gotta get down for a mingle

[redactions]

Who: The crew of the SS Heron and visitors.
Broadcast: nope.
Action: Aboard the SS Heron.
When: After returning to the ship.

[ finally back on the right ship, except the corridors are all mysteriously cold and the ship seems smaller. Thanks, Atroma. New crew, visitors, starters in comments ]

Comments

[redactions]

Doctor.

[ He nods to her; some of the lines in his body soften. The anger doesn't disappear, it gets put away. ]

The Atroma've made my ship colder, I was trying to fix it. What can I do for you?

[dancingmd]

[Well, she wasn't going to say anything, but it is rather chilly in here. She thought maybe it was the way the crew preferred it. Yet it appears the Blue Fish isn't the only ship Atroma has been modifying.]

Colder? Why would they go and do that?

[Not that she really expects him to know the answer. Who the hell ever knows why Atroma does anything?]

[redactions]

​​[ He grimaces. ]

I hate the winter.

[dancingmd]

[She frowns. So they gave the Blue Fish something they wanted and needed - more space, especially for Bran to maneuver in - and gave the Heron something they hated. What is Atroma's game here? For surely it is a game, a test of some sort, to see how they react.]

So they're toying with you. Great.

[She gives him an empathetic look.]

They did something similar to me, except with the gift baskets.

[redactions]

​[ A soft chuckle. He pockets the thermostat. ]

What happened?

[dancingmd]

[There's a pause, but then... He has already been inside her head.]

I got a book... The one my husband proposed to me with.

[redactions]

[ He sucks in a breath. ]

Bad memory?

[dancingmd]

The memory of the proposal itself? No, of course not. It was one of the happiest days of my life. But Jack died when we were still young so for Atroma to give me that book... they're clearly trying to provoke something.

[redactions]

As they are by changin' my ship.

[ He shrugs. ]

I s'pose all we can do is live with it. Can I offer you some water or somethin' t'eat, Doctor?

[dancingmd]

Oh! No, thank you, I ate already.

[She lives on Blue Fish. It's probably safe to assume she's always already eaten. Usually too much.]

I came over because I wanted to know... [She takes a breath.] how much of the calibrations do you remember?

[redactions]

[ He freezes. Then, ]

We should maybe sit down. Would you like to talk in my office?

[dancingmd]

[With that reaction, he must remember something.]

Yes, thank you, I think that would be a good idea.

[redactions]

This way.

[ He leads her down a small corridor, alert for their surroundings — though no threat. He just likes to know where the Winter Soldier is, on the ship. And opens the door for her. ]

After you.

[dancingmd]

[Noticing his demeanor, how he seems to be on alert, she can't help but wonder why. Is he just worried someone will overhear them, or is it something else? Either way, she nods in thanks at him and steps into his office, though she doesn't yet take a seat.]

[redactions]

[ Good, because he pulls out a chair for her, and gestures. ]

[dancingmd]

[She smiles. Always so polite, isn't he? After taking a seat, she waits for him to take his own before speaking.]

From your reaction, I take it you remember some things at least?

[redactions]

In vivid detail.

[ Smiling faintly, ]

You have a beautiful ship.

[dancingmd]

She is, isn't she?

[Being there, even if it was only a dream... it's only made her miss it more.]

Listen, I wanted to tell you, I'm not upset with you. That's not why I came here. None of us could control whose mind we ended up in, and you were very respectful while you were there and I appreciate that. Still... it is a little strange, isn't it? I mean, we barely know each other. I simply want to try to remedy that.

[redactions]

[ The joke is right there, not that great at friends. Only had one, the others are filtering in. For a man who thinks he's a wreckage, homeless, and empty, he sure has his own gravity. ]

James Barnes. I was in the army; I'm from 2014. Friends call me Jim.

[ He holds out his hand for her. ]

[dancingmd]

[With a pleased smile, she shakes his hand, her grip firm and sure. While he may not be that great at friends, she's always happy to make a new one.]

Beverly Crusher. I'm a doctor in Starfleet, from the year 2370.

[Which, of course, he already knows, but it's part of the game.]

[redactions]

So that's outta the way. How long have you been here?

[dancingmd]

Since the beginning of March. You came later, right?

[redactions]

I've been here six months — time's a little funny. June?

[dancingmd]

[The mention of June brings some somberness to her demeanor. That was a difficult month for her, to say the least.]

So you came when we first found the Iskaulit. Did you... did you happen to be on the Marsiva with a man named Julian? Julian Bashir.

[redactions]

No, I talked to him briefly. He disappeared, didn't he?