#( w h e w uhhhhhhh. hi i didn’t expect him to go topsy turvy but i don’t know what i expected here you go )

[crushng-a]

this is not the captain. OR IS IT? they're certainly wearing that familiar coat, adorned with all of its finery. ( showoff. ) that shimmering blue crystal upon their wrist is missing, but you swear you can see a glint of something phosphorescent in their eyes when their head turns to just the right angle. the curl at the corner of their mouth is not fond, reminding you more of the snarl of a cornered beast.

the captain's shoulders sway as they come to a stop in front of you, pale green eyes ( those are new! ) appraising you from head to toe. they may not know what you are, not entirely, but they do not seem afraid. not like the other delicate little rabbits you've found peering at you from the darkness. their fingers flex at their hip. they do not lift. a voice, an honest to god voice, cuts through the crackle of whatever energy it is that they carry on their person:

" SO WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE? "

this is definitely not the captain. probably. no, this is the captain alright, but — not the captain he knew way back when! after all this time! WAITING! SEARCHING! SCREAMING YOUR NAME INTO THE VOID! and you have the gall to show up looking like this?

well. looking like this. wow. mm. those eyes, they sure do be looking. green? or — hm. could have sworn.

gin really just stares for a second. there’s so many things he’s had planned to say. (scripts! they had scripts! plural! scripts worth of passionate and well-thought points to pull from!) a lot of that’s blown completely out of the water by the strong, confident voice that comes out of the tiny, frail little frame. where’s the orphan waif? where’s the ghostly, wafting hair? sickly, victorian, washed-out, paper-thin? porcelain doll? LOOK AT YOU! you! you! roses in your cheeks, golden sheen to your hair, green! green eyes! you’re so beautiful. so goddamn handsome.

they do try to speak before too long. manage a gasp and a sort of cough. “captain.”

IT’S YOU. captain, did we make it? don’t let go! captain, please, no! left or right? no, wait, where are you going?! buddy! pal! amigo! captain! IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU.

( captain? )

“so you’re the captain!” captain in the way gin’s the engineer. you’re the captain of your fate! “oh, i can’t even be mad. just, just look at you!”

AND LOOK AT ME! gin laughs! sheer glee! utmost joy! you and your sour faces. you and your carefully kept distance. you and your hands, your perfect, delicate hands, wait, where’s the crystal. where’s? — my baby, my darling ship, the soul of her, where did you put it? did you fucking eat my warp crystal?

… i might be impressed. i’m not sure yet.

gin flings his arms out to the sides. “I’M SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR DOOM! but i don’t even think i have to be! look, look, look at you! you gorgeous thing, you! you made it out! i’m so fucking proud of you right now. darling, perfect thing. you’re wonderful. you’re amazing. YOU’RE A DREAM!”

AND I’M A NIGHTMARE!

(so we’re perfect for each other.) (hey, how’d you do that anyway?) (warp crystal. warp crystal. warp crystal. something important about the warp crystal.) (fancy a date?) (you’re moving too fast! woo them!) (oh, i adore you. love me. love me. love me. love me.)

starshine eyes, bright beaming face resolving into skin — a hungry void in engineer’s clothes. aren’t i ｄａｚｚｌｉｎｇ? aren’t i lovely?

“it’s me! you recognize me now, don’t you, captain? your loyal little pet, the head engineer?” you know, your friend? your pal? your sidekick? your slave? you remember that, don’tcha?

NO HARD FEELINGS. REALLY.