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Who: Peggy Carter and YOU
Broadcast: Audio + Text
Action: Aboard the Starstruck.
When: Evening

[ it's been a long day. long week. long bloody month. and tonight, in the rebuilt space of a bedroom now properly shared, peggy carter is reading a book. not just any book, really. but that's a story for another time. for now, she's prepared to proceed publicly as though nothing is amiss.

in the handful of hours before bed, she takes to the network with a brief puzzle. ]

VHOILVKQHVV PXVW DOZDBV EH IRUJLYHQ, BRX NQRZ, EHFDXVH WKHUH LV QR KRSH RI D FXUH

[ and attached to the text is an audio messsage. ]

I know it's been a little while since the last one -- and some of you lot who most enjoyed them have gone and left. So we'll ease back into it with something simple. Simple, but no less fundamental. Solving it is all well and good but, as always, there are bragging rights up for grabs for anyone who names the source. Fair warning -- English is the native tongue.

And while I've got your attention, I suppose I ought to do my due diligence [ however reluctantly ] and ask whether anyone else has purchased the upgrade which merges two rooms together. It may be worthwhile to swap notes on how those changes came into effect.

[ and that's that. although she'll be awake for a little while yet -- answering messages and putting on a brave face. truth is, things have gone pear-shaped and she's only just realizing how much recovery yet required. those aboard or visiting the starstruck can find her at her desk, hatch left open, in her and steve's newly merged room. ]

( ooc: and because not everyone has the out-of-character time or inclination for codebreaking, here is the quotation peggy's posted using a caesar shift. )

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[ he bites back a smile, watching her with a certain something dancing in his eyes, an old sort of mischief, a deep, comfortable sense of fondness. he clears his throat ( perhaps lost, for a moment, in a clear memory of why those plans got postponed ) and turns to fetch his own cup.

his tone is almost cheerful. ]

depends.

[ he says and adds nothing more. mentally, he pictures an arched eyebrow and a somewhat brisk, depends on what?

maybe her hands on her hips, if she didn't have the tea cup held in one of them. ]

[ oh, no, she won't allow him the satisfaction. she plays out the conversational calculus very quickly in her head -- and all behind the rim of her tea cup. although! although, a brow does arch.

and after a mouthful, she teases. ]

It depends on whether I'd say yes or whether I'd say no. [ to the invitation. much, it seems, like the proposal that never got made. ]

[ if they were still in the room, steve could have kissed her just now. There's something about this level of familiarity that tugs at his heart. He doesn't have to say anything, she already knows.

Coffee held in one hand ( black, no sugar ) he turns to look at her. ]

So what will it be, Captain?

[ lightly, he offers: ]

I'll pack a bag for you.

[ she's not happy. how could she be? feeling rattled over howard is still just lurking behind her shoulder. but she puts on a jolly good face about it all -- not least of all because steve's struggle to connect with the sorrow had made her think twice about dipping back into those honest feelings.

but when he grants her a boon like that? well. it makes it easier. ]

I thought for certain you'd never dare to do that again. Let alone offer it.

[ which isn't a yes, either. ]

People change with time.

[ that was back in february. Steve vowed off her things and her bags and at the same time, there was the ring.

'till this day he can't explain what pushed him to buy it back then. A sort of instinct, a careful hope. ]

I guess I'm no different.

[ just don't change too much, she almost warns him, or too quickly.

peggy swallows another mouthful of hot, strong tea. these days, he makes it exactly as she likes it. another point (she supposes) in favour of marrying the bastard. it's been steeped as long as she prefers and is served as piping as she prefers and not even peggy can reliably attain those goals all on her own.

at long last, she nods. ]

Alright. [ as though it's some huge concession and not exactly what she wants to do with her evening. ] Let's do it.

Alright then.

[ when they come back, he'll have to do the same thing he has done at home. There is a way now for him to process the consequences of what it all means. It won't be different from home. The decision is still the same decision, after all.

But surely that can wait another day.]

Once we're done here.

[ oh it's remarkable how fast she can neck back what amounts to half-a-cup of hot tea when the proper fire is lit under her arse. without a word, she drains the mug. ]

You don't have to -

[ hurry . But it's already to say that. He places aside his half-finished cup, now abandoned, and notes: ]

You will give me some instructions, right?

[ re: packing. ]

I don't see why I should. [ this, again. although she lingers, half-expecting him to stay and patiently make his way through the rest of his coffee. ] You see daily, Steve. You know what I wear.

On the ship.

[ it's a brave attempt if there ever was one. His back is to his cup. For all his dedication to coffee it seems he can't quite remember its existence when faced with the promise of free time and a challenge.. ]

I know what you wear on the ship. Been a while since we've been out.

[ on the ship. of course. she ought to have known this would come back to bite her in the arse. the brusque shake of peggy's head, one that sends her curls bouncing, communicates more in the way of competition than disappointment. ]

Use your imagination. Or -- or that spectacular memory of yours.

[ she rinses out her empty mug and although she might ordinarily leave one to dry beside the sink, these cups are special to her. she makes a point to swab it down with a towel. ]

I'm not sure you really want me to do that.

[ he comments, nudging at her side to rinse his own. steve may be famous for his eidetic memory but in this case, it might be a double edged sword. it's probably not the safest idea for him to use his imagination in this case, either. ]

But I'll give it a try.

[ in truth, she's not sure she really wants him to do that either. but it's a distraction -- something more playful and therefore safer than the conversations that had come before. and what could ever shock her more than the moment, three days ago, when she'd found the ring amid his things?

it'll be nice, too, to get away from it -- if he is indeed going to leave it sitting on his bedside table. ]

I've got faith in you.

[ always have. always will. although sometimes what she's got faith in is his ability to be a lovely nuisance. ]

I don't know that much about fashion, though.

[ as if it's not clear already. the man seems to only really have jeans and a few shirts. and those are simpler than peggy's wardrobe that seems to be filled with hidden zippers and buttons and clasps.

not that steve isn't fond it it anyway. but. ]

alright, I'll go do that. Just do me a favor and go over the bag before we leave.

[ just in case. ]

[ there's a joke to be made, just here, about inspections and parade grounds. but peggy swallows it down upon remembering how a line like that had been received on the night he'd woken up. there's no need to try and waylay their trip. not now.

peggy lifts onto the tips of her toes to put away the precious painted tea cup -- safeguarding it alongside the rest on the highest shelf. ]

I believe I can manage that much, yes.

You're the sweetest person I know.

[ and there isn't a trace of sarcasm in his voice. if anything, he seems so very serious about it. it's spoken with such conviction that one might think it's the most pressing matter at the moment. for all the sharpness, he does seem to be entirely convinced she has never been more endearing.

it's probably all because of the ring. ]

[ her expression is anything but sweet. no one's called her sweet, before -- and that he should dare to suggest she's the sweetest. well. his definition is a bit squiffy, isn't it?

she waves him off. ]

Stop it. [ peggy complains. threatens. ] Before I change my mind and remember some bit of paperwork I need to stay back and finish.

Yes ma'am. I said nothing.

[ he raises both arms, signals his utter surrender when faced with the threat of paperwork. ]

Nothing at all. I'm going.

[ backing out and oh, he does it quickly. ]

[ so. he has an ounce of survival instinct, it seems, and it shows when he concedes. and peggy (so so merciful) lets him duck out of the room with little more than a nod and a suggestion that she'll be awaiting him and the luggage both in the cargo bay.

for inspection. but she doesn't say so -- let him infer it all on his own. the distraction from what happened earlier will be a welcome one.

and the time alone, in the interim, will allow her to breathe deep and centre herself.

but otherwise, she awaits him exactly where she said she would. arms crossed, she leans against one of the shuttles left behind after max took his and skedaddled. ]

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