blameless mingle » may

[ladybro]

Who: Crew + visitors
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Aboard the Blameless
When: All of May

[ when it's the month of may, the blameless will play. or something. have at it, you crazy diamonds. ]

Comments

[ladybro]

N-no. It's fine. [ ... ] I'm not gonna deny I'm bummed about Clint leaving. But I didn't lose him. He'll be waiting, back home, when all of this is over.

[ or so she hopes. it's entirely possible he won't want to speak to her then either. ]

[padadin]

Or when they randomly decide to send us back, right? [Will she just disappear one day just like Clint did? Not a happy thought, he realizes, so better stay away from it.] I don't think I've asked - how long have you been here?

[ladybro]

One year and four months. [ ish. ] I actually showed up on the Valentine's day before this last one.

I try not to count, but -- well, it's kinda hard not to.

[padadin]

That's fine, I do the same. [He actually can count here, so yeah, hard not to. His look softens.] You said this to me once, and I need to return the sentiment - that's a long time to be away from home. Sorry Kate.

[And then he adds, trying to lighten the mood.]

I hope at least you got chocolates for Valentine's.

[ladybro]

-- Does the chocolate protein pudding count? [ probably not. ] It wasn't so bad. It was more exciting than Valentine's back home, to be honest.

[padadin]

If you want to. [That... gets a raised eyebrow.] Exciting - as in, the sponsors' ideas of exciting?

[ladybro]

Exciting as in -- hey, I've never been whisked away to an alternate dimension for V-day before. How utterly unromantic.

[padadin]

[He snorts.] I'm surprised they celebrate Valentine's at all. Earth's holidays in space? [He rethinks that for a second.] Or maybe I shouldn't - holiday specials, huh.

[So this show has those too, go figure. The next question comes and ok, he's just curious and it's on topic, nothing wrong with asking, right? Right.]

But Valentine's seems to be important to you. Were you expecting to spend it with someone at home?

[ladybro]

[ truthfully, the 'celebration' had just been the same old confetti and pudding that every new arrival gets. but she doesn't care to explain that detail just now. not when he's asking... ]

Not that important, no. But it was a memorable date on the calendar and everyone else was talking about it when I got here. [ a beat. ] There hasn't been a 'someone' for a while.

[padadin]

[A nod in understanding. It's always like that with holidays, and Valentine's isn't different, be Japan, the USA or outer space too. He should be thankful they have a calendar at all, he realizes, to mark the New Year when it comes. He can't do that at home.]

Something in common, then. [He isn't sure what makes him say that, but he does.] Is it like they show in the movies? It gets complicated for superheros?

[ladybro]

[ something in common, he says. and kate can't help a slight smile. somehow, somehow, she could have guessed it. he seems a bit buttoned-up; he seems particular. ]

Very. It gets very complicated. [ ... ] You gotta keep your priorities in mind, you know?

[padadin]

As a pilot who spent most of his time away in space and now a paladin in an alien war? Trust me, I know.

[He returns the smile. What a life they have - it feels nice, at least, to have someone that can understand that.]

As much as I hate the cameras and being away from my team, I can't deny the break has been kind of nice.

[ladybro]

[ she nods. they both got stuff. reasons to look elsewhere, outside the heart. and although kate isn't above a bit of fun from time to time, that's never been an option in the fleet. she doesn't like the thought of being watched. that, sorry to say, just isn't what floats her boat. ]

It has its ups and downs. Sometimes? God, yeah, it's a relief to go to bed without feeling like one giant bruise. [ story of her life. ] But there's lots that I miss, too.

[padadin]

[It must feel good not waking up like a giant bruise, too, he thinks, but his night terrors isn't something he's gonna talk about soon. This talk at least? It's distracting. Comforting.]

Missing home must be the one thing we everyone can agree on. Keith has helped me a bit with that - I hope you get to see family again soon, too.