And in my dreams [CLOSED]

[uptightness]

Who: The Blues, of all colours...
What: Ghost from the past arrives
Where: Blue residence
When: After this
Warnings: Will update as needed...

[It isn't hard to see them coming from the point on the roof that Carolina has taken, and so far, it doesn't look like Epsilon's in two, or more pieces. He's walking on his own anyway. Yet it is only the briefest of glances that Carolina gives to him, before her gaze is shifting to the other person walking with him. Those green eyes track her movements like a hunting hound, a stillness going over her that might well be reflected in the man seated next to her.]

Come on.

[It's hard to read anything in her voice, although Carolina isn't exactly the most social or easiest person to get to know either. Time might have worked away some of the hard edges, but by no means has it made it smooth. Add to that the newest arrival... Yet she's already moving, slipping back in to the house and working her way down to the front door. In truth, she has no idea what she feels. It's one thing to talk about it with Wash or Epsilon (although neither come from the when she is from, leaving some gaps of discussions, but that Texas is actually here in the flesh, literally, if Epsilon is any example.

Her gaze might shift back to Wash, that hint of unease and uncertainty rippling beneath the surface as they move toward the front door. Talking over the communication devices is one thing, but seeing the woman that she hated for so many years... But it is the past tense. Hated, not hate. It would be simple enough to let those old feelings rise- doubt, inferiority- but Epsilon's words are there as well and she let's the breath out she'd been holding, and goes to open the door.]

Comments

[a_shadow]

[ Tex has started giving Epsilon the silent treatment along the way, not judging him of deserving much more than that at this point. The moron couldn't find a way to break his news in a better way than he did, and Tex feels her reaction is on his head, not hers. Maybe she could have been more measured about it, but she had her hopes up high that he was the original Church when he contacted her, and the fact that he didn't break the news until they were together in person really aggravated her.

When they start to approach the house he had indicated they were heading toward, she sees Carolina open the door, and she begins to veer toward the opening. She doesn't speed up, nor does she slow down. She just approaches at the same measured pace she'd been walking as they made their way up the street.

When she reaches the other woman, she stops and gives her a slight nod. ]

Hello.

[ The others are around, and Washington, this is something she knows. But one thing at a time, she figures. ]

[hardwearing]

[ Wash does, in fact, mirror Carolina as they make their way back downstairs. It's an unconscious thing, their movements falling into sync like they're headed into a fight even though this is more an internal struggle for each of them. Different, but understood. When Carolina hesitates moving towards the door Wash goes still too, to her left and a half step behind. Close enough to reach out and put a hand on her shoulder, if that'd be any sort of support or comfort. He's sort of learning to do that again but as close as they've gotten he's still not certain of anything. Doesn't know where the lines are or how she'd take it. So the moment just passes with Wash standing beside her, quiet and steady, and his fingers curl into his palms as she moves away again. He'll probably second guess that later but then the door is open and through it they can see Tex and Epsilon approaching.

Steadiness becomes tension as Tex steps inside and addresses Carolina. Just a hello. He never did check to see what they'd talked about but that seems... okay? Epsilon decidedly does not look okay -- something went wrong there, not exactly a shock. Wash just shifts his weight and waits for Tex to look at him, unarmored and older than she'll remember. Older than just the time that's passed since Freelancer, or maybe he's just more scarred and tired.

She doesn't look too much like Allison, and that helps. But he doesn't move forward as he greets her, keeping Carolina between them for the moment in case Tex does decide to throw that punch. ]

Tex.

[epsilol]

[ The walk back to the house was spent in a tense silence that Epsilon didn't bother to break, refusing to be the one to break first. It wasn't supposed to go that badly when he'd told her who he was. Big fucking miscalculation, he should have known better because nothing with Tex ever went according to plan. Seeing Carolina and Wash on the roof, distant figures that disappear as they head inside feels like salvation. They can take over this shit and he can go-

Do what? Talk to himself? That was less pathetic when he had Delta and Theta.

Caboose was out because he wouldn't get it. Tucker... well, he'd be an asshole but in a way Epsilon could handle. As Tex steps up to the others he slips past her with barely a word, his expression stormy. Pissed as he is, he still grabs Carolina's wrist and squeezes reassuringly before retreating into the house. He isn't going to helpful with this, not when she already hates him for something that isn't entirely his fault. ]

Good fuckin' luck.

[uptightness]

[It doesn't take someone special to read the body language between Texas and Epsilon, and even Carolina can see the tension there. That little glance is given out of her peripheral vision toward Wash, the slightest motion of an eyebrow. Not that she expects a brawl. In the old days, it would have been Carolina storming up to make a challenge, to call Texas out, but those days are long gone. The feelings might still simmer there, but it's not the same, and even she can acknowledge that. Funny enough, it is those two who have aided her the most, Epsilon and Wash, each in their own ways.

Her eyes shift back, a wariness and alertness, hackles that would be rising, had she had any. It is strange to see her there though, in the flesh, literally, considering. It's not like Carolina had known back then what was going on, and the juxtaposition is evident. She isn't as vocal about her human body as Church had been, but Texas had never really been one to complain anyway. She'd always seemed so... cold and distant. Disconnected from them all. It had used to drive Carolina nuts, that and a million other little things about her.

It's a little twist of her hand, fingers brushing over Epsilon's in return. He's not happy, although he's already made that clear before, and Carolina makes a note to track him down later to talk, after this. Wash too, after this little talk is done, and she wouldn't be surprised if he's even more conflicted than she is. She knows how hard Wash can be on himself. She might not have been around when everything had gone down with the EMP, but she's no stranger to it either as she gives a curt nod in Tex's direction.]

I take it you've read the guide and Epsilon has filled you in some.

[To a point, anyway... He might have saved her ass more than a few times, but he's not exactly the most studious, both in literature or physical training here.]

[a_shadow]

[ She rolls her eyes when Epsilon presses past her and makes his comment. After Carolina speaks she focuses on the other woman instead of letting Epsilon's behavior dominate her thoughts. He's being an idiot and it's not worth dwelling on. ]

Yeah, I had a little time. But he didn't tell me much other than his actual identity.

[ She crosses her arms as she speaks. It's a subject that's obviously a little irritating, based on how she conveys it. As far as she's concerned he got off on the wrong foot by not warning her before he came to meet her that he wasn't the Church she would have been expecting to meet up with. It's going to take some effort on his part to make up for that.

But Tex isn't one to put too fine a point on feelings and desires. Epsilon will have to figure out how to fix things on his own, because she's not going to explain.

After this, Tex glances from Carolina to Washington behind her, and back again. ]

I have a feeling I've missed a lot of something.

[hardwearing]

[ And there goes Epsilon. It's a Freelancer party now, Wash supposes, but it might be easier that way. It's also probably up to him to take the lead on Hadriel talk even though he usually defects to Carolina, just because he's been here so much longer and is used to explaining how shit works. But one thing at a time. ]

You all have, if we're talking about here. If you're talking about home...

[ There are a lot of things she deserves to know, but not all of it is his to tell. ]

[uptightness]

[That statement more or less says enough. His actual identity. She likely was expecting Alpha, not Epsilon, which would be a surprise, given what Texas likely recalls just before her own ending. Although he had gone, knowing just who she was and what she can be like... Of course, he'd also put up with Carolina, not that they hadn't butted their own heads in the beginning, but towards the end? She'd trusted him completely, just as the trusts Wash.

She's let that anger go, is able to watch Texas with a perspective that is more open, like those little lines of annoyance that settle over her. This... could be interesting. There is a lot that has changed, and saying that she missed a lot of something really is a very big understatement.]

It's been a while since- [A small motion with her head. Since the last thing that Texas remembers. Wash knows best about this place, but Carolina knows the most from back home.] A lot has happened.

[a_shadow]

[ She looks from one to the other. It might just be her imagination but the way they keep trailing off makes her think they're afraid of pissing her off. A fact that is starting to piss her off. ]

Look, let's go inside and you can tell me what happened. I'd rather know than have everyone tiptoeing around it like they can't mention the fact that I'm dead back home.

[ Stating it outright out to get everyone on the same page with her. No need to be delicate.

With that she gives Carolina a small nod and a motion angling toward the doorway to make her intention of coming in the house clear. As long as Carolina and Wash let her in, she'll take a moment to acclimate herself to the place, glancing around, before settling in on a chair. ]

holy shit i never got this i'm so sorry

[hardwearing]

[ Wash nods, looking vaguely guilty. Tex couldn't see that through text -- whether or not his apology was genuine. It was. Even if he still doesn't know of any other way to have done things, he knows he fucked up. So now he just steps back a little farther so Tex can pick a seat, then goes to claim a spot on the couch across from her. Waits for Carolina to settle beside him. ]

You and a lot of others. I'm not sure where we should start, to be honest.

[ He doesn't really want to dredge up all his missteps with the Meta, but it might come up? What about the mess with her double, Epsilon's version? That should come from him, really. But it depends on what Tex wants to know. ]

I guess... we did beat the Meta, and then took down what was left of Freelancer. But it's kind of still causing problems, since the tech scattered. And you remember Charon? When I'm from, we're helping fight a war against them on an outer colony world. [ He nods towards Carolina, something haunted in his eyes. ] She's from a little farther along, the Door doesn't seem to care much about timelines.

[uptightness]

[Pissing her off. Not pissing her off. It's not really a concern of Carolina's. Those stirrings might be there, but all that she had once felt is distant. She doesn't need to prove herself, to show that she's better, stronger, faster... As Epsilon had once said, she would fail, she would always fail, and Carolina was still alive.

The others might be around, although more like than not no one else is going to make an appearance, unless it's Caboose. The spot is taken next to Wash, leaning forward ever so on her knees. Alert, but not hyper vigilant.]

There's some things that are easier to explain than others.

[Back stories. Asides. There's no way Tex knew about everything... Even that would have been beyond her capabilities, even if she had sniffed out the issues at Freelancer by whatever means she had before Carolina had ever gotten a whiff of something off.]

They've been disbanded already from my perspective. Defeated.