balance_rpg | video; @mccree / @steelsamayarai

[ Hey, it's McCree and Maya in the creepy caverns! They’ve definitely looked better, they’re both super pale, like they've seen a ghost or two or a horde. Maya just seems to be trembling non-stop, and she is extremely white. It's fine though? It's fine? They’ve got a message to deliver. ]

Guys--- We.... we made contact with the ghosts.

Yeah, a whole mess of 'em.

[ McCree's doing his best to not appear too rattled, but there's only so much he can hide. He's got an arm around the trembling Maya, but it doesn't seem to be doing much good. She's not trembling from the cold, after all. ]

And they said some stuff we thought y'all should know.

There was a voice -- a woman's voice, begging to save her son. She... she was talking about an effigy, that we need to destroy it, that she can't hold something back -- that her son needs to stop, that she loves him. [ She's gotta take a second to catch her breath and collect herself before going on. ] He's trying to bring her back, but she's in so much pain... She wants him to stop. I- I think it's Lucas.

That's the first thing we gotta take care of, but there's more. The ghosts— where do I even start? Well, they're mighty angry and said all sorts of strange stuff, like about how they’re gonna reclaim this world and what have you. They said they could see into the future and knew what was coming. And also that it was what someone named Archmage Karsus have done. Does that name ring any bells?

[ He's addressing the Reclaimers, but his gaze travels back to Maya to see if she’s starting to feel better yet. ]

Am I forgetting anything?

[ It'll be a while before she's totally composed, but she's slowly getting there. And leaning against him. ]

And... there's something else. Something's coming. Something... Like a god? I don't know. But I could feel it. And the ghosts... We have to do something, or everyone's going to die. Everyone.

[ what a cheery psa!! ]

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They never do. Get back to Vista Virs. You need me to meet you halfway?

[For some extra muscle, perhaps.]

If you've got nothing better to do.

[ Because on the one hand, he doesn't need a baby-sitter to come collect him, but on the other hand, he may have to carry Maya back and he's not the one pumped full of super soldier serum, so may as well get the guy who is as backup. ]

This seems fairly priority. I'll try and get out to your location.

Thanks, Jack.

[ For all of McCree's reluctance to look back to the past, Jack's the only part of his past that he has here and that means something, so he can at least be grateful. ~~Besides, everyone knows if they played feelings chicken that Jack would win.~~ ]

We're leaving as soon as we can.

[ As soon as he can convince Maya to let him carry her out. ]

Meet you in the middle.

[By now, 76 is pretty in with the Kitsune, so he has no trouble borrowing a motorcycle for this kind of expedition. Sure, he'd be able to carry Maya with his super soldier strength no problem, but this seems like an altogether more efficient solution.

Beep beep here he comes.]

[ scoots in here. ]

[ anyway, when team watchwatch meets, maya has less shakes, (since mccree has been carrying her) but she's still pretty quiet. the whole ordeal took a lot out of her, so she's only at 25% of her normal weirdness. luckily for 76 jacknapper. ]

Is that... a motorcycle?

[ are they going back in style? ]

[It is! It's a motorcycle, because 76 figures it's much better than walking. Don't ask how Jack knew which direction to go--what matters is that he's located the shape of two people on the horizon and made a beeline for their direction. Driving a motorcycle across sand is no joke, but he seems to be managing fine, pulling up alongside them and cutting the engine.]

Might be a tight fit.

[Style.]

Nice ride.

[ It reminds him that it's been awhile since he's been on a motorcycle. And it does look like space is limited. He sets Maya down and nods back towards town. ]

It's fine. I can walk.

[ check out the sweet ride. normally, maya would be over the moon about getting to ride one of these again (and she will be, later), but it's been a day and she's still lowkey freaking out about legion. later!! ]

[ watch her wobble her way over like she's a gazelle on ice or something. ]

No, Mr. McCree, it's a long way back. You shouldn't walk.

[ she already feels bad gosh. ]

Don't be stupid, Jesse. The faster we get back, the better.

[Maya gets two names today!

The bike is certainly not built for three people, but it can easily hold two adults. Maya is a noodle, and therefore 76 considers her weight negligible. They'll be able to suffer through the short distance back to Vista Virs.]

I didn't come out here to leave you alone in the desert.

[ Maya is unlocking friendship levels like a boss. She's up to two first names! ]

As long as we don't crush Miss Maya flat as a pancake, I guess I'll get on.

[ He's just not relishing the idea of being squeezed tight next to either of them. One's like his weird uncle and the other's young enough to be his daughter, so wherever he sits on this ride, it's gonna be uncomfortable. ]

You wanna go in between us? [ Directed to the noodle of the group. ] Might be safest so you don't slip off.

[ He should apologize in advance for the BAMF belt buckle that's gonna be pressed into her back. ]

He's right. We're not leaving you. [ all the names!!!! but yeah, she's small enough that she could be just be a backpack. she's also in that very rare state where she's listening and doing what she's told. don't get used to it, jack. the only thing she's being stubborn about is making sure mccree doesn't get left behind!! ]

[ she's also glancing between the two of them as they talk. ow drama!! ]

Umm... okay. I don't mind. [ the bamf will forever be engraved in her back....... for her part, too much has happened for her to be caught up in the awkwardness of the situation. she just keeps mentally looping back to legion, and the whole... ordeal. don't mind her if she zones out a little. ]

We don't have much time to waste.

[So that settles that. Sure, the ghosts never gave them an exact timeline, but Jack is going to venture a guess that their invasion is going to come sooner rather than later. Leaving McCree out in the desert is dangerous.

It'll be something of an awkward ride, but he's sure they can manage.]

Let's get moving.

[Climb aboard!]

All right. Let's get going.

[ He gestures for Maya to go first and he'll be right behind her, thinking of cold showers and baseball while crammed against her. ]

[ nanu is behind mccree with a gun. ]

[ anyway, this is pretty awkward as is (mostly for mccree), but once they're all on and vroom vrooming off, maya's going to generously share the awkwardness with 76 by clutching onto his jacket and also leaning her face against it. ]

[ she's very tired from being possessed and nearly losing her soul, ok, she has sleepy possessed bitch disease. ]

[76 is quick to get on, waiting for Maya and McCree to get comfortable before he hits the ignition. The motorcycle grinds to life, rumbling underneath them as they get settled. It’s awkward, sure, but they’re all alive and that’s what matters.]

Hang on.

[Hang on tight. He’s not about to waste any time.]

[ McCree mostly hangs on by clutching a free space behind the seat. Plus he has some kind of cowboy magic that keeps his hat from blowing off in the wind. It's super impressive. ]

video; @mccree / @steelsamayarai

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good ending point?