( video )

[mucked]

Who: Peggy Carter and YOU.
Broadcast: Fleet-wide, from inside the Marsiva.
Action: Y, for any other newcomers between now and the Shuffle.
When: This Week.

[ let us not dwell too long upon the awkward silences and humiliating nascent moments of agent carter's awakening. let it only be said that she woke with a start (despite the afforded comfort) and the broadcast didn't quite zoom in close enough to adequately witness the depth of her horror when she first raised a tentative hand to her forehead only to find an empty glass vial still sitting there. steve's blood had been poured away: returned to his native lands by way of the east river. both guilty and triumphant, she pockets the vial in her blazer and tells herself it's a problem for another time. after all--- ]

Bollocks. [ mistaking herself for a person alone, she swears. loudly and colourfully as she crosses the bay and knocks her knuckles against the too-intact viewing window separating herself from the rest of creation -- and no familiar blue-and-green marble in sight. peggy swears again: bollocks, damnit, and hell. unable to peer into the void for much longer, she turns her back on oblivion and is confronted once more with the too-sterile hospitality deck. she may be a tidy and precise sort of woman, but this much tidiness and precision makes her stomach turn. where is the stink of new york? the heat? the mess? the humanity?

feeling charged with purpose, she springs into (moderate) action. feeling alarmingly comfortable with technology she swears she's never seen before, she plays her fingers across a panel she doesn't know will connect her to the rest of a whol damned fleet -- but she's left with the burning certainty that it'll connect her with someone. imperiously: ]

I would speak with the individual -- or individuals -- in charge of this operation. Believe me when I stress there is a whole bloody cavalcade of laws, both domestic and international, you're breaking by holding me here. I demand to...

[ some of the fire floods from her belly. a little desperate, she changes tactics: ] Is anyone there? Hello?

Comments

[notmutantbutmiracle]

It is a funny sort of prison.

[This is Wanda's attempt at that "dry British wit."]

[mucked]

If it is a prison, I'm surprised by the...freedom of contact we're allowed.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Not all prisons have to be filled with cells and bars.

[Wanda says this relatively nonchalantly, which might be a bit of a clue that she's probably speaking with some experience here.]

[mucked]

Isn't that the truth -- [ she agrees, as mild and nonchalant as she dares be to match the woman with whom she speaks. ] How do you feel this one stacks up against any others?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

There is more leg room.

[A small, playful grin appears on Wanda's face.]

[mucked]

-- And finer fashions, I hope.

[ she answers with her own playfulness, still yet ignorant of the jumpsuits. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda cocks a knowing eyebrow. She'll learn soon enough.]

I am sure you will find their color pleasing.

The good news is that there does not seem to be anything in place to stop you from acquiring clothes from the various waystations and planets we've visited. Assuming you have the credits, that is.

[mucked]

-- And I suppose credits are not all that easy to come by?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda shrugs her shoulders, brushing a few loose strands of hair out of her eyes.]

It varies. Usually depending on how exciting things get around here.

[mucked]

I can't say that fills me with much confidence.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Nor should it.

[A small, comforting smile appears on her face.]

But at least you never have to face it alone.

[mucked]

[ aha, a silver lining. sweet, she thinks, and she's grateful that others feel that way. but she wonders whether she'll manage to match that sentiment.

in time, perhaps. ]

Yes. From what I hear, we come to lean on each other quite a lot. Fleets. Crews. All that fuss.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda cocks her head a little to the side. There was something about the way this woman was speaking that seemed a little off. But she'll choose to ignore it for now, after all, Wanda could still remember what it felt like to be the newcomer to the Fleet. Instead, she takes a moment, thinking something over. She then sort of gestures all around her as she responds.]

All these people gathered here from all over... you will meet some that have come from very different worlds than your own. But, in spite of all this, everyone here wants the same thing. We all want to get through this, and, despite a few exceptions, many know that the best way to do it is together.

I do not have a lot of previous experience working on a team. I was more used to relying upon myself and my brother... but here... it is nice to have others to rely on.

[mucked]

And who do you reply upon here? [ she tries to keep it jovial, but she can't help but betray an edge of hard curiousity. ] For whom would you pass on your favourable references?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda's brow wrinkles slightly in puzzlement. Even after she offered that bit of advice of relying others, she had to admit she didn't quite have ready list of references available. However, there were certainly a few individuals who popped into her head.]

I suppose that would be Natasha Romanov and Jim Barnes. There's also Vision, Dr. Crusher and Dr. Keller. They have all helped me in various ways, and I do not know if I will ever be able to pay back their kindness.

[She takes another moment to think some more, and decides it would be rude if she didn't mention her companions aboard the Starstruck.]

My shipmates are also rather dependable too.

[mucked]

[ -- at the moment, only one name matters: ] Barnes? You're acquainted with James Barnes?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Yes, you know him?

[mucked]

Once upon a time. [ and yet -- here he exists, again. it's bewildering. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Once upon a time?

[It's clear Wanda's unsure of what Peggy means by this, but she shakes her head, letting it slide. After all, Jim was here now. If Peggy knows him, then surely this wound mean a happy reunion?]

You have spoken to him here then already, yes?

[mucked]

I have. [ soft confirmation. ] Sergeant Barnes and I were at war together.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

War?

[Wanda remembers the visions she saw in Jim's head. Yes, World War II... that's right. Jim is not only from a slightly different reality than hers, but he is also from out of time. It seems this woman is in the same boat.]

I see. Then, you know Stev- Captain Rogers too? [She asks hesitantly, not sure how Peggy will take the question.]

[mucked]

[ it's a fight to keep her composure -- not because the sadness threatens her, but because she is instead struck by a kind of hope. she swallows it down and maintains some semblance of stoicism. ]

I do. [ ... ] I did. Quite the soldier.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[The next, obvious question forms in Wanda's mind. However, she cannot quite bring herself to ask it. Her mouth opens, closes quickly. She looks hesitant, the question almost plastered on her face.]

Who fell from the train?

[She decides not to ask it. Ultimately, it doesn't largely matter to Wanda one way or another. This woman knows both Steve Rogers and Jim Barnes, and that was enough to confirm for Wanda that she was likely a good person. So, instead she decides to try and take the conversation down a different route.]

You must feel somewhat surprised by all of this.

[Wanda gestures vaguely around herself, implying the various futuristic space technology that made up their surroundings.]

[mucked]

[ she wants to ask. she wants to grill. but she is the new face in these parts, and she knows the value of keeping herself calm in the face of overwhelming temptation. peggy will instead bide her time and be patient with the woman. ]

Oh, certainly. It isn't every day one finds oneself whisked away to...outer-bloody-space. [ or ever. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[A small, playful grin finds its way onto Wanda's face.]

You seem to be taking it all awfully well.