✮ video.

[uprightness]

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.

Comments

[mucked]

I haven't clocked much time behind the machine. [ why should she? peggy always seems busy with other things. ] Perhaps I ought to leave the pinballing up to you. You've always had a good handle on...angles. Ricochets.

[uprightness]

Says the one who nearly beat me at space-billiards.

[ and besides! ]

It gets kinda boring after a while, you know. Could use the company.

[mucked]

Oh really? So I can stand there and look pretty and ornamental while you rack up the points? [ she teases, but truthfully she likely would keep him company. ] There'd damn well better be tea at the end of it.

[uprightness]

We could have a competition instead.

[ an easy shrug. ]

That way you wouldn't get bored.

[mucked]

[ a competition? now, that hooks her. she glances up at him. ]

Just you and me?

[uprightness]

Just you and me.

[ he affirms, swaying a little in place with her in his arms. ]

It's tradition by now, isn't it?

[mucked]

Which part? [ a huffy breath. ] That you and I compete, or that I win?

[uprightness]

[ he laughs, shakes his head. ]

You think you can beat me in pinball? I had hours of practice winning your tea.

[ and his compass. ]

[mucked]

Perhaps you shouldn't brag about how long it took you to win it. [ a tilt of her head and she catches his eye. ] Surely, the better player would have managed it in fewer hours.

[uprightness]

That's how it's gonna be?

[ lord knows why it pleases him as much as it does. ]

Alright, fine. What's it worth to you?

[mucked]

You win, Rogers, and I'll give you a wall to decorate.

[ don't think she hasn't noticed that every time she pops back to the starstruck there's been more and more of your things in the room. ]

[uprightness]

[ . . . . ]

Including paintwork?

[ it's all so terribly white. ]

[mucked]

Including paintwork. [ a huff. ] But no people -- landscapes only. I don't want to wake up to any more eyes watching us, thank you very much.

[uprightness]

There goes my dream of those life-size portraits.

[ fine. ]

What's it gonna be? a week withdrawal from coffee?

[ if he loses. ]

[mucked]

Do you think me so cruel? [ a snort of laughter. no -- surely, this goes beyond coffee. she'll need a moment to decide. ]

[uprightness]

Never cruel.

[ not even in jest. he leans down, presses a kiss to her cheek. ]

Simply very determined.

[mucked]

If you lose? [ she chews a moment on her bottom lip. and waits to finish her thought only after he's straightened from the kiss. ] What I do get is a week free from your...obstructive nature. In the mornings. You'll let me go about my day promptly and without delay.

[uprightness]

-- That's worse than the coffee, you know.

[ it's almost, almost a pout. ]

[mucked]

[ tenderly, she cups his cheek in her palm. ]

I trust you'll survive it.

[uprightness]

[ dramatically, he sighs, ]

You know I'm not too sure about that. There's research about interrupting schedules and changing those patterns.

[ which is mostly an acceptance of those terms, reluctant as he may be. ]

[mucked]

Oh, bollocks. You survived the mother of all schedule interruptions already. [ she has no pity for you, steve, and your pattern of getting her way every morning. ]

[uprightness]

Yes, should never put a person into so many of them, you know.

[ think of his health! ]

One week and then things go back to normal.

[ grumbling. this is the Worst. ]

[mucked]

Chin up. [ she tucks a crooked finger beneath his jaw. ] You haven't lost yet.

[uprightness]

I'm not going to, either.

[ especially not now, dear god, can you imagine? the very thought is absolutely terrible. ]

Besides.

[ his tone gets a little daring edge to it, as if he's working out the nerve for the next statement. ]

You'll miss them.

[mucked]

Is that so? [ a furrow of her brow; she appreciates, however quietly, the verve and spirit to this line of challenge. ] Are you that convinced it your own allure, Captain?