driftfleet | ☮ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ

[Alex sets up the camera to face her and her small room, which seems to have been filled to the brim with art supplies. There are canvases, small containers of her magically-multiplied paints, and a couple of dismantled easels she found in a junk shop, all piled on and against the vacant side of her large captain's bed.

She clears her throat, looking a little awkward, and gives a wave.] Hey. So - I've been thinking of setting up sort of an art studio, over on the Iskaulit. Like, a place where people can just chill out and paint, or whatever. Get their relaxation on. Art therapy, whatever you want to call it.

I don't really talk about this or anything, but I used to live in this really shitty castle with a bunch of our other pals here, and it did some awful stuff to me. So I got all messed up, and depressed, and I got through it there by just literally painting all the time. And maybe there are some other people here who need to do the same thing, just to keep sane and everything.

I got all the supplies I need on the station, and I can use magic to multiply and restock them. Just let me know if you think it sounds like a cool idea. I mean, I'll be doing it anyway probs, but... Yeah. Hit me up.

[She's never been good at normal, earnest broadcasts, and that's about all she can manage for the moment. She throws up a peace sign before leaning up to turn off the camera.]

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[The second she cuts off the feed, Stefan rushes over to her side. How did he manage to fit in the room despite those art supplies? The world may never know.]

You did a great job. [He grins, reaching up so he can properly kiss her on the forehead. He might be feeling especially schmoopy today, and he might regret it later, but he doesn't care right now.] I don't know what the rest of the Fleet'll think, but the Iskaulit definitely needs something creative.

[Alex holds him in place for a second to press a kiss to his cheek, right next to his sun-bright smile. She feels so happy and free right now, finally putting this idea out there.]

Yeah? I figured everyone could do with some color. There's too much silver and grey here.

Exactly. This isn't 1984, so we might as well make it a little brighter.

[By we, he really means Alex. His artistic talent is non-existent once he leaves the wonderful world of writing.]

Did you have a space in mind already?

There's this place with some big windows that I wanna use. Nice view of the stars.

Sounds perfect. I can already imagine the starry skies people'll paint.

[He'll try and pull her in for a sideways hug if he can. She's so warm right now that her energy feels almost contagious, and well - he could use some of that positivity right now.]

Speaking of stars, I kind of want to put a mural of them up on the walls in here.

[She sits down on the foot of her bed and waves a hand at one wall.]

[He folds his arms, glancing over at it.] So what's stopping you?

[She shrugs.] Motivation? Confidence? It's been a couple years since I painted anything that big.

Why not work your way up to it? Paint something a little bigger each time, and then before you know it, you're thumbnailing murals again.

[Alex gives a dramatic groan.]

Mmm, that sounds an awful lot like work.

[She's not serious. Lazy is still her middle name, but she's passionate about this.]

Anything worth doing is work, habiti.

[He laughs, flopping down beside her.] Plus, it's extra practice, and that never goes to waste.

I had a feeling that's what you'd say.

[But she smiles and leans her head on his shoulder.]

I'm gonna do it, though. Hold me to that.

Of course. You're not the only one who wants to see it happen.

[He relaxes at her touch - and really, he could stay like this forever, especially since he's now trying to imagine said mural on her wall.]

[Something in her smile changes and deepens as she thinks, leaning against his side. It takes her a few moments to answer.]

... I wouldn't be doing any of this if it hadn't been for you. Thanks.

You're welcome, but I... I really didn't do anything. [At least, he can't remember doing anything significant.] The idea, the supplies, the location, and the broadcast? That was all you.

[She shakes her head, looking up at the ceiling. All of this honesty is still new to her, and it feels like an unfamiliar tongue. But fluency is coming, bit by bit.]

But you're the whole reason I want to. You're the reason I got better.

Me?

[He says it like it's an impossible thought, like the sky's purple or water's mysteriously dry - because he still didn't do anything.]

Come on, Alex. You think it's all me, but I couldn't make you do anything you didn't want to.

[She fixes her eyes on his, trying to piece together the right words.]

... I wanted to do this, yeah. I wanted to get back into art and put all this together, and try to help people with it. But it's not that simple. 'Cause I didn't want to paint awhile back. I didn't even want to get out of bed, you know?

[Ah. He winces, shifting a little uncomfortably as the pieces finally fall into place.]

Because you were recovering. It's not, no, but... ["you've got this habit of selling yourself short."] I'm glad I could help.

I'm glad you could, too.

[She smiles at him, soft and genuine.]

Yeah. [...] Looks like we'll both be pretty busy on the Iskaulit, huh?

[He reaches out for her hand and intertwines his fingers in hers.]

Yeah. We'll have to fit in a few more movie nights, in between.

I think we'll manage. The ship's more than big enough for us to find another hideaway.

☮ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ

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sorry this is so late, i didn't realize my inbox had a second page alksjdh

ssh it's all good

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