[...Right, right. He doesn't know. That smile becomes more like a secret, pushing at the edges of her mouth but becoming all too apparent in her voice.]
Somebody left a few messages in Delta's memory that Epsilon had access to.
[ York's voice, distorted by the radio, rings in Carolina's head.
I woulda told her... that I understand why she did what she did. I just wish she hadn't. I wish she could have learned to let things go.
I guess I should, too.
She looks down at the path ahead of him, shrugging her shoulders.]
I was... losing focus, in my mission. I'd forgotten a lot of things, and... I didn't trust the sim soldiers. I guess, if I hadn't seen those diaries... Maybe Epsilon would never have pulled me out of that place.
[She looks up, again, staring into the dimming light ahead.]
[He finally sobers up, too, and follows her line of sight not into the light, but down to the horizon, at the deep contrast between sky and earth, at the solidity of the worldly divide as dusk gathers.]
...Yeah. You and me both.
[Because it wasn't wrong to recognize he needed to move on, even if she had actually been alive, even if he could've had another chance to make things right. He'd clung to the idea of her so long, he'd forgotten what he was. Where he was.
How alone he'd come to be. How, in destroying his future with her and with the Project, he'd ended up with no future at all.
York sighs and shakes his head, forcing his train of thought back onto the topic at hand.]
So, right. I guess that's why I'm sort of confused about where the two of us stand, now. You know, as a...thing where you kind of broke up with me by slamming my face into a metal platform but now we're cool again, sort of thing.
[He stumbles aside anyway and rubs his poor bicep.]
Haha, hey. I'm not wrong.
[He lifts both hands and spreads them.]
So between that and the years of letting go and all, I guess I figured you wouldn't be interested in what we had anymore. But that's not the vibe I'm actually getting? Correct me if I'm misconstruing something there.
[Ever forward but always watching out, Carolina takes a few looks around before she decides what she wants to do. Content that no one but their pokémon are watching, she drifts closer, brushes her knuckles against his-- a small warning before she slides her fingers between his.]
[She scared the shit out of the sim soldiers. She is still proud of this. She is a frightening beast of a woman and she likes it that way.
She has to admit, in the back of her mind, that she also missed the feeling of someone's fingers between hers. Even if it's TOTALLY GROSS god what a loser nerd, trying to hold hands with her]
Well, at least you're still keeping up. I was worried.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Action;
I did. I took all your advice, eventually, and here we are.
[A pause.]
Maybe not all your advice.
[Just the good parts.]
Action;
My advice?
[He doesn't remember everything he said last he saw her, but he's pretty sure none of it could really be construed as advice so much as pleading.]
Action;
Somebody left a few messages in Delta's memory that Epsilon had access to.
...A certain set of logs.
[Maybe he remembers.]
Action;
He showed you my--?
[Yeah, no, he doesn't even need to ask, it's in the one of her voice. He groans and covers his face with one hand, laughs into it.]
Aw, man, why did I let that little cockbite convince me to record those? No one was supposed to see 'em!
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Oh, he showed me all your dirty little secrets.
[Another amused little 'hmm', and Carolina tries to sober up.]
It was a good thing, too.
[Her steps start to slow.]
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Yeah? Well. Glad I could help, somehow. Even if those were private.
[The gentler tone of his voice, the set of his head and shoulders--they're an invitation to elaborate, if she wants.]
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I woulda told her... that I understand why she did what she did. I just wish she hadn't. I wish she could have learned to let things go.
I guess I should, too.
She looks down at the path ahead of him, shrugging her shoulders.]
I was... losing focus, in my mission. I'd forgotten a lot of things, and... I didn't trust the sim soldiers. I guess, if I hadn't seen those diaries... Maybe Epsilon would never have pulled me out of that place.
[She looks up, again, staring into the dimming light ahead.]
You were right.
I had a lot to let go of.
Action;
...Yeah. You and me both.
[Because it wasn't wrong to recognize he needed to move on, even if she had actually been alive, even if he could've had another chance to make things right. He'd clung to the idea of her so long, he'd forgotten what he was. Where he was.
How alone he'd come to be. How, in destroying his future with her and with the Project, he'd ended up with no future at all.
York sighs and shakes his head, forcing his train of thought back onto the topic at hand.]
So, right. I guess that's why I'm sort of confused about where the two of us stand, now. You know, as a...thing where you kind of broke up with me by slamming my face into a metal platform but now we're cool again, sort of thing.
Action;
[...]
Or. It kind of. was, I guess, but--
[WOW. Okay yeah she's just going to take care of this by punching him in the arm.
...Gently.]
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Haha, hey. I'm not wrong.
[He lifts both hands and spreads them.]
So between that and the years of letting go and all, I guess I figured you wouldn't be interested in what we had anymore. But that's not the vibe I'm actually getting? Correct me if I'm misconstruing something there.
Action;
What we had before... That's long gone.
[But there's nothing but affection in her voice-- and then she throws him a coy smile.]
Funny thing is, that doesn't mean I'm not open to new possibilities.
Action;
[York sort of looks like a puppy. A puppy who just won the lottery. He puts his hands back in his pockets, just looks at her and smiles.]
Uh-huh. Okay, I see. New possibilities.
[:D :D :D]
Sounds like that could be fun.
Action;
[Though she's doing a pretty good job of controlling the smile on her face, her voice is just saturated with amusement.
She missed being near him. Missed the ease with which he could get her to smile. Missed how he felt like home.]
I can take it back, if you can't handle it.
Action;
[He walks closer to bump her with his elbow.]
Who managed to keep up with you all that time, huh?
[While he's there, though, he takes his near hand out of his pocket, lets it hang between them, open and steady.]
Action;
You did alright, anyway.
Action;
He doesn't swing their hands or anything. It's just nice, is all. Holding hands with someone. Holding hands with Carolina.]
Hey now, you have no idea how terrifying you are from the outside, do you? I did kickass.
Action;
[She scared the shit out of the sim soldiers. She is still proud of this. She is a frightening beast of a woman and she likes it that way.
She has to admit, in the back of her mind, that she also missed the feeling of someone's fingers between hers. Even if it's TOTALLY GROSS god what a loser nerd, trying to hold hands with her]
Well, at least you're still keeping up. I was worried.
[No she wasn't.]
Action;
[Yeah, something as simple as transdimensional relocation. Or HIS OWN FUCKING DEATH. Oh my god, end all Freelancers.
His hands are as strong and sure as they always were, as nimble and precise. He gives her hand a gentle squeeze as they walk.]
It's like I said the other day. Gotta keep things interesting for you somehow, right?
Action;
[It sounds sarcastic, but... it's a little bit sincere.
Walking with him seems so easy right now, as easy as it used to be. It's a comforting feeling, to walk with someone she's known for so long.]
But you probably need to be earning badges anyway-- to get around, don't you?
[yeah how long are you gonna get away with not telling her you're a breeder, yolk]
Action;
Why would I need the badges to get around? Are there checkpoints or something?
Action;
Trainers can't use those hidden machines outside of battle for some... weird reason. Not without badges.
Action;
[Aaaaaaaaughhh. Why, as an infiltration specialist secret agent guy, can York not lie?]
I don't actually need those so much.
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How'd you manage that?
[Don't tell her.]
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'Cause I'm not actually registered as a Trainer. Apparently, I'm the same thing North is.
[As long as nobody says the word, it isn't so bad...?]
Action;
[How long can you keep her from saying it, york]
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Action; now it's not a jk anymore
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