It would. Though I suspect he'll still want to learn as much as he can. With so many files missing after the dismantlement of Project Freelancer, what information he has is scattered, piecemeal at best.
[ Luckily for them. Locus sinks back slightly into the seat he's taken. ]
[ He nods quietly, glancing away. Better to let him rest as deeply as he can, start adjusting to all of this. He can only imagine what it's like to have someone else residing in your head, taking up physical space, their thoughts bouncing against yours until you find a harmony between you.
[ Delta winks out and Taylor? Dreams on. The high volume exchange earlier, having him back, the adrenaline crash? He's exhausted. When he wakes he'll be a little put out that he didn't actually put out- he'd had a plan and everything. But this kinda took precedence over celebratory fucking.
When the shuttle finally meets up with the ship, FLISS gives the usual buzz and Taylor? Blinks himself awake. There's a moment of disorientation, of almost panicked tension, one hand skidding out to reach for a side arm or a handrail or-
his fingers brush familiar armor and that fear winds out of him completely. Locus is here. He's fine. ]
[ His fingers stray back to curl around Taylor's, a reassurance as he glances down at the slowly waking figure of his partner. He's kept watch, as he said he would.
And it's up to Delta if what was discussed while he was unconscious comes back up. They're likely having their own conversations without him. ]
[ Locus almost chuckles, though it comes out as an amused huff instead. ]
Yes. We spoke. Though he decided to let you rest once you fell into deeper sleep.
[ He still hasn't taken off his armor, save for his helmet, so it's a gloved hand that curls through his. But here he is, holding hands with a man he's physically and emotionally entangled with, and--
It's all just miles away from anything he'd expected. Anything he'd thought he'd have, particularly after everything that had transpired. ]
[ It can't really be felt- but Taylor rubs his thumb back and forth against the plating of Locus' glove anyway. More for him than anything else but it's...nice to have this. ]
You know I had plans for after this job? How to kill time till we got to the ship. And here I go sleeping through the whole damn thing.
We'll have ample opportunity in the future. This won't be our last mission.
[ It has become something of a ritual. They gear up, do the job, and work out whatever adrenaline still runs through them at the end with heated, increasingly creative sex on the shuttle-ride back. It's a pattern that works, and there's no one around to judge them for it.
Delta's here now, but it sounds as though he at least understands the need for it.
Yeah, I know. But it's like icecream after a football game. Win, lose, fuckup, do well- you still get a treat.
[ A lot less wholesome but come on. After that first frantic run it just got better and better, easier and easier. Half the time what he plans ends up not happening anyway but he likes to dream. ]
[ Guns, knives, various ways of coming close to really hurting each other. Risk and reward, something to dull the edges when they were too close to ripping into each other for real.
Not something he anticipates being an issue between him and Taylor. ]
[ All he's getting is a deadpan, long-suffering look. Cute nicknames are not a thing they need, and he finally disentangles his hand from York's as if in emphasis of this fact. ]
A lot of what we did could fall into that category, in fairness.
Hurting one another was a part of it, as much as anything else.
[ Choking Felix until he shut up. Digging in with nails or teeth when he struck a particularly painful barb deep, taunted him, bit him back. They were too useful to one another to severely injure, but they delighted in these smaller inflictions.
Unhealthy, he knows now. ]
It became normal. Who we were. I know now that's not the way it has to be. Not the way it should be. But at the time...
We haven't really...dipped in to painplay aside from the odd spanking or ball yanking.
[ Heavier stuff- they get banged up enough in the field if they aren't careful (but they are) and he doesn't need that same bruised ache to prove this isn't a massive hallucination.
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[ He will do what he can from where he is- but some things? Will require intervention. ]
I will keep you informed of our progress.
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[ Luckily for them. Locus sinks back slightly into the seat he's taken. ]
...thank you, Delta.
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[ A long shot, but one worth taking. ]
You are welcome, Locus. Taylor is entering REM sleep- I am going to retire so he may do so unimpeded.
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Things he'll never know first-hand, he's sure. ]
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When the shuttle finally meets up with the ship, FLISS gives the usual buzz and Taylor? Blinks himself awake. There's a moment of disorientation, of almost panicked tension, one hand skidding out to reach for a side arm or a handrail or-
his fingers brush familiar armor and that fear winds out of him completely. Locus is here. He's fine. ]
...how long was I out?
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[ His fingers stray back to curl around Taylor's, a reassurance as he glances down at the slowly waking figure of his partner. He's kept watch, as he said he would.
And it's up to Delta if what was discussed while he was unconscious comes back up. They're likely having their own conversations without him. ]
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[ It's weird, having D, having someone keep an eye out. Not being completely isolated and having to mind his own ass. Good weird.
Taylor turns his hand over, lacing their fingers together. ]
Ok, he's being smug so I'm gonna take that as a yes?
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Yes. We spoke. Though he decided to let you rest once you fell into deeper sleep.
[ He still hasn't taken off his armor, save for his helmet, so it's a gloved hand that curls through his. But here he is, holding hands with a man he's physically and emotionally entangled with, and--
It's all just miles away from anything he'd expected. Anything he'd thought he'd have, particularly after everything that had transpired. ]
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[ It can't really be felt- but Taylor rubs his thumb back and forth against the plating of Locus' glove anyway. More for him than anything else but it's...nice to have this. ]
You know I had plans for after this job? How to kill time till we got to the ship. And here I go sleeping through the whole damn thing.
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[ It has become something of a ritual. They gear up, do the job, and work out whatever adrenaline still runs through them at the end with heated, increasingly creative sex on the shuttle-ride back. It's a pattern that works, and there's no one around to judge them for it.
Delta's here now, but it sounds as though he at least understands the need for it.
Though that reminds him. ]
I...had a few thoughts, actually.
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[ A lot less wholesome but come on. After that first frantic run it just got better and better, easier and easier. Half the time what he plans ends up not happening anyway but he likes to dream. ]
Should I be worried?
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[ Locus cocks an eyebrow slowly. ]
How opposed are you to keeping our firearms on hand?
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[ Wait what? WHAT? ]
I- you. What?
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If you're opposed, I won't bring it up again.
[ Though that could just be surprise. It's hard to tell. ]
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[ Didn't he just have a dream about that? He thinks he did. It's hard to remember. ]
Um. Yeah no that would...really. Really work for me.
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I see.
[ He'd thought of it before now, there just hadn't seemed to be a proper time to ask, to gauge interest. Consider it gauged, then. ]
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[ But um. Damn. ]
Never actually done that before, though.
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[ Guns, knives, various ways of coming close to really hurting each other. Risk and reward, something to dull the edges when they were too close to ripping into each other for real.
Not something he anticipates being an issue between him and Taylor. ]
Though I'm certain it would be different, for us.
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[ Just a little. It's on the extreme side of things (by a lot) but-
He trusts Locus. That goes without question. Even D hums with his approval despite the risks. ]
We can do some research to fill in the blanks, make sure w're safe, all that shit.
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[ He almost wrinkles his nose at the name but refrains, eyes straying elsewhere. ]
We were not taking precautions at the time. I would not suggest repeating that particular method.
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[ One of these has to be acceptable. Or at least ridiculous enough to earn either a glare or almost laugh. ]
Yeah that...seems like a poor life choice. And when I'm the one saying that, you know shit's bad.
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[ All he's getting is a deadpan, long-suffering look. Cute nicknames are not a thing they need, and he finally disentangles his hand from York's as if in emphasis of this fact. ]
A lot of what we did could fall into that category, in fairness.
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Somehow I am not surprised by this. I mean- angry sex can be great. Really...really great. But it's a good way to get hurt.
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[ Choking Felix until he shut up. Digging in with nails or teeth when he struck a particularly painful barb deep, taunted him, bit him back. They were too useful to one another to severely injure, but they delighted in these smaller inflictions.
Unhealthy, he knows now. ]
It became normal. Who we were. I know now that's not the way it has to be. Not the way it should be. But at the time...
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[ Heavier stuff- they get banged up enough in the field if they aren't careful (but they are) and he doesn't need that same bruised ache to prove this isn't a massive hallucination.
But... ]
If you wanted to get into that...I'm down.
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