⚛ 02: why this edition; video

[beathach]

Who: Hank and you!
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: The Blameless
When: now!

[when the feed flips on, it focuses on a crate on the smaller side, but clearly yet another sponsor drop. Only this time, it appears to be full of brushes, of all shapes and colors and sizes. There's also a note attached on top:

"Because normal brushes are just infuriating. Keep that blue fur shiny with these purrfect alternatives!"

there's a heavy sigh from behind the camera and a mutter, just audible enough to be picked up by the microphone]

Someone thinks they're being funny.

[another sigh, and the camera turns around, focusing on a woman's face. Reluctantly, it seems, because she looks incredibly awkward and uncomfortable]

Anyway - I know some people have pets on the fleet, so if you'd like a brush for their fur, feel free to come over to the Blameless and pick one up. I certainly won't be keeping them.

[she goes to turn the feed off, then pauses]

Also, Winn? This is your fault. Get over here so I can blame you properly.

[and with that, the feed disconnects]

Comments

[beathach]

[but is it stealing if he's willingly giving them?]

You—. . . I-I don't think I really need to - know that?

[athru]

[ Semantics. ]

You'll get uncomfortable if you don't? You don't have to, but...I could always do it for you.

[beathach]

[conversations he never imagined having: this one, right here]

I - maybe? If . . . er, if things get . . . uncomfortable.

[athru]

You can let me know.

[ Reaching out, Raven squeezes his hand. ]

I just want to help.

[beathach]

[he squeezes back]

I know you do.

[athru]

There we are, then.

[ Raven shifts, moving to push at Hank's hair again gently, tilting her head. ]

I wonder how they do it. Make someone look just the same, just... Swapped.

[beathach]

In Kyriakos, it was magic. I never experienced - this before, but I was turned into a teenager, once.

[he tilts into her hand again, sighing out]

[athru]

I bet you were a cute teen.

[ Her fingers brush over Hank's skin and she smiles. ]

[beathach]

I think you might be a little biased.

[athru]

Absolutely not.

[ Raven shakes her head, leaning on Hank gently. ]

I didn't know what I wanted to look like as a teenager.

[beathach]

You absolutely are.

[he hums a little thoughtfully] What did you look like?

[athru]

I looked like lots of different things. We didn't go out much, so I had room to experiment. Sometimes I tried to make myself look more like Charles.

[beathach]

Did it work? [he nudges her a little gently] When did you settle on this?

[athru]

Not really. I couldn't make it work because I had no one to copy. [ She pauses, thinking. ] I don't know when this happened. I think maybe 'Raven' must be someone I saw one day that grew to match me a little.

[beathach]

Ah. [he shifts to sit just a little bit closer, hoping that makes up for the words he's about to fumble over] It matches you a little, but - I mean, I think you're beautiful - ah, no matter how you look.

[athru]

[ Look how far they've come, she thinks. She remembers only feeling beautiful like this, but now Hank makes her feel beautiful no matter what. ]

Thank you. [ It's easy, then, to lean closer, wrapping herself around Hank. ] I think the same thing about you.

[beathach]

[he wrinkles his nose, but he slips an arm around her as she presses close]

I know you do.

. . . thanks.

[athru]

You're welcome.

[ Shifting a little, she cuddles closer, leaning against Hank and softening. ]

Do you think it'll last as long as Cisco's?

[beathach]

Geez, I hope not. [he's already over this]

[athru]

Are you going to give yourself a girl name, too?

[beathach]

Uh - no. No, I won't be doing that.

[athru]

Just Hank, then.

[ She moves, making herself comfortable, all over Hank as usual. ]

Don't lock yourself in the lab all the time, though. We spent so long decorating our room.

[beathach]

[he doesn't mind, in fact he shifts back just a little so she can properly hang all over him]

Can I lock myself in our room instead?

[athru]

[ There's no helping herself; she grins. ]

I'm not going to complain.

[beathach]

[. . . squint]

Why are you grinning?