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

[takingkarabusiness]

I mean, I don't disbelieve you. It's just worrying to think about.

I've been thinking about my own conspiracy theories, you know. Some parts of this remind me of the Black Mercy.

[winn]

Yeah I've been...considering that too. Look at what they've accomplished here - people from all over the multiverse, incredibly powerful superheroes, geniuses - all trapped. They can upload stuff into our heads whenever they feel like it - and - just look at me. I got a girlfriend who loves me and a whole group of friends? If that's not a sign of foul play I don't know what is -

[ he's joking except he's really not. he's been flourishing socially and it's been bothering him since day one, he's just been enjoying it too much to really focus on it, afraid to question it. ]

In a lot of ways, it would make so much more sense if this is all going on in our heads. Or maybe we're all just -- sharing a virtual reality like in the - the - [ snapping his fingers ] ...I can't remember movies, Kara, TV shows, comic books, books, it's all...it's been driving me crazy from day one. I reach for a name and it's not there. They're messing with us and there's no way of knowing what's significant and what's a smoke screen and what's the point of any of it - [ and he's just getting progressively more and more frustrated ] and what's the name of that goddamn movie??

[ he lets out a frustrated huff and rubs his face ]

It'd be a lot easier to trap our minds than our bodies.

[takingkarabusiness]

The Matrix?

And yeah, I think so too, about the minds. There's a lot that doesn't add up, though. Couldn't I just have my powers regardless if it's all in my head?

And don't sell yourself short, Winn. I don't like just anyone. You're more likable than you give yourself credit for.

[winn]

...I don't know. I don't remember.

[ and it's driving him nuts. ]

Not necessarily - they want you to buy into the fantasy, right? And they can make you think whatever they want you to think so if they want you to think you don't have any powers - poof, you have no powers. If it's all in your head, all they have to do is suggest you shouldn't have them because you don't have any physical powers to shut down in a virtual reality.

[ watch him casually move on from the topic of his social skills. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

I... I guess so.

It was very convincing when the Black Mercy had me. It was an entirely different timeline.

[winn]

[ he gently puts his hand on hers and gives it a little squeeze ]

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she just really wants a hug right now so she'll hug him ]

[winn]

[ he'll return the hug as tightly as he's able (which isn't as tight as it used to be, but he makes a valiant effort). ]

Whatever else may be fake -- this right here is always real. My believing in you is always real.

[takingkarabusiness]

Thank you. I know, but it's just nice to have you here. I'm glad you're okay.

[winn]

That makes two of us.

[ he smiles. definitely for his being okay! ]

[takingkarabusiness]

she's not going to stay in the hug forever but she will lean on him

I'm sad you slept through most of the planet.

[winn]

[ he has no intention of pulling away; it's nice, feeling kara's affection for him, feeling wanted and valued. ]

Me too - couldn't I have slept through the moon?

[ though - no, he wouldn't have traded the moon for anything in the world. that was his time falling for kitty and kitty falling for him and gathering up invaluable supplies without which he couldn't make project plato happen. the moon was a sucky planet, but a precious experience. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

Extremely rude. But probably better for not getting a sunburn.

[winn]

My greatest concern in life, I manage to avoid it in California, be weird to get it in space.

[takingkarabusiness]

I guess. You're closer to the sun, though?

[winn]

It's more a matter of exposure than relative distance - look who I'm telling.

[takingkarabusiness]

Yeah, way to mansplain, Winn.

[ she's teasing for sure ]

[winn]

Look I've got 16 days of silence to make up for that's gonna include a lot of nonsense.

[ shrugging ]

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she wraps her arms around him a la alex in this icon ]

It definitely felt like 16 years.

[winn]

[ he's just loving all this attention. as crappy as the circumstances are, waking up to this is basically a dream come true. ]

16 years and all you did was butcher a T-Rex? We really gotta work on your pacing.

[takingkarabusiness]

Don't hate. It took me over 20 years to get to Earth.

[winn]

You're making my case for me, pick up your pace, Danvers.

[ so very obviously teasing ]

[takingkarabusiness]

It's an improvement!

[winn]

I dunno, getting to earth is a much bigger accomplishment than butchering a dinosaur. Still can't believe you did that -- [ he's so weirded out by the thought of kara the butcher. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

For clarification, it was already dead when I got there. But it just wasn't logistically possible to move it in one piece.