driftfleet | everybody's starstruck in june.

Entry tags:

everybody's starstruck in june.

Who: starstruck crew & visitors
Broadcast: n/a
Action: aboard the ship
When: june

[ another month; another mingle. but there are changes in the air! the starstruck has some fresh crew to boast of, as well as a spiffing new lounge. things have been difficult, lately -- the common area might make for a great place to decompress and socialize with your fellow starstruckers.

after all, it seems the captain's gone and requisitioned max's record player. for the first week in june, it'll be returned again and again to the new lounge. good luck hiding it from her, rockatanksy.

ready steady go! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ she does brighten up when she sees him and pops into the kitchen ]

I'm good. I mean, well, I'm fine. Actually, I was wondering if you had some time to chat? If not that's fine. I probably should've planned it out better.

I do, of course I do. Here or somewhere private? I could use a walk to the weaponry.

[ it's his turf, so to speak. rarely is he disturbed when he sits down to do his work, assembling and dissembling and cleaning the different weapons they keep on board. but before she can make up her mind, he presents her with another question: ]

Coffee or tea?

Coffee would be great, thank you, and I wouldn't mind a walk.

[ while he gets to prepping that, she'll start ]

It's about Mon-El. I know you haven't really spent a lot of time with him since our last unfortunately public falling out, but we stayed together after that and things had been going really well. Like, really.

Good choice. The ship grew and we have more and more people who would go for tea. can't have that.

[ he's been winning this battle, okay, he's not about to lose now. he does pause, hand on the mug when he hears the subject at hand.

he knew he should have introduced this guy's face to his shield way back when. ]

had been?

[ why the past tense? ]

He came clean about something he'd been lying to me about. Not just since we got here, but at home, too. And I know he has his reasons—and they're probably even good—but I'm not sure how to move forward from that. Kate is Team Dump Him, Natasha can see both sides of the issue... But I'm not sure what the right thing to do it.

He told me on his own, voluntarily, knowing that I would probably react badly. Does that count for anything?

That depends. Do you think it counts for anything?

[ what a question to ask there. there isn't a lot steve hides from the woman he shares his life but there are a few secrets. it's a stupid thing to do, probably, to hide the same secret that torn his friendship with tony but it is what it is. ]

Sometimes people make mistakes. Do you think you could move on past this one?

Maybe. I don't know. It depends on if lying about it was a mistake or a manipulation...

The thing he lied about... wasn't a mistake. It was who he was— the prince of a world that promoted slavery and hedonism.

That's why it's so hard. As I know him now? Definitely not what I would expect from a Daxamite prince, which is why I didn't know he was lying to me. I don't like that I couldn't tell.

Maybe he needs to hear that you're not always who your world or family is.

[ he doesn't like defending mon-el; by right, he would rather just offer to hit him in face for lying. steve places a cup in front of her and takes a seat, considering. ]

Do you think there was anyone to tell him that before he met you? The man who gave me the Serum wasn't ashamed of being a German, even in the middle of the war but not many people can do that.

[ she cups the mug with both hands, unconcerned with the heat ]

I don't know that he felt he needed to hear that.

...But I guess that's just it. I don't know. And... You know, the more I learn about my own parents, the more I realize they weren't perfect. They knew the world was in danger but they did nothing to stop it. Before that, my father developed a kind of virus that would infect any invaders but leave Kryptonians alone. Someone got their hands on it and it almost killed Mon-El, but when he found out my father had made it originally, it didn't change how he thought of me.

You know, the night before the serum procedure, I had a talk with the man who made it. He was - one of a kind. The German one I told you about. He told me that no matter what happens after that day, I should try my damn hardest to be me. Not a perfect soldier but a good man. I'm pretty sure I haven't always kept that promise.

[ especially as of late ]

But I'm going to keep trying. So if you're going to forgive Mon-El, he needs to know that it's what he has to do. he has to earn that forgiveness and he has to keep trying to do better than his people.

[ ... ]

Wouldn't mind telling him myself.

[ :| ]

[ she smiles at the last comment ]

I'll keep you on speed dial when I talk to him, just in case he needs extra convincing.

But... thank you. You're right. I've been so worried that maybe the only reason I don't want to break up with him is because I've lost so many people lately... but that's not it. Maybe it informed how I reacted, but I know there's good in him... I think he can be better, and I can probably be better, too.

Sometimes, all we nee to be better is to have someone who'd believe in us. Even after the serum, I didn't know what's there for me to do until someone told me they've believed in me.

[ that someone is just over at the bridge. the influence of peggy carter on his life has never been just romantic, after all. ]

Maybe he should hear that. And you should too.

[ he covers her hand with this. ]

I'm glad you came to see me.

Was it Peggy?

[ but she squeezes his hand ]

I am, too. I know we come from really different universes, but I really trust your perspective on things.

You know, sometimes, you remind me of my cousin.

Yeah. It was the middle of the war and things weren't going so well but - she made me believe I could do something about it. Part of the reason why I did.

[ people have this effect on each other. it's part of the reason they matter most to him. there was strength in the serum but steve needed this reminder that he could be more than the man on the USO tour. ]

From what I heard from Winn, that's one hell of a compliment.

[ she rolls her eyes a little and laughs. she really does seem less burdened than she did when she walked in ]

Winn has a huge mancrush on my cousin. I won't say it isn't deserved, I imagine, but it's like... a lot. Kal's a really good person, though. I was supposed to be the one who took care of him, but he turned out great regardless.

Well, every now and then everyone need a bit of support, even your cousin.

[ he wraps an arm around her shoulder, surprisingly gentle even when it's kara who is stronger than him. ]

I can't think of a better family to have.

[ she leans into it gratefully ]

I'm a pretty big fan of all of my families—biological, adopted, found...

Has anyone ever told you you have a big brother vibe? Not in the Orwellian sense, of course.

Really?

[ he smiles, accepts the compliment and the smile it brings to the surface. ]

Never thought about this way. I'm an only child, you know.

I was too, and now I have an older sister. But I kind of imagine this is what having an older brother is like.

Well.

[ touched by her confession, by how she seemed to have acted on it just by coming here and seeking his advice on a subject some would claim was hardly his forte. ]

if this is what havin' a little sister is like, I think you make for a really good one.

Thanks.

I'm not sure Alex would say the same...

[ she would. she totally would ]

I may not have met her, [ though he heard about her from both kara and winn at the time ] but I have a sure feeling she would be on my side of this.

[ older siblings must see eye to eye about these things. ]

I wish she could be here. Not that I would wish this on people but you know what I mean.

I know.

[ it's the sort of thing that goes without saying, really. ]

We have some new crew members. One of them is a friend from home. I hate that he has to be here but I'm glad to see him, you know?

Oh? Who?

everybody's starstruck in june.

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