driftfleet | Open/Mingle

Entry tags:

Open/Mingle - Roll Call.

Who: Sam, and you, and anyone; tis a mingle of sorts.
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: SS Bloodsport, if you wanna find him.
When: After the planet is struck - Sept 22nd.

Note: Feel free to tag each other and inform everyone of whatever you need to, post-planetary explosion! I'll tag here and there, but consider it more of a mingle for people to touch bases about casualities and making sure people know they're okay (or if someone's injured.)

[Sam sits, triumphant in their mission but also defeated in spirit. Because yeah, they got the ship off the planet, and there's a whole civilization of people who get out of there... but he also is already too aware there is at least one fatality on their end already. Looma's last broadcast had been expected, especially after she'd sent him a warning beacon as the meteor pressed down into the planet's atmosphere, speeding, ready to smash the thing to pieces without effort.

Looma at least faced her death as one would expect, for her people. He imagines they would be proud.

Still, he sounds deflated at the thought, as he speaks a more leveled and straightforward response:]

... We've lost Captain Looma, of the SS Bishop. Umm... for what it's worth, she did it on her terms. I'm sorry.

[He's carried out the task of divvying up the blood from the blood drive, in case anyone from any particular ship needs it; there've been some injuries from shrapnel and citizen unrest, he's pretty sure. That's about all he can do, now, other than check in on the gardens... make sure Fie's work is continued alongside her, because it's important to keep those plants alive and thriving.

He slumps a little in weariness, sighing at his desk where he sits on the SS Bloodsport.]

... Role call?

Who's, um. Who's missing?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Haven't done anything yet, Rogers. Just checking up on you.

I'm on my way.

I'm in the bedroom.

trying to rest. captain's orders.

Roger that.

[It does take a while. Natasha has to get back to Vanquish first, then over to Starstruck, and there are higher priorities still even with the evacuation over and the planet destroyed.

Not for Natasha, though. She's done her part.

So after a while, she comes as promised—bearing a bottle and a couple of glasses.]

Resting up?

Peggy's been insistent that I will.

[ and steve, for once, has not been questioning his orders. it's been difficult for everyone without him trying his luck. so he is, indeed, sitting in bed with a book. ]

So I'm trying to.

[ he eyes the glasses. ]

how have you been managing?

Well, I haven't been hurt. But it's not every day you see a planet destroyed.

[And while she tries to keep up a certain stoic realism, it's clear that she's not unaffected by what she saw.

She sets down the glasses and pours a generous splash of vodka in each.]

I'm managing.

I hope the natives are right in assuming it's going to be okay after a while.

[ their hopes had inspired his own, a stubborn sense of optimism when faced with all this destruction. ]

thanks.

[ he takes one of the glasses. ]

--- this is the sort of day when I wish this would have had any effect on me at all.

[Natasha hums. That is a detail which doesn't sit right with her. One of many. One that tips her toward suspicion that the Atroma didn't just take advantage of a disaster they might have prevented, but might actively be behind it.]

I hope that too. And I hope they don't see the fleet again for a long time.

[For the moment she keeps those suspicions to herself. Steve has enough concerns without adding to them—if he's avoided thinking of that so far.]

Sorry. Best I can do. If I come across of bottle of something that could actually work for you, I'll be sure to grab it. For the time being, it was this or formaldehyde.

[Maybe Natasha just wants some company while she drinks.]

For what it's worth, I'm not planning on getting drunk either.

[Another pause before she asks, changing the subject:]

How's Peggy? Feeling good enough to boss you around.

Doesn't really matter. The company's more important.

[ he reaches for a hand, wraps his own around it. for a moment, they merely sit like this. steve remembers loki, he remembers sokovia, he remembers being on the run with this woman. the things they've seen together, honestly. ]

She's operating. We fear the worst with Max. It's - she needs it. I'm not going to take it away from her, she could use a distraction.

[ and work has often been exactly that for him, too. ]

I'm worried that it'll come crushing down at some point.

[Natasha gives his hand a squeeze in return, holding it loosely afterward. If he needs a friend, Natasha can give him that.]

Which part? Seems like that's always the way, but hard to get too wrapped up in that. You stop functioning if you do.

All of it, really. It's been one thing after another lately.

[ and even steve is approaching the point of being open about how tired he's feeling as of late. he rubs a hand over his eyes and shakes his head. ]

It would be nice to catch some sort of break.

[Natasha licks her lips, considering how to field this. She doesn't want to shut down Steve if he's going to admit his feelings about this. He doesn't air them often or easily.

But she also doesn't want him to forget the breaks they have caught.]

It can't all be bad. [She suggests slowly.] You know, Peggy told me about the ring. I don't think you'd have bought that if you didn't think we could get a win here and there.

[She may be thinking of Bucky when she says that. What the hell is the world coming to.]

[ what, indeed. ]

It's not [ all bad, he wants to say but stops short ], she - oh.

[ the truth glitch. and to think he had a Plan. ]

Yeah. That - yeah.

[ That Happened. ]

You know. It was actually a good conversation. Didn't mention that before, but... I have you to thank for that.

[Because he told her to talk to Peggy. The truth glitch had been a coincidence. But one that did reveal a lot.]

I can't believe I had to hear about it from her, though. You should have told me. I'd have made sure you hid it somewhere less obvious.

I told no one.

[ out of worry that, perhaps, such glitches would reveal these conversation and he knows nothing would reduce his chances of getting a yes as much as people knowing about the whole thing. ]

and I'm not even going to comment on that.

You don't have to. Peggy did. At length.

[Natasha smiles as she says that, softening the words.]

And you could have told me. I like hearing that things are going well with you and Peggy.

If she ever says yes, I'll be sure to call you first.

[ oh my god he can't win with you ladies. ]

I better be.

[She squeezes his hand again.]

I'm happy for you though. I really am.

[ this really has been a long week, hasn't it? and nat's quiet happiness is sweet. sweet enough that steve reaches beneath his t-shirt and removes a simple chain he's been wearing around his neck with a single ring in place of a pendent. it's silver with a single sea-stone, nothing too dramatic and nothing glamorous. one would have to tilt their head to understand it's an engagement ring to being with. he places it in her palm. ]

Might as well.

[ she knows, no harm in seeing it. ]

[Natasha takes it and looks at it, a warm affection filling her tired features. That's the kind of ring they ought to have, between the two of them. Something unostentatious.]

It's beautiful. Did she really say no?

I haven't officially asked her. I'm trying to get her to see the point of it, first.

[ that's step one of a really grand plan. ]

Things are very good as they are, I won't fault her that.

You know she can't say yes until you ask, right? Sort of how that works.

She'll say no if I ask too quickly. I didn't want to drop it in her lap too soon.

[ but then, ok, he'll admit: ]

I definitely didn't plan on her finding out like that, either. but that's water under the bridge.

She's had time to get used to it now. Whether or not you planned it, her finding the ring accomplished that.

That's not wrong.

[ he'd give her that, yes. ]

I'll wait a bit. Can't have her thinking this is all the result of all us nearly dying again.

[ AGAIN. ]

[Natasha laughs at that, a soft, closed mouth sound. She does understand that one.]

Again, huh? [Natasha huffs.] You know, there was one other thing Peggy admitted with that glitch. That you and her had been gossiping about me and Barnes?

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