un: maine | two private messages

[bloodbathing]

[ private @agent washington ]

Status.

[ Maine's voice is tense to the point of strain — and the fact that he's talking instead of texting speaks volumes about how urgent he considers the situation. ]


[ private @agent north dakota ]

[ After confirming Wash's status, Maine sends another message: ]

You good?

[ ... Yup. That's it. Sup, North. ]

Comments

[notyourrookie]

I'm fine. In the middle of nowhere. You?

private forever ofc

[bloodbathing]

[ Dammit... Maine was hoping that Wash wasn't affected by this. But the other man says he's fine, so Maine switches to text: ]

Same. Fucking mountain.

[ Because of course they put the cold-loathing marine on a mountain. ]

Re: private forever ofc

[notyourrookie]

You with someone else?

[Is he safe, is the more important thing. Or as safe as he can be.]

[bloodbathing]

Cougar Alvarez. Stranger.

[ To him, at least. Maybe Wash knows the man. ]

You?

UN: North Dakota | Private

[duel_wielding]

Affirmative. Still in South Village. Can you confirm Washington's status? Your own?

[Listen, if they're not touching the awkwardness of the situation, then they aren't touching it.]

private 5evar

[bloodbathing]

[ Awkwardness? What awkwardness? There's shit to do! ]

Displaced. Location unknown. With a stranger.

[ Which certainly isn't helping Maine's mood. At all. ]

Wash's safe. Same situation.

Re: private 5evar

[duel_wielding]

Any descriptions available of your location or his? Do you acquire assistance? I could try and find one of you.

[There's North for you, always ready to slip in to help his team.]

[bloodbathing]

I'm on a fucking mountain.

[ A full sentence, so that North knows it's about Maine and not Wash. Cursing, because Maine hates the cold and this is bullshit. ]

Negative. Uninjured. Have supplies.

[duel_wielding]

[Maine can't see it, but North is grimacing in sympathy.]

I'd trade you if I could, Maine. This place hasn't been cool enough for my tastes yet. I still wish I was out there to help. I feel useless here.

Is there anything I can look after for you in the village here? People I can look out for on your behalf? Monitoring network traffic?

[bloodbathing]

Try watchtowers. [ If North wants to feel helpful, that is. ] Best eyes around.

[ It's not intended to be flattery. As far as Maine's concerned, it's a statement of fact.

North's next questions give Maine pause. Not because they're suspicious (though Maine might not recognize if they were), but because he's torn between two impressions: his own memory of North versus Wash's hostility. He teeters for a moment, indecisive...

And then the indecisiveness pisses him off, so he acts. ]

Brigitte. A medic. [ Among other things. ] Decent under pressure.

[ There are other people that he likes. Others whose well-being interests him. But Brigitte is the only one close enough to "ally" that he'll ask North to keep an eye on her. ]

[duel_wielding]

[Brigitte, who made Theta uncomfortable. Still, Maine asked, so North would do so.]

I will see what I can find out about her for you. And I'll get eyes up when I can.

Maine? Get back safe.

[bloodbathing]

Always do.

[ Another statement of fact. ]

[duel_wielding]

I know you do. And I'll hold up what I can here.

[bloodbathing]

Thanks.

[notyourrookie]

Some asshole who sounds like Wyoming.

[bloodbathing]

"Knock knock"ed yet?

[notyourrookie]

I might knock-knock him in the head with a heavy stick. We'll see.

[bloodbathing]

Haha :)

[ There's no point in telling Wash, "Keep safe." The other marine knows damn well how to do that. Nor does Maine think he can track Wash down when he has no fucking idea where he is. It's a shitty situation, but... ]

Keep updated?

[ So he'll know if he does need to say 'fuck it' and try to hunt his friend down — probably with North's help. Or if he just needs to locate any man who sounds like Wyoming and crack their skull. ]

[notyourrookie]

Of course. You too.

[He'd prefer to know that Maine was in the village, but failing that, just knowing he's contactable helps a lot.]