driftfleet | 02

Entry tags:

02 - video

Who: Winn
Broadcast: Fleetwide video
Action: the Tourist
When: now!

[ last time he posted anything, he was a nervous wreck and kind of nauseous. the changes the past two months have left in him are impossible to miss; winn is smiling, upbeat, and almost comfortable. the nervous energy that is there has more to do with his addressing a bunch of strangers than the constant fear of death by space-stuff that overshadowed his first feed. ]

Hi, if we don't know each other - I'm Winn Schott. If we do know each other...I'm still Winn Schott - [ shaking his head, why hasn't he learned from the last time? prepare a script! ]

Anyway! I've been here for a couple months now, and it's been interesting - and I mean that in the original sense of the word. Think about it - not only are we in outer space [ there's only a slight wince at that, and even a lot of excitement. space is terrifying - but it's also really cool ] - but we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to reach across the multiverse and learn things that haven't even been dreamed up in our worlds yet. I've been learning - a ton from just casually talking to people, but there is a much better way to do this if we all cooperate, [ open source. it's the way of the future! ] and I know I'm not the only one out there who's interested!

So, I've got a suggestion for anyone who thinks that's really cool - and - pity for anyone who doesn't [ and by pity, he means judgment. he gestures excitedly with his hands as he introduces his brilliant concept ] - 2016: A Space-Time Odyssey - a series of free weekly lectures about anything and everything we've got here. Talks about different worlds, science, history, art lessons, concerts - I know we've got some musicians here - basically anything anyone signs up to talk about, teach, perform, or however you communicate things where you're from. Since we don't have a lecture hall we can broadcast the talks - give ourselves a fun routine....and if that doesn't work for someone, I can post the notes I'm so gonna take of all of these. Who's in? Who wants to go first?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The war?

[ jesus. a superhero war? that sounds like something that would be super cool on the big screen or in a comic book - and nightmarish hell to live through.

he instinctively seeks out her hand, to offer some comfort. ]

The war, yeah. [ there is a note of exhaustion in her voice -- not for winn's question, of course. but for the memory of what had happened. she hadn't met clint, yet. the avengers had been as good as split up. the young avengers had inherited quite a heavy burden. ]

It left us fractured. Left a crack for a villain to slip in and seize control of almost everything. But like I said, it was a while back.

[ kate brushed a crease out of her shirt. ] And back then my outfit was a little on the silly side. I'm looking forward to your thoughts for this one, though.

[ that's his cue, isn't it? he knows all too well when a topic is unwelcomed. turning, he picks up his tape measure and turns back to her. ]

Right! I got a lot of them, but first let's get the technicalities out the way. Do you uh -- wanna do it yourself, or should I?

[ some measurements are pretty well...awkward, and he's not going to assume she's ok with him taking them. ]

I trust you. [ kate answers as she finger-combs her long, black hair into a bun and ties it off with an elastic. no need for that to get in the way. ] If you're good with it, I am. This isn't my first time under the tape measure. Bespoke party gowns are kind of an unavoidable thing in my family's tax bracket.

[ he smiles at that, moved by her trust. of course she does, she wouldn't ask him to do this if she didn't trust him, but it's still always nice to hear.

he grabs a notebook and a pen, and walks up to her, getting right to work. ]

You need something sturdy, light, flexible, and purple, right? Any specific requirements?

[ she taps her bow arm. ] I need a full sleeve on at least this side, but not necessarily the other. Should I ever get my hands on a bow of my own, this is the arm the string travels down. It's good to keep it protected.

So it should also be something very smooth, low-resistance -

[ jotting down measurements and notes in his notebook ]

[ she waggles her fingers. ] And a glove for my string hand. It doesn't have to be too wild -- a lot of great shooting gloves are just three fingered. Otherwise? It needs to be exactly as you said. Light, flexible, durable. Archers sometimes have to climb some crazy structures to find the high ground.

I need to get my hands on some structure polymer composite - if it survives what Kara puts it through, there's nothing you can do to it it couldn't take.

[ making more notes as he moves around her, tape measure lightly touching her, but his hands never so much as brushing where they don't absolutely have to be. ]

[ and true to her word, she doesn't even flinch. there is nothing awkward about the situation -- the perfect definition of friendly professionalism. ]

I don't mind a tight fit. My last thingy was basically just a very high quality onesie, if I'm honest. But an optional utility belt would be good. And a quiver to match, if you're comfortable with accessories too.

Hell yeah! What kind of utility belt do you have in mind? What do you need to carry? And how big should the quiver be?

[ tight fit would have its advantages - less chance of the suit getting in her way. at least, that's what he figured when he started playing with the idea in his head. it's good to know she's cool with it. ]

Standard quiver capacity is around twelve. Sometimes Clint carries both a back and hip quiver to double that, but I'm good with just the usual sling-across-the-back. And as long as my belt can accommodate a knife and maybe a few trick arrow tips? I'm happy.

Think big - wishlist me, settling may have to happen once I get working but I wanna start with your ideal suit in mind.

[ okay, okay, she'll play. ]

How big are we talking? [ ... ] I'll be honest -- I'm not used to the bells and whistles. Half the time, I don't even like the trick arrows. But that doesn't mean I'm not persuadable.

What are you capable of making? [ maybe she should ask for glide-y bits under the arms. kate the sugar-glider. ]

In the developmental's stage - your imagination's the limit. We'll scale it into reality next. With enough time and the right materials? [ he could make anything. it's not like he has too many distraction around here. ok, yes, he has other projects, and friends, and a girlfriend, but he would probably throw himself completely and obsessively at a project that's actually achievable. ]

You know, I could give you a basic suit, while working on perfecting better versions.

I guess if I had to think big, I'd want some kind of legit hardcore fabric. I don't need to bounce bullets off of it or anything but -- I don't have a healing factor. Something with a little extra protection wouldn't exactly go amiss.

That's basic - structured polymer composites - trust me. It's better than Kevlar. You know, I'm thinking hidden compartments - maybe like - one over the shoulder, one over the boot, maybe one on the thigh? For small blades or arrowheads in case you can't reach your regular ammo or you have to be discreet - I could camouflage them with -- do you have like a logo or something?

A...logo? [ oh wait, she has something for this. kate digs her phone out of her pocket and promptly powers it on. it hadn't actually been turned on since her arrival, and she's been conserving what little battery power it has left.

tapping the screen a few times, she comes across a selfie with herself and clint. in it, he's wearing a shirt with a purple chevron on black. ]

Clint uses this. Me? I don't use anything. But I'm not against using something.

[ he looks it over, and scrunches his nose at it. kara's costume bears the coat of arms of the house of el, like her cousin, but it's a pretty cool sign that's instantly recognizable to everyone in the world.

this - not as much. ]

I could design you a new one?

[ dot dot dot... ]

Winn, are you trying to politely suggest that just maybe the chevron isn't cool enough?

[ maaaaybe. ]

See - someone as brilliant as you deserves better than that.

[ is he getting away with it? ]

Some of the other names go in for theatrics. For flashy looks and a hundred and one gadgets built into their suits -- Iron Man comes to mind. [ her arms fall, and she shrugs. ] I'm sorry to disappoint, Winn. But I'm just not that kind of hero.

[ or (alternatively) she just doesn't have to try to be cool...cool just happens. ]

You get me wrong, Kate, I'm not talking flashy - I'm talking cool. You know, symbols are important. They rattle the bad guys, they let people needing rescue know that help's here. Just - keep an open mind? I'll draw you up some samples of what I got in mind, if you don't like it we don't do it.

[ come on, don't you trust your costume designer? ]

[ she falls silent. since joining the fray, she's only ever known clint as the guy in the chevron tshirt -- tactical trousers, belt, quiver, whatever. but no mask. not much ornamentation. kate had happily provided her own team with intense costuming options, and then there's herself...

year after year, she's moved away from that look. exchanging an awkward crop-top and skirt for the simplicity of a one-piece suit. boots, instead of heels. ditching the inconvenient scarf. but way back when, before she started being a hero in her own right, she remembers having seen clint (and the other avengers) in action. he'd been wearing his mask, back then. the whole classic hawkeye get-up.

and damn, she'd been impressed. she'd felt safe: barely eleven years old, and getting saved by the whole damn team. but it was hawkeye who stuck with her.

kate clears her throat. ] Fine. Right. Keeping an open mind. I can do that.

All I'm asking!

[ the costumes aren't just there to conceal identities or add on cool tech. seeing the coat of arms of the house of el, the long flowing red cape - it strikes a chord with people. when he needed a rescue, that's the sight he wanted to see more than anything in the world - and supergirl didn't let him down. it's his small contribution to the cause - people would still be rescued if they didn't have recognizable suits after all - but it still matters, morale matters. ]