February System Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: EVERYONE!!!
Broadcast: Possibly
Action: The Shinda BR-10 System
When: The fleet will be in this system from 1/26 to 2/23



Welcome to the Shinda system! There are three explorable planets here - Duotera, Ebrion, and Philias - each with its own current temperature state. Get out there and see the sights - but do please prepare for the extreme weather as necessary!

→ More system info is here!

Comments

[takingkarabusiness]

Do you just want to go out for the full dessert?

[reconstitution]

Of course I do. It's been a while, we have a lot to catch up on. [ He nudges her with an elbow. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she smiles at him ]

Your love life? Please say yes.

[ she's teasing, and heading toward a restaurant that seems to have a good dessert menu ]

[reconstitution]

[ He falls into stride with her, and he shrugs a shoulder. ]

I didn't think there was much to tell.

[takingkarabusiness]

Well, I won't needle you, but considering how forthcoming Natasha isn't, let's just say there's a friendly curiosity.

[reconstitution]

[ A woman after his own heart, honestly. It's why the two of them work so well. ]

I'll see what I can answer, then.

[takingkarabusiness]

Don't just let me interrogate you, though.

How are you in general?

[reconstitution]

Most pain-free interrogation I've ever been to.

[ He doesn't have to think about it as much before replying this time. Progress?? ]

I'm good. [ Better than the 'fine' he was last time. ] You?

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she does actually take a moment too long to answer, but when she does, it's with her customary cheerfulness, maybe a little strong ]

Oh, you know, I'm good.

[reconstitution]

Kara. [ He's going to give her a look. ] Soviet assassin, remember?

[takingkarabusiness]

I mean, it's not like anything is really wrong. I don't know.

[reconstitution]

What aren't you sure about? What does it feel like?

[takingkarabusiness]

[ they get seated and settled in before she organizes her thoughts ]

I don't know.

I guess... I feel aimless? I don't know what my purpose here is.

[reconstitution]

It's hard to find. I'm still not sure what mine is, but I have my crew to look after.

[ But after that? What is he really doing? ]

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she exhales, disappointed he doesn't have the answers, but thankful she's not alone ]

I'm not sure I even have that. I screwed that up pretty well on the cannibal planet. I'd say that I have my friends to look after, but I can't prevent anyone from coming or going.

[reconstitution]

I know it's not an ideal situation, but there's always room on my crew if you feel unwelcome on yours.

None of us can.

[takingkarabusiness]

Thank you. I really do appreciate that.

I think we've made amends, it just also pulled into focus where my priorities are. I can't say I'm totally proud of them, but there it is.

On Earth, it was very clear. Protect Kal-El, protect the people of Earth, and maybe try to have a life where I make a difference in my spare time. Here it's like... It's like that point in summer vacation where the novelty has worn off and you don't have any plans and all your friends are at away camp. Technically, you have all the time in the world to do whatever you want, but you can't think of anything to do.

[reconstitution]

When I first got here, I didn't have a purpose. Without a mission, I was nothing. It took someone else taking the reigns and showing me that there was purpose in every decision. It took nailing down a routine and sticking to it.

The point is, you can do anything you want. Between keeping up with your crew and getting into shit when it hits the fan.

[ A lot of where he finds what drives him occasionally shares a bed with him. Natasha keeps his demons away for the most part, and he does what he can for hers. He'll admit that it would be harder to function without her. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

I just don't know what I want. I mean, I do, but I can't control any of it. I want to be home, but not lose any of my friends here. I want my sister, and for Winn to come back, but I don't really want them to be here. And I'd really just like an unequivocal bad guy to punch in the face.

[reconstitution]

It's hard losing people here. Especially ones that are tied to home. It doesn't get easier, but they can come back. It's just.. a matter of when.

[ The quiet lingers for a moment, and he places his hands on top of the table, tapping the fingers of flesh and blood against the counter top. ]

D'you know what I want more than anything? I'd probably kill someone to see my brother again. [ Not one of blood, but one of circumstance. It's a hard relationship to put into words, but more than anything, that's what Jim was, and fuck if he didn't miss that asshole every goddamn day. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

[ she lets the space breathe before she presses on ]

What do you miss about him the most?

[reconstitution]

[ Where does he even start? There are a million different scenarios about how this would have all played out if Jim had never answered the call, or if something had gone differently. 'Everything' is a cop out answer, but it feels closest to the truth. Bucky counts to five, breathes out and stills the drumming of his fingers against the table. ]

He treated me like a person. Not something made of glass or a ticking time bomb. He just--knew what I needed, whether it was space or a kick in the ass. Or a distraction from my own shit. He had his own to deal with, too. He never really hid it from me.

[takingkarabusiness]

He sounds like a true brother. I feel the same way about my sister.

[reconstitution]

If she's anything like you, I hope I get to meet her someday.

[takingkarabusiness]

She is and she isn't. Actually, she's a little like a combination of me and Natasha.