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

[ he falls quiet again, unable to really bring himself to catch her eyes. he wants to scream out his frustration, his anger, his misery. but he doesn't know how much kara may know about it, and while kitty did say that at least (at least, it feels so horrendously wrong to even think in this context) her death is no secret - he still feels like he would be betraying the trust she placed in him if he brings it up without her explicit permission. ]

What do you want me to say? [ he knows she knows some at least - because of hank. but he can't know how far that extends. of course - she can't know how far his knowledge extends which kind of makes it hard on either of them to bring up specifics, doesn't it? ] You know it's...terrible, right?

Yeah and... not available for her to go home to?

[ she's in the same position as him—trying to feel out what he knows or doesn't know. she doesn't want to be the one to break the news if they haven't talked about it, but his reaction was so strong. they had to have talked about it ]

She told me some... pretty serious stuff last week.

[ he doesn't have the energy to feel anything about kara possibly knowing besides a strange sort of relief. ]

Which is why I'm going to make ours available.

[ he wants to sound confident, assured. this has to be the one thing he succeeds in, even if he fails at absolutely everything else for the rest of his life - he has to get kitty to national city. he has to. he has no idea how -- but he knows that he can't let her down - and he can't lose her. ]

Do you think that's possible?

[ she's not doubting him—in fact, she's energized by the possibility. She wants more details. ]

I'm sure it is. We were all brought here - to a dimension that isn't our own. That means that we can exist in a dimension that isn't our own - and we can travel to it. It's a matter of reverse engineering the technology.

[ it's a matter of finding it. and the obvious first place to look -- is the place that brought them all here. but he couldn't find anything on board the marsiva when he arrived. there has to be something, there has to be a solution. he's just not seeing it yet. ]

That sounds pretty exciting to me. I bet you and Hank could put your heads together on the topic.

[ he could use all the help he can get with this but at the same time -- no, nothing else matters, not when kitty's life is at stake here. he could use all the help he can get. ]

But listen, Kara -- I need you to promise me something. As far as anyone besides us is concerned - this is just about getting home. Don't mention Kitty - or mention this to her. I -- don't want to come to her with this until I have some real progress to show.

[ she takes both of his hands ]

Of course. There's no reason to get anyone's hopes up before you have anything to show for it.

[ he squeezes her hands in response. he knows this is a long shot, that it's going to be the hardest thing he's ever done in his life, that the odds are stacked against him. but he also knows that as long as he has two hands and a head on his shoulders - or even just the head, he could ask kara to be his hands - he's going to keep working on it. he may not get kitty's hopes up, but he has to get his to be able to get out of bed. ]

Thank you. [ he has so much to thank her for. taking her and kitty home -- is the best way he knows to express that. ]

Please, just remember, Winn, that it's not always about what you make, it's about who you are. And you're pretty great.

[ in this case, he feels like it's very much about what he makes - because kitty's life may depend on it.

but even so, she gets a bemused laugh ]

You're the second person to tell me that today. [ and that is just -- incredible to him. he has no idea what he's doing right to end up with these two ladies in his life - but he strives to keep at it forever. ]

That's how you know it's true?

Or that we've all been inhaling too much moon-fumes.

[ because cracking a joke is easier than dealing another exciting bout of intense feelings, even if these are a hell of a lot more positive. ]

Either/or.

So, just to be clear, you and Kitty are still good?

Me and Kitty are...

[ how can he put this? a warm sort of smile conquers his face when he remembers her calling him boyfriend. ]

Kapow. [ it really is the only word that does his feelings justice. ]

[ what in the actual world, Winn. she laughs ]

I see...!

Well, I'm just glad I don't have to friend break up with her. She's pretty cool.

[ his eloquence astounds you, he knows. he astounds himself, sometimes. but just like with kitty - it's a relief to hear kara laugh. ]

I appreciate the sentiment - but let's not put that into practice.

[ even if things take a turn for the worse between them, even if she ends up breaking his heart...kitty's lost enough in her life, making her lose kara is unnecessarily cruel. kara's friendship is, after all, the best thing that could happen to a person. ]

Deal.

[ she's proud of Winn. he's had to deal with a lot lately, and it's not like he deals with space in his daily life under normal circumstances. she just sits there for a moment, looking at him and radiating pride and friendship ]

[ he's not really sure what to do under that look - it warms his heart, and lifts his spirits, and makes him feel oddly uncomfortable all at once. ]

-- are these protein cubes sticking in teeth now?

[ because that's just not fair. not that, he thinks that there actually is anything in his teeth, he hasn't exactly had much of an appetite today.

finally noticing her mask, he reaches for it. ]

That what you're wearing?

No. No, sorry.

[ realizing that she's probably at the very least mixing signals. it takes her a second to realize what he's asking about but she recovers ]

It's what I was thinking about wearing, but I don't know. It's probably horrible?

No, [ he turns it over in his hands. he wouldn't call it horrible - that's harsh (and rude), but he still gives it a critical look. ]

But it's pretty close. It needs Winnifying. [ because that's a term now. ]

We are not calling it that.

Oh yeah, watchu got?

Not Winnifying.

I don't know.... Winnprovement?

...I dig it.

[ it's her turn to get a pride-filled smile. he runs a finger around the edges of the mask, assessing the work that needs doing. ]

I can probably get this done in an hour.

And On Your Left You'll See a Tourist Mingle

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

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)