goddamngrenades | Voicemail

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ York's dressed as usual, discreet. Made to blend in. He sidles up into the alley, hands slung low in his pockets, the weight of his pistol hanging in the back of his belt. He didn't like this. She's never been one to give up- a few days are better than nothing.

Something else happened. Something he didn't see. ]

Hey.

[It's both a relief and anxiety inducing to hear York's voice. She didn't want this to be happening, either, but after her arrival here, it seemed each new obstacle just piled on the previous one without giving her a chance to think in between. She hasn't slept since she arrived, hasn't eaten outside of some random bar nuts and martini olives. Right now, she can't bring herself to care.]

[She looks up at him a d pushes her hood down. She didn't want this to be happening, but she didn't want to feel like this, either, and there seemed to be little option for reprieve.]

Hey.

[ He drops into a crouch next to her, hands hanging loose between his knees. ]

Wanna talk about what happened? You're never this rough unless you've argued with Andrew.

[She ducks her head and shoves a hand through her hair, obscuring her face and the way she winces at that.]

Fight to end all fights. He's keeping something from me, York. Even his loser girlfriend knows what's going on.

Lemme stop you there for a second.

[ He flicks a hand up, holding off anything more she might say. His voice is low, even, and hard if not entirely unkind. ]

That woman has made him more happy than I've ever seen him. Ever. We're in a hellhole after dying, have our minds and bodies poked at from every angle possible and the barest scraps of agency left to us- and she makes. Him. Happy.

Don't you fuck'n call her a loser either just because you didn't know about it. Wrath is the most genuinely sweet woman I have ever met. She is the nicest, most honest, and most sincere human being under this dome and has been handed a real fuck'n bad deal. SHe's recovering from a 99 story fall onto her spine, is a decorated military hero, and again, makes Andrew happy.

I know you two fought. I don't know why and I don't really care. But I want you to take a deep breath and think about the last time your brother was genuinely happy outside of any kind of pressure or influence to act otherwise. Really think about it.

Then tell me if you're bothered that you didn't know- or that he's happy and you're not involved.

[Oh, right. Because obviously everyone would love her just like they love him and South's once again shunted aside. York's not even bothering to address the fact that things are being kept from her.]

[His words tear at her, cutting right to the core. She doesn't know what to do with her hands at first, stuck halfway between shoving York and covering her face. Finally, she turns to lean her side against the wall and tucks her hands against her side. If she could just melt into the surroundings she would ~~give it time South~~.]

[When she finally speaks, her voice is low and thick.] If you're not going to shoot me then get the hell out of here.

[She didn't ask to be further tortured.]

I'm not going to shoot you unless I have to. Fuckups like this? Because someone here fucked up or it's a series of small fuckups but fucking up has occured, can be fixed. North's keeping something from you- I won't know what until you tell me what you guys talked about. He wasn't exactly all that clear with me when I spoke to him last.

[ He reaches out to nudge her, gently. ]

You got at least two more days. We may as well make them count. What'd you guys talk about? And I'm pretty sure an apology to his girlfriend would make him more open to talking to you.

[She flinches away from him and looks at him incredulously; her face drawn up and ugly. But, she breaks, and the verbal floodgates open.]

Death, okay? Death. Mine and -- and he said some things. Made it sound like we'd both died before. And that bi-- his -- she said, she asked, when I stopped liking him.

[She's shaking now, she's livid, and hurt, and confused, and it's all coming out.] What does she fucking know? He's my stupid brother and I'll never stop loving him, even if I can't -- I can't even look at him right now--

[She snaps fully, rearing back and slamming her fist into the brick wall. It's not nearly as satisfying as kicking over a bench or knocking down a trashbin, but the pain gives her a momentary distraction from the turmoil in her head.]

Aubrey-

[ Okay that. That he gets. THat he understands- hell he even understands North not wanting to go over it with her. Instead of giving her space he settles in next to her, arm sliding across her shoulders, pulling her tight. ]

Things happen. While you're on the run with him, things happen. You're out there with him running from the Project for five years. And you do both die.

I die too. Maine dies. Tex dies. Carolina and Wash are the only people that survive the project. I wasn't in constant contact with you two while you were on the run and it comes after Reggie kills me but- Maine gets his brain fucked into compliance by his AI. He's the one that tried to take Wyomings. They pinned it on Tex.

But it was whatever was left of Maine. He went after the rest of us and when he caught up with you and North-

You put him in a position to die. All Maine wanted was his upgrade and Theta. You didn't have to die- so you made sure you wouldn't. That's what he didn't wanna talk about.

[She lets him pull her in, pressing her face to his chest. It's a lot to take in, on top of everything else. She doesn't want to cry in front of him, but she's got to release this all somehow, so she screams. Low and guttural and muffled unto his clothes, but full-throated and unashamed.]

[It doesn't take long to exhaust herself, and she settles into an apathetic curl against York.]

I don't want to die, but I can't live like this.

[ It may as well be sustained sobbing for how he rubs a hand down her back, taking in the sounds and the catharsis as best he can. It's horrible. He hates that it came to that. He hates that he has to tell her- but she deserves to know. ]

He didn't think he could go through telling you more than once. He was doing what he always does. Protecting you.

[It seemed like every little thing was designed to make her feel worse, and she sits quietly as she starts to feel sick to her stomach. Now she really didn't know if she'd be able to face Andrew again.]

What am I supposed to do?

We try talking to him again. And apologize to wrath. That was right after I talked to you, right? You were wound up, you were scared, you were angry, you weren't exactly in your right mind.

[ He rubs her shoulder, not quite rocking her just yet. ]

Start with Wrath- she's more forgiving. After that we'll see about settling things with Andrew.

[She winces and curls further into him. I'm Sorry is one of the things she's least good at doing ... along with making good life choices.]

Maybe it's better if I just didn't.

It'll help you both in the long run.

What does it even matter? It's not like I'm going to be around to enjoy it.

Edited 2014-12-30 03:07 (UTC)

It'll help him. It'll prepare him for when you really get back and get to do this again. It'll make you feel less like shit. Take your pick.

[She picks at his coat, quiet for a moment.] You think I'll come back? But ... it won't be me.

[Okay now she's jealous at her future non-self.]

It might be. There's no way to know.

[She takes a deep breath and lets it out in a heavy sigh. This was all levels of fucked up.] Fine. I guess I could ... give it another try or something.

Attagirl.

[ He pats her shoulder and levers himself up to his feet, offering her his hands. ]

Come on. Let's give this another shot.

[She sits moment, considering maybe blowing him off and just hiding somewhere, and then finally gives in. She grabs his hand to help her up, since she's definitely not going to be steady on her feet.]

I think I know where he is right now. [ He doesn't say anything about her being unsteady. Just hooks an arm under her shoulders like they're old friends (cuz they are) and helps her up. ] But first? You need food. Seriously.

Yeah, fine, Dad. [She leans into him. Yeah, they're buddies, in some weird kind of fucked up way and she's juts giving up on trying to process everything and go with the flow.]

Pff, North's the Dad. I'm the cool uncle that lets you stay up past your curfew and sneaks you beer.

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