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

[outstandingbalance]

And he didn't take it well.

[Of course he didn't. Why would he?]

[mucked]

-- Not well at all. [ things must have been smoothed over, however, because she's quick to laugh about it. ] Too afraid to leave the bloody guest room, but not too afraid to stand up to me. So I suppose he was only half a coward.

[outstandingbalance]

It does sound like you brought the fight to him. Makes it easier. [And like he did deserve it. Natasha takes a healthy pull on her whiskey, her lips tightening slightly.]

[mucked]

I admit -- the 21st century must be a challenge for him. [ she toys with her cup before taking a long drink. frowning, but pleasantly. ] But he forgets, I think, that unlike nearly every last person in the year 2016? I knew him before the serum.

Truth is, some of my best memories of Steve Rogers are with him exactly as he looks right now. And I won't stand by while he tries to treat that state as something truly lesser.

[outstandingbalance]

Not in the 21st century now, though, is he? We're all... where ever this is. And whenever it is.

[Not that Natasha doesn't understand. She knows better than most people how important Peggy and Bucky are to Steve, precisely because they're the only people alive who knew him before he went in the ice. Before he was a superhero.]

[mucked]

So we had a row. [ a nod of her head. ] Short lived -- he barely made it eight hours before ringing me up.

[ which she explains with more relief in her voice than pride or victory. thank goodness someone had blinked. ]

[outstandingbalance]

That says something about how special you are to him. Steve isn't known for backing down.

[mucked]

Quite the opposite, as we both know. [ another lengthy drink. ]

[outstandingbalance]

So how's he handling it now. I know what he told me, but...

[Steve can't lie to save his life, but that doesn't always mean Natasha knows what's in his head. Peggy has a different angle on him, especially because she did know him before.]

[mucked]

He's making the best of a big change -- just as he did before. [ whether 'upgrading' to the serum or sliding in the opposite direction, peggy's intent on seeing it as just that: a change. not for the better and not for the worst. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha can respect that. She won't disagree.]

What about you? Making the best of it too?

[mucked]

Being able to push him around again without feeling as though I'm trying to shove a brick wall certainly hasn't been unwelcome.

[ she'll let natasha read that however she likes. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[That gets a laugh out of Natasha, the sound a soft huff.]

Enjoy that while you can. I'm sure he'll be back to being the brick wall we've all gotten to know before long.

[mucked]

Believe you me, it's not going to waste. [ when again will she ever get to say she's carried steve bloody rogers? ] Nor am I hearing any complaints.

[outstandingbalance]

[There is a mental image Natasha will cherish.]

I'm glad to hear that. The two of you should take advantage of every second chance.

Even if that chance is throwing Steve Rogers over your shoulder like a sack of flour.

[mucked]

-- Sack of flour is generous, I think. But yes.

[outstandingbalance]

You'll have to tell me what would be a more accurate analogy.

[mucked]

More like a medium-sized hank of rope.

[outstandingbalance]

I'll remember that.

[mucked]

Much to my downfall, I imagine, should the words reach his ears.

[outstandingbalance]

Don't worry. He'll never know my source.

[mucked]

Something tells me he'll be able to guess it all on his own whether you tell him who said it or not. [ -- because the pool of guesses will be rather shallow, even after this glitch introduces his previous stature to the fleet.

even so, peggy smiles. ]

[outstandingbalance]

You never know. My sources are many. And mysterious.

[mucked]

Alright. I'll take a slice of that action. [ a beat. ] If it does get back to me that it's got back to him, I'll expect reparations.

[ nothing too bad, clearly, by the state of her grin. ]

[outstandingbalance]

I'll have to think about that one. Don't get me wrong, I'm confident.

But I've already lost one bet to you.

[Natasha's way of admitting that Jarvis has, in fact, tried to mother hen her.]