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

Entry tags:

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

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

Don't be so irreverent. These people, the fleet, have just been through hell.

[ peggy chides him. her point is an honest one -- and she has every intention of holding howard's feet to the flames on that count. but then he goes and presents her with his open arms and there's little else to do but snap him up into a quick and efficient hug.

it doesn't last for longer than a count or two. but it happens -- and she's damned pleased with it while it does. ]

[ he knows the contact won't linger so he appreciates it while he has it, taking a breath and righting himself again. ] She'll be back, won't she? I remember people coming back, before.

[ but he does look a little abashed for being flippant!!! especially after all he's been through back home. and now this again. ]

Thanks for coming to greet a guy, I was beginning to wonder if I was chopped liver.

Oh, now. Let's at least name you a terribly overpriced paté.

[ she reaches out and brushes some invisible dirt off the man's shoulder. a touch of fuss -- a bleed of sentiment she wishes she could spare the pair of them, but then she steps back and gives her head a careful shake. ]

I wanted to stop in sooner. We lost two on the Starstruck. Three, if you count the man who presumably got sent home. I couldn't just sally forth without making certain affairs were in order.

[ which is all a terribly polite way of saying her life has been a bit of a shitshow this past week or so. it shows just under her eyes; she's tired. ]

But you're right. She will be back. As will my crew -- in time.

Edited 2017-09-30 22:52 (UTC)

[ his lips curl bemusedly at that, relief coiling in his chest to stay warmly now that peggy is once more firmly in his orbit. or really, more accurately, he orbits her doesn't he? he isn't ashamed of it, quite the opposite. ]

Oh. [ he should have known it would affect her ship too, and people she actually cared about. he always has to run his mouth. but when she finishes strong, he decides to let the moment pass, nodding definitively at her statement. even if no rules hold true here pretty much ever, he's willing to take a gamble on this one anyway. ] Yeah. Yeah -- the Starstruck will be shipshape in no time. How could it not, with Carter at the helm?

[ she sucks her teeth and offers the appropriate nod. peggy doesn't know what to do with his faith -- not right now, not just now, although once upon a time she'd taken it with ease and enthusiasm. for the moment, she shrugs it off much like he shrugs away so many other ripples in her armour.

with a scrub at her neck, she nods around the bridge. ] How are you finding the Bishop? Aside from captainless. Haven't rubbed too many people the wrong way, I hope.

Actually... [ he lowers his voice just a tad as though what he's about to say is delicate somehow. ] Everyone is really friendly. [ can you tell it weirds him out??? ]

[ oh, christ. peggy grins. it can't be helped. ]

Unbearable, isn't it?

And a touch disturbing. [ brightly. he's making friends!! ] What do you say, ready for the grand tour? [ he offers her his elbow ]

This is why my ship's better. We all know not to smile before tea-time.

[ well, that's a lie. there's the teenaged girl -- she's sweet like pie. and there's sam wilson, who's too decent for his own good. but the rest of them? yes. grumps. all of them.

peggy nudges his arm aside. she can walk just fine under her own steam, thanks. ]

Have you even been here long enough to make for an adequate tour guide, Howard?

[ he just grins when she pushes away his arm. it had been expected after all. ] I've been here 48 hours. If you know me, which you do, then you know that's enough time to know and master every secret in this place.

[ he taps his nose and laughs before leading the way through the winding corridors. ]

Saying it like so makes it sound lewd.

[ a crinkle of her nose. and maybe it's not howard's fault, exactly, but rather she's more prepared to hear innuendo where she might have ignored it before. the comment could just as easily be in testament to howard's curiosity. or his quick quick mind.

nevertheless, she does follow. what's the bishop besides a different ship on the fleet? they all have their commonalities. but they've got their differences, too. there's no harm in learning them. ]

[ his laugh gains depth at that comment from her. ] You would find a way to spin my meaning. [ he honestly wasn't even thinking that way!! come on peg, head out of the gutter. ]

So apparently we have... offices. A lawyer from our universe -- or one very much like it -- works there. [ a gesture, he keeps walking. ] This is the galley, of course. Nothing much ever happens here. [ seriously, like all of his shipmates refuse to cook so that's a thing. ]

The Captain's quarter's are up ahead. A guy I haven't talked to much is keeping it warm for her.

[ -- a lawyer? her eyes follow that door for a moment as they pass by. that's odd. odder still the half-memory it conjures when howard suggests the man might be from their home world. she presses her lips together, biting back a comment until he's quite done with this portion of the tour.

such as it is. ]

The ship's First Mate, I imagine. Who is it on the Bishop? [ she never bothered to learn more than the captain's names, of late. ]

[ oh god... names. he's forgotten all of their names already. ] Something with an 's' sound, that I'm 100% on. [ what? he's helping!!!! ]

Oh, here's my room... [ not that there's anything of interest there yet. so he shrugs and passes it by. then past the cockpit without any comment since obviously she knows the deal with that. he leads down into the lower levels where the engineering room and cargo hold sit. ]

Edited 2017-10-02 23:45 (UTC)

[ she takes particular note of his. to be aware, perhaps, that here is where she might run to should a need arise. should a brain be needed beyond the thick skulls of both herself and steve. part of her wants to tell him he won't be there for long -- that she would gladly welcome him aboard the starstruck with open arms.

but politics won't let it happen. she can already feel the gears gumming up. is that a command steve would follow, or would she finally find his line in the sand when it comes to heeding her word as law aboard the ship? lord knows, he's getting headstrong.

and maybe she's a bit naive -- thinking howard stark would come running just because she says so. ]

Have you learned any of their names yet, Howard?

[ he would reluctantly come running, but honestly... he grows all too attached to these things far too quickly. he was scarcely here before and he already considers the huntress something he's abandoned. and he wasn't even the sole pilot on that ship, but third chair. it feels good to have something of his own, even separate from those he holds dearest. and as always, he assumes he should keep distance of some sort for their sake as if he's somehow lethal in heavy doses. ]

This is my favorite room. [ unsurprisingly. all the knobs and turny buttons. !! he shoots her an offended look he knows two whole names so far -- be impressed. ] Our engineer is pidge. [ he's like 85% sure she's a girl. it's hard to tell okay, thus why he leaves off the gender. ] And the lawyer fella is... Matt. He's from Hell's Kitchen. [ take that peg!!!!!!!1 ]

Matt.

[ from hell's kitchen. now, things are getting suspicious indeed. peggy tugs on an ear; she performs casual and innocent. ]

Did you catch a surname?

[ he only remembers bc it sounded like a villain's name TBH and also it's on the guy's door. ] Murdock.

You know him?

If he's who I've got in mind, then he was here once before.

[ she taps her temple, as though indicating her eyes. ]

Blind, isn't he?

[ he nods ] ...Yeah. You're scaring me.

I didn't realize he was once again among us. [ good to know. peggy's steps slow -- she sets her attention more firmly onto howard. ] I never knew him well when he was here last. But he seemed a decent sort.

You had me thinking we had another Whitney Frost on our hands for a minute. Don't do that. [ he holds a hand over his heart like it's racing. ] I thought he seemed... decent myself, but you were always a better judge of character than me by a fair shot.

[ there's that damn self-awareness thing creeping up again. he turns towards the cargo hold and promptly screams like a girl when he sees the giant monster head staring back at him. ]

[ if her heart-rate leaps, it's only in reaction to howard's screech. the sight itself is new but not so odd after years in the fleet. even so, she clutches first at her chest and second at her compatriot's elbow. ]

The lungs on you, man. [ a huff; a curse. she hauls him backward. ] What the dickens is that? I thought you said you knew this ship.

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