driftfleet | Video/Action Open

Who: Everyone
Broadcast: Open
Action: Tourist, or find her later on the Twin Roses or Iskaulit
When: March 2

[Kitty's morning on the Tourist did not go as planned. It's another hour or so before she makes this announcement. She doesn't even know what happened to the minutes in between. But she's all business when she looks into the communicator. No hiding behind text.]

Winn Schott is in a coma. [Blunt. Direct. Maybe she should have called a few people individually first like Kara, but she wasn't going to make it through this if she did that.] He always has projects going, so they're going to be late. If something is important let me know and I'll see if it's something I can work on in his place.

I already fed his slug today, but someone on the Tourist should take care of that until lazy wakes up. [The mild insult to cover feelings is so classic Kitty, circa home it may not even fit with what people of the fleet know of her. That Kitty had walls around her walls, but those are gone now.]

He's always checking on ship systems on the Twin Roses since we managed to merge and still not get an engineer out of the deal, so if anyone else can help us out with that in the meantime let me know. I'll also be working on the new dance studio later today if anyone wants to help. [Because this mission is almost complete and she needs another one so she can hold it together. Can't fall apart if she's sanding down floors.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She picks up the sandwich tearing it apart in bite-size pieces instead of just biting in. She's not very hungry, but she doesn't care for herself well at times like these so if someone brings her food she'll at least eat some of the food.]

I know the situation. There's nothing to do but wait it out. [Which is the worst part. It's a helpless, lonely feeling. Less lonely with company.]

[Robb decides not to point out the odd way she is eating that sandwich. Picking at it instead of biting into it.]

You have the right of that. [He nods.] But I am sure he will wake again. [But against what price? He does not want to know of that and focuses on opening the bottle of wine so he can pour some glasses for the both of them.]

They always bring them back.

That's not...exactly true.

The man who trained me used to be here. He fell into one of the comas and I was told he'd wake up. I waited and waited over a month and then one day he was just gone. His room was empty. His name wasn't on his ship's roster. The same happened with another familiar face from home. [Neither had really been from her world. He hadn't really trained her. But he had trained a Kitty and she had learned from a Logan and she liked having him around. She misses him.]

[Robb frowns at her words and he can feel how something cold settles in his heart.

He had always thought they would return after a long sleep. They might be damaged or hurt. But they would return. At least, until now. Maybe he has been a fool to think it would be otherwise.]

Do you fear that that will happen to Winn as well? [After all the misunderstandings between them Robb had discovered that Winn is a genuinely nice guy.] You...you should hope for the best...even though that can be difficult at times.

[He takes a slow sip from his cup, his nose wrinkling a little at the after taste. He had hoped that it would be a sweet red. Apparently he has been wrong about that as well.]

Of course I fear it. I love him. I want to spend my life with him. I don't want to lose him.

[She looks at her cup without drinking.] I do hope. I just can't bring myself to assume. [If she does lose him it would be devastating. Well, more devastating.]

My lady wife always says that hoping is the best you can do in a situation like this.

[Robb is not sure what to say any more. He would automatically think the worst, knowing that the lords of Atroma do not wish the best for them. But would Kitty really want to hear about such things?

That she is powerless and all she must do is wait and hope?]

I do not hope, I mostly assume. [He shrugs and plucks at his sandwich.] The worst. So that... [So that it hurts less when the worst thing happens.]

Mayhaps we should just try to enjoy this meal as much as we can, not?

[She's never been good at waiting, but hope was survival. It got you through the nights you didn't think you were getting through.

You're right. Food is a lot easier to focus on. [Except it's not. Her thoughts keep drifting back to Winn. She thinks of things she should do while he's asleep that he might appreciate or need and things she is going to miss doing with him and wondering how he'd feel about her reactions to all this.]

How is Jeyne? [Since he mentioned her.]

At times I can be wise. [Robb flashes her a small smile.] And my abilities to make a sandwich have improved greatly over the days that have passed.

[He does not believe that focusing on something stupid like sandwiches could make all her worry disappear. If anything he’d worry more.]

She is well. She seems to thrive in an environment like this… [A thoughtful expression appears on his face.] …I meant to ask you…have you ever heard of shape shifters on this fleet? Are there such people?

Ones with ill intentions?

[She's about to ask more about Jeyne when that question sidetracks her. The answer comes quickly. Casually.]

Sure. There are at least two. Probably more if the magic users can change form. [But that was a worrying question. She looks at him, tilting her head and looking at him with some concern.] What happened?

[Robb shrugs, not sure if he wants to make this about him now. It was something he should fix for himself.]

Ah... [He sighs.] A female shape shifter has targeted us. For reasons unknown. She wishes to part us.

[She wouldn't let him drop it if he tried.] Gemini? [She really hopes and assumes Gemini. If it's Raven then something is really wrong here.]