[ He's more curious what Taylor's thoughts would be for himself, but here they are, exploring the pool of options. It seems as good a time as any to ask.
And the thought of him being bound up, squirming and hazy-eyed is appealing, no question there. ]
Leather cuffs and shit? No. It's too much like work, I spend half the scene thinking about how to get out and not about what's going on and nobody's happy.
[ But- ]
Rope, now. knotwork, rigging, shibari- that's entirely different. But you couldn't just leave me alone like that, I'd need a hand on me or something. A way to know I wasn't alone.
[ That particular tidbit brings a darker look across his face, and he reaches instinctively, rubbing a hand along York's arm. The man has dealt with more misfortune than most. It's a wonder he wants to interact with anyone, any longer.
Locus might have given up entirely. Can't be burnt if you don't stick your hand in the fire. ]
You know him better than I do. What would be the best way to deal with that when it occurs?
[ Since, in all likelihood, when it happens? Taylor will have already sunk to nonverbal, making communicating that he's actually alright to Delta a little more difficult. ]
Get him used to the situation. Contextualize it. Work myself up to mini drops that'll help him adjust and keep him from stepping in when we're trying to have a good time.
Locus looks skeptical, but he'd asked, hadn't he? York understood the way the AI worked in a way he never would. If that was what it took to reassure the AI that such instances were not working to anything save York's benefit, that he was safe with Locus present, then that's what they would have to do.
Locus nods again, briefly, before picking himself up. ]
Something that can be discussed further once we're back.
[ One eyebrow lifts. They've put it off long enough. ]
There's also the question of what we've managed to find in those data files.
[ Taylor shrugs, rubbing at his jaw. D's- useful. he's home, he's comforting, he's compiling data from what he last recalls of the situation to what would be important for them to know, but on occasion? Shit's weird. He could pull him but-
His stomach clenches at the thought. Maybe not. ]
PFL data Archive- was there only the one AI backed up there? Cuz if, say, Omega or Sigma are waiting in their own little containers...
Hargrove would stress the importance of recovery of Freelancer equipment. If they exist, he'd want them. But it's possible he may not know what he has...as was the case with Delta.
[ It's not something he necessarily wants to bank on, Hargrove's blindness to what it is he has. Locus's brow knits as he takes a few steps away, before his hands settle against his hips, weight shifting on his feet. ]
If there's more equipment related to the AI...we should seek it out.
[ It makes them lucky, sure but- you can't be certain of someone else's uncertainty. Plan for them to know so when they don't? It's a surprise all around. But Locus his shifting away, walking-
Uneasy. Something's worrying him. Or something's bothering him. ]
[ The idea of something intruding in his head like that is offensive, to say the least. Especially now that he's resolved to take matters into his own hands, to try to keep the voices silent in the back of his brain. There's no telling what an AI would find rummaging around in his head. ]
I remember what his plans were for AI if he ever got his hands on them. Now we know he did.
See if there's anything else related to Project Freelancer that might have simply gone into storage. Things that might need to be looked into. If anyone knows what to look for, it would be you.
[ Dig up more ghosts. Sift through what's left and find...what? Records, data, more storage facilities. It can't hurt. ]
We got some time before the next job- We can dig through the records you found and I'll have D talk to FLISS, see if there isn't anything hidden in her archives she can't get to herself.
[ He's gonna be honest- he has to. He owes that to Locus. ]
It's been years and- I got used to missing him. And it's good to have him back but I can't help feeling like- like it's a dream, or I'm losing my mind and he's not actually there and I'm just having another one of those episodes or-
[ Not trembling anymore, but unsteady are his hands as he scrubs them through his hair. ]
...shit's been going well. Going really well- the jobs, the missions, the armor- you. It doesn't seem real. But Delta was gone and that- that was proof enough that sure things are going well but this is actually happening because hey, glaring reminder of a past fuckup burned into my brain. Literally. And now he's back and...I dunno.
[ Those doubts were perfectly legitimate, given what he'd been through. Taylor doesn't need to start thinking he's broken because of something like that.
Then, after a moment's reflection, his eyebrow arches. ]
It's that, a shitton of good luck that I don't buy, or this is an elaborate post-mortem hallucination and I'm still bleeding out slow as fuck in my armor.
[ He can't trust this. He can't- he wants to, he needs to but it's not- it doesn't fit the bend his life took since he joined the military. ]
Um, yeah? I take a well paying job, find someone that needs my skillset that happens to be stupid hot and has gone through shit I can relate to, that helps me with my issues while I help him with his, gives me a goddamn mission in life again, that I work together well with, that covers my blind side, humors my bullshit, yanks me back from being an idiot- and is kinky as fuck in all the right ways? You even have green eyes, man! It's like someone took a wet dream from when I was in basic and dropped you in my lap.
[ Always an acceptable answer. It's not as bad as a vertigo tense moment of derealization- he hasn't had those since...
Well.
Since meeting Locus. ]
The phrase 'too good to be true' comes to mind. [ But he's smiling, pleased that he managed to drag that 'not blushing but totally blushing' look out again. ] Except you think my puns and pop culture references are lame. It's your saving grace right there.
[ Other things too but- it's dipping into serious, into things they don't talk about. But his own smile goes a little less smirky and a little more...sappy? Goobery. To hear Locus counts himself as fortunate. ]
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[ He's got...most of what they'd need for all of these somewhere in the bunker, he's sure. ]
Estim might do it for you if we rig it right.
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[ He's more curious what Taylor's thoughts would be for himself, but here they are, exploring the pool of options. It seems as good a time as any to ask.
And the thought of him being bound up, squirming and hazy-eyed is appealing, no question there. ]
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[ But- ]
Rope, now. knotwork, rigging, shibari- that's entirely different. But you couldn't just leave me alone like that, I'd need a hand on me or something. A way to know I wasn't alone.
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[ Now there's a thought. Maybe not in the bedroom, but he can see rigging something out in the training area, more malleable surfaces to work with.
And Taylor wouldn't have to worry about being left alone. Just the thought and he's certain he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off of him. ]
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[ Quite the opposite, in fact. ]
Gags aren't ever gonna fly cuz I like hearing you too much and I'm nonverbal so it doesn't matter.
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Locus might have given up entirely. Can't be burnt if you don't stick your hand in the fire. ]
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Brandon was an asshole.
[ That's all he really has to say on the matter. He healed, got over it-
oh. ]
Might have to ease in to the first scene whenever we do it because I have never done this while I had D. Ever. He may or may not freak out.
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[ No lie, that's going to be a little weird, if so.
He'll go with it, don't get him wrong, but still. A little weird. ]
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And not in a fun way.
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[ Since, in all likelihood, when it happens? Taylor will have already sunk to nonverbal, making communicating that he's actually alright to Delta a little more difficult. ]
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Locus looks skeptical, but he'd asked, hadn't he? York understood the way the AI worked in a way he never would. If that was what it took to reassure the AI that such instances were not working to anything save York's benefit, that he was safe with Locus present, then that's what they would have to do.
Locus nods again, briefly, before picking himself up. ]
Something that can be discussed further once we're back.
[ One eyebrow lifts. They've put it off long enough. ]
There's also the question of what we've managed to find in those data files.
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[ Taylor shrugs, rubbing at his jaw. D's- useful. he's home, he's comforting, he's compiling data from what he last recalls of the situation to what would be important for them to know, but on occasion? Shit's weird. He could pull him but-
His stomach clenches at the thought. Maybe not. ]
PFL data Archive- was there only the one AI backed up there? Cuz if, say, Omega or Sigma are waiting in their own little containers...
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[ It's not something he necessarily wants to bank on, Hargrove's blindness to what it is he has. Locus's brow knits as he takes a few steps away, before his hands settle against his hips, weight shifting on his feet. ]
If there's more equipment related to the AI...we should seek it out.
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[ It makes them lucky, sure but- you can't be certain of someone else's uncertainty. Plan for them to know so when they don't? It's a surprise all around. But Locus his shifting away, walking-
Uneasy. Something's worrying him. Or something's bothering him. ]
...I thought you didn't want one.
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[ The idea of something intruding in his head like that is offensive, to say the least. Especially now that he's resolved to take matters into his own hands, to try to keep the voices silent in the back of his brain. There's no telling what an AI would find rummaging around in his head. ]
I remember what his plans were for AI if he ever got his hands on them. Now we know he did.
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[ That had to count for something- what, exactly, he's not sure but. If Hargrove had known? Delta wouldn't have been there for them to get. ]
What's the angle, then?
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[ Dig up more ghosts. Sift through what's left and find...what? Records, data, more storage facilities. It can't hurt. ]
We got some time before the next job- We can dig through the records you found and I'll have D talk to FLISS, see if there isn't anything hidden in her archives she can't get to herself.
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There's a pause, before he regards Taylor very carefully, turning back towards him. ]
How...are you feeling?
[ With everything that's happened, a nap isn't going to magically settle everything down again. ]
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[ He's gonna be honest- he has to. He owes that to Locus. ]
It's been years and- I got used to missing him. And it's good to have him back but I can't help feeling like- like it's a dream, or I'm losing my mind and he's not actually there and I'm just having another one of those episodes or-
[ Not trembling anymore, but unsteady are his hands as he scrubs them through his hair. ]
...shit's been going well. Going really well- the jobs, the missions, the armor- you. It doesn't seem real. But Delta was gone and that- that was proof enough that sure things are going well but this is actually happening because hey, glaring reminder of a past fuckup burned into my brain. Literally. And now he's back and...I dunno.
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[ Those doubts were perfectly legitimate, given what he'd been through. Taylor doesn't need to start thinking he's broken because of something like that.
Then, after a moment's reflection, his eyebrow arches. ]
Me, huh?
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[ He can't trust this. He can't- he wants to, he needs to but it's not- it doesn't fit the bend his life took since he joined the military. ]
Um, yeah? I take a well paying job, find someone that needs my skillset that happens to be stupid hot and has gone through shit I can relate to, that helps me with my issues while I help him with his, gives me a goddamn mission in life again, that I work together well with, that covers my blind side, humors my bullshit, yanks me back from being an idiot- and is kinky as fuck in all the right ways? You even have green eyes, man! It's like someone took a wet dream from when I was in basic and dropped you in my lap.
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[ He hesitates. He had been willing to go check on the nav systems, but not if this is truly troubling him.
Though he manages that 'I'm not actually blushing' look as Taylor rattles off his attributes like he had a list ready. Knowing him? He probably did. ]
I see. You...I feel as if meeting you was fortunate, as well.
[ Look at all that sentiment there. ]
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[ Always an acceptable answer. It's not as bad as a vertigo tense moment of derealization- he hasn't had those since...
Well.
Since meeting Locus. ]
The phrase 'too good to be true' comes to mind. [ But he's smiling, pleased that he managed to drag that 'not blushing but totally blushing' look out again. ] Except you think my puns and pop culture references are lame. It's your saving grace right there.
[ Other things too but- it's dipping into serious, into things they don't talk about. But his own smile goes a little less smirky and a little more...sappy? Goobery. To hear Locus counts himself as fortunate. ]
Lucky break, huh?
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