driftfleet | it's not our fault it's an april mingle

Give it a moment or two.

So, anywhere on the ship you want to see?

[ah, that's right, they were on a tour. He sort of glances around, and - ]

Well, since we're talking about it . . . the kitchen?

It will be a new experience for the both of us.

[ heads in a direction that seems plausible for the kitchen ]

You should come visit the Tourist. My understanding is that this is a new ship so it doesn't have some of the luxuries of the others.

[he follows after her]

I'd like to, if - it's okay, I mean.

We can hang out in my office.

Okay that's about the most exciting thing about it, but you know. It's different! We have our own rooms!

[he huffs out a laugh]

I'd like to see it. And hang out in your office.

How thoroughly modern of you.

[ like she even knows what she's talking about ]

Tell me more about your life back home?

[Kara pls]

My life? Uh . . . [what about his life is even remotely worth sharing] What do you want to know? Anything I say is either going to sound really boring or like I'm bragging, which - I'm really not.

Don't worry about sounding like you're bragging. You could stand to brag a little more, from what I gather.

What did you like about doing genetics research? How'd you get into it?

[but bragging is terrible. But Kara giving him a starting point works well]

I - well, I got into it because of my mutation. I wanted to . . . first find out what it was, then find a way to - you know, hide it. [he only winces a tiny bit] I've always been interested in the sciences, though. I studied genetics and biochemistry in college, but I've sort of - dabbled in it all, more or less.

I think that's a little like why my sister went into bio-engineering. Well, it's kind of the family business for the Danvers, but I think having an alien sister helped foster an interest. And then she got recruited to the DEO... because of her connection with me. But she stayed there because of her skill.

I don't want to make it sound like I'm the reason she's successful. Alex is brilliant and fierce and she would've done just fine if I had landed somewhere else.

Ah - no, it doesn't sound like that at all. She sounds amazing. [he's so earnest, but he also has a genuine respect for anyone in those fields]

Is the DEO a government agency?

Yes? It's not exactly on the financial releases though. It's the "Department of Extra-normal Operations". Secret alien monitoring government organization.

[he tilts his head, but he's not . . . very surprised an agency like that exists]

One of those, then. [he nods] The CIA had a research facility dedicated to investigating the application paranormal powers to military defense. I worked there for a few years.

I hope they treated you well.

Mm, it was a good job. It let me do a lot of things I wouldn't have been able to do anywhere else.

Sometimes that's the important part.

[he nods in agreement]

I think it could have done some real good if it was still around.

What happened to it?

[ah. There's a scratching sound, as Hank digs the claws of one hand into one of the counters, briefly, before he relaxes]

The group of mutants we were trying to stop attacked and destroyed the facility. One of them killed my boss, and . . . after everything else that happened, the CIA didn't reopen it.

[ she lightly places a hand on his arm in condolence ]

I'm sorry.

[he quickly shakes his head]

It was a long time ago.

[ squeezes his arm before reclaiming her hand ]

That doesn't always make it easier.

No . . . not always. It's . . . mm, a recently reopened wound, you could say. [twice over, but he won't say that]

Can I ask why? Or would that be like sticking my fingers in the wound and swirling them around?

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