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]

[ hooked pinkies!!! ]

And I always keep my word.

[beathach]

[the most serious of promises right here]

I believe you.

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she lets the pinky drop but she kind of just wants to stay there, and does, maybe for a moment too long? she shakes out of it slightly and glides down the hall a bit ]

I can't wait until we go somewhere with a better atmosphere.

[beathach]

[. . . ???

No don't look into it Hank. He gives a faint shake of his head before focusing on what she said]

That'd be nice. The masks we have to wear down there are a little annoying.

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she goes back to walking—she doesn't want to have to snack even more ]

Tell me about it. I'm not sure if I technically need it, but I don't really want to find out the hard way.

[beathach]

Yeah, I wouldn't test it. I mean - I briefly thought about it, but uh - being sick like this doesn't seem all that pleasant.

[this is the longest he's ever spent as himself, after all]

[takingkarabusiness]

Yeah, let's not tempt fate.

[ and back to her room! she sits cross-legged on her bed and invites him to join her ]

[beathach]

[he takes a seat on the edge of the bed, and after a moment shifts to fold a leg underneath him. It's almost natural to attempt not to take up as much space as he usually does]

Mmm. And considering the likelihood of other people deciding to test it . . . it's best if I stay healthy.

[not that he thinks anyone on his ship would do that]

[takingkarabusiness]

Seems like there was at least some... easing of tensions between you and Kitty?

[beathach]

Ah - yeah. Like I said, we talked. Not too long after you visited me, actually.

I mean, it's still . . . tense, a bit. And I think it will be for a while, and I completely understand. But . . . we got to know each other a little better. I think that helped.

[takingkarabusiness]

Good. I'm glad. I get being suspicious. We all have our moments. But particularly for someone like you, it's good to have an open heart, as well.

[beathach]

[that makes him smile, small but genuine]

It's . . . difficult sometimes. [he purses his lips, trying to put his thoughts into words] There was a time when I wasn't like - that, I guess. And - it was easier, a lot easier, but it wasn't . . . right, either. And I don't want to - I don't know, backslide into that again?

[he makes a face and blows out a sigh]

Besides . . . everyone deserves a chance. Or a - chance to prove themselves, whichever way fits better.

[takingkarabusiness]

I agree completely.

[ she's going to reach over and put her hand over his ]

It's how I try to do all the superheroing stuff that I do. Obviously, I need to act on what's happened, but I always want to be able to give someone a chance to reform.

[beathach]

[oh no touching. He glances down at her hand, then tentatively covers it with his other one]

You're a good person. It's a lot harder to do that than to do the opposite.

[takingkarabusiness]

My mother sent me to Earth to protect Kal-El, and to do that, I also have to work on protecting the people on Earth. It's what he loves doing, and it's what I love doing.

[beathach]

Your Earth sounds pretty lucky.

[takingkarabusiness]

We're also trouble magnets but yeah, I like to think it is.

[beathach]

I think Earth in general is a trouble magnet, no matter the version.

But it's nice to hear the one has someone like you protecting it.

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she adjusts her glasses self-consciously ]

I'm sure you say that to all the Kryptonians you meet.

[beathach]

[he tries not to smile and fails miserably]

No, just one.

[takingkarabusiness]

[ his smile is contagious and she squeezes his hand a little ]

So, you're going to build that school. What will your role be?

[beathach]

Well I'm not - it's Charles' school, I'm just helping. [he can't take credit for it, that was all Charles' vision]

And I guess my role is teacher again? I don't know exactly what I'll be teaching yet, though. Likely something to do with the sciences, though, considering. And - well, helping others control their powers as well, but that sort of goes without saying.

[takingkarabusiness]

It seems like you're both really invested in it, though.

I don't know if I'd have the patience for teaching, though. It takes a certain kind of disposition.

[beathach]

It's something our world needs. A safe place for mutants to learn how to be themselves.

[that's why he's invested; it wasn't something he had growing up]

It . . . yeah, it does. [he lets out a huff of laughter] That and a lot of patience.

[takingkarabusiness]

Something I'm remarkably short on, really.