open » action

[mucked]

Who: Peggy + you
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Starstruck, Iskaulit
When: All day.

[ as compelling an attraction as the asteroids can be, peggy wakes up on what could have been april 21st and promptly decides that a captain's work is never done. despite a short holiday on one of the less glitzy asteroids, she storms her way back onto the starstruck around midday. she'd have preferred to be back earlier, of course, but a certain stubborn steve rogers had delayed her more than usual this morning.

because, you see, today is peggy carter's birthday. and up until recently, she'd thought this particular piece of sensitive intel might have remained under wraps. certainly, she's never announced it to the fleet (not had it announced for her) but over the last year there'd been an influx of individuals who might otherwise be privy to that sacred knowledge.

and so surviving the day becomes a little trickier. her first precaution is to not even address the network -- indeed, she hasn't got her device with her at all. so if some friend or ally does try and contact peggy, they may be forced to seek her out in person instead. after all, it's rare that she should persist with so much radio silence. visitors and crew on the starstruck will find her in her quarters trying very hard to dodge the likes of both steve rogers and edwin jarvis. and trying to busy herself with 'paperwork', though closer inspections might prove she's doing little more than working on a few hobby ciphers. and let's not forget the copious trips to the kitchen for tea, of course.

for visitors and crew: it seems steve's left the odd 'hint' and trinket around the ship. flowers here, candles there, and there's at least one cake chilling in the kitchen. perhaps more. when asked about it, the captain feigns innocence.

later, when that diversion fails, she heads to the iskaulit. first to the firing range, where she squeezes off just enough shots to counterbalance the creeping sensation of domesticity. and that done, she stops by the space bar for a drink of whatever-the-devil most resembles whiskey. ]

Comments

[mucked]

[ he's inescapable, it seems. after she'd left the asteroid behind, peggy thought (naively) that she might have dodged his fuss and pomp. but then the starstruck itself had proved a minefield of celebratory overtures. after doing what she could to fine, acquire, and secure every last petal, peggy'd come to the iskaulit. and after the firing range, she'd come here.

and here he is -- nose in a book as though his presence is merely innocent. all the same, she takes her drink and settles in the seat across from him. peggy reaches and snags the book from his hands, turning it around so she can read the title page with a shake of her head. ]

Are you following me? [ rather than looking at him, she flips through the book's front half. ] You knew I'd come here.

[ his question goes unanswered. ]

[pulcher]

Hey - there's no bookmark there.

[ it's on the table. a small piece of paper with a little doodle of a toad, fittingly enough. trying to rescue his book is futile, however and he shrugs. ]

I don't know what you mean, just came to see what's new in the library.

[ it's such a good excuse. he looks rather proud of himself. ]

[mucked]

[ she slides the rectangle of paper off the table's edge, flipping it twice between her fingers before inserting it neatly into the book -- approximate to his position as she remembers it before she started flipping through the pages. peggy sets the wind in the willows aside, making it clear that now is not the time for reading. ]

You've got three or four books on the go already. [ she huffs. ] I should know; your current reading material has started to spread to my desk. Getting in the way.

[ ergo, his excuse is not working for her. ]

[pulcher]

Never such a thing as too much reading.

[ but he's smiling, just a bit. he has a card up his sleeve, so much is true and her current complaint is just the right time for a not so subtle hint. ]

Besides, there's no room on your desk for my books.

[ a rather innocent observation. ]

[mucked]

[ she purses her lips. all bloody day long, she's been caught at an awkward crossroads -- one wherein she adores his smile (cheeky as it is) and yet can't help but wince away from what manner of fuss it portends. surely -- surely -- there isn't much else he can spring on her now? ]

Now, don't start. I keep my desk passably tidy.

[ a drawl and a sharp eye. what are you up to, steve rogers? ]

[pulcher]

You do, it's very tidy.

[ he nods; in full agreement, it would seem. there is a moment of silence in which he toys with his napkin, folding it neatly - a little origami session, it would seem. ]

Still, fitting a few books up there - don't see it happening.

[mucked]

And why, pray tell, is that?

[ she smells a secret. intending to sniff it out, she takes another swig of whiskey and leans in -- elbows on the table. ]

I would have thought a few books would fit just dandy.

[pulcher]

Just an impression.

[ another fold and another and - ah. Yes, it's a napkin-bird. ]

I think I'm getting the hang of it. It's not very detailed, but.

[ is he changing the subject to paper cranes? ]

[mucked]

[ an impression. peggy snorts -- but then also relents. as much as she wants to chase down his implication, she knows she has all night to do it. ]

But it looks like it belongs on a table at Sardi's all the same. [ she means it sweetly -- perhaps hoping to cajole an answer out of him. ]

[pulcher]

Would have had to be fabric. That place is all stylish. Like the ones on Telluria. You'd think they serve their food on gold plates with how expensive it all is.

[ it's a charming bait but he's rather determined not to bite. ]

[mucked]

[ if one method of ingress is denied to her, she'll search out another: ] Browsed a lot of Telluria, did you?

[pulcher]

Not too much. Highway robbery, all of it.

[ he's smiling, however, quite content about this level of curiosity regarding her gift. ]

They charge a fortune for food.

[mucked]

And clothing. And trinkets. And they even charge to visit the loo. [ another sip of whiskey before -- with a flutter of surprise -- it occurs to her she ought to offer: ] Can I get you a drink?

[pulcher]

Not one of those, it'll knock me out.

[ he gestures towards her glass. he knows peggy and her preferences. whatever it is she's having now is bound to be too strong for him. getting absolutely drunk on her birthday is not going to be ideal. ]

Maybe something a little lighter.

[mucked]

White wine spritzer? [ her eyebrows lift. as suggestions go, this one is absolutely teasing. ] Peppermint schnapps?

[pulcher]

Very funny.

[ he flies the little napkin in her direction, making a face. ]

I think I can still have a beer or two without passing out.

[mucked]

[ -- she catches the poor little paper bird, crushing it in her grip. ]

Alright. Beer it is. [ peggy pushes back her chair and stands up. ] Guard my good stuff while I'm gone, at least.

[pulcher]

[ a yelp ]

Hey - careful.

[ his bird :< ]

What did he ever do to you?

[mucked]

Flew at me. [ or, in this instance, was thrown at her. although rumpled and worse for wear, she sets the bird back down on the table before turning towards the bar. ]

Perhaps he should have been more careful.

[pulcher]

He was a gift.

[ a humble one, too, unlike all the others that came before it and the few that will come after it. he'll busy himself with unfolding the wings before folding them again and smile at her once she returns. ]

Thank you. Are we going to toast or will that be a bit much?

[mucked]

[ a gift. peggy (remorseless, despite the underlying sweetness) rolls her eyes and might as well still be rolling them when she comes back -- beer in hand. she reaches across the table to place the bottle at his elbow. ]

A toast? To what, hm?

[ propose carefully. ]

[pulcher]

Nothing?

[ more of a question than a statement. the best way to go about this, at least for now, would be the one taken during Valentine's Day. ]

It's a very nice day outside. Friday, too. Those are always nice.

[ no special occasion whatsoever. ]

[mucked]

[ she leans in, then, and presents him with the rim of her tumbler. ]

Here's to Friday, then.

[ friday -- today -- together. it's all that mattered in the end. ]

[pulcher]

To Friday.

[ there is a clink of glasses and steve has to physically stop himself from wishing her a happy birthday. later, then. ]

I hope it's a good one so far.

[ this utterly random day. ]

[mucked]

It's been busier than I expected. [ she drinks a mouthful of space-whiskey. ] Someone talked.

[ someone snitched. ]