And On Your Left You'll See a Tourist Mingle

[takingkarabusiness]

Who: Tourists and visitors
Broadcast: nah
Action: The Tourist!
When: April!!!

[ what do you mean the month is half over? this is a mingle people! ]

Comments

[takingkarabusiness]

[ winslow? Winn must be really nervous ]

I. Sorry, Winn. And Hank.

Really should think about socks and doorknobs if things escalate...

[ the last part is kind of muttered under her breath ]

[beathach]

[he's going to pretend he doesn't hear the mutter, and nod to Winn, managing something of a half-smile. What a way to meet someone] It's - fine, Kara, this, uh . . . [he has no idea what he wants to say, so he just clears his throat and addresses Winn]

Hank McCoy. [he offers, with a vague gesture at himself] I've heard a lot about you. [and he stops himself there before he can add "and not like this" because it's already too awkward]

[passingthrough]

[Kitty stands up too, feeling extra awkward alone on the couch now. This whole thing is probably the couch's fault anyway.] Your name is Winslow? [Should she have already known his name? Did she ever mention hers is Katherine?

Kara gets that "really?" glance from before now because come on! She's not escalating anything on Kara's couch. Okay, she might have thought of escalating something, but that doesn't mean they would have.]

[winn]

Likewise --

[ only kinda, and mostly it wasn't about him properly - which is the source of a lot of the discomfort he's feeling.

he looks back at kitty, and he's almost grateful for her reaction. it's a distraction from what kara said. ]

Yeah, yeah, cuz you know, puns about 'winning' and 'shots' aren't enough, you need some 'slow' in there, too.

[takingkarabusiness]

[ okay she knows when she's being universally reviled. maybe that comment was a bit much but COME ON ]

I'm going to grab some drinks. Who wants what?

[beathach]

[is this getting more awkward? He feels like this is getting more awkward]

Ah - uh, anything's fine, thank you. [he glances at Kara, shooting her a brief apologetic look. This timing was terrible, maybe he should have messaged before he shuttled over] Do you - want help carrying anything?

[not that he thinks she isn't capable - he knows she is - but it's second nature to look for a (brief) escape]

[passingthrough]

I'm fine or water is fine. [There is so much fine here. Every fine.]

I'll just be here coming up with my slow-based puns.

[She is noticing how not thrown Winn seems by the blue furry guy though in as much as anyone is acting "not thrown" right now anyway. Points achieved.]

[winn]

[ he'd be very thrown, but there was a blue furry guy on board with him when he arrived, and he's in outer space. at this point -- that there are so many regular-looking people is what's weird. besides, it's a blue furry guy that's important to kara. ]

Well we're on a roll here so -- fine, anything is fine, thank you, fine.

[ trying for a smile? ]

Take your time -- [ badum tish. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

No super speed, got it.

[ she takes Hank's arm and pulls him out of the room rather than just tell him to come with her ]

Be right back!

[ she's completely not sure why she's reacting so strongly— it's like Kitty said, there was nothing inherently scandalous about what they were doing. but the convergence of factors just pushed it over the edge ]

[beathach]

[he's okay with being pulled, he goes more than willingly.

He only gives a brief glance over his shoulder once they're out of earshot before he glances down at Kara]

So that was - something.

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she has the good sense to look kinda mortified ]

I am so sorry. That was a really stupid move on my part.

[beathach]

What? No - no, no, you don't have to apologize. It's just - bad timing, that's all.

[really, really bad timing]

[takingkarabusiness]

I mean, Kitty's right. It's nothing we haven't seen before. It's just like. You know. Walking in on your brother.

[beathach]

[it's true, and he's done the same at the risk of getting caught.

. . . not that he's going to say that]

I get it. Also just the surprise of - walking in on anyone. [he walked in on Charles and Erik once and that was a lot worse]

[takingkarabusiness]

I just can't believe I did that. You'd think me, of all people, would remember that I have like 20 failsafes against this sort of thing.

[ huff huff ]

Not actually how I wanted you to meet Winn. But Kitty didn't try to kill you?

[beathach]

[he reaches over to pat her hand with a faintly amused noise]

That's what second impressions are for? [he certainly wasn't going to hold it against him] Kitty and I . . . talked. Now it's just. Awkward? A little, I think.

[takingkarabusiness]

Well, it fit right in to that scene?

[ she exhales. she can get over this. ]

Let's check out the kitchen. For a few minutes.

They should stock these things with alcohol, though I don't even know if I can get drunk.

[passingthrough]

[She watches as they disappear.]

At least it wasn't awkward.

Think we have time to makeout before they get back? [She's kidding. Everything is clearly very awkward and there should be no making out.]

[winn]

I think we have time to build the pyramids before they get back -

[ because he can't imagine they'll be in any hurry to get back to this awkward exchange. even though his last comment was meant in jest for kitty -- he's kind of glad kara misunderstood it. he could use a little time to compose himself.

he sits back down on the couch, straightening his hair out. ]

So. You ok? With -- [ he gestures towards the door. he knew he was supposed to come over, but somehow the thought that his visit would intersect with kitty's kind of got lost in being excited over seeing her, and generally losing track of time in his work. ]

[passingthrough]

[Kitty got that he was trying for a "slow" pun if that helps, but it wasn't that good. Maybe best not to bring it up again.

The pyramids on the other hand gets a light laugh as she sits curled up on the opposite end of the couch against the arm rest. This is for their benefit when they return, not because she feels a need to be further from Winn.]

It takes so much more than being caught kissing another consenting adult to un-okay me. [Missing his implication.]

[winn]

[ he takes that as her not wanting to talk about it - which, is probably a good idea, considering the fact that they could actually get back any second. and it's his luck so -- they would at the absolute worst moment. ]

Had to ask. [ he smiles, still feeling so. very. awkward. so he latches onto the only topic they've brought up since they were interrupted. well, that and they're pretty close - it's kind of weirdly funny that she doesn't know his proper name, even if it's because he never uses it. ]

The whole thing is Winslow Schott Jr. No punny middle name, at least. [ says something about his levels of awkwardness when bringing up his dad is the lesser evil. ]

[passingthrough]

Oh. [It comes out softly because she's realizing it's his Dad's name too. That can't be easy.] Winn suits you. [Have a warm smile to go with it.]

Mine is Katherine Anne Pryde. So, I just work at making it more puntastic with the Kitty thing. And I am from Deerfield, Illinois, but I always say Chicago since people would just ask where Deerfield is and then I'd be explaining suburbs, so you are one of the few in the know of this extremely important information.

[She wants to help relax some of that awkward energy of his. They didn't do anything wrong. If they'd gone further that would have been dicey, but...]

[winn]

Thanks.

[ he smiles back gratefully. it's nice, that she knows. ]

Kitty suits you, too. [ katherine anne sounds too serious. ]

I'd say I'd guard it with my life, but -- I'm sorry, if someone wants to know it that badly, your secret isn't safe with me.

[passingthrough]

[She laughs softly.] Thanks. Your life is definitely more important. [She leans the side of her head against the couch backing and smiles at him.]

So, it was your first time meeting Hank? [Okay, kind of obvious because there were introductions.]

[winn]

[ he leans back as well, tilting his head slightly towards her so he could keep looking at her as they talk ]

Yeah. I -- heard a little bit about him from Kara, but never met him myself.