driftfleet | Action | Who needs a gosh dang drink??

Entry tags:

Action | Who needs a gosh dang drink??

Who: Steve and everyone else who just needs to get drunk. One closed to existing CR
Broadcast: No
Action: The Iskaulit/Space Bar
When: Post Calibrations/Bombing the eff out of Marsiva

[OPEN]

Tony would probably be proud of Steve, if he were able to see him right now. He'd slap his back and welcome him back to the world of inebriation while ordering shots for everyone in the bar to commemorate the day. As it is, though, Tony isn't here and, without him, there's not a damn person who would feel proud in this entire bar. That's part of it's charm.

Steve sighs and swallows his fourth drink. It's strong and alien and somehow enough to give him a strong buzz but not enough to really get him drunk. Not yet, at least. But he's not a quitter, so bottom's up! He hisses a little at the burn of it and feels, not for the first time, like he was being a coward. He saw some stuff in those rooms, sure. But other people had it so much worse. Saw so much more. He should really be thankful, actually.

But he's not. And this is a 30's approved way of getting over trauma. There were worse ways of coping, he was sure. So for now he's just going to stay in his seat and keep ordering drinks until that elusive drunken state hits him once more.

Should only take another hour or three.

[CLOSED TO EXISTING CR]

No one could blame Steve for starting. He'd messaged his friends about fifteen minutes ago, telling them to meet him at the bar for some drinks. But just sitting here, waiting? It was done better with a drink in hand to look social, at least. And it's not like that one is going to be his last. No, after Calibrations he can imagine himself coming over here quite often. He can imagine all of them coming here quite often, in fact. But maybe tonight (today? Space was hard to judge) would help take some of the sting off. Or at least some of the awkwardness.

But it wasn't as though they <i>chose</i> to share all of that. Loki, Steve is sure, would have preferred to keep his death to himself. And Thor? I am sure half of those memories were things he'd rather not have replayed over and over again. And <i>Hux</i>. God... That was just what Steve knew of. Who knew what other people had put his friends through? What they'd been through themselves?

Steve preemptively orders another drink for whoever shows up first. Whoever it was, he's sure they won't say no. Not now.

First round is on him.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What happened back home. How much loss was Nat going to have to stomach? And it occurs to Steve then that the stab to his heart he'd gotten knowing Bucky died had been all the worse for Nat. And she'd seen it herself firsthand.

"Hey," he shakes her shoulders just a little. "You know us. You and me, we came up with something. We came up with a plan. You know we did. Next time you remember, everything is gonna be right again."

And he really believes it is what the horrible part is. Steve has to believe it's true because there is just no other option. There's no way they can lose and have half the universe destroyed. So they win. Whatever they do works.

It has to.

"And as for a mission... I hate to tell you this but you're already in one. It's just that 'Healing' isn't as fun as shooting things."

"Not as easy, either."

Natasha wishes she could share his optimism about what they'd do back home. She's sure they found something—if half the people on the planet spontaneously disappeared there's endless damage control and assessment to do. Thanos won, though. There was nothing left to try to stop, and no clue where they could start looking for him.

No reason to believe finding him would change anything either, even if Natasha is fairly sure she'd sleep better if he were in the ground.

For the moment, Steve will have to be optimistic for both of them.

"I have something for you," she says then, half changing the subject. "If you want it back, at least."

"For me?" It must be something of Bucky's. Steve wonders if he should refuse on principle and let Nat keep it. But she offered so maybe it was something she'd be glad to get rid of. And Steve can't say he's not curious. Not only of whatever it is but also what Bucky held on to during his time here.

"Yeah. Alright. Did you want to go back to your ship or just give it to me later? We'll be getting to a planet soon, right?"

"Doesn't matter that much. If you want to head over to the Vanquish, we can get it now." She takes a deep breath, doing her best to put herself back together and put on a strong face. She can't do anything about the red rims around her eyes, but if there's one thing Natasha can do it's put on a good face and push through.

This is about as much emotion as she can handle for the moment... But she feels a little lighter for having shared it. Not okay, but a little more like she'll be able to put on a good face tomorrow too. Like it's a little easier.

"If you're not done drinking, we can go back to the bar or do that on my ship too."

"Well. Bucky is thinking I have a drinking problem with all the times I've come here so far. Might as well prove him wrong."

Steve pauses, not sure if he should bring that name up but already past the point of taking it back. Nat is strong, though. She also knows better than anyone that she can't avoid the men here so pretending they're not here won't work. But still.

"Let's go back to your ship. I haven't really been out and seen other vessels. It would be interesting to see how different they all are."

"Vanquish it is then. We can have some coffee instead." She doesn't shy from the mention. The wound is new, and she'd be lying if she claimed it wasn't sensitive, but she doesn't need to be treated with kid gloves.

"I don't promise I won't put vodka in mine though. Sound fair?"

"Vodka. Of course you'd have vodka in your room." Steve turns to head over to their ships, hands stuffed into his pockets this time. They've moved on from the subject but there's still one thing left to ask. He watches the ground instead of where he's going.

"Uh. Just. Before we head over... I don't know if you know what's coming up, in a few weeks?" They were lovers but Bucky post HYDRA is a different person he's barely gotten a chance to know. He might not care about things like that anymore.

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With a new planet system coming up, Steve had thought it would be a great idea to do something normal. It had been ages since the date hadn't been a sour spot in his mind. Now that he has someone who would appreciate it, he'd hoped that a little party might take the trouble off all their minds. But if it was a sour spot for him it had to be a devastating one for Nat. Still, she should have the option and not be excluded. She'd find out anyway.

"Bucky's birthday."

She's talked to them both. She can handle something like this, he's sure. Steve just hates causing pain.

"I was...thinking about doing something for the one who remembers it. But I get it if you'd rather not be around him."

Edited (I'm bad at reading and remembering) 2019-03-13 18:40 (UTC)

A girl has to make do with what she has; Natasha stocked up on vodka-like-liquors a while back when they were in an almost entirely subterranean system.

"You'll have to be a little more specific than that, Steve." She glances over at him, a sideways glance that doesn't demand a response."You going to tell me, or should I guess?"

"I'm very aware that's coming." How could she not be. How she feels about it—honestly, she's much less sure about that. It's not as though she can hide from it though, is she?

"What did you have in mind? Surprise party?"

Because that would go over well.

"I think the best gift I can give our Bucky is to leave him alone." Steve still hasn't spoken to him. Guilt comes up in his throat at that fact when he's been with the other Bucky so often.

"But the other one? I was just thinking a small thing, nice dinner with a cake that's a fire hazard with all the candles. If we can make a cake, that is." He watches Nat carefully. "It'd be nice to get us all together for a good thing."

Natasha is very aware of his attention, and it's an effort not to either tamp down on her emotions or put on a better face, pretend it doesn't bother her. She does smile at the idea, but it's a little thin, a little strained.

"Captain Barnes would probably enjoy that." She says it archly, making a distinction between the two versions of the same man. "If that's supposed to be an invitation, I'll be there. And if we can't make a cake, I'm sure the two of you can find something else to burn down."

Hard to say if that's a good idea, but Natasha doesn't see a point in hiding.

"At least one of them deserves a nice birthday."

Steve rolls his eyes and swallows the fact that Nat sounded like his mother, just then. He wouldn't just burn down the nearest item, thank you. It had to be at least vaguely cake shaped. Or candle shaped, barring that. They had standards.

"I wish I could do something for both of them but I don't think even a slice of cake would be appreciated right now." Nat understands Bucky better than he does. He wishes he could absorb it all and know the right moves to make. But instead he's betting on keeping distance and focusing on the friend who is in the same position as him. The guilt rises back up again, thinking about that. How he hasn't even spoken to his Bucky. He huffs out a breath through his nose that might have been a laugh if he weren't so troubled.

"It's funny. At home I spent years trying to find him. Now he's right here and I haven't even said 'Hello'. Makes me wonder what I would have done if I had actually found him, before."

"In your defense, it is a pretty nonstandard situation. I think you did better with it back home." As far as she knows what passed between Steve and Bucky between the Accords and Thanos's attack. She is sure that last day wasn't the first time Steve visited Wakanda, though. "Somewhere there was more space, and you and him were coming in with shared experience."

The Fleet didn't set them up for success that way. She bumps his elbow lightly with her own, a physical reminder they're in this together.

"Plus, you know where this Barnes is more than you give yourself credit. You know what he did once he got free. Kept his head down. Kept out of trouble. He's just looking for... some peace. Maybe some space to figure out what's in his head. Obviously I can't speak for him... but I don't know that he'd say no to a piece of cake.

"It's everything that goes with it he's suspicious of."

"Part of me feels like I'm just ditching him for...Captain Barnes because he's easier. But...it's not that. Not all that, anyways." His hands fiddle against each other as he walks. He's still watching the floor. He's told himself that it's mostly to give Captain Barnes comfort. His Steve had been dead, after all. But now he's not sure if he completely buys that anymore.

"Maybe we can see if a piece of cake can broker some peace between us. Him and I are going to cross paths eventually. Might as well do it with food. See how that goes." He glances at Nat and smiles. They're almost at the shuttles and he really doesn't want them separating with their own sorrows on their mind.

"Worse come worse you'll come bail me out, right?" He smirks, showing the question is more jest than not.

"You know I will. Though... not sure he actually likes me any more than he likes you." Natasha will try though. For both Steve and Bucky, she'd try. "Mostly, I think he needs time. Be gentle."

In a way, it's like winning over a stray cat. Be patient. Prove it can trust you. Just be there, and eventually most stays will remember how to be a domestic cat again.

There may be a few scratches along the way. "The way you boys eat, he'll probably appreciate the snack."

Not our fault! [But that brings back the smile and Steve's good humor.] That serum turns everything up. You think it's fun to eat 4000 calories a day until it's noon and you've cleaned out every hot dog cart in the Mall. [Speaking from experience.

They get to the ships and Steve pauses, pulling Nat in once more for a hug.]

I'll see you on your ship. [A pause.] And whenever you need to talk or anything. I'm here for you.

"Yeah, I can tell it really tears you up being able to eat as much as you want and then some." She returns the hug, more relaxed than before. Not happier—not really, but at least she feels like she can lean on him.

He's not the only one either.

"I'll keep that in mind. Just... feels good to get it off my chest." For now, that's enough.

She'll turn him loose then, heading back to her shuttle.

"See you in a few."

Steve is getting used to using the shuttle. He follows behind Nat because he has no idea how to tell one ship apart from another. It's a miracle he knows his own at this point. But following is easy and docking is something this little implant in his head allows him to do. It's almost like the quinjet. Almost.

Popping out and onto the new ship, Steve immediately starts peering around to satisfy his own curiosity. The first shuttle he's been on beside his own. It's almost disappointing how similar it is.

"Who's your captain?" he asks once Nat pops up.

“You’re looking at her.” Said with a shrug and a cock of her head. Overall, it’s not especially interesting to look at. There have been some personalization of course, but few enough that it still looks like most of the other ships on the fleet. There may be a cat or two around, if they’re lucky. Otherwise, it’s another ship. “At least as of coming back from the Marsiva. We never took that particularly seriously through. I don’t expect that to change now.”

"I guess I should be calling you 'Cap' now, huh?" Steve smiles and nudges her as he walks through the ship, still looking around like it is a museum. It looks similar enough to his own. Except without a four-armed alien walking around with weapons.

"How many people are on your ship? We just lost one..." He didn't know the guy well. Just knows now that the room is empty. "Anyone I know?"

"Four, if they're all on board. We don't tend to be an especially close crew, though." She wonders sometimes if she should try to change that. Might be a good way to go, especially if they run into trouble. On the other hand, none of them chose this assignment. "We've lost a lot of people, including the last captain.

"But that's still Natasha to you."

"Cap Nat. Got it." He smirks like the brat he is and waves for her to lead the way. "Sorry about your missing crew. The one we lost wasn't one that I knew at all but I know that's not always the case." He's curious but also reluctant to step on a nerve. Still, he asks softly, "Do you know if your captain went back home?"

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