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

[outstandingbalance]

The closest I have to that might be Tony. But considering in this case I actually did the thing I'm wanted for...

[Natasha shrugs. For the time being, that problem can stay firmly at home.]

Can't say for sure, but I imagine it is. Steve blames himself for what happened. He doesn't like letting people down.

[speedboat]

Shhh. Plausible deniability, honey. [ that one slipped, but he's serious. ...kinda. he has to be a little funny bc otherwise this conversation would make him want to blow his brains out. ]

The thing is... I know I'm not gonna get a real chance to see him again. It's the same song and dance every future-timed one of you I talk to. This is as close as I ever get.

[outstandingbalance]

I thought you wanted answers. [Natasha's chin angles up sightly, somewhere past playful but just shy of challenging.]

You'll see him. I don't know if you can call it real. Whatever happens, it stays here.

But you'll have a chance.

[speedboat]

[ he nods. he does... to a point. his curiosity always did get the better of him, and only so much information is actually useful here, as she's already pointed out. ]

Only if he gives us a chance to iron out our beef. [ beef he didn't even know they had since it doesn't exist yet, so... he looks a little helpless here and shrugs. he really didn't mean to bring up steve with her, it's probably not a fair topic and he knows he'll have a tendency to say way too much which will annoy peggy... blah blah blah blah. he leans foward again. ]

What do you think, Natasha? You and I can be friendly, can't we? [ his tone is almost sweet, and really he has no reason to doubt any of what she's said. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[Honestly Howard, you probably have more beef with Tony than with Steve, though that's all in the future too and falls squarely under the category of information that wouldn't do them any good here.

Natasha is more than willing to move forward here.]

That really depends on you. Just how friendly do you want to be?

[speedboat]

[ that gets the shadow of a grin. ] Now you're just trying to set me up, dollface.

[ but he shakes his head. he's not going to get sidetracked this time. ] The kind of friendly that can call on each other in combat. ...Or out of combat. [ and... yeah that still sounded like a pick-up line sorry :( ]

[outstandingbalance]

Oh, I don't have to set you up. If you get yourself in trouble, that's all on you.

[It must be genetic, with Starks.]

But if you need someone to watch your back, I think I could do that. Unless you give me a reason not to.

[Good reason to remember her name. Though with Steve and Bucky both dealing with their own feelings and Tony absent, Natasha is all right picking up some of the slack when it comes to keeping friends and family of friends alive.]

[speedboat]

...You've got me there. [ like actually yep. his whole ticket. he's trying!!! despite all appearances. ]

Say, Natasha, I think this is gonna work out just swell.

[outstandingbalance]

Is that so? Sounds very optimistic, all things considered. Any particular reason for the sunny outlook?

[speedboat]

[ he shrugs ] I am from LA. [ what? he can do nonanswers too. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[That gets a chuckle out of her. Smooth, Stark. Smooth.]

I see how it is.

[speedboat]

Really? You should tell me how you see it then, because on this side of the glass it's foggy as can be. [ no really he's lost. as usual. ]

[outstandingbalance]

You're glib. And you're smart. [He has that in common with his son.] But I think you'll figure things out.

[speedboat]

I always do. [ eventually and with help. but still. ]

[outstandingbalance]

That's a good quality around here. Around anywhere, really. As long as you pick things up quickly enough.

[speedboat]

[ he doesn't think he has to tell her how quickly starks pick things up. she seems to know already. which leads them back to-- ] You said you might know where Tony's research went to?

[outstandingbalance]

I might be able to help you find it. Not quite the same thing.

[It's an important distinction.]

The fleet's had some shuffling since he left. You might have noticed there's not as many ships as there used to be.

I can't promise things weren't lost in the shuffle.

[speedboat]

I don't need a promise. Only a lead.

[outstandingbalance]

A lead, I might be able to do. [She sighs.] He was on the Pathstone. Since then the Pathstone and the Golden merged into one ship. If he's left any projects behind, I'd check on the Goldstone.

Unfortunately, not a ship I'm close to anyone on.

[speedboat]

[ he nods. he'll find an in, he always does. ] Thank you. [ sincere gratitude for a change. ] And if there's anything I can do for you in return... [ he's not hard to find. ]

[outstandingbalance]

I'll keep that in mind. [Hard to say how likely she is to do that; depends what she needs.] For the time being, if anything else comes up...

[speedboat]

[ he winks at her. ] I'll text you.