[snuggle up real close everyone]

[cephalon]

Who: The fair crew and visitors of the Windrose
Action: Aboard the Windrose
When: May

[It's a mingle! Make friendly everyone~]

Comments

[beathach]

. . . ah. [he makes a noise and sighs, rubbing at his face] That would explain it.

And - yes, I have a guess. If you want to call it that.

[passingthrough]

[She's not going to go into more details about her talk with Kara. Unless it's that Raven was mentioned. Actually, probably more Raven to come. For now she's more interested in Kurt's father than mother. And she really has no right to this information. Even if it is just idle speculation it feels like something Kurt should hear first and yet...] What's your guess?

[beathach]

. . . [he sighs, dropping his hand. There's no getting around this]

I could be wrong. It could be coincidence. [but he doesn't sound like he believes that]

There was a mutant in my world with red skin and a tail, but his power was that he could teleport. I've seen it up close - when he was trying to kill me. [that part comes out a little dryly]

[passingthrough]

[A name wouldn't help much at this point. He sounds distinctive enough that Kitty thinks she'd already know based on the description if she was aware of him.] Why was he trying to kill you? [If he was jealous of him and Raven that would definitely lend more to the theory...]

[beathach]

The first - iteration of the X-Men, you could say, were brought together to stop a group of mutants from starting a nuclear war. He was on the other side.

[Hank isn't one to hold grudges, but when it came to Azazel . . . he can't help but let just a bit of his anger slip into his voice. The man killed his boss, almost killed him and Sean and Alex - he didn't think the guy deserved what happened to him, but that didn't mean he had to like him, either]

[passingthrough]

Nuclear war is bad. Ask what's left of my world. [No, seriously, even just the maps of her world are depressing.] Is he still on the other side? Was Raven?

[beathach]

Yes, it is. [Shaw had wanted to cripple humanity while allowing mutants to rise up and claim their place as the superior race, and the thought makes Hank scowl briefly, before he schools his expression into something a little less annoyed]

He - no, he was killed, a few years ago. [along with his death came the knowledge of Sean's and Angel's, and that's enough to sober the rest of his anger] Raven had been on our side, though. Erik, too, until he and Charles, ah . . . had a difference in opinion. Then Raven and the remaining mutants on the other side joined with Erik.

[passingthrough]

So, no Kurt back home I guess? [She'd know about him by now if they knew of one anyway.]

...What was the difference of opinion? What did Erik and the others want to do? [She's not sure how ready she is to hear this.]

[beathach]

[oh, Kitty, why do you ask him things he doesn't want to think about. He takes a deep breath]

I don't know. [and that's really what bothers him. He rubs a hand over his mouth, pausing to collect his thoughts] Is it a possibility? Maybe. But it - it isn't something I can think about. Not - when things between Raven and I are as complicated as they are right now.

[at her question, however, he shakes his head] Have either of them told you about what happened in Cuba?

[passingthrough]

Complicated is hard. [Things with Reid got very complicated at the end. She doesn't exactly know how to feel about it though. He's interested in Kurt's mom and kind of dumped Kara even though they weren't together. It's a lot to process and doesn't make for the easiest understanding.]

They both told me pieces. I know the military fired on you when you were there to protect everyone and Erik didn't take well to that. I know whatever happened Charles didn't walk away from it.

[beathach]

[he forces a wry, thin smile] And it's the kind of complicated neither of us are very good at. Especially me. [he's the one who started it, after all]

[he sighs out, wincing a little at the memory] So, the very basics. I'm not surprised. I hate to be a broken record, but it - really, really isn't my story. Sure, I was there for it, but those details are theirs to share when they're ready.

What I can tell you is that it resulted in Erik walking away, and Raven and the other mutants going with him. I don't know what they wanted to do, or - really, what any of them did. I only know vague details, and those I learned recently.

[passingthrough]

It's okay. I get not wanting to tell someone else's story. [She really just wondered about what Erik's beliefs had been if they were different from peaceful coexistence, but it seems that's the part Hank doesn't know. And maybe it's enough that he doesn't know. Enough that there isn't some mutant team reigning destruction down on the world.

She shouldn't be putting this much stock in people that aren't her people anyway, but... They aren't here and they didn't survive. Not that she did either. Or Kurt. There's always a chance in these places, but she can't hope for a chance. She has to live with what she does have.

After a quiet moment she gives Hank's hand a squeeze.]

[beathach]

he squeezes her hand back, and the smile this time is weak, but not forced]

Thanks. [he blows out a sigh] Anything else you want to know, though? That I can talk about. [there's a bit of a lighter tone to his words] Or - what little I know, depending. I'm second party to a lot of what's happened, unfortunately.

[passingthrough]

No, it's okay. Thank you.

This might be weird coming from me, [Looking over at him.] but are you okay?

[beathach]

[the smile widens a little] I don't think it's that weird.

But I'm . . . okay, yeah. [it isn't a lie, not really] I feel like a jerk because of - what I talked about with Kara, and I'm starting to think my life is some sort of cosmic joke, but - overall I'm fine.

[passingthrough]

I've had to have that talk before. It's not a fun talk to give. But you were honest with her. These places create complications on top of already hard to navigate relationships. Can't be too hard on yourself.

Though I had put a lot of effort into being totally okay with you possibly hooking up with a friend of mine and now I'm not even going to get credit for that. [Smiling. Joking obviously.]

[beathach]

Oh, I can definitely be hard on myself. [he's only half-serious] It isn't fun, no, but . . . I didn't want to hurt her, either. I'm not the greatest when it comes to - any of this stuff.

I'll give you all the credit you want if you keep Raven and I a secret. [god, that sounds terrible, and he groans and rubs at his face] Not a secret, but - not common knowledge? I can already see the looks I'll get if the others find out. And she's - not exactly broadcasting herself being here, either.

[passingthrough]

[Kitty did think it was at least possible he was a virgin not long ago so she'll take his word on that.]

I wasn't planning to do a broadcast about your relationship. [She might tell Kurt. She also might not. She's not entirely sure how he'd react to that. But he is Kurt.] Who are you expecting looks from? Do Erik and Charles not know?

[beathach]

Erik and Charles know. I mean - they don't know know, but I'm sure they realize we're going to try to work things out between us. Before - everything, we were actually together for a time, and they knew about it.

I mean . . . Kurt. Both Kurts. With all this - different worlds and timelines confusion, I don't want to have to explain that I had a relationship with a version of their mother. Especially since - that's in the pile of things I'm not thinking about.

[passingthrough]

[She looks away. Finally, the kelp gets some attention!] You can't ask me to keep something from Kurt. My Kurt. [She'd have an easier time doing so with Winn.] He's all I have from home. [It doesn't mean she thinks it's necessarily a good idea. But the thought of being asked not to tell him sets off an unpleasant feeling.]

[beathach]

[he winces a little; ah yes, he's still terrible at words]

I know, and - I don't mean it like that. [that kelp is the most deserving of attention right now] Sorry, I don't - I'm not telling or expecting you to keep it from him, that'd be unfair to you. [he rubs a hand over his face] And unfair to them.

[finally, he just takes off his glasses to rub at his face properly] Sorry. [now he's repeating himself] She doesn't know he's here, and . . . at the very least, I should tell her that before - she runs into him, you know? And it should be between them.

[passingthrough]

[She listens quietly, taking it in as he rewords or restructures what he wants from her. Her response is calm and he's still not getting much eye contact.] Tell her soon.

[She won't push herself between them. Except maybe to make sure Kurt is okay or has someone to talk to, but she can wait.] Come on, let's head back down.

[beathach]

I will. [he doesn't want to, and he knows that selfish of him. But on the other hand he knows he has to, and he's very good at ignoring what he wants to do what's best.

He makes a gesture down the way they came] Lead the way.

[passingthrough]

[She leads him back down and releases his hand once they've landed.] So, the reason I wanted to talk to you in person is a guy who's on your ship now. The Stalker. Have you met? [Walking out of the cargo bay. There was some mention of a tour.]

[beathach]

[he follows behind her, shoving his hands in his pockets] I haven't met anyone who - goes by that, no.