goneawaycomms | Agent North

Hey, you're... possibly going to be pissed at me but I thought you should know before you next see South. She punched a bulkhead and broke her hand.

Delta told her something you're really not going to want to hear either, so uh. Call me back? So I can. Tell you the upsetting thing that made your sister punch a bulkhead. Yeah.

Great going, York......

[ York sounds...kind of off. And the news about his sister isn't good. He replies in a gentle tone. ]

Is this something you want to stay on the comms to talk about? Because I was just heading back to your room.

It's not. Come on back, I'm headed there too right now.

[ North's there when York arrives. Lately they've been very tactile, sitting together and snuggling up while they talk, but North just sits down when he arrives without offering his arm to York. He's a bit wary of what this talk is going to consist of. Instead, he seems to be eyeing York, sizing him up by the expression on his face. ]

So what's this about?

[ York doesn't sit with North this time, rather across from him so they can see each other better. He might as well spit it out. ]

I was talking to Delta, following South around trying to drive her nuts so she'd hand him over. And he mentioned something I didn't know about the Project.

[ Keep going, man, just tell him. York takes a deep breath and barrels ahead. ]

You know how they pitted us against each other, obviously. But apparently you two specifically were a psych experiment to see what would happen if you were given an AI and she wasn't. He made it sound like you got preference in most things, actually. South didn't take it well.

[ North takes it in, though it takes a moment before it truly dawns on him what this means. ]

So you mean they didn't give her an AI specifically because I did get one? That, and more?

Yeah. I think they might have been knocking her down the leaderboard on purpose to keep her from rating for implantation.

[ North's typically a pretty even-keeled guy, except for when he's drunk—and except when someone messes with his sister. He's immediately on his feet, ears having gone bright red. If York doesn't catch him very quickly, he'll be on his way to track down the asshole involved in all of this. ]

North--

[ York stands quickly, reaching out and snagging his friend's arm. ]

Don't. It won't change anything and if you get caught there'll be hell to pay, I just wanted you to know before you saw her.

[ North looks at York. ]

You better help me, York.

[ Help him feel better about this, he means. Somehow. Or get his mind off of the situation, one of the two. ]

[ York honestly doesn't know what to do about it. It feels like there's nothing he can do for a moment, nothing he can say to make it better. ]

I'm sorry. Just...

[ He frowns a little, then uses his grip on North's arm to pull him into a hug. ]

It's over. But now that you guys know you can move forward from what they did, maybe? You have someone to blame, for even more than you thought. It can bring you together instead of just being a horrible thing that happened.

[ North doesn't resist the hug but he's a lot stiffer during it than usual. ]

I feel like I should have known. And I didn't. God fucking damn it.

[ His voice cracks a little on the last sentence. ]

[ York's voice softens and he slides one hand up North's back to rub at his shoulders a little, trying to get him to ease up a little. The last thing they need is both twins breaking their hands on walls. ]

Manipulation doesn't work if you notice it. That's the point, and they were good at what they did.

It's not your fault, North.

Edited 2021-01-11 03:18 (UTC)

[ North is breathing a bit heavier, though whether it's with anger or impending tears even he couldn't say. ]

I have had so much trouble with her in the last few years that isn't because of... That is because of...because of this.

Or at least...some of it.

[ He still isn't sure that South would have developed an attachment to her AI had she received one. She's always seen them as some kind of machines. ]

Come on, sit down. Take a breath.

[ North isn't going to like what he has to say next, but he's trying to get his friend to settle and listen to him. ]

It feels like they exploited how she already felt. Second best, not having her own identity... it'll be a long road to try and repair that but it's not impossible, okay?

[ North lets York lead him to sit on the bed and he hunches over, elbows on his knees. ]

Maybe. If she knows about it. Maybe.

[ York stays standing for a moment, then climbs onto the bed rather than sitting beside North and starts massaging his shoulders in earnest. Come on, buddy, wind down. ]

It's worth a try.

[ He hesitates, then admits something. ]

I wasn't helping, I was ignoring her on purpose to get a rise out of her. But I didn't realize. Maybe knowing, we can treat her differently and undo some of this damage.

Don't get me wrong, I don't trust her as far as I could throw her after hearing about what she did to you and Wash, but. It's not hopeless.

Hmph.

[ North sits up a bit to accept the massage, but he's still glowering. ]

I hope so.

[ He's certainly got a right to be pissed, but York worries he's not actually hopeful. ]

Maybe we can consider this place a second chance, huh? For all of us to start doing better.

I don't know, York.

[ He's usually in a better headspace than he's in right now. Right now he's angry and he's hurting. ]

[ York is pretty worried about his friend's current mindset. It's just not like North. ]

...what can I do?

[ Besides letting him take it out on Price. ]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I don't know, just...keep being here. Keep me from doing something stupid.

[ He doesn't feel like himself, either, doesn't feel right. ]

[ York frowns a little -- which luckily North can't see -- and keeps trying to ease the tension from North's shoulders. It feels like he's bailing water as fast as the boat is filling, though. ]

Okay. But that's supposed to be your job with me. This is chaos now. What's next?

[ It's a weak joke but at least he sounds chill again, an intentional effort. ]

[ He pauses a moment, feeling York's hands rubbing his shoulders. Then he sighs. ]

I know you're trying to kid around with me but I'm just not in a good headspace for it. I'm sorry.

[ York sighs, too, running out of options. ]

I'm not good for much else. But I'm here.

Agent North

audio; after hassling South goes sideways

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