driftfleet | And On Your Left You'll See a Tourist Mingle

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

[ 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. ]

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.]

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. ]

[He calls her a good person and she doesn't know what to say. She doesn't always feel like a good person. She's made so many hard decisions and done necessary, but terrible things.

She doesn't trust her voice for the moment, so she gives his hand a squeeze. And just looks into his eyes for a few moments before trying for something lighter.]

Do you think they'll faint if they come in here and see us holding hands?

[ he knows that feeling, too. not so much the having done stuff, but not feeling like a good person anymore, because of the kind of thoughts that go through his head. he squeezes her hand in return, trying to offer what comfort he can. ]

Only one way to find out.

[ because he's not letting go of her any time soon, unless she wants to. besides, if they do? that'd be pretty funny. ]

[That gets a light smile and no letting go.]

Look at us living on the edge.

...It was kind of a big reaction just for a kiss, right? Especially when she already knew? [Slowly wondering if there was more to it.]

Stick with me, you'll forget what a rail looks like.

[ cuz he's such a dangerous badass, no really. ]

I guess it was the surprise, like she said - she didn't know you were here.

[ he's not really thinking that, because he can't allow himself to think that. getting over kara is one of the hardest thing he's had to do, and he doesn't want to have to restart the process.

no, it was probably the surprise, and the fact that they ended up sticking kitty and hank in the same space when they both know that things are uncomfortable to say the least, that's his guess. ]

[She feels like she got in the middle of something before it was really resolved, but she also thought it was heading toward resolved apart and not...resolved together. She wasn't wrong about that was she? Because that's not good for anyone now.]

Right. Surprises are surprising. [These thoughts are going to dance around in the back of her mind for awhile at least.] Like...when they make you phase through someone a little. [And they seem a little freaked out about it.]

[ at least for winn, they no longer make an appearance. it's the nice thing about finally having an answer, even if it's not the one he wanted - he gets to move on. he gets to interpret the situation as - this was just a ball of awkwardness made worse by the fact that they're all awkward people.

he kind of looks like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar; he wasn't going to bring that up, not now at least - he didn't want her to feel like she's done something wrong on top of everything else, and he also...wants to impress her. freaking out is the opposite of impressive. ]

About that -- when that happens, is it safe to step back or -- is that a colossally Bad Idea?

You weren't phased so it was safe to step back. If we'd both been phased we would have been solid to each other and that wouldn't have happened.

But if I have you phased and you're partially in a wall or something you can't let go of me.

It's just an instinct for me, you know? I do it more than people probably realize. [Since a lot of times she'll just look like she's sitting/standing/whatever normally.]

That's - good to know.

[ parameters, ways he could tell what's going on. it's reassuring. when dealing with superpowers, he kind of feels like he's feeling his way in the dark, and it's not a sensation he's used to. he's good at understanding things. ]

Is it like a nervous habit? [ like the superpowered version of his hand going in his hair. (which is where the one that is not holding kitty's goes right now. maybe it's a good thing he doesn't have superpowers...) ]

[She doesn't mind telling him. She'd even let some weaknesses slip probably.]

No, it's a defensive habit so I don't get shot or something. ...I guess it might seem more nervous in a place like this where that's a lot less likely.

[ if she will, that's a secret he really will do his best to take to his grave.

he squeezes her hand a little again. the sound of whole magazines being emptied in his direction is probably going to haunt him for the rest of his days, and he was never actually hit thanks to kara. he can't imagine what kitty must be dealing with. ]

Instincts are kind of embedded regardless of geography. Otherwise I wouldn't be rambling right now about instincts -

[One day she needs the ability to read brackets because he'd probably get more hugs if she could.]

Tricky instincts. At least this one is usually harmless and sometimes extremely helpful. And I don't embarrass easily. [Which was kind of the superpower in the room a little while ago.]

[ maybe one day! those augments sure are weird. ]

Wish you could share that power -

[ because if he's not embarrassed then he's embarrassing. ]

I'm not too embarrassing to kiss, right? [Smiling. Of course it's a trap.]

[ he can see that. he can also see how literally anything he would say here would get confused and extremely embarrassing and would probably end up blurting out some of his confidence issues along the way which as everyone knows - is just as sexy as can get. he opens his mouth to start saying it anyway --

and instead leans forward and kisses her. yeah, if he's going to fall for that trap, he's going to at least enjoy the ride! and frankly if kara walks back in now? well, he'll still be embarrassed and awkward, but it'll be worth it! ]

[She didn't expect him to dare kissing her again, but he does and she meets it sweet and lingering. Her hand comes up to slide back into his hair. She could get used to this and that scares her, but not enough to pull away. Not until they really need to breathe.]

That was a really good answer.

[ he smiles as they pull apart; he's already used to it. ]

It was an easy question.

[ she's kind of too good for him, after all. ]

Wow, you are nailing this. [Because that was a good response too. Not a literal invitation for nailing anything. But she's thiiiiiis close to a blush!]

Well, statistically, it's bound to happen every once in a while.

You really don't give yourself enough credit. I'm going to start calling you every day just to tell you something nice about yourself.

[ it's his turn to almost blush - no, you know what? that gets a bit of a blush. ]

Every day? [ he's assuming it's a joke but even still, that calling him every day would even come to mind is moving, let alone the implication that she'd have something new to say on every call. ]

[She almost says, "unless you'd get tired of me," but it sounds too much like another trick so she holds it back.] Every day that I don't see you in person.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject