driftfleet | thirteenth labyrinth

Who: Felix Harrowgate
Broadcast: Starstruck & Fleetwide
Action: Pathstone
When: Today-ish

[Felix is ensconced in Crowley's seat at the communications station, not because he's actually using it, because he has no idea how, but because he can. His own communicator is propped up against the controls as he turns it on with a few hesitant button presses.]

[Video ; Starstruck]

[He opens, as always, with a smile, followed by a slightly less usual pause.]

Some of you may have noticed my recent transfer to the Pathstone. I...apologize for the abruptness of my departure. Rest assured that I won't be scarce, and I intend to make periodic visits to maintain the wards.

I am confident you'll all get along just fine without me as your cook. The ship is well appointed enough. I'm certain my cooking won't be missed as it is, but if you find yourself bereft of my company, you know where to find me.

[His closing smile is smaller because, frankly, he isn't sure any of that is true, but he feels a measure of responsibility for the crew he's left behind.]

[Video ; Fleetwide]

I have had a few suggestions for hand-written archives separate of the network, so I would like to formally announce I will now accept submissions from fleet members for any written materials to be later added to the library. This could be guides about the fleet that the augments do not cover, records of our encounters you may wish to distance from the Atroma, or information about your worlds or skills or any other topic you feel would be useful to others.

[Reluctantly] And, I suppose, if you fancy yourself a storyteller, any kind of fiction as well.

For now you can add your submissions to the network and I will look into printing and bookbinding in the future, once we encounter a planet with those kinds of resources.

[Because real books are much more fun.]

((OOC: If you would like to submit something, there is a form on my journal. Actually writing a book is not necessary, but there is an option to link to the text if you desire. This may be especially useful for user guides and fleet history))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Please. Peggy'll do. No need to stand on ceremony. [ especially not now. ] And in the interim, I imagine Steve will step up.

[ he's helpful like that. ]

[He smiles] You are still a Captain, even if you aren't my captain. But, as you wish...

Your friend has many talents.

Most days, I imagine it's less talent and more -- gusto. If he has a talent for anything, then it's for rising to the occasion. Enthusiastically.

[...Nope, there's no way he can suppress the smirk that follows.]

Quite often where you are concerned, I've noticed.

[ -- the implication isn't lost on her, exactly. her understanding is betrayed in the tightening of her jaw and the knitting of her brow.

patiently: ] He's gallant with many, I assure you.

[She didn't hang up on him immediately, so that's a small win, but he has to tread carefully]

I have no doubt of his sincerity. But he transferred to your ship for a reason.

[ a hum. peggy isn't a cruel woman by nature, exactly. but she can be edged in her deflections, and so she's quick to retort: ] Maybe you had a similar reason for your own transfer, hm?

[ she guards herself, always; this is just another way to hide her vulnerabilities. ]

[He recognizes the verbal parry for what it is, but instead of raising his defenses to match, he instead lets it find it's mark. The truth is, his relationship is an open secret, in the sense that while he makes no effort to really hide it, he also does not advertise or speak about it unprompted. He isn't certain if the same is true for Peggy.]

Actually...[he leans forward a little. The conversation is private but his spot on the ship is not]...yes. I would be utterly blind to miss such a move in someone else.

[And, you know, certain incriminating broadcasts from Steve before that]

[ a huffed sigh. here are the vestiges of a hair-trigger temper that once expressed her feelings for steve by emptying a clip at him and his shield. love hasn't come easy to her; it coils up in her stomach and weighs her down like cement. that felix should so easily cop to his feelings...?

it's humbling. peggy shakes her head -- conceding, perhaps, a point that won't be spoken. ]

Well. Then, I'm truly happy for you. All the more reason your transfer ought to be celebrated and not apologized for. [ it's the closest she comes to saying i understand. ]

[To admit it isn't as easy as it looks. Coming this far has cost him, and he still feels as if he's on the edge of disaster for opening himself up to the possibility. But this feeling isn't something he can go without, either.]

Maybe so, though I am not in a hurry to go throwing a party over this. [There will be wine, but there's always wine.]

We both have our reasons for keeping these matters to ourselves. You've done it well, considering I had to make an educated guess.

The irony is that I doubt neither I nor he ever intended to hide it. [ she may as well speak candidly. anyone with half a brain and a quarter of a conversation with both herself and steve could quickly suss out the circumstances. ] We knew each other back home -- but things were strictly professional. We never had a chance.

[He gives her a thoughtful look, not doubting at all her words. Her profession seemed to make keeping her real feelings under wraps constantly.]

That is one thing I have learned not to begrudge the fleet - and places like it. Those chances we have missed or never encountered in the first place...

[He glances down, then gestures vaguely]

Did you work with him, then?

Yes. [ she hesitates. ] And no. It was war-time. And the army always makes it a little more complicated than it needs to be. I suppose it's more accurate to say we both worked for the same cause, but only occasionally in conjunction with one another. My branch and his branch were -- very different.

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