[ Again, the oddity of the conversation does not escape him. Discussing his sex life with AI, one that doesn't even hold interest in such things, save perhaps the psychology of it. It has all the clinical tone of talking to a shrink, and Locus hates that, more than most things.
It's a personal question. But then, Delta is already living in Taylor's head. He'll see it all, or as much as he cares to. ]
Trust.
[ It all boils down to that, doesn't it? One big, sexually satisfying trust exercise. He sighs quietly. ]
Knowing what we can do, what we're capable of, and being able to trust that the other person will always do what you want. Failing that, what you need.
[ The suits, maybe, but he's never pushed for more. Not that he thinks Taylor would necessarily say no, but it's a strange thing to pull out of nowhere.
The nuances of human sexuality and Taylor's needs are something we never truly discussed in depth in the past. He isolated himself entirely in an effort to keep us both safe. I am...pleased to know he has found someone compatible and understanding.
[ A clarification for this line of questioning as non-sequiturs are, apparently, rude. ]
So it is a hypothetical situation rather than a memory he is visiting.
I believe he would express enthusiastic consent to 'gunplay' as it is called, yes.
[ Taylor better appreciate this, just saying it feels odd. But he is attempting to be supportive. ]
Other common themes include: Being bound in rope, sensory deprivation, and I believe some manner of urethral penetration? Why an antiquated medical procedure is present I do not understand.
[ There's a pause, a faint furrow in his brow as he regards Delta. He's not...really all that bad to talk to. Certainly as helpful as York described. There's little guesswork involved here.
Provided he doesn't read too much into what's being said here. ]
I'll ask, when he's awake. With you here, he might actually sleep longer.
[ Not entirely irregular for someone in this line of work or even for Taylor in particular- but if it feels like something worth noting? It may be worse than he thought. ]
[ He still remembers the first night FLISS had enlisted his help, when York had sat awake talking to echoes, to nothing at all. If Delta is going to be helpful, maybe he can return the favor.
His eyes shift to the sleeping Taylor. ]
Living with you for such a long time and then not...it affected him. In a lot of ways.
...It is pointless to speculate on possible past actions. And yet-
[ His helmet tilts down, green figure visibly 'walking' to hover over York's shoulder. ]
I occasionally attempt to calculate the likelihood of our separation if I had not rendered him unconscious when he had been shot. If it would have been better to urge him against assisting Agent Texas in her task. Just as it was difficult for him- my existence became... difficult after I was taken.
Whether my return will be fully to our mutual benefit or not I cannot predict as we were both marked by the loss, but I am already feeling more comfortable having been returned to him- but that is but one part of the equation. Taylor has always done best with a grounding influence and social outlet that I am unable to provide.
[ Delta turns, facing Locus, voice...hesitant but sincere. ]
A mutually beneficial partnership on professional and personal levels?
[ For all that some patterns are easy to calculate and easier to manipulate, the human element renders interpersonal relationships chaotic in a way Delta finds vexing. York, however, revels in the spontaneity.
[ He's hit the heart of it. He trusts Taylor, as much if not more than he trusted Felix. He can't do anything about that void left him, can't do anything about the scars he now bears, but guard his blind side. Try to give him back a piece of what he's lost.
[ There's a tone, low and tinny and warm- laughter. ]
Aside from a purely aesthetic appreciation of the symmetry of your features, I am likewise unmoved by your appearance. Though the consideration you show Taylor is compelling.
Symmetry and order are appealing to me. You can imagine how unappealing I might have found York's mind when I was assigned to him.
[ Intuitive would be the word, going on instinct as much as logical progression, making leaps, warping patterns- it took far too long to come to appreciate him. ]
He is...concerned, though I do not think he would say so. In the past he has equated physical intimacy for emotional intimacy and it ended poorly. Clarification of where that line lies may be in order.
He delights in puzzles. Patterns. There must have been some part of that you found agreeable.
[ And then his eyes stray away again, fingers curling inward towards his palm. He's still got the gloves on, but it's hard enough to be felt just the same. ]
He takes leaps of intuition that I find baffling. At first it was a distraction and seemed a waste of our time and resources. Now I have learned to accept them as simply another part of how his mind works.
[ There is a method to the madness, as York would say. One that takes some time to learn but it has been gratifying to crack that particular code. ]
[ He's a solider, and it's been easy to look at things as necessary. Then, when they weren't necessary, they were at least beneficial in some way. Learning to anticipate one another's needs and wants could have applications on the field. Having a way to unwind after a mission certainly helped.
The more emotional aspect of it? He's at a loss. ]
I suppose this is what he meant when he said 'you two have a lot in common'. I am familiar from observation but do not quite experience them in the same way.
[ He does feel, after a fashion. But the nuances of human emotional needs, of what York needs? They are things he cannot fulfill. ]
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It's a personal question. But then, Delta is already living in Taylor's head. He'll see it all, or as much as he cares to. ]
Trust.
[ It all boils down to that, doesn't it? One big, sexually satisfying trust exercise. He sighs quietly. ]
Knowing what we can do, what we're capable of, and being able to trust that the other person will always do what you want. Failing that, what you need.
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And this extends to an inappropriate use of equipment and sidearms?
[ Taylor's current dream is...risque to say the least and not likely something he would remember enough of to bring up at a later date.
Call this being his 'wingman'. ]
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We've never...
[ The suits, maybe, but he's never pushed for more. Not that he thinks Taylor would necessarily say no, but it's a strange thing to pull out of nowhere.
As just demonstrated. ]
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[ A clarification for this line of questioning as non-sequiturs are, apparently, rude. ]
So it is a hypothetical situation rather than a memory he is visiting.
[ Curious. ]
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[ Which is interesting in its own right. ]
He'd...like that, then?
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[ Taylor better appreciate this, just saying it feels odd. But he is attempting to be supportive. ]
Other common themes include: Being bound in rope, sensory deprivation, and I believe some manner of urethral penetration? Why an antiquated medical procedure is present I do not understand.
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[ Alright, maybe he's smiling just a little. So little. You can barely even see it. Hardly wide enough to prove anything, really. ]
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A loss of sight or hearing and binding contribute to the element of 'trust' you emphasized as important in your encounters.
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[ There's a pause, a faint furrow in his brow as he regards Delta. He's not...really all that bad to talk to. Certainly as helpful as York described. There's little guesswork involved here.
Provided he doesn't read too much into what's being said here. ]
I'll ask, when he's awake. With you here, he might actually sleep longer.
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[ Not entirely irregular for someone in this line of work or even for Taylor in particular- but if it feels like something worth noting? It may be worse than he thought. ]
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[ He still remembers the first night FLISS had enlisted his help, when York had sat awake talking to echoes, to nothing at all. If Delta is going to be helpful, maybe he can return the favor.
His eyes shift to the sleeping Taylor. ]
Living with you for such a long time and then not...it affected him. In a lot of ways.
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[ His helmet tilts down, green figure visibly 'walking' to hover over York's shoulder. ]
I occasionally attempt to calculate the likelihood of our separation if I had not rendered him unconscious when he had been shot. If it would have been better to urge him against assisting Agent Texas in her task. Just as it was difficult for him- my existence became... difficult after I was taken.
Whether my return will be fully to our mutual benefit or not I cannot predict as we were both marked by the loss, but I am already feeling more comfortable having been returned to him- but that is but one part of the equation. Taylor has always done best with a grounding influence and social outlet that I am unable to provide.
[ Delta turns, facing Locus, voice...hesitant but sincere. ]
You have done so. Thank you.
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[ He grunts quietly, reaching to scratch at the nape of his neck, eyes shifting elsewhere in the room for the moment. ]
...I think I needed him, too. It just happened that we could compensate for what we lacked in each other.
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[ For all that some patterns are easy to calculate and easier to manipulate, the human element renders interpersonal relationships chaotic in a way Delta finds vexing. York, however, revels in the spontaneity.
Sometimes. ]
...someone to trust.
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[ He's hit the heart of it. He trusts Taylor, as much if not more than he trusted Felix. He can't do anything about that void left him, can't do anything about the scars he now bears, but guard his blind side. Try to give him back a piece of what he's lost.
Locus huffs quietly. ]
Something not easy for either of us to come by.
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[ A beat. A joke of sorts, voice wry. ]
Though I would not engage in same exercises you undergo to prove it.
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[ Equally as dry.
Well. Looks like Taylor wasn't wrong. They might just get along after all. ]
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Aside from a purely aesthetic appreciation of the symmetry of your features, I am likewise unmoved by your appearance. Though the consideration you show Taylor is compelling.
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The flattery is unnecessary.
[ Again, he glances towards the dozing Freelancer, a quiet hitch at the corner of his mouth tugging upwards. ]
I...care for him. A great deal.
[ And it's a good thing he's asleep right now. ]
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[ Intuitive would be the word, going on instinct as much as logical progression, making leaps, warping patterns- it took far too long to come to appreciate him. ]
He is...concerned, though I do not think he would say so. In the past he has equated physical intimacy for emotional intimacy and it ended poorly. Clarification of where that line lies may be in order.
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[ And then his eyes stray away again, fingers curling inward towards his palm. He's still got the gloves on, but it's hard enough to be felt just the same. ]
I won't be of much help, there.
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[ There is a method to the madness, as York would say. One that takes some time to learn but it has been gratifying to crack that particular code. ]
...Because you yourself does not know?
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[ He's a solider, and it's been easy to look at things as necessary. Then, when they weren't necessary, they were at least beneficial in some way. Learning to anticipate one another's needs and wants could have applications on the field. Having a way to unwind after a mission certainly helped.
The more emotional aspect of it? He's at a loss. ]
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[ He does feel, after a fashion. But the nuances of human emotional needs, of what York needs? They are things he cannot fulfill. ]
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[ That's news to him. He's gotten no notion of Taylor being concerned, though perhaps that's not so surprising. How would he know what to look for? ]
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