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

[youfallback]

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.]

Comments

[agentdork]

[ Ooh. He perks up at that. ]

That sounds awesome.

[youfallback]

[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?]

[agentdork]

[ 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. ]

hope this is cool with you!

[youfallback]

[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.

always

[agentdork]

[ 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.

[youfallback]

[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.

[agentdork]

[ SITTING IS FOR SQUARES.

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

I wouldn't blame you, seriously.

[youfallback]

[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.]

[agentdork]

[ 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.

[youfallback]

[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.]

[agentdork]

[ 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.

[youfallback]

[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.

[agentdork]

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.

[youfallback]

[She's a bit surprised when he leans over her and she can't help but laugh a little at the choices in names, which helps to brighten up her expression.]

Stuart. [She raises her eyebrows up at him, barely resisting leaning up to close the space between them.]

[agentdork]

Fredrico.

[ He grins wider, glancing up and squinting with his good eye. ]

His faithful steed can be like-- shit, I don't know, Tulip.

[youfallback]

[She tries to contain an unladylike chortle at the suggestions.] I like it. Frederico and Tulip.

[As she finishes speaking, her grin just widens. It's nice to get to do this with not just anyone, but him. Honestly, she never thought she'd get the chance to talk to him again, much less just lay here and make up names for constellations. It's surprisingly nice to not be doing anything mission-related.]

[agentdork]

[ He flops back down, and closes his eyes for a while, just enjoying the night air and everything else, utterly content. ]

How're you settlin' in?

[youfallback]

[When he flops back down, she's both grateful and annoyed at herself; grateful that the temptation is essentially removed but also annoyed at herself for not taking the chance. Next time. Still, she settles in next to him, content to just let their shoulders touch and let that be enough.]

Better. Getting to know people here. [Branching out, building a support network, helping herself let go of things bit by bit.]

[agentdork]

That's good. There's a lotta people here you'd like, I think.

[ ... Kara, for one, but he'll wait on that for now. ]

[youfallback]

[Carolina nods where she's settled at his shoulder, gazing up into the night sky without really eyeing out any specific constellation.]

Yeah, I've seen that.

[agentdork]

Maybe you could come over and have dinner again. Freelancers gotta stick together, yeah?

[youfallback]

[Grinning, she sits up a little so she can do the leaning over him this time, her bangs hanging down away from her face for once.] Dinner and an open invitation to come over at any time of the night? Might spoil me.

[Although, it might just hint at what her life's been the past ten years or so.]

[agentdork]

[ He shrugs, lips curled in a faint twist of amusement. ]

I got your back, boss.

[youfallback]

[It takes her a moment or two, but she reminds herself that she can trust him, that he looked for her after alleged death, wanted her alive and wanted to have dinner with her. However, she does eventually nod with a broad smile.]

Yeah.

[agentdork]

[ He lets it fall to a content silence, just laying back, eyes closed, daring to doze off for the time being. ]