goddamngrenades | RP Open Post

"Yeah, sorry," Wash says, forcing himself to release some of that tension. He's safe right now. Taylor won't hurt him. Not now. Not yet. "Just still makes me jumpy. Got that thing prodded more than anyone should have to."

"At least it was removed surgically. Hav'n them ripped out is-"

Yeah. Not going there. "It's past."

"At least there's that." The one small mercy was that he hadn't had Epsilon ripped out of his skull by the creature that Maine had become.

"You ever think like... If someone offered you a way to forget that stuff, and to- to fix all the crazy that's in your head, that you'd take it?"

"...it wouldn't change anything." Everyone else would still be dead. He'd still be half blind. He'd still have a hole where Delta should be and an arm that ached whenever it rained. He'd still be taped together and skating by with a wink and a prayer.

It wouldn't fix him.

"I'd still be me. I'd just- forget why."

No go on this side. [thus far anyway]

[ If there's a reluctance to connect, it doesn't show; it's necessary for their work here and allows Carolina to send a packet of data from Epsilon covering the port configuration details.]

If you see anything to add for security, do it, but make it quick. I'm starting on the next bank now.

Noted!

[ It's a pretty quick config, an added buffer and level of encryption that he tacks on just to be safe. Secure the line, keep things tidy for their eyes in the sky. ]

Moving on to the next point.

[ This room's a bust- but the next one might be more useful. A life feed of where the power's pooled and accessed regularly will help but that'll take anyone some time. He needs to get moving now. ]

He slumped a little at that, but nodded. "Guess you're right. And man would it be weird to see how fucked up my body is and not remember why I'm scarred to hell." To just be left with the proof that something had happened. It would drive him nuts.

While York's gone momentarily vegetarian and fresh, Malcolm apparently had a hankering for the greasiest, fattest meat available. The closest to a fast food burger that was being offered.

There are, of course, looks. Furtive glances over shoulders, of those in the mess. Low conversation. It's the biggest event since the last kaiju that came near this shatterdome, of course there's talk. Malcolm has chosen to try to ignore it all as best as he can. When York arrives and finds himself sitting across the table, the conversation only increases in intensity.

He smiles. A little pale yet, a little light and dreamy, but here, and smiling.

[ He's thorough. That gets a compliment from Epsilon, even as he throws himself into the thick of things, keeping his own intrusion wrapped up and hidden from view. Carolina doesn't pass that along, not yet. They still have work to do, though as they move through data bank after data bank, she cant help but feel some frustration mounting.

Fortunately, Epsilon's learned, or rather, remembers from the best about wrangling networks to do what he wants. 'Some time' really isn't, faster than a human can manage, anyway, and the power grid map is shared within minutes to both human operatives. ]

..Looks like the largest power sink in this location is over in your room. I'm making my way to your location now. [A pause; Epsilon is chatty today!] My partner thinks he can provide a distraction, cause a power outage in another sector of the base. That work for you?

Green fire. That draws her off the couch again, and she stalks the bin, walking a full circuit around it before settling behind him. To his right. He's blind on the left, after all; better that he be able to see her, and not be further unnerved than he already is.

"Then I shall remind you," she murmurs, understanding his concerns regarding his eye. People stare, whether in awe or in fear, or at things they cannot explain away. Reaching her hand forwards, she lets it sink into the fire itself, lets the flames lap away along her scales as she measures the power within it. "You're not fond of fire of any kind, are you," she states absently while doing so.

Then she looks up at him. Pay no attention to the talons still baking in the fire. "Those with power will do as they will. Money is a form of currency for the powerful. But you have something they don't."

That quick?

[ Bullshit. No human hacker could get into a system THAT quick even with a landline unless they already knew the system, already gamed the system, or had...enhancements. Most of those were illegal and swept up by the UNSC after the war but blackmarket is blackmarket and-

Yeah. Gonna check Blue's helmet for a port when this is done. ]

Well done, old chap. [ York is a paranoid shit. Humphrey is simply impressed. ] That'll be splendid! Keep the nest confused while we make away with the prize.

She walks around and that- a concession to his weirdness- that's kind. Kinder than a lot of his other roommates have been. That she settles at his right like she belongs there feels- well a little like it fits and a little like he should worry about it. But he doesn't. It's just a comment, just a reminder, and eventually he'll remember what it was about her page in the book that called to him to try.

"Thanks." Hand in the fire- talons in the fire and for a moment he's worried before he remembers, duh, demon. NOt bothered by it. "Uh...not really. I mean as a kid, sure, but every kid has a little pyro phase. After my deployment? Not so much, no."

Too many burning buildings. Too much smoke. Too many screams.

"A sense of perspective and a roguish, give 'em hell attitude?" A beat. "And you. Yeah?"

She knows the words, knew them before they became a record breaking new single for a new artist on the scene, and she sways a little in time to the beat before catching herself. Mentally scolding herself for even a slight lapse in concentration.

But there's nothing to worry about. This finale goes off without a hitch, and she even finds herself clapping for York as he calls out his thanks to his audience, stepping close to the stage as he begins the stagger process off. It's an arm offered, willing to let him rest his weight over her shoulders as he catches his breath.

"Nice job," she tells him, keeping expression professional, but allowing a small smile in the very least. He deserves that much.

Helps to have friends in far places.

[And high, though in Epsilon's case, that's a matter of distance. Not rank. As it is, that too-cheerful response leaves her wary. Someone in his position should be much more questioning, given the history he's alluded to... Later, later, Carolina.

She's already on the move towards his location, giving the AI the okay to mess with the power grid. No one's going to notice their shenanigans while the focus is elsewhere.]

Let me know when you're in.

Give me two shakes, Blue, this Lock's a fresh one. Seems they aren't complete imbeciles.

[ Encrypted instead of holographic and it's harder, he misses D like a limb but he's got his bump keys, he's got his decryption algorithms, and he's got someone waiting on him to get this done and get it done right. He runs through the options in his head twice, three times to be sure he won't set anything off before sliding things into place.

Ten, fifteen seconds later and he's in, door open and free for Blue. ]

I'm in.

Better remember sooner than later, York. Might change your perspective on matters otherwise.

For all his scars and the bravado masking his fears and insecurities, there's a sweetness to this man, a noble core - albeit one likely bound up in notions that might yet get him in future trouble. Or killed. And Carolina has no intention of letting that happen.

Hence the smile in response, bright white teeth with pointed canines almost a little too pronounced. "And me," she agrees, tail twitching as she pulls a singular ball of flame from the fire.

And then tosses it to him. It is HIS fire, after all. He should learn how to control it.

OH good someone to slump against! best guard ever. He sags into her for the first few steps, exhausted in every which way- the terror of earlier in the night shoved aside for the post show high. God and what a high.

"THey were all dancing. All of them. Even YOU were swaying! I am a pop GOD!" And this is why he has D. So he doesn't do anything STUPID when he's this loopy.

It'll come back to him. It always does.

It's kind of nice though, standing here, burning a dangerous book, bonding with a demon he summoned kind of an accident. Maybe there was a little twist of fate at work, he'll have to look up his notes on checking for that. Big ones he couldn't ever pin down but the little ones, yeah. Tiny things.

Fate's a sneaky bitch, what can he say. But hey!

Bonding!

And then she lobs a fireball at him and his bright smile stops being so bright and becomes more 'oh mother FUCK', hands snapping up even though it's fire and he should DODGE but she's so damn close and it's on his hands it's on his sleeves it's green and they were so damn loud couldn't eat pork for weeks for months he still can't if he's around when it's cooking god the smell of hair and the sounds bones make when they crackle-

He's hyperventilating and locked up rather than flailing so- point for not burning the apartment down. None for self preservation.

"If I could go back and change things- maybe I would. But if it's just changing for me? Fuck it." He kisses the side of Wash's neck and finishes scrubbing, massaging the base of his skull.

[ He knows his work, that much is clear in spite of his attitude. She approaches on his left, quiet, not interrupting; she knows full well how difficult this work is. ]

Good. [A device is pulled from her armor, a capture drive, one that Epsilon prepped to scan for what they want and download it accordingly. One of the panels is flipped open, drive attached, and the small HUD screen that pops up is tapped several times as she activates the device. It's going to take time - something even an AI can't speed up. Then steps back, drawing her weapon from where the mag-lock held it in place against her thigh.] Keep an eye on it. I'm going to check our exit.

Don't forget to set your trackers.

[ Offhand, easy, barely in the twang of Reggie's voice, and completely unintentional. He's busy feeling like this is a job, thinking of a different blue lady with red hair and green eyes, another door that needed cracking. When he had both eyes and no scars and a too big mouth.

He blinks at the readout for a moment before clearing his throat. ]

Should you have them.

"There's a lot of things I'd change," Wash said, but then again, if he could, would he be here like this? Thinking about it made his head hurt. He smiles at the kiss and leans against the wall of the shower, visibly relaxing beneath York's ministrations.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, buddy," she snorts now, the roll of her eyes hidden in the dark and the fall of her hair. With him this close, its easier to steer him aside, to make sure he goes where he's supposed to. Where she can keep him safe.

Back down, out of the building, and she can see Delta waiting at the tour bus. "C'mon, time for you to get going." The entourage can pack things up without them.

[ Does he see her flinch? Probably not, given she goes still. But that could easily be classed as her reviewing her HUD, checking the map, locking and loading her gun. There's something carefully neutral in her reply, distracted-like. ]

Doesn't everyone with armor?

[Then she slips out into the corridor, sets off to do her sweep. And more determined than before to confront him when they're done here.]

"So." A beat, a snort of laughter before he slumps against the table, spearing his broccoli. "...you...come here often, baby?"

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