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[agnominal]

[ There's a perplexed looking young man in view of the screen. Anyone familiar with Locus will probably recognize him, but something's definitely different. That tell-tale x-shaped scar? Gone. His hair is shorter, hanging just below his jaw. Moreover, his eyes don't quite hold that thousand-yard-stare to them just yet.

He looks, well. Teenaged.

He's also holding Luna up to view. She's purring heavily, but he appears bewildered by her presence, if anything. ]

Does anyone know whose cat this is? I just...found her here when I woke up.

Comments

[agnominal]

Well...

[ He thinks about this for a moment, his expression very grave, before he makes eye contact once again. ]

If that does happen, I'll be there. And I'll try to remind you what you're really like.

[goddamngrenades]

...Thanks bud.

[ It's so damn habitual he doesn't even think before closing the distance by listing to the side. Flopping over to lean against Sam. He doesn't have the same bulk to him that Locus does but- he's warm. He's familiar. ]

Seriously. Thanks. I dunno how well that will work but- thanks.

[agnominal]

[ He startles, visibly. But after a moment that stiffness goes a little lax. It's less discomfort than surprise, but it feels...

They're friends. This must be what it's like.

A brief smile dawns on his face before he nods and lifts an arm to let Taylor get more comfortable. ]

It couldn't hurt to try. You got through to me.

[goddamngrenades]

Oh shit, sorry-

[ He starts to pull away before Sam shifts to accommodate and...then he just. Settles. Like it's any other day when he comes to talk to Locus. ]

I guess not. I'm gonna write noes to myself, see if that'll help your case. "Don't be a douchebag, Agent York".

[agnominal]

I thought you said your name was Taylor?

[ There's that confused look again. Was he misremembering? ]

[goddamngrenades]

It is. When I achieved full 'true jackass', I was in a secret military project where we all went by statenames. I was Special Agent New York. Agent York.

[ Project Freelancer. God. He'd bought that shit hook, line, and sinker. ]

[agnominal]

I see. So you fought in the war as well?

[ His interest is piqued. ]

Is that how we know one another?

[goddamngrenades]

Yeup. Ran a squad till I didn't. Signed on for Project Freelancer afterward till that didn't work out. Kept my head down after that.

[ The only way to live. ]

Nah, I didn't meet you till we both got pulled here.

[agnominal]

And where is here, exactly? It looks like a UNSC installation.

[ But he's getting the feeling that may not be the case after all. ]

[goddamngrenades]

Legion World. We're in a different universe. Right now? We're in your habitat. Old you chose this for...some reason. I never asked.

[ He shrugs, not much else to say. ]

My habitat looks like a ranch house in East Texas.

[agnominal]

And why are we here?

[ He has to wonder. 'Different universe' is strange, but so is flying. So is turning invisible and time reversal and any number of things.

He's just going to digest it all as best he can, one piece at a time. ]

[goddamngrenades]

I got a debriefing packet back at my place if you wanna see it- bring Luna. Y'all visit often enough I've got food and a litterbox for her there.

[ And plenty of things for little kittens to play with if she does so desire. ]

[agnominal]

Alright. Perhaps later, then.

[ He's not inclined to move right now. Something familiar is tugging at him, a sense of rightness with them here, Taylor leaning into him.

So he tries leaning back. Rests his head against York's, like he's testing this out for himself. ]

[goddamngrenades]

Sure.

[ He doesn't think a thing of the continued leaning, the reluctance to peel away. Three out of five times they end up like this and it's...grounding. Comforting. The world is strange right now and Sam's- not Locus but still him in part enough for this to be familiar.

But it's real.

He goes still when Sam leans back, blinking. It doesn't happen often, if ever and...it's nice. ]

[agnominal]

[ At the stillness, Sam goes still as well. Trying to figure out if he's pushed it a step too far. ]

Is...is this alright?

[goddamngrenades]

Yeah, it's fine. You usually don't, though. You don't initiate either, just sorta. Tolerate.

[ Accommodate. He relaxes into it, eyes slipping half closed. Sure this is Sam and not Locus but-

It's enough for him to settle. ].

S'nice.

[agnominal]

[ Yes. Yes, that is a word for it. There is comfort here, security and trust, even in such a short amount of time. Perhaps some residual memory of his older self remains in place.

In any case, he's reassured. And happy to remain here like this a while longer. ]

Perhaps I should.

[goddamngrenades]

I wouldn't mind it. No pressure, though.

[ Mutual boundaries- including physical ones. ]

I'm a tactile motherfucker, not everyone is.

[agnominal]

[ He considers this quietly. He'd always thought of himself as not a very touchy-feely sort. Casual touches weren't common, and bewildered him somewhat when they did occur.

So no, not tactile by nature. ]

I can't say I'm used to this, no.

[goddamngrenades]

Damn shame. You're a good pillow. Luna agrees, see?

[ Kitten's fast asleep and York's about halfway there, as per usual. This space has always been secure and safe to him, even if Sam's- well. Sam. ]

[agnominal]

You're not terrible, yourself.

[ Again he feels his lips twitch up, letting out a quiet breath.

Friends. A kitten. A career as a hero.

The future didn't seem so bad. ]

[goddamngrenades]

Damn right, I'm amazing- at least when I got my head on straight.

[ Sam's twice as endearing as a teenager. Who knew? ]