driftfleet | video.

Entry tags:

video.

Who: Mr. Jarvis and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Today!

[The video begins with a fellow in a well-pressed suit and a carefully adjusted tie, all befitting someone who puts the most care into looking a well-kept part in society. His poor hair could do with some pomade - it hangs a bit, droops like a wilted leaf on his forehead, but otherwise he's made sure to keep his dignity in the wake of this... horrible event. He's been clearly kidnapped. Kidnapped! He prays Miss Carter is safe somewhere; the last thing he remembers is being hit with a tranquilizer, but he can't seem to remember if it had been a terribly dangerous affair. Didn't they have the assailant in their trunk? Oh, what a beast the man had been. He will attempt to keep his composure regardless. It's his job.]

While I appreciate that you've let me keep my reading glasses, I'm afraid I won't be broken in by such... backwards methods. Whoever you are and wherever you have... taken me, I can assure you that you've chosen a terrible person to kidnap and that kindness will earn you nothing of use. I'm just the butler; a chauffeur, and I'll have little to offer you, unless you would like to learn how to properly fold any and all manner of clothing.

... Or how to properly prepare a dining table.

[I imagine nothing of that sort will interest you, you're probably all thuggish barbarians.]

If you think you'll get anything at all from me otherwise — well!

[He folds his arms, and though he's concerned for his health in the future (god please don't murder me whoever you people are), he is doing his best impression of an impassive, dry-witted butler. As always. He doesn't sell it perfectly, but at least he's selling it, and that's what matters. Look how tough and unbreakable I am. Can't hurt a butler when he's down.]

You're sorely mistaken.

[........ brb fumbling now]

How do I turn this thing off?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Breathe calmly, then. You're liable to strain something if you let yourself panic. Trust me, it's not worth panicking over.

[ not yet. ]

I've woken up to discover I'm a rocketman soaring through the stars, Miss Carter. I'm surprised I haven't strained everything at the revelation.

[But okay, he's trying to remain calm.]

I was just in your company; how has it been so long since we've met? This device, it's — hardly a rotary.

[ howard could explain this much better than she can. but at least, of late, things have grown so bizarre back home that at least a portion of the fleet's bizarreness might be more easily swallowed. ]

It's a problem of dimensions. Of different worlds -- and different points in time, too. Many unbelievable things are capable of coexisting all at once in this funny little fleet.

[He rubs his temples, having her very thought process. How nice it would be to have Howard here to explain this nonsense. He blesses Peggy for her help regardless, because he'd be truly and utterly lost otherwise.]

... Mr. Stark would have a field day here.

I would have been brewing coffee pots left and right.

[ once upon a time, she would have lied to him. outright. wouldn't have felt even a twinge of guilt for it, too -- but ever since the debacle in new york wrapped up, and ever since he gifted her the last scrap of steve rogers? well. she couldn't do that to him.

with no small measure of melancholy: ] Howard did have a field day. Or a handful of field months, so to speak. He's not in the fleet any longer. Individuals have a tendency to come and go.

[What the hell, Howard.]

He's come and gone? To where? How? How have we arrived here in the first place?

... I must admit, I'm very lost. I need... a cup of tea.

[He looks around the very lonely area; it's very clean, very bright, and very empty.]

Where are you?

I'm on my ship. The Starstruck. I was assigned to it shortly after I arrived -- as you, too, will be assigned. [ ... ] You must alert me the moment you are sent to one of the smaller vessels, Mister Jarvis.

[ she feels a need to know where he is. where he'll be. ] For now, you're on the Marsiva. Think of it a bit like an antechamber. Or a lounge. There's snacks and there's a decent view but it'll get boring before long.

I wouldn't be too concerned about my whereabouts, Miss Carter. I will find you the moment I've been assigned.

[He's very matter-of-fact about that.]

More importantly - I can see you've quite a situation for yourself aboard the fleet... Familiar faces.

[STEVE IS HERE WHAT'S WITH THAT??]

Whatever could you mean by that,

[ not a question. more a warning, really, that he's about to tread on unsteady ground. ]

[Too bad, he sees your warning and steps right around it.]

I mean that you've found someone you and Howard had been determined to find.

Or - did he find you?

If you're alluding to Captain Rogers, [ peggy hedges. really, he's rarely seen her quite this motivated to side-step a topic as she is with this one. ] Then I was already here when he arrived.

[ clearing her throat. ] He, too, is on the Starstruck. Quite safe and quite alive.

[ which means that she is (at times) quite giddy. but let's not draw too much attention to it. ]

[Oh, goodness. He gives the most pleased smile of the warm-fuzzies.

Mr. Rogers, alive and well, and within Peggy's grasp.

Marvelous.]

I'm... so very happy for you, Miss Carter.

Never would I have thought such a thing could happen.

[The complications can wait, if for a while; this is a lovely thing, being able to see someone you love that you thought was lost forever to you. It is something that should be treasured! He's enthused on your behalf. Quite late, of course, when you consider how long he's been here. Shut up.]

[ oh, how he vexes her (wonderfully) with his good nature. she tries to out-frown his delight but his sudden twist in spirits seems indomitable. peggy hasn't the heart to point out all the horrible drawbacks of being here.

her head bows for a moment. peggy scratches the back of her neck -- biding her time until she could formulate a polite enough response. ]

Nor did I, Mister Jarvis. Nor did I.

[ puffed cheeks. she deflects almost as though she feels unworthy of his vicarious happiness. ]

As I said, our captors draw us from all manner of times and places. Captain Rogers hails from quite a few decades down the road.

But -

[He gives pause, rubbing his chin.]

Did the serum slow his aging, Miss Carter? He seems very... young and spry still.

[Jarvis of course doesn't need serum to be an overworking butler with limitless youth, but we all can't be as awesome as him, right.]

As if he's never missed a day, I know -- it's quite a shock. But I'm afraid you and I lag some seven decades behind our allies, here.

[ as to the how? ] I'll let him explain how he survived. I'm certain he'll tell it better than I could.

... Seven decades. My god.

Then - I would be.... I would be very much dead by that point.

[Poor guy is older than Peggy; he is Super Dead for the Avengers.]

... Huh. I never thought I would be discussing life after myself in such a way.

How morbid.

.........

I hope I had at least learned how to properly knit socks in a full seventy years.

[ well! it's good to have goals. ]

Best not to dwell on it, really. A lot can happen in seventy years.

[ or so she's learning. ]

I imagine so. My apologizes, I....

[A deep sigh. He's very lost by this wave of information.]

This is all a lot to process.

[ and there's more yet to come. but she's cognizant of overwhelming him. ]

Let's focus less on the future, Mister Jarvis, and more on what's transpiring right now. By most reports, we're little better than zoo exhibits. Entertainment fodder for alien life-forms we may never meet.

[He breathes shakily, trying to smooth back his wayward bangs.

These terribly terrible people, leaving him without his pomade.]

Terribly more concerning that conversations regarding the future.

[you tried tho]

... It must be revenge. Karma, Miss Carter. For Stark's zoo. I've been cursed by the pink devil.

I'm afraid our enemies, here, are considerably more of a hassle than Bernard's been. [ truly. ] Although no less colourful, in some respects.

... Wonderful.

[see: it's not.]

Have you made any contact with these enemies thus far?

They speak to us through representatives. From time to time. Can't really be certain their mouthpieces are any more at fault that we are, frankly. [ propaganda is propaganda is propaganda. ]

Oh! And Mister Jarvis. Do mind your augment -- somewhere on the back of your head.

... [He prods the spot carefully, perturbed.] I had wondered about that.

So I should be cautious not to let my anxiety get the better of me and attempt removal?

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