driftfleet | In like a Tourist, out like a lamb

None of them get their powers specifically from a yellow sun. [Though there are mutants who use solar energy. She wouldn't be surprised if Storm's powers were affected somewhat, but she already saw her generating lightning, so she knows they aren't gone.] Teleporting, fast healing, controlling the weather, charging objects with explosive energy, absorbing other people's powers, that kind of thing. [Maybe she shouldn't be telling him all this, but he seems harmless and it's not like she's connecting the names to the powers or that X-Men are usually shy. Then again one of the Kurts has something to make him look "normal" so she probably shouldn't assume.

She smiles, tilting her head.]

You didn't think the long blond hair and breasts would be enough? Then again, I've never seen Superman, so maybe he has those too.

So...basically powers can be absolutely anything.

[ that is an impressive array of abilities and there is so much that could be done with them, once they figure out how to get to their captures - ]

Does teleporting mean not having to use the shuttles?

[ because in that case he likes to make a formal complaint: it's not fair, everyone should have that one. but he'll settle on just him, it would make his life so much easier right now. ]

It's symbolic - [ going red again because those are kara's - body parts - they're talking about here. ]

[Yes, good. She likes it muuuuch better when he's the one flustered and not her.] Pretty much anything. [And yes, most of them can be terrifying, but she likes that he seems in awe more than in terror.] And not in this case. I mean under the right circumstances, Kurt could make the jump, but it would be really dangerous. Much more dangerous than a shuttle. Unless the ships were close together and stationary and he knew the interior already. [Blink could do it, but she's not here and Kurt's power works differently.] You mentioned a fear of heights... Shuttles too?

[ so cruel, kitty. ] Th-the whole 'space' thing I could do without. [ technically it's about as high as you can possibly go, and all that. every time he thinks about it, he gets dizzy. ]

So, all these other mutants - they're your friends?

[ that means a lot of people from the same world, and the same group. he doesn't like the sound of that, it means the odds of someone he doesn't want to see showing up are getting bigger. though it could also mean someone kara does want to see showing up which would be...bad for that person but good for her, and honestly everyone he can think of who fit that bill is someone who'd want to be there for her given the choice so - that would be good. he doesn't usually get 'good', but kara might! maybe she'll cancel his luck out. ]

[That admission gets him a sympathetic look. She doesn't fear heights, but she can also stand on air so she doesn't really need to fear them. This is a hard place to have a fear like that tested.]

Yes. Maybe? [Not said with a lot of confidence.] Kurt—the older Kurt—is the only one I knew from home. Everyone else is from another reality. I actually only ever met Laura in the prison, but everyone else is a version of someone I knew. So people I care about who are also strangers.

[ he appreciates the sympathy - it sure beats being called a baby. but what she says he finds even more compelling. he frowns as he listens. ]

-- what prison?

[ he'd get into the whole multiple versions of people, but he already knew that was a possibility and this seems like the more important part to focus on. he can't help but think about maxwell lord - if he could, he'd at the very least lock kara up, it's not like he hasn't tried to do worse. it makes sense for more like him to exist, but he doesn't want to think about those types of people succeeding. ]

I didn't mention the prison before? [Not that she really remembers it coming up. She just feels like she brings it up a lot in general. It was her home for the last year and she misses it more than her actual home.]

MarinaNova. It's kind of like this place. At least as much as an underwater city under a dome calling itself a prison can be like a fleet of spaceships. You arrive suddenly. They take people from different times, worlds, and realities. I was there for about a year before I was suddenly here. Apparently a lot of people here were in another place like that first.

Yeah, I've heard that - so either a bunch of separate very powerful -- beings are playing inter-dimensional capture the flag with us -- or it's all the same - whatever this is, with different arenas.

[ he's not sure which option is worse, really. either way it means that at any given time he could wake up somewhere worse, or worse - kara could be gone somewhere he can't follow her to. and logically he knows she's way better equipped to deal with anything they have to throw at them than he ever will be, superpowers or not, but how will he ever sleep at night, not knowing if she's home or in some horrible underwater prison, or having her mind messed with, or anywhere else that might be out there and he just hasn't heard of yet. ]

Did you ever find out what they wanted from you there? How'd you get out -- was it just this place sucking you in? [ oh shit, this is probably seriously tactless ]

-- I'm sorry, we don't have to talk about this, if you don't want to.

[ though not knowing now would probably drive him insane. ]

No, it's okay. I ask a lot of questions when it comes to these things too. I was actually leading a team in the prison trying to find the answers so we could overthrow the wardens and get people home and keep them from abducting new ones. We knew the prison system was larger than just us and maybe all of them are connected. Some are very different though. Eudio makes it all optional, but maybe that's just part of the test. Another mind game. [There were a lot of mind games in the prison.]

We never escaped though. I'm only here because the Atroma or the wardens or the unseen bad wanted me here.

What's Eudio?

[ everything about this feels like mind-test-ception, and it's maddening. he can see himself going completely crazy here - and that's terrifying, but he has no way to defend himself against that. it's not like he can just live here blissfully and not think about it - for one this place is scary so blissful is already out the window, for two kara has people waiting for her back home, a whole city full of people who depend on her, and a family who loves her - he promised her they wouldn't let it all get taken away from her again. he has to think about it, because otherwise nothing could ever change, but in thinking about it, he leaves himself vulnerable to his brain actually melting.

(at this point, he can't even say for certain that it isn't a literal possibility. nothing is certain anymore). ]

The -- unseen - bad? [ in a way they all are that, but if there's a world where that's what it's named -- it sounds like one he seriously would not want to end up in. not that he has a choice. see why insanity is such a real concern around here? ]

Eudio is a world where they give people the option of cuddling to save their universe? Or something? I don't know. It's one of the more ridiculous sounding things. Ramse passed through there.

[She reaches out, placing a hand over his because he seems a little off. She can tell he's thinking, but she's not sure where those thoughts are going. It reminds her of someone else.] Just going for a loose descriptor. [Without saying "unsub" the way Reid would have. Reid being the someone else.] You okay?

-- cuddling? Seriously? [ it sounds ridiculous and stupid and innocent - until you start thinking about why anyone would want to force people to do that. is that some kind of weird alien porn? oh brain, why'd you have to go there, now he's just going to look even more weirded out. ]

Yeah -- yeah, I'm fine, great! [ he tries for a smile that would probably convince, like, a really naive 5 year old. ] Just - [ gesturing uncertainly around his head ] Processing. I should -- be asking you that. [ she's the one who's been to that prison. yeah, this fleet could be called a prison in the sense that they can't get out, but it could have been worse. there could have been bars. wardens. violent offenders. cells. it's not that bad! he's lucky. it's not that bad. ]

[It's a shame he's not hanging out with a really naive 5 year old.] It's a lot to process, Winn. It's okay if you're not in an okay place with it. There's a lot to be not okay with.

[ actually, that's probably for the best, a 5 year old would just make him more anxious - he'd have to take care of it, and he's not even all that great at taking care of himself. he'd much rather leave the being a role model to kara, she's actually good at it.

this time, he offers her a more appreciative smile; he doesn't really get told that a lot. ]

Yeah. But we'll figure it out. If you're gonna be kidnapped, a bunch of superheroes is definitely who you wanna end up with!

People really like using that term. [It always makes her a little uncomfortable even if it's not a poor description.] But you're right. You're in good hands.

You don't?

[ as someone who is chronically uncomfortable, he tends to recognize the signs. ]

The best of hands. [ he nods. he trust kara completely, and now that he's getting to know her, he's definitely trusting kitty too. ]

I think the hero part is a very big word to live up to. [Yeah, no, she's fine with the super part. Just don't start calling her Supercat.]

[ he would never. it reminds him way too much of miss grant and he really doesn't want to think of her and kitty in the same breath. ]

It is, I'd be terrible at it.

[ having superpowers might be cool. having to face up to danger with those superpowers? ehh...he'd probably do it, he thinks, but he definitely would never be as gung ho about it as kara is. ]

Why do you think you'd be terrible at it? [Looking at him curiously.]

[ well there's a question he never really expected to face. ]

-- you know uh, just a feeling.

[ mainly fear. ]

[She looks at him for a moment before responding as if thinking to question it more.] You help, Kara, right? That's got to be something. Assistant superhero?

You can say sidekick.

[ he smiles, he knows his place. ]

I'm king of that! Call me for all your non-combative backup needs. [ intel gathering, suit making, gadgeting - he can do. being an impressive figure for the masses to look up to? he can dream about. ]

Yeah? [Looking a little amused.] What do you do besides making the suit? [It's not that she thinks there's nothing else. Kara just didn't go into it at all.]

Well, let's just say that for all things digital? I'm Superman.

[ looking smug now. he lacks confidence in a lot of fields, but his knowledge? sure isn't one of them. even though it's taking a bit of a hit right now because this system is not really succumbing to his expertise as easily as he would like, it's still standing tall. he'll figure it out, he's got nothing but time tinker with it. ]

Thus the defensiveness for robots, huh? You know, in addition to frying things, I'm actually pretty good with tech myself.

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