001 } Can't keep my eyes from circling skies.

[speedboat]

Who: Howard Stark & You
Broadcast: Network
Action: SS Bishop (cockpit)
When: Right meow!

( OPEN BROADCAST )

[ howard has been here a few days, enough to suss out that something has happened. it's caused a bit of disquiet among his crewmembers already since apparently their captain died or something?! whatever. he's finding it disturbingly easy to fall back into this role. peggy told him how long it's been and who else is among them, but in usual peggy fashion: not much else. it's left him bereft and even a bit listless which is very uncharacteristic indeed.

he sets his communicator on the control panel so he can record as he flies. as a result, the feed is much more low-key and features a cool, collected version of howard those who know him might not expect. howard nods his head once to show that he is in fact recording on purpose. ] I hope my Huntress is in good hands. Though I guess... she isn't mine anymore. Forgive me, I'm usually not so bittersweet when saying goodbye to a lady friend. [ something of a wan look shadows his gaze, but it's quick, just a glimmer really. ]

Howard Stark. Ace inventor, innovator, pilot, and now director. [ a bit of a lopsided grin begins to spread across his lips, his mustache twitching with the movement. ] I'm also usually pretty charming if you can believe it. I would say you all missed me, it's been so long, but the turnover in this place is something else.

[ he hesitates over this next part, but he needs the intel. he knows questions will follow, but right now he doesn't care. later he'll be annoyed with himself, naturally. ] And if any of you used to know a Tony Stark or are holding his research... get in touch. [ tightly: ] Please.

( ENCRYPTED TO EDWIN JARVIS )

Hi-de-ho, old pal. [ a warm smile is reserved for his closest friend, even if he doesn't always treat him that way. or most of the time. whoops. ]

( ACTION SHENANIGANS )

Howard has been more-or-less just going through the motions since being assigned to the Bishop. He was actually a bit releaved to be off the Marsiva and have something to occupy his time with, truthfully. But with their captain MIA and everything more than slightly hectic, he's thrown himself into the work full on. He can really only be found in the cockpit or in his quarters for maybe two hours a night/morning. Even trips to the galley are extremely short-lived and involve toting snacks to the pilot's seat. With that said, he will be outspoken when matters of the ship come up that the captain would usually handle. It's easy for him to become attached and though he doesn't know these people yet, he feels responsible for them.

He hates responsibility.

Comments

action!

[unbridles]

[John's always up for meeting new people. Especially new crewmates. And there's not a whole lot for him to do, right now, with their captain still MIA. In any case, he gets a similar feeling about this guy that he did from Alexander, so -- perhaps a gentle reminder to eat would be helpful. He'll be poking his head in the cockpit and knocking on the wall, cheery.]

Yo, my man, you should prob'ly eat more than a snack. Considerin' you're flyin' and all. It's Howard, right?

[speedboat]

[ the way john talks grates on him for some reason, but he's always pleasant enough so howard like always lets it go without saying anything. he puts on a bright smile as he turns to face the man over his shoulder, though it's a bit cardboard if one were to study it overly. ]

Match. [ meaning yes, that's his name... oh, did you expect him to remember yours???? ] If you're taking orders, I'll have a sandwich. Thanks, pal.

[unbridles]

[Sorry man, he can be aggressively Southern if you want??? But that’s not really his style. He lifts his eyebrows a little. Come on, Howard, does he look like he’s ever made a sandwich in his life?]

I mean, if ya want a charcoaled protein gel thing I could probably manage it, but I don’t think it’d be edible.

text

[outstandingbalance]

Knew Tony before. Seems like you already know the lay of the land so not sure what I can offer, but checking in.

If you need anything.

permatext

[speedboat]

[ oh texting, he's missed texting!! what a clever and convenient way to communicate. ]

Before what? Before he left or before you came here? Because I do need... what Tony left behind. If you have it, or know who does.

And in case I need something else, a name would be appreciated.

video

[wingedman]

[Just regarding this with raised eyebrows.]

Like father, like son, huh?

video

[speedboat]

[ that gets the TINIEST grimace. imperceptible for most, but sam will probably catch it. ]

I should hope not. For his sake. [ ALL IN GOOD FUN!!! or is it?? his son has a lot more friends than him already so that's a point in his favor. not that he's keeping score. M U C H ] Another pal of his, I take it?

action »

[mucked]

[ it's not long after learning about howard's assignment that peggy comes a-calling aboard the bishop. within hours, really, and she's striding down the other ship's halls with considerable purpose. on a hunch, she doesn't bother checking the quarters -- prioritizing the bridge.

so here she stands. just within the doors and with her hands on her hips. ]

You're lucky you're not on the Starstruck. I don't allow crumbs on my bridge.

[ 'llo, howard. you're a sight for sore bloody eyes. peggy fights down a smile and somehow manages not to rush the pilot's seat for a hug. ]

action »

[speedboat]

[ it's a familiar scent he notes first, perfume and that slight floral of face powder that has him whirling around before she even speaks. he drops his space snack and puts things into motion pretty quickly, opening out his arms and walking towards her; and fully expecting peggy to reciprocate. ]

Good thing our dear captain croaked. [ no rules whoohoo!! ] It's real good to see you, pal. ...In person.

[pidge_out]

[Pidge isn't used to seeing someone in the cockpit of the ship. There hadn't been any pilots onboard the Bishop for the entirety of Pidge's stay there, after all. And the last several passes made around the ship had found the cockpit empty, as usual. Except for this time.

It's enough to make Pidge stop, peek inside, and end up looking at the man in the seat with wide, curious eyes.]

Oh. Hi. [...And now there's been a beat of hesitation that's gone long enough to make this just the tiniest bit awkward.] I didn't know we had a new pilot.

[speedboat]

[ he turns around to take in his visitor with narrowed eyes, who appears to be a young... man??? don't make him play this game son. ]

Well, now you do. You're welcome.

Voice.

[servantnotserving]

[He's experienced Jarvis' calibration room and recognises this man from his memories. Ah, this will either be wonderful news or an absolute nightmare for Jarvis. Could go either way, in all honesty. Still, for now, Lumière keeps the video feed off. It's easier this way. ]

Ah, welcome back to the Fleet, monsieur Stark. I am a friend of Jarvis, he has spoken a lot about you.

permavideo

[speedboat]

[ great, russians and now the french!! what did he do to deserve this fate :'| other than you know, everything. ]

Well, any friend of Jarvis is a friend of mine. [ wait ] What did he say about me?

voice

[echovocation]

Howard Stark. Of Stark Industries? [Matt can hear his voice coming from the cockpit too, halfway across the ship, along with the unwavering steadiness of his heartbeat. He's not lying. Howard Stark is here.

Guess that Billy kid really wasn't just insane when he'd said there would be some time and universe discrepancies.]

voice

[speedboat]

Oh. I mean, I can only assume so. Starks do have a knack for industry. [ look at him, talking a big game. he has no idea what SI is of course, but he can guess this is another one of those people who knows -- or at least knows of tony. just what sort of things did his boy get into that no one wants to specifically tell him about?! ]

[encrypted]

[edwinjarvis]

[Oh... Is he hallucinating? He's fairly certain the mushrooms he picked from the garden for his soup weren't hallucinogenic. He stops his kneading of dough in The Melting Pot's kitchens to look more closely at the message he'd just received. He plays it again. And one more time. He's not sure what to feel -- he's so relieved, in some strange way, like he'd just learned Howard Stark were alive. Which is ridiculous! Of course he's alive -- he's alive for them, and for some time, but --

Like a dramatic wartime movie housewife, he clutches the end of his apron to his chest, hopeful.]

Mr. Stark.

By god, it's you! When did you arrive? Are you soundly placed already?

Should I come fetch you?

[encrypted]

[speedboat]

[ there's always one constant in his life and that's jarvis. it had been impossibly difficult to get through on the fleet without him before, but now he can only really smile. ]

They replaced me on the Huntress. I guess a year away from your post will get you canned in this place. [ he shrugs. ] The Bishop is just as good. [ flying keeps his mind off big picture things, same as ever. but he stops what he's doing to only pay attention to jarvis. it doesn't seem as though this place has altered him one bit, which heartens him. ]

A pal of yours told me about the restaurant.

video »

[uprightness]

[ well, you know what they say about steve rogers and being late to things. worse than the underground during rush hour, he is. so this is typically days late. this might have been a little easier through text but at the end of the day, facing the music isn't something steve plans to entirely cower from.

not anymore, that is.

he doesn't look much older than the last time they've seen each other. ]

Howard. It has been a while.

video »

[speedboat]

[ the extreme relief-soaked joy at seeing the other man's face collides with the extreme saltiness of being ignored, and his first urge is to reject the call. especially after all that natasha told him. but this is someone he never thought he would see again; someone he loved very dearly, even if the feeling clearly isn't reciprocated. there's no room to be upset about that, at least not yet. ]

It's been a considerably shorter time for me, but it still feels like forever. [ which is absolutely true, for as much as it sounds like theatric hyperbole. it can be both!! ]

video;

[selfhelp]

[Wow. Talk about a legend walking into town. It's not exactly on par with meeting the heroes he used to love watching while he grew up, but there's no one alive in America who doesn't know the Stark name. All the good tech comes from there. Plus, you know, the whole Iron Man... thing.

Which is why Billy's response is a little hesitant, though he tries in vain to hide it. Never had the best history with that guy.]

Um. Tony Stark was... here?

video;

[speedboat]

[ howard blinks. ] Is that a question or...?

[ he shrugs, he's tired. he decides to just answer it without his usual theatrics. ] He was here the last time I rolled through town. [ that's how i know he exists goes without saying (hopefully) ] I've been told he's since moved on. Another fan? [ his lips twitch crookedly, his son sure seemed to have a track record. ]

[video]

[the_tailor]

That's a heck of a lot of titles.

[Lance gives a little grin. This guy seems pretty cool, he has to admit. Confidence is a good aspect to see in a person, one of the reasons why Lance tries to put a face of it on the vast majority of the time.]

I don't know who's the captain of the Huntress, but I can tell you that the pilot's a...

[Pause.]

He's an incredibly capable pilot. Was best in our class back home.

[video]

[speedboat]

I have even more if you want to hear them. [ his teeth do that movie star twinkly thing when he smiles. ]

...Is it queer that I'm actually comforted by that? I mean, it doesn't really matter, does it? We have nowhere to go and with no cause for speed either. And yet I feel like I abandoned the poor girl, even if it was out of my hands.

action!

[redatheart]

[Sayid doesn't have a problem with taking command when he needs to. He's sure of his own abilities, his own decision-making skills. In the situation he's been put in, he definitely has needed to step into a command role.

Which isn't to say that he's not happy to relinquish some of those responsibilities if someone capable decides to take charge. So when a new shipmate arrives and begins to assume some of the captaincy duties, Sayid doesn't protest. He keeps an eye on Howard for the first day or so, until he can be sure he's capable. And, of course, he does make it clear that with Looma gone - until she returns...if she returns...which seems possible, at least, given that her name is still listed in the ship's directory - he is effectively the acting captain. Not in a way that has anything to do with chest-puffing. Just a calm reminder, once.

Howard does seem to know what he's doing, though. At one point while they share the bridge - Sayid at the comm station, reviewing broadcasts - he turns to look at their new pilot.]

I wanted to thank you, by the way. For assuming so much responsibility so quickly.

action!

[speedboat]

[ he finds sayid a decent enough sort. actually, everyone on the ship is someone he gets along with for the most part, which is almost completely improbable but he's trying not to question it overly. howard shakes his head. ]

I told you not to use the 'R' word, pal. You're going to give people ideas about me. [ it's said with a smile as most things are from howard, a warm twinkle in his eye. ]