spectre_de_la_mort | ::Open Post:: Who Do You Voodoo?

Carolina arrives at the training room fifteen minutes early, fully armored and resisting the urge to bounce on the tips of her toes. Really, she doesn't need to warm up before the fight, but she yearns to be in motion.

The Director won't tell her when they'll start on missions. Give it a few weeks, he says. He's been saying that for two months now. Carolina aches for some real action in the field.

Instead, it's all training.
It's not like she has anything better to do.

Checking over the plating, Louisiana finally slips on her helmet and heads of the prep room and down the hall to the training deck. Her wonder showing as she slowly turns and looks around the immense room that stretches far above her. At least no one can see her gaping behind her visor.

Though there is a person here. She doesn't exactly recognize them. Most of the orientation and introductions had happened without the armor on so it was a guessing game of who was under that teal.

Still she presses on regardless of her internal game of guess who.

Well, here's one of the other freelancers, ready for training. Carolina cocks her head.

"You're Louisiana, right?"

She took some time to review everyone's profiles. ...what she could, anyway, and she knows that York and Georgia don't wear blue.

Besides, she can hope her partner is the one who showed some initiative and got here on time.

Oh shit. That was a voice she knew. Agent Carolina. The Agent Carolina. The very first agent that was ever selected for Project Freelancer and the reigning CO over the rest of the agents when the Director wasn't evolved.

How the hell did she chance on this? What sort of freak accident happened during team selection? No. It's fine. Play it cool.

She straightens up and nods. "Yes ma'am." Was she supposed to be called ma'am? Maybe. Better safe than sorry.

"You're early." Can you hear the amusement in her voice, Louisiana? "The other team won't be. Want to head onto the course and set a surprise for them?"

It's not like York is trying to hit on every member of Project Freelancer. He does have taste. (That Florida guy is creepy as hell.) But he's surrounded by hot, terrifying, savvy soldiers, and sometimes? A guy just can't help it.

So when he catches Louisiana in the mess hall, the teasing just slips out. "Hey, Lou. If I said I liked your armor, would you hold it against me?"

Whether he wanted it out or not, it was pretty well known around the crew of the Mother of Invention that Agent York was a player. One who is rather avid on his quest of hitting on everyone that it wasn't long before the rumor became well known fact and most people expected. Emphasis on most people.

Louisiana on the other hand didn't expect much attention of that sort. Standard UNSC protocol dictated that fraternizing was frowned upon so she didn't expect anything to come from fellow freelancers let alone the personnel. It was a shift she was still getting used to, going from the UNSC Orbital Troopers to Freelancer. More laidback but still competitive with less emphasis on the war front.

However when it turns out that said infamous agent leans against her table and hits on her, she practically shuts down and stares. "Ugh...I ugh...hi?"

Oh shit oh shit oh shit. Top gun talking to her. What do? Do nothing? Do something?

"Hi! Mind if I sit here?"

She didn't shoot down his cheesy pick-up line. And she's really cute when she's embarrassed. This seems promising. He sits his tray down and sits across from her before she can respond.

"I don't..." What? He's already sitting. What if she had said no? Would he have done it anyway? "I guess I don't now."

She looks down at her tray, pushing around her food with a fork. Think, Lou, think. What does one talk about with one of the project's golden boys? Her mind simply flatlines, blanking out on any possibilities so she's left sitting there quietly.

"I really do like your armor," he says. "How is it holding up in training?"

Can he stop by and watch your match later? ... nah, that's probably a little much for right now. Maybe he'll catch her afterward. Yeah, that's it.

"Holding up fine. A lot sturdier and durable than what I was used to," she answers. A glance thrown up at him, trying to gauge him and almost study really. Were all of the stories true?

"Training is pretty tough not gonna lie. Almost like being back in boot. I ugh I'm glad they decided to give me something that matched my skill sets...and ugh yea."

"They do like to set us up with the good stuff," he says. Well, except for the food, but this isn't the time to complain about that. "Until we get hit on the training floor. Isn't that paint awful?"

He hates that stuff. Luckily, he usually avoids getting hit. ...unless Carolina is on the other team, and then he's in trouble.

"Skill set, huh? And what would that be?"

"Guess they really want this whole project to succeed," she points out. Taking a bite of her lunch, she tries to ignore the brief awkward silence. "As I said, it's like boot. We had TTR rounds that would basically do the same thing but wouldn't become big massive pink blobs on you."

She sneaks a sip of her water. "Predominantly target elimination behind enemy lines. So stealth training was a big thing I picked up on along with close quarters if long range didn't work out. I ugh have some experience with cracking into battlenets."

Maybe she wanted him to know that she can handle getting close and personal. Most of the top guns could handle their own in such a fashion. Though...why was she putting effort in impressing him?

"I think the pink is supposed to be demoralizing," he says. "It shows up on anyone!"

But only if it hits you. Thanks, Carolina.

"Huh, stealth? If sounds like you could benefit from an infiltration specialist. You know, I think we'd make a pretty good team."

Especially if she needs help cracking into battlenets. He could help teach her a thing or two. Abut her job, even.

"You have something against a color?" She raises a brow at him. "Think the point of it is training first and bruised egos second."

An infiltration specialist too? Fancy that. "Maybe one day but so far I don't think we'd get matched for a team. I haven't done many team let alone partnered missions yet."

A nudge is given to her helmet beside her. "Got the latest target algorithms and network cracking tools so a second set of hands isn't usually necessary."

"Only because it's obvious, and everyone knows you got hit," he says. "I'm man enough to wear pink! Just on my own terms, is all."

"Yeah, they're slow on the partnering up, aren't they? I'm surprised we don't get to do more training as doubles. Mix things up a bit." And maybe give him a lovely lady at his back.

...wait. Is she shooting him down? "But things can be much more fun with a second set of hands!"

"I'm sure you do," she says, shaking her head and focusing back onto her food.

There wasn't much desire to find a partner for the field. Not from her or their handlers apparently so there was no point in getting excited over a what if. However the smidge of desperation that leaks into his voice catches her attention.

She raises a brow. "Oh really? Usually a second set only gets in the way of making sure the work goes smoothly. Can't have too many fingers stroking a keypad."

Oh Lou. If you're going to play hard to get, make it more difficult. "Clearly you just haven't found the right set of hands," he says. "Or the right...exercises for them."

"Trust me they get plenty of practice already and I am quite thorough in my work," she points out. Her eyes flicker up to focus on him for a moment. "Besides I'm sure you're more skilled with lone work than with a partner."

Did she just... wow. Wow, Lou, that was low.

"Only because I like to keep in practice," he says. What? He won't deny it. "Gotta be ready to keep up with a partner when they come my way."

"You have plenty of partners to choose from from what I've heard." Hopefully York was aware that people talk about anything and everything in space. Especially flings with rather prominent members of the project's Freelancers. "So I'm sure many are dying to get more practice."

Edited 2017-07-14 02:17 (UTC)

"Well, maybe I've decided to be a bit more selective."

Kind of. More selective than usual, which...isn't particularly difficult.

"They'll have to keep dying if the Project doesn't let us partner up."

"A bit?" Maybe he's run out of people that fawn over his golden boy status and his looks. She wouldn't be surprised if that were true. Just...his selection seems to have broadened rather than narrow in her opinion. "I don't think it's a bit."

Don't say the next thing. Do not... "Why me? Why partner with me?"

"Why not you?" Wait. Let's make that a little more personal. "You're terrifyingly competent, you're good with your hands. You're underappreciated."

This would be a good time to reach over and take her hand, but he doesn't. "So I thought I'd. Say hi, I guess, and let you know that I've noticed you."

The answer at first almost sounds scripted. Maybe he's used that on others to get them to feel good and owe him one so to speak. Some people do that when complimented. It didn't make a girl feel special though so she sighs to herself.

That pause gets her to look up at him. Is that a waver in his cockiness? Maybe genuineness shining through?

"I ugh I appreciate it," she says.

"And if I want to get to know you better?" he says. "Even if you don't want to, uh, practice. I just. Think you're neat, Lou."

"I suppose I'll save a seat from now on," she answers after a bit of thought. Her arms tuck in close before crossing in front of her, gently leaning on them. "Maybe you can convince me to practice. Maybe. But it's not going to be one conversation thing."

She tilts her head, briefly smiling. "It'd be nice to know you and not the gossip."

Yessssss.

"It'd be nice to know you, too," he says. "So. What kinds of movies do you like?"

It's an unspoken rule among the Freelancers that you don't talk too much about your life Before. At least, not in public. He can start with a more harmless conversation topic.

"Mostly action and thriller. The classic ones though because sometimes the new stuff is just rehashed ideas or trying to be all war focused," she answers. "What about you? Wait. Let me guess. Are you the comedic romance type?"

York doesn't blush, but it's a very near thing. "Yes?" he says. "But action and thrillers can have comedy and romance? Which classic is your favorite?"

Oh wow she didn't think she'd actually be right. A laugh bubbles up and she can't stop it from slipping out. "Of course you would," she muses. "I mean they can but they're not the main focus. I really like Jaws and Jumanji actually. Alien too."

"Jaws? That's the one with the really classic music, right?"

Everybody knows the Jaws theme. "Not that I've actually seen it. Maybe we should change that."

"There's plenty of classic tunes out there but it's certainly one of them," she answers, still amused at her victorious guessing. "Only just met and you're asking me to a movie night? Smooth. Besides it's sort of a thriller horror. I don't know if a guy that's super into romance and funny would be able to handle it."

"Hey, movie nights are a classic way to spend time with new people!"

He would know. He watches rom-coms.

"Besides, I can handle thrillers. Why else do you think I'm here?" Life in Project Freelancer is some screwy thriller, right? ...supposedly?

"Right. Sure. I'm sure this will be quite a civil movie night then," she muses. If his teasing and flirting were any indication, she wouldn't put it past him to try and make moves during the movie.

"It's a thriller and a horror. I'm just worried you can't handle both."

"There's only one way to find out." He decides not to wink at her over his drink. No reason to tip his hand early, even if he's already a bit obvious.

"Fair enough. When would you like to test this out and see?" She leans back in her seat, crossing her arms in mild amusement. "I don't blame you if you have to take your time and all. I understand being scared."

"When?" he asks. "When can you get the movie?"

He's not letting you push it back off on him, Louisiana.

"I have it on a hard drive. So the ball is back in your court," she answers, resting her chin on propped arm. Nice try, York.

York shrugs. Play casual. "Tomorrow night?" he says. Don't seem too eager. "Since we have one of those boring AI prep seminars tonight."

"Sounds like a plan then. Also you have one of those AI seminars. Not me. Those are reserved for the big brass of the project," she remarks. Her food once more being pushed around as she stares down at it. Of course he would be one of the people selected for such a selective training.

She's not coming? Smooth, York. He assumed he had been there before but just sat in the back. Quick, save the conversation.

"Believe me, you're not missing much. Just the Councilor being boring as hell," he says. "So, you know. More of the same."

"Sounds like a total blast," she muses. Finishing up her lunch, she cleans up her spot before standing up. "So ugh tomorrow, yea? How about you meet me in my room? It's on the second deck of quarters."

Oh, in her room? Is she less worried about his reputation now?

"It's a date." He winks at her. He won't follow, though. He doesn't want to look desperate. And he still has food to finish. ...but mostly that first one.

More so she's worried that someone would see any possible fraternizing. It's safe to assume that something would be attempted during this movie night. Well...maybe there's a part of her that wouldn't mind such a thing.

So when the time arrives, she's made certain that her room is straightened up but comfortable enough to host a guest. Plenty of snacks and drinks in case either of them wanted anything. Hell even the hard drive is popped in and ready to go.

Now just to quell these nerves before York comes and she'll be all set.

::Open Post:: Who Do You Voodoo?

sorry it's the wrong helmet lol

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