driftfleet | Twin Roses Mingle

[That's two of them, then, and Vision might be able to feel Wanda noticeably relaxing before he pulls away.]

It's all right. You're here now.

[She smiles warmly, and it's definitely all right if he keeps holding her hands. Wanda's always been a tactile person and she really does appreciate physical reassurance.]

Show me whatever you like.

[Oh good, because he does feel reassured by that bit of physical contact as well.

But now comes the hard question - show her the cargo bay first or last?]

Some of it has changed since it was my Windrose, but much remains the same. Shall we pick out our bunks first?

[He used to have the Captain's cabin, of course, but there were enough free bunks now - and they were much more spacious than the shared barracks all the ships had originally had that he doesn't mind having one of the regular crew bunks at all. He'd just have to acquire some art and perhaps a few new plants.

He leads her out from the bridge to the main hallway of the ship. It's one of the models that's designed with a single long corridor, broken up here and there with the various common rooms and hatches down to the bunks. And the windows - all over the ceiling, the sides of the rooms, anywhere there's space for them.]

[Wanda's willing to let go of one of Vision's hands so they can walk, but she's not ready to release him completely. The simple contact is too comforting.

There's still confetti settled in her hair but Wanda hasn't noticed yet. She nods in response to his question, calling the small bag with the few extra clothes she's acquired to her free arm.]

I should probably find a place for this.

[Of course, they don't quite get there before Wanda's gawking at the scenery. The windows are amazing - space really is beautiful, and for a brief moment she can almost forget they've been kidnapped.]

It's beautiful...

It's a view I don't tire of. [It's so much more clear here, through only translucent windows, than it is from the hazy atmosphere of Earth. Some people don't like being reminded of the infinite void between stars - Tony still had nightmares about it sometimes, even if he didn't admit it aloud (which meant little to someone who was BFFs with the security system AI) - but Wanda had never struck him as someone who would see the loneliness instead of the beauty.]

Kitty has told me there are four free crew bunks she's marked with a bit of ribbon so we can tell them apart from the occupied ones. And--er, I didn't remember to ask before, but what augment were you assigned? I'm Engineering, so I'll have some space near the engine room for my work.

No, I don't think anyone could. It almost makes this worth it.

[It honestly doesn't even occur to Wanda that someone might look at the endless sea of stars and find loneliness instead of wonder. But as a child she'd always been given to flights of fancy, and even now there's always magic of a kind if you know where to look.]

Just a civilian one. They probably thought I'd be 'entertaining' enough. [There's no small degree of self-deprecating sarcasm to that remark. Wanda can only be thankfully she hadn't been initially placed on a ship with Dr. Banner or anywhere else that might be potentially...explosive.] Mostly I have been filling in the gaps where I can.

Oh, there are always people who are dissatisfied with the situation. It's true none of us chose this, and it's true some people feel more safe with their feet on the ground. But I don't find that makes it less beautiful.

[He smiles over at her, a bit of teasing in his tone.] Don't tell me they've made you a cook?

[She laughs, wandering over to the bunks marked with ribbons. Some of them are next to each other - maybe they can be neighbors.

...she hopes Vision's gotten better about doors and walls in the time they've been apart. Wanda usually doesn't mind, but sometimes it's a little awkward.]

Not officially, and only sometimes. The rations are...not so easy to cook with.

[They're all largely the same to someone who doesn't sleep, but he does notice the two next to each other. Well. No reason not to. He indicates one of the hatches.] This one should work for me, I think.

Personnel, then? You'll have been given your own office space if so. [He supposes she could be tactical and have some hidden compartments around, but he would have picked up on the little maintenance bots that come with a Janitor augment. They were very cute, if somewhat simple.]

[At least one of the closest people to her will be a familiar, relatively calm mind.]

Then I'll take this one.

[With a flick of her finger the hatch opens and Wanda's bag slowly drifts in to drop...somewhere in the room; she doesn't particularly care where. It's not like she has much to unpack - once she'd decided to request the transfer, it hadn't seemed smart to try to buy anything more than she absolutely needed.]

I wonder where it is on this ship. Maybe when I settle in a little more I'll think of something useful to do with it.

["Calm" is a good word, though "steady" might be more accurate. He does try to keep a level head, but his passions can burn bright and strong when they're awakened. At the moment, it's a strong contentment, and he doesn't mind if Wanda picks up on it.]

I'm sure we'll find it easily - the ships aren't terribly large, except for the Iskaulit. That's the, er, cocoon-like one that follows the Fleet? It's a public area.

[Since he doesn't have any personal belongings, the Vision takes down the ribbon marking the hatch as unoccupied. ]. There we are. Would you like to see the Engineering segment next, or the cargo bay?

[His mind's still less chaotic than most, and he gets so many bonus points for being physically incapable of waking her up with nightmares.]

I've heard about it, but I haven't been there yet. [She shrugs, lets the hatch fall closed, and reaches for him again if he'll let her take his hand.] There was too much to see on the planet.

[Wanda looks up at him, grinning.] Surprise me.

[He certainly does let her take his hand, and in fact gives it a light squeeze. Someone's been helping him learn body language a bit better in the intervening years (hint: it's mostly been her future self).] It's more of a destination when we're drifting, yes. There are several establishments there, including a restaurant and a few places to consume alcohol. You'll have to explore once we're away from the planet.

[And he gets a light in his eyes, because really, the cargo bay is his favorite, and the place that still has the most of his own influence from when he was here last.]

We'll look at the cargo bay, then.

[He leads her over to the stairs, and as the belly of the ship opens up before them there is a noticeable change in air quality - fresher, a bit more humid, and full of the sweet smell of greenery. There are shelves on the walls crammed with potted plants and a few dirt beds in enclosed spaces on the floor, all growing alien plants - some edible, some medicinal, and a several that are both. Along another wall is a basketball hoop, treadmill, pinball machine, and a few more activities, and there's a bed with a homemade quilt tucked into one of the corners. Lastly there's the kelp tank - a massive water tank with quickly-growing seaweed with the famous bacon-flavored fronds and another variety that has granular blobs - it has approximately the same consistency of rice. Glowing fish swim through the tank, giving it a festive look.]

Here we are.

[This is the place that always felt like home to him.]

Do you go there often?

[She's a little surprised but immediately squeezes his hand back. He's definitely been learning, or maybe over the years he's just become used to Wanda's tactile nature.

It's...nice. As nice as seeing that glint of excitement in his eyes. Wanda wouldn't have thought that the cargo bay of all places would elicit that expression, but she's eager to see it if it makes him so happy.

The air's her first clue, a freshness that makes her inhale deeply. And as they step farther into the cargo bay, Wanda's eyes widen and she almost laughs with wonder.

There's so much green, more than she's seen since she came here, even on the planet. Wanda doesn't recognize anything but the seaweed, but the plants are as beautiful in their own way as the stars.]

There's so much...did you help with this? It's amazing.

[Finally her attention focuses in on the fish. She gives Vision's hand a gentle tug - it's the first thing she wants a closer look at, but even now she's not quite willing to let go.]

I used to accompany my first mate there often - there's an art studio she liked to frequent. She's not here any longer, though. [He hopes Wrath found her sunset, wherever it was.

And then he has to be proud of it, because he did work on it quite a lot.]

It was my primary hobby, yes. I take it there was a garden on the Three Twins that combined with my Windrose's, but the tank and the shelves are all my work.

[There are a number of fish that dart in and out - white, red, green, yellow, and a light blue, each bright enough to be used as a lamplike light source if the ship goes dark.] They were from the first planet I visited, an ocean world dotted with islands. I was very glad when Kitty told me they were still here, actually. The white one is Maine and belonged to Wrath. The others are mine--[and he points to each in turn]--Tony, Bruce, Jarvis, and, er, Ultron.

It must have been a beautiful world. I wish I could have seen it. [A beat, she keeps forgetting:] Or remember it.

[The fish are very cute. Wanda's glad he's found a hobby he can be so passionate about, and this in particular is just so...Vision. It really suits him.

But of course she bristles the way she always does whenever someone mentions Ultron. It's full body tension, from her jaw to the way her hand tightens around his. Wanda could never blame Vision for his, um, parentage situation...but she will never feel anything but utter hatred for Ultron.

That poor fish doesn't deserve that. Still, Wanda has enough presence of mind not to voice her disdain to spare Vision's feelings. She even manages to keep her voice even, although the pause before she speaks is ever so slightly too long to be natural.] ...your creators.

So do I. [He doesn't specify which; it'd be seeing it for the first time for her. This version of her. He's got to keep it separate in his mind.] But perhaps we'll come across a similar place again.

[He does notice her stiffen and he can easily guess why, but--she does grasp the naming scheme immediately. Most people don't.

He holds a palm up to the glass and the yellow fish inspects it curiously. He'd named that one Jarvis, but the color was very close to that of the Mind Stone. Coincidence?
It's hard to say.]

It's important for me to remember that they all had a hand in making me who I am--that what separates me into myself are the choices I make every day. If I were to stop making good choices, I need to know there will be consequences.

[He shakes his head lightly, remembering the consequences of his last bad decision, as he always will. A moment of bad judgment and Rhodey could have been killed.]

Ah, regardless, they can also be put into little fish bowls and used as portable light sources should the lights become unstable. It happened once when we flew through a nebula.

[Maybe it stings even beyond the name because that shade of blue reminds her of Pietro. But Vision and Jarvis are cute and so Wanda's smile gradually returns.]

I can't imagine you making bad choices, or hurting people just because you can.

[She gently squeezes his hand.]

I'm glad they're still here. They're so cute. And it's good to have familiar things. [Wanda finally looks away from the fish to turn her attention to the garden.]

What about the plants? Do you have a favorite?

[Her words do a good deal to relax him, actually, and he nods in response. It means a lot coming from her, because she knows him better than he knows himself at times.
Sure, he thinks he'd never want to be malicious, but she can see what's in his mind and know it's true.] Thank you.

I couldn't say I have a particular favorite among the plants, no. Some of them have lovely flowers when tended properly, and they all have interesting properties. [He gestures at one of the plants on a top shelf, a rather ugly-looking cactus-type plant.] That one is a painkiller if processed into oil, for example. The buds from this bush over here can be brewed into a tea. The fruits of this one taste like carrots, I'm told.

Carrot fruit?

[She laughs; it certainly doesn't look anything like carrots.]

That must make some interesting meals. I might have to be more creative. But I hope we don't have much use for painkillers here...

[Who is she kidding; if they've brought so many Avengers here this isn't going to be Big Brother in space. Of course they're going to get shoved at something dangerous.

...or maybe that's just her ever-present wariness of those in power talking.]

So I'm told. [Does it really taste like carrots? He sure can't tell.]

In general it's actually very safe here. However, my former first officer, a woman named Wrath from another planet far in our future, was constantly injuring herself due to previously sustained battle wounds. It was very useful for her sake, if nothing else.

[He pauses to catch her eye and continues on in a concerned tone.]

And, frankly, the less we must rely on our hosts, the more comfortable I will be. I don't want anyone dependent on their generosity if another option is available.

[Which applies to the food they grow as well as medicines, and even the garden itself is a way to reduce strain on the air recycling systems. Even his pet fish would be useful in a power outage.]

No, you're right. It's better to do as much for ourselves as we can.

[Generosity could always be withdrawn, supplies could be delayed. Wanda knows all too well how badly that can go from growing up in Sokovia. It's just another potential form of control.

But she doesn't dare voice the thought knowing she's potentially always being watched. Instead, she shoves them down and smiles up at Vision.]

How can I help?

[He gives Wanda a fond smile. This? This is why he likes her.

Well, one of the reasons.]

We can check with the co-captains what the current schedule is for horticulture. I'm certain Kitty and Vash will be happy to work us in. As I recall, it's mainly monitoring the growth, harvesting when appropriate, and making sure the watering systems are working correctly.

For a while, we had a young woman who described herself as a "swamp witch". Her talent was for helping plants to grow. These days it seems to be a bit more manual, but if you'd like a seedling of any of them for your room, I'm sure it could be managed.

[But that can be a concern for later. For now, the Vision lets his hand fall gently on one of Wanda's shoulders.] Thank you for choosing to share a ship with me, Wanda. I'm happy you're here.

I'm...not that kind of witch, but I'll try.

[Maybe she'll find a plant that is both useful and aesthetically pleasing on another planet. But that, too, is for another time. Wanda's smile softens as his hand falls to her shoulder, one of those rare smiles usually reserved for quieter moments.

She reaches up to lightly squeeze his hand.]

If we have to be here, I'm glad we're here together.

[Oh, he would like that so much. It's a little odd - back home he wasn't particularly a plant fiend, but something about living on the ships here had made him really come to appreciate them. Part of it is that he just likes to be surrounded by life. On Earth, this isn't a problem. Drifting as tiny specks in space? He'd come to love even the mild green forms of life.

And oh, but he has to catch himself before he does anything more than just squeeze her hand back. This whole adjusting-to-timelines thing might take a little more work than he thought.]

As am I, Wanda. I have said it before, but I'm so glad you're here.

[Over the next week Vision's presence proves to be a constant comfort, and although Wanda isn't happy about being at the mercy of the show's producers, she's still glad they're able to be on the same ship together. It's not so bad now that she isn't alone.

One day after the fleet leaves the Yaugur system, they make their way to the Iskaulit. It's massive, and Wanda's glad she has a guide. It wouldn't take long at all to get lost in here.

Instinctively she reaches for his hand, even though there's no crowd to navigate or set Wanda psychically off-balance. It just feels like the thing to do, and Wanda has no reason to fight the impulse.]

So where did you want to go first?

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