ship mingle: february is for starstruckers.

[mucked]

Who: Crew of the Starstruck
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Y, aboard the ship
When: All month

[ welcome to february. y'all know the drill. ]

Comments

[mucked]

Can't decide what's worse, actually. It floating away, or suddenly becoming as heavy as an elephant. It's a pain in the rear either way.

[outstandingbalance]

You know what's triggering it?

[Does Natasha want to see if Peggy will confirm it? Of course she does. She won't force it, but it's a start. And it shows a degree of trust that she comes out and asks plainly.]

[mucked]

I've got an inkling -- [ peggy's answer is just as plain. she'd been tempted to deny it outright -- but some lies are clumsier than honesty. ]

[outstandingbalance]

And you're not a fan of what's causing it.

[Which is reasonable. Spies aren't inclined to enjoy having their inner lives advertised.

That doesn't mean it's not funny.]

[mucked]

Not in the least. [ a sour expression -- natasha might find herself feeling suddenly a little more weighted to the floor. ] I used to pride myself on my poker face. This rather shoots it in the foot.

[ ugh, mixed metaphor. she frowns some more. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha notices it, raising an eyebrow. At this intensity, she doesn't struggle under it too much.

Her hair might visibly deflate some, though.]

Remind me not to get you mad.

[mucked]

Excellent advise, Agent Romanoff, even outside this bit of jiggery-pokery. I'd blame the Atroma outright, if I could, but I'm starting to doubt it's explicitly their fault.

[ a huff. peggy reaches for her tea mug, hoping a sip might calm her frayed nerves and so alleviate some of the gravity in the room. ]

[outstandingbalance]

No. I heard about the glitches. Just didn't know it extended to levitation.

[mucked]

-- Actually, I'm beginning to suspect it's gravity-based. [ she only had the idea because of a young girl who resides on the starstruck. her and her gravity boots. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Makes sense.

[Happier thoughts, lighter gravity. She huffs slightly, giving a slight head shake.]

Hopefully it doesn't last too long.

What's Steve make of it?

[mucked]

I'll wager he's noticed. [ peggy won't explain why; it's fairly obvious. ] But he's been good enough not to mention it aloud. Or clever enough. He knows his fate is sealed the first time he opens his mouth.

[outstandingbalance]

He's not always a complete idiot with women, I see.

[Just most of the time. But Steve has a better head with spies thank he does civilian women.]

I'm almost proud of him.

[mucked]

I suspect his sense of self-preservation might have at long last kicked in -- he likely doesn't want to be shot at. Again.

[ a sniff. peggy pushes back her chair and grabs her empty cup. ] Tea, Natasha?

[ don't make her make coffee :c ]

[outstandingbalance]

He doesn't shut up about the first time. [Said in a tone that implies men are such babies.] You'd think you actually hit him the way he goes on.

[Natasha shrugs. She'll take it. She'd rather have coffee, but she's also not a bad guest.]

Black, if you have it.

[mucked]

Good Lord. He's actually talked about it?

[ a look of mild surprise. she can't fathom whether it's a comfort or a curse to hear her poor temper is a topic of conversation. either way, she's quick to toggle the button on the electric kettle. ]

[outstandingbalance]

It may have come up.

[Natasha snorts.]

He says it with respect. I think he likes a girl who shoots at him when he's out of line.

[mucked]

-- Well. His discretion certainly leaves something to be desired. [ a puff of her cheeks. once again, things in the room begin to feel a little weightier. ] Doubtless he made me sound like some sort of harridan or harpy.

[outstandingbalance]

Only if you think Steve's the type to be smitten with a harpy.

[Really Peggy, give yourself some credit.]

Besides, in our line of work, what's a few bullets? Barnes has successfully shot me twice, but you don't see me holding that against him.

[Not that it's the same situation at all, but if Natasha is lucky it will still lighten the mood.

Unfortunately literally.]

[mucked]

And yet I rather doubt he fired those shots under similar circumstances. [ the teacups are heavier than usual, but not impossible to handle. peggy chooses the utilitarian and standard issue mugs -- leaving the gentler, painted cups where they sit. she doesn't want to risk them under these circumstances. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Maybe.

[Natasha watches Peggy move curiously, very much aware of the gravity changes.]

Does that matter?

[mucked]

Context always matters, my dear. [ as responses go, it's a little pat. a little too clean -- but then she doesn't much hide her twin desire to first uncover natasha's context while dodging her own. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha raises one brow at the endearing. It would be easy to find that condescending. Natasha resists the urge.]

I'll rephrase my argument. Do you think the context makes Steve any less likely to respect your nerve?

Or your aim.

[mucked]

My nerve? [ a short bark of laughter. ] Absolutely. It wasn't either of our finest hours.

[ because peggy has a temper and steve has a foot that so easily fits into his mouth.

she pauses. ] But my aim was perfect. All shield, no man.

[outstandingbalance]

[All right, Peggy, Natasha won't compliment you too much more. If you insist on shifting the subject, so be it.]

Oh, I've seen your aim.

[mucked]

Exactly. So God knows why he was so indignant about the whole thing -- there was no risk of me actually hitting him.

[ she conveniently doesn't mention the part where the shield was still just a prototype. ]