driftfleet | In like a Tourist, out like a lamb

[ he tries again, to speak a little more clearly but still fool the enemy ]

A camera blindspot -

[ they're on camera, right? it's a reality show, and he can't forget it, he can't relax. but even hi-tech kidnappy aliens can't account for everything! he really hopes they're not accounting for the bathroom... ]

Oh. Well. If they're going to know things, they already know them, you know?

[ ok, they're going to have to revisit that attitude when they start their proper plotting, but for now he pulls back. ]

Well if we're talking things people already know - [ god is he uncomfortable in this role ] I - I know you're not ok, Kara. As embarrassing as freaking out is -- [ and he certainly thoroughly embarrassed himself ] it beats the alternative. Nothing good ever came out of bottling things up.

[ the one and only lesson his father taught him that he vehemently intends to cling to.

ha. did he just accidentally figure out why he was chosen for a reality show? ]

[ she sits back in her chair—a little huffy—and crosses her arms. she sounds frustrated at being called out but she knows he's right. it's hard to break out of what she's trying to talk herself into, though ]

It's fine, Winn. I'm dealing with it.

You don't have to be super all the time. Especially not for me, I already know you are.

[ he offers her a small smile - half apologetic - and leans back against the wall. pushing has never been his style. as much as he hates to admit it, right now pretty much anyone else in their little group would be more useful to kara. all he can do is let her know he's here - if she wants him. ]

[ her body language is all petty frustration—not at him, but at the situation. Her voice takes on a pouty tone, as well ]

I know. It's just, what am I supposed to do here? I hate that I don't have my powers here, but I didn't have them for the first 12 years of my life, either. I can't fix this right now, so I'll live. I mean, you've managed.

[ look her words are saying one thing but her tone is just screaming dissatisfaction ]

If I'm your example, you've really got nothing.

[ managing? he had about 50 minor panic attacks in the first hour. ]

I never had powers but...my skills are kind of my superpower. And, not being able to hit a few keys and redirect the GPS to send us home is kind of killing me right now. [ he's never been much of a leader, but he's heard something about doing it by example being a good way to go about it. even though opening up like that is like pulling teeth for him. ] Living - it doesn't mean you have to have a smile on your face when you don't feel like smiling. It's ok -- to be upset it's normal, it's - sane. I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere that it's healthy, though full disclosure it might've been a Dr. Phil promo so I can't vouch for that advice.

[ gently, he reaches a hand to squeeze her shoulder, hoping he hasn't overstepped. ]

All I'm saying is, if you need to vent - I have two ears, and I'm happy to share them.

[ well, she doesn't think he's overstepped. she flops over so her arms are layered on the table in front of her and her head is facing one side, resting on them. she sounds sad, and tired ]

I don't know, Winn. It's not just the powers thing. That sucks, but it's nothing I haven't done before.

I just— [ she stops herself, trying to figure out how to put her thoughts into words. or not cry. you know, either ]

I don't want to lose everyone I know again. It's hard being away.

I know.

[ he kneels down by her side, so their faces are leveled, his hand continuing to gently rub her shoulder, trying to offer her what comfort he can. he doesn't have as much to get back to, with her here, but having his world - the comfortable life he's built for himself ripped away again, and so soon after having to deal with all the resurfacing memories that came with his father? is hard on him too. he may not have a loving family waiting back home (or at least, not a love he wants nor a family he wants to see), but he understands. ]

But you won't. We'll get you back, Kara, I promise. There's a library I'm gonna check out - might have something we can use. And maybe there's an astrophysicist on board that could help us too - we're not giving up. Until we can get back home, to everyone...you got me.

[ she leans over to hug him. is it awkwardly positioned? sure. does it potentially complicate whatever they have going on? definitely. does she care? not even a little. she just needs a hug from her friend. ]

[ for once? he's not thinking about any of it either. he just wants to be there for his best friend - and maybe he really needs a hug too. he hugs back, trying to convey all the reassurance he lacks the words for. ]

[ she stays that way for a bit. he can't see her expression, but when she talks, her tone is lighter ]

You have to be relieved you don't have to worry about me crushing your bones for once.

I donno - bone density in space isn't all that great, far as I can remember -

[ he smiles a little, even though she can't see it. truth is, he never really worried too much about it. kara's too good to really hurt him, after all. ]

Better not get too excited about it.

[ pulls out of the hug, sitting back ]

I think the fact that we have normal gravity here helps.

[ guess he'll stand back up then - or on second thought - grab a seat. kneeling isn't exactly the most comfortable of positions, after all, and now that she's not as upset - it kind of feels unbelievably awkward. he does not need to be thinking about what people usually do in this position. ]

Wonder if it's normal for everyone - different earths, different planets, can't all of it be the same gravity. Guess we lacked out.

I didn't really think about it, but yeah, you're right.

Now that I think about it - the food stuff's familiar too - huh, I wonder if we're all seeing the same thing - or if these things in our necks are making us experience familiar conditions -

[ he's not sure if he's more appreciative or creeped out by that thought. wait, they were making progress, shit, why is he sending them back? ]

...someone really needs to create the space equivalent of cat videos.

[ because now would be a good time to sit and watch them and not allow his imagination to keep running wild and loud. ]

What do cat videos have to do with it?

[ she's not on that train of thought with him ]

Absolutely nothing.

[ and that is the whole point. well, that and he knows kara likes them, it'd be nice for her to have something familiar and likable from home - in addition to him, that is. ]

I may be rambling.

Must be a day that ends in 'y'.

I mean, I assume. Since we don't really know what day is what. Days are kind of planet specific...

I'm not saying I wouldn't mind cat videos, though.

-- are days called something else here?

[ it makes sense they would be, it also makes sense they wouldn't be the calendar days they're used to - but seeing how he can't really tell them apart, there's not really a way to notice. ]

We have the video cameras, we have the network - now we just need the cats.

No, I don't think so. And we're still on a 24 hour schedule. Maybe they just took a survey of what most people are used to? I don't actually know. We had a pretty similar day cycle on Krypton. Without all that ridiculous Leap Year stuff.

[ earthlings are so WEIRD ]

Maybe - that would mean that most people here are from an earth-like environment...maybe they're trying to determine how we cope with prolonged space travel...

[ because all this for ratings seems a little much. there has to be an ultimate goal here, his brain can't really accept all this suffering being completely futile. ]

That's a word that could stand being taken back home. [ he agrees, earthlings can be downright ridiculous. just look at him. ]

Well, if it were some kind of study, I could almost understand not letting us in on things, so they get natural reactions. It doesn't seem very ethical though.

I don't think 'ethical' even ranks on their list of priorities -

[ no matter what this is, taking them away from their homes without their consent is plain wrong. ]

In like a Tourist, out like a lamb

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