Open/Mingle - Roll Call.

[collegedropout]

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?

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

[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.]

[uprightness]

[ 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. ]

[outstandingbalance]

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.

[uprightness]

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.

[outstandingbalance]

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.

[uprightness]

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

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

[outstandingbalance]

I better be.

[She squeezes his hand again.]

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

[uprightness]

[ 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. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[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?

[uprightness]

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.

[outstandingbalance]

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

[uprightness]

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.

[outstandingbalance]

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

[uprightness]

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. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[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?

[uprightness]

You're not saying anything.

[ a pointed look. seems like they're both at fault. ]

We're just sharing theories at this point.

[outstandingbalance]

[Even Natasha has only so much tolerance for being a hypocrite. Hard to lecture Steve about not telling her about his relationship while playing close to the vest with her own.

And she can't pretend not to know he'd want to know.]

Theories, huh? What kind of theories are those?

[uprightness]

I just think that those who know you can already tell things haven't been purely platonic, that's all.

[ peggy is one thing but if steve went ahead and noticed it, oblivious as he sometimes can be, that's saying something. ]

I didn't want to bring it up. Figured you'd tell me when you felt comfortable enough to.

[outstandingbalance]

[She winces at that. Natasha hadn't thought they were that transparent. It doesn't entirely hide a smile though.]

There really hasn't been anything to tell. At first it was just flirting, playing around... then it wasn't the kind of thing you can put a name on.

[uprightness]

Must you put a name on it? You just say you're more than friends and that's it.

[ he shrugs ]

For the longest time, I wasn't sure what to call me and Peggy either but I figured as long we we're happy, that has to be what mattered.

[outstandingbalance]

We are happy. If that's what you want to know.

[uprightness]

I already know.

[ he says with a bit of a smile ]

and I'm happy for you. You don't have to tell me anything beyond that.

[outstandingbalance]

Well. Glad to know you're not going to go digging for details about my sex life. You'll have to get that from Barnes.

[More teasing, in an attempt to lighten the mood. She's not sure how she feels about admitting this to Steve. It had been easy to answer Wrath when she asked. In a weird way, her attitude had made the conversation seem natural. Peggy had been... not really an admission.

It's kind of nice. Like a weight off her chest. On the other hand, it feels very exposed.

And maybe a little too real, especially after how things went with Bruce.]

That's how it works with boys, isn't it?

[uprightness]

I don't really care about that. That you can keep to yourself.

[ honestly. he does smile, shakes his head at her question. ]

He told me nothing. I'm not going to ask him. It's just like with you, he'll talk to me about it when he's ready. I won't push. What's yours is yours, I can respect that. Privacy.

[outstandingbalance]

You know... I'm not saying to pry. I appreciate having that space. But this is—

[Natasha cuts off, sighing. She doesn't know how much she really wants to admit. Especially if it's not about her.]

It's come a lot further than I expected. I didn't not mention it because I wasn't comfortable with you. I didn't mention it because it didn't occur to me. I don't think either of us really remember how to be open about some things.

[So what Natasha is saying is that it's them, not Steve. And maybe that Steve shouldn't expect Bucky to think of mentioning it the way he would have in the 40s.]