driftfleet | [Closed] Met her as the angels parted for her but she only brought me torture-

Who: ~~shate~~ Shiro & Kate
Broadcast: No
Action: From the Blameless to The Melting Pot
When: Beginning of December

[Well. That happened.

Friends have been rescued, people have been helped, bad guys have been beaten - good! Ship has been repaired, food has been restocked - extra good. Saving the universe is great and all, but Shiro couldn't be happier to leave this quiznaking planet behind and never think about it again.

Easier said than done, of course. All the fighting (the killing, the channeling of the damn ring combats) hasn't left him in a good state of mind. Not that it was good before, but you know. Got a bit worse now, sleeping is coming a little less and the visits to the punching bag at space 4am are increasing a little more.

There's one thing he's grateful for, though, one thing that helps him stay grounded, and that's going back to his routine with Kate. They had that heartbreaking conversation exactly before they arrived to the cannibal planet and he never had time to process it. But here they are now, doing their usual morning yoga, and Shiro thinks they've reached a comfortable silence, not an awkward one.

It could also be the fact they're too concentrated on not slipping on the new floors (thanks, Atroma, what a pal) while exercising, but he likes his own reasoning better, thank you. In fact, when they're done, Shiro's mood has improved a bit. Enough to dare to make a simple and maybe dumb (but still meaningful for him) question.]

It's been a while since we had breakfast, hasn't it? [Technically they still do, but he's sure she'll understand what he means. He just doesn't want to say "just the two of us" after that conversation.] How about you take a break from cooking today and we go to the Iskaulit? My treat.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ she wastes no time in making herself at home in the passenger seat. contrary to good graces and decorum, kate props her feet up on the 'dash' and leans back into the chair -- pillowing her arms behind her head. she's easy and casual about her posture, but that doesn't make it seem any less practiced at its heart. trying hard to look as though you're not trying hard at all is a favoured pastime of the affluent youth. she comes by it (dis)honestly. ]

Depends, [ kate turns to watch him while he pulls the shuttle out of the bay, ] what kind of diversion do you have in mind?

[He should tell her not to put her feet on the dash, but she's so comfortable, so ready to let him take control of the trip and just enjoy it, he can't bring himself to. Which should be a big sign of how he behaves around her, thank goodness his team isn't here.]

I just haven't flied for fun in a while. [Cannibal planet and all. It's some thing he always misses, even back home, when it's hard to take Black for a ride in the middle of a war.] Did you go air-diving back in Mafik?

[Because that was fun, and even without an ocean, he wouldn't mind feeling that thrill again. He may not be Keith, but he also has a bit of daredevil in him.]

[ and how pleasantly surprised she is to find herself not chided or scolded for her liberties taken. it widens kate's smile, and she settles comfortably in the seat while they get to flying. or -- while shiro gets to flying. kate, by contrast, enjoys the ride. ]

I didn't. [ a beat. ] I'm guessing you're about to tell me I missed out?

If you like that kind of thrill then yeah, you did. We don't have an ocean here, but I think I can improvise.

[He falls silence after that, concentrating on his surroundings - he doesn't pilot these shuttles often, and they aren't exactly the smoothest or most advanced ride. But he'll take it, he just needs to put all his skills into it.

And up they go, upupupup, gaining more and more speed with each mile. Shiro doesn't stop until they reach that point where the Marsiva's "gravity" and then it's not actually stopping, just a pause that barely lasts a second before Shiro steers and they're going down now, downdowdown--

Well, if it can be called that anyway. It's not like there really is "up" or "down" in space.

They're approaching the Iskaulit at high speed, and it isn't until the last second before a potential crash that Shiro steers again and circles the other ship with a grin on his face.

....please don't tell Keith about this...]

[ -- damn, what a good time.

she's strapped in, she's holding on, and when they hit the apex of their trajectory she even drops her heels back onto the shuttle floor -- looking for a dash of stability as the thrill unwinds all around them. the fake gravity inside the shuttle jostles its contents just a little. and kate feels a pleasant knot in her stomach. like being on a roller-coaster.

or the first time clint let her pilot a quinjet.

she exhales, afterward, and collapses back in the passenger seat. ]

Okay. That was cool. A hundred kinds of reckless, I'm sure, but very very cool.

[His eyes are on the "road" ahead of them, so he can't watch her every reaction, but he does hear the sound of her feet falling off the dash, and it pleases him. So much. Not because of him not wanting feet on the dash, but because of the effect this is having on her. He's always happy to show anyone how good and exhilarating flying can be, and it's extra satisfying when it's her that he can show a good time to.

His grin grows when he finally looks at her and notices her collapsing. Shiro isn't one to be cocky, but he knows he's a great pilot, and he's proud of his abilities.]

It was as reckless as, let's say, you shooting at an apple on top of my head.

[Some teasing, but also commenting on how much they trust their own skills... and each other's.]

[ kate has known good pilots. she's known excellent ones. and it's easily done to slot shiro in among those numbers -- although there will always be a bit of shine and awe around the heroes of her youth.

she scrubs a hand through her hair and returns his smile. ]

An apple would be too easy. You'd have to give me a smaller target. [ ... ] A grape, maybe.

[A chuckle.] Or a pea?

[They arrive to the Iskaulit in seconds, and Shiro jumps off the shuttle in one smooth movement to then quickly reach her side. He considers for a second offering his hand to help her out, like he did that day in calibrations, but decides against it. So his hands go to his pockets instead.]

It's hard to tell this place was shot at by the Vizieri too, isn't it?

[Closed] Met her as the angels parted for her but she only brought me torture-

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