Kate Bishop (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alsohawkeye) wrote2024-01-11 07:28 pm
alsohawkeye) wrote2024-01-11 07:28 pm
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KATE BISHOP
KATE BISHOP
[ Kate watches him for a moment with a vaguely expectant air, and then chuckles. It's a quick little exhale of humor, one corner of her mouth hitching up as she gestures. Go ooooon. ] And so you brought him up becaaaaause...?
Oh, come on. You don't really want t' stand here and listen to me complain about him--and I wouldn't ask you to, either. That's not why I had you come down here.
[Or it was, but, whatever. He gestures toward the space DVD that she's got.]
Space Rocky. That's why. Aidan is just, y'know. A thing.
[an unfortunate, dangerous thing, and the flat way that he says thing sort of gets at that.]
[Or it was, but, whatever. He gestures toward the space DVD that she's got.]
Space Rocky. That's why. Aidan is just, y'know. A thing.
[an unfortunate, dangerous thing, and the flat way that he says thing sort of gets at that.]
[ Kate is more than tempted to just take him at his word, or pretend that she does. Take the DVD, say 'okay then' and swan out with a shrug. She's never had much patience for dancing around things, especially when it comes to gossip, especially when it comes to other people's opinions on her life choices. But the way he says thing gets a hook in her, just that little itching pull she can't quite ignore.
He gets another arched brow, a tilt of her head. Not quite long-suffering, more serious than that, but without infinite patience. ]
Look, if there's something you think that I should know about him, you should just tell me.
He gets another arched brow, a tilt of her head. Not quite long-suffering, more serious than that, but without infinite patience. ]
Look, if there's something you think that I should know about him, you should just tell me.
[ Claire doesn't accept any of the alcohol that's offered to her. She had tried beer back in the dorms and didn't like the taste of it enough to justify drinking it when it wasn't going to produce the effect so desired, and the tequila had been bad enough going down every time that she's not eager to repeat the experience. Maybe if they had some wine, which she finds she actually likes, but for the moment she's content to push crumbling crust around a plate, soak it up with the ice cream that has somehow been procured - she's going to have to ask about that - and actually eat her feelings.
If she's being perfectly honest with herself, she's exhausted, but Claire looks no worse for wear. All the blood has been cleaned off of her skin, washed out of her clothing, soaked from her hair. Some of it remains under her fingernails, little clumps that had collected deep enough that she hadn't been able to get them out with her teeth. She longs for some nail polish. Or a set of nail clippers. Something. It seems so insubstantial, when she looks at Kate, who looks like she's been through hell and back. Guilt shakes her down every time she makes eye contact with the other girl. If only she had been faster. ]
You know. [ Claire eventually beings this by shoving another bite of the appleberry into her mouth. ] I could make better pie than this.
If she's being perfectly honest with herself, she's exhausted, but Claire looks no worse for wear. All the blood has been cleaned off of her skin, washed out of her clothing, soaked from her hair. Some of it remains under her fingernails, little clumps that had collected deep enough that she hadn't been able to get them out with her teeth. She longs for some nail polish. Or a set of nail clippers. Something. It seems so insubstantial, when she looks at Kate, who looks like she's been through hell and back. Guilt shakes her down every time she makes eye contact with the other girl. If only she had been faster. ]
You know. [ Claire eventually beings this by shoving another bite of the appleberry into her mouth. ] I could make better pie than this.
[ Vodka, Claire. The answer to the question you didn't actually ask is vodka. Kate's is going into whatever passes for Coke around here, and she sips in between bites of pie, staring into space more than she intends to. It's obvious in the way she startles every once in a while and re-focuses her eyes, deliberately looking around like it takes some effort, like she cant quite remember what she was thinking about and has to start over. When Claire speaks she's slow to turn, but her eyes are clear and her mouth quirks into a hint of a smile. ]
I call bullshit.
I call bullshit.
[ Sometimes Claire wishes that there was a point for her to alcohol! Not because she finds herself really wanting it or even particularly enjoys what happens to people whenever they throw back a bunch of shots - look at what happened to Nathan - but it's one of those normal social activities that just seems pointless given her ability and the effect alcohol has on her as a result. She does placate Kate by taking a gigantic swig of Coke, though, or whatever constitutes as it. ]
I didn't realize we were playing cards. [ Claire puts her fork down in a mess of melted ice cream and torn apart fruit. The carnage of her dessert is mostly purple and mostly delicious, so despite the somber mood between the two of them, it's hard to stop eating. ] No, seriously. The pie's good, really good, but my mom had a recipe for apple that she used to make on Thanksgiving that was pretty much the best thing you've ever tasted.
I didn't realize we were playing cards. [ Claire puts her fork down in a mess of melted ice cream and torn apart fruit. The carnage of her dessert is mostly purple and mostly delicious, so despite the somber mood between the two of them, it's hard to stop eating. ] No, seriously. The pie's good, really good, but my mom had a recipe for apple that she used to make on Thanksgiving that was pretty much the best thing you've ever tasted.
[ Kate should probably put that together because she knows it's true of super soldiers and Claire's like a super soldier times a gazillion in that way. Maybe she'll figure it out tomorrow. In the meantime, she just drinks her own drink and doesn't judge. Except maybe about pie.
But not even, because she smiles a little bit, one half of her lips tugged up higher. ]
Yeah? We always had pumpkin, Martine had something against apple at Thanksgiving that we learned not to question.
But not even, because she smiles a little bit, one half of her lips tugged up higher. ]
Yeah? We always had pumpkin, Martine had something against apple at Thanksgiving that we learned not to question.
Edited 2014-07-08 03:13 (UTC)
I'm almost afraid to ask.
[ But not quite. Even so, she doesn't press. Claire just tucks that little gem of knowledge away for a rainy day, when they aren't both feeling so terrible and when maybe thinking about friends from home won't seem so inappropriate.
Then again, what's better than a distraction? ]
I'd have to meet this Martine person. I have extreme misgivings about people who don't believe in the sanctity of apple pie. Sure, pumpkin's a given. But apple.
[ Come on, Kate. Clair takes another bite for emphasis, but it's mostly berry at this point. ]
[ But not quite. Even so, she doesn't press. Claire just tucks that little gem of knowledge away for a rainy day, when they aren't both feeling so terrible and when maybe thinking about friends from home won't seem so inappropriate.
Then again, what's better than a distraction? ]
I'd have to meet this Martine person. I have extreme misgivings about people who don't believe in the sanctity of apple pie. Sure, pumpkin's a given. But apple.
[ Come on, Kate. Clair takes another bite for emphasis, but it's mostly berry at this point. ]
Hey, I'm with you here, [ Kate raises a fork and a finger in mild defense before lazily pressing the tines over crust crumbs, packing them into a bite. ] I love apple. She just had some sort of principled objection. I don't know what it was, but I'm pretty sure she threatened to quit when my Dad tried to insist. So pumpkin was our standard.
[ She shrugs, like this explains it all: ] She was French.
[ She shrugs, like this explains it all: ] She was French.
That explains everything.
[ Except it doesn't, not at all. Strangely, Claire finds herself fascinated by Kate's little open door into her history, though, maybe not so strangely, it makes her think of that sandy-haired girl that they had encountered and what her opinions on pie might have been at one time or another. ]
How's your head, by the way?
[ She makes a vague motion with her own forehead to indicate the stitches there. ]
[ Except it doesn't, not at all. Strangely, Claire finds herself fascinated by Kate's little open door into her history, though, maybe not so strangely, it makes her think of that sandy-haired girl that they had encountered and what her opinions on pie might have been at one time or another. ]
How's your head, by the way?
[ She makes a vague motion with her own forehead to indicate the stitches there. ]
[ What are you talking about Kate is an open book!! ]
Only a very minor concussion. The stitches should come out pretty fast and they don't think it'll scar, it's just to help keep it from bleeding like head wounds do. All in all pretty good. [ She drinks, another slow sip, and sucks ice cream off her fork. ]
How much of your outfit made it through in the end? [ Too soon? ]
Only a very minor concussion. The stitches should come out pretty fast and they don't think it'll scar, it's just to help keep it from bleeding like head wounds do. All in all pretty good. [ She drinks, another slow sip, and sucks ice cream off her fork. ]
How much of your outfit made it through in the end? [ Too soon? ]
[ Something in the way Kate phrases that, her attitude, maybe the relief at knowing the only damage Kate had suffered under her watch was temporary and hasn't exacerbated the obvious mental conditions she's suffered from knowing Barry Manilow make Claire instantly feel lighter. It's only a moment before she's grinning, small, and then laughing, not as small. ]
Obviously they're not concerned enough to stop you from drinking. [ Claire taps Kate's glass with her fork and it makes a pleasant, high-pitched sound. ] As far as my jumpsuit goes, I hear crop tops are making a comeback.
Obviously they're not concerned enough to stop you from drinking. [ Claire taps Kate's glass with her fork and it makes a pleasant, high-pitched sound. ] As far as my jumpsuit goes, I hear crop tops are making a comeback.
[ Claire you sweet summer child. As if that's the worst of it. But it is all temporary, and Kate's not about to let on, not the way she grins at 'stop you', a crooked and unrepentant little thing and one brow flickering upwards. ] I mean, they're welcome to come try. [ She jokes. Mostly. (It's only one drink.) ]
Good work, I've been wishing that thing were two piece for months, anyway.
Good work, I've been wishing that thing were two piece for months, anyway.
[Gotcha.
And it's unfortunate, because he really actually does like Kate. But that's why he's doing this, right? In part to get at Aidan, to ruin a little bit of his life. And in part for Sally--not that he wants her with Aidan. And in part because Kate shouldn't get involved, because--
Well, he stops there, because because ends in ways that Mitchell knows how even casual sex could lead to death, and he's not going to go there, even in his own head. Bad enough that his glance goes, once, quickly, to Kate's throat. He looks at her face instead, meeting her gaze.]
Look, I don't want to get involved. But I don't want you to get involved, either. Not in something you can't get yourself out of.
Not that you can't handle yourself. I'm sure you can, and I mean that. I'm not trying to offend you. I'm just telling you, know what you're getting yourself into before it's too late.
And it's unfortunate, because he really actually does like Kate. But that's why he's doing this, right? In part to get at Aidan, to ruin a little bit of his life. And in part for Sally--not that he wants her with Aidan. And in part because Kate shouldn't get involved, because--
Well, he stops there, because because ends in ways that Mitchell knows how even casual sex could lead to death, and he's not going to go there, even in his own head. Bad enough that his glance goes, once, quickly, to Kate's throat. He looks at her face instead, meeting her gaze.]
Look, I don't want to get involved. But I don't want you to get involved, either. Not in something you can't get yourself out of.
Not that you can't handle yourself. I'm sure you can, and I mean that. I'm not trying to offend you. I'm just telling you, know what you're getting yourself into before it's too late.
Planning on working on your tan?
[ Claire arches an eyebrow without looking at the other girl, shoving her food around her plate some more, trying to soak up more of the ice cream. Really, she could just ask for a spoon, but the challenge is somehow worth it. She promises not to lick the place clean, but it's been a long time since she's had ice cream.
Around a mouthful of appleberry, Claire points her fork in the other girl's direction. ]
You might want to wait until the stitches come out. [ The fork points back at Claire's own head. ] Tan lines.
[ Because that absolutely makes sense. ]
[ Claire arches an eyebrow without looking at the other girl, shoving her food around her plate some more, trying to soak up more of the ice cream. Really, she could just ask for a spoon, but the challenge is somehow worth it. She promises not to lick the place clean, but it's been a long time since she's had ice cream.
Around a mouthful of appleberry, Claire points her fork in the other girl's direction. ]
You might want to wait until the stitches come out. [ The fork points back at Claire's own head. ] Tan lines.
[ Because that absolutely makes sense. ]
Totally. Hitting the holodeck as soon as we're done here. Some fake sun, some fake sea breeze, some real yoga. [ Actually that sounds pretty good, and the moment where Kate actually starts seriously considering it can be seen coming across her face, and going again when she considers how much yoga would probably hurt right now. She gestures with her own fork towards her head now, and then to Claire, ] You've got a little....
I got terrible band aid tanlines once. I had a couple of them [ She gestures at her arm and nose vaguely. ] And Clint and I spent all day doing surveillance on a roof. In July. It was more like bandaid burnlines, to be honest.
I got terrible band aid tanlines once. I had a couple of them [ She gestures at her arm and nose vaguely. ] And Clint and I spent all day doing surveillance on a roof. In July. It was more like bandaid burnlines, to be honest.
[ Her kneejerk reactions are offense and defensiveness, and there's a stubborn clenching at the hinge of her jaw that doesn't bode well. But he's trying, she can see that. And it's not like this is some generic warning-off situation. She suspects he knows, and probably doesn't know she knows. But on the off chance he's concerned about something else entirely, she's not about to offer the secret she hasn't even technically been told.
She swallows down an urge to snap at him and lets her response come a moment later, even, sincerely friendly. ]
I appreciate the concern, really. I promise I've got my eyes open here. [ Sort of. ]
She swallows down an urge to snap at him and lets her response come a moment later, even, sincerely friendly. ]
I appreciate the concern, really. I promise I've got my eyes open here. [ Sort of. ]
[ Too busy suffering in momentary mortification that she might actually have pie on her head, Claire doesn't respond to anything Kate says right away, just takes her sleeve and stretches it down over her hand to wipe at her face. When she comes up for air, she's giving Kate a somewhat incredulous look. ]
At least they weren't tanlines from sunglasses. Those are the worst. Although, I've gotta admit... the beach does sound pretty enticing.
At least they weren't tanlines from sunglasses. Those are the worst. Although, I've gotta admit... the beach does sound pretty enticing.
You got it. [ Kate gives Claire's face cleaning effort a thumbs up.] Yeah, the reverse raccoon thing isn't a good look on anyone.
I lived out in LA for a bit, and stayed in this trailer right on the beach. It was a pretty nice spot. I could just hang out on the roof in the morning and do yoga like a hippie asshole. It was great, for a while. [ If she realizes how confusing and contradictory these little snippets of her life are she is not letting on. ]
I lived out in LA for a bit, and stayed in this trailer right on the beach. It was a pretty nice spot. I could just hang out on the roof in the morning and do yoga like a hippie asshole. It was great, for a while. [ If she realizes how confusing and contradictory these little snippets of her life are she is not letting on. ]
[You don't live over half a long life as something very predatory without learning a few tricks here and there. The clench of her jaw is something he notices, the turn of thoughts through her head. And then she smiles.
Mitchell gives her a patient smile in return.]
Yeah. The thing is-- I know how this-- [This; he points to her. The inclusion of Aidan is implied.] --ends. And I'm sorry, but I don't want to see that happen to you.
Mitchell gives her a patient smile in return.]
Yeah. The thing is-- I know how this-- [This; he points to her. The inclusion of Aidan is implied.] --ends. And I'm sorry, but I don't want to see that happen to you.
[ Kate's reckless, not suicidal, but finding the line between brave and stupid is a work in progress. This conversation is doomed to be a losing battle for Mitchell, but she's not wholly uninterested in what he's selling. (She'd be the first to find fault with Twilight, but she'd also say this isn't like that.) ]
Has he hurt anyone since he's been here? Or tried to? [ It could be a line of argument (will be if he says no like she expects), but it's an honest question. ]
Has he hurt anyone since he's been here? Or tried to? [ It could be a line of argument (will be if he says no like she expects), but it's an honest question. ]
[ Thank you, Mama Kate. Thank you for not reaching across the table with a wet thumb to clean the mess off. Meanwhile, Claire finds herself laughing - well... laughing might be a bit of an exaggeration, but she's definitely doing something harder than giggling. ]
You don't really strike me as the hippie asshole type. This is a little surprising.
You don't really strike me as the hippie asshole type. This is a little surprising.
[ Kate breathes out half a chuckle, and shakes her head. ]
Thank you, I'm not. But you know. Early morning yoga on the beach kind of sounds like it. But it's also just really nice, so whatever. Fuck the haters, et cetera. I recommend it if you get the chance. [ She gestures vaguely with her fork hand. ] You said you lived in California for a while, right? Did I make that up?
Thank you, I'm not. But you know. Early morning yoga on the beach kind of sounds like it. But it's also just really nice, so whatever. Fuck the haters, et cetera. I recommend it if you get the chance. [ She gestures vaguely with her fork hand. ] You said you lived in California for a while, right? Did I make that up?
[ Now she just wants you to teach her yoga, Kate. ]
You did not make that up. [ Claire is swallowing another bite again, so that comes out a little strangled at first, the need for appleberry is so substantial and consuming. ] I didn't get into any hippie stuff, though, mostly just cheerleading and.
[ Well. ]
You know, trouble.
[ The memory of her Costa Verde home is still fresh from the corridors of the ship, so that's a loaded admission that leaves her feeling a little hollowed out. ]
You did not make that up. [ Claire is swallowing another bite again, so that comes out a little strangled at first, the need for appleberry is so substantial and consuming. ] I didn't get into any hippie stuff, though, mostly just cheerleading and.
[ Well. ]
You know, trouble.
[ The memory of her Costa Verde home is still fresh from the corridors of the ship, so that's a loaded admission that leaves her feeling a little hollowed out. ]
[ This is all a ploy to get her into yoga pants, isn't it?
Kate gives a little 'yay me' wave of her fork when it turns out she's right, too busy chewing to vocalize. She nods along, snorts at the last. It seems like she's going to say something, make a joke probably, but then she doesn't, taking another bite of pie instead and looking down at her plate. ]
Kate gives a little 'yay me' wave of her fork when it turns out she's right, too busy chewing to vocalize. She nods along, snorts at the last. It seems like she's going to say something, make a joke probably, but then she doesn't, taking another bite of pie instead and looking down at her plate. ]
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