[muffled spooky scary skeletons playing in the distance]

[geonomy]

Who: You! Me! Everybody!
Broadcast: idk but we've sure got a pretty broad cast of folks eh, eh
Action: HECK YEAH PLANET MINGLE
When: 10/7 until plot update or recaptcha

It's a deep, deep forest filled to the brim with fungi, mysterious life forms, and pitch black darkness. Explore if you dare and discover all these things and more! Just don't get lost...

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

I think it would be a pretty extreme coincidence if the two things were unrelated. But exactly what the connection is...

[She sighs, shaking her head.]

Beyond that, it's too early to say.

[uprightness]

Well -

[ he looks beneath their feet, at the make do trail they both see to be following and smiles up at her ]

Follow the yellow brick road.

[ and deeper inside they go and after a few moments - ]

I can't believe it's actually getting darker. You ok?

[outstandingbalance]

I'll let you know if I'm not.

[She says it in a reassuring tone, not to shut down the question. She looks up at the trees overhead, taller and denser than even just a few few hundred meters back.]

If we go much deeper, will need to make sure we're prepared or it though. It'd be easy to lose someone in the dark.

[uprightness]

I'm not losing you.

[ not to this forest, not to anything. this is hardly the most dangerous thing they've ever done, after all. still, the darkness and the quiet both make him an easy and he smiles, offers her a hand. ]

easiest way to stick together.

[outstandingbalance]

Why, Captain Rogers. Holding hands without a chaperone?

[She can't pass up the chance for a little sass.

Which doesn't prevent her from taking his hand. The last thing they want to do is get lost in the forest here, and since the don't have anything to use as a tether...

Besides, there's something comforting about the physical contact in the face of this empty planet.]

I won't tell if you don't.

[uprightness]

I'm pretty sure kissing and being married count for more than hand-holding.

[ but he tightens his hold on her hand regardless. the kissing, the marriage, they were all false, a made up story. but this, here, holding natasha's hand in his, this friendship - it's all real, created in the twirls and sharp turns their lives had taken lately. ]

But then what do I know, I'm old-fashioned, after all.

[outstandingbalance]

Maybe just this once we'll call you a classic rather than just plain old.

[She gives his hand a gentle squeeze.]

Some things don't necessarily go out of style.

[uprightness]

Classic.

[ he smiles at her, nudges their shoulders together. ]

You might be going soft, Romanoff. I thought you said I was in the wrong business.

[ seeking friends in spies. but as it happened, steve turned out to be right on that one. here they are now, the woman steve trusts with his life, the one who saved him not once and not twice, the one he saved in return.

it's what they do, it seems; at the end of the day, they save each other when the need arises. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Are you letting a compliment get to your head?

[He might be right. Natasha's old teachers would have thought so. There were far too many warm feelings in her these days for a Soviet weapon.

Funny how that happens.

She's not going to tell him that, though.]

I thought you were above that.

[uprightness]

It's not a compliment from just anyone.

[ there is a softer smile, here. accepting the banter but also the unspoken truths present here. shoulder to shoulder, they walk through the forest, as casual as if this were a boulevard in some grand city. ]

How have you been?

[ it has been somewhat uneventful and yet. ]

[outstandingbalance]

No complaints.

[Natasha shakes her head a little. She knows it's not much of an answer, but Steve is used to her being noncommittal about her answers.]

Not as productive as I'd like.

You?

[uprightness]

I think none of us is.

[ they're used to much more eventful life than this. but after what happened with Bucky, Steve doesn't hurry to think about wanting anything to happen. The routine is welcome when he thinks back about the sort of thing that often breaks it. ]

I'm good, all things considered.

[outstandingbalance]

All things considered? That's could be a pretty big qualification, depending on what we're considering.

[A pause as she considers the directions she could steer this conversation. She chooses one of the less dangerous seeming ones, for her at least.]

How are things with Peggy?

[uprightness]

Things have been quiet.

[ bucky is fine isn't said but it doesn't have to be. ]

Peggy's great.

[ how do you even discuss relationships, his answer comes out as vague as Natasha's. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Peggy is great. I can tell what you see in her.

[She'll let his answer slide, though. At least for now.]

[uprightness]

She is. I'm glad you two are getting along.

[ he looks over at her with a little grin ]

So. Is this everything you've ever dreamed of when you were trying to fix me up with every woman who ever worked for SHIELD?

[ it's mostly teasing. She has worried so much about his dating life, after all. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Not every woman. Just the ones who'd say yes if you asked them.

[She gives him a smirk.]

It's not my fault most of them would say yes.

[uprightness]

They wouldn't have really known what they were saying yes to.

[ it's said gently, not as a way to criticize but more as a confession of a sort. Steve Rogers, much like captain America, has a certain image and people like to know they know what to expect.

It's not quite the same once they do. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[A soft sigh escapes Natasha at that, more sympathetic than exasperated. Steve and she differ on how much that bothers them.]

They still would have been lucky with what they got.

[uprightness]

[ that does make him smile and he nudges her, shoulder to shoulder. ]

alright. so now that you've succeeded in your matchmaking endeavors and I'm off the market.

[ you knew this day will come, Nat ]

What about you?

[outstandingbalance]

What about me?

[She refuses to believe he's asking what she thinks he is.]

[uprightness]

Dating.

[ he smiles, an easy smile but it's not entirely a tease ]

Met anyone interesting here?

[outstandingbalance]

I've met lots of interesting people here. The fleet is full of interesting people.

[You can't be real, Steve.]

[uprightness]

Yes it is.

[ he gives her a long, inquiring look before giving up and simply asking, ]

anyone particularly interesting?

[outstandingbalance]

I don't think I'd say particularly interesting. Though I did have a drink with a lawyer from back home.

He was in the news a while back.