goddamngrenades | RP Open Post

"It just doesn't work out on a drifting level. I see."

He wants to ask what to expect, but, well, he's as prepared as any of the other ranger candidates he trains on a daily basis. Everyone's told about it, but nobody is ever really prepared. "I'll see hers, won't I? Her memories blended in with yours. Like three minds working as one."

"The fact that he was the one they tried to induce compatibility with also sorta taints any potential there." It hadn't been fun. He'd rather not revisit it. For now he just- leans into Malcolm's side and breathes. Noses along his shoulder to focus on the present. "Yeah. She's still here. Sorry."

"Oh. I'm...sorry. I shouldn't..." Pry. But he's going to know every dark corner of York's mind soon enough, isn't he?

"Okay. I'll...attempt to relax back into this. But no promises that I can turn off my brain."

"S'awright." He shrugs, reaching down to squeeze Malcolm's hand. "It's- yeah. You'll see."

And if he's got any sense at all, he'll run screaming into the night. "If you need like, a little extra motivation-"

Cue vague sexual hand gesture. "I can help."

If he had any sense at all, he'd stop letting York squeeze his hand. But the contact feels nice in a way he doesn't let himself voice. It's what he misses in casual, close friendships. Sure, he's got a personal bubble a few kilometres wide, but with people he trusts, or if he feels like he needs it?

But the vague sexual hand gesture gets a stare. It's vague enough that he misses the meaning at first, but when he does, the stare doesn't...really change. "You understand we're not an item, just potential drift partners."

"Okay, casual hookups aren't your thing. Good to know." He shrugs, not at all offended or put off. The weirdly intense kissing thing before was- weird and intense and probably inappropriate in ways he doesn't really want to look at. Malcolm is not Carolina nor a replacement for her.

He's his own person.

That he's kind of sort of stupidly attracted to on his own merits bu also, shit he's not looking at. "Don't worry about it."

"Look, it's not that. One night stands are a sort of staple for me. It's just..." It's just that York isn't bad on the eyes, not really, and he's a fantastic kisser, and when they're in the middle of really feeling each other, he just wants to melt in York and be one and together and intense and...he's definitely not thinking about it, and neither is his cock.

"It's just...?" He quirks a brow, propping himself up on his elbows to look Malcolm over properly. THere's an opportunity here- not rightly sure for what but there's. Something. That can come of this.

"We work together," he eventually says with a deep shrug, practically burying himself in food. "We see each other almost every day. It would be awkward and unprofessional. It's not like having an intense night with someone from a club." Right York?

"So?" It'd never made shit awkward for him or anyone else in the past. Of course that was the past and the other Dome but- why would things be weird here? "It's only as awkward as you'd make it, dude. And we're off the clock, how would it be unprofessional? Do you think I'm not gonna be able to handle your classes if I've seen you naked, or vise versa?"

"We're never truly off the clock." Except off base, he supposes. But that isn't the point. "The point is that you're not that. You're not a one night stand to never be seen again."

"Personal scruples." He shrugs again. "It's okay, man. It was just an offer. We don't have to do a damn thing if it'll make you uncomfortable for- any reason really. It's not fun if it'll bother you and it's one of the few things I got left that's been untainted by everything else."

He'd probably laugh at any other reasons. "It's a surprising offer. One that should definitely be tabled." For now. He sits up a little higher, a little, sort of, away from York. What if it's triggered by physicality, by being close? Then what? Then he'd want to kiss York and melt into him again, and that's just not going to do anybody any good.

"Motion to table the mutual hanjobs. Motion seconded." He settles back against the pillows, sipping on his coffee. "Motion stands. Won't be talk'n bout that for awhile. Instead I make a motion of discussing who the better bond babe is."

Really now, he doesn't have to make a bloody production out of it. Malcolm frowns a little at his food. "Hm. Plenty of bad in along with the good," he says distractedly.

"Should the better question be who ages better, Moneypenny or M?" Both have their merits.

His nose wrinkles, though he still does seem particularly interested in his food. "Is that a serious question? Miss Money, of course."

"...Yeah that's not much of a contest now is it?" He kicks his feet up, crossing them at the ankle while he stares at the screen. "You need more of anything? Got the bag to your left if you do."

"I see the bag, thank you." He lets a few moments of silence tick by. "Sorry," he suddenly apologizes, "I've made this...terribly awkward now. Sorry. I didn't mean to break our little...connected...not drifting...thing, the thing we had going."

"Ghost drift." A beat. "It's okay. Seriously- it's...sort of disconcerting for people not used to it. And it can be a little intense if you've never been there before. Overwhelming. So it's awright. Probably for the better that we not fall into that. It can make coming out of an actual drift difficult."

Which is never fun. The movie night goes pretty well from there on out. Dinner, movies, more popcorn till the night rolls into the dawn and he has to face the music of actually talking to his CO. Talking to his doctor. Getting suited up for the first test and waiting for the rig they're gonna get put in. A jeager still in construction but the ConnPod is finished. The suit's a little loose on him but it's been- well. Awhile. And the plating is different from the aqua and silver he had before but the tan's not that bad and the dark blue is kinda flattering.

So he suits up. Pulls on the helmet, steps into the rig- and waits.

Malcolm is slightly overcaffeinated. In a choice between showing up for something as important like this looking like he had no sleep or looking alert, he chose alert. Alert is always the better option when doing...anything, really. He's sure there's a bit of a crowd, unless Archer ordered required personnel only.

The last time he had truly suited up was the last time he'd stepped into a simulation, so it's both familiar and nervewracking. Remember to breathe, don't chase the rabbit, he's never been able to drift with anyone before, so he can only keep all the training and advice in mind without any practical experience.

"Ready?" Malcolm tries to look at ease when he follows in York's footsteps. Offers a hand to grip. "We might very well get to go monster hunting together someday when this is over."

York looks- well. Like he usually does. Present and aware and vaguely amused at everything in general. Delta's in the other room fretting over every little detail. Possibly as a way to apologize, he doesn't care. He's too busy trying to put himself through the breathing exercises he did the last time he first ran into this with Clair.

It's only half working.

The handshake helps. He squeezes Mal's for a second, remembering the lazy warmth from the night before. "If we don't crash and burn. Just- don't follow the rabbit, alright? Or- you know. Sex thoughts. Can't help it."

"I'll try." Despite running on--not fumes, but low power, powering through, he relaxes just a hair at the touch. "I've never actually successfully drifted with anyone, so...I'll try not to muck it up too badly."

He thinks he knows what he's doing, but York actually knows what he's doing. That this is the first time it might actually work has Malcolm's nerves working on overdrive, but add to that the fact that a third person's mind is going to be hovering in there with them...it could be a risk. But it's a risk he's going to take, damn it all.

He steps into the harnessing rig, feet planted, and it's a good thing they're not connected to an entire monstrosity, else he might be tempted to take it for a spin. Locked and loaded. All they need now is for the neural link to be made and boot them into a drift.

"Sometimes I wonder if there's anything else in your head other than pornography," he playfully accuses, trying to bring the overbearing tension down some.

"If something goes wrong, Mal, I promise it's not gonna be on your end." The liklihood of him chasing one of Carolina's rabbits- just so he can feel her again after all this time- that's the bigger risk. He just has to hope that the temptation, the reality of a live mind melding with his will be enough to quiet the part of him that clings to the ghost of her.

He's pretty sure it'll work out.

Eighty percent sure.

Okay that's being kind, fifty percent's more accurate.

"Porn and pizza recipes, man. And pop culture facts." He grins, waiting for the neural gel to start pumping.

"Pizza recipes? You didn't tell me you were a pizza wizard. We could've eaten some of that instead."

"If you two are done," cuts in the voice of the Marshal over the comm, wryly, "everything's green on this end."

A breath. Two breaths. Malcolm gives a thumbs up. "Ready, sir." Though he turns his head to York nevertheless. "I'm serious, make us some pizza next time. We'll celebrate today." But okay, now he's ready. Ready and serious and battleready and ready to go and. ready.

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