The Calm Before The Storm

[outpostcook]

 Something's been bothering Kinner. There's a visible unhappiness in the little cook's expression, even beyond his usual gruff attitude. He sits in the Plaza, thinking, for once not manning his fish shop. He's going after the Thing soon, and he's not completely sure what to make of that. He knows exactly how dangerous the alien is. Even if the Thing where he'll be going isn't exactly the same creature, it's close enough. In some ways, it sounds even worse. But he can't give up with lives on the line.

He's got a better idea of what to expect than most, but that's a small comfort. After all, the Thing incapacitated and devoured Kinner alive, without much of a fight. This time he'll be better armed and better prepared, but still. He's not exactly thrilled about facing the creature, even with help. And, he realizes with a hint of sickness, he'll be putting his new friends in danger, too.

Kinner, when push comes to shove, isn't scared to look death in the face, and it's Palmer's world, but it's everyone else he's afraid for. Horvath. Alex. Blaze and Ghost. Prometheus. Cricket. Cricket most of all, since the others have magic or other quirks to protect them. Cricket doesn't. Kinner would rather he die than Cricket.

At the very least, he won't make an easy meal this time.

"Have you ever had somethin' you didn't want to do," he finally asks, voice trembling a little, "but you had to do it anyway? Were you scared?"

Comments

[brooklynbarnes]

"Just between you and me? I doubt we'll ever do it. But it's nice just thinking about it." He seems lost in thought for a second, a fond smile on his lips as remembers long conversations late at night.

He takes one last draw from the cigarette before crushing it against the side of the bench. "Then do it. If it's as dangerous as you say it is, don't let anything stop you."

[outpostcook]

"Well, there's things I've always meant to do before I died, but I figure I'm not gonna get the chance for most of 'em." Kinner didn't waste his life, but he wasn't too adventurous for most of it.

"I'll be sure to let you know how things go. Hate to leave you on edge, especially with a monster on the loose and all that." Kinner takes another smoke and puts out his cigarette. "Not bad. Thanks for the smoke."

[brooklynbarnes]

The smile drops off Bucky's face. "I guess most people don't get to do the things in their bucket list." He frowns. "You know what? When I get out of the Nexus, I'm going back to my ma's and I'm going to see what pieces I need to fix up my old man's car."

"Thanks to you, for the perspective. And I hope you succeed." He sticks his hands in his pockets. "I've got to say, you have balls, Kinner. You really do."

[outpostcook]

"I wish you luck with that. I know I didn't get to do a lot of the things I wanted to do before I died. Don't feel too sorry for me. I ain't got as many regrets as some, though. Except that I didn't put a butcher's knife through that damned Thing's skull."

Kinner turns to a slightly brighter subject."Never been to Brooklyn. What was it like there?"