saying goodbye

[rumorate]

WHO: Allison Hargreeves or Carol Danvers + YOU
WHEN: Endgame shenanigans
WHERE: Hattevar
WHAT: Saying goodbyes and/or tying up any loose ends.
WARNINGS: Spoilers for The Marvels or The Umbrella Academy.

[If you would like a starter, ping me, PM me or drop a top level here and I will write us a custom starter.]

Comments

[somebadnews]

[ Five keeps on staring. He has no words, so eventually he gestures to Allison, because what do they do with that? ...Drink. What they do is drink, and he forgoes the glass and takes a swig from the bottle.

It helps, and he sniffs and clears his throat. ]

And whatever is inside... that, isn't dangerous. [ He really wishes they had more time to not be talking about this, but their window for bright ideas is closing. ] We have anyone we can test that theory on?

[rumorate]

Has Carol done something like this before?

[That seems like the best course of action. Ask the person who owns the cat whether or not they can hitch a ride in it.]

[stomacles]

I wouldn't mind being the test subject. [ So Ben tells Five. ]

[ Then he turns to Allison and points at her. ] But that. It's already been done before.

Carol said the evacuated an entire space station using...those cats.

[somebadnews]

[ His eyes narrow. Five, for one, is not happy about Ben being anyone's test subject. He'll get back to that later. ]

...Okay. So cats once swallowed a space station and kept them safely in some other dimension, where you think we could hide until we travel to yet another one.

[ If he could have only figured out the math before they take this very weird detour. Trouble is, once they're gone, they're left with wondering what might have saved them from living in this nightmare. ]

It won't be a real test until we go through a beacon. That's a lot of faith to put into an insane story from someone we barely know.

[rumorate]

Kamala worships Carol, which I know is maybe not a ringing endorsement considering it's Kamala but from what I've experienced with Carol, I think we can trust her judgement that Carol is on the side of good.

[Meaning she's trying to help, not trying to play fast and loose with her tentacle cat.]

And at least we know what we're going back to if we're wrong. But trying to go anywhere that's not here is going to have risk regardless of what we do, so that's the wager. We either stay here and keep everything we have and figure this place out on our own, or we take the risk and go with Carol and Kamala.

[stomacles]

[ Ben looks at Five to clarify. ] The people of a space station. Either way, I get it, we don't know Carol. But we do know Kamala [ he nods to Allison ] and while she's sweet and trusting, I get the feeling she's a good judge of character. She seems to figure a person out quickly, even if she just sees the good in them.

If she trusts Carol? I'm willing to take that chance. And I trust Goose. I know, [ Ben puts up a hand ] I technically just met the cat, but really [ he nods his head ] we connected.

[ He knows it sounds crazy, but it's true! ] I'm willing to go with them and give it a chance. But if you two stay here, I'll stay with you.

[somebadnews]

[ Five could go on, explaining what his siblings only barely touched on about the challenges each of these options create. The truth is, he did this to them. The second he screwed with time he put them on this path, and no matter what Ben or Allison says, he's got a responsibility to set it right.

He takes another swig from the bottle and considers. ]

I'm not saying they're good ones, but having options is better than not having any. [ That's about as optimistic as he's able to stomach. ] I need... I don't know how much longer to figure out how to get the others back. Maybe we can buy some if we can manage to avoid ending the world for more than a few months at a time.

[ His confidence in his abilities have shrunk considerably over the past three years, but he's nothing if not stubborn. Just maybe it shouldn't be his choice. He looks between the two of them. ]

We could put it to a vote.

[rumorate]

[Allison sits with it, considering for a moment. Does she want to get swallowed by a cat? No, not really. Does she also want to spend the rest of eternity wondering about what could have been and living in a land without technology and just magic? Also no.

She glances to Ben.]

You're the one who has the most to lose. If you're willing to risk it, then I will too.

[stomacles]

[ After Klaus, Ben didn't really consider himself optimistic. Of course, Klaus' level of optimism is steeped in denial, while Ben still considers reality and doesn't avoid. As much. He might not consider he is realistically optimistic. ]

[ He gives Allison a smile, comforted by her words. ]

I'm willing to risk the cat stomach. [ He trusts Goose. ]

[ He turns to Five. ] And it sounds like Carol and Kamala's world has a lot of heroes. Hopefully, they can make sure we don't cause the end of the world. Help, for a change, would be nice.

[somebadnews]

[ Five hums, and if he's surprised that they're willing to get swallowed by a cat, he doesn't show it. If it was just Five alone, he's not sure what he would have chosen. Maybe he would have given up hope, or taken a risk of an imperfect equation that broke everything out of desperation to see his family again.

Having Allison and Ben here simplifies his priorities. Kamala's world seems a hell of a lot better than this one. Even if it is taking a chance on something they don't understand, they'd be together.

He clears his throat and silences the nagging voice that reminds him of all the reasons this might not work. He'd like to believe it could. ]

Alright. Sounds like we've got a decision. [ It's insane. But the majority wins, and he's with Allison on this one. If Ben is willing to take that jump, so will he. ] Who wants to tell her?

[rumorate]

I've got Kamala if one of you wants to get Carol?

[Though she's sure that Kamala's delight will make sure everyone in a five block radius know before the day is done.]

[stomacles]

I can get with Carol, since I told her I would get back to her. Five, you can join me.

She should get to meet at least one of you. [ And if video chats aren't for multiple people? What are they good for? ]

[somebadnews]

[ Five looks between the two of them, and only a small part of him is imagining the way Kamala will take the news. It's going to crush her if this doesn't work.

But he nods. Of course, he should go with Ben, and maybe convince them to do a proper demonstration before they try to hop dimensions inside a magical-alien-cat. ]

Sure. I can probably think of a few important follow-up questions for her.

action -> video

[rumorate]

[Allison nods, before stepping off to the side, and calling Kamala. She also has a few questions about Goose and the plan here, but she'll do it out of earshot where her brothers aren't listening.

She holds up the video and smiles when the other girl picks up.]

Hey. I've got some good news.

[cosplayqueen]

[Kamala looks happy to see her the moment the image comes up. What's new? There is a layer of excitement. There's a chance they can stay together. She is trying to keep her hopes from getting too high. She mostly fails at it, to be honest. Allison, Ben, and Five are family now. She wants to keep them desperately.]

Spill it! You know I love good news.

[rumorate]

So my brothers and I have decided to see if you guys can take us home with you.

[She will pause for anticipated shrieking here, and get to the questions she has about the means later.]

[cosplayqueen]

[Kamala immediately starts hopping. The scream comes a second later. She's so excited. She can't wait to take them home. Nakia will flip over how cool Allison is. Aamir and Ben will hit it up. She suspects Ammi and Five will vibe together.

It's about halfway through her pleasant fantasy she stops screaming long enough to breathe and yell instead.]

THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING, ALLSION! YOU DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND!

[rumorate]

[Allison pulls her device away from her face for the sake of her eardrums, but when her face reappears there's a smile on her face.]

Yeah, I do have some questions though. Carol floated us maybe traveling there in Goose? Is that ... safe?

[cosplayqueen]

[Kamala stops hopping long enough to quite literally wave off her concerns.] Oh, it's totally safe! We put a whole space station in the Goose's kittens. They were totally fine after. Maybe a little traumatized, but we're already that!

action --> video;

[stomacles]

[ While Allison gets a hold of Kamala, Ben cants his head to the side indicating Five follow him. ]

You with me, then. You can ask all the questions you like.

[ He pulls up Carol and grins. ] Hi there! This is one of my siblings, my brother Five. He knows one of your friends, Kamala.

[captain_marvel]

[Carol's face pops into view and when her eyes settle on Five, she smirks.]

Oh. This is your brother.

[Funny how it works both ways in terms of talking to either of them.]

[somebadnews]

[ No arguments from Five as he follows Ben. Honestly, he would rather it be in person, but he can see where this is going. Maybe it's easier this way, where all he has to do to hide that he was drinking when he agreed to this is to push the bottle out of frame. ]

Carol. Nice to see you again. [ Who knew their last conversation would foreshadow this. ] I should have remembered you were an expert on relocating aliens.

[stomacles]

[ Ben chuckles. ] Everyone knows each other, then.

That should make this a lot easier.

[ He cants his head at Five. ] You had questions?

[somebadnews]

[ Ben gets a look for that, but it's brief, because it's Ben. It only sounds easy because it's insane. Smiling back at the video: ]

I take it this was your idea. Have you ever been inside one?

[captain_marvel]

Has Goose ever swallowed me? No. So I can't speak to what your actual experience will be, but I will say that I've see many people come out the other side perfectly fine and only minimal therapy needed.

[Also a lot of people come out the other side not fine, but that's not important for this conversation.]