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[agentdork]

[ He and Delta have been on the run for a few years now- long enough for him to get used to it, long enough for him to grow resigned that maybe it's just them, maybe things didn't turn out exactly like he'd wanted. They're still alive, though, and he tells himself that's something. That's something to look forward to. For the longest time, it is. It's just the two of them, just he and Delta and every so often they stop on a planet for a longer period of time, just to get around, meet some people.

Delta insists on it, anymore, after watching York fall into a depressive slump, and he insists on them stopping every so often, on York getting real, human contact, going out to dinner, doing something to take care of himself.

It's how they hear rumors of people passing through the outskirts of town-- purple armor. York takes note of it, has Delta check the radios and the comms once they're holed up in a hotel for the week, and after getting an idea of where they might be, he goes looking, hopeful. ]

Comments

[jackoftrumps]

[He was more relaxed than he had been moments before, but that didn't mean he was entirely off his guard. His response to the dot appearing on his HUD and the voice speaking behind him is still pretty much immediate. He has his magnum out and does a neat 180 to point it at the speaker. He had thought he recognized that voice, and he's not at all surprised to see the figure in tan armor when he turns. Last he knew the two of them were on the same side in this, but throwing caution to the wind is never a good idea, so he doesn't lower the weapon or change position just because of his recognition of his former teammate.]

Yeah, the host didn't even bother to show. What are you doing here?

[agentdork]

[ Delta flickers in the back of his mind, but doesn't show. Texas escaped, and she was on their side but North-- well, he had hopes, but he wasn't fully sure. Best to play it safe right now. He keeps the gun leveled at him, but there's a faint smile in his voice. ]

Probably 'cause the partygoers brought guns. Nooot the best party favors, y'know?

[ At the question, he shrugs one shoulder. ]

Heard a rumor that purple armor was runnin' around and I was more interested at who was inside it.

[jackoftrumps]

You get points for your reconnaissance skills. [He lowers the magnum slightly.] I don't s'pose if you were looking on behalf of someone else that I'd still be conscious to finish this conversation. [It ought to be obvious who that 'someone else' would be. He'd be pretty surprised if some circumstance had led to York working for the Project again, but one never knew.]

[agentdork]

Oh goodie.

[ His own weapon lowers in response, and he tilts his head, amused. He knows what North's asking, and in some ways, it's freeing, not to have to say he's working with the Project anymore. Sure, it gets lonely out on the road sometimes, and he misses them, misses Freelancer, but still. ]

Just me and D looking for ourselves, don't worry.

[jackoftrumps]

[He smiles behind his helmet, putting his own weapon back on his hip.] Oh good, I'd hate to have to explain it to South when I didn't show up for our rendezvous. She'd get on my case for getting captured and all of that. What a pain.

[agentdork]

[ He settles his rifle back at the same time, stretching up lazily, clearly more at ease just with that conversation. ]

Yeah, I can safely say I wouldn't want her mad at me.

[ A little wave of his fingers, a kind of come here motion, and Delta slides to life over his hand, watching them. ]

You still got Theta?

[jackoftrumps]

[He nods, and Theta materializes off and back from his left shoulder.]

I just couldn't leave him behind. Woulda been cruel, you know?

[Even if it was the biggest point of contention between him and South. Theta hangs back, apprehensive, and North angles himself a little to glance back in his direction.]

It's okay, buddy, you remember York and Delta. They're friends.

[Theta nods; North's making a point of drawing him into the conversation seems to embolden him just enough to be comfortable speaking up.] Yeah...I remember.

[agentdork]

Yeah, man, I know.

[ York takes a few easy steps forward, the tension having leeched out of him as they stand there, and Delta brightens visibly at the sight of his brother. ]

Hello, Theta. It is good to see you again.

[ His attention shifts to North, next. ]

And you, Agent North Dakota.

dgfhjh AIs are so hard

[jackoftrumps]

[North is feeling a lot more at ease himself and gives their surroundings a once over before gesturing with his head.]

I've got a couple hours before I'm supposed to meet South.

I know :(!

[agentdork]

You wanna change the rendezvous point? D and I have a place down here, for the time being.

[ He's not sure where they're staying-- a car, maybe, since he and D did that more often than not. ]

[jackoftrumps]

We try to avoid using the radios unless it's an emergency. I don't want to worry her. But we can always head to wherever you're staying after we meet up. You sure you have space for us?

[agentdork]

Nah, makes sense.

[ York pings him the point so he knows where to go, and leans back, glancing at the exit. ]

And yeah, I mean, one of us might have to split a bed with someone else or the floor works, so it's not bad.

[jackoftrumps]

[He shakes his head, kind of amazed at this whole development.]

I just can't believe I'm talking to you right now. Works out, though. The job that just fell through was supposed to include accommodations. I mean, as much as a location to stake out in counts as accommodations.

[agentdork]

[ Yeah, truth be told, finding North her isn't exactly what he was expecting, either. Hell, let alone South.

York shrugs in one easy movement, heading for the door, trusting him to follow. One quick sweep of their motion trackers proves no one who isn't supposed to is following. ]

's that whole luck thing, huh.

[jackoftrumps]

[Following him is only natural at this point. Just like conversing with his old friend is completely natural. As messed up as it had been when everything fell apart, this reminds him why he genuinely misses those days.]

You always put more stock in luck than I did. Always seemed to work out for you, somehow, though.

[agentdork]

Hey, when I stop bein' lucky, I'll stop using it as an excuse, yeah?

[ York gives him a grin from under his helmet, and trails on out, getting the location from Delta again and heading toward it. It's within walking distance, thankfully, though still a bit of a walk. ]

How's the nomad thing working out for you two?

[jackoftrumps]

[He chuckles. Theta's been playing around with mapping different routes to get there since York sent them the location and is pleased to find that they've settled on the one he selected as the best option.

In response to York's question, North shrugs.]

We manage to stay fed. And the Project hasn't found us yet. So I'd say it's a success.

[agentdork]

[ In response, Delta sends an encouraging little pulse of data, showing him the routes they'd taken here and there, places York had stopped, sharing data while their human companions spoke. ]

Odd-jobs, huh?

[jackoftrumps]

[Theta sends back similar information, cheerily color-coded according to how safe they considered the locations, how likely they were to take another job there, things like that.]

Yeah. We try to keep it low-profile. No real mercenary jobs, you know? They'd track us down for sure that way.

[agentdork]

[ As soon as they get to the hotel-- York leading them up through a side emergency exit he disables and slips them down the hall into the room, Delta flickers to life and his hologram is a touch brighter as he sends similar data back, and York laughs sliding his helmet off as he shakes his head, clearly pleased. ]

Man, I haven't felt Del this happy in weeks, y'know? It's-- [ he hesitates a moment, nostalgic and regretful all at once. ] It's really good to see you again, man.

[jackoftrumps]

[North is enjoying a similar sensation from Theta and he can't help but chuckle as he disengages his own helmet, rumpling his hair to get rid of that plastered-down feeling.]

It's nice to be able to talk to one of my brothers. South doesn't like me very much.

[North smiles, slightly sheepish, at Theta's statement.]

I told you, Theta, she's just disappointed. She was supposed to have one of your brothers as a partner, too.

[York's slight hesitation is all North needs to know what sort of stuff he's remembering. He feels that feeling all the time, with his sister to keep out of trouble. The Project had been good for her, good for both of them. It was all so twisted up, the way they found out what was underneath. He nods, his expression becoming more sincere.]

Considering the circumstances last time I had any clue where you were? You wouldn't believe how relieved I was just to find out you are okay.

[agentdork]

It is not your fault, Theta. Agent South Dakota has not reacted well to that kind of situation, historically.

[ Ain't that the truth. York rolls his eyes out of sight of Theta and throws himself down onto the couch with a heavy sigh, tired beyond all reason, really. ]

Yeah, uh. Things are a lot better than before, so yay there. [ He gives North a dryly amused look, shrugging one broad shoulder in response. ] So- you and South. You left?

[jackoftrumps]

[He chooses to sit on the edge of the bed, settling the weight of his armor onto the springs more gingerly than York had done for the poor couch.]

Yeah. Took some convincing on my part. She believed the bullshit they were saying about Tex. At first.

[agentdork]

Can't blame her. We were spoon-fed bullshit so often that we started thinking it tasted good.

[ York shakes his head, still pissed they had fallen for anything back then. It was goddamn ridiculous, really. ]

[jackoftrumps]

[He sighs. He tries to avoid thinking about it too much, most of the time.] There was no way for us to know how it would go.