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

[winn]

You know you don't have to make light of it for my sake. If you wanna talk about it - I can listen.

[beathach]

I'm really not. But - then again, I had an easier time than other people did. [he shrugs] Maybe after I've had a few more drinks.

[winn]

That -- can be easily arranged.

[ he refills both their glasses. he knows this move, it's a classic winn-drives-kitty-up-the-wall move. my pain wasn't as bad as other people's pain so I don't get to talk move. he sympathizes, and it also makes him feel guilty. the show never feels all too great on the other foot. ]

[beathach]

Heh, thanks.

[the worst part is - Hank is definitely guilty of that, and he'd say that regardless of if it was the truth or not. But then again, he prioritizes everyone else over himself no matter what]

Though - refresh my memory, what have I told you so far? Just the general stuff, right?

[winn]

[ he knows. do you know how he knows? because that's exactly what he's been doing. and they are each other. ]

Yeah, you've been pretty consistently vague.

[ not a reproach, just a recap. ]

[beathach]

[Hank and Winn, continuing to prove that they are AU twins.

He takes a long drink, then huffs a little]

As long as I've been consistent.

[winn]

[ one day, winn will turn blue and hank will have an overwhelming urge to dress up in cosplay, and the merging will be complete. ]

No one can blame you for lack of consistency.

[ he nods, taking another gulp of his own drink. ]

[beathach]

[Winn should introduce Hank to cosplay he'd be into it, then the merging will be as close to complete as it can get without genetic manipulation]

Exactly. [he takes another drink]

At least, Charles and Erik were there before me, so when I showed up it was a little easier.

[winn]

Right...can't imagine what it was like for Kara, getting here alone.

[ the one thing that kept him relatively calm through adjusting to this place is knowing that kara's here with him. ]

And this place didn't even used to be dangerous. [ ok it always was but you know what he means - nothing happened. ]

[beathach]

Mm . . . I can't imagine what it'd be like, either. Erik was here for a month before Charles and I got here.

[and time hadn't passed at all back home. He'd seen Erik that morning]

Or it just wants you to think that. [he shrugs a shoulder, quirking a wry smile] Kyriakos was like that sometimes. It still wasn't downtime, but it was . . . calmer.

[winn]

Everything's calculated here.

[ he nods, of that - he has no doubt. ]

Including the order and intervals they bring us in - gotta be.

[beathach]

And who they bring in.

[he remembers Raven's arrival, and just how much drama that must have generated. And everything that had come of that, after.

He makes a face and finishes off his drink]

[winn]

[ who they bring just fills him with so much bitterness and anger. alex is smart, and unlike him - her skills wouldn't be hampered here. james would have had the entire fleet swooning. ms. grant would've bossed everyone around and caused endless conflict. hank - or j'onn - is a freaking shapeshifting martian. any of them would have been more interesting choices than winn, save for one thing.

his dad. he's here because of his dad, isn't he. he angrily downs the rest of his drink and refills. this is a terrible idea, they're not even eating anything, but he doesn't care about good or bad ideas anymore. ]

[beathach]

[honestly, he's probably here because he goes where Charles goes. They're very likely not interested in anything about him, save for his mutation, and even then he's already got that under control]

It's frustrating, isn't it.

[he doesn't like thinking about all of this too deeply anymore]

[winn]

I don't think I remember what not being frustrated feels like anymore.

[beathach]

I remember, but only because I went out of my way to avoid frustration last month. I'd had enough of it, after everything.

[winn]

One more superpower I don't have.

[ he can't avoid it, because he can't stop working on the most frustrating things. ]

[beathach]

If I can figure out how to do it, you can, too.

[winn]

You have way too much faith in me.

[ he swirls the bit of liquid that remains in his glass around, staring at it. ]

I can't let it go.

[ not for a second, not when kitty's life hangs in the balance. ]

[beathach]

[ah, this is going to get serious again . . .]

It isn't letting it go, Winn. It's taking time for yourself so you don't get overwhelmed.

[winn]

[ they're drinking serious booze. ]

I can't Hank. I can't. Every second we're here, is a second they could... [ he can't say it. he can't jinx it. if they send kitty back to her world it would be too horrible to imagine.

he takes a breath. ]

People are counting on me to figure it out.

[beathach]

I know they are. And I know - how you feel, too.

[he understands, so very well. But he won't say it out loud either, more than that, lest they both end up jinxing it]

But you aren't working on any of this alone, you know? You've got me and Cisco. You can afford to take the time if you need to.

[winn]

I know.

[ but he can't. it's always hounding him, in the back of his mind, poking and prodding at his thoughts, filling him with guilt when he's having fun while he should be working, figuring this out. ]

But how can I afford to take the time when I don't know how much of it I have?

[beathach]

That right there is the reason you should take it.

[he considers something for a moment before speaking up again] I know it isn't the same, but - the moment Raven and I go home, everything stops. There's . . . things she has to do, and obligations I have, and it could be years before we can even consider being together again.

Which is why I take the time when I need it. So I don't - overwhelm myself, and so I can spend more time with her. You can't - always completely pull yourself away, because it'll always be on your mind no matter what, but - it's still something. It's something we won't have for a long time, after we leave.

[he shrugs and finally sets his glasses down, then gives Winn a lopsided smile] So take the time and use it wisely. Otherwise - you'll be kicking yourself for not doing it down the road.

[winn]

Yeah but Hank, if you get send back - you're going home together. If I get sent back - if I don't find a way to bring Kitty back with me - I'll never see her again.

[ which would be terrible enough, but she'll be dead. that's the worst part. he can't console himself by saying she'll find a better life, she'll find love again, she'll be happy. if he fails her - she dies. how can he fail her? ]