tushanshu_logs | But I still wake up, I still see your ghost;

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But I still wake up, I still see your ghost;

Characters: Carolina and York
Date: Backdated to Tues or Weds
Location: York's suite, metal sector
Situation: Potentially awkward dinner with York and Carolina. Probably some small talk and serious discussions of Bad Things.
Warnings/Rating: Freelancer Things, awkward, etc. Maybe language.

[Things like having dinner shouldn't cause Carolina's stomach to twist and turn uncomfortably in her gut, but if they're short talk after her arrival had told her anything, it was that things were unbearably different between them. Conversation wasn't easy, wasn't natural, wasn't anything like it used to be. Even under the intense pressure of the Project, they'd still managed to talk as people when the job was done.

As she approaches his door, she reminds herself that it can happen again. They can re-build; they have to be able to re-build and she refuses to believe otherwise. So, she's out of her armor, her braided back and dressed in something she'd found here on the turtle, an open-collared cross garment with plain trousers and boots. Not her usual style, but she hoped it'd give the aire of her being at least mildly comfortable instead of her armor.

After a moment of hesitation, she raps as gently as she can against the door before stepping back and reminding herself to breathe.]

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...So we make it better, then.

[ York sounds so earnest, too, leaning forward, his hands spread out. ]

We'll do that.

[His continued optimism is almost a shock to her, painful as much as it is nice to hear. Better. Is that even possible? That small part of her that wants so badly to be more to him than a former teammate cheers at his words, even despite Carolina's attempts to shut it up. Her expression brightens minutely as she holds the pistol back out to him, nose pointed back at her.]

Better.

Better.

[ It's a promise, of sorts, and York snags the pistol, holstering it in an easy motion. ]

Thanks. For dinner. [She doesn't mean it to sound in any way final, but as soon as the words are out of her mouth, she realizes that yep that's exactly what it sounds like.]

[ ...Ah. York's smile doesn't reach his good eye, but he touches her shoulder. ]

No prob. You're welcome any time.

[This time, she doesn't hesitate in putting her hand on his forearm, a moderately gentle grasp, feeling him warm and alive underneath her fingers. It's something she needs to not take for granted. She's got a hell of an opportunity here and if she wastes it, she'll never forgive herself.]

Dangerous words. [She does at least smirk a little, a touch of amusement brightening her face.]

[ This is progress. York squeezes her arm with a little grin. ]

Hey, I'm okay with that. You come over in the middle of the night and just hang out, and I'm okay.

[Raising her eyebrows at him, she wonders if he's really being serious about an offer like that. He'd really be okay with her just dropping by the middle of the night? ]

Really.

Really.

[ :| York squeezes her arm and then drops it. ]

Seriously. Three in the morning an' you need to talk? I'll make cocoa or somethin'.

[Carolina actually grins for a moment or two, considering planning an "impromptu" drop in at 3am, but realizes that it's supposed to be spontaneous and she could do with some spontaneity. ]

Yeah. Think I will.

Sounds good.

[ He nudges her playfully. ]

What now?

[Welp this is where she gets lost. Anything that isn't MISSION or ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS pretty much fell by the wayside for years.]

What about a walk around the edge of the turtle?

[ Ooh. He perks up at that. ]

That sounds awesome.

[Carolina gestures with her head toward the door.] Then c'mon. [She'd not seen the turtle shell itself, but it had to be there somewhere, right?]

[ There's patches they can find, at least. York makes sure he's got what he needs and tugs on boots, trailing on out after her. ]

[They eventually find their way up to the head of the turtle and when they get there, the mystical, calming nature of Tu Vishan settles over Carolina. She feels surprisingly relieved of her worries, calm, and there's nothing she wants to do but just lay down and never leave.

Still, she glances out at the ocean with a soft smile.] Beautiful, isn't it.

[ They make it all the way up and he feels tension slipping out of his shoulders, glancing out over it with a slow hum of appreciation. ]

Yeah. Yeah, god, it's really nice up here.

[Glancing back over at him, Carolina grins just a little wider and she sits down on the shell, finding herself wanting to just lay there in the peace for hours. For now, she'll just pat the bit of shell next to her in an invitation to sit.]

Think I'll come here more often.

[ SITTING IS FOR SQUARES.

York flops himself back with a grin and a hum and stretches out, yawning. ]

I wouldn't blame you, seriously.

[Carolina chuckles over at him before laying back herself, and maybe not putting much physical distance between herself and him. She glances up at the sky, taking note of the stars there. It's weird to think that they spent most of their time up there and now they're down here below.]

Here, look. [She holds up her hand to try and trace a pattern in a grouping of stars with her finger. None of the constellations are in any way familiar, but that's not going to stop her from making up new ones.]

[ He touches their shoulders together with a little grin, staring up at the sky, utterly content. They really ought to spend more time here, honestly. ]

The sky isn't much like how I remember.

[ He reaches a hand up and traces one over their heads. ]

Looks kinda like a horse.

[At first she raises her eyebrows at their shoulders pressing together but then she just lets herself enjoy it. There's no Director here, no protocol, just him, her, and the stars. Her eyes follow his movements and she grins.] And a rider.

[She puts her hand just above his to trace what could be a rider on the horse's back, the palm of her hand brushing against his knuckles.]

[ It's so relaxing up here that he doesn't know what to do with himself, so he just breathes in and holds it, stretching out more comfortably, smiling. ]

Yeah. Wonder if they have any kinda constellation maps around here.

[ He eyes the rider a moment, and then his hand stops, freezing when she touches his.

You could have had this.

The thought sticks, reminds him he could have done better, could have helped her, could have saved her from the mess they both got into, but he didn't. ]

I-- yeah. Yeah, there's a rider.

[When he freezes, Carolina figures she did something wrong, but as soon as that pang of failure begins in her gut, it washes away with that same peaceful feeling that they were both covered in. Still, she moves her hand and folds it with her other over her stomach. Her smile isn't quite as natural, isn't quite as warm, but she makes an effort to keep it there. He didn't do anything wrong, she did.]

Think we should name him? [She tries to keep the conversation casual.] Until we find a map.

George.

[ He rolls over onto his side and leans over her, grinning like a lunatic, determined to get her back to smiling and back to normal after that hiccup. ]

Or....I dunno, Stuart.

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hope this is cool with you!

always

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