Oh look it's another mingle

[padadin]

Who: The Blameless crew and anyone that wants to visit! You don't need established cr, just come by and say hello!
Broadcast: If anyone wants to, sure.
Action: Yes!
When: Through July.

[Welcome to the SS Blameless! The crew is small and two of them will be invisible to most people, but hey, we have a dog. That alone makes us the best ship. No, really.

Come in, come in! Congratulate the two new captains! (Marriage jokes? Oh, those go on that table over there, thank you.) Also we have a motherfucking lounge now, which will come with all the games bought in a waystation.

It's time for strip poker. Or, you know, space Uno. Whichever is less dangerous.]

Comments

[padadin]

[Together. That word alone has him talking before he even notices.]

It really is. I enjoy our conversations. [It's as sincere as he can be, but that will never stop him from being a worrypants, so of course he had to apologize for the interruption.

He stretches his arms behind him, chuckling at her last comment.] From the sounds of it, you aren't the kind of person that lets life get boring.

[ladybro]

[ things are getting a little bit -- what? sentimental.

so kate stretches her arms again. intent, it seems, to get back to their yoga.

but not before: ] From the sounds of it, you aren't either.

[padadin]

[His arms drop and he looks at her with surprise, not sure what to do with this information. Blink, blink...]

...you have to be the first person that has ever told me that.

[ladybro]

Dude. You fly through outer space in a giant lion. And there's a castle -- and aliens? No part of that is boring. No part of that could ever be boring.

[ ... ]

Unless you're saying you'd rather things be boring. Which, I mean, I can respect.

[ respect, if not understand. ]

[padadin]

It'd be much better if all that wasn't happening in the middle of a war.

[He leans back on his arms and looks at the ceiling, thinking about the state of his life, or-- lack of therefore, maybe.]

Don't take me wrong - space is what I've always wanted. I love my team, I love seeing those planets, the Altean technology is a wonder, and Black - I'll never fly anything like her again. But it all happened to me. After the war is over...

[A funny thing to say. He isn't sure he's gonna make it, and he wonders if she got that from the memories she saw.]

If you leave me to my own devices, you'd probably think I'm boring.

[ladybro]

[ -- she supposes she can understand. sort of. certainly, there are folks back home who choose not to get involved in the conflicts plaguing not just new york, not just america, but the world. people with powers, even, who reserve the right to live their own lives on their own terms.

but as she bends elegantly into a new position, she can't help but ask: ]

What do you think you'd do? You know -- if you weren't a pilot.

[ not just if he wasn't involved in whatever this war really was -- but if he hadn't even taken that path to begin with. ]

[padadin]

I-- I don't know. Flying is what I've always-- ah, but you saw.

[The little nerd on the beach with his dog... no point in repeating the story. He takes his time to copy the new position so he can think what to say without looking too much like a-- what to call it? A loser? Though it's probably a bit late for that.]

I practiced martial arts when I was younger, I had a couple of medals for that. Does that count? [A pause.] And-- war is awful, but protecting people... the satisfaction you mentioned is real. Something smaller like what you do sounds actually nice. I guess fighting experience has brought me a new perspective of a context I didn't have as a kid. [Kate comes from a world of superheroes. What an inspiration they must be.] However... I am tired.

[The last part escapes him before he notices. It's too easy to get caught up in conversations with her, to share. Especially after everything she saw.

He sighs a drops the position to rub the back of his neck.] ...have I bored you yet?

[ladybro]

[ kate holds the position -- feeling a deep and pleasant ache as her muscles work to maintain her balance. it's a good pedal note to the conversation. a distraction, of sorts, while she absorbs his explanation.

and as for his question? well -- she smiles. god, no, he's come nowhere close to boring her. she doesn't dignify the concern with a response. ]

Burn out is a real thing. In war -- in anything, really, where the work is hard and taxing. I don't blame you for getting tired.

[padadin]

[The lack of answer to his question worries him a bit, but then he sees that smile and he knows it's fine. Funny, how that is something he's learned when it comes to interacting with her.

He answers with a little smile of his own - she always has a way to comfort him, and for a guy that usually does the comfort? That's pretty big.]

Thanks. And that takes us back to needing a break, huh. [A break in a reality show may not be the most ideal of breaks, but it's not like they have a choice. So he goes back to copy her position - this is what they're here for, right?] Breaks with yoga. When you forget the cameras, it isn't a bad break.

[And because he still feels the mood needs some stupid comment--]

Just make sure not to pop many more muscles - we still have to move your stuff to the captain's room. [Yeah, he's already assumed that will be her room now, not his. Why would it?]

[ladybro]

My stuff...?

[ she hadn't quite considered it before. although she'd been assigned the role of captain by chance, much as anyone else might be, kate had never really thought about taking the room that had once been hank and raven's.

god, they'd not even been able to hold their wedding. kate can only hope things work out for them back home. ]

Why not your stuff? I'm settled in my quarters. It seems like a pain to go moving now.

[ -- she tries to hide her politeness under selfishness. ]

[padadin]

[And just like her, this isn't something he considered for himself at all either. So he returns the same look.]

I don't have much stuff, and it's not like I need the extra room. Besides, you were assigned captain first.

[This is unbeatable logic, right?]

[ladybro]

Exactly. I was assigned captain first -- so it's my call.

[ and she calls not it, apparently. ]

[padadin]

Or we could reach an agreement like proper co-captains. [He sits up all ready to be his leadery self.] What would I even want the room for?

[ladybro]

The bed's bigger.

[ and so are you. but she doesn't spell it out for him. ]

[padadin]

[Oh, he gets it alright.]

Which means more room for you and Lucky.

YOU ASKED FOR IT

[the_tailor]

[Unfortunately for the two of them, especially unfortunately for Shiro, Lance had decided to pay a visit. And just as he's about to walk in, he catches that last part.

He pokes his head in and talks before he thinks.]

You two are co-captains, doesn't that mean you should be sharing it?

♥

[padadin]

[Shiro's face goes red and turns around to glare at the boy, his usual scolding tone ready to go.]

LANCE!

[ladybro]

[ she's about to say something -- maybe an argument that she's trying not to let lucky share her bed at all, really, but in swans lance and...

and, wow, she'd forgotten that faces could ever go that red. kate, for her part, is a little taken aback by the interjection but ultimately unbothered. it takes a lot more than that to rattle her cage.

instead: ] The guy's got a point. Maybe we should get bunk beds. Bunk beds are cool.

[ it's important to note that she isn't at all serious. mostly, she looks to deflate the awkward tension pulled taut after lance's line. ]

NOW WITH THE RIGHT ACCOUNT

[the_tailor]

Hi Shiro. Hi Kate. I was just kind of popping by for a visit, but, uh. Looks like you have some...discussings going on.

[These two idiots. Mostly Shiro. Shiro might be his friend, his leader, his hero, but boy is he oblivious. He can tell just by the quick, hard blush on his face that there's something going on.]

[padadin]

Hi, Lance. Yes, we're in the middle of--

[Shiro facepalms and sighs into his hand. This feels like the day Lance arrived all over again. It bothers him, and he doesn't know why, and he can feel Keith's judging eyes again too.

The look he gives Kate is pleading.] Don't encourage him...

[ladybro]

Aw, come on. Shiro. [ peggy reaches out and gives her co-captain a light tap on the arm with the backs of her fingers. and all before clambering to her feet with a comfortable stretch. ]

He's just trying to be funny.

[ look, she's not above playing both ends against the middle. ]

[the_tailor]

What do you mean trying? I am always funny. King of comedy.

[He huffs a little bit, but can't help but smile.]

Whatcha two up to, though, honestly?

[padadin]

[Ok, see, Kate's shot for Lance does make him chuckle, and that chuckle becomes a snort at the boys' answer. Oh, Lance.]

Before you interrupted? [Just teasing! Maybe. He also stands up, following his fellow captain.] Yoga. And discussing what to do with the captain room. Tell her about our paladin rooms, Lance. I don't need the extra space.

[See, he can team up too!]