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[ 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. ]

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[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.

[ 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.

[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.

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?

[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.

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. ]

[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.

Not saying there was.

[ York flashes a quick smile, stretching up, the couch creaking. ]

'sides. Looks like it worked out okay in the end. Not perfect, but alright.

[North didn't think this was the end, not by a long shot, but York's optimism was always infectious. He returned the smile, relaxing into a bit of a slouch.]

I don't take a single day for granted, that's for sure. I figure one day they'll get their due. Then we won't have to worry about all this running.

[ Seeing North relaxed was a comfort all on its own. He knows that really, they gotta be realistic about things, but right now, he's got two of his friends back (or, well, will soon) and they're still safe for the time being. He and Delta have gotten pretty damn good at hiding themselves, so he's not too worried, at least not right now. ]

Who knows, maybe we'll keep dodgin' the bullet. Know I'd feel more comfortable with you havin' my back here, that's for damn sure.

[Right now he doesn't know how feasible sticking together will be, but it sure sounds appealing. Larger numbers could be a liability when it came to trying to remain unobserved, but it would certainly give them an advantage should the Project track them down.

He glances around and nods.]

Sure'll be nice to stay in a place with a roof for once.

[ It's not feasible in the long run, maybe, but right now, York's content enough doing it, because company is never a bad thing, in his mind. ]

I know the feelin'. D and I keep to wandering often enough that we don't always get a place.

Oh, yeah. All too familiar with that. Get me a roof and a hot meal and I feel like I'm living like a king.

[ That prompts a laugh out of him as he sits back a little, just looking at the other Freelancer. ]

Man. You seriously don't know how good it is t'see you.

[He chuckles and shakes his head slightly.] Probably at least half as good as it is for me to see you. [He knows it's not entirely a fair comparison, since he's had South for company, but considering the way things went down he knows it wouldn't have gone well for York had he gotten caught. Just knowing he's alive has put North in pretty good spirits.]

[ York snorts at that, amused as he grabs a datapad by the bed. ]

You want food, by the by? D and I ordered in earlier.

[ He smirks with a slight raise of his eyebrow. York did always strike him as a bit of a spendthrift. Who ordered in to a hotel room when he could barely afford to stay there? ] You offering to pay? I mean, I've got a little more than pocket lint, but I did just miss out on a job.

Don't stress.

[ York waves a hand easily, even with the non-visible eyeroll that he can feel from Delta. ]

D and I have income.

[ Odd jobs, things here and there, and okay, so maybe a little lifting and selling, and skimming on the side. ]

[ He laughs. It's impossible not to be happy with his friend here, especially since it's obvious the circumstances haven't changed him one bit. That's comforting. ] I'm not stressing anything. I'm just thinking I know better than you what feeding two can do to your budget.

We can manage it.

[ Not legally, not unless they got real jobs, settled down, and neither of them would probably go for that. ]

All right, well, I'm not going to sit here and try to talk you out of it. [ He'll still probably end up needing to scrounge up the money for South to eat something later, that's just the way things went, but he didn't mind taking advantage of York's generosity. North doesn't mean to deprive him of carrying out such a well-meant gesture. ]

[ York's more than willing to do whatever he can in these cases- more often than not he finds that he's not able to do anything, so doing something right now, well, it's a relief. ]

...I dunno if South'd get all pissed if you guessed what she'd wanna eat or not.

[ He laughs, he can't help it. He didn't realize the offer extended to her as well. ] I doubt she'll complain. [ He pauses; there should be little risk from a short use of the radio, and it really makes more sense than going out to meet her and leading her back. ] I'm going to go ahead and radio her the coords. It's not an emergency but she'll just be glad to hear she's getting dinner sooner.

You sure, man?

[ Sure, he doesn't always play it the most cautious, but he understands the lack of using the radio- it's safer, honestly, and he can appreciate that. ]

We'll hold off on that whole food thing, then.

[ No, he wasn't entirely sure about that idea, but a quick contact on the radio and her making her way solo would be less conspicuous than three of them wandering out and about together. ] Well, I'll say this, I definitely don't want to eat without her. Wouldn't be right, you know?