(no subject)

[lord_wizard]

Who: Starstruck crew and visitors
Broadcast: None
Action: The SS Trainwreck Starstruck
When: August

[It might be accurate to say that the crew of the Starstruck had spent the majority of the month prior avoiding each other, or people in general, but as we leave the hand holding planet perhaps the crew can get back to normal.

Whatever that means...]

Comments

lauralae

[fuga]

[ For the first time since... Well, since she woke up here, really, Lauralae is not actively avoiding being sociable with her crewmates. She's not hiding in the shadows, she isn't tucked under a desk in the lab, she's not holed up in her bunk - she's walking around, trying to keep her head held high - and while she isn't actively speaking to anyone she isn't frowning or trying her best to avoid their eyes, either. She's not trying to hide, but she's not trying to suddenly be the most vocal member of the ship; perhaps there's a somewhere in between.

While she can still most often be found in the lab or her room, she does move around, spending more and more time in the cargo area; it soon becomes obvious why, as a little black wolf is constantly on her tail, chasing her around and learning simple commands that Lauralae offers in soft spoken words, in a language not English.

... She sometimes even smiles at the wolf, soft and sweet as she bends down to touch behind his ears. ]

[lord_wizard]

[Felix comes across her in one such moment. The glimpsed smile is unexpected enough to make him pause, considering her mystery.

He still isn't quite certain of what to think of Lauralae. He knows she has power, and had stopped himself from reacting badly to finding out the source of it. So far he'd considered her somewhat suspicious but nothing she'd done had merited a label of evil. Perhaps she deserved to be seen as something other than what her magic had made her.

And if it turns out he's wrong, being on the same ship means he can keep an eye on her.]

This is a surprise.

[fuga]

[ Tensing when she hears him, Lauralae pauses, hesitating for a moment before she lifts her head and turns to look at the man, watching him almost warily.

It's not as if she's afraid of him, not really. She has no reason to be, and she's comfortable enough in her own skin and her own powers to feel as though she might be able to shrug it off and manage, but at the same time - she hesitates, her gaze narrowing before she takes a step back. Lazarus moves with her, peeking out from under her skirts, little head held high with his ears back - he's trying very hard to appear dangerous. ]

May I help you?

[lord_wizard]

[He's more wary of the girl than he is the wolf, but he'd rather not have any bite marks on his ankles either]

Perhaps you could start by not setting your hound on me. [He offers her a smile to show that he is joking (which he mostly is) and unconcerned (which he mostly isn't)]

Who is your new shadow?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[When Wanda first spots Lauralae in the halls of the Starstruck, she doesn't quite recognize her fellow shipmate. Having only returned to the Fleet herself recently, she was trying to meet the new crew members of the Starstruck, and she was guessing that this girl was one of them. Then, she spots the little, black wolf pup, and she immediately knows that she has to be friends with this girl. Or at least friendly enough acquaintances that she'll let Wanda play with her companion. Wanda greets Lauralae with a friendly enough smile as she approaches the duo.]

Quite the handsome companion you have escorting you.

[She resists the urge to immediately bend down to pet the pup. That would be rude without asking.]

[fuga]

[ There's an uncertainty that comes with Lauralae meets new people, and she shifts and moves back, trying to make sure she has room to escape if she needs to. She's not afraid, however, and she relaxes, the puppy moving forward a little with his wagging tail, all fur and tiny little paws that shift on wobbly legs. It would be distractingly adorable if Lauralae wasn't entirely focussed upon the new woman, stepping back quietly before she nods her head. ]

His name is Lazarus.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda smiles down at the pup.]

Hello there, Lazarus.

[A bit of an unusual name, but Wanda's certainly not going to judge a pet owner's choice of name. Not when Vision has "Officer Snuggles" patrolling the Windrose with him.]

[Wanda begins to bend down to pet the little wolf but stop shorts. She looks up at Lauralae, remembering her manners.]

Is it all right?

STEVE ROGERS ✮

[uprightness]

[ the previous planet has been a much needed reprieve from all that came before. and as much as steve knows he will miss clear air and open space, there is at least work to throw himself into. you might catch him at the weaponry, keeping all the weapons marked and numbered, fixing what's needs to be fixed. at times, he may be looking around the room with a little frown because in all honesty, he can't see what they need all these weapons for and while he likes being prepared, he usually likes to know what he's armoring himself for

at quieter hours, you could also find him sitting in the kitchen either putting various shells from the planet into glass jars or otherwise sitting and sketching something into a little notebook. ]

[ weaponry ]

[axiomed]

[ Charles wasn't expecting to find him here. Granted, he knows a lot more about Steve Rogers than he intended to. Even though Bucky's memories blurred together and it was difficult to tell what was real and what wasn't, there were fragments, crystallized and untouched. ]

Mr. Rogers, I presume?

[uprightness]

[ so many people know little fragments of Steve Rogers' life. some know it through the grandparents' stories and vintage comic books, others through their visit at the Smithsonian for the Captain America exhibit. Though people knowing him through other people's minds, well, that's a new one.

He knows of Charles but not much, the little Peggy had told him, her quiet words offering, he could help Winter and as much as Steve had wanted, childishly, to claim that it is his own duty, he had accepted the possibility and in all honesty, if it ever works, he will never be anything less than grateful.

he puts the weapon done and wipes his hands on a mop before offering one ]

That's me.

[axiomed]

[ He puts on his best unassuming smile - the one that usually puts people at ease. Not that Charles has ever presented himself as a threatening figure. ]

I was wondering if I could ask you a favor. Winter helped me out with something and I thought you could write a testimonial in this journal.

kitchen

[lord_wizard]

[He hasn't had the chance to properly meet Steve, considering he'd been confined to the Pathstone during the time that the man had transferred to the ship. So far he only knows the man is a friend of Peggy's, because he pays at least some attention, but their acquaintance has very much in passing.

But they're both here now. Still, it seems strange to introduce himself straight away to someone who's been his crewmate for weeks, so he moves into the kitchen to fix himself a drink without any comment. And it's also without comment that he comes to be standing behind Steve, eyeing his notebook with interest, the only sound announcing him being the musical ringing of his spoon as he stirs sugar into his cup of coffee]

[uprightness]

[ in truth, Steve's time on the Starstruck has been eventful from day one. There was the initial shock of Bucky turned Winter, of Peggy, of the entire situation, turned into the worry for the people of the poisoned moon and quickly into panic at whatever it was the Atroma did to Winter that made him lash out at various people, injuring himself, injuring others and after that, it was suddenly the planet, with his sunny beaches and odd magic.

so perhaps it's also his own doing, failing to notice those around him as readily as he did before. he knew who they were, of course but perhaps an introduction is long overdue.

his pencil is creating a city against the page, an old looking neighborhood, something one would see in a vintage postcard; brooklyn of the 40s. ]

How are you doing?

[ he looks up and sits back, puts aside his notebook. captain america is not without manners, after all. ]

[lord_wizard]

[His reference point for Earth cities is somewhat shaky. His glimpses into that world were mostly of a later point in time, full of sleek skyscrapers. Steve's drawing is rougher, that much he can tell, but it does little to place the sketch into any particular location or time for him.]

I am eagerly anticipating yet another week of aimless drifting through space.

[The sarcasm is of course obvious but not as vehement as the words would indicate, and the words are laced by a smirk. Steadily, he's been finding these idle times less oppressive than he once had.

He does have manners of his own, when he decides to use them, and the polite acknoweldgement from Steve means he'll respond in kind. He gestures with his empty hand to the seat opposite.]

May I?

[mucked]

[ the starstruck's captain is once again at her helm -- so to speak. she's back on the bridge, and she's certainly back on her feet. although her ribs are still wrapped beneath her silk blouses, and she's rather slow-moving, she is (at least) independent. and a lot of that is owed to a cavalcade of overly generous nursemaids who'd made certain she wouldn't over-extend herself while healing.

today, she wanders into the room where all the weapons are stored. it might be by aimless; it might be by design. she won't tell.

peggy doesn't so much greet steve as slide smoothly into the middle of a conversation: ] Worrisome, isn't it? All of it. Like they're just waiting to conscript us.

[uprightness]

[ Steve breathes a little easier now that Peggy's mostly out of the woods. He doesn't fret at her as much as before, not now when she walks without her cane and without as much as pain as before. It's a relief to her too, he doesn't need to be told as much, Peggy likes the idea of bed rest even less than Steve, after all.

Her voice calls him back from the whatever it is he was thinking about ( Pietro's arrival, Tony wanting to tell him of his death, Wanda's tears; her admission of being terrified of him being taken from her again, never to be seen again, how it rang true in his own chest -

true, indeed. he breathes out a sigh of relief. She's right there, just to his left and he smiles a bit ]

To fight against invading aliens.

[ and, all of the sudden, a thought occurs, a memory that is ancient history to most people but to them, not too far away ]

Remember the radio program? War of the Worlds? My next door neighbor was scared half to death, was planning to hit 'em with her cooking pot.

[mucked]

-- Good God, yes. I remember that. [ the programme, not his neighbour. peggy sets aside the odd blaster she'd been idly examining and hitches her fingers around the edge of the counter. she watches him with kind but careful eyes. ] It feels like a lifetime ago.

[ close! within their lives, certainly. but peggy had been a very different woman the year that programme came out. or, rather, she was play-acting someone different. an adventurer's soul laced tight beneath a would-be housewife. that role didn't take, in the end. ]

What about you? [ she teases. ] Did you promise your neighbour you'd protect her? Fend them off?

Wanda ; Starstruck kitchen (a.k.a. an excuse to use this icon)

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[When Wanda's not visiting Pietro aboard the Bloodsport -- which is kind of often, she can mostly be found in either her bunkroom or in the kitchen. In fact, if any visitors or fellow crew members were to enter the kitchen at the moment, they would be greeted by the pleasant smell of paprika, salt, pepper, and cooking meat. Yes, Wanda is making Paprikash. And no, Vision is not helping this time. Luckily, for anyone looking to sample some, she appears to be making plenty. In fact, she appears to be making enough for two ships worth of people. While it started as just a meal for her and Pietro, along the way she had decided it would be rude to not make some for both her shipmates and Pietro's aboard the Bloodsport. Her attention is rather fixed on the cooking, but she's still willing to chat a little with anyone that comes by. In fact, if you're nice enough, she might ask you for a little taste test.]

[lord_wizard]

[It always gets his attention when someone other than him is making actual use of the Starstruck's kitchen, but he's lured out of hiding as much by the strong spices in the air as much as he is by curiosity and a vague territorial instinct. He would honestly be quite relieved if the Starstruck earned itself a second cook once again, so he could return to doing as little as possible without guilt.

Felix appears in the kitchen doorway, a book tucked under one arm and one eyebrow raised.]

What's all this?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda turns her head, giving Felix a smile over her shoulder.]

It's paprikash. A dish from my home country.

[She pulls a spoon out of the large sauce pot for a taste test. She then pulls out another spoonful, turning around fully and offering it to Felix.]

Can you taste this for me? Let me know if there's too much pepper.

[lord_wizard]

[He drifts closer to the stove, cautiously curious as he stares first at the pot and then at the hovering spoon]

That might be subjective. Is it supposed to be very peppery?

[It looks hot, in more ways than one, and he's unsure.]

[mucked]

...Whatever's on the hob, it smells delightful.

[ peggy's opinion is offered up without any accompanying greeting. she strides (slowly) into the kitchen with a pair of mugs in her hand, intending to wash them in the sink. her steps are ginger, but she's clearly better healed now. sprained and tender, but no longer bed-ridden.

she glances sidelong at wanda while she twists the tap and lets the water flow. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda looks over at Peggy, a bit surprised to see her up and about, but certainly still happy to see her nonetheless.]

Thank you.

It's chicken paprikash. My mother used to make it for Pietro and I when we were little.

whatchu got there, sestra?

[silvercast]

[ It's Pietro, this time, that comes to visit Wanda. He offers no word of warning before showing up, but it seems as though she wasn't intending upon showing up for a while. He smells the paprikash before he sees her in the kitchen, scent carrying down the hall. It's been years since either of them have had any- let alone homemade.

It smells amazing. Just like their mother used to make, and he's excited to get to the kitchen and snoop. Wanda is engrossed with her cooking, that she may not notice him straight away, though their mental link may be his giveaway. That doesn't mean he won't try sneaking up on his little sister, giving her side a playful grab. ]

Care for a taste, bruhda?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Their mental link, while certainly having rekindled since Pietro's arrival, was not as strong in the fleet as it had been at home. Whether it was the Atroma's doing or some other form of interference, their link no longer served as an exact kind of pinpoint gps for each other. Instead, Wanda merely felt a warmth, a sensation that signaled her brother's presence nearby. However, she attributed that simply to the fact that they were now in the fleet together, and that it's growing strength was simply due to their being within close proximity of each other again.]

[That is all to say--yes, Pietro totally got the jump on her. She jumps when he grabs her, spinning about wildly to face her sneak-attacker. As she turns, the large stirring spoon she was holding, covered in sauce, flies out of her hand. The paprikash splattering her poor brother in the face. Luckily for him, she'd cut off the heat, allowing the sauce to cool to just slightly above room temperature.]

[When she sees who it is, she is startled, annoyed, and then completely overcome with a fit of laughter all in the span of a few seconds. She gets a good laugh at her brother's sauce covered face before handing him a table cloth to clean himself off with.]

And that, dear brother, is why you do not come up from behind and startle someone working in the kitchen.