Starstruck Mingle | October 2017

[theroadwarrior]

Who: Visitors and crewmates!
Broadcast: N/A
Action: SS Starstruck
When: October 1st to October 31st

The scariest Halloween trivia is that there's a 2010 original Disney movie called Starstruck.

Have at it, everyone.

Comments

[speedboat]

Of course not. [ that was exactly what he was thinking how did you know??? ] We have music aboard the Bishop too, you know. We're not savages.

[ but still he'll cheerfully follow her to do just that. ] I remember liking Guns n' Roses when I was here last.

[mucked]

But, oh, Howard. It's different when it comes out of a record player. [ or else she's nostalgic.

except don't talk to her about guns n' roses she'd hate it. ]

[speedboat]

[ but touchscreens and magic music!! he's clearly conflicted. ] Alright, let's see what you've got.

[mucked]

[ and maybe just maybe she's keen to coax him out of the engine-room. not because she fears what he might get up to (quite the opposite) but because she doubts howard came here to work. so peggy sees fit to lead him to her ship's lounge -- the one they'd made a point to purchase once the upgrade became available.

the furniture is mismatched but luckily quite stable. max had made a point of fixing the legs. ]

Gentleman's choice -- [ peg offers as she nudges a crate of records towards howard. ]

[speedboat]

I don't see any gentlemen here, but I suppose I'll do. [ he looks visibly nervous as he pours over their limited selections. peggy is asking him to decide something, no matter how insignificant it may seem. he's determined to make the 'right' choice. which is why he goes back and forth several times, picking up and putting back vinyl cases more than once before finally forcing himself to settle on one. he hands her the johnny cash album, glancing up at her from beneath his eyelashes. ]

[mucked]

[ and when she lifts the sleeve from his hands, peggy allows herself a smile. ]

You know, I actually like this one. [ or maybe she'd liked the afternoon when max had shared it with her. it's hard to divorce the two -- but the record itself carries a kind of sentimental timbre to it now. she eases the disc itself out of the sleeve and crosses to the player. ]

It's very American.

[ dusty and rudimentary and raw. ]

[speedboat]

Did Margaret Carter just say she likes something American? [ he grins, finding a seat as he settles in to enjoy the music. it is very american. it reminds him of the south with a touch of the northeast somehow. old and yet much newer than them. this place is so cool sometimes. ]

[mucked]

[ -- she takes a seat, too, and crosses her legs at the ankles. ]

Let's say, for the sake of dispensing with the question, that I've recently come 'round on the content. [ american content, that is. but don't be too flabbergasted! it's not as though she's started watching hollywood movies and reading comics. ]

[speedboat]

[ he hums softly at that, like her words are something to savor. though given her choice in partner, it's obvious she doesn't have anything truly against americanism at all. which... is another topic he's avoiding altogether so whatever. ]

This is nice. [ he doesn't specify whether he means the music or the company, leaning his head back and shutting his eyes for a few minutes. it's definitely both. ]

[mucked]

[ let him avoid it. certainly, it's not like peggy is chomping at the bit to discuss her relationship with anyone. some days, even steve struggles to get her on the topic.

peggy doesn't make herself quite as comfortable as howard does, however. ]

It's a bit of alright. I nearly didn't throw in for the lounge but -- in the end, the payment feels worthwhile. The crew needs a social space beyond the kitchen.

[speedboat]

[ just steve in general is something of a sore subject to him, though he probably should have a look at those tomato plants. wtf is his life. ]

Any little touch of home is worthwhile in a place like this. [ it's soft, but serious. more serious than he's been in a long time. ]

[mucked]

You know, I'm starting to come 'round to that sort of thinking. [ she's been here for more than two years. two years! the fleet is her life, now. her roots are here. ] It goes beyond morale. People ought to be allowed to build a life, here, if they so choose.

[speedboat]

[ he cracks an eye to observe her, a pasttime of his as it is. but as always too, she's right. he nods, a slow deliberate sort of movement. ] Unless they keep leaving like big jerks, right?

[ it comes out before he can police it, and he opens both eyes now, sitting up a little to face the music. he knows it wasn't within his control... but maybe he's not just talking about the fleet. ]

[mucked]

[ ah, there it is. a wisp of truth. peggy doesn't engage with it too directly -- well aware that she might spook him back into his dark humour if she did. ]

Rather depends on why they keep leaving, I suppose.

[speedboat]

[ he can only hold her gaze for a moment before he has to look away again. the truthful answer is... sad and kind of dumb. he doesn't want to keep things unsaid between them anymore, especially not here. but. howard swallows. ]

What might satisfy a person as a good reason? [ he quests uncertainly, knowing he'll get scolded before he even begins. ]

[mucked]

Howard. [ there's a sharpish rebuke in her tone, yes, but also an undercurrent of care. ] It's no good fishing for the answers before you give them.

[speedboat]

[ it's like a blow, even if she wasn't even mean about it. he flinches and ducks his head. ] You seem to get on just fine without me. [ it isn't really bitter or jealous, though maybe there's a note of that in the words. mostly he just wants to be... out of their way. peggy and jarvis, who seem to make a great team. he really doesn't want to infringe on that, especially when he always makes everything worse somehow just by being there. ]

[mucked]

[ coolly and calmly: ]

I would be dead, you realize, were it not for those specs you sent through from Peru. Samberly handled the assembly, but it was all you.

[ and maybe her life would be a lot simpler WITHOUT howard stark, too, but damn she has a great deal to thank him for. ]

[speedboat]

[ the look he gives her then is unbelievably vulnerable. he did kind of save the day at the end there, but does that mean he should be around all the time? even when she doesn't necessarily need him for his particular skillset. he takes in a shallow breath. ]

I wouldn't let anything happen to you, Peg. [ no matter what his issues are... he'll always come through for her in the end if he's capable of it. maybe that's not enough. ]

[mucked]

No, of course not. [ he's too far to nudge -- so she scoffs instead. ] You'll simply instigate the 'happening' instead.

[ but the feelings aren't hard ones. even with dottie, well...it had been a problem that needed looking into, regardless of howard's motivations in it. ]

[speedboat]

[ he can tell she isn't cross with him, but that won't stop him from blaming himself okay!! ]

How can I do better by you, Peggy? I don't want any more bad business between us. [ he gestures vaguely across a space that seems indicatively expansive suddenly, somehow. howard stark has his listening ears on for a change, it might do well to take advantage. ]

[mucked]

Howard.

[ dear dear dear howard stark. now she does reach out -- a hesitant arm on the crook of his elbow. she's been turned into a gentler creature, it seems, these last few years. year, perhaps. singular.

it's a miracle what an influence steve has had on her. ]

There's no bad business between us. I suppose I can't promise there won't ever be -- you're you and I'm me. But -- I suppose we're family. Aren't we?

[ aren't they? ]

[speedboat]

[ o-oh she's touching him. in a way that isn't a slap. he kind of uncertainly glances down at his arm -- it doesn't make him uncomfortable at all, quite the opposite, telltale heat beginning to bloom in his chest. ]

I should hope so, after all we've been through. [ he's still holding back. he doesn't want to, but there's more he should say now -- that she and jarvis are all he has in the world. he knows she knows, but he should still say how important they are to him. his gaze snaps downward when he can't take the brunt of hers any longer. ]

[mucked]

Precisely.

[ she's pleased, then, that he should agree with her. it shores up the last little flickers of uncertainty she'd been feeling. loosens something in her heart. ]

And family, I vaguely recall, puts up with all manner of hell. So don't go losing sleep over 'bad business.' We're not business partners, you and I.

[ not even close. ]

[speedboat]

[ he would put up with ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING margaret carter threw at him. you know, literally and figuratively. so she must be right. he looks up and offers her a brave nod that says as much. ]

Thank the universe for that. [ little do they know... but hey for now it's a safe bet at least. ] Both of us have a lot of Hell to put up.