driftfleet | may-time mingling (starstruck!)

[He looks Winter over a moment, but ultimately shrugs, pulling on the final strap of his knee brace. He doesn't quite rise up yet. Max is considerably more relaxed than he'd been with Peggy intervening between them, humorously enough; he had been so focused on being on his best behavior.]

... Rock. New captain named him.

[New captain being Peggy, of course.]

He's a good dog... Belongs to the ship. Not just me, so...

[He motions at the dog.]

You should visit him when you want; he likes you.

[ It's hard trying to figure out how to act around a person with a mediator. Both worrying about upsetting Peggy if they step out of turn. She's not present right now, so it's less stress. ]

..Hi, Rock. [ He turns his head to look back at the dog, rubbing at the side of his neck. The fur is slightly course, but he likes it. Something to focus on as he tries to be gentle. ]

Don't want to overstay my welcome. [ It's one thing to visit when he's been invited, but to come only to pet a dog? It sounds like an imposition. ]

[He shrugs.]

S'long as you don't mess with my shuttles, I don't care what you do; you're alright, anyway.

[Rock limps in a circle around Winter, almost rallying him to move forward, further into the ship. You're here for a reason, right, might as well come in a little more. Max considers something — seems to almost not say it, but he figures it doesn't do any good to hide things that happened. Even if they didn't happen here. He is always hesitant to admit, but. Exceptions.]

I've met you before. Wasn't you here, but it was you. One of those... alternate timelines. Something like that. [A thoughtful pause.] I was... hn. Out of control. Hallucinating. You helped detain me.

[ Winter can take a hint, so he shuffles forward a few feet, making sure he doesn't trip over Rock.

It's always weird hearing about other versions of himself. Unsettling. How many of him are out and about? Were they all vastly different, or were there similarities? ]

..Detain you. [ There's something about that he doesn't like. Maybe it had been necessary. He doesn't know Max that well. ]

[Max nods.]

Mm. [There's a point he's trying to reach, it just takes him a bit.] I wasn't myself. Lost in, hmm... a fog. Rabid, acting on — all this. [He taps his temple.] You did good; you were protecting people who could've ran into me.

[He doesn't remember it very well, honestly. He apparently punched a lot of people, threw people into lockers, barrelled through innocent people. At the time, it was all blurs, sounds that didn't exist, ghosts attacking him. Turns out, waking up naked in a giant blue pod makes you have episodes. For him, anyway. He rubs the back of his neck.]

Think you might know what it feels like, too.

[That was the point. That's what Peggy wanted.

Max isn't discreet about it, isn't going to omit anything and just be there to be a friend or something. He lays it all on the table. Peggy wanted two like minds to meet, maybe have something in common, some weird sense of understanding there that others might not get. Not the same circumstances, but close enough fallouts.]

[ Winter is not only surprised at the concession, but relieved. It's one thing to hear about the hazy mind fog from someone who thinks they understand... But Max knows firsthand what it's like. So far, no one's been able to get that. Maybe he doesn't have to be quite so vigilant around Max.

He absolutely will, but the shared terrible fucking life experience is nice. It's hard to explain to someone else what that fog is like. He listens to Max speak, every once in a while letting the tips of his fingers brush against Rock's head. ]

I know what it's like. Hard to focus past the blood rushing in your ears.

[... He nods, after a moment's hesitation.]

Mmm. Can't turn it off, not by yourself.

[He's quiet, but he's trying to think up a way to explain.

He figures Winter can decipher it well enough.]

Can't let your guard down, either. I could tell - at the dance, you can't, too. Mm... because it makes sense not to. Everything's a threat. Hard to be... normal that way, like people can expect. Hope for. Like a miracle.

People think it's illogical, but.

[He shrugs, glancing away.]

So. You should visit the dog.

He doesn't care that you're not a miracle.

Have to constantly watch the exits. Back to the wall.. don't want to be exposed. Any sound could be precursor to an attack.

[ Even as he says it, his eyes flick over to the hallway to check. He shakes his head to try to get rid of that feeling. ]

Would act normal if I could figure out how.

[ Winter looks quickly to Max, then down at Rock with a frown. Max did say it was okay, and he does like the dog.. ]

Maybe again soon.

[Sounds about right. Max is horrible on guard himself, but the voices — the ghosts — sometimes they dull his senses. Days like that drive him insane. He shakes his head.]

Takes time. Takes distance. You won't be fixed like new, but parts can be, I think. Parts can be, hn... replaced with something similar but better. Better operating piece. [... Like a car. Max can't help but compare in such odd ways; automobiles are highly valued and a part of him, at this point.] You just never forget the old part.

[He looks at Winter, sitting so calmly with hands on his knees, hunched a bit on himself. Rounded shoulders, not quite on the red alert but not ever quite so relaxed. He's still an eternity better than when Bucky — Winter, whoever — had detained him all those months ago. Sure, he doesn't face exists either, and sure he sleeps in shuttles for comfort, but he's not grunting and pointing weapons at everyone.]

Acting normal is worthless, anyway. Nobody's home.

[There's no normalcy to space, even for those from space.

They're trapped here, with odd enough circumstances.]

You're here for, um. The captain, right?

[He motions with his chin.]

She's that way.

Never going to be like new, anyway. Too many parts are missing. [ Memories, emotions.. limbs. ]

[ Max is right. It's worthless to act like something he's not, but the only trouble is, he's not sure what that is anymore. He thought he'd had an idea, but now they're nothing more than conflicting thoughts. Winter runs a thumb over the side of Rock's snout and pulls his hand away. Enough monopolizing the dog.

..What a good dog. ]

If she's around..Didn't really ask before.

[ He offers a nod to Max, moving in the direction of the hall. ]

[He waves a hand dismissively. It's fine, really.]

Mm.

Ask the dog where Peggy is, he'll lead you there. Good to know where she's at most of the time, anyway. She's as nosy as the rest of the crew.

[ He nods at Max, and after much deliberation, offers a muttered 'thanks'.

Turning to look at Rock he does as instructed, following behind the mutt as he does down the hall. He's still not completely sure what to make of Max, but Winter doesn't hate him. Peggy is very fond of him, so by association, he should feel the same way, right? That's totally how this works. ]

may-time mingling (starstruck!)

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