video + text + action

[mucked]

Who: Peggy Carter & YOU
Broadcast: Y, fleetwide.
Action: Aboard the Starstruck, if you like.
When: Today.

[ a video feed flickers to life, and fights for a moment to adequately focus on its subject. peggy carter sits in the kitchen aboard the starstruck, cup of tea and her elbow and half a biscuit in her hand. dabbing at crumbs, she sets her food aside and offers the network a bright smile. ]

That message -- the ominous one, in the bizarre language? It put me in mind of the sort of cryptograms and puzzles you might see in the Sunday paper. [ her expression is cheery enough, although she's not being wholly honest about her interest in such games. she won't be the one to say the words bletchley and park.] I loved them. Them, and crosswords. I thought maybe some of you might like them, too. [ ... ] We could do a few together. I'm not saying we all join a club, exactly, but back home they were always better solved in good company.

Let's start you off with one that's easy enough. But there's no shame in needing a hint, if needed. For what it's worth, the text I'm attaching is, in its deciphered form, English -- not yet certain how the augments' translation will handle it. We'll see.

BLSTKBC YLBSFKGISRX XL QIYT SL SFVBWIKAKJR STR QKBZ VX V XSRVZU EIFELXR — V ELKBS LB OTKYT STR XLIA QVU NKM KSX KBSRAARYSIVA RUR.

[ -- and then an afterthought: ]

...By chance, has anyone been brewing their own beer?

Comments

[mucked]

[ ...oh no she's talking to a west-coaster. of course. she remembers this, all of a sudden, because of winn. ]

It's not the worst place I've been. [ ... ] But my career's back in Manhattan. So I'm hoping not to overstay my welcome in California.

[takingkarabusiness]

Oh, pshaw. You can't do that, it's California! We're pretty laid back.

My cousin lives on the East Coast, though. He was raised in Kansas, but I was lucky enough to land nearish National City and San Diego.

[mucked]

It'll be no surprise, I suppose, when I explain I'm not exactly an American myself. [ the accent always gives it away, of course. ] But I'm happy to call it home, now.

[ new york, at least. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

Well, neither am I.

[mucked]

[ a sharp bit of laughter. ] I know, my dear. That's why I said it like that.

[ not american myself -- but perhaps it implied a common-ground by way of slang that doesn't penetrate the fog of time. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

Oh, yeah, of course.

We're probably like the same age, you know.

[mucked]

I suspect that depends on how you count it.

[takingkarabusiness]

For my own sanity, it has to be actual age. Not time travel or stasis age.

[mucked]

I don't doubt we're close in age, then -- [ but a lady never tells. and her personnel file has always been confidential. and she still manages to feel like the grandma of the fleet, some days. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

I'm just saying. You must be really good.

[mucked]

I wouldn't say really good. The SSR is filled with good agents. [ and bad ones, but she's not here to talk shite. ] We make each other better.

[ albeit sometimes through adversity alone. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

No, I've read Earth history. You're really good.

[mucked]

[ a pause. she could argue, she supposes, but that would only make her appear graceless.

so -- a little softer: ] Thank you, then. It's kind of you say so.

[takingkarabusiness]

You'd probably have a lot to talk to Alex about. I also work with the DEO but mostly I punch things.

[mucked]

Oh, I don't know. I'm certain I'd have plenty to discuss with your sister -- [ yes? ] -- but 'punching things' is a rather significant portion of my job description. Some days.

[ or her coping mechanism. the line is blurred. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

That sounds exciting.

What about puzzles?

[mucked]

-- I suppose it's about one half puzzles, one quarter punching, and the remaining quarter that used to be taken up with lunch-orders is now filled with bollocksy paperwork. [ why not? she'd feeling candid. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

Ugh, paperwork. That's the benefit to being a super strong, super fast alien: no one can force you to do paperwork, except at my day job.

[mucked]

And what, pray tell, is your day job?

[takingkarabusiness]

I'm the personal assistant for the self-proclaimed Queen of All Media, Cat Grant. It's not a bad job, it just involves a lot of phone calls.

[mucked]

I was in the habit of telling people I worked for the phone company -- though that's a bit different than actually connecting calls for your cover. So to speak.

[takingkarabusiness]

Maybe. One of the nice things about being an assistant, though, is you're practically invisible.

[mucked]

-- That's truer than most people realize.

[ doubly so when you're a woman in the 1940s. it's no wonder she'd been capable of conducting her own investigations under the noses of others in the office. ]

[takingkarabusiness]

I get my work done and I stay out of the way, so that if something "comes up" during the day, it's not a huge deal if I'm nowhere to be found, you know?

[mucked]

-- And your employer hasn't noticed?