Topic: Confessions in an empty room.

Jared Renaux

Date: 2014-05-14 06:22 EST
The helmet was many things. The focal point of his armor, more important even than the life saving chest plates, was a tool with many, many uses. Considered the peak of his people's technical prowess, so many of his stripe had found much simpler uses for it.

Beer in hand, Jared paced, no he prowled, the room he slept in. A simple apartment, nothing special, there really wasn't that much room in it at all. Clad as he was before in black gym shorts and black tennis shoes, he beat a path in front of his bed. On it, the helmet rested. The visor, as blank as ever, was off set by the simple red light that shined from the left hand side. A recording device, but this wouldn't be sent to anyone. No one at all.

An age old thing, the journal. A preserver of sanity, a way to keep grounded. A link, something for when the night is cold and the winds bite at the very soul.

Man, this place is weird. On the plus side, I'll probably try and join up with this Air and Space Guard outfit. I mean, they can't really deny me on lack of experience or skill, that's for sure. Today was weird, I guess. That's all.

The helmet, unblinking as always, didn't care. It never had. It never would.

But man, Jared. What the f*ck were you doing at the Inn tonight' It was fine when it was the three of you, but come on. She's cute, that's for damn sure. Too cute for me, so I should probably cut that thought right out of my head. I've got to be a realist about that, man. Get a grip, right' You're a soldier, Jared. You're a kid who doesn't even know how to talk to girls. You're good at shooting stuff, you're damn good at that. Run into a burning building" Fight your way out of an entire city' Sure, no worries. Thanks, Reach. I learned that there. But, this"

He paused as he threw back the rest of the beer and tossed the empty into a trash can. Seated on the edge of a small, narrow bed, he shrugged as he placed a hand atop the helmet's surface.

It's a pretty picture, though. She's got that smile, I couldn't help but smile along with her. I hope she does it more, smile. Not in a weird way, you know" Just because, well, I guess it's a smile everyone deserves to see. You know, she did let me keep the picture. That's something, right"

He fell, more or less, backwards onto the bed. With his hands folded behind his head, he pressed them into the pillow and simply stared up at the ceiling above him.

I mean, maybe that's a sign. Who knows? I hope we'll talk again, at least. Today was a pretty good day after all, I guess.

Jared Renaux

Date: 2014-05-22 18:45 EST
You know, I didn't think space would be the same here, but I guess that's dumb, right' I mean, it's all just a big mass of stars, right' So, physically, it's the same as it was back home. Well, minus the Covenant, I think. I'd not be shocked to see them here. It'd make sense, really.

It all made sense to Jared in that regard, really. He'd not really minded his stay here. It was a simple place, a simple job. Even as a part of the Air and Space Guard was relatively simple as of now. An instructor for ground combat, they'd placed him as. Granted, he'd still see time on the fleet. There was always that chance.

"We don't know how to use your skillset yet, but we'll find a way. Until then, go and teach. We're short of real trigger pullers here, so you'll be a good asset to have on the team."

Polite words, surely. They'd meant what he'd heard all along and really expected to hear. 'You're insane. We don't know what to do with you. You're a freak, go somewhere else. We'll love you when we need you. We'll ignore you when we don't, but when you need to die for us, we'll call you a hero. Until then" Go in that corner.'

Of course he was drinking. When wasn't he" He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at a wall filled with moving pictures. Projected from his helmet, he studied the images of a world that'd fallen apart and a series of failed raids. They haunted him to this very day. The images of his unit's great success, which was, in actuality, a failed operation. They'd bought time, just not enough. They'd not had enough time to pull enough bodies, they'd had to start the gun fight too soon.

Why the fuck, man' Why was it so different that time?

You see, that was Reach.

Towards the end of the feed, a happier image popped up and flooded the white wall. Blonde hair, a pretty smile. She'd been shocked when he'd spoken to her about the camera in his helmet. It'd captured that perfect, natural moment, eyes wide and a hand half up to cover a gorgeous face. It had only, however, implanted a girlish, coy and tantalizing nature to something to enigmatic. Slowly, tired lips brushed his face with a short smile.

Well that's one thing that never changed. Even in the dark, even when the dawn's so far away, pretty girls do make a man smile, yeah' Such is life, I guess. Beer's cheap, liquor's good, but God, that girl's fucking beautiful. I should try to talk to her, maybe. Maybe this time I'll think of something to say.

There was laughter that followed his words, laughter and another drink before he fell back slowly and landed atop a trio of pillows. The final words his helmet caught in the running journal were as follows.

Yeah right, what?s the point' One of those smiles and I'm going to forget whatever line I had in mind anyways. Jared, Jared. You're a shark, she's a mermaid.

Jared Renaux

Date: 2014-05-27 02:45 EST
Fuck yes.

That was all that came in the night's first composition of comedies. Boots did not scatter the dust on the floor, not this night. Instead, tennis shoes slapped the metallic tiles as Jared paced the distance between walls in the place he'd been forced to call home.

Shit....

His phone was already becoming a rather strange thing. Now there seemed to be the most pleasing of obligations behind a device that didn't even live or breath. He actually had to do this now. This wasn't like jumping, no. This wasn't akin or even close to the simple matter of falling from a burning ship onto death, certain death, at the hands of whatever strange beast lurked within the bowels of another uncharted planet consigned to an inevitable demise. Failure there implied a cold death and a shallow grave. One didn't have to worry, he thought. You lived or you died and should you die, what else mattered but that final second forever frozen in time, either a bar room toast or a wayward glance from shame filled friends"

I mean, that was actually pretty legit, no lie. I guess I like pizza. Fuck, I don't even care if I like pizza. I'll like it because she's there, food be damned.

He seemed to have made his mind up on that part, at least.

I mean, it's just pizza. Get a hold of yourself, Sarge. Jumping into things works when you can fight your way out, but assuming anything's a bad idea, that's for sure. Better to go into anything clear cut and open eyed.

The now familiar sound of his body hitting his bed greeted the ultra sensitive helmet's communications array.

I guess it's a start, though. And whatever, man. It'll be a blast either way. I'll ask off on Thursday. I can't call her tomorrow, so I guess Wednesday' Damn it.....

His fist found the pillow, a light hearted sort of thumping.

I've got to go shopping for clothes. Fuck my life. Wait.....you're on"! I hate you, you know that, right?

The last was directed at the helmet itself mere seconds before what sounded like a foot hitting the glass visor seemed to shut the voyeuristic device off, thankfully.