays his head on his person's shoulder as his person talks. See? Like this! He's totally his person's best friend!]

[Down by Wash's ankles, Melody huffs. Right. Sure. She meows a greeting at the newly-appeared Lela. He's pretty big, yeah. Her person seems to know him. Does Lela's person? And is Lela's person still not talking to Melody's person? Because that's awkward.]

[Wash's reaction to Lela is entirely different. He bites back a curse and immediately opens a private channel to York.]

When she shows up, you're running interference.

[Max trots over to say hello to Lela, barking excitedly.

Yeah! Melody's person know him too so maybe when everyone's getting along again the new person can live with them.]

[York can kind of guess what's going on in the conversation, but they've moved on from what might be educated guesses to either Wash's making things up or his actually understanding Maine's growls. He tries to work out which as he bends to pet Lela.]

Uh, yeah, the dream eaters can be a big help sometimes. So you've met Lela - this girl - already?

[York glances sideways at Wash, especially after he opens the private channel and responds on the same.]

Okay so then later you'll tell me how you're having this conversation, right?

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