Summer Shenanigans- Wednesday, August 11

[solo_sword]

Oh hey, Anakin and Beaker weren't here today! Instead there was a short brunette with a megaphone. She didn't need it, she just liked it.

"Welcome to today's Shenanigans. Grandfather's not here. I'm Jaina and I'm going to be your drill instructor today," she announced. "Today you're going to be doing a mud run. You will get dirty, you won't like it, and I won't care."

Jaina hadn't realized it was Truth Day, that was just how she talked to people.

"We have five obstacles for you to get through to make it to the end, where you will win absolutely nothing. Maybe my grudging respect. No teams today, it's every being for themselves. And I don't know hardly anyone's names so whoever I point to has to come down here and participate, and I know who I'm pointing to so don't think you're getting away with anything."

EVERY BEING FOR THEMSELVES
Annie
Astrid
Belle
Din (and Grogu)
Dwight
Faye
Harry
Sakaki
Stark
Troy
Wanda

Comments

Re: Voluntolds, Come on Down!

[stykera]

"I don't want it to be scary," Stark said, reaching for her hand. "I don't think it's scary. I just...haven't had many opportunities. For a long time."

Re: Voluntolds, Come on Down!

[flourish_or_perish]

"I've had plenty of opportunities." Faye, shh. No need to be that honest. She twined her fingers through his, even as she flailed a little with her other hand. "I just haven't let anyone get as close as you since...Whitney died. I don't let a lot of people know me."

And thankfully she seemed like she was able to stop talking there, rather than elaborating on the many reasons she found herself drawn to Stark, and -- oh god, she could not say this aloud, she might develop a rash or have to go fly away to space forever or something -- why she was pretty sure she was falling stupidly hard for him.

Feelings were stupid and meant to be kept secret.

Re: Voluntolds, Come on Down!

[stykera]

Stark had been around for pollen week. And other weeks. He knew about her opportunities!

"Of course you've had opportunities. But...I would very much like to know you. All of you," he clarified, reaching for that other flailing hand as well. "If you'll let me."

Re: Voluntolds, Come on Down!

[flourish_or_perish]

"Maybe." At least Faye had the grace to look a little sheepish at that admission, shrugging a shoulder as she let him take her other hand. "I'd like to. I've done this as long as I can remember. Which isn't a long time."

All the confessions today, apparently!

Re: Voluntolds, Come on Down!

[stykera]

Now that he had both her hands, Stark tugged her in a little closer. "Good. I'll listen to whatever you want to share. Or if it's today maybe what you don't want to share but I'll still listen."

"I want to ask about the not remembering but I don't want to pry. But I suppose I asked anyway. I didn't mean to."

Re: Voluntolds, Come on Down!

[flourish_or_perish]

"I was in an accident and lost my memory," Faye told him, and at this point she wasn't even fighting it. At least that didn't have to do with embarrassing, vulnerable feelings. "It's why I'm so old. They kept me in stasis until they could fix me."

And given how she was closer, now, she was just going to lean in and kiss him. Added bonus of not being able to talk, but also -- she appreciated that he hadn't been prying. (She'd known he wasn't and, ugh, Faye had it bad.)

Re: Voluntolds, Come on Down!

[stykera]

"That is a good way to stop talking," Stark said, not pulling away. "It worked in California too." Just in case you forgot, Faye.

"I'm sorry. About the accident. And not remembering. That sounds very hard. But you're not old."

Re: Voluntolds, Come on Down!

[flourish_or_perish]

She hadn't forgotten, but it earned him a smile, all the same. "I'm good at not talking. We should definitely keep not talking, after this."

"And it's harder not knowing." She was still smiling, but it turned a little sad. "I'd like you to know me, but I'm still figuring out who the hell that even is." Part of why she kept things as superficial as she did: four years' of memories did not a fully-formed personality make.

But she was getting there.

Re: Voluntolds, Come on Down!

[stykera]

"You're very good at not talking," Stark agreed. "I'm happy to not talk with you. After this. Or whenever you like."

"And if I can help you, please tell me. I want to help, if I can. But I'll be here even if I can't do anything else."