driftfleet | did somebody say mingle

I didn't want to interrupt.

[ Has trouble interrupting someone when they're busy. He still hesitates before walking in on Jim in his office and that invitation was open. Being stealthy is something he could give her pointers on, as well as being aware of her surroundings- though she did better than normal people.

Winter gives her as wide of a berth as he can in the confines of the kitchen as he strides over to get a look at...whatever she has going on. Something with the microwave, at least. ]

Would've been okay if ya did. It's your ship, after all.

[As someone who is always conscious of the space that must be maintained around her, Rogue certainly notices the wide berth he is giving her. He can't possibly know her preferences (though the gloves and the fact that any part of her body not covered by jumpsuit is covered by a sheer mesh might be a clue), so she takes it as a statement of intent. She finds herself warming to this stranger a little - it seems he is being as careful as he knows how, and that is something Rogue knows well how to appreciate.

She gives him a smile as he comes along side her, a smile like most of her smiles in that it is brief flicker which lights up her face before it is quickly banked into a more neutral expression.

It's only when he's beside her she realizes he's actually taller than Jim... and wonders at it for a moment, before putting all those sort of thoughts away to deal with the current moment.]

I've got a cook augment, but it only kicks in once I start tryin' ta do somethin' with it. I know you guys don't have a cook, so [Ugh, this is kind of embarrassing. She'd hoped to be on and off and leave a note explaining what had happened without having to talk about it.] I'm tryin' ta make up some recipes usin' what you've got so ya don't have to just eat... this.

[Dramatic pointing toward a glob of protein paste.]

It doesn't belong to me- I'm not the Captain.

[ Well, yes and no; they're technically the same person. But Jim is so much better than he is, there's no contest. But that is perhaps another conversation for a different day.

He nods his head at her explanation, pulling a face when she gestures to what they consider food on the ship. Winter is definitely not a fan, but he'll eat it without complaint. ]

Why, though? You didn't have to.

[ The blatant kindness around here still baffles him. The scale has to tip at some point and he'll be expected to pay out, right? Something was never for nothing..But what does she really stand to gain when he's got nothing to give? Unless, of course, she wants him to beat someone.

He's not too keen on that idea, but there's no telling. But she's a friend of Jim's, right? So she should be okay. The nagging denial is still clawing at the dark place in his brain- the same one that tells him that he belongs home. He looks at Rogue, brows drawn together as he tries to piece her together. ]

[Rogue didn't think being a captain worked like that. In her experience being in charge of something makes it so that it owns you more than you own it... anyway, that wasn't what she'd meant.]

Maybe not, but ya live here anyway. You've got far more of a right ta be here than I do.

[She looks up at him and gives him a brief grin, lightning sharp.]

If I only did the things I had ta do, life would be very borin'. [Eat... poop... sleep... Yawn.

That... didn't really answer his question, though. And honestly, she didn't really want to answer his question. It led into... things. So she is just going to... see if she can get away with that answer, yes.]

I'm not sure about that part. You know more people.

[ She's at least friendlier with far more people than he is, so at the very least, Rogue is welcome. ]

I..guess so, yeah.

[ Winter nods for her to continue, watching what she's doing. Maybe he can pick up what she's doing for next time. ]

[Relieved and not yet guilty that she managed to evade what was actually a very valid question, Rogue shakes her head.]

Not on this ship, I don't. [She knows Jim. That counts for one. And now... two, she supposes, if she introduces herself.

She stops what she's doing then and makes another choice. She turns to face him precisely, and holds out her gloved hand.] I'm Rogue. We talked before, when ya first got here, but I'm not real good at introductions.

[And pleasantries and pointless politeness and talking about the weather - she's just not very good at dinner parties.]

I remember your face.

[ His gaze flicks between her face and her hand several times before he reaches out to shake her extended one. The metal fingers curl around her hand gently, probably cool to the touch. ]

Winter. ..Not sure if I said.

[Rogue keeps the handshake brief - she's gotten quite good at doing so, managing to drop her hand in a way that (usually) did not offend. The length of the handshake has nothing to do with the chill she may feel even through leather gloves, and certainly nothing to do with holding onto a metal arm. It has everything to do with that awareness of space she carries that practically clusters around her like a perfume.

Winter.

Her mouth quirks up.]

That's a nice name. [Sad. Cold, a little, she thinks. But it's got a nice sound to it.]

Allen gave it to me.

[ He's claimed it as his, anyway. With a lack of anything to call himself, it seemed to be the easiest route.

He nods, pulling his hand back to his side and gives her another half-step of space. The fingers flex into a fist almost unconsciously, and he inclines his head toward the microwave again. ]

Huh.

[She knows of Allen - he's dating her captain. She gave Winter a moment of quiet assessment, simply looking at him and observing.

Names are important things. They can also change and be outgrown. Interesting, the way he qualifies it. She debates whether or not to comment, but it seems intrusive and she has been less than completely forthcoming about that which is private to her, so she respects the distance she created. She follows the motion of his head instead, stepping back slightly so he can have an unencumbered view.]

This [a tilt of her head toward the microwave] should taste like some kinda meatloaf when it's done. I'm not a hundred percent sure I pulled it off, but it should.

This [a point of a gloved finger at the measurements in front of her] I'm hopin' ta turn into a kind of muffin thing. But you guys don't have much variety in your ingredients.

[She should have brought more stuff from her kitchen over, but that would have kind of defeated the point.]

[ While 'Winter' fits like a temporary cover, he does still know something is missing. The name works for now- and most don't ask questions, just accept it.

He looks over what she motions to, explaining the outcome, but he thinks it's one of those things that is easier tried than explained. ]

It should be fine? [ Not that he even remembers what meatloaf is supposed to taste like in the first place. He won't complain, either way. ]

[Rogue wrinkled her nose.] Maybe. This stuff is tricky ta work with. An' I really wish ya had an oven, no matter what I do the microwave's gonna make things... spongy.

[Getting a little lost in the horror that is this food now.]

So, spongy is bad. [ Definitely noted, though he wonders just how much of a concern that is. ]

Can't say I noticed before.. The Marsiva's was different, and so was the Caprine's..[ Again, that damn frame of reference he lacks. He does miss fish, though. ]

...

[HOLD ON what you are telling her is a TRAVESTY that must be addressed.

Rogue turns to give him her full attention.]

...are ya tellin' me you didn't have a preference?

It's not the same. Comparison is senseless if this is the option.

[ He shrugs a fraction, looking back at Rogue with that worried expression. ]

It all has the same purpose.

...kinda. [Yes, nutritional value, except... no.] I guess I can see what you're sayin'. But since it all has the same purpose, then... is there one that ya think you liked better -- no, not liked -- fulfilled its purpose better?

Because another purpose for food? It's supposed to be enjoyable. So... which one did that. [...] If any. I mean, I don't think it's very good at fulfillin' that purpose anyway...

[You can take her word on this. As someone who's been operating without touch for most of her life, what sensory experiences Rogue can have are very important to her.

And wow, that's a lot of talking and tripping over herself to try and explain she's doing.]

[ Enjoyable. He's enjoyed a few things he's had, but probably not the rapturous experience Rogue is hoping it was. Allen had brought him cookies once (which were really tasty), and Nightingale had made fish while he was on the Caprine. Neither of those can really be compared to their food options aboard the Heron. But he doesn't not want to give her an answer.]

They were all the same.

[ Honestly, it's a texture thing. It's awful, but he's grateful for Rogue's attempts at making it less so. ]

What one do you like better?

[Rogue makes a little face of 'yuck.']

I liked the fish on the planet best, but of the materials we got the Marsiva had the finest... can make a pretty decent spaghetti on the Vanquish, though.

..The fish was good.[ That much he can agree upon, at least. ]

[Oh good, an actual preference. Rogue gives him a small, encouraging smile that - if she were anyone else - would be a beaming encouraging smile.

But she's not, so it's just a brief grin, a flash of white teeth, and the slightest nod.]

Yeah, nothin' like when they're fresh.

[BEEP BEEP BEEP.

The microwave rudely interrupts, and she turns to attend it. She doesn't really need potholders, not for cooking with a microwave. Her gloves are more than sufficient. She opens the microwave and starts to bring out the dish.]

Here, ya wanna try some of this while it's hot? I'm gonna, ta see if it's worth keepin' around. Grab a knife or a spatula?

[Yup, just. Arm yourself over there, tall dark and stare-y.]

[ More of an agreement than an opinion, but something verbal, regardless. He offers the brief half-turn of his lips in return. Barely a smile, though it's not quite so icy. He is trying, at least. The visual cues help, even though she doesn't telegraph them as animatedly as Jim does.

Winter's attention turns back to the noisy microwave, watching her pull out the dish. With a nod, he maneuvers around her to dig in a drawer to find a knife. It's a pathetic excuse for a knife by his standards, but it should do the trick in the kitchen at the very least.

He passes it silently to Rogue. She's in charge of this operation. ]

Sure.

[Rogue accepts the kitchen knife, and handles it in the fashion of a cooking knife, no real clues there as she begins to just... cut out a piece of the meatloaf.

She's not the kind of person to fill silence with idle chatter - she doesn't really chatter - but Winter's utter focus is a little disconcerting and when silence is uncomfortable it tends to stretch and form its own presence, and that sort of presence was unwelcome in her kitchen.]

Like I said, can't vouch for this. I'm tryin' ta make stuff out of the supplies ya'll have. Is there anythin' you'd like me ta try next?

[ There really isn't much conversation for him to really offer her in return. He doesn't know what she's capable of making, and making a request to the cook isn't something he's planning on doing.

Her filling the quiet space does help; although he doesn't mind the silence. He very rarely feels the growing need to speak when the silence lingers. Apparently it unnerves some people.

He shakes his head, glancing back at her. ]

I don't know.

[Rogue simply cuts out some of the protein mix-meatloaf and places one on top of a plate for each of them. She hands a plate over to him.]

Fair enough. Who knows? This could put ya off my cookin' forever.

[Experiments in protein paste, yay. She rustles up some forks and takes a bite.]

[ Winter takes the plate and fork from her, looking at the thing on top before cutting off a piece with the edge of his fork. He takes a bite, analyzing it. It wasn't the worst thing he'd had before. ]

It's...Not bad?

did somebody say mingle

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