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

[touchofrogue]

[A brief, quiet laugh.] No, it's not. It's 'bout the farthest thing from that other book. An' don't let the cute 'lil bunny on the cover fool ya. I don't remember all the details, but I do recall some epic battles, an' some incredible loyalty an' insight.

[Rogue doesn't usually talk so much, or with such open enthusiasm, though she has been less guarded around Winter, because, well, someone needs to talk. Still, she isn't used to it, and she abruptly cuts herself off, more out of habit than anything else.] So... let me know what ya think when you're done?

[reconstitution]

[ Regardless of what's on the cover, he plans on reading it as soon as he gets the opportunity. It's a very welcome distraction to the weird atmosphere since they got back to the ship. ]

I will. Just be ready to suggest more books when I'm done.

[ He is completely serious. If she happened to miss the intensity with which he read the books at his disposal on the Marsiva. ]

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue smiles at him, a small, sincere expression.]

I'll try my best ta think of some good ones. It'll help once I know what ya like an' didn't like 'bout that one.

[A nod at the book.]

[reconstitution]

Well..What is your favorite?

[ Books are a relatively neutral topic, so Winter feels like he can at least speak his peace about it. He holds Watership Down carefully in his grasp, the pages rough against his palm. It's relatively calming. ]

[touchofrogue]

...that's... not an easy question ta answer.

[She shifts, moves to lean one shoulder against the wall.] I've loved different books at different times of my life, an' for different reasons. Had a real sentimental attachment ta Wuthering Heights once, Dracula another time, an' you've seen my pulp fiction phase...

[She glances away and then admits almost shyly, but with more defiance than hesitance.] It's easier ta think 'bout favorite poets or poems than it is favorite stories.

[reconstitution]

[ He makes a mental note to see if he can track down Dracula and Wuthering Heights later on. ]

I guess that makes sense? So you like poetry, then.

[ He's not judging in the least, it's open curiosity. Something else he'll have to look into reading. ]

[touchofrogue]

[A smile and a nod.] Some more'n others. [...] Tennyson, for example.

[She'd gone all Anne of Green Gables over the epic love poems at one point in time, now she still loved him, but for some smaller poems more now.]

[reconstitution]

I'll see what I can find, later.

[ It will give him something different to do, anyway. He wants to catch up on everything that he's missed, and reading has been easy enough to do and pass the time. ]

[touchofrogue]

Okay, but... I'm not vouchin' for him for ya. [She tilts her head and considers. What kind of poetry would Winter like?] ...ya might be more of a WH Auden man. Or... [heh] maybe even Shel - Shel Silverstein.

[Auden was one of her favorites now... and she thought he might find some of Silverstein's poems and drawings compelling.]

[reconstitution]

After I'm done with this.

[ He nods to the book in his hand. Honestly, it won't take him more than a day or so to read it. Two or three if he really draws it out.

One thing at a time. ]

[touchofrogue]

[Small smile.]

Sounds good.

[...well, mission accomplished, she supposed.] Ya want me ta leave you be so you an' Hazel can get acquainted?

[A nod toward the book.]

[reconstitution]

If you want. [ You don't have to. ]

The Captain is around, too.

[touchofrogue]

[That was the second time he'd asked her about Jim. Was it just that he assumed that she'd want to see him (which was true), or was it that he thought she should see him? Rogue's brow furrowed slightly.] Well, I wouldn't wanna interrupt whatever you were... doin' in here.

...what were ya doin' in here?

[reconstitution]

[ She's friends with Jim, so naturally, she wouldn't want to visit his ship without talking to him, right? He's also pretty sure nobody should visit the Heron without the captain knowing about it. It's just a more viable option.

He looks around the cargo bay quickly, then puts his focus back on Rogue. ]

Keeping watch.

[ It's too cold and cramped most other places. ]

[touchofrogue]

Okay... [Glancing around the cargo bay and then back to Winter.] I'll keep watch with ya for a little bit.

[...] What are we watchin'?

[reconstitution]

For anything out of the ordinary.

[ Rogue, you will be astounded at how long he can sit and watch, absolutely still. It's that crazy assassin patience. Sorry if it's a little unnerving.

He moves back to his spot and sets the book down where it will be undisturbed. From there, it's a decent view of the cargo bay, all exits can be seen. ]

[touchofrogue]

[Okay, she's game. She moves along and takes up a similar position, leaving a little more than an arm's length between them.

She's silent for a little while and then asks:] Are we expectin' anything out of the ordinary?

[She has a feeling that the answer is either 'no' or 'always.' But... seriously, why is he doing this?]

[reconstitution]

There is no way to tell.

[ It's always a toss up whether something will happen or not.

He shifts, but remains facing forward. ]

[touchofrogue]

That's true...

[She waits a while longer. She is surprisingly good at waiting, though perhaps not with his same stillness, it is still several shades above her 'sneaking.' It reminds her oddly of meditation, a practice she has had to enforce on herself for over an hour each day.]

...do ya do this a lot?

[reconstitution]

Someone has to.

[ They don't, but it gives him something to focus on throughout the day. It's especially helpful for days when Jim has things to do. It makes Winter at least feel a bit useful. ]

[touchofrogue]

[Why?

She doesn't ask. If it gave him a measure of peace and purpose, she wasn't going to strike at it.

Rogue just settles back into silence for a time before she feels her legs starting to go numb. It makes her curious, and she doesn't hesitate to ask Winter the stupid personal questions she'd never ask anyone else, mostly because she thinks they're good for him.]

Do your legs ever fall asleep, doin' this?

[reconstitution]

[ The stupid questions are good for him. It can at least get him thinking with an outside perspective just why he feels he has to do these things. ]

I never really paid it any mind before, but I guess so.

[ He shifts his legs, working the pins and needles out. ]

[touchofrogue]

[...heh. She gives him a warm half-smile.]

Should I apologize for bringin' it up?

[Since, well, becoming aware of pins and needles is not exactly the best thing in the world, however much more of a step towards... being human it might be.]

[reconstitution]

No, it's fine.

[ Becoming conscious of those normal human things is definitely something he needs to get used to. He's so used to just blanking every sensation out and discrediting it as a problem. It's odd, but.. fucking refreshing. ].

[touchofrogue]

Okay.

[There was a pause, Rogue's line of thought more of a zig-zag. And then:] What about a sneeze? Ya ever sit waitin' and just get the itch right on the bridge of your nose so bad until the point where you just have to?