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[ When North appears on the network this particular evening, he doesn't share anything about why he's so drunk or anything like that. He doesn't go mooning to the entire network about his problems or the situation with Wash and his sister. No, that's not on his agenda at all.

What's on his agenda is his ever-increasing irritation with how messy the people on the rig seem to be. ]

Look at this.

[ North turns the camera of his device to show one of the urinals in the restrooms near the living quarters of the rig. His words are slurred just enough to show to the discerning that he's pretty drunk. ]

You see that? That's filthy.

[ The camera is now turned to show North's face. He holds the device low, and walks out of the restroom. ]

And if you think I'm complaining about just one urinal you've got another think coming. Look at this hallway.

[ He turns the camera again. ]

The walls are stained. The floor is dirty.

[ There's a slight pause with a sound like him swallowing a burp. ]

And yes, I know there's parts from an oil rig and all that. But you live here. You're not telling me you lived like this wherever you came from.

And if you did...shame on you.

[ It's distant-sounding at first, but North's feed picks up York in the background calling his name and asking what's taking so long, then just: ]

Oh no.

[ A cheerful brunette appears in the feed, waving and smiling winningly. He'll make up for North insulting the entire rig with sheer charm, just you watch him. ]

Don't mind him, folks! He's just a grumpy drunk tonight, we're gonna head off now. Right, North? Bedtime. How do we turn this off?

(( ooc: as you can see, both Agents North and York of Project Freelancer are involved in this post, North in purple and York in gold. Feel free to specify either or both when you reply! ))

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If I may, [he commences more softly than usual] I have never said I had no remorse. I happened to keep it to myself because I am aware that an apology is not what you want from me, neither you nor any other former agent present in this structure.

[If anything York let it slip that he needs an apology, or at least a little something. Nobody asked for an explanation - he's very much used to being ignored - but he might as well provide it.]

Project Freelancer originally had noble goals, and it was those goals that I signed for. The Director was...A broken man who strayed away from his path. I failed to help him, and he took his life. The real objective of our organization was worth the unethical means, and I stand by that. The part that upsets most of you has hardly anything to do with...Criminal intent. [he defies, because he's not wrong, is he?] Demanding the best out of our employees was not a crime. It was the only way to ensure our success, before...Unpredictable variables came into the picture.

[He pauses briefly.]

That was my perspective. I am not sure it will make you feel better, however I know something that can: in the timeline I am from, I was serving my sentence in prison, and through the people that worked there I have learned that Agent Carolina is alive and safe...I figure I owed you this information. Especially since you died without ever knowing that.

[ York grits his teeth listening to the Counselor speak. It's not that he doesn't want an apology -- it's that it won't change anything. It would still matter, if Price actually meant it.

The thing is, what he says next? Isn't an apology. It's justifications. At best it's an explanation and it doesn't sound like he's at all sorry.

And then, Price pulls out Carolina as a trump card to 'make him feel better' and York sees red. It's a manipulation. Tossing him a bone, to make York ignore that everything he said before wasn't what he wanted from him. He doesn't even want to waste time explaining why he's pissed, or that he already knew about Carolina -- Price is a psychologist, he can figure it out himself -- but he does spare one last glare as he eases North down onto a bunk in his room and grabs the communicator. ]

Carolina is not a card you can play to cheer me up or get me on your side. Fuck. You. Talk to me when you're actually sorry for what you did to us, and to Alpha.

[ And with that he shuts down the program, the way that Price told him to, which also chafes. ]

[So, now they care about the Alpha? Since when? What a hypocritical bunch of absolute babies. They are mad at him for torturing someone else?! That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Whatever, at this point he's a wild card and he doesn't have to lead an army of losers. Maybe the Director was right in thinking that it was up to him to make every single decision.

You know what? He's going there. It's counterintuitive but showing up knowing how risky it is will make his apology and explanation sound more genuine, or at least it can be a clue to aid York's poor oral comprehension.]

Well, then.

[He arrives at destination, still very much irritated by the agent's attitude. He doesn't really waste time announcing his presence.]

I saw how you were struggling, when you thought Agent Carolina died. I cannot tell what point in time you are from, but I know you would have given everything just to know she was safe, that alone without ever seeing her again was enough for you at the time. Perhaps you happen to be a lucky version of yourself that hasn't experienced that situation yet, but please try to understand that I merely wanted to ease your pain. Not to get you on my side, but as a way to make up for what I did to all of you.

[Before York can answer, he raises a palm defensively.]

It's small, I know. I am perfectly aware of it...But no apology is enough for this. Neither is the logical explanation. That's why--

[His expression twitches into one of pure pain for just a split second, but he forces it back to normal.]

That is why I mentioned this at all. I know that my feelings on the matter are not important. Don't you think it would have been manipulative of me to display emotional behaviour that is not typical of me just to make you forgive me?

[ York has just gotten North to sleep when he hears Price's voice again -- behind him. He bristles, twisting around to be sure. Yup. The little shit tracked him down to keep talking.

He finds himself wishing the room had a door so he could slam it in Price's face.

How did the Counselor see he was struggling after the MoI crashed? It's a safe enough guess to make, of course, but he says he "saw." York's brows knit in a scowl and he's about to ask, ignoring the bit about easing his pain, but Price holds up a hand and so York just gets up from the edge of North's bed carefully. No need to wake his friend with this. ]

It's only manipulative if it's an act.

[ Standing, he's taller and broader than Price, though he doesn't crowd the other man just yet to remind him of that fact. Better to hang back if he wants to punch the Counselor in the face, after all. That urge is growing. ]

I already knew, so you'll have to find some other way to make up for what you did. You don't get to use Carolina. Honestly, the best thing you can do for any of us, after everything, is leave us alone. I don't trust you and I don't want to see you. For all I know this is another mind game, and you're assessing me for Jorgmund or something.

[Alright, fine, maybe he doesn't know for sure the details of York's suffering, but upon having Wash recover his corpse in the late years of the project it was a safe assumption. The excuse he can invent is that Wash gathered logs from his armour, and that they happened to fall in his hands after the Meta shot him, somehow saving everything from equipment destruction. Or even not saving it and himself remembering it anyway because he's just that much better than everyone, which is a known fact. It's not the best, but it's a start and he can always deflect it on the crew, or something...

But he does flinch a bit when York says he already knew. He can hope he's bluffing. It's not unlike him.]

Very well, then. It's clear you don't want to talk. That is understandable, although I believe that this attitude will not be beneficial to you in the long run.

[He holds back from making a disgusted expression, and blinks slowly as his gaze moves to North on the bed.]

It is good to see that your hatred for me favours your team's cohesion, if anything.

[He moves a couple of steps to head outside, but turns to him last second.]

One last suggestion, before I go: you might want to talk to Lavernius Tucker. He is a former sim trooper from Blood Gulch Outpost Alpha and has helped greatly the New Republic and the Federal Army of Chorus against Charon Industries. I was taken away from my timeline before I could see the end of those events, but I can assure you he has showed remarkable combat skills and caring demeanour towards his teammates. I only encountered him in person once, on the ride back to the rig, and he was a delight to witness. A very open person, despite using humour to cope a bit too much. I am sure he will be a great match for you.

This? [ he gestures between himself and North ] This has nothing to do with you. This is in spite of you. Now get out before I decide your face is too punchable to resist.

[ He holds still, though, since Price is moving out on his own -- at least until he turns back and starts talking about someone else entirely. Someone that York does want to meet.

His eyes narrow. If Price wants them to be friends there must be some downside there. What's the play? It sounds sound like they'd get along great, Wash hadn't really described the sim trooper beyond the information he'd gotten from him. ]

I know about Tucker, too. But thanks for the reminder that someone needs to warn him about you.

Warn about me? You flatter me, Agent York.

[He smiles, rendering his face even more punchable.]

Everything that I have done, I only managed to go through with because of my authority in that specific situation. Even then, every objection I voiced was promptly overruled and I was forced to follow orders.

[That is the truth. The Director has forced him to obey in several circumstances, although Price himself merely disagreed on the 'let's blow up all of Hargrove's shit because I say so' strategy and was actually excited for the AI torture endeavours. He even made a schedule for it! Good times. Except the Director didn't respect it, like the absolute fool he was. It really is all his fault. So why not blame him?]

...And, yes, threats of violence work on me. They seem to be the only occasion where you don't forget that not everyone is a supersoldier that can defend themself.

[If his voice had any expressive quality, it would sound heartbroken by now. Thank God this is just a manipulation, right?]

Perhaps you might want to think about it.

Do they work? You could've fooled me, because you're still standing here when I'm talking about punching your face in.

[ He does come closer now, looming slightly. He's much larger than Price, whoops.

Also, he doesn't believe that Price objected all that much, especially not to how they were manipulated and the AIs were tortured. He's pretty sure most of that was Price's idea. ]

Shoo.

[Price of course backs away as York menacingly comes closer. It's not fair, and he's still pretty sure they all only care about the leaderboard aka the only part of the project which was still not a crime. A toxic choice, maybe, but not illegal. They're only sorry about their inadequacy. If they actually care about the cause, they would have understood. He wishes he could tell them, but it's not the case. It's not worth it, not with the comparatively spineless one of the agents.]

You are not listening to me, Agent York. It's a shame that you don't have Delta with you anymore, he could have helped you with focusing.

[He also used to have a separate folder where he made more unofficial diagnoses, namely York himself being diagnosed with Basic Bitch Disease, but alas one of them had to be professional in that goddamn spaceship. It always had to be Price, and Price only. Everyone else - including but not limited to the Director - was always busy bitching for whatever reason, never appreciating him putting up with them, never even remembering his name, and now he has to get shooed again? And not even by someone he finds interesting?]

I hope for your own safety that you will bond with someone smart enough to understand that I am not the enemy. There are greater concerns approaching us, whether you punch me or not. [he turns around again, if York hits him now he will only look like a coward] Good luck, Agent York.

[ York only cares about the leaderboard insofar as it being one of the many ways in which Freelancers were pitted against each other while being ordered to act as a team. Being lied to about and denied information regarding mission objectives, the process by which they got the Alpha and what they did to the AI, the experiments with the sim troopers, the general disregard for human life in pursuit of saving humanity as a whole... that's what York cares about. It's not as bad as the Spartan programs by any means but it also wasn't even remotely successful. What was the point, in the end?

York grits his teeth to keep from spitting back at Price that he's the one not listening -- how many times has he asked the Counselor to leave? Several. His focus is fine, his patience is not. And the Delta card is another low blow, designed to manipulate him, he's sure.

He doesn't trust Price. He doesn't respect Price. And he's about to punch Price in the teeth anyway but then he tuurns around, and his assumption was correct. York won't hit someone with his back turned. But he isn't going to dignify that bullshit with even an acknowledgment.

Instead, Price will hear him returning to the bunk with North, seemingly ignoring his exit. (Even if he's listening for the footsteps because he has no door and again, doesn't trust Price.)

It just seems like a better fuck you. ]

[ North stirs when York slips in next to him. ]

Mmn? Something going on?

[ His speech is slurred by alcohol and sleepiness. ]

Goddamn fucking Price showed up. I should have stomped on him like like a worm on the sidewalk after the rain. Except I'd do that by accident, worms don't deserve that shit... fucker...

[ He pulls the blanket back up and settles, dragging one of North's arms over himself. This is the angriest cuddling that has ever happened, but it'll make him feel better. ]

Oh.

[ North rolls a bit, just enough to angle himself in York's direction and make his draped arm more comfortable. ]

I should have warned you. Sorry.

He's as manipulative as ever, I absolutely don't trust his trying to get me to trust him. Not that insulting someone is the best way to make that happen.

[ North snorts lightly. ]

Yeah, don't listen to a word he says.

I didn't listen, but I had to hear him and it pissed me off.

...he tried to use information about Carolina as a trump card.

He just wanted to catch you off-guard.

It didn't work, but only because Wash already told me.

Mmh.

[ North breathes in a deep breath. ]

What'd you think about it?

...we don't have to talk about this now. You can go back to sleep.

[ Because the answer is complicated. ]

[ North lets out a long exhale. He wants to be there for York, but... ]

'kay.

[ ...he's awfully sleepy. ]

[ York is honestly glad North dropped it, because he doesn't want to have to articulate himself that carefully right now, so upset. Another time.

He's feeling tired too, now, as the anger drains away. And North is warm. ]

[At this point he has to walk away, unfortunately. He does stop for a second once he's out of sight, but he knows it's not safe to stay there and wait, so he'll have to go for this time. It's fine. York got the humiliation he deserves, he can walk away with pride.]

[ He's not humiliated, he's angry. Luckily for Price that's not actually as dangerous. ]

[Everyone just feels very ungrateful to him, as always. They don't understand that during Project Freelancer it was in his best interest to keep the assets alive. He could have talked some of them into committing suicide, and quite easily at that. They blame the Director for so many things when all he wanted, beside his stupid wife, was to keep self harming for not succeeding. Literally, all the hatred and violence and destructive tendencies were always inside of them. He can't be blamed for watching them come out.]

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