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[infailtration]

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the night after york's injury; action

[bothbarrels]

[ North had given some thought to his and York's last conversation, and decided after a bit to drop by and see what they could work out in discussion now. It was important for both of them to make sure there were no assumtions being made. He knew it was a bit late when he came, but York was, in his experience, more of a night owl than North himself was. It should be fine.

He knocked. ]

[uptightness]

[She'd probably still tear Sharkface's head off his body if she ran into him, but she hadn't tried to track him down... That was York's doing. Coming after her was one thing, but coming after any of the others? That's something else completely.

The knock had her attention turning to the door, back to York who's still asleep, and back to the door again. ... who? But she doubted Sharkface would be knocking if he was coming back to finish the job, so Carolina slowly started to slide and wiggle herself free. Seeking to put a pillow in place of where she had been, she was trying not to wake him up as she squirmed out to get the door.

Foot bracing against the bottom of the door, she did slowly open it a crack.]

[bothbarrels]

[ He can't really tell who's on the other side, with the door open such a little amount, but it must be York. ]

Hey. Been doing some thinking.

[uptightness]

[North. She may not have heard his voice for some time since her arrival here, but she does still recognize it. The door cracks open a little wider as Carolina steps back to give him room. Although she does still glance behind and around him, just in case.]

Not certain about what, but York's sleeping on the couch.

[Or he had been when Carolina had slipped and slithered and twisted his head off of her lap.]

[bothbarrels]

[ North smiles slightly, entering. ]

Sorry, I didn't realize it was y—

[ That's when he catches sight of York. His eyebrows go up. ]

Wait, what's happened?

[uptightness]

[There is still a glance back and forth down the hallway before she clicks the door closed. There's another pause, jaw clenching as darkness flashes across her face. There's a few choice words she could use, and even now she bites them back, huffing out a breath.]

Sharkace- Ephemera.

[bothbarrels]

[ North comes closer to York, concerned. ]

Sharkface? Does he go by sharkattack on the network?

[ Because someone matching that description really seems to have a huge problem with their old program. ]

[uptightness]

[She has to pause to think about that.]

He has.

[infailtration]

[ Although York didn't stir when Carolina carefully displaced him, the conversation is drawing him out of his sleep now. He cracks his good eye and sees North standing in front of him, but makes no effort to sit up. Those painkillers were the good shit. ]

Hey, North.

[ He doesn't look great. A broken nose and bruising blossoming on his cheek and jaw, one arm tucked protectively around his ribs, but he still smiles. ]

[bothbarrels]

Hey.

[ It's a perfunctory reply; he's looking York over in the gloom. He comes over to the couch and crouches, brushing a hand over York's hairline. He glances up at Carolina. ]

I imagine you're planning on going to find him?

[uptightness]

[She had been, until York had managed to talk her out of it. Not that she's exactly pleased with the idea, still debates, but also doesn't want to disappoint York. It is slightly clipped.]

No.

[Or not at the moment anyway.]

[infailtration]

[ York lets North touch his head with complete trust that he won't prod at the sore spots, looking between the two of them. ]

I asked her not to. And I'm gonna ask you the same thing.

[bothbarrels]

[ North frowns, continuing to pet York's hairline. ]

Okay. Okay, I...I guess I understand. I tried to apologize to him, but he wasn't having it. He...

[ North glances at Carolina. ]

I have the feeling you already knew about him, though.

[uptightness]

[She leans against the door frame, arms across her chest.]

Ran into him again on Chorus. Several times. He wouldn't stop coming. Wash and Kimball ended up taking him down. Even his last words... He didn't want an apology then. Doesn't want one now.

[infailtration]

He's not ready to hear it. But he couldn't kill me...

[ York makes the effort to sit up now, not wanting to seem like he's hurt worse than he is. ]

Maybe he's coming around.

[bothbarrels]

Hey, hey, hey.

[ North pats his shoulder, willing him to lie back down. ]

I don't know. But it would be best to steer clear of him, sounds like.

[uptightness]

[Hadn't had any qualms against her, or Wash, back on Chorus, not to mention all the others who had suffered.

Walk away... He could have left. She would have let him.]

I take it you're here to speak to York about something?

[Given how he'd answered the door, she could leave.]

[bothbarrels]

I am, yeah. It's not that important, though.

[ Not with this going on. ]

[infailtration]

[ That's York's entire point. He hadn't walked away before. He did this time. Something's changing, and all he saw (besides Ephemera's fist) was someone in a lot of pain. He needs to work through it.

York hesitates about halfway upright, the room spinning slightly. He doesn't want Carolina to leave, but he's curious now. Carolina must have phrased it like that intentionally. ]

I'm fine, North. What did you need?

[bothbarrels]

Lie down, York.

[ He glances at Carolina, then looks back at York. ]

Just thinking about our last conversation, the stuff about poly. That's all.

[uptightness]

[Fine is a bit of an exaggeration, but she also knows that they'd be going around in circles again if she points that out.

She'd been going to say she had no qualms leaving, although the words falter. Her gaze shifts between the two of them, before she gives a blink. Things to come out of North's mouth? She wouldn't have guessed that.]

Right. Well, you know how to reach me if you need anything.

[As she moves towards the door.]

[infailtration]

Lina--

[ He sits up the rest of the way too fast and wavers. What was he even going to say? Ask her to stay? He's already done that... he can always go by her place later, water damage or no. ]

...thank you. I'll see you later.

[ And then she's gone, the door shutting behind her giving him and North privacy. She'd seemed confused by what he said, so he might have to explain later, but right now he's curious. ]

Sorry. What'd you come up with?

[bothbarrels]

[ North shakes his head at York's movement toward sitting upright, but he's there now. He sits down beside his friend. ]

I just... I'm coming around to seeing it your way, is all. If something develops.

[ There are so many variables and unknowns, but he wants York to at least know that. ]

I'm not opposed to casual things, either, but with someone I'm close to, that's not as likely to happen.

I hope this all makes sense. It feels really trivial right now.

[infailtration]

[ When North sits down York just leans against him, resting his head on the taller man's shoulder. That's better. He just has to not fall asleep on him like he did on Carolina. ]

It's less about seeing it my way and more about what you feel. But it's not trivial.

[bothbarrels]

Right.

[ He puts his arm gently around York's back. ]

This okay?

[ If it is, York can curl up against the hollow of North's shoulder while they talk. ]

I don't mean it's trivial in general, I mean compared to what you have going on.