driftfleet | ✮ video.

Entry tags:

✮ video.

Who: Steve Rogers + you.
Broadcast: yep.
Action: on the starstruck, if you're inclined!
When: current.

[ It has been a long time since Steve Rogers has done one of these little network announcements, seven months, if you want to be specific about it. Some things have changed, others haven't. He still looks awkward about addressing a whole lot of people at once for something that isn't an emergency. The uniform is gone, however, replaced by a simple blue t-shirt and jeans and the shield is nowhere in sight.

He seems to have spread many sheets of paper all over the Starstruck's kitchen. Some feature tables of dates - undoubtedly a calendar in the making and others feature, well, drawings; each sheet contains one scenery. They would strike some people as rather familiar, a hand-holding tree, a sandy beach, the market of the tri-fraction system with people wearing clothes in various colors, the woods of the Lagan system, the Nebula lights and lastly, the mountains of Siourew and the Co’kal. ]

I meant to finish a few calendars by New Year's Eve but it seems I'm behind on my deadline.

[ To say the very least. He rubs his chin, there's a beginning of a stubble there. How many days has he devoted to this as of late? it's hard to tell. ]

I'm not going to write years on 'em, since it's different for all of us but I thought it might be a nice way to keep up with dates and holidays.

[ He frowns and confesses, ]

I feel like I've left some things out - and some of you have seen planets I haven't been around to see for myself. I figured I'd ask - if you have the time, you can describe some of them to me and I'll add them to the calendar. It can be anything you liked on any of the planets we've been to.

[ and, okay, fine - ]

I could use a description of where we're currently docked, too.

[ How can a person so big can seem so awkward? ]

Thanks you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I suppose you'd then need to make amends.

I suppose I might have to.

[ since the water is hot and he's not moving to get a cup. ]

For instance, you might bottle the brew in one of those clever little lidded mugs and deliver it.

[ under water. ]

--- you want the tea delivered.

[ why is he surprised? How has he not seen it coming? ]

You won't be able to open it underwater.

[ and here it is -- the carrot: ] Actually, they've got dry accommodations available. For a fee.

[ . . . ]

They do?

[ it's bait but he bites anyway. ]

Indeed. For those a little too squeamish to sleep underwater.

[ she knows it's not a case of squeamishness. not with him. and she hopes that he understands she knows it, too. ultimately, she won't feel burned if he refuses. peggy doesn't mind coming back to the ship.

but neither does she like him using any excuse to stay put. her role is to push him; his is to tell her when she's pushed too far. ]

[ he sighs, accepts his defeat. There's no helping it. ]

....seems like we have a deal.

[ -- oh no. is she smiling? quite smugly, in fact. ]

I can come hold your hand if that'll help. [ she's teasing. and she teases knowing that her going to him sort of defeats the purpose of the whole battle. ]

You're cute.

[ he's not backing down from this match. ]

But I think I'll manage.

[ am not!! ]

Good. I left a wet-suit in your size hanging in the cargo bay. I'm certain you'll cut a fine figure.

[ -- wait was all this planned? ]

You - what?

[ !!!!!

He laughs, a wild bark as he shakes his head ]

You're not kidding.

I had faith.

[ -- and the risks were low. a 'no' wouldn't have hurt her. ]

Unbelievable.

[ played all along. Well, it makes sense. ]

This is why I adore you.

[ good god, steve rogers! this is a public feed.

her retort is dry: ] Save it for when you're off the ship.

[ please. ]

[ he bites back a smile. it seems that even the dryness doesn't lower a rather excited level of being infatuated. ]

Can't be off the ship when I'm not sure where to swim to - all ok?

[ is he seeing hints of blushing, hmm? ]

[ -- hints, but nothing more. peggy's nose crinkles and she decides it's best not to dwell on displays of public sentiment. not when it opens her to accusations of protesting a little too much.

so, instead, she provides him with text directions to one of those dry inns -- nestled deep in the heart of the city. ]

See you soon.

[ nothing less than her metaphorical carrot would have convinced him to venture out of the ship - and for so long, too! Still, he does appreciate the colors of the corals and well, some of the wildlife.

He's shaking water out of his hair when he finally, finally reaches the dry ground of the inn. ]

-- You know, there are jellyfish the size of a Cadillac out there.

[ the rental space isn't without its drawbacks, of course. it's cramped -- but peggy's never minded that. also, the bed is bewilderingly unstable and seemingly filled with water. luckily, she hasn't been sleeping here; it's merely rented as a kind of dry-dock for her comings-and-goings instead of constantly going through the decontamination process on and off the ship.

she smiles when he walks into the room. turns out she was right -- he does cut a nice figure in the wetsuit. peggy tosses a towel into his arms. ]

Best avoided, I think. I don't want to imagine the sting.

Thanks -

[ he grabs the towel, ducks his head and dries his hair first. it's a hurried effort and the result is mostly messy. ]

Here.

[ he passes her the very lidded cup she asked for. ]

Wish my phone's camera would have worked underwater. It's quite a sight.

[ she pops the lid and takes a nostril's worth of tea-smell into her system. it's rejuvenating. ]

At least now you won't have to rely on hearsay for what this planet looks like. [ peggy smiles -- still riding a slight swell of victory, it seems. ] You'll be able to recreate your Cadillac jellies from memory.

Yeah, well. so far, the intel I got was 'wet'.

[ he gives her a look. ]

Amazingly, it turned out to be true.

Of course it did. [ she eyes him over a sip of tea. ] I'm not in the business of lying to you, after all.

[ -- she may deflect and she may mislead, but peggy's done her level best not to speak whole lies to him. ]

Only in the business of arms racing.

[ not that he's one to talk. In the end, she knew better than he did, his presence here is proof of that. ]

[ her chin lifts. she smiles. ]

You started it.

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