.05 if i live the life i'm given, i won't be scared to die

[touchofrogue]

Who: Rogue and anyone, really
Broadcast: Video, why not?
Action: The Star Space Station
When: Basically all week, Video Sunday afternoon

[ Video ]

[Rogue doesn't really like addressing the fleet at large, so she keeps it brief.]

Alright, folks, here it is - one of the best places we've been yet ta stock up. What's on your 'must bring back to the ship' list an' [more importantly, maybe] how are ya plannin' on storin' it?

[She's got her own list, but she knows the way these things usually go and she doesn't want to forget anything in case it winds up being a long, long dry spell before they hit another place this good.]


[ Action - All week ]

[Sooner or later, Rogue always falls into a routine. She's too well known in the fight circles now to make any real money, so she's taken to working as a chef/bartender at one of the middling-to-fancy restaurants. When not there, she is either 1) shopping (thank you, space gods, for a place that finally carries lipstick) 2) in the 'datary' checking out books to be 3) read in the garden. or jogging in the garden. Let's be honest, being around actual plantlife feels amazing after the desert planet, the frozen planet, and let's not forget -- space. Garden, reading, wine whiskey, chocolate, lipstick -- a good day. And then it was time to start it all over again.]



[By the time Rogue had given Kitty directions to where to meet, she'd had time to get... nervous about it. Which was dumb, but true. They'd talked fine enough over the communicator, why should meeting in person be any different?

In any event, Rogue hopes that Kitty will like the place. It was one of those middle level spots that she could easiest afford, and she's found a table that would let them both have their backs to the wall, let them both keep an eye on the door. She waits, gloved hands curled around her coffee.]

Comments

[touchofrogue]

"Mama always did say cleanliness was next ta godliness," Rogue drawled.

[mucked]

Her laughter is abrupt. Hardy, but sharp. Nonetheless sincere. She crossed her arms while they walked -- and considered the idiom. Peggy wondered whether it was something Rogue's mama truly did say, or whether the fiction merely suits the joke.

"Then this man must certainly be the devil." Idle thought. Idle tone. "But -- no, actually. He's quite remarkable in his own right. Quiet. Prickly. But remarkable."

[touchofrogue]

Remarkable, eh?

But Rogue is not normally one To Pry. "Glad ta hear he's got some good points underneath all that scruff."

[mucked]

"God, me as well. The Starstruck boasts a decent crew, and until recently we haven't had too much in the way of disruptive behaviour. The same can't be said for some of the other ships."

Especially the ones who air some of their more bombastic problems all over the network -- whether by accident or design. Peggy was old-fashioned about her discretion. Some attitudes weren't meant to be advertised.

[touchofrogue]

Rogue shrugged, "Seems like there's a disproportionate amount of nice folks in this place ta me. Then again, seems like that's usually the way."

[mucked]

"Nice and disruptive needn't be mutually exclusive, darling." Her smile was slight. "Just a few weeks ago, there was an awful ruckus over -- blenders, yes? Noise. High emotions. Nice people, but they..."

She wet her lips. Rogue, she suspected, understands this sensibility better than most. "They certainly don't hold back."

[touchofrogue]

"A blender? Really? ...I mean, I get that supplies are short, but..." Rogue shook her head, then confessed: "I can't say I pay much attention ta the feeds. Skim them once or twice a day, maybe, but not close enough ta follow blender blow ups."

[mucked]

"I find myself rather hooked. Maybe it's the augment," she tapped her neck. Comms, after all. "Or my work at the..." Phone company. But her nose crinkled, and it seemed like a poor lie to tell Rogue.

"Well, whatever the reason. I find myself rather glued to the broadcasts at times."

What a great way to learn about people.

[touchofrogue]

"Luceti had somethin' like the comms too. Journals." Rogue shook her head. "It's - weird, is what it is. People either talk 'bout the most mundane or the most personal things. An' it's all just - out in the open like that. I keep an eye on it for folks I know, or if somethin' important happens," or if something is being spoken of where she believes she can help and it's worth the risk, "but other than that, half the time I feel like I'm evesdroppin' an' half the time I wanna stick my fingers in my ears an' go LA LA LA."

[mucked]

Never doubt the usefulness of a good eavesdropping. But Peggy knew better than to argue her position in all this. Rogue felt disinclined to intrude upon the lives of others, and in many ways it was a virtue. It would be villainous of her to try and persuade otherwise. Instead, she nodded with understanding.

"Anything else, and you might feel as though you're playing into the Atroma's hands."

[touchofrogue]

Rogue shrugged. "I don't care about that."

And she really, sincerely meant it. "Bunch of giant jackasses who dragged us here, I ain't givin' them the time of day when it comes ta how I live my life. If people are watchin', it's creepy, but it's not any excuse ta stop livin' my life as best I can under the circumstances."

[mucked]

"Now, did they truly drag us here?"

An honest question. She wasn't trying to trip anyone up in asking it.

"Only, I'd like to consider all possibilities. What if they are merely capitalizing upon a pre-existing problem? Natural scientific phenomenon, hijacked by opportunists."

[touchofrogue]

"So then they're jerks takin' advantage of others who are being sucked in instead of helpin' them out." Rogue shrugged. Been there, heard that song. "Doesn't change a thing 'bout how I plan ta live while I'm here."

The only difference it meant was that they couldn't find out from Atroma what Atroma itself didn't know. And since Rogue's efforts at even accessing Atroma had been thoroughly foiled, she was back to waiting.

Sadly, she was not very motivated to return home. She didn't want to be on the fleet forever, sure, but after 5 years in Luceti and now this? She wasn't even sure what home was anymore.

[mucked]

"Fair point," Peggy answered.

But beneath such an agreeable answer sat a disagreeable soul. It was just that such differences did change how she planned to live within the fleet -- and such answers impacted how she conceptualized the entire problem. (If it was, indeed, a problem!) Peggy liked parameters. She liked expectation. And the only variable she liked to see within those parameters and expectations was herself.

"So you aim to live quietly. And to keep your nose out of the business belonging to others. Not a bad goal."

Just not hers.

[touchofrogue]

Rogue laughed quietly. "Didn't say I aimed that way at all. Just mean that until I get my shot, I am not gonna let my actions be determined by my audience."

As for 'nose out of other people's business', she supposed that depended on how smelly said business was.

[mucked]

"Your shot..."

Peggy glanced askance at Rogue.

"What a curious way of putting it. Your shot at what?"

[touchofrogue]

"Figurin' out just what the heck is goin' on," Rogue said, and though her tone might be flippant, her gait suddenly took on a rolling, prowling nature that betrayed the lightness of her words. "Can't say I care much for bein' manipulated an' manuevered out of place an' time. Wouldn't mind havin' a conversation 'bout it."

[mucked]

She digested the words. Thought about them, in earnest, before replying.

"You aim to discuss things with the Atroma themselves -- and perhaps not their pretty mouthpieces. It's a shot I wouldn't mind taking myself. But how likely is it to happen?"

[touchofrogue]

"'bout as likely as sendin' an elite group of folks back in time ta fix some relationship problems and misunderstandings that changed the course of a world, stoppin' a war before it starts, an' resettin' an entire timeline," Rogue said.

No, this is not a joke tag.

Yes, she delivered all that calmly, still walking. She didn't really want to get into it any further, though, glancing back at Peggy. "Carter, you've been pulled from your world, from your time, met people from other universes an' ones just like yours save a few differences. Why are ya askin' me what's likely?"

Wait. See. Take your shot.

[mucked]

"It's faulty logic to take one phenomenon -- however often repeated -- and use it as the basis for belief in another perhaps far less likely one. The Atroma seem to have a vested interest in not giving us the shot you crave, Rogue."

A little stiff. A little chilly. But she won't be sucked into hoping for a chance that may never come, however much she wants to believe in it.

[touchofrogue]

Rogue was a little surprised at Carter's vehmence here, but she had more than enough fire to ignore a chill. "I really don't care 'bout their vested interest one way or another."

She took a few steps further and added, "I ain't sayin' I'm perfect, but I'm just as sure they ain't. I'm not just gonna dance ta their tune an' try ta win some popularity contest ta get sent home. We'll see."

[mucked]

Nor would Carter, but that was a quiet resolve. One that needed no articulation beyond a taciturn nod. Instead, she pushed the conversation elsewhere:

"If that's even what they're holding over our heads. I haven't heard anyone talking about a chance to win anything. Have their mouthpieces said that?"

[touchofrogue]

Rogue glanced over at her briefly. She didn't let the conversation lapse, but there was a faint, confused expression on her face and a furrow in her brow that really had nothing to do with what she was talking about, "You weren't here for that? All those letters from fans an' the bit 'bout the winner with the most ratings gettin' ta go home?'

[mucked]

"If I was, something else must have been going on -- I confess my first month was a bit of a crap-shoot as far as priorities went. There were things bigger than the fleet I had to learn first."