amusingbox | AU National City, circa season 1

[ winn is staying late. again. it's what tends to happen when you spend your regular work hours misappropriating work resources to secretly aid a superhero.

james, on the other hand, has no reason to stay late as far as winn can tell - 1. because chasing a superhero and snapping pictures of her that can later be shown off so that said superhero could admire his amazing artistic talent, like the backdoor access winn whipped up to gain access to all traffic cams in national city isn't a work of art - just because she can't see it or frame it later! wait, that got away from me...where were we? staying late, taking pictures...oh yeah! it's fine doing that during business hours cuz that's his actual job, james didn't miss out on any work. and 2. because james isn't anywhere near his desk or the art department. he's pacing by the overqualified it guy's desk, clearly he's not anxiously catching up to anything. (neither is winn, he's rarely anxious about the actual work at catco, but that's besides the point okay!)

the point is: why is he here. why is he here showing off his clearly superior physique by pacing it up and down the office like he's on a runway or something, while complaining about getting to witness superheroism up close and personal from winn's best friend (who he also happens to be hopelessly infatuated with) - while bragging about getting to do more with his personal hero!

sometimes, it feels like james olsen has been put on this earth exclusively to torment winn schott. ]

No, bet that's a new one for you. [ muttered under his breath. ]

Edited 2017-08-27 21:32 (UTC)

[James doesn't even know he's doing it. That's how good he is!

He comes to a stop in front of Winn, hands on his hips. It can be a natural way to stand and an intimidating power pose all at the same time, okay?]

So, what? You think she's right? I bet you don't even think she can be wrong. [He may not fully recognize his own feelings about Kara, but he's picked up on Winn's.]

[ that - that there gains winn's attention, and he turns his gaze away from the screen and up up up - so much up it's unfair - to james's face. ]

She's wrong constantly, she likes CGI Yoda. [ he gives james a look. seriously, what does she see in the guy, besides the chiseled features and the muscles and the height and the bravery and - okay, he knows exactly what she sees in the guy. ] She's trying to keep you safe, man. [ and he could add so much to that explanation, but he can't see a way where getting in the middle of this doesn't end up hurting him. ]

Wasn't Yoda always CGI? [Maybe if he really thought about the time periods it came out and how technology had developed he wouldn't ask, but it's not something he's ever paid that much attention to. Isn't it enough he's aware of what "CGI Yoda" even meant? There may have been a second where he thought it was a yoga thing.]

And I don't need her protection. I can take care of myself. Stay out of sight. And if I mess up then I mess up, but I'm not going to let her keep me in bubble wrap because she's afraid I'm going to break. These photos help people. They tell a story even if people don't have time to read all the words. It's important. Maybe not as important as what she does, but it's my life.

[ winn takes a breath. count to ten, schott, he can take you. but that comment is a personal offense. ]

Okay - first of all, original Yoda was a puppetry masterpiece, and for someone who makes a living taking stills you should have more respect for old school crafting.

[ now that that's out of the way: ]

Second - I'm not getting in the middle of this, no way. [ he doesn't have enough friends to get in fights with, and kara is way too important to him. he sees her side, but begrudgingly he knows he sees james's too. a little bit. ]

[He waves his hands in surrender. Clearly, treading on Star Wars was too far. he should have left it alone.] Right, man. Puppets.

[Not really the thing he's worked up about though.]

So you're on her side? You'd be totally okay if she told you not to [waves a hand at the computer] hack or program something she didn't want you hacking or programming if it was to keep you safe?

[ treading on star wars is always too far. the attempt to appease him only serves to annoy him more. it's almost like james can't win here.

winn holds up one finger, this time the count is visual. ]

She wouldn't do that because I am safe doing what I do, that's the charm of the digital age, get with the program.

[ and he holds up a second finger ]

But yeah, cuz I don't wanna die. [ heck, he'd just appreciate a show of concern. it feels like he's suffering from the opposite affliction; kara wants him to hack into places that make him extremely uncomfortable, like the deo. that just makes everything feels worse. he knows that if it were his life and not the possibility of getting sentenced to life - she'd be protective of him. but it's impossible not to feel like this stranger swept him, pushed him aside, and kara cares more about him already. ]

I don't want to die either, but just not dying isn't the same as living. [He leans forward, hands propping him up on the desk.] Don't you ever want more?

[ there's an awkward beat of silence before ]

Okay, if you're gonna burst into song, give me a heads up, I'm gonna wanna film that.

[ though he'll probably sound great, wouldn't he. the jerk.

it's not how life works. he's given up on wanting, it hurts too much when he never gets it. ]

[James sighs and pushes off from the desk, leaning back.] Let's get out of here. Get a drink? [He just wants to be away from Catco for the moment and a drink sounds good and his list of drinking buddies is zero unless Winn says yes.]

You wanna...get a drink?

[ with him? is this a trick? is there an angle here? he doesn't get it. why would james want to spend time with him when he can spend time with, well - anyone he wants.

but winn's list of drinking buddies isn't much longer, and it's been a long day, and not being at catco sounds good. ]

Uh, sure, yeah, okay. [ he's just going to disconnect and shut down and pack up his stuff ]

[If only Winn knew how much of James' smooth act was just that—an act. It's protective armor. He didn't grow up in foster homes with murderous dad reputation (not that he knows Winn's history) but he did lose his father and growing up as a tall black guy isn't always the safest thing. You're suspected of things you never even thought about doing. You have to be twice as clean cut to get half as far. You have to present yourself in a certain way to keep people from writing you off as some kind of stereotype and not seeing the person. And it doesn't always leave you feeling that confident, but confident is exactly what he wants people to see. He doesn't want to look like a target or a threat and it's always a balancing act.

The same goes for now. Coming to a new town, seeming right at home like he's mastered the place the moment he stepped foot into it. Some of it is is real, learned experience from The Daily Planet, but a lot of it is just trying to cover up the fact that he just left his life behind to start fresh and right now he's not so sure any of that was the right choice.

It helps a little when Winn says yes.]

Great. I'll get my stuff and meet you downstairs. You pick the place?

[ winn definitely sees him as a threat, but it's of a different kind. he's handsome, brave, cool, and always knows the right thing to say - he's everything winn wishes he could be and knows he can't. watching james, especially with kara, makes him feel even smaller and more insignificant than he already feels.

he nods distractedly as he packs his bag. ]

I know just the one. [ a little place by his apartment, where the odds of running into anyone from the office are minimal. ]

That's all it takes. [Already walking out of the room, he turns—smoothly of course—to deliver that perfect thing to say before heading to the art department and a few minutes later downstairs.]

[ and he is mockingly mouthing it once he's out the door because of course he is.

when james joins him downstairs, winn pockets his phone. ]

There's a place called Other Side by my place. [ oh right. james has a cool vehicle with no passenger seat. ] We can meet there?

It's okay. I have an extra helmet. [He holds one out to Winn. Because why wouldn't Winn want to ride on the back of his motorcycle, wrapping his arms around him for safety?]

[ his gaze slowly drifts from james down to that helmet.

whaaaat?

him? on a motorcycle?

him, holding on to james on a motorcycle - okay yeah that sounds more appropriately humiliating.

there's an inner struggle here; pride, safety, and the petty desire to give james a hard time vs practicality and the fear of giving anyone a hard time. if he and james really don't get along, who do you think kara's going to spend her time with? it's not gonna be you, winn, you don't look like you walked right out of the pages of a fashion magazine, your sense of humor is often lost on her, you have no game, must you really go on? no, no, got it. okay.

he grabs that helmet. ]

If you're speeding you're buying.

I am a very safe driver. [And if there is some speeding—there will be some speeding—he's just going to say Winn can't really tell from back there.] Come on. [He walks through the door, holding it open for Winn before heading toward the bike.]

Other Side, huh?

[ the holding the door for him? very nice, doesn't help his pride situation. and hey, winn will feel very confident in saying there was speeding cuz anything on a bike is going to feel too fast for his anxious first-timer self, thank you. ]

Yeah, just drive to my place, it's like a block and a half away.

[ putting that helmet on securely and getting on that bike. ]

Okay. [He gets himself geared up too and then gives Winn a curious, over-the-shoulder look.] You've ridden on one of these before, right?

Me? Pfft, oh yeah, I joined a biker gang in high school.

[ dude, what in your acquaintanceship makes you think winn schott and bikes mix? ]

You think I'm in a biker gang? [He's sure he doesn't, but come on, Winn.] Just make sure to hold on.

No but I'm starting to suspect you have no understanding of sarcastic exaggeration.

[ see, it's funny because he's only ever ridden one in an arcade. ]

Hold on, sounds simple enough.

[You're just get a look, Schott. But he turns back around to face the road as he starts up the bike.] I guess we'll see. [Probably the last thing Winn is going to hear for awhile as the motor revs loudly under them and they pull out onto the road. You wanted to go fast, right?]

[ that is not a reassuring thing to say!

he holds on, alright. when that bike is parked, he stays seated so james wouldn't see how shaky he feels (parts of him are physically shaking).

he should have said no. what is he doing here? ]

You are so buying.

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