[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.
Just because you gave her permission doesn't mean you were ready to accept it actually happening. Sounds like you told yourself you should be but weren't there yet.
[ So now there's that question. ]
You think you actually feel it this time, or just think you should?
[ York is looking up at him, his face bruised, his expression exhausted, yet that look on his face is just like his usual self. On impulse, North bends his head enough to kiss York in the center of his forehead. ]
[ He'd been counting on Carolina staying over, but she'd seemed very ready to leave so... maybe it's better to give her some time to herself. Hopefully she won't decide to go after Ephemera is all.
York smiles faintly, nodding against North's shoulder. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
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.
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
[ Not with this going on. ]
no subject
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?
no subject
[ He glances at Carolina, then looks back at York. ]
Just thinking about our last conversation, the stuff about poly. That's all.
no subject
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.]
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
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.
no subject
It's less about seeing it my way and more about what you feel. But it's not trivial.
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
You want me to keep talking about it?
no subject
[ 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. ]
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
[ York realizes it didn't work, but it'd be good to know. ]
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
[ So now there's that question. ]
You think you actually feel it this time, or just think you should?
no subject
Kind of both? I get the feeling it's something that takes work. Like building a muscle.
no subject
[ He nudges North gently, his usual lopsided grin even more so with the swelling on that side of his face. ]
no subject
That's good to hear.
[ York is looking up at him, his face bruised, his expression exhausted, yet that look on his face is just like his usual self. On impulse, North bends his head enough to kiss York in the center of his forehead. ]
You want to go get in bed? You need to sleep.
no subject
[ He reaches up to rub at his good eye tiredly. ]
I just didn't want to be alone.
no subject
[ That's without question—if York wants him to stay, he'll stay. ]
no subject
York smiles faintly, nodding against North's shoulder. ]
If you don't mind.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)