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

[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.

[beathach]

Stocking the kitchens with alcohol sounds like a really bad idea.

[though he certainly understands why they should. He doesn't drink often, but even he'd go for one right now] Have you tried before?

[takingkarabusiness]

At home? Yes. But I'm not at full strength here, so who knows.

[beathach]

Ah. Well, it might be possible. [he's not going to encourage her to test it, though, because that - like most things - seems like a bad idea]

[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.

[passingthrough]

Did she tell you there's a version of him in my world? The worst-case scenario version.

[winn]

[ so they are talking about it. well, at least now he can keep one eye out on the hallway. ]

She...said he was a big bad.

[ he nods. he didn't press her for details because it seemed like the sort of thing he should talk to kitty about. he doesn't want to talk about her traumas behind her back, it should be her decision who she shares what with. ]

Is it ok that he's here? We can - head back to the Bishop - or, the Windrose - [ if a version of his dad showed up, he'd want to at least be given the option of avoidance. ]

[passingthrough]

One of the biggest and baddest. Partially responsible for the soldiers who killed my parents kind of bad.

[She shakes her head.] It's fine. I ran into him on the Blameless and we had a long talk. He seems like someone I'd probably like. Which feels kind of gross and wrong, and then I feel guilty for feeling that because he's innocent [She reaches up to brush back the hair trying to fall in her face.]

[winn]

That's cuz you're a good person.

[ he reaches across the couch to take her hand. he's tried to forgive his father, but after everything he's put him through, after how everything ended between them...he can't imagine looking into that face and seeing anything but the man who thought that loving him meant being united by the blood staining their hands, united in hell, united in death. maybe he'd be able to work past it, if it were kara stranded somehow behind it, but a stranger? ]

I'm sorry. This sucks. [ because it's nobody's fault, and it's unfair all around. well, not true, it's the fault of the hank of that world, but he's not here and they're left to take the fall. ]