04 - video

[winn]

Who: Winn and you!
Broadcast: y!
Action: on the Tourist!
When: August 2nd

[ some of you may have noticed that winn has been uncharacteristically quiet for the past...16 days. he's not really sure how to address the elephant in the room - he knows these two weeks and change have been hard on the people he loves but for him it's like no time has passed and the dissonance is hard to bridge.

it's a good thing he has a not at all unhealthy coping mechanism set in place. ]

You know, if we're entertainment on a reality show, the least they can do is give us like a recap - you know your basic [ in a tv announcer impression ] here's what you missed on the Fleet - or - last week, on the young and the Drifting - [ he rubs the back of his head before shaking it ] Well, maybe talking about the 'least they can do' isn't such a great plan...first order of business - what'd I miss? Second order of business - if you or anyone you know has ever fallen into an unexplained sleep here or at any other kidnappy world - I'd appreciate it if you'd answer a couple questions, they're a text attachment at the bottom. Sorry if it's been done before, I'll gladly take a link to any previous research as well as fresh data. Third order of business -- hi. [ he gives the camera a little wave and a nervous chuckle ] Um. Yeah, I'm, I'm fine, I should've opened with that but if you know me the order isn't really gonna surprise you that much and if you don't you're probably really confused right now and looking for the off button - it's to your right, right on top, there you go.

That's it, I guess....good morning, Drifters - don't forget to drink your coffee! Winn out -

<br />1. <b>date and duration of sleep</b>: self explanatory.<br />2. <b>surrounding events</b>: when it happened were you or your sleeping acquaintance going about your daily lives, experimenting with anything, uncovering anything?<br />3. <b>results</b>: did waking result in new memories, loss of old ones, a change in personality or attitude, were you or your sleeping acquaintance at a different physical location (ex: new planet, back at your ship, new kidnappy world), were there any physical differences or after effects, if so how long did they last, anything you can think of that changed - put it here.<br />

[ except he's not all the way out. hank and cisco each get the following message to their personal numbers ]

I need to discuss something in person. My place? [ he can't really leave kitty yet ]

Comments

Action

[passingthrough]

[She curls in closer against him.] Yeah. [It's not really a resounding beacon of support, but she does get it. She gets the need to fight even if the win feels impossible. It's about the struggle more than the prize at the end. She feels the same need.

It's just that she spent 16 days with him asleep and right now what she wants more than anything is just him. And he isn't kicking her out so he can work or anything. He's in a very different mental place right now, but he understands she needs him. There's just a disconnect. She misses feeling him too even when it was hard. She just feels like she can't get enough of him right now, but she doesn't want to overwhelm him either. It'll be okay. In a couple of days things will settle back into routine for her. It's just hard right now.]

Action

[winn]

[ he tightens his arm around her and runs his fingers idly through her hair. to him, it's all about the prize at the end. the win feels hard - but not impossible. if it felt impossible he would fall apart for a bit, and then move on to trying to figure out how to keep them here so they could at least stay together because living with the fear of waking up to kitty being gone, possibly dead is really making him crazy.

he slept through those 16 days, all he remembers are some vague weird dreams. he doesn't know what she went through, all he can do is imagine and while empathy has always been a strong suit of his - nothing really feels right anymore, after the planet. it's like he's groping through the darkness, trying to somehow find his way and instead finding a whole lot of doubts and fears. he knows it was hard on her, he can see it in her eyes, in her reluctance to leave, but he doesn't know what to do about it, how to make this better. ]

Come on, Kitty. We'll figure it out. I think -- they want us to. Why else take this group? They put me to sleep yeah but they woke me up - maybe I'm just ahead of their schedule. Either way - there is a solution for this, and we're gonna find it.

[ and by we're, he means he and everyone else who doesn't have quite as much to lose as kitty. he won't risk them taking her back to die. ]

Action

[passingthrough]

[She holds on a little tighter.] Maybe they do. [It's possible. If it really is a reality show it could be part of the narrative. A feel-good story. Of course if it works they'd just want to bring them back for more drama later, but sure, let's say they can get home. Well, to Winn's home.]

You know how much I love you, right? [He probably knew it first actually. On the planet connected to her feelings. She didn't know until she lost him. Oh, she knew she loved him. Just not how much. There was still a part of her that if pressed would be more apt to call Reid the love of her life. She would have been wrong.]

Action

[winn]

[ he doesn't believe it's a reality show. experiment makes more sense to him. or test. if it's a test -- he's pretty sure passing will result in more misery. but if failing is staying like this or being sent home alone with no recollection of kitty then failing is not an option. besides, he's always excelled at tests. ]

I know. [ he says, having no proper idea. it's a tragedy he can't read her mind at that moment - it would send him right over the moon. ] What's not to love, right? [ booping her nose, he tries to make her smile ]

Action

[passingthrough]

I know you're saying that as a joke, but yes. Seriously, yes. [She kisses him which makes it very hard to determine if she's smiling.]

Action

[winn]

[ he returns the kiss and it's not at all hard to determine that he's smiling. ]

You know I love you just as much, right?

Re: Action

[passingthrough]

Well, that's silly. I'm the worst. [Nuzzling him. And yes, she's smiling now.]

Action

[winn]

Yes but I hate myself so that makes you perfect for me.

[ not one bit of him is serious. surprisingly enough, not even when he talks about himself. he's not his own biggest fan -- that position is definitely taken by kitty -- and he may not know his actual worth, but he knows he's got some. in a strange way, being targeted by the atroma actually boosted his self esteem. ]

Action

[passingthrough]

You better not. [Bites lightly at his lower lip, pretty sure he's not serious.]

Action

[winn]

Mmhm - really? Cuz I have a feeling I'm gonna love the reasons to love me refresher course -

[ he's loving it already. ]

Action

[passingthrough]

That's exactly what I'm here for. [She smiles at him.] You really are the sweetest most thoughtful person I've ever known, Winn. I'm almost sure I'll ruin you but I don't want to go anywhere.

Action

[winn]

If you ever feel like you're ruining me -- just talk to Kara, she'll set you straight.

[ he strokes her cheek with his thumb. ]

You're really pretty when you smile, you know that?

Action

[passingthrough]

It's a plan. [She smiles warmly at him.]

Are you saying I'm not really pretty when I don't smile, Mr. Schott? [Eyebrow raise. Messing with him is too easy.]

Action

[winn]

Gotta deduct you there, Ms. Pryde - that was way too easy a shot. The fans have come to expect much better from you.

[ for a moment he actually forgets how creepy that is considering where they are, he's just trying for a sports metaphor to amuse her. ]

Action

[passingthrough]

You and your trap set ups. [She leans in for a kiss, not seeming to mind the creep factor at all.]

Action

[winn]

You should know better -

[ he obviously doesn't mind one bit. ]

Action

[passingthrough]

[A few more kisses and then another lingering one.] I really missed you.

Action

[winn]

[ he returns each kiss eagerly ]

I'm sorry you had to. [ and as selfish as it is - he's really glad she did. he doesn't want her to hurt, but he really doesn't want to be easy to get over. ]

Action

[passingthrough]

[She nuzzles against him to catch her breath.] You're being a good sport about me not wanting to leave your side. [And she knows she needs to probably sooner than later, but she's glad he doesn't seem to mind.]

Action

[winn]

What can I say, you make an excellent case.

[ he smiles and rubs her arm. ]

You're not bothering me, Kitty. You're my girlfriend, I love you, you're never bothering me.

Action

[passingthrough]

[It looks like he said the best thing he could say again because she hugs him tightly.] You are so good for me. [In a way no one else has ever been before. Not to say her other relationships didn't give her things she needed, but Winn definitely gives her things she was lacking. She's not sure she's good for him, but she's going to do her best not to be bad for him.]

Action

[winn]

Good. That's the least you deserve.

[ he has no idea how he does it, how he manages to repeatedly and consistently stumble on just the right thing to say to kitty - he's never had that power before, not with anyone. and yet here, where he needs it more than ever, it comes through over and over again. he's so grateful, and just so happy that there's someone in the world he can consistently be right for - and that that someone just happens to be the woman he loves. ]

Action

[passingthrough]

[She kisses him softly and smiles lovingly at him.] Do you miss the planet's connection too? [She feels close and good with him now, but there was such a depth of feeling being connected.]

Action

[winn]

So much it's actually depressing.

[ it feels like a part of him has been ripped out. it was only a part of him for two weeks, true, but he got used to it really fast. and yeah, he's relieved she can't read his every thought anymore, but he liked feeling hers, knowing for a fact how happy he makes her, or when she's feeling low...feeling her love for him, that one he'll miss most of all. ]

Action

[passingthrough]

Me too. [But she's comforted knowing they're feeling it together.] I'm glad we got to do that though.