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

[ladybro]

Who: S.S. Blameless
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Yes, for crew-mates and any visitors!
When: Month of April

[ aww mingle, no. ]

Comments

[beathach]

[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.

[takingkarabusiness]

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.

[beathach]

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?

[takingkarabusiness]

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

[beathach]

[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.

[takingkarabusiness]

I hope they treated you well.

[beathach]

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

[takingkarabusiness]

Sometimes that's the important part.

[beathach]

[he nods in agreement]

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

[takingkarabusiness]

What happened to it?

[beathach]

[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.

[takingkarabusiness]

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

I'm sorry.

[beathach]

[he quickly shakes his head]

It was a long time ago.

[takingkarabusiness]

[ squeezes his arm before reclaiming her hand ]

That doesn't always make it easier.

[beathach]

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

[takingkarabusiness]

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

[beathach]

What? No - no, it's not like that. We . . . like I said, there were a few of us there when it happened. We - learned fairly recently that some of them had - died in the last few years. [he puts it as generally as he can, because that particular part is still an open wound, too]

[takingkarabusiness]

I'm not... really sure I understand.

[beathach]

Ah, I'm sorry - I meant the other mutants who had been with us at the CIA.

[takingkarabusiness]

Ah.

I'm sorry. [ she doesn't want to seem insensitive but she doesn't want to keep going down this path if he's upset about it ]

Is there anything you wanted to ask me about?

[beathach]

Mm . . . thank you. [he doesn't think it insensitive at all. He's a little glad for the change in subject]

Not - that I can think of at the moment? [he offers a small smile] You've told me a lot about where you're from so far.

[takingkarabusiness]

Then why don't we check out what having a cook on your ship gets you in terms of better food?

[beathach]

That sounds like a great idea.

[takingkarabusiness]

[ isn't it nice how she just makes herself at home riffling through your pantry while also eating a pastry? ]

I really would do something drastic for a good pizza.

[beathach]

[by all means he isn't going to stop her]

Pizza? Really?