[D-2 does her best to look Reliable! And Mature! And Ready For Anything! She can totally handle the Responsibility!
York rubs his chin, though.]
...Hmm. Yeah, he's kind of young for that, i'nnt he... The kid putting it together looked like he got real into it, so maybe Rascal better sit that part out unless there's a kiddie option.
...I guess I can always ask him about it when we get there. It sounds like a good time; at the very least Rascal can always have fun at the fair booths.
[Rascal has his little cheeks puffed out in anger.]
[Oh man, Rascal, that's adorable. York crosses his arms on the bed and rests his chin on them, grinning at the cute angry baby. Who's an adorable spikeball, youuuu are.]
Well, I dunno if he did it by himself, but he's the one who made the announcement, yeah. Blond skinny kid, real beanpole. Probably taller than me.
[He's quiet for a moment as D-2 tries to appease Rascal--candy, friend--then glances over at North.]
You sure you want to go, dude?
[He didn't, after all, hear those words out of North's mouth.]
It's not the years of separation giving him perspective, it's not the extra care he's been putting in since last week, it's not even what Carolina said earlier that day that suddenly turns the lights on, like, oh, there it is. Frankly, York would have to be some other kind of blind to miss this.
This is the exact kind of thing he thinks in Carolina's direction.
Oh, man. North.
York realizes he doesn't know what kind of expression he's making--knows his eyebrows have probably risen, at the very least--and covers it with a laugh, covers it by ducking his head a little and running a hand forward through his hair.]
[Unfortunately, York's realization lasts just long enough, the laugh sounds just forced enough, that North's smile fades and he lowers his head down to his folded arms, bringing up one of his hands (the one closest to York, unconsciously raising a barrier between them) and mussing his own hair.]
So... Should I talk to Carolina about arranging to get these flight tickets?
[North, what the hell, this is YOUR room. Also, York does the math in his head and frowns.]
What? Dude, come on. You gotta sleep sometime, and it's not like I'm destitute.
[He shifts, too, and buries half his face in his arms, but he's still watching North's face--not avoiding eye contact--and he doesn't seem to be in any rush to bolt, at least. D-2 looks from one man to the other, trying to parse what she's gleaning from their conversation.]
[North hesitates a long moment before he unburies his head from his arms, peeking at York with one eye before he lifts his head entirely. The initial panic starts to fade and his heart returns to a normal rhythm, albeit still hammering so loud in his chest he's surprised the bed isn't moving.]
No I know, it's just... I like taking care of people. Let me treat you.
[Annnnd we're right back to not looking- although at least he looks at Rascal this time, reaching out to pet the spikeball's soft little head ridges.]
[Okay well as long as we're not looking, York takes his opportunity now to hide his entire expression in his arms. He doesn't want North to see how much it fucking aches to hear that. Especially now that York knows.]
Shit, man.
[He manages another quiet huff of a laugh.]
It's been a long time since anyone said anything to me like that.
[But he picks his chin up again, tilts his head.]
Then again, it's also been a while since I could afford to pay my own way like this. Can't say the novelty's worn off yet. Sure you don't want to humor me on this one?
Does he want space? Is North pushing too hard? Chasing something that was slipping out of his grasp (something he never had anyway, don't be an idiot North it's not like you blew some big chance).]
...Yeah, alright, I'll humor you.
And I won't hold it against you if you want to bunk with Carolina.
[It comes out half-rushed, like if he doesn't say it in practically one breath he's not going to have the balls to say it.]
[York considers North's words, then shifts up onto one elbow so it's easier to look at him.]
Carolina punches people in her sleep. If you're kicking me out, I'm back to rooming alone.
[He says it carefully, not wanting to push North one way or the other on it. The last thing he wants in the world is to make his friend--his best friend, the only fucking person who always actually listened to him--uncomfortable.
So he can't just say the roommate arrangement was as much for York as it's been for North.]
[York snorts loudly--there's a host of reasons they're not back together yet, and Carolina's restlessness is nowhere near the top of the list--but he just reaches out and punches North's shoulder, glad at least they're still cool.]
Thanks, man. I appreciate your big honking snores. Makes everything more homey.
[Sleepy flower baby how did you sleep through all these WORLD-SHAKING REALIZATIONS. D-2 hurries to hop off the bed as well, and York stoops to pat her head.]
[Sleepy flower baby is always very sleepy. And also very good at ignoring movement as long as she is laying on warms, and her trainer is very much a warms. These two factors combined were how North managed to catch her, after all, since Rascal is of No Help.]
['I like taking care of people. Let me treat you.'
York chuckles, genuine around the guilt, and goes to retrieve his jacket from where he hung it that morning on the desk chair.]
Yeah, all right. There's gonna be chocolate and potato chips when I get off shift, okay? Look out for it.
[He makes a show of putting on his jacket and tying his shoes, then waves casually on his way out the door, D-2 at his heels.]
Later.
[He's got a big hunk of new information to chew over, and--not for the first time these past couple weeks, but maybe the most direly--the vast emptiness at the back of his mind aches.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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York rubs his chin, though.]
...Hmm. Yeah, he's kind of young for that, i'nnt he... The kid putting it together looked like he got real into it, so maybe Rascal better sit that part out unless there's a kiddie option.
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...I guess I can always ask him about it when we get there. It sounds like a good time; at the very least Rascal can always have fun at the fair booths.
[Rascal has his little cheeks puffed out in anger.]
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Well, I dunno if he did it by himself, but he's the one who made the announcement, yeah. Blond skinny kid, real beanpole. Probably taller than me.
[He's quiet for a moment as D-2 tries to appease Rascal--candy, friend--then glances over at North.]
You sure you want to go, dude?
[He didn't, after all, hear those words out of North's mouth.]
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You'll be big enough someday, little guy. Maybe not this year, but someday you'll get to go.
[Between that and the promise of candy, Rascal calms down with a little huff, and North can address York's question, which he does with a warm smile.]
You know anywhere you wanna go I'll follow.
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Oh.
It's not the years of separation giving him perspective, it's not the extra care he's been putting in since last week, it's not even what Carolina said earlier that day that suddenly turns the lights on, like, oh, there it is. Frankly, York would have to be some other kind of blind to miss this.
This is the exact kind of thing he thinks in Carolina's direction.
Oh, man. North.
York realizes he doesn't know what kind of expression he's making--knows his eyebrows have probably risen, at the very least--and covers it with a laugh, covers it by ducking his head a little and running a hand forward through his hair.]
Yeah. Same, man.
[Oh man. Oh man.]
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So... Should I talk to Carolina about arranging to get these flight tickets?
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Uh, yeah. If I need to pick up more hours to cover those charges, I can do that, I'm not working completely full shifts.
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[If you don't want me in the room anymore.
He shifts on the bed and Rosa stirs, dragging the petals of her flower over her eyes and rolling up in the hem of North's shirt.]
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What? Dude, come on. You gotta sleep sometime, and it's not like I'm destitute.
[He shifts, too, and buries half his face in his arms, but he's still watching North's face--not avoiding eye contact--and he doesn't seem to be in any rush to bolt, at least. D-2 looks from one man to the other, trying to parse what she's gleaning from their conversation.]
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No I know, it's just... I like taking care of people. Let me treat you.
[Annnnd we're right back to not looking- although at least he looks at Rascal this time, reaching out to pet the spikeball's soft little head ridges.]
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Shit, man.
[He manages another quiet huff of a laugh.]
It's been a long time since anyone said anything to me like that.
[But he picks his chin up again, tilts his head.]
Then again, it's also been a while since I could afford to pay my own way like this. Can't say the novelty's worn off yet. Sure you don't want to humor me on this one?
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I'm not--
[I'm not expecting anything.
Does he want space? Is North pushing too hard? Chasing something that was slipping out of his grasp (something he never had anyway, don't be an idiot North it's not like you blew some big chance).]
...Yeah, alright, I'll humor you.
And I won't hold it against you if you want to bunk with Carolina.
[It comes out half-rushed, like if he doesn't say it in practically one breath he's not going to have the balls to say it.]
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Carolina punches people in her sleep. If you're kicking me out, I'm back to rooming alone.
[He says it carefully, not wanting to push North one way or the other on it. The last thing he wants in the world is to make his friend--his best friend, the only fucking person who always actually listened to him--uncomfortable.
So he can't just say the roommate arrangement was as much for York as it's been for North.]
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No wonder it's taking so long for you two to get back together.
As long as I'm here, you're welcome to come bunk with me.
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Thanks, man. I appreciate your big honking snores. Makes everything more homey.
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I do what I can. Rosa just doesn't understand my somnophonic talent.
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[York finally scoots off the bed and stretches.]
I'm gonna run down the little beach, maybe get some training in with Massena. I'll see you later?
[He'll bring snacks. He's so good at snacks.]
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I'll be here. You work tonight?
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Uh-huh. I get off around three tonight. You?
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Around five.
Hey- York?
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[He looks up, a hand on Delta Two's head still. York's got things to think about--he's not hiding that--but he's not shying away. Not from North.]
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[Thanks.
I'm sorry.
I love you.]
Be careful. And don't forget a jacket.
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York chuckles, genuine around the guilt, and goes to retrieve his jacket from where he hung it that morning on the desk chair.]
Yeah, all right. There's gonna be chocolate and potato chips when I get off shift, okay? Look out for it.
[He makes a show of putting on his jacket and tying his shoes, then waves casually on his way out the door, D-2 at his heels.]
Later.
[He's got a big hunk of new information to chew over, and--not for the first time these past couple weeks, but maybe the most direly--the vast emptiness at the back of his mind aches.
What do you think, D?]