[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[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.]
[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.
[ 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. ]
[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.
[ 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. ]
[ 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.
[ He relaxes against North, still feeling like everything's a little fuzzy. Those were some good painkillers. He almost doesn't feel the pain in his face anymore. ]
There's nothing 'going on' with me. We've all had way worse.
[ It's actually easier to think about, to not worry about Carolina going after Ephemera, to not wonder if he could've done something differently or what's going to happen next. ]
[ North sighs, raising his hand enough to play at York's hair again. ]
I used to be a really jealous lover. I've caused problems in my relationships because of it. I was trying to be better about it with Wrath, because I didn't want that to happen again, but I still couldn't let that jealousy go.
I think losing her...it's changed my mind about it. Even though it's not like I could be with her here.
I told her to tell me if she ended up interested in someone that way, and she did, so I gave her permission. I felt like I didn't have any right to say no when she'd done what I said.
[ He raises his free hand and rubs his forehead. ]
It's weird because it sounds like it should have worked. But it was mostly all stuff in my own head going on.
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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. ]
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He has.
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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. ]
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[ 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?
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No.
[Or not at the moment anyway.]
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I asked her not to. And I'm gonna ask you the same thing.
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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.
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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.
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[ 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.
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[ 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.
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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.]
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[ Not with this going on. ]
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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?
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[ He glances at Carolina, then looks back at York. ]
Just thinking about our last conversation, the stuff about poly. That's all.
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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.]
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[ 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?
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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.
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It's less about seeing it my way and more about what you feel. But it's not trivial.
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[ 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.
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[ He relaxes against North, still feeling like everything's a little fuzzy. Those were some good painkillers. He almost doesn't feel the pain in his face anymore. ]
There's nothing 'going on' with me. We've all had way worse.
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You want me to keep talking about it?
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[ It's actually easier to think about, to not worry about Carolina going after Ephemera, to not wonder if he could've done something differently or what's going to happen next. ]
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[ North sighs, raising his hand enough to play at York's hair again. ]
I used to be a really jealous lover. I've caused problems in my relationships because of it. I was trying to be better about it with Wrath, because I didn't want that to happen again, but I still couldn't let that jealousy go.
I think losing her...it's changed my mind about it. Even though it's not like I could be with her here.
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[ York realizes it didn't work, but it'd be good to know. ]
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[ He raises his free hand and rubs his forehead. ]
It's weird because it sounds like it should have worked. But it was mostly all stuff in my own head going on.
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