driftfleet | Tourist, May I?

Him. The Stalker. Which seems to be his actual name? [It's weird, okay?] He wants to kill Tenno. He's a communications officer. That's why the network isn't safe around him. He seems pretty fanatical. Least favorite kind of assassin.

Just keep yourself safe? Hopefully he won't start picking new targets. Doesn't seem like he has any powers, but you don't really need any for killing.

Yeah. I got as much.

[ never sleeping again. oh well, more time to work on his droids, silver lining and alla that, right? ]

I'll - try and keep an eye on him. The - Stalker.

[ rolling his eyes ]

He sounds lame.

I'm pretty sure he is lame, but back home he also has a powerful exoskeleton. I don't know if he's qualified to build those, but that could be a problem if he is. Not for me so much. My power disrupts electronics whether I want it to or not, and if you're actually wearing it at the time? Super painful. But I can't be everywhere.

Not that your crew can't take care of itself too of course. Hank and Leto already know about him for sure.

Edited 2016-05-24 17:20 (UTC)

I'd know if anyone is building anything electronic on that ship and even if he did, we'll just have to build something to disrupt it and help you out.

[ he sighs a bit. well, it's something to be busy with ]

thanks.

Sure.

For what it's worth Tenno didn't think he'd be a threat to his own crew.

[There's a little pause.] If something happens you can always call me. [Assuming he still can with a comm guy causing the problem, but she's not just talking about The Stalker now.] I'm not the Flash, but I'll help.

Thanks.

[ he'll wait until they're docked upon the blameless before rising and picking up his bag. he feels like a child being brought home by his teacher after...being dunked in the toilet by the bigger boys which definitely happen once or twice. he'll walk down and then wave ]

'till later, Shadowcat.

[She was a teacher for awhile and her students were only a few years younger than her, so she tends to have a vibe about her. Especially if you're already predisposed to be feeling kind of low. But she does care.]

Sure. See you, Cisco. [And she is probably going to ask about powers again at some point. Carefully.

And then back to the Tourist. She'll ask Kara or Kirk to help her get the Blameless shuttle back to its cargo bay later. Right now she just wants to find Winn.]

[ he's easily found - waiting for her in his room, trying to sink into work with very limited success. he looks up the instant she comes in - like a meerkat on watch. ]

Hey - [ he wants to ask her if he said anything, if he looked any better, if she has any idea what could have possibly happened. he doesn't. ] thanks. [ for taking care of his friend when he couldn't. ]

Hey. [She will just get in the way of all his tiny success and just join him with snuggles. That's what she's here for—to ask the questions.] Any idea what that was about?

[ he'll wrap his arms around her and breathe her in and hope that nothing like this ever happens between them because as much as it hurts with cisco - it's nothing compared to what it would feel like from kitty. ]

No clue. He didn't say anything? [ he appreciates her ease with difficult questions so much. ]

[She'll try not to recreate this scenario. Odds are she'd run toward him, not away, but it's happened before that she felt like she had to escape even if what she really wants is closeness.]

No, we...

[And here in this instant in this fraction of a pause she decides not to tell him. She should tell him. He's on the Windrose a lot and she hadn't meant to keep it from him before this moment. He's just very distracting when he greets her and then things are kisses and touches and smiles and she isn't thinking about assassins anymore. She's in a separate little world with him that just feels happier and safer a lot of the time. And right now she wants it to feel like that for him because he was just startled and probably more concerned than he'll let on for his friend. She will tell him. It just doesn't have to be now.]

...didn't talk about it. [Still not technically a lie?]

I figured I shouldn't push, but from the way it went down it's making me think he must have powers he doesn't want to talk about? Which, if that's it I wish he'd say something. I know something about that.

Edited 2016-05-24 20:23 (UTC)

[ he is more worried than he's letting on - which says something because he's showing a lot of concern. right up until that moment, he and cisco have been perfectly in sync - they laugh at the same jokes, they're good at the same things, they have similar passions, friends, everything.

what if they also have similar horrors in their pasts?

it was a longshot anyway; he doesn't want to say it, but he doubts cisco would have opened up to kitty - things were clearly awkward between them and if things had ended differently with cisco, that would have been their topic right now. maybe, if he'd been alone...cisco would've talked to him - it's a thought he feels guilty for, but he's not quite sure why. there isn't anything inherently wrong about someone feeling more comfortable opening up to their close friend. but he feels bad thinking that it would have gone over better without kitty - he doesn't want to be thinking of anything being better without kitty, she's such a source of goodness in his life.

he nods at her theory. ]

Yeah, it...sounds like it. Maybe it'll just take a little time... [ but why would cisco react like that to having powers, though? he helps the flash - he fanboyed with him over kara - it makes no sense. nothing makes sense anymore, and he feels so helpless, so stupid. he's missing a crucial point, and he has no idea where to even start looking for it. ]

[It's different when it's your life. And some powers are just harder to accept than others. Hers can be fun like the airwalking or cool like walking through stuff. Or she can reach into someone's chest and pull out their heart or merge someone into something solid and kill them or just permanently destroy part of their body. Some people only get the gruesome applications. Or even a power like Rogue's where she can't touch anyone without absorbing their memories and powers and eventually their life.

She reaches up to gently brush back his hair. She thought about letting Winn go after Cisco alone. She figured it would be better too for what it's worth. The reason she didn't was because she wasn't sure Winn would catch him before he made it to a shuttle and she didn't want him flying recklessly in his urge to get away. Maybe she should have trusted that he'd stop with just Winn calling his name, but it is what it is now and she's sure they'll figure things out eventually. Her concern now can be focused on Winn.]

How are you doing?

I don't know.

[ it's not a good answer, but it's the only one he's got. he's consumed with concern and fear and the ever present anger he just can't shake because his friend is hurting and it's not fair. and he should have been able to do something. some soulmate. some bro. some friend. ]

He's going to be okay. [He wasn't on fire. That's like being okay. Maybe the girl with all the PTSD shouldn't be the one deciding when people are fine.] And he has a really great friend who will make it okay-er.

[ you know who has a really great friend who makes things okay-er? he does. in kara. what did he do for cisco? when it really counted - what did he do?

step aside. was it the right thing to do? he has no idea. ]

That's true, he and Kara hit it off great.

[ he seems to only be qualified at making kitty feel better. which, don't get him wrong, he's grateful for! but he'd really like it if he could you know, not suck so spectacularly at doing it for everyone else he cares about. ]

Is that a joke? [Because it's a decent one if it is.] Or are you putting yourself down or...

Is it about me and Cisco not hitting it off? [She already had one passive aggressive boyfriend, Winn.]

Secret option D - A and B. Though now that you bring it up -- Kitty, I'm sorry. I know you probably felt -- left out there. We just have a lot in common including getting really easily excitable -

[ apologetic look is apologetic. he can get very passive aggressive, but it actually wasn't where he was heading this time around. ]

Maybe a little.

[She sighs.] Look, I know it's stupid. We obviously get along too and bond in our own way. I'm not even jealous of Kara [And you are...were in love with Kara], but somehow I feel kind of territorial and insecure [in turn, not so much together, because that's a weird combo] when Cisco is around you.

[ ok -- now he's confused. and looking it. ]

You're...jealous? [ does.not.compute. ] And insecure? Kitty - you're amazing. You're brilliant, and sweet, and gorgeous, and funny, and I have no idea what you're doing with me - seriously what are you doing with me but just as seriously - don't leave.

I don't want to leave you even a little. [She leans in for a kiss because he's being sweet, but talking is probably what they should be doing so she doesn't let that get too distracting.] You are all those things too by the way.

But I didn't even go through high school. I mean, it was because the world was ending, but still. Then I'm around people with multiple advanced degrees. [Okay, that was Reid, but lots of people have at least one] And I don't know. It's just easy to feel...wrong somehow. [Some of this is just the PTSD talking. She doesn't realize it herself though. Some of it is just culture shock. Some of it is literally being from a timeline that was so wrong and broken they were willing to reset it and erase themselves to give everyone a better chance. She is literally the wrong version of Kitty Pryde. And in her good moments she doesn't think that way, but they can't all be good moments.]

[ the kiss is appreciated - he's upset about cisco, and now he's worried that he hasn't been appreciating kitty enough, too. he hasn't been telling her how great she is, shown her how much he loves her, how lucky he knows he is that she's even giving him a second look enough and - what if someone'll come along who would? he needs to up his game. but more than that - he feels guilty about it. she's amazing, she deserves to know. ]

I know I talk about college a lot, [ it was the first time in his life he was happy after losing his parents ] but it really isn't that important. You know how many super successful geniuses never set foot in college, or dropped out? A lot. You're brilliant, all on your own. Heck, you're smarter than me. [ it's a little painful to admit, his brilliance is mostly what he has going for him, but if he has to admit it to anyone - ] You can always study, you can always learn. What you've got? Is so much more impressive than a hundred advanced degrees. You're not wrong, Kitty. You're - the sort of person they make Oscar winning dramas about.

[He hasn't done a thing wrong. Well, maybe a few things, but they are minor and sporadic and she's done plenty of things wrong. The point is he makes her feel loved and appreciated every time they're together. No one has ever made her feel this wanted before. She has no complaints. He just can't fix everything going on in her mind by being the fleet's best boyfriend.]

I like when you talk about college. You don't have to downplay it for me, but thank you. For everything really. For being you.

[ or maybe he can, he just needs to be a better boyfriend! ]

Can't be anyone else, [ he smiles a little, running his fingers through her hair. he's tried. ] you have nothing to thank me for. You do the heavy lifting - I just notice it. And, for the record, it's really easy to.

[Winn, please.]

Good. You're amazing the way you are. [She almost said perfect, but who needs that kind of pressure?] And I will do my best to play better with Cisco.

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