001 | video

[youfallback]

[When Carolina turns on her video, she does so with a surprising calm. She's done some reading back on those who might already be here, but those aren't the place to announce her presence. The lists, though, she should likely address one of those lists first. Someone that she's owed an apology for a very long time.

So, without her helmet and without much pomp and circumstance,] My name is Agent Carolina. I hear that someone's looking for me.

[She doesn't smile, but she doesn't frown either, finding herself stuck in an odd middle ground that she's never been comfortable in. Now comes the waiting, for a response from anyone really, someone to provide a lifeline where she's never needed one before.]

Comments

not heeeeere

[tuskenlancer]

[NOPE.

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE.

Occasionally (and anonymously) needling York was one thing, but that was York. This is something else altogether.

Don't mind CT, she'll just be maintaining radio silence and staying the hell off of the network until further notice. There's no way she's giving Carolina an opportunity to find her.]

not heeeeere

[youfallback]

[If Carolina knew CT were here, she'd give her the biggest fucking apology on the planet. For not listening, for never listening, for invalidating her suspicions, for having a part in her death, for a billion different things. And to let her know that the Director had been taken care of.

Still, for now, Carolina is completely oblivious to the other woman's presence.]

video;

[sharpes]

Not really.

[He's a contrary dick just to be a contrary dick.]

video;

[youfallback]

That's not helpful. [Complete deadpan. She's had her share of dicks in her life, she's not that impressed.]

video;

[sharpes]

You weren't helpful. Sorry to say but this isn't exactly the sort of place where people are going to fall all over themselves worshipping you for saying 'Hey I'm here come love me'. Or whatever the hell you meant.

video;

[youfallback]

[Well this is familiar enough to her. She takes a breath and keeps her tone as even as possible.]

I'm not saying that. A former teammate of mine posted a list a few months back of people he was looking for. He'd know me and that I'm on that list. If I need to take more direct measures, I'll find out.

video;

[sharpes]

[UH.]

... Because that's not creepy, serial-killer levels of stalking or anything.

text

[agentdork]

[ No.

No, it's not.

No, it fucking can't be because he'd looked. He and Delta had looked everywhere, they'd done everything they could to find her and he'd hoped and pleaded with every higher power that she was okay but--

It can't be. Video can be faked, audio can be faked and it can't. she can't.]


prove it.

video from her end; now 100%-encrypted to this person

[youfallback]

[Carolina takes a breath, not knowing who's possibly on the other end of this, but she has to take a leap of faith. After a moment she nods efficiently,]

We met in Club Errera. You were by yourself, flicking a lighter. [She pauses for a moment, going a little pale as she reaches back into her armor and holds up said lighter. Holding it in her fingers again after finding it at his grave just hurts, but her thumb traces over the insignia once more.] I took it off you.

video | filtered to Carolina

[agentdork]

[ Yeah, that's a lot like being punched in the chest right now. York stares at the screen a long moment and then ficks the video on, dragging his hand over his face. ]

I really liked that lighter.

permavideo; perma 100%-encrypted to York

[youfallback]

[It's him. He's alive.

Her breath catches just a moment as she stares, taking in the sight of him again. It's been ten years since she's seen him in person and no memory could possibly do him justice.

She can't even muscle up half a joke about how he could come get it if he wanted it, but the words sound so lame in her head.]

I figured. [Yeah, it's been a while since she's had a conversation that's not a) an attempt to threaten or kill someone, b) giving out orders, or c) with Church.]

[agentdork]

[ All these years later and she still looks good-- tired, older, more worn, but she's Carolina and he still feels that little burst of relief when he looks at her. ]

I-- so maybe, uh. Maybe you could give me that back. I mean. Not like there are any smokes here, but y'never know when you're gonna need something like that.

→ video

[controlledvariable]

[Steph pays general attention to the network, and she's quick enough to connect the code names, but "Stephanie Brown normal girl" isn't supposed to be that observant, so Carolina just gets an easy smile]

Welcome to Keeliai, have you found whoever was looking for you?

→ video

[youfallback]

Looks like I might have, yeah. [She nods with a serious expression despite her attempts to smile.

Aaaand attempting small talk.] Do you know people here?

→ video

[controlledvariable]

I hope it's a friend. [Since Carolina's expression seems to indicate otherwise, but well, Agent York seems nice]

Sort of. ["Professor Craig" doesn't appear much in Keeliai anymore, so Steph doesn't see the point in mentioning him too much] But I've made friends here, which is almost as good.

→ video

[youfallback]

[A little quieter,] I hope he is, too.

[After a quiet moment,] "Almost as good?" [She considers that answer for a moment. She'd never considered the sim troopers as "almost as good," only "never as good." Then again, she's never been an optimist.] Is that a comment on home or the people here?

→ video

[controlledvariable]

[That's an interesting response, but Steph doesn't really feel it's her place to comment so all she says is:] Good luck.

[The question makes her smile, a little wryly] Neither. [a beat] Or both. It's just, you know, I don't know them as well as I know my friends back home, but they're good people.

video;

[ancillary]

'Agent'?

[ someone here could less about personal matters when you throw around buzzwords like 'agent' ]

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[youfallback]

Yes. [She nods evenly and, despite the fact that the Project had been disbanded for years,] Agent Carolina of the UNSC.

[Awkward moment before she remembers small talk is important.] You?

video;

[ancillary]

[ A straight-forward response is what Miranda likes to hear, and despite having only the slightest inkling of her affiliations. It's something. ]

There was another here who identified with that branch. Friend of yours?

video;

[youfallback]

[Authority is still something that Carolina responds easily to, despite years outside of the military.]

That's who's looking for me. [She thinks, she hopes.]

audio; anonymous

[demon_brat]

You trust that people looking for you are well-intending. That is an interesting assumption.

video;

[youfallback]

I'm capable of handling them if they aren't. [Pure confidence brightens her face up for a moment.]

audio; anonymous

[demon_brat]

[Small pause. Uh-oh. He might like this one.]

For now, probably. You know those who would know you from back home. Don't assume quite so much about the locals. Or even the other newcomers.

[Damian. You are a hypocrite.]

video;

[youfallback]

Other newcomers and locals aren't looking for me. [Which had been the point of her post in the first place. Right now, her focus is on finding York and any of her team that might be here.]