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[hottestrogue]

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[cryobiological]

It's a little more complicated than that.

I know. I'm trying to make it right with them, too.

[A beat later, almost like it's an afterthought:]

I don't hate you.

[hottestrogue]

Good, you should. Try to start with Bucky and Steve, though I am sure there are others too.

And why not? I would.

[cryobiological]

Barnes, yeah, but why Steve? What others? Who else did I--?

[Did she kill anyone else she doesn't know about?]

I probably should, but I don't.

[hottestrogue]

He cares for Barnes. They are the two I know of those.

And yes you should. But maybe you are as crazy as Len.

[cryobiological]

Maybe I am.

Why do you think I should hate you?

[hottestrogue]

Because we're complete opposites. Because I kidnapped you. Because I am a warden.

[cryobiological]

And whenever I brought up the kidnapping, you wanted to act like it was water under the bridge.

Do you think all inmates should hate all wardens?

[hottestrogue]

Because it was very clear that you didn't.

And no, but I think most of them do.

[cryobiological]

Well ... maybe it should be.

I think most of them do, too. And a lot of wardens ... sort of deserve it.

But not all of you. Look - and it sort of pains me to say this - but you wouldn't be here in the position you are now if you hadn't changed.

[hottestrogue]

I was hired onto this job as a warden. [ It is something most people don't believe about him. ]

I don't like thinking Iæve changed.

[cryobiological]

I know. That means that between the time that you kidnapped me and threatened to burn me, and the time you were hired on here, something must have changed - independently of being a passenger on this ship.

Why not? I mean - I don't, either, but I have to admit that I have. It's sort of staring me in the face every time I look in a mirror.

[hottestrogue]

Well. Len and I joined the Legends and then Len went and got himself killed. And a lot of things happened between there. For a while I was someone I don't want to be. I'd rather be that arsonist you all hated.

[cryobiological]

So why not just be him again?

[hottestrogue]

Here? I'll get demoted in a heart beat.

[cryobiological]

Only if people get hurt, right?

.... What if it was just a little fire?

[hottestrogue]

Yeeah. You haven't heard about the library fire, have you?

I set fire to the library. An inmate died.

[cryobiological]

No, I didn't. Why did you do that?

Actually - no, it doesn't matter. What I'm saying here is - and I can't believe I'm saying this - but I think we might be able to help each other out.

As long as any part of Killer Frost is active - and it is ... she is? I am? I'm not even sure anymore - but I need heat sources to fuel the cryonic processes that generate my powers. And you need to set fires, but don't want to hurt anybody. We team up, you get what you need, I put it out to get what I need. The boat doesn't burn down, and I don't get so frustrated and desperate that I resort to draining passengers instead of coffeepots. It's a win-win situation for everyone.

What do you say? Deal?

[hottestrogue]

[ He thinks about it for a long moment. On the one hand he has been fighting really hard to ignore the urge to set fires, knowing that sooner or later someone is going to use that against him again. On the other hand, the main reason for why he wanted to make sure this place didn't burn isn't here any longer. ]

Deal, we can make some fires in the enclosure. And if you're going to drain passengers you come find me.
[ He pauses for a second. ]
I'll add you to the people who can enter my cabin. I got a fireplace in here. If for some reason I can't set a fire in the enclosure we can make one there.

[cryobiological]

[It's a lot more than she was expecting. The fireplace is going to help, she's pretty sure.]

Thank you.

I can't make any for sure promises about coming to find you, but I can say I'll do my best. When it gets like that ... it's hard to think of anything else. [And that's big, for her to admit that. She doesn't like that she had to, but saying it aloud sort of means she's made her peace with it.]

But if we can get this thing going, I don't think it'll get that bad.

[hottestrogue]

That I do know. [ He smiles slightly ] Only one thing in your mind and all the other thoughts don't seem to stick around. That's how I am with fire... and pain. [ An admission for an admission. ]

We could see if we could set up some sort of warning system. Until you get a permanent warden.

[cryobiological]

Pain? [A beat.] Giving or taking?

I think I would be okay with that.

[hottestrogue]

Taking. Giving is different. Taking it is something you learn. And then you learn to find peace in it.

I can ask around, see if there something we can do. Maybe the Admiral can set something up.

[spam]

[cryobiological]

Caitlin doesn't bother with asking the Admiral about anything; as an inmate, that really isn't her place anyway. What she does do, though, is keep her word, and that means actually going to Mick's cabin.

She takes her time getting there, caught between wanting to put it off entirely and a genuine curiosity as to how this is going to go, because she doesn't really know what to expect - but it seems like a perfectly logical solution for the problems that they both have been having. When she arrives at his door she takes a steadying breath to calm herself, but she looks a hell of a lot more like Frost than Caitlin when she finally knocks on that door. "It's me," she adds, because even without a name, her voice should at least be a giveaway.

[spam]

[hottestrogue]

Mick's half expecting Caitlin to not come ever, so it takes him a second to get to the door, but when he does he opens it without question. The cabin is nice and quiet, but there is a fire burning on the fireplace, a book on the table couches as well as Mick's glasses. And a beer, always a beer.

"Caitlin. What is up?"

Re: [spam]

[cryobiological]

Out of curiosity, she peers past him into the cabin. It's ... warm. It's so delightfully warm, and now that she's here she knows there was no reason to suspect anything different. "I thought we could talk," she says levelly. "About that arrangement. If you're still interested."