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[ that comment is so very root, it makes charles chuckle in return, smiling at her gratefully &dmash; for the offer, for being here, for caring. for being herself, in the end; to him, that is the most important thing. that she is this: sharp and bright and smart and playful, a walking contradiction most times, and yet dedicated and honest and grounded.
he's really, really lucky to have her. ]
Think it means a bit more than that, [ he says lightly, but nods. ]
Yeah. Sometime's good.
[ and whenever that day comes... he will be here. ]
he's really, really lucky to have her. ]
Think it means a bit more than that, [ he says lightly, but nods. ]
Yeah. Sometime's good.
[ and whenever that day comes... he will be here. ]
[ in response, he just winks at her — and though it looks slightly off on the face he's wearing, right now, it's a certified charles expression. ]
Well, got to have something in my pocket, don't I? [ quite literally, in this case, as he usually has the glasses in his pocket at all times... and yeah, he can see that she's excited about it, and mentally prepares for questions — but later.
because now is for approaching the ghost, a small girl dressed in what seems like a nightgown, the style vaguely like from the 1940s. ]
Hi, [ charles says, friendly and yet soft as he looks at the girl, ] Sorry to bother you, but think you could answer a few questions for us? My sister here and I, we're looking into the disappearance of our aunt. [ he scratches his neck, almost sheepishly. ] And Mirabelle here says she used to come round here to walk her dog, but I told her no way, this is too far out of the way... anyway, have you seen anyone around here?
Well, got to have something in my pocket, don't I? [ quite literally, in this case, as he usually has the glasses in his pocket at all times... and yeah, he can see that she's excited about it, and mentally prepares for questions — but later.
because now is for approaching the ghost, a small girl dressed in what seems like a nightgown, the style vaguely like from the 1940s. ]
Hi, [ charles says, friendly and yet soft as he looks at the girl, ] Sorry to bother you, but think you could answer a few questions for us? My sister here and I, we're looking into the disappearance of our aunt. [ he scratches his neck, almost sheepishly. ] And Mirabelle here says she used to come round here to walk her dog, but I told her no way, this is too far out of the way... anyway, have you seen anyone around here?
[ That's not the way the exchange is supposed to go. Can you hear me? -- Absolutely, and now it's reversed, now it's Root hearing her in her own voice and feeling the impact somewhere deep, a reverberating chime, the outward ripples of sound echoing into her and resonating. ]
Oh. [ There's nothing else in her for a long stretch, just that resonating tone thrumming through her in confirmation. She'd done something, who she was mattered, the Machine cared for her--
Root laughs finally, just faintly, reaching up with her spare hand to scrub away the moisture from her eyes. ] I hope you gave everyone a jump scare. My voice back from the dead to tell them what to do. [ And then she abruptly switches tracks, tone tender and loving: ] You talked to them, huh? Not just to me?
[ A beat of silence.
Softly: ] You were gone. So I had to.
[ But that makes Root smile, not at all tremulous with grief. She's firm and confident. ] Good. If you could move past needing me to speak for you -- that's what I want. Everyone should hear you. [ Everyone, everyone... and in her voice. It fills her up and overflows like a tap that can't be turned off. Talking to the Machine is both something she does every day without thinking and something too precious and jagged to take for granted.
Root turns to Shaw and says, ] I asked but you didn't really answer. Did you make friends? Sometimes she needs to be told to get it together, too, you know. She's going to need you.
[ Take care of the Machine for her, please, as much as she wants the Machine to take care of Shaw. ]
Oh. [ There's nothing else in her for a long stretch, just that resonating tone thrumming through her in confirmation. She'd done something, who she was mattered, the Machine cared for her--
Root laughs finally, just faintly, reaching up with her spare hand to scrub away the moisture from her eyes. ] I hope you gave everyone a jump scare. My voice back from the dead to tell them what to do. [ And then she abruptly switches tracks, tone tender and loving: ] You talked to them, huh? Not just to me?
[ A beat of silence.
Softly: ] You were gone. So I had to.
[ But that makes Root smile, not at all tremulous with grief. She's firm and confident. ] Good. If you could move past needing me to speak for you -- that's what I want. Everyone should hear you. [ Everyone, everyone... and in her voice. It fills her up and overflows like a tap that can't be turned off. Talking to the Machine is both something she does every day without thinking and something too precious and jagged to take for granted.
Root turns to Shaw and says, ] I asked but you didn't really answer. Did you make friends? Sometimes she needs to be told to get it together, too, you know. She's going to need you.
[ Take care of the Machine for her, please, as much as she wants the Machine to take care of Shaw. ]
[At the jumpscare comment, Shaw mutters Ambushed me in a cemetery under her breath, quiet enough that it would be easy to miss - and that's her only contribution to the conversation until she's specifically addressed. She may not know whether this is a simulation within a simulation, a dream, or a separate simulation entirely in which Aldrip was the dream - but regardless of the situation, this is Root and the Machine's moment. She feels no need to inject herself into it.
When Root finally does speak to her directly, she clears her throat, awkwardly shrugging.]
I didn't run out and get a direct line surgically implanted in my head. But, uh-- yeah.
[She'd never want the Machine to have the same boundary-free all-access pass to her that Root had so eagerly established for herself. But when she had her earpiece in... it had been nice to be able to hear directly from the teammate she'd so long been trusting the advice of.]
When Root finally does speak to her directly, she clears her throat, awkwardly shrugging.]
I didn't run out and get a direct line surgically implanted in my head. But, uh-- yeah.
[She'd never want the Machine to have the same boundary-free all-access pass to her that Root had so eagerly established for herself. But when she had her earpiece in... it had been nice to be able to hear directly from the teammate she'd so long been trusting the advice of.]
I wouldn't expect you to. The Machine and I have a special relationship, [ Root assures her, though it sounds more self-satisfied than like she's trying to comfort her. She wouldn't want someone to be able to replace her so easily, has always found it meaningful and affirming that the Machine recognizes her as someone unique. ]
... But it's nice to know neither of you will be alone without me. My two best girls, working together.
[ She tugs Shaw closer to her. ]
... But it's nice to know neither of you will be alone without me. My two best girls, working together.
[ She tugs Shaw closer to her. ]
[ Oh, she's playing his sister? How cute. Root is so up for that. She hadn't realized investigating ghost mysteries involves quite so much lying to other ghosts. Charles has really been holding out on her -- she has many questions for later. But Root always gets the job done no matter what else is going on for her, and this isn't any different.
She instantly mimics Charles's accent, expression nervous; she fidgets and looks around as she speaks. ]
I'm worried something happened to her. I told her not to come here -- there's all those weird reports -- it's been on the telly and everything.
[ She also wants to find out if anyone has been bothering this little ghost for its own sake. Root will totally take care of anyone who is hassling a young girl, ghost or not. ]
She instantly mimics Charles's accent, expression nervous; she fidgets and looks around as she speaks. ]
I'm worried something happened to her. I told her not to come here -- there's all those weird reports -- it's been on the telly and everything.
[ She also wants to find out if anyone has been bothering this little ghost for its own sake. Root will totally take care of anyone who is hassling a young girl, ghost or not. ]
[With a heavy sigh, Shaw fully leans into Root, going boneless. It's a move more born out of exhaustion and resignation than true relaxation, but it's still comfy and cozy.]
I dont get what's going on at all. I'm so sick of trying to figure this crap out, Root.
I dont get what's going on at all. I'm so sick of trying to figure this crap out, Root.
I guess it's like trying to reach infinity, [ she whispers, feeling like her soul fits her body for the first time in ages. Shaw in her arms, the Machine's servers cooing peacefully around them, her own voice in her ear. ]
You know that it's there, you just don't know where -- but just because you can never reach it doesn't mean that it's not worth looking for.
[ One of her favorite quotes. They'll never reach it, certainty, no matter how hard they try. But they can keep looking. ]
I'll look with you.
You know that it's there, you just don't know where -- but just because you can never reach it doesn't mean that it's not worth looking for.
[ One of her favorite quotes. They'll never reach it, certainty, no matter how hard they try. But they can keep looking. ]
I'll look with you.
i might require your assistance, root.
you know your way around these devices, correct?
Edited 2025-02-21 23:42 (UTC)
in that case i would require your counsel, if you are available.
please meet me at this location.
[and hey! look at that. Richard has learned how to share his location with the tablet, neat isn't it? please appreciate his breakthrough with technology.
if Root decides to accept the invitation she'll find Richard waiting for her in the entrance, not too far away from the path leading to the main game trail. he's there with his loyal horse, of course. ]
please meet me at this location.
[and hey! look at that. Richard has learned how to share his location with the tablet, neat isn't it? please appreciate his breakthrough with technology.
if Root decides to accept the invitation she'll find Richard waiting for her in the entrance, not too far away from the path leading to the main game trail. he's there with his loyal horse, of course. ]
[ Aw, he's come so far from having a default username.
Root arrives promptly, dressed in her standard working clothes of all black or nearly-black, and raises her eyebrows when she sees Richard with his horse. ]
You didn't tell me we were going riding. Why do you get a horse and I don't? That's so unfair.
[ She's teasing with her mock-pout, but Root does actually know how to ride and would prefer to have her own horse to doubling up. ]
Root arrives promptly, dressed in her standard working clothes of all black or nearly-black, and raises her eyebrows when she sees Richard with his horse. ]
You didn't tell me we were going riding. Why do you get a horse and I don't? That's so unfair.
[ She's teasing with her mock-pout, but Root does actually know how to ride and would prefer to have her own horse to doubling up. ]
[ yes, apparently so! and root, — mirabelle, now — settles into the role like the pro she is, and charles barely bites back the impressed grin that's threatening to break through.
but no, he's a pro, too, and offers a small, sincere smile at the girl. the girl, meanwhile, glances from one to the other, fiddling with her skirt with her fingers. ]
If she came during the day, it... it should be fine, [ she says, looking down. and then, quietly, ] The pilot's only round here at night.
[ charles glances at root, then, because this is definitely new information... as much as there's a niggling feeling at the back of his mind he's lived through this once before. but no, that's certainly not true, right? right. ]
but no, he's a pro, too, and offers a small, sincere smile at the girl. the girl, meanwhile, glances from one to the other, fiddling with her skirt with her fingers. ]
If she came during the day, it... it should be fine, [ she says, looking down. and then, quietly, ] The pilot's only round here at night.
[ charles glances at root, then, because this is definitely new information... as much as there's a niggling feeling at the back of his mind he's lived through this once before. but no, that's certainly not true, right? right. ]
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