(Untitled)

[ranger_alone]

Marcus was sitting under a tree, within view of the compound he had no intention of entering. He had been walking, pondering everything and nothing, when he realised that the island had taken his last real friend when it sent Teyla back to…where ever it was people went when they left. Everyone he had loved, with the exception of Evey, had gone.

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[sgmitchell]

After the initial fit, the loss of Austin had faded to a dull ache in the back of his mind. A nagging reminder of the island's ruthlessness, and a reminder of exactly why he couldn't sit back and build that 'life' Morgan had talked about. He wasn't sure what the hell the alternative was anymore, but he was managing to keep himself from shutting into a daze

[sgmitchell]

He grimaced. It wasn't hard to remember, and it didn't take more than a moment. It just...felt so long ago, now. He hated that he would have been on here so long. That he might be here so long, his life would be a chapter in the past.

"A headache. Probably a prison cell...a few gloating lectures, and a well planned escape." He shrugged. "At least, that's what I've heard."

[ranger_alone]

That didn't seem so bad. Marcus had been in more than one cell in his career as a ranger, and while the experience was never pleasant escape was usually some small effort away. "It must be strange. Having people here who remember things that haven't happened to you yet."

[sgmitchell]

He waved a hand dismissively. "S'only one person. S'pose its fortunate to know Earth didn't explode." Not as good to know he wasn't the latest...but it didn't necessarily mean Sam wouldn't find something. Wouldn't do some time-thing.

[ranger_alone]

"The Earth was in danger of exploding? That happened in my time too." He frowned slightly. "Actually, now that I think about it, I don't have any conclusive proof that it didn't."

[sgmitchell]

"Y'know? You'd be surprised how often it is." God, it was a sign that he'd been here too long that he was saying that at all. Despite the fact that Cole probably came from a different world than he. Still, his tone was more ironic than truthful. "Any way to figure out?"

[ranger_alone]

Marcus thought about that for a moment. "I-" he shook his head. "I don't think so. Not unless someone from my time arrived here from some point after the civil war with EarthGov had ended. Or unless the island choses to send me a newspaper or something to that effect."

[sgmitchell]

He propped his arms onto his knees, squinting at the horizon. "I've found it best to assume that it made it out unscathed." He glanced over, smile discreet but wry. "It's made it out fine every other time."

[ranger_alone]

"That is true. Although on this particular occasion it had to manage without me." His shoulders twitched. "So it's doomed, really." Not being able to keep it in any longer, Marcus let out the laughter he had held back.

[sgmitchell]

The man's laughter drew an echo from Cam, and a shake of his head. "So it seems." Laughter was...good. Better than destroying the rec room again, at least. Better, too, probably, than philosophizing all day about the maybes of what lay beyond the island.

[ranger_alone]

The laughter was relaxing, and although it didn't actually solve anything, it was welcome.

"Got a girl here?" That was a little presumptuous. "Or, rather, anyone?"

[sgmitchell]

The question killed the last remnants of laughter. It was a sign of just how disconnected he'd gotten from the island since the memory, that his IPD partner would have needed to ask at all.

Two months, now. He'd only counted a few weeks of it. "No. No girl." He paused. "Or anyone else." He'd have had something snazzier on a better day. Today he'd make do with simplistic.

[ranger_alone]

"Got your eye on anyone?" He wasn't going to turn into one of those people, the ones who continually tried to set up anyone and everyone because they just couldn't imagine what it would be like to be alone. He wasn't that person, but he was still interested in how people were feeling.

[sgmitchell]

That much drew a dry chuckle. The idea was more than a little absurd just now. Even ignoring the island's obsession with non-relationships, and the very real possibility that anyone and everyone could vanish without a moment's notice...it just wasn't something he was capable of right now. It would be a conflict of interests, should Odyssey arrive.

"Nah. Haven't had time."

[ranger_alone]

"Nothing but time here." Marcus remarked, casually. "Not that there is any point trying to force anything."

[sgmitchell]

"So there is." He couldn't be blamed for wanting that time to be short. He shrugged, leaning his weight on his arms. "And how's that time goin' with you?"