video; un: maine

[slaughterous]

[ The video opens on a close-up of a truly kick-ass vehicle. It's tough! It's rugged! It's got hooks on the front that look like tusks! Truly, this is one bad-ass—

The video zooms out. The vehicle is tiny. A child could ride in it, maybe. But certainly not an adult.

An extremely gruff male voice mutters, ]

What the fuck.

[ Then a woman's laughter rises in the background. "What, Maine, compensating for something?"

The man grumbles, and the feed clicks off. ]

Comments

[slaughterous]

Maybe, [ Maine says, going ahead and closing up the hood once they're finished. ] UNSC tech. Might be manuals.

[castaside]

I'll look for one.

Or I can bribe Wash to request the good shit from home, I suppose. I've been perfecting my strawberry shortcake.

--We can do that, by the way. There are items they sell in the stores to request stuff from your home. If there's anything you have a burning need for.

[ Hopefully not a textbook on the history of AI implantation. ]

[slaughterous]

[ Maine raps his knuckles on the hood of the vehicle, as if to say, I've got what I need. ]

I'm good.

[ In truth, he needs a lot more than just the Warthog. But all the essentials seem to have come along with him. ]

[castaside]

Just the car, huh? Fair enough.

Do I get a ride sometime since I did make it bigger for you?

[slaughterous]

[ Maine nods. ]

You. Me. Wash.

[ Carolina too, if she wants. ]

[castaside]

Perfect.

Well! You've got a new toy to break in and I have places to be. See you around.

[ He opens a portal, waiting just long enough for a parting word. ]

[slaughterous]

[ Maine doesn't say anything, but he does nod and give a half-wave before turning back to the vehicle, intending to go over it with a fine tooth comb. ]