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]

I am many kinds of drunk, don't try to label me. Right now, though, I'm just buzzed.

[beathach]

Mmhmm. [he glances down into his drink, then just finishes it off] You know, the last time I got - well, almost drunk was after a serious discussion, too. It seems to be turning into a theme.

[winn]

Yeah.

[ he looks at his glass and in an uncharacteristically somber moment continues ] I should probably be concerned about the amount of everything sucks drinking I do.

[ he downs the content of his glass all the same. ]

[beathach]

You and me both.

The last drink I had before coming here was years ago. I stopped drinking at all because - [someone had to stay sober in the mansion] - I stopped going out. Now? [he gestures between them] Usually I'm drinking with someone else.

[winn]

I've had my share of everything sucks drinks at home, too, actually. Guess I can't blame the Atroma for that. Ha, that's a refreshing change.

[beathach]

One thing out of an entire list. [he quirks half a smile] I guess it's better than just not caring anymore - that was my "everybody sucks" choice.

[winn]

I've always subscribed to the teachings of 'caring too much'.

[beathach]

[he fiddles with the glass in his hand]

I used to. I mean, I'm - better about it now, but for a while it was just - easier not to.

[winn]

I bet.

[ he nods, squeezing hank's shoulder. ]

[beathach]

[he shoots Winn a brief smile]

The school having to close was sort of the last straw in a string of unfortunate events.

[winn]

Is unfortunate events code for 'move on' or 'ask me about it'? My decoder is located in the buzzed section of my brain.

[beathach]

[he considers for a moment . . . he doesn't want to go into too much detail, but he's buzzed enough to give an overview. After a bit, he shrugs a shoulder]

It was a couple of years after we - ah, after the first iteration of the X-Men was started. We were involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis - at least, in my world. Not that anyone knows.

To keep a . . . very depressing and long story short, we accomplished what we set out to do, but there was a cost. Erik and Raven left because of a . . . difference in opinion. Charles didn't walk away, period.

And it was the day after I enhanced my mutation. The school was sort of an upside after all that, but then the war - ah, Vietnam - started and we lost a lot of students and teachers to the draft.

[winn]

[ he wants to ask a million questions about their involvement in the cuban missile crisis but the empathetic part of his brain has yet to shut down. he tries to follow along, but there gaps there that aren't easy to bridge. ]

Yeah, that definitely calls for some disconnect -

[ he can't imagine being forced to fight a war. he's so glad to have been born in his own time.

refilling both their glasses. ]

[beathach]

Mm, it was certainly necessary.

[he mumbles a thanks and downs most of the alcohol in his drink, then gestures with the glass]

Go ahead, ask questions. I was being purposely vague.

[winn]

Are you sure, man, cuz you're at the part of the horror movie the audience screams 'no, don't do it' -

[ he has endless questions and his inhibition is down. ]

[beathach]

You may never get another chance, I don't like talking about it.

[winn]

I know - which is why I wanna make sure you're sure. I care about you more than I care about answers.

[ he cares about his friends more than he cares about most things, really, including his well being. ]

[beathach]

I know. [it makes him smile a little, small but genuine. Winn is a good friend] I'm sure.

[winn]

[ he's had so few real friends in his life. he's not going to risk the ones he has now for the sake of something as trivial as curiosity. ]

Stop me anytime. So how'd you get involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis? Your CIA days?

[beathach]

In a matter of speaking. The CIA was originally involved, and Charles, Raven, and - Erik, I guess - were all brought in to help find a very powerful mutant - Sebastian Shaw, He was able absorb energy and use it, so . . . attempts on his life were next to impossible. He . . . well, he subscribes to the thought that mutants are the next step in evolution, as well as the superior race. [he makes a face] He tried to recruit us at one point, but - that's another story.

Anyway - he manipulated the Russians into moving their missiles, Kennedy issued the blockade and sent our navy out there - and we went out to stop Shaw and the mutants working with him, while trying to stop the two militaries from firing on one another.

[winn]

[ while part of him remains aware that this is real life to hank, the rest is just really excited because this story really appeals to the conspiracy buff in him. ]

Originally involved - at what point did you break away from it?

[beathach]

[he totally understands that]

After Cuba. I couldn't go back for a lot of reasons - the facility I worked at was completely destroyed, and my boss - had been killed, and at the time, I was stuck with the blue fur.

That and both militaries firing their missiles at us sort of . . . made the decision very easy. [dryly] They saw us as a bigger threat than each other.

[winn]

[ he's about to offer his condolences but then hank keeps talking and he's too busy being incredulous. ]

Wait - what?

[beathach]

[WELCOME TO X-MANS]

They saw what were capable of and decided firing on us was the best decision.

[winn]

[ groaning in frustration and raising his arms only to drop them by his side in a frustrated thump ]

Humanity why - [ usually he has a lot of faith in people. but sometimes? sometimes it just feels like he's surrounded by idiots. he facepalms and shake his head, rubbing his face before looking back at hank ]

Man, now I gotta add 'human' to the list of things I'm embarrassed to be. [ alongside 'male' and 'white' ]