gotta get down for a mingle

[redactions]

Who: The crew of the SS Heron and visitors.
Broadcast: nope.
Action: Aboard the SS Heron.
When: After returning to the ship.

[ finally back on the right ship, except the corridors are all mysteriously cold and the ship seems smaller. Thanks, Atroma. New crew, visitors, starters in comments ]

Comments

[reconstitution]

You don't need to be. I can take care of myself.

[ His response is immediate, a jerk reaction to the sentiment. Why be concerned about him? He's weathered enough that anything less than an army couldn't take him down without a fight.

It's still something he's coming to terms with- just because he can, doesn't mean that he doesn't have support. ]

[mucked]

Oh, I have no doubt you can. No doubt at all. [ ... ] Doesn't mean I won't feel concerned all the same.

[reconstitution]

No, I guess it wouldn't stop you from doing it anyway.

[mucked]

We functioned as a team. Once upon a time. [ the commandos -- and their s.s.r. liaison who made far more visits to the lines than was strictly necessary, to a point. ] I find it hard to shake that feeling -- and I'm not certain I want to.

[reconstitution]

Then I won't make you.

[ He doesn't think he has the heart to turn her away. ]

..You always did what you wanted, anyway.

[mucked]

[ how begrudging. but (ultimately) she is comfortable with his concession -- because they must make them for each other, being of the same timeline (she can assume) and sharing this fleet. sharing the people in it. ]

Maybe. Probably. But always, I hope, with good reason. [ ... ] And now I have people 'round me who can give me a polite and gentle nudge when it's otherwise.

[reconstitution]

[ He's certain he doesn't have a lot of history with Peggy, and it's a damn shame. He'd very much like for there to be more. They'll just have to create new history. ]

People like you. With good reason.

[mucked]

[ oh, bless him. ]

I wish it were always so. [ ... ] I'm not immune to making a bad call now and then.

[reconstitution]

..People make bad calls all the time.

[ Humans are fallible. ]

Why would you be any different? [ That's entirely too much pressure to put upon someone.. ]

[mucked]

Because -- because I...

[ she shakes her head. ] It's a rather long sort of story. I'm not convinced you ought to want to hear it.

[reconstitution]

Only if you want to share it.

[ It's an easy out for her if she does decide she would rather not, as well. ]

[mucked]

Well. First things first: I don't suppose you have some sort of makeshift chair for guests in your bivouac?

[reconstitution]

..The Captain is usually the only visitor. I'll look for better accommodations.

[mucked]

-- Hell, not necessary. [ a pleasant smile. she bends down by a metal trunk of cargo and drags it closer. ] Make do and mend, Winter. Make do and mend.

[reconstitution]

Yes, ma'am. Worse things have been weathered.

[ He nods, motioning for her to sit in the space and offers her a blanket from his stash. ]

[mucked]

[ she wraps the blanket around her shoulders like a cape. or, else, a cloak. she wraps it tightly, and thinks of cold french forests. she wraps it tightly and thinks of home: frosted london mornings and the walk to school. wool socks and skirts. ]

How long have you been with the fleet? [ it suddenly occurs to her that she's never asked. ]

[reconstitution]

[ He waits for her to be seated and comfortable with the blanket before he takes up his spot on the floor. ]

Five months, now. It's been... interesting.

[mucked]

And -- can I ask about its best parts? [ a moment's hesitation, before she hazards a guess: ] Other than Jim, of course.

[ the two men have a connection; she needn't pry more about it. ]

[reconstitution]

Having freedom? ...Making friends, I guess.

[ The second one has been a little easier now than it had been at the start. ]

[mucked]

It's good, then, that so many among this fleet are so kind. So -- friendly.

[ making friends is hard enough for a spy. how much more difficult must it be for a patsy -- a weapon, turned blank by evil men? not that she would call him such to his face.

chiefly because she doesn't believe he's that weapon any longer. she never knew the weapon -- and she only sees traces of its existence. ]

[reconstitution]

..This is the first time I remember feeling like a person and not a thing.

[ Needless to say, he's not in any hurry to give that up. ]

[mucked]

[ and there he goes, putting so fine a point upon her thoughts. she almost smiles, but the subject matter makes it a mere twitch of her lips instead. ]

Funny, isn't it? What grace and opportunity is given to us under hard times. Conscription, potential experimentation, imprisonment -- all awful things, but it still bears benefits.

[reconstitution]

You don't get to have something good without an equal bad following it.

[ Unfortunately, the reverse isn't always true. Thankfully, the scales are even this time. ]

[mucked]

No, I suppose you're right. We eke out what goodness we may. Find what opportunities we can. I suppose that the mere fact of the Atroma's surveillance shouldn't stop us from...improving our lot, as we see fit.

[ it's a personal sort of verdict, though she gives no indication of talking about herself. steve's arrival has set her on a great many questions like this one. ]

[reconstitution]

No, it shouldn't. Doesn't stop it from being invasive, though.

[ Sometimes, he can almost forget that the Atroma are watching before he gets reminded again. ]

Nothing is personal.