goddamngrenades | RP Open Post

"Of course I don't want anything to happen to you," Wash says. He sighs and reaches up to pull his helmet off. "I just don't trust myself. I don't trust my own thoughts or instincts." He didn't trust himself to do the right thing, or to even know what the right thing was. He'd struggled hard enough to not shoot York back in the base. How did you work through that stuff?

Carolina smiles slightly at him, raises a hand to squeeze York's fingers.

"And we'll work on that." He doesn't shrug- this isn't something that's so simple but- something about being with both of them, with having a base, with having a purpose and Delta buzzing in the back of his head- It makes anything more feel like small stuff. They can work through it together, little by little. "For now? Strip down, clean your gear, take a shower. I'll grab dinner."

It's not that easy. How do you rebuild yourself when you don't even remember what you're supposed to be? But there's something in York that's so certain when he speaks. And the orders... Even as Carolina's second in the project, he hadn't been one to give orders. Something about it leaves him on edge, even thought mostly it feels very right. Hah, see, can't even trust his own thoughts.

"Yeah. Sure." He was right about that. He's still exhausted.

He strips down quickly and they've been left with stuff to clean it. It's second nature to do that by now. You took care of your armour and weapons so they could take care of you. Ends up with his knives and guns laid out on the table while he checks them over.

And then, oh a hot shower. Sheds the undersuit for that, not caring if either of them sees him naked. They've both seen him nude before in the showers.

He didn't direct. He didn't order. He didn't take point- that was for Carolina to do. But here he was stepping up and handling it because-

why?

He couldn't place why. He'd done it for the kids (but they're kids not soldiers, kids not career fighters, rookies not Wash, not Carolina.) and it'd felt fine. Maybe it's him maturing. Maybe it's him being greedy. Maybe- He doesn't know.

Doesn't much care either. Focuses on cleaning the blood off his armor. Must be coated with teflon or something for how easy it is to clean. Stripped down to nothing and he's tired. The hot water's nice. He tries not to stare- Wash he's seen. Carolina? Not so much. The scars have him frowning but- nothing he can do about that now. "Clothes in the chest at the foot of the bed. It's all pretty basic." He dresses, gives them both a quick, crooked smile, and ducks out for food. Returns later with a tray heavy with protein bars and chicken and vegetables. Larger portions for people that burn through calories like smoke.

"It's not Gourmet but- it's something."

He feel a little better after the shower. Not refreshed, but a cleaner sort of tired than the bitter aching exhaustion he'd felt before. He dresses quickly, t-shirt and sweatpants, and takes a moment to pace the room, checking doors and windows, scouring the place for bugs out of habit. He didn't like the big windows, but there was another building close by that shielded them.

He nudges Carolina lightly when she emerges. "You okay?" She's been quiet. If it's hitting him hard, then it's hitting her too.

The scent of food when York returns makes his mouth water. "It's food. I don't care. I'd eat MREs right now and enjoy them."

Sunlight is important! A discreet way to check on them, also important. York may or may not be considering pinning a sheet over the wall later when he wants to sleep. For now he sets out the tray and slings down canteens of tea and water for them to share. "Chicken, beef- I just grabbed a little of everything."

He wasn't feeling particularly picky. For the moment he lets them grab what they need, more worried about Carolina and Wash than he is himself. He'll deal. "Eat up. I'm gonna go over some stuff with D."

Wash takes a plate and goes to perch on the bed, legs crossed, so that he can pick at his food. Acts nonchalant and uninterested, but finds himself watching York more often than not while he runs over whatever it is with Delta. Carolina does the same, keeps glancing up at him while she eats.

It's been a while since he saw someone with an AI implant. He'd forgotten how York went distant when he was really engaging with Delta. There's a green shimmer to his good eye. It's really fascinating.

The best part was how MUCH they could get knocked out. What felt like hours really only took a couple of minutes. The data he'd gotten, the plans, the bases, everything- but that wasn't what he needed to focus on. What they'd done to Wash and Carolina- how they'd need to work around it. Redirect it. That'd take some planning.

Eating's automatic enough that he can go through the motions while working over the issue. That they were being watched so intently didn't quite register until he blinks and catches Wash at it. "...you good?"

Wash smiles at him, looks a little embarrassed to have been caught staring so intently. "Yeah. I'm fine. As much as I can be. Just... it's been a while since I saw you two talk like that. Forgotten how spacey you can get."

"I do not get spacey." And that's mostly Delta, right there. York finds his prissiness hilarious. "I get preoccupied, yeah."

"You totally do. You didn't even notice I was looking for ages." He takes another bite of food then sets the plate down on the floor next to him. "What're you looking at?"

"...Okay maybe I get a little spacey." Delta huffs in the back of his head. York shrugs. It happens. "Reports on what they did to you two, mostly. How it works. How to fix it."

If it could even be fixed.

Wash grins, looking like himself for the first time in days. It fades a little at the mention of what York is looking at. "What does it say? We can fix it, right? We can... reverse it."

"I'm not a psychologist but- I think we can get rid of some of it. D's breaking the code down." He pauses for a bite of his sandwich, leaning forward enough to bump Wash's knee with his forehead. "We'll get it done. For both of you."

"Good, that... that's good, I guess." He would much prefer to hear that all of it could be got rid of. He's a little terrified. What if he wakes up tomorrow and isn't himself?

When York leans over, he briefly slides his fingers through the other man's hair, scratching lightly at his scalp. "I know. You've already done so much for us."

"Just hope it's not too little too late. I should've found you both." Guilt plays heavily into this- but just saying that has Carolina reaching out- with her foot- to nudge him in the ribs. It's playful. That's more than he'd expected so soon.

He tips his head against Wash's hand and sighs. "We got some breathing room. Charon's gonna haveta regroup. We can rest."

"Not your fault," Wash replies. He slides his fingers down and around, curling just behind his ear. "You didn't know. No-one knew. Charon hid us. Of course they did." It's easier to admit that now that he's not caught up in the anger and bitterness that Charon encouraged.

Wash glances up at Carolina, flashes her a smile as he keeps stroking York's hair, enjoying the contact.

"They're gonna pay." He mumbles, exhausted. He hadn't been sleeping uch- well he hadn't been sleeping at all in the base. No time. No saftey. But now that they're here, now he can let it sink in that they did it.

He got them out. They got HIM out. They're all here, they're all in one piece. He tips his cheek against Wash's leg, kissing the inside of his knee. One hand snakes up to squeeze Carolina's.

"We're gonna bring them down," Wash says quietly, and like this he can almost believe it, even if his voice shakes a little when he says it.

Carolina squeezes his fingers, her thumb running against his knuckles affectionately. Wash keeps up the gentle petting for a moment and then shifts so that York's head is resting in his lap.

"I didn't think we'd make it out, honestly." Delta hadn't been all that certain either but- here they are. They made it. If they can manage that, maybe they can finish the job. Tear down Charon industries. Fix the planet. Retire the way he'd wanted to.

"You could have just got out without us," Wash points out. It would have been so easy for York to take his armour and the camo unit and get out. "I never thought I'd... I thought I'd die long before I got the chance to leave."

"I couldn't save you then. Why would I leave both of you now?" He blinks up at Wash, eye dark with- something. Guilt? Remorse? Devotion? A little of all. "I thought I was alone. I thought you were dead. I'm not giving you, either of you, up that easily."

He shivers at that look, the intensity of it. It's a raw expression, a little haunted. "Because... because we're not the people that we were back then," Wash says, giving a little shrug and ducking his head so he can look away. "Because I lied and I- I hurt you. Would have hurt you."

"You told the truth when it mattered. You gave me enough info to make the truce possible. You both gave me time and backup to get us out of there." He pulls himself up, nosing up the line of Wash's torso- and he pulls Carolina along with him. Tugs her close and tangles them all together.

It would be nice to say that it had been for purely noble reasons. But mainly it had been York himself. Coming back, still himself, not the shells that they'd become. How could he have wished that on him?

He shivers, slides his arms around York, and then Carolina is curled up against them too and that feels perfect.

"What was it like? In the suit?" he asks, a little afraid of the answer. "Kept hearing about it. Saw it a couple of times." It creeped him out honestly.

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance) META YORK

Meta York & Murder Puppies

Meta York & Murder Puppies

Meta York & Murder Puppies

Meta York & Murder Puppies

Meta York & Murder Puppies

Meta York & Murder Puppies