riverviewlogs | soul clef xi (closed)

Entry tags:

soul clef xi (closed)

who: agent south dakota, felix, and locus
what: putting weeks of recon into practice
when: mid-december
where: the deciduous forest outside the city
warnings: language, talk of violence

By all accounts, Freelancer Agent South Dakota is dead. Shot in the head by Caboose, of all people. Which, incidentally, had to have been a fluke. Caboose couldn't intentionally shoot someone if his life depended on it.

Whatever the case, she's dead. Has been for years. And yet, according to Locus' recon, she isn't. She's alive and well, waltzing around with no hole in her skull whatsoever. Well, unless the missing eye counts. Apparently, that's a new development.

It's been weeks since Locus spotted her. Weeks of waiting while his partner scoped out the situation. Felix's patience ran thin after a few days. If it'd been up to him, they would've killed her and been done with it. He's had enough Freelancers to last him a fucking lifetime. But apparently, that's not an option. Apparently, they need more information, first.

Locus and his fucking Freelancer obsession....

In the end, Felix convinced his partner that they weren't going to get any more information out of his sniper rifle — unless he wanted to see whether or not she could survive a(nother) headshot. So, after sending a message to the Guard requesting a little monster-hunting with the woman in purple armor, he's finally on his way to meet her face-to-face. Or ... whatever. As close as he gets, these days.

When he arrives (fully armed and armored, of course), Felix scans the area for any sign of purple armor or blonde hair. In the meantime, he checks the private comm link between himself and his partner by grumbling, "Just for the record, I still say this is fucking stupid."

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Locus had wanted to be sure. It's why he agreed to the direct recon route, not wanting to give Felix too much freedom with the info-gathering when he knows how South Dakota has been described in the past. She's the kind of person who can get under Felix's skin, whether or not he'd ever admit to it. She's bold and brash and as unpredictable in her speech as she is in her actions. If any Freelancer could get Felix to slip up, it would be her. She's the only one who doesn't act like a high-and-mighty super-elite soldier.

He's warned his partner sufficiently on the matter, he thinks. It was also his argument for this monitored meetup, along with her skills rivaling Agent Washington's. Carolina had been injured during the time they fought her; they couldn't exactly use her as a baseline for Freelancer combat skills when she was slowed down for half the fight they had with her.

Either way, what's important now is that Felix faces this woman with caution.

So when he comes over their private comm link, and Locus has his sights set on him through his rifle from his safe vantage point, it makes him roll his eyes.

"I didn't ask if you thought it was stupid. Whatever state she's in," whether she's dead or not, he means, "she should be considered a threat."

Honestly, South's pretty sure whoever this person is, it's some civilian itching to explore the dangers outside the wall. Why else ask for a guard to lead them along on a tour? Well. Maybe other people in the guard weren't as carelessly cocky as she was when she first showed up, maybe they asked for established guards before checking out things beyond the wall. Either way, she's anticipating some under dressed, under armed person.

She doesn't know if she was requested personally or not, just that she needs to escort a single person out of the city and possibly engage the wildlife. South figures she could be showing someone the ropes, or an in person example of why they don't play outside the wall. Or some curious looky loo, she doesn't fucking know. All she knows is she had plans involving snow, and hot chocolate, and other things than monsters and a field trip time. Not that she dislikes monster killing time, she'd just rather not do it while babysitting.

South heads for the gate, planning to wait for whoever she has to play nice with. Even if she's a little grumpy about wasting her day doing this shit, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't excited to get at the monsters again. She isn't out of practice with fighting, she goes on missions and everything often, at least a trip or two a week to fight some beasts. But who she usually goes with can keep keep up, it's different. She has no idea what to expect here.

As she closes in on the gate, she looks around for who it could be. She's expecting someone in regular clothes, keeping her right side to the wall as she goes along. But something else catches her eye, an almost familiar armor standing there. It doesn't quite look like any she's seen, but it's too familiar to ignore. She stares as she stops at the gate, her task temporarily forgotten. Part of her is curious if it's someone from her universe, most of her is worried it could be. Last she seen anyone or anything from home, she was on the run from the law, from the Project, from everything and everyone trying to kill her. It'd be just her luck the UNSC or some how the fucking Director would find a way to send someone here to finish her off. Or it's a coincidence. Those things happen, right?

That, Felix is about to tell Locus, is exactly why they should just kill her and be done with it. Who cares if it's an argument they've had before? Felix is right, and this is fucking stupid. But, before he can speak, he catches sight of purple armor out of the corner of his eye.

Whoever she is, that's UNSC armor all right. Older model. Looks like she walked straight out of the Great War. And, from the looks of it, she doesn't plan on moving any closer to him.

Well then. Showtime.

"Wow," he begins, turning to face her fully. "Talk about a sight for sore eyes. Here I thought the UNSC didn't have any presence in this place."

His voice is friendly, and his smile is evident in his tone. His body language is relaxed and open; he gestures as he talks, revealing (without making it obvious) that he has no weapons in hand. As he speaks, he takes two steps forward, but no more.

"I'm Felix."

He addresses her, and she's stiff. Silent. Just staring like she's expecting him to pop out a pair of cuffs and try to drag her off to a jail or something. Maybe she's paranoid, maybe it's nothing. But still. Anyone from the UNSC or knowing the program is suspicious. How many people wanted her dead or locked up? Way too many to take a chance.

"How'd you get here, what point are you from?" She says without hesitation, unsure if she believes that friendly voice or if he's trying to lure her closer to try snatching her.

He's alone though, that's a positive point. She's probably too cocky, but she's positive she can take him. At least shoot him if she needs- her hand keeps twitching with want to rest on her pistol. She resists, but the urge is still there. Like the urge to ask what he wants, wanting to cut to the point and figure out if she needs to be worried or if he's from a different time than the Project. His armor is so different, similar enough to recognize, but maybe he's from a different point entirely, maybe he doesn't know her or the Project...

Stiff body language, curt tone, and an itchy trigger finger. Oh, this is off to a great start. Was being paranoid and melodramatic a fucking prerequisite for joining Project Freelancer, or did that just happen over time? He wonders if he's about to get a gun in his face, the way he did with Agent Washington.

"Same way as most people around here," Felix answers, and both his tone and his body language remain unchanged. "Big portal. One way ticket, from the sound of it."

Or close enough, for the time being.

There's no need to tell her what happened on the other side of that portal. No need to divulge any information about the alien gateway, or the so-called test. As for her second question? ... Yeah, he has no fucking idea what she's talking about.

"Not sure what you mean by 'point.' Think you can elaborate?"

She considers him, her eyes are narrowed behind her helmet and her nose wrinkled, unsure of the whole situation. Her gaze darts around a bit to see if anyone seems to be paying too much attention to them. Could be UNSC out of armor or uniform, just in regular clothes to blend in. Doesn't look like there's any worry for it, no one seems to have a fuck to give their exchange, but she's still looking when she's not staring at him.

"What year was it before you left?" She asks specifically, tightening her hand into a fist to keep it from flexing still.

She's not going to pull a gun on him without reason, at least, not in town like this. South's done a lot to work on what she's done wrong, has done a lot of good here-! Rescued people from beasts outside the walls, gone on missions to keep nerds- scientists, guarded while they worked. She's even helped find misplaced children in town, little brats that ran off and scared their parents half to death. She's been working on fixing her karma or soul or whatever the fuck they call it, worked her ass off to earn this second chance. Okay.

That isn't going to be ruined because some guy showed up from the same place as her, she's not going to let it. She's paranoid and freaked out, yeah. But she's going to do her damnedest to keep her calm- well, calm for her in this situation. Hey, she hasn't yelled, fled, or attacked, she's doing pretty well!

Now that's an interesting question. Felix cocks his head to the side, puzzled and intrigued. It doesn't sound like something she's asking out of idle curiosity. Could be important.

"What year was it?" he repeats, and he lets confusion color his tone — but he's not repeating it for his own benefit. Oh, no. It's entirely for Locus, listening in. "2556."

Four years since the end of the Great War. Three years since the official fall of Project Freelancer. Three years since Agent South Dakota was supposedly killed.

He looks at the fist curled at her side. Is she trying to keep herself in check? Well, at least she's stopped twitching. He takes it as a positive sign and presses forward.

"I get the feeling you're not asking that to check for a concussion."

Maybe she lost track of time after arriving here. Still, it's a strange thing to ask, especially right off the bat.

Edited 2017-12-17 23:47 (UTC)

Okay. Alright. This is fine. This is totally fine. He's from after she died. There's no reason the UNSC should be sending anyone to find her, and there's no reason the Director should, either. That has to be a good thing, a reassuring thing. Maybe he doesn't even know anything about her- doesn't seem to, isn't acting like he does. That's good. That's okay. That's alright.

"This place, it pulls people from different years as well as different places. You're a couple years later than me." She doesn't mention the Project or anything, if he doesn't know or doesn't care for it, she's not going to give him a reason to.

She wonders which name she should give him, she doesn't want to draw his memory to anything with the Project but, well. She hasn't used her real name in a billion years it seems like. Maybe she can just skip names, or 'South' wouldn't be too obvious of a name. Just South. No Dakota or Agent with it.

"Woah woah, hang on," Felix starts, taking another step towards South. "Different places I can get behind. But different times?"

He lets the incredulous question hang as he quickly reviews what he's learned since his arrival. One conversation comes to mind: a kid with antique knives who said he was from 816. Felix had chalked it up to alternate realities — which, like it or not, seemed to be fact instead of fiction here. But time travel? That adds a whole new layer of bullshit. A potentially complicated layer.

Then again ... this could give him an advantage. Information is a hell of a weapon; if she's telling the truth, he has a lot more than she does. But, first things first: finding out everything he can about her.

Having given it a few moments, Felix sighs and lets his hands fall to his sides.

"All right. Let's say that's possible. When are you from, lady?"

"Couple years back." Nice and vague, careful, make it broad. Don't pinpoint it.

"Look, this shit is insane, I get it. But, ya know, it only gets more ridiculous outside the gate. I've ran into trolls- and not the fuzzy headed colorful ones, either. Seen a dragon twice, too far to get. Got a saber tooth tiger, you know, the super extinct things? Killed one out there. And that's just the surface. Shit's crazy."

She rattles off, jerking a thumb over her shoulder towards the wall. She hopes it can help distract him, get him off of the timeline- get him away from who she is and where she was before this.

That's a whole lot of talking from someone who has been so close-mouthed up until now. She's dodging the question — and doing a sloppy job of it, too. Behind his visor, Felix rolls his eyes. Christ, this might take more work than he thought.

"Crazier than time travel?" he asks with a laugh. Then he shrugs, as though conceding the point. "Well, don't make me take your word for it. Let's check it out."

Confident that Locus has her in his sights, Felix approaches the Freelancer without hesitation. He moves with ease, not too fast or too slow, and keeps his empty hands away from his weapons. Nothing threatening about him at all.

"You got a name, darlin'?"

That's a question he can ask without drawing suspicion. Let's face it; it'd be pretty fucking weird for her to refuse to give a name after already learning his.

She's still a little unsure, but he doesn't seem to know anything to do with the Project or Freelancer, or her. The UNSC is big, the Project was important- but maybe it's downfall and the whole situation died down and is less known to as many people. Or any people... Maybe she's being stupidly hopeful.

Caution is high in her mind, but she tries to push it aside a bit, tries to proceed as she might with anyone else.

She gestures for him to step ahead when he comes closer, turning slightly, keeping him on her left.

"It sure as hell isn't 'darling'." She replies, glancing up and waiting for the gate to be opened for them. "You can call me South." She hopes it sounds like a nickname or something simple.

There it is. Confirmation at last. Funny, how a little patronizing nickname can get so much out of people.

"South," he repeats — and once again, it's not for his benefit; it's entirely for Locus. There's no trace of recognition in his tone. Given Project Freelancer's covert status, any hint of it could be damning.

"All right, then," he continues, as though choosing not to question a nickname. The gate opens just enough for them to pass through, and Felix reaches for his DMR — keeping the motion nice and easy to read, of course. Once he has the rifle at low ready, he tilts his head towards South and allows his smirk color his tone, "Let's go."

He takes the lead without a hint of hesitation. He's not concerned about showing his back to South; Locus has him covered.

Speaking of Locus.... Felix cuts his suit's external speakers and switches to their private comm link.

"There's your confirmation. Now can we please kill her and be done with this shit?"

Locus has listened in carefully, kept them trained in his sights as Felix starts leading her out. He knows he'll need to move soon, if they get too far, but he can do that. He's trying to keep focused on the situation, all the while letting the information they're gathering settle in his head.

People come from different times: Locus and Felix hadn't, by some miracle. It's Agent South Dakota, and no shit she's from a "couple years back." She's dead.

Felix comes over the radio and Locus would roll his eyes if he didn't have his rifle trained on South. Really, Felix could make it easier for him and not put the violent, unstable Freelancer behind him.

"No. She's clearly had history here. They'll know if we make a move against her, and that would make our lives here very difficult." It's not that Locus wants to stay for an extended period, of course. But if their ability to go home is directly related to the law enforcement here... they need to lay low.

"... And please keep in mind that this particular agent is known for shooting Agent Washington in the back."

Edited 2017-12-24 01:47 (UTC)

She keeps him more to her left, doesn't trust him on her blind side. She trusts the beasts out here more, right now. She knows their motives. This guy's from where she was killed, where she was hunted, where her life fell apart. He doesn't seem to know her or anything, a small plus, but she's still leery.

"How much training do you have?" She asks after a second, both because she needs to know if he's going to be a risk out here, and to get a better idea of him.

His armor is different, maybe he's an entirely different, distant branch of the UNSC that never had much to do with anything anywhere near here. Maybe she is still alright here. This is her second chance goddamn it, this guy isn't going to ruin that! Not that she's planning to do anything to him, or let anything happen to him. She hasn't lost anyone outside the walls yet, hasn't even let them get more than a little busted up, and those times only happened before she even got to them! She's keeping her eye on him, pistol drawn but to her side a bit, HUD's radar keeping track of their surroundings. Thank god for Cisco and his nerdy armor repairs, her HUD is decked out and she feels a little more at ease with the information flooding through her visor.

Edited 2017-12-29 06:48 (UTC)

It's possible that Locus mentioned that incredibly fucking important fact during one of their many, many arguments over what to do about the Freelancer. Felix chooses to believe that it's brand new information.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," he snaps, still speaking exclusively to his partner. And oh, how he'd like to go on. Berate Locus for not leading with that information. For not saying something earlier, preferably before he'd shown his back to the crazy bitch. To remind Locus that what he's doing takes finesse and all kinds of other shit. But South asks him a question, and all Felix has time to do is scoff before he switches his suit's speakers back on.

He didn't miss playing the mercenary with a heart of gold, but he knows he's damn good at it.

Felix slows down to allow the Freelancer to catch up so that they're walking side-by-side. She's keeping him on her left, he notes. Doesn't trust him to watch her blind side.

"Here? You're my training," he says, and his tone is friendly once again. "I'm a mercenary back home. This place doesn't have much demand for that, so I figured I'd check out the Guard after they offered me a position. Gotta make a living, right?"

It's not the whole truth, of course, but it's not a lie.

"What about you? You don't look like a rookie."

"People do pay to go beyond the wall since not a lot of us guards will take trips for funsies." It's not mercenary work, but it does great for extra pay on the side. She's taken people out, depending on the pay she'd take them out different locations. Further away or more dangerous cost more, of course. But it was worth it, she saved a lot of asses already. And got to play with the crazy monsters roaming the wilds here.

She considers his question, she can answer it without giving too much, and it's the truth too.

"I was UNSC, served in ODST." Vague still, but it's a true and good answer. "And been here long enough to know my way around and what to expect."

She's still eyeing him, but she's trying to get out of that paranoid mindset. He's from home, but not her time, not her location, not Freelancer. He's not here to hunt her down and drag her back. She has no bounty on her head- she's already been killed at home. She's already dead. She shouldn't have anything to worry about, right?

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soul clef xi (closed)

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posted it to the wrong spot omg

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