secondplacing | Voice; action available for New Bark Town

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Voice; action available for New Bark Town

This is Agent Carolina, reporting in from New Bark Town.

[Carolina’s tone is just as militaristic as ever, as though she’s making a call straight from Chorus. She holds the pokégear steady despite the squirming, wiggling growlithe in her other arm. Of course, the growlithe can't be seen, but his little wiggly yips can certainly be heard.]

I understand that I— hey, calm down—

[Yeah, hold that thought. Carolina has to put the growlithe down before she’s going to be able to say anything else.

There's a sigh before she starts to talk again.]

...Sorry about that.

I understand this line is a public channel, so if any of my men are hearing this, please send me your coordinates. Or.

[Right. They can't do that.]

...Just let me know if you're here.

Assuming they aren't here, I’d like to put out a request. I’m in charge of a crew of soldiers who refer to themselves as the reds and blues [(though, the way she says that, it sounds more like she’s their babysitter)] and if I’ve turned up here, it’s just as likely they will, too.

If you hear from anyone going by the names Washington, Church, Tucker, Simmons, Grif, Sarge, or Caboose, please send word to me. They can be a bit of a handful, but I’d really appreciate it.

[That last bit is said with a hint of an affectionate smile in her voice.]

In any case, thank you in advance, and it’s… nice to meet you all. I’m sure we’re not all here under the best of circumstances… but…

[She sounds lost for a moment, as if searching for the next thing to say.]

Anyway. Thank you for your time, and if… anyone is experienced with the pokémon ‘growlithe’, I’d appreciate any pointers.

Agent Carolina, signing out.

[but before she can disconnect..]

Hey, what are you-- No, don't bite that! What are you doi--

[As for action, Carolina can be found just outside New Bark, glaring at the ledges.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Metaphysically or for real? Because I'm starting to wonder that myself.

[But okay. He sighs, pointedly not grabbing his shirtfront above where he found the bullet scars last night, and looks around. Delta Two is a worried presence both at his shoulder and around the back of his mind, and he appreciates the comfort while also keeping it at a distance.]

You're reporting from New Bark Town, right? I'm some ways down the road towards 'Cherrygrove City.' I'll start back and meet you halfway.

I'm on my way. Make yourself visible.

[She sounds distrusting, sounds like she carries a knife in her voice. She's apprehensive and isn't sure it's really him, because---

Because Agent York is dead. There's no way.

But it sounds like him, down to the stupid things he says.]

I'm on the same road already, I'll be there shortly.

[He closes his eyes. Of course it would be like this. Like the last thing he remembered her saying to him. How else would a couple of dead soldiers find closure?

Still. He could've hoped.]

Copy that, Carolina. Over and out.

[He closes the 'Gear, dismisses Delta Two's concern with a small shake of his head, and, after removing his baseball cap, sets off at a light trot back the way he'd come, sticking to the road this time instead of investigating the edges of the woods to either side.

It won't be long.]

[When Carolina emerges through the trees and grass, visible from yards away, she seems shaken more than defensive. At her side, a growlithe with a single stripe on his back seems pensive and whines worriedly, padding around her feet.

Carolina catches sight of York, arms instinctively reaching to her side for a weapon that isn't there, and her fingers grope fruitlessly, grasping for some sense of security.

She remembers Epsilon showing Delta's memory, remembers how desperately she didn't want Delta to fade away, remembers the hologram of York's armor and--

But this isn't his armor. This is his body, his flesh, living and moving and as real as this reality can be down to the scar on his eye. She must be going crazy, but she thought she had let it go, she thought she was fine--

Legs, Carolina. Right. Her legs feel weak. She needs to keep standing. God, where's Epsilon? He's usually there to monitor this sort of thing, but no, this isn't a physical issue, this is her heart racing and her legs feeling like gel because there is a dead man in front of her.

Stay up, Carolina. Don't you dare fall.]

York.

[Fuck.

It comes out partially croaked, like she's forgotten how her voice works, and really? Carolina, if this was a battlefield, you'd be dead, get it together.]

York.

[Fuck. Fuck.]

[He tenses when she goes for her gun, and the fact that the weapon isn't there doesn't lessen the sting. It wouldn't be the first time she's shoved a weapon in his face, but the last time, that'd already hurt enough. Delta Two clings to his pant leg, watching Carolina and the Growlithe with wide, worried eyes.

He stays where he is, doesn't get closer. Without his helmet, though, the distance isn't enough to mask the uncertainty that cuts through his wary resignation. Memory changes and fades, and it's kinder than the truth, York knows that--but Carolina's face has more lines than he remembers. Different lines. If she'd died in that crash, she shouldn't be that different from what he remembers.

And she shouldn't sound like that.]

Carolina--

[He takes a step forward before he realizes what he's doing, though he stops himself again, trying to fit what he knows to what he sees, trying to shake out the inconsistencies. Delta should be there to run statistics through his head, tell him exactly what chance he has of getting out of this mess with all his bones intact (very low; the odds of defeating Agent Carolina in battle are blah blah blah, D isn't here), tell him--

Hell. York had spent so long figuring out exactly what he would say to her when he saw her again, and now he can't think of anything but her name.

At a loss, he looks down at her...tiger...puppy...thing, then back up, as if anything can help him make sense of this.]

Hey there. If I, uh.

[...

She's not wearing her armor.

He snorts and shakes his head.]

You know, you're fucking up all my pickup lines.

[Carolina gives him a startled breath of a laugh in return, like she hadn't expected to laugh, like she was shocked that all she could do was make a gasping, strangled impulsive sound.

And then, practically shaking, she attempts to make some sort of words happen.

None do for a moment.

Stripes attempts to stand between them protectively, worrying for Carolina already, unhappy with the look on her face.]

How... I don't understand...

[It comes out as a whisper.

What do you do when you get exactly what your father wished for?]

It... really is you.

[And in attempts to fix it for herself, she adds--]

You're the only one who'd think of pick-up lines at a time like this.

[He breathes out, and with the air goes half his tension. He'd been nervous she was choked up with rage, still, but this...he's not sure this is better. He's not sure of anything, and he likes to have both his feet on the ground. Especially when it comes to Carolina.]

Look, I had a lot of time to rehearse. ...Which, all right, maybe I shouldn't admit, given the results, but, well. Maybe you'll forgive me my faults.

[His tone doesn't rise, but it's still a question. She's not angry with him anymore? Might as well start there and work their way down to the other, more technical questions.]

[Speaking of both feet on the ground, Carolina takes a step-- nearly wobbles. What the hell is this?

She puts her hands on her knees, bending over to take a breath, to laugh incredulously.

This... is happening. She looks up at him with electric green eyes.]

You... have so much more to forgive me for, York. If I can even ask for that.

[Christ. This is really happening.

He clears his throat and bends to pick up Delta Two, heft her up easy against his shoulder. When he looks up again, his smile is warm and real, no flash at all. Just sincere.

It's been a long time, and he finally strides right on up and closes the distance, kneels in front of her so he can see her. So they can see each other.]

You know me. I'm easy.

['I understand why she did what she did. I just wish she hadn't.'

Once there, the changes in Carolina are so much clearer, even to his long-damaged vision. He sets D-2 down again and reaches out to touch Carolina's face, gentle with his callused fingers.]

Carolina, I... What...what happened to you, after the ship went down?

[She's silent for a moment, the touch of his hand making her still again. This is real. This... is as real as it can possibly be, apparently.

Right. Breathing. She remembers to do that as Stripe circles the two of them and D-2 suspiciously.]

...Maine took me down, York. He took Eta and Iota... No, the Meta did.

[The person who did that to her... he wasn't Maine anymore. Not her old friend.]

He dropped me off the edge of the cliff near the crash. When I came to, I couldn't remember anything for a while. That's... part of why I was laying low.

[and before he can ask--]

I'm-- sorry, York.

[He moves his hand to cup the side of her face. The weight of her, the warmth: This is real. Not even the best dreams feel like this.

He keeps his eyes on hers while she speaks, still and serious, but unafraid of anything she has to say, now. He doesn't understand half of it (what's the Meta?), but that doesn't matter anymore.

D-2, on the other hand, fidgets nervously as she watches Stripe.]

It's okay, Carolina. The Project, I know what that meant to--

[Hhhhold that thought.]

Wait. Wait, you...you were alive?

...Yes. I survived the crash.

[Her hands clench as if looking for the gun again; not to raise it against him, but to have something to hold on to, some sort of lifeline in the confusion and pain.

She'd just missed him.

If she'd been there just a few months before...

Stripes starts to take interest in D-2's fidgeting, then, snuffling and sniffing at her. He doesn't quite understand what's going on between Carolina and York, but they're not fighting, so he isn't as concerned.]

[Stripes, please, your nose is cold and D-2 is shy. She squeezes her eyes shut and sends him a nervous plea to pleeeeease not get so close.

In the meantime, York sits back on his heels while the pieces fall into place.]

Oh.

[Putting that together with the time he seems to have missed out on, he comes to the obvious conclusion: Carolina outlived him. By quite a bit, it appears.

He brightens.]

Hey, that's great! And also, makes a whole lot more sense. Seriously, a little old spaceship crash doing in Agent Carolina? Never happen.

You're not--

You're not mad?

[She shouldn't be surprised, but she is. She's incredulous, because nothing should be going this swimmingly.

It doesn't. Ever.

Stripes, meanwhile, is very confused by the fact a new thought just appeared in his head. However, he sits back on his haunches, wagging his tail. Okay. He understands.]

Why? What the hell would I be mad for? You survived, Carolina, that's--Delta kept running the probabilities, trying to let me down easy, but I didn't...

[He slows down, then breathes out a faint laugh and lowers his head.]

I didn't believe him for a long time.

[Oh. Well. Nice doggie. D-2 waits a moment, then raises her hand to flash a little light sequence at Growlithe in greeting.]

York...

[She shakes her head, quiet again.

And then she reaches forward again, hesitantly, and grasps his free hand.]

...I wish you could tell him you told him so.

[God, does she wish it.]

[He savors the feel of her grip for a moment--how long has it been since he could touch someone like this, someone he could trust?--then shifts so he can thread his fingers through hers. Skin to skin. How long was it since the last time he hadn't worn gloves?

Comfort and regret. Carolina is here and he let Delta down.]

Yeah, well. Me too.

[He rubs his thumb along her skin.]

I guess you already know what happened to us? Me and Delta.

...Oh, I know what happened.

And what you think happened... didn't happen.

[She looks around for a moment, sighing again, and squeezes his hand.]

I don't want to talk here. Not out in the open.

[It doesn't feel right. They've always been about hiding and strategic movement-- she isn't about to stop now.]

[Well, all right then. York glances around, which diverts Delta Two's attention from Stripes, and then nods to Carolina.]

We can get some ways into the trees. There isn't a lot of shelter otherwise, and I don't think we'll find a place to talk back in New Bark Town, either.

[He gets back to his feet without letting go of Carolina's hand.]

[She nods back, looking to Stripes, and--]

C'mere, boy. Stripes! Follow us, okay?

[It's gentle, like the damn thing is already her favourite.

He also has but one single stripe. Carolina is aware of this. Just one. Not stripes.]

Let's go.

[Oh, he can see it now. He and this lone stripe, they are going to be in competition for a valuable resource, and York already knows where his puppy eyes rank.

Ah well. At least York was always one of the least sore losers on the squad.]

Up you get, D-2. [He finally releases Carolina to scoop up his little grey partner and walks at Carolina's side into the trees, alert to the telltale rustling of Pokémon in the undergrowth. Wouldn't want to be interrupted at this point by a random encounter.]

[Interruptions wouldn't be nice, no, so Carolina is on her guard as well, with Stripes snuffling at the ground around her feet. She looks back to York, beckoning with just a little head movement, same as always.

Amongst the trees she feels a little better, despite the fact no one is watching. No one is there to spy on them.]

You missed a lot, York. Are you sure you're ready to hear?

[He makes to put D-2 down once more, but she clings to his jacket with her nubby LED fingers, so he just sighs and resigns himself to holding her. Robbed of the ability to cross his arms, York still finds a good, sturdy tree to lean back against and props his foot up on a protruding root.]

I'm as ready as I can probably get. Go ahead, Carolina. You know I hate feeling left out.

[They all had their fill of lies and secrets aboard the MoI.]

[She hates that he sounds so normal. She hates that he sounds like a Galactic Radio announcer, like the morning show from her childhood.

She hates that he sounds like home.]

You didn't make it past your run-in with Tex. Delta did.

[She sighs a little, crossing her arms and starting to pace a little as she tells the story. She walks almost as though remembering the gait of her armor, like she feels lighter than she thinks she should and takes up less space.]

But what happened after that... I'm not sure I what I should tell you first.

What do you know about what happened to Agent Maine?

[Whoa, she wasn't kidding when she said he'd missed a lot. York's eyebrows rise when she says Delta somehow survived him--did Tex take him?--but while he opens his mouth, he doesn't end up asking.

Instead, he glances away for a moment, thinking, then shakes his head.]

Dude fell off my radar ages ago. Don't think I've heard from or of him since the crash.

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