piper90 | [video]

[ 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! ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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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