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.

[speedboat]

[ then why did you say that if you weren't going to fetch him something gosh!!!! ] Well, then. I'd hazard to say your work here is done. [ deadpan. he's mostly joking. though now he really is hungry... thanks a lot!! ]

[unbridles]

[He was doing his medical officer duty and offering a friendly reminder, buddy. He's not the ship cook, is he now. He laughs a little.]

Probl'y is. But I'm gonna keep comin' back and bugging ya if you don't eat, in case ya try and wiggle out of it.

[speedboat]

[ eye roll!!!!! ] I don't doubt it, pal. My door's always open. [ that's literal by the way, not an invitation. he hates missing things!! ]

[unbridles]

I've noticed. [He's gonna stick around for now, though, because he's a friendly guy and what better way to get to know a new shipmate?] So where ya from, Howard?

[speedboat]

[ howard turns to face john for good and gestures for him to sit. there's a chair by the door. ] New York City and Los Angeles, America. 1947. [ he tips his head. YES HE HAS TWO HOMES DOESN'T EVERYONE. your turn. ]

[unbridles]

[Well, John probably does, so you're in good company, Howard. Anyway, he flops down in the chair and makes himself comfortable.] I'm from a little outside of Charleston, myself, but I ain't been there in some years. Mostly I was travelin', though I did spend a good amount of time in New York an' Philadelphia. It was, uh, 1782 for me, if you haven't figured that one out yet.

[speedboat]

[ he knew john was from... earlier, but to hear that he's from that early on is. well, he isn't sure what that is. especially since he's almost positive there's no way in heck this man came from his universe. but it's still fascinating. ]

What's it like, to witness the birth of a nation? [ he's clearly dying to know. ]

[unbridles]

[John clears his throat a little. There’s a lot of things Howard doesn’t know about him yet, and a lot more he’s not exactly willing to share with just anyone. At least this explanation should be easy enough.]

A lot harder than I was hopin’ it would be. [There were a lot of things he’d hoped for that didn’t happen. Maybe he could have changed that, with Alexander’s help, but it didn’t turn out that way.] I mean, from what I got to witness, anyway. The war wasn’t quite over for me yet.

[speedboat]

[ that doesn't sound promising, but it's no less fascinating so he listens raptly. ] Yes, of course. The war. We've just been through one ourselves, in my time. Things always take... a while, to settle up again.

[unbridles]

Yeah, I know. It was -- I mean, the last big battle was over, back in October --[Yorktown, that is, and he'd been there.] -- but there were still a lot of enemy troops, at least down south, and that's where I was. Most everyone else was back home with their families. My dearest friend wanted me to come back up to New York an' help him out with things, but -- [He shrugs.] I didn't get to see him again after Yorktown.

[speedboat]

[ oh wow he didn't mean to touch on all these feelings john!!!! chill. ] Sorry... I have a friend, or two, who didn't make it back myself.

[ but they're here so that's something, at least. maybe. ]

[unbridles]

[Sorry Howard, he has a lot of them. It happens sometimes.]

Eh. [He shrugs again.] It's okay. I just -- kinda wish I could've helped Alexander more.