In like a Tourist, out like a lamb

[takingkarabusiness]

Who: Tourists and visitors!
Broadcast: nah
Action: S.S. Tourist
When: March!

[ What are you up to this month, Tourists? Living up to your ship name on the station? Well, share your spoils with the rest of the crew! Or maybe you've been engaging in ahem illicit pursuits? We promise not to tell! ]

Comments

[passingthrough]

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

[winn]

Yeah? [ the previous discomfort is all gone from his face now, replaced with pure excitement ]

What's your field? I'm mostly software, but I used to deal with hardware a lot, and I've kind of been picking it up again lately - [ when you're sidekicking, you need to be prepared for everything, you know. ]

[passingthrough]

[The excitement is fun.] Mostly hardware, but I'm pretty good at hacking.

[winn]

[ he has to agree, being excited is definitely way more fun than being terrified, anxious, or upset. he'll choose that every time!

he puts a hand to his heart ]

I might swoon.

[ beautiful, witty, a superhero, and a hacker. this is very good fodder for his getting-over-kara efforts. ]

What kind of hardware do you work with? -- how do programs work where you're from? What's the toughest wall you broke?

[ down the technical hole we go...can you tell he doesn't have a lot of people to talk shop with. ]

[passingthrough]

[That earns him a little laugh.]

Okay, well, first it's important to note that with the collapse of civilization there are certain structural, power grid issues to contend with, so some of my experience is in the practical and creative lines of restoring or creating power sources. Lots of rebuilding things to suit our needs before even getting to the stable computing and networking places. We also have a decent amount of alien tech integrated with our systems that won't really translate directly.

The toughest hack was probably getting into Apocalypse's database.

[winn]

[ ok, first thing first he has to get this out of the way or his brain will actually explode - ]

Apocalypse? Seriously?

[ how long was spent on that name, a full 10 seconds? ]

But that's -- that's great -- I could use your expertise, actually - I'm looking to um. Create a very specific kind of power source. And, it's definitely gonna take getting creative.

[ especially because he doesn't have the specs. ]

[passingthrough]

It was a little on the nose, but that's what he called himself. [The part where he more or less lived up to it took some of the amusement out for her. Also "Supergirl"? Who has room to talk here? Not that she's defending the guy, so please continue to feel comfortable throwing shade.]

What kind of very specific power source?

[winn]

[ hey, that one was all miss grant! he's only responsible for the outfit! ]

One that uh, emulates the sun.

[passingthrough]

Uh huh. [Should have seen that one coming.] Do you know which properties of the sun trigger Kara's powers?

[winn]

[ really should have! ]

No, it's gonna be a lot of trial and error.

[ and as frustrating as he's sure it's going to be, because he wouldn't even know if the problem is that he's working on the wrong kind of radiation or the intensity of it is off - it's also gonna be fun. ]

[passingthrough]

Great. I look forward to giving Kara fun new forms of cancer. [But no, seriously, how are they avoiding that?]

[winn]

I'm working on radiation suits. And I'm not gonna try it on her til we reach a harmless reading.

[ so basically if he's going to give anyone cancer, it's himself. if they get good results, they can start increasing the power - and at that point, kara's kryptonian cells would be protecting her. he...hopes. she never gets sick when she has her powers! ]

[passingthrough]

On the plus side materials for that should be easier to come across on an outerspace voyage. Are you going to be able to leave the ship to look for things?

[winn]

...yeah. Yeah.

[ he nods. for kara -- he can do it. maybe, if he's lucky, excitement will take over and it'll actually just be cool.

(he's not holding his breath) ]

I'm already planning a trip to the library - [ he just has to get to the part where he actually convinces himself to get back in the shuttle. ] - so what's a trip to another planet, right?

[passingthrough]

[She can tell he's still scared of the idea, but he's trying and that's the important part. The hard part. He's so invested in being able to support his friend. Kitty respects that.] She's lucky to have you, Winn.

[winn]

[ he always tries. it's just that in some things...it doesn't really seem to matter.

he smiles a little at that, and shrugs. ]

So am I.

[ he may have been the one to ask for space, but not talking to kara was one of the hardest things he's ever had to do in his life. ]

[passingthrough]

You're lucky to have you too? [Teasing.]

[winn]

Who wouldn't be?

[passingthrough]

Mmm, I don't know. Am I lucky to have you? [She leans in, voice softening.] I'd have to have you first to know for sure.

[Did she achieve desired fluster?]

[winn]

[ huston, we have fluster!

his cheeks turn slightly red - though not nearly as bad as before, for which he is endlessly grateful. ]

You could always - take a test drive?

[ it is basically impossible for him to tell if she's poking fun at him or not. ]

[passingthrough]

[She smiles, not backing away or moving forward.] What'd you have in mind?

[She can't exactly remember the goal here herself.]

[winn]

Uh --

[ this is the part where a dude with a hidden camera jumps out, isn't it? after what happened the last time he kissed a girl, he's not exactly jumping forward either - but the urge sure is a thing. ]

-- driver's choice?

[ his mind may be a little busy trying to locate runaway braincells. ]

[passingthrough]

[She could kiss him.

She thinks about kissing him.

She absolutely would have kissed him back if he'd initiated.

But she doesn't kiss him.

It was probably the cardigan that stopped her just in time. Just a familiar piece of clothing reminding her just enough of the person she's been missing from the prison. The one who broke her heart. The reason she feels so lonely and would like to get lost in a kiss right about now. It makes her think just enough which makes her think too much.

She likes Winn and Kara and would rather not mess that up by getting in the middle of whatever is going on between them. So, self control wins for now. Kissing loses.

She shifts back and offers a small smile.]

I think working on the fake sun generator sounds like a plan.

[winn]

[ if you were looking for the opportune moment - that was it, his mind berates him. where were you a second ago?, he berates back.

but maybe it's for the best. maybe he read the situation wrong, and even if he didn't - no, he's just. going to take a breath and get his heart rate back to normal, offering a smile in return. ]

And with some planning, it'll be a real one someday!

[ because right now, it really only sounds like a plan. he doesn't have the specs for the sun nor any idea where to get them, he doesn't know what equipment he needs and worst of all - there's no google. ]

[passingthrough]

That's the best kind of plan. [She's feeling a little embarrassed by whatever that was or wasn't and is feeling like an exit would be a good choice before that self control lets up.] I should probably be heading back to my ship. It could need piloting or something.

We'll talk when we get to another station or planet or whatever, right? Since we'll need parts.