"Photographic memory that shares storage with Delta." Sure, D could tuck what's for him and only him away in a box but that shit tends to leak after awhile. Christ. D does manage to send a pulse of, well, remorse.
Not for approving, but for Taylor having to see any of the recording. He shakes his head, scrubbing at his face before pointedly leaning against Sam and sipping his Milkshake. This is fine. They are fine. "I'm putting knives on my 'hard no' till Felix isn't subletting your skull, man."
Felix manages to look somewhat put out by the nonchalant response and huffs, blinking away to find something else to entertain himself with for the moment. Locus, meanwhile, turns to look at Taylor with a raised brow, before just...accepting it.
Taylor doesn't lie. He's terrible at it. So if he's letting it go, best to let it go.
Let it go. Let it go, let it go, Don't think about it, don't dwell on it, just. Let it go-
Yeah, no. Not letting it go. "You're not doing anything to Carolina."
Sure they may or may not have had a thing and yeah he might have gotten jerked around and yeah, she might've dropped a goddamn ship on them- but no. And there's no way in hell he's bringing up any of his other exes now. Ever.
No more than what's already been done. Trying to kill her repeatedly, along with Wash, had been part of the job then. What he did to Brandon, what he might have done to her, had been nixed the moment Taylor said he wasn't interested in seeing her pay.
He only has to say the word. That's always been the case.
"It kinda feels like it bears repeating." He can't think of anything he said or implied other than 'I hope I'm not like him' to prompt this little trip and dip into personal vigilante justice. There must've been something, he's sure.
Fuck.
"D now is not the time to review that footage, for fuck's sake." He snaps, out loud, and Delta has the good sense to flicker into being and look sheepish.
"Apologies."
"Go do some recon or something." Anything but flipping through that rather involved night.
"Affirmative." He winks out, a little green trail of light zipping to the nearbye terminal as he begins doing some kind of work or another. Taylor's not paying attention, too busy trying to focus on the warmth of Sam next to him and the simple pleasure of a milkshake. The small things.
Frowning, Locus reaches to stroke a hand along his shoulder, gentle as you please. He'd never hurt him in that sort of way, and he's safe as safe can be with him. But anyone who crosses him, who does hurt him?
He couldn't promise what he would or wouldn't do.
Meanwhile, Felix takes to hovering over Delta shoulder with a smirk. "Glad someone appreciates the artistry that went into that. Honestly, you're not as uptight as I thought."
"Keep in mind the mind that created me." A man that thought torturing himself into breaking was an ideal scientific endeavor. There will always be threads of Leonard Church in him- and a particular manner of detached vindictiveness comes with the territory. "He should not, however, have allowed Brandon's remorse to temper his hand. Had Locus continued at the rate, he could have easily removed 36 percent of Brandon's skin before shock set in."
Taylor ignores the conversation as best he can. It's easier than he might like.
He leans closer, nose nuzzling briefly against Taylor's temple. The AI are going to chatter amongst themselves? Let them. It certainly seems to be cheering Felix up, as he sniffs and rolls his eyes.
"I know, right? He had to get all merciful and shit. There's just so much you can do with a knife, if you've got the motivation for it. Guy's got no sense of fun."
"He lives in my brain." And while he can take Delta out- it feels kind of childish and petty. Call it solidarity with Sam, call it an addiction- both are probably accurate.
"The desire to do harm came more out of anger than out of any sense of sadistic pleasure." Were it otherwise he might have reservations trusting Sam with Taylor. "Anger lacks...finesse."
"Yeah, just wanted to hear the guy say he was sorry for hurting him and shit. Ah well. We got to have a little fun, at least. And it was nice flexing my fingers for a bit. Taste of things to come, right?"
Felix gloats, while Locus reaches for Taylor's empty hand, twining his fingers through with his. "You still find ways. Trust me. I've had to. He'd have driven me mad by now, otherwise."
"I am certain arrangements might be made if you wish to indulge in other physical activities, as it will take some time yet to collect everything needed to build and test your body." But yes, a taste of things to come.
Taylor sighs and squeezes Sam's fingers, nudging back every time Delta thinks 'Locus'. He responds to Sam, so. Sam he is. "I got used to not having to. We're usually pretty well on the same wavelength.
"Yeah?" He perks up at that, cocking his head at Delta as he works.
Locus, meanwhile, runs a thumb along the back of Taylor's knuckles. "Ours is...more selective. Some things we agree upon wholly, and others we remain staunchly opposed to. I have to find ways to block him out, or..."
And the milkshake is set aside so he can rub briefly at his own temple.
"It would take both Locus and Taylor's cooperation but, in the interest of keeping things fair, I think they would find it in themselves to agree." Delta's hands pause from where they're flicking through data, helmet angling to Felix. "What do you miss most?"
Migraines, Taylor knows. That cognitive dissonance of having an extra presence in your mind- one implanted with your consent? Still a bitch. One put in place against your will? How Sam hasn't had screaming migraines on the regular is amazing to him. He reaches up, smoothing chilled fingers against his temple. "We're fine. He's cooperating, yeah?"
"He is. That's what worries me." But he tilts into the touch, allowing those chilled fingers to soothe away the throb. Most of the time it seems like background noise, a discomfort he can ignore if he pushes him down hard enough, but some days...
Felix considers this question with a great about of gravity, folding his arms and considering. Eating? Drinking? Jacking off? The possibilities are all there, but he knows what he misses most. "Honestly? I just want to get back into the fight. I'm in my prime, you know? There's still so much I can do. But yeah, fat chance, I know. I'm still in the time-out corner because you two don't trust me."
"We need to give him something to do. Without a project all he has is banging on the walls of your skull." That, that's what worries York most. That eventually the banging will make a crack and the whole mess will cave in.
"Your first instinct was to kill Taylor. You've earned the distrust, just as you are earning the trust you've gained." It isn't much but- it's better than nothing.
"What would you suggest?" His brow furrows once again, as he reaches for the milkshake in order to polish it off.
Felix, meanwhile, shifts. Shrugs. "I know we're all stuck in this until we work out something better, yeah? I know where my best bet is. I'm sticking with it. That, you can trust."
"We can't leave him unsupervised around the network, communications, or data hubs but- he's gonna get his own body, right? Unless he wants to learn how to walk again it might not be a bad idea to let him drive and run through the training ops." Just. Something to throw himself into. "I'll find a low risk job we need to do to fuck up Charon, you both go in and...we'll see how you work as a team."
Which'll end really well, really poorly, but D's already on the other end, working Felix. "It would take training to adjust. Thus far you have been able to work independently- collaborating for your work on Brandon is significantly different than encountering an enemy in the field."
"So pull up a training simulation. No risk, right?"
They'd be within the confines of their base, and they'd be able to contain him if necessary. Which, yeah, he's already stated he's not going to pull anything while they're watching, not with a body on the line.
Locus, meanwhile, appears to be considering. "...it would get him to stop complaining for a while, at least."
"Ask Locus. Taylor has just broached the subject with him and he does appear open to the idea." Sharing a brain can allow for some wicked social multitasking on occasion. "I am certain he would be happy to agree."
"And let you work out more often. I know you've been getting twitchy since I've benched you." For their mutual good, but. Sam needs a project just like Felix. Maybe if he'd had one he wouldn't have made one out of Brandon. Maybe.
"Happy, huh?" Felix squinted at Delta before turning back towards the couple. "Hey Locs. What do you think? You and me, figure how we can seriously mess up some of Hargrove's goons. You in or what?"
Locus considers. He does miss the action, the thrill of fighting. Taylor's not entirely wrong on that count. "...it could be mutually beneficial," he agrees, after a moment.
"I'll rig up one of the basic sims to start." Taylor leans up to press a kiss to Locus' cheek, detaching himself to wander to the console, shake in hand. Not a nap but it's something that needs doing and he isn't dying for sleep.
'Basic Sim' means platforms, hard light targets, moving sentries, and turrets. You know. Baby steps. "With or without the armor?"
"Without, for now." He needs to ensure he can trust working Felix in an aggressive manner, and the AI rolls his eyes.
"Whatever. We'll do just fine with or without." And in a blink, he's returned to Locus's shoulder, before vanishing. There's a flash of orange across the back of Locus's eyes, and it looks like they're set.
"Got it." Parameters adjusted- mostly the force of the turrets, the height and distance between platforms- and the sim fires up. FLISS reads off the objectives- eliminate all targets, stealth preferable, capture the package, leave.
Taylor settles back at the main console observing while the cat (not-francis) curls on his lap.
This was the time to shine. To show just how well he could work with Locus, in ways Taylor could never dream of. All the joking dropped aside, calculations were quickly made, and as the initial countdown began, he let himself settle in along the long spread of nerves. No fucking around, Locus. Just let me in. Trust me.
A tall order. But Taylor would be able to take him down out of the armor if necessary, surely.
The sim began, and Locus began to move. Reaction times? Shaved down to a fine point. He was hoisting himself up, balance perfectly poised as he made his way overhead, before positioning over his first target.
Here. Let me drive.
For a moment, it looks like he's suddenly passed out, arching back and falling from the beam...but a second later he's flipping about to land as graceful as a cat on his feet, absolutely silent, and in the next he's got the target's head between his hands, snapping its next and swiftly moving on to the next.
That's a new move. Taylor's eye tracks the flip, flicking through camera feeds for objective points and targets and, damn. Locus wouldn't have done that on his own. Silent and efficient, yes. An economy of movement that could be considered graceful-
But that? That had been pure fucking poetry.
in the back of his head Delta's taking notes for, well, whatever reason as the next Target rounds the corner, oblivious.
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Not for approving, but for Taylor having to see any of the recording. He shakes his head, scrubbing at his face before pointedly leaning against Sam and sipping his Milkshake. This is fine. They are fine. "I'm putting knives on my 'hard no' till Felix isn't subletting your skull, man."
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Taylor doesn't lie. He's terrible at it. So if he's letting it go, best to let it go.
"Understood."
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Yeah, no. Not letting it go. "You're not doing anything to Carolina."
Sure they may or may not have had a thing and yeah he might have gotten jerked around and yeah, she might've dropped a goddamn ship on them- but no. And there's no way in hell he's bringing up any of his other exes now. Ever.
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No more than what's already been done. Trying to kill her repeatedly, along with Wash, had been part of the job then. What he did to Brandon, what he might have done to her, had been nixed the moment Taylor said he wasn't interested in seeing her pay.
He only has to say the word. That's always been the case.
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Fuck.
"D now is not the time to review that footage, for fuck's sake." He snaps, out loud, and Delta has the good sense to flicker into being and look sheepish.
"Apologies."
"Go do some recon or something." Anything but flipping through that rather involved night.
"Affirmative." He winks out, a little green trail of light zipping to the nearbye terminal as he begins doing some kind of work or another. Taylor's not paying attention, too busy trying to focus on the warmth of Sam next to him and the simple pleasure of a milkshake. The small things.
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He couldn't promise what he would or wouldn't do.
Meanwhile, Felix takes to hovering over Delta shoulder with a smirk. "Glad someone appreciates the artistry that went into that. Honestly, you're not as uptight as I thought."
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Taylor ignores the conversation as best he can. It's easier than he might like.
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He leans closer, nose nuzzling briefly against Taylor's temple. The AI are going to chatter amongst themselves? Let them. It certainly seems to be cheering Felix up, as he sniffs and rolls his eyes.
"I know, right? He had to get all merciful and shit. There's just so much you can do with a knife, if you've got the motivation for it. Guy's got no sense of fun."
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"The desire to do harm came more out of anger than out of any sense of sadistic pleasure." Were it otherwise he might have reservations trusting Sam with Taylor. "Anger lacks...finesse."
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Felix gloats, while Locus reaches for Taylor's empty hand, twining his fingers through with his. "You still find ways. Trust me. I've had to. He'd have driven me mad by now, otherwise."
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Taylor sighs and squeezes Sam's fingers, nudging back every time Delta thinks 'Locus'. He responds to Sam, so. Sam he is. "I got used to not having to. We're usually pretty well on the same wavelength.
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Locus, meanwhile, runs a thumb along the back of Taylor's knuckles. "Ours is...more selective. Some things we agree upon wholly, and others we remain staunchly opposed to. I have to find ways to block him out, or..."
And the milkshake is set aside so he can rub briefly at his own temple.
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Migraines, Taylor knows. That cognitive dissonance of having an extra presence in your mind- one implanted with your consent? Still a bitch. One put in place against your will? How Sam hasn't had screaming migraines on the regular is amazing to him. He reaches up, smoothing chilled fingers against his temple. "We're fine. He's cooperating, yeah?"
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Felix considers this question with a great about of gravity, folding his arms and considering. Eating? Drinking? Jacking off? The possibilities are all there, but he knows what he misses most. "Honestly? I just want to get back into the fight. I'm in my prime, you know? There's still so much I can do. But yeah, fat chance, I know. I'm still in the time-out corner because you two don't trust me."
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"Your first instinct was to kill Taylor. You've earned the distrust, just as you are earning the trust you've gained." It isn't much but- it's better than nothing.
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Felix, meanwhile, shifts. Shrugs. "I know we're all stuck in this until we work out something better, yeah? I know where my best bet is. I'm sticking with it. That, you can trust."
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Which'll end really well, really poorly, but D's already on the other end, working Felix. "It would take training to adjust. Thus far you have been able to work independently- collaborating for your work on Brandon is significantly different than encountering an enemy in the field."
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They'd be within the confines of their base, and they'd be able to contain him if necessary. Which, yeah, he's already stated he's not going to pull anything while they're watching, not with a body on the line.
Locus, meanwhile, appears to be considering. "...it would get him to stop complaining for a while, at least."
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"And let you work out more often. I know you've been getting twitchy since I've benched you." For their mutual good, but. Sam needs a project just like Felix. Maybe if he'd had one he wouldn't have made one out of Brandon. Maybe.
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Locus considers. He does miss the action, the thrill of fighting. Taylor's not entirely wrong on that count. "...it could be mutually beneficial," he agrees, after a moment.
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'Basic Sim' means platforms, hard light targets, moving sentries, and turrets. You know. Baby steps. "With or without the armor?"
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"Whatever. We'll do just fine with or without." And in a blink, he's returned to Locus's shoulder, before vanishing. There's a flash of orange across the back of Locus's eyes, and it looks like they're set.
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Taylor settles back at the main console observing while the cat (not-francis) curls on his lap.
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A tall order. But Taylor would be able to take him down out of the armor if necessary, surely.
The sim began, and Locus began to move. Reaction times? Shaved down to a fine point. He was hoisting himself up, balance perfectly poised as he made his way overhead, before positioning over his first target.
Here. Let me drive.
For a moment, it looks like he's suddenly passed out, arching back and falling from the beam...but a second later he's flipping about to land as graceful as a cat on his feet, absolutely silent, and in the next he's got the target's head between his hands, snapping its next and swiftly moving on to the next.
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That's a new move. Taylor's eye tracks the flip, flicking through camera feeds for objective points and targets and, damn. Locus wouldn't have done that on his own. Silent and efficient, yes. An economy of movement that could be considered graceful-
But that? That had been pure fucking poetry.
in the back of his head Delta's taking notes for, well, whatever reason as the next Target rounds the corner, oblivious.
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