Drift Fleet IC Contact

[selfhelp]

"Hey, Billy here. What's up?"

| voice | video | text | action |

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action » backdated to before the comms were knocked out

[ladybro]

[ sometimes, you need your best friend. kate's mostly certain that this is one of those times. luckily, billy's aboard the blameless with a bag packed and a firm promise to stay a night. maybe a few. and it's been your typical superhero sleepover thus far, except...

well except that there's clearly a bee in kate's bonnet. she's been fidgety all throughout their impromptu screening of the princess bride -- her device tilted up against the footboard of her bed while they lay on their stomachs. elbow to elbow.

but the credits are rolling and kate flumps sideways onto her back before suddenly (and directly) asking: ]

Shiro's, like, crazy hot. Right? Like frat boy surfer body meets West Point graduate poise. It can't just be me. Tell me it's not just me.

[selfhelp]

[well. that sure came out of nowhere.

he quirks a brow and rolls sideways, facing her, and makes a vaguely agreeable hmmm as he ponders the claim.]

No, it's definitely not just you. He's got a nice, sturdy build without too much bulk- you can imagine him bench-pressing as easily as you can imagine hugging him. Does he give good hugs? He looks like he would.

[casually tests the waters without asking directly if they have hugged. is this an eli thing or a noh thing or a new thing, what territory are they entering here]

[ladybro]

[ it's enough to glance at billy's face from the corner of her vision. there's nothing sly in kate's raising of the topic -- leastwise, it's not sly when it's done with him. billy's been there and been privy for the best and the worst of her romantic existence.

but this isn't about romance, is it? nah. this is about hot bodies. ]

Okay, it sounds ridic -- but he has this way of, like, grabbing you by the shoulder and making you feel all the better for it.

[ -- none-too-gently sidestepping the question about hugs. ]

[selfhelp]

[...yeah that dodge was super obvious and he's sure they both know it. interesting, very interesting.]

Plus, you know, the arm. Extra solid, extra dependable. Capable, handsome, all the appeal of Bucky Barnes without the aloof personality...

[tosses the line back in, oh so casually]

[ladybro]

[ oh billy kaplan you've earned yourself a look. the surface-level of the conversation is all sex appeal and gossip, but she can feel that earnest nudge beneath the waterline. ]

...The arm has nothing to do with it. [ honestly. ] Not that it's a drawback, either.

[selfhelp]

[she gets an innocent look right back. what? he said nothing. did you hear him say anything? just casual conversation, here.]

Every little bit helps. If there's anything to be helped, anyway.

[ladybro]

[ she holds up a hand, deciding it's about the right time to quickly tack on: ] Neither of us are looking for a relationship right now.

[selfhelp]

[thank god, because he's dying a little bit over here.]

I'm sensing a giant asterisk on the end of that, so: buuuuuuut?

[ladybro]

No buts. [ but oh doesn't he have a great butt too? ] Just -- there's the ship to think about. I'm not interested in repeating old mistakes.

[selfhelp]

[he does, it's stellar.]

Old mistakes? What, you mean bad relationships? Are you doing the whole swears-off-dating thing now?

[ladybro]

[ flatly: ] That was the plan.

[selfhelp]

[oh boy.]

Kate, um. You know I love you and trust your judgment and am gonna 100% support any decision you make for yourself, yeah?

[ladybro]

[ oh my god becky look at her-- ]

Now you're the one with the giant asterisks.

[Text | Thursday afternoon]

[padadin]

[Text is NOT the way to do this, and he knows it. He would scold his team if they did the same. But he just can't look at Billy in the face now. He's a coward, and he knows. He's known since early in the morning and just now decides to do something. Because putting it into words makes it more real.]

Hey. I don't think anything I could say could make it better so I'll just be blunt. Kate is gone.

[Text | Thursday afternoon]

[selfhelp]

[oof. just... oof.

it takes a while for Billy to respond, as if avoiding it makes it somehow easier. (spoiler, it doesn't)]

I know. Morning location spell fizzled out when I tried.

Thanks for confirming, though.

[padadin]

I see.

[Oof indeed. What else is he supposed to say now? Obviously not "you're welcome", that's just mean. He wants to go back to moping, but he can't just hang up either.]

All her stuff and Lucky are also gone. Just so you know. But you're still welcome at the Blameless any time.

[selfhelp]

Probably for the best. Lucky'd be lost without either Hawkeye around for him.

I appreciate the offer, but uh. I hope you don't mind if I keep my distance for a little while. It's gonna suck without her around.

[padadin]

Agreed.

I don't mind at all, I understand. I just wanted it to put it out there. You're still my friend - her leaving doesn't change that.

[Basically, he just wants to make sure Billy knows Shiro doesn't only want him around for the Kate gossip.]

[selfhelp]

Aww, you do care.

I kid. Don't worry, I'm not planning on disappearing forever.

[well, he kids, but the reassurance does help. he's not the best ever at making friends, and their conversations did often involve kate, so.]

[padadin]

[...famous last words.]

None of us ever plan it, do we. But thanks, I appreciate the sentiment.

[selfhelp]

yep.

hang in there, shiro

[what else is there to say, really? he figures they're both going to be feeling a bit shit for a while, so.]

[padadin]

[He stares at the screen and sighs. Hanging in there isn't something he's exactly doing well at the moment but... what else to say, indeed.]

Thanks. Same for you.

Backdated to the 9th

[padadin]

Happy birthday, Billy.

[selfhelp]

oh wow you remembered

[HE FORGOT HE TOLD YOU]

thanks!

[padadin]

Of course I did. I asked for a reason. :) You'll have to tell me what kind of presents you like, too.