driftfleet | Tourist, May I?

What do you want me to do, lie? You get involved with someone you care about, you're gonna care about them. It's freaking impossible to keep things casual around here. [ just look at how fast he and kitty are going. when he stops to think about it, it makes his head spin. she was still introducing him as her friend at the masquerade and now they've said I love you and they're spending almost every night together. he has no one to go home to, and neither does she, and this could still end up hurting them because being that involved, that invested, that fast...there's a reason why it's not a good idea. throw other people into the mix? and you've got a fool-proof recipe for disaster. ]

Say there was no Lucy 2.0. Say it went great. Say it's been a year, and we find our way back. You can't not come home - you can't leave Alex, you can't leave earth - we wouldn't stand a chance without you. [ the superhero can't get the interdimensional guy, at least. ] But Hank's got stuff to do too, with the mutant school, and so would most people you'd meet. And that's your happiest ending.

[ what is he doing? he started this out wanting so badly to be supportive. ]

[ she pulls away a bit, looking at him and trying to read his face. she's feeling like this was a mistake, but she can't stop herself from getting annoyed ]

So you're saying I should keep it to people from home, or not at all? How's that working out for you? My "happiest ending" is to go back to Earth and protect it and my cousin. That's my prime directive and it's killing me to be here, almost powerless, with no end in sight. So your read on that is that I should definitely be alone? It seems like an easy thing to say from your position, Winn.

I'm not afraid of hard choices. When the Black Mercy had control of me, I could've stayed in a perfect world, where everyone was alive and things went the way they should have. But I didn't. I chose to come back to you and Alex and everything. Because I know that life isn't painless. It doesn't mean I should try everything to avoid that pain; I'd miss out on all the good parts.

I'm saying -- you should be careful. [ he softens a little. he's come a long way, this isn't the time to move back. where's the guy he's been trying so hard to be? the one who isn't a slave to his own bitterness? he knows he's in there somewhere. ]

Choices are gonna be hard anyway, you don't have to make them impossible. Kitty and I are different - [ she has no world to go back to, but he can't bring himself to say it. it kills him inside, it kills him that it makes him happy to think that she would go with him, and it's not what made him go for it anyway. he didn't know when he was starting to fall for her. all he knew was that he liked her...and that this may be his only chance to ever find anyone like that who'd like him back. ]

- I don't have anyone waiting for me. And the truth is, Kara, if things were different, I could make whichever decision I want, it wouldn't matter. You'd be fine, and Ms. Grant would replace me in 5 seconds flat. But you -- you matter. I just don't wanna see you get hurt. [ he knows how much losing reid hurt kitty - it still does. kara's been hurt enough, and he doesn't have to dig around for the man he wants to be through the pile of bitterness and hurt anymore - it all melts away into a dull layer of pain. he really doesn't want to see her facing those decisions, losing someone she loves again. ] Like you said - you've done enough of it.

[ she relaxes somewhat ]

I appreciate what you're saying, Winn, but come on. You matter. I only have one best friend and I'd be completely lost without you. And I'm so, so happy that you and Kitty found each other here, but I can't be your third wheel forever.

You'd be fine.

[ ok, so the deo could still step up their hacking game - but he's not the only computer genius out there. and kara makes friends easier than he makes - made - programs. he doesn't matter, not in the long run, not for anything.

unless he manages to save kitty. then he'd have made a real difference with his life. but that's not the issue now.

he nudges her lightly. ]

I donno, I kinda made third-wheeling into n art, I could teach you all my trade secrets -

[ not that he ever considered her as a third wheel, but he understands feeling like one. ]

[ she elbows him lightly ]

Come on, stop it.

[ he pulls her in for a hug ]

You're not a third wheel, Kara. You're my best friend, and you're Kitty's friend, and we love hanging out with you. And I -- am actually almost done with a little side project. Figured we could revive the Super Mario marathons with my own take on the game -

[ oh, sorry, did you mean stop thinking that his life is basically meaningless? ]

Do your side projects have side projects, Winn?

My side projects' side projects have side projects.

[ yes, make fun of him, he's so much better at this kind of conversation! success! ]

So what's this one all about? Super Mario Brothers?

Super StickFigure!

[ he nods very seriously. what, he's a programmer, not a graphic designer, what do you want from him. ]

He's got a cape, though.

Why's it gotta be a he?

Doesn't. [ he looks way too proud of himself at having predicted this argument. ]

You can pick to play as Super StickFigure-Man or Super StickFigure-Woman. She's got a little skirt, that's how you can tell.

[ you're basically playing a toilet sign. ]

Wow, Winn, you've thought of everything.

Are people going to play it on their communicators?

That's what you keep me around for.

Ideally - I'm gonna have to ask someone tuned up to the network for help with that.

[ and he's so very bitter about that. him? needing help uploading? his soul dies a little at having to admit it. ]

That sounds fun, though. Maybe that way there can be a leaderboard on the network.

Gimme your wish list, I'll see what I can do.

For the game? Or in general? Because I could use more emoji.

Both!

[ pulling his communicator out of his pocket to write the list. a list of things he can actually do to cheer kara up - that is his cheat-sheet of dreams right now. ]

I'll have to think about it. Emoji are like my top priority right now.

You got it, I'll find a networker to consult about it.

Are there people who know how it works?

Yeah, it's one of the... [ tapping the back of his head. it'll never stop freaking him the hell out. but when it's useful - it's useful.

it's so unfair though. he dedicated his life to studying and getting his superior skills. and then some people get the right sort of implant, and now he has to go crawling to them for help? not cool. ]

Oh right, duh. Communications officers.

Which totally should've been me -

[ ok, so engineer is cool. and it's useful. it's helpful, for picking up how to build all these projects. but he misses being the network's secret overlord.

he doesn't want any augment. but come on, if he has to have one... ]

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