driftfleet | ✮ ( 001 ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ / ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ )

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✮ ( 001 ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ / ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ )

I knew I should have looked up 'reality shows' a few months back.

[ The man who appears on the screen is currently looking at what seems to be a little notepad before adding the word 'space' next to the words 'reality tv'. Really, he could have done this space setting if it included an inter-galactic war or helping planets in peril.

But in all honesty, Steve Rogers: entertainer has never been his career choice and it's not his forte, either. At least now the whole thing doesn't include singing and girls in scandalously short skirts. ]

My name is Steve Rogers, currently aboard the SS Pathstone. I've done a little bit of reading while aboard the Marsiva. I understand there are those who are trying to help the people on the moon we're visiting, if there is anything you need, I'd do whatever I can do to help.

[ you might catch a glimmer of red and blue and silver just behind him. A wink as the light hits metal ]

The same goes for going home. I imagine people have already looked into ways for us to leave this place. No one should be taken anywhere against their will. I'd like to hear about the information you have managed to collect and I'll do everything I can to make sure everyone will be able to go home safely.

[ you all get a little smile. he's so awkward at these things, can you tell by now. ]

I heard I've missed quite a party.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ it might be comical, all that comes later, the arching of an eyebrow, the slightly startled ( very startled expression that makes its way to his face as Natasha's name is thrown in regard to women and -

and then the clearing of a throat. ]

-- I'll take that tea now.

[ he knew these two together would spell trouble. a moment later, he's sitting beside her, still oddly comical holding his cup.

next subject, then. ]

[ peggy's laughter is low, melodious, and generously given. it steals upon her naturally, and in a fashion that simply doesn't occur on a run-of-the-mill day upon the starstruck. it isn't that she leads an unhappy life aboard the ship, but she's a muted sort of crew-mate. she saves her smiles for genuine moments, and there are few more genuine than this one. as strategically as she mentions natasha's name, she knows better than to think...

well. the last time steve had been present, he'd given her no cause to suspect. and even if he had, she'd long ago resolved that she could not blame him. they both had their lives to live.

as steve takes his seat, she relaxes. rubbing her palms together as if she might hoard the heat of his hand between her own. peg pours a dash of milk into her cup, and stirs it with a clink.

she clears her throat: ] Are you liking the Pathstone?

[ he wants to protest about this not being funny but she laughs and the sound is warmer than the tea she made and e can't bring himself to mind, not really. he looks down his own cup, smiling a bit; he is a coffee man but this is so very like Peggy, it's so wonderfully familiar. ]

I haven't spent much time there. I've spent most of time on the moon or visiting the other ships. The bed is alright.

[ he isn't the sort to mind these matters and coming to think about it, perhaps he should know his own assigned ship a bit better ]

[ she knows, of course. he'd have preferred coffee. and it isn't that she doesn't care, but more that she doesn't kowtow. not even to him, although he's the one person in any world for whom she might break her patterns. even now, she feels herself ramping up to a detour from her usual behaviour.

but there is no use in wasting what time they have left. from the moment he stepped onto the starstruck, the timer was turned. the sand started to fall from one half of the hourglass to the other. ]

We have room on the Starstruck. We didn't, not so long ago, but we do now.

[ the offer hovers in the air -- and peggy appears almost sheepish to have offered it. she isn't embarrassed, or shy, but she understands how sudden an offer it is. ] In case you're looking for -- a change.

[ ahem. peggy doesn't take her eyes off his while she takes her first sip of tea. ]

[ he looks at her for a moment, tea forgotten yet again as she forms the question, suggestion, offer. there isn't a matter of thought or discussion regarding his answer. ]

I could do with a change.

[ and then, with a small smile ( he won't dream to show her how happy he is. space audience and all of that ) ]

are we still required the odd 75 push ups?

[ he still remembers boot camp, thank you very much ]

[ as much as she truly would not mind watching steve rogers drop and give her 75 of anything, peggy lets him oh-so-gently off that hook: ] Captain or not, this isn't the army. I make it a point not to require too much of the crew; they never asked for this.

[ arguably, a great many never asked for war either. there are some within the fleet she can depend upon to follow a quick order without question, but for the most part...

it's not her place. ]

We have a fine recreational area set up in the hold. A hanging bag, one of these bizarre futuristic running mills... [ she's had a time trying to adjust to technology, steve. quite a time indeed. ] Once you're part of the crew, it's yours to use. No drills required.

treadmill.

[ said as he sips his tea. he doesn't know that much about pop culture references but these sort of things he got pretty easily. it's not his favorite back home, he would take open air and ground beneath his feet any day but then again, one can't really go jogging on a toxic moon ]

..Maybe it's best I stay clear of the hanging bag.

[ you know what? she doesn't even pause for a moment to wonder why he says what he says. it occurs to her almost instantly, and with a glimmer in her eye: ]

How many minutes, on average, before you break one? [ she sizes him up -- not for the first time, certainly. it's been a long while since she's watched him throw a punch, but if she had to guess... ] Ten minutes, maybe? So long as you weren't fully trying to bust the thing.

Seven.

[ said with a chuckle, he scrunches his face at the tea before adding another sugar. there are things about Peggy he will never understand and this has to be one of them. ]

The treadmill should be safe.

And doubtless you'd do well to make use of the games down on the moon while we're still at port. [ she leans back, relaxing into the casual note of the conversation. it may be a few minutes more before she tries to drag them back into serious shop talk. there's barnes to discuss, still, but she won't be rushing it. ]

There's a funny little game with guns and paint. I enjoyed it more than I should often like to admit.

Guns and - paint?

[ he looks at her for a moment with a smile he clearly tries to keep at bay. for all that is fierce and a force of nature, she is always so pretty and prim and proper. the thought of her covered in paint is perhaps a bit funny and very, very endearing. ]

And paint. [ she echoes, almost a little too insistent when she sees the smile hiding in the corners of his mouth. honestly, steve. ] I did well for myself, I'll have you know. When I played.

I'm certain you did.

[ but he has to chuckle just a little because goodness gracious, peggy carter covered with paint, isn't that an image he is going to carry with him for a long, long, long time. ]

was it - various colors or - ?

Each side had a colour. As in -- mine might shoot yellow, but the opposing force shoots blue. [ ... ] It's how they solve all manner of disputes on the moon below. A very safe sort of warfare, if not particularly tidy.

That's a - creative solution, one I hope many people will use in the future.

[ but it's sweet, how serious she seems when she explains it, coupled with the image of her that lingers in his mind. badass, mind you, but usually on heels. ]

for their -

[ not laughing. ]

disputes.

[ steve! rogers! peggy puffs herself up and sets the tea mug back onto the table. ]

Laugh, Captain. If you're going to laugh, then laugh. Hold it in any longer and I fear you'll turn purple.

[ oh so very sour. ]

[ it's really the puffing that does that and he laughs, openly and free and it's a first time in a long time but he'll be quick to appease her. prim and proper or not, he won't risk vexing Peggy Carter, he still has a head on his shoulders and that's where he wants it to stay, thank you. ]

It's simply that you - even in the war you were so -

[ what is a word that would be appropriate ]

clean.

[ oh, damn it all. the very way he says it -- clean -- makes her heartbeat catch. there isn't an implication buried there, really, except that it speaks to where his attention wandered. and to how closely he might have observed her, even if just crossing hq.

peggy practically snorts her caustic (but ultimately toothless) retort of a chuckle. ] You so rarely saw me during my missions, Steve. What did you think I did between crossing paths at base, hm? Intelligence work only appears clean if it's being done well.

[ but beneath that veneer, it's very dirty indeed. she continues: ]

I'm not afraid of a little dirt.

I wish I could.

[ that would have been quite the sight and steve would never doubt peg being anything less than the best at what she does. he clears his throat, trying not to let the image make itself to his mind but nope, it's there already and suddenly it goes from adorable to very uncomfortable - thinking about her like that and maybe he shouldn't really be thinking about her since it's really inappropriate to think about a woman, especially when she's right there.

clearing his throat again ]

Many of those missions involved paint?

[ wow, rogers. you're like a dog with a bone, aren't you? peggy hooks her finger around the handle of her mug, considering his fixation upon the paint for a moment longer. ]

Many of them involved far worse. [ but she'll refrain from telling him about the new york sewers. ] You know, it could be some time before we leave the moon behind...

[ hey, it's not his fault this is funny ok. he'll take another sip of his tea and give her a look ]

I don't know, Peg, can you spare another blouse?

[ because come on, Peggy, he's going to win this one :> ]

[ she exhales. happy -- to be called simply peg, and to have such a terribly mundane conversation. what has she done to deserve this? ]

I'll manage. You don't live in space for nine months without picking up a few too many outfits on foreign outposts. You just worry about yourself -- you haven't exactly been here long enough to build up any sort of wardrobe.

[ he smiles a little, comfortable in this bicker and banter of theirs. thanks goodness for ample time for these little matters. ]

Alright. Though if I win, next time we're having coffee.

[ because this tea is just beyond any words. ]

Accepted. [ it's a quick shot of a word, and she smiles behind her tea. ] But if I win, you're on tea-making duty for a month.

[ she ups her ante, never shy from a healthy wager. once upon a time, she'd clean the commandos out in poker games back at hq. well, most of them. steve could be harder to get a read on, at times, than most expected. ]

[ he gives her a little look that's torn between amusement to something long-suffering. a month/ ]

...Does that include my drinking it or - ?

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