driftfleet | gotta get down for a mingle

Entry tags:

gotta get down for a mingle

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 ]

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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. ]

[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.]

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

The Captain is around, too.

[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?

[ 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. ]

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'?

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. ]

[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?]

There is no way to tell.

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

He shifts, but remains facing forward. ]

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?

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. ]

[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?

[ 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. ]

[...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.]

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. ].

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?

[ He actually has to stop and think about that one. ]

I guess so, yes. It's involuntary.

Huh. [Thinking on it, turning it over a little.] ...anythin' else?

[She paused a moment to clarify.] I mean, what else would start ta get distractin'?

[ He shrugs a shoulder. ]

Fatigue. Hunger. I can ignore them, but that's not good, I guess. Not something most people do.

[Rogue bobbed her head from side to side, considering.] Guess that depends on the circumstances. Lotta people will do that sort of thing, if they don't have a choice or if somethin' more immediately important's goin' on.

[She sure did.] But it does tend ta get unhealthy after a while.

This is easier, sometimes. Routine that's set in stone.

[ There's at least a small veil of use in what he's doing. Thankfully, the reading and catching up provides a much-needed distraction from that. ]

[What was easier, she wonders. Ignoring fatigue? Sitting here and watching... waiting for something to happen? Stalking while he was doing... whatever he was doing that left him like this?

Well. Only one way to find out.]

What's easier?

Waiting. Watching.

There's not much else for me to do. [ Not much use he can provide when there isn't a war. ]

[She gave him a curious glance, that particular brand of interest that was also determined to be non-invasive.]

Well... plenty ya could learn ta do, if ya wanted. Knew some folk, the last place I was, who just went around learnin' everythin' they could from everybody. Ain't often ya get so many people like the ones gathered here in one place.

..I could.

[ But that would mean actually being around people again. Thankfully, it doesn't require being around more than one or two people at a time.

There's a silence that develops afterward, Winter mulling everything over and wondering just what his hesitation in the matter is.]

What can you teach me?

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