dear_mun | (no subject)

(no subject)

I thought we weren't going to have this conversation.

... Apparently you need to hear it from me before it sinks in, though, so I'll spell it out for you. But only once, so listen close. I'm not the kind of fella who runs away -- never have been, never will be, and I always finish what I start. So stop making me take the rap for someone else, because I'm not going to end up like that. All right?

Now, you have the both of us signed up someplace. Shake a leg, miss.

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Signed up? I hope it's somewhere good.

Not exactly a swell place, but I'm sure I'll be fine.

[She's concerned now.] Where? I know you would be fine but still.

They call it Demeleier. [ And then lightly, because he can see she's getting concerned -- ] It's got faeries, I hear. Shouldn't be too tough.

My mun has heard of that one. [She'll always be concerned.] I suppose that doesn't sound too bad. There's no catch involved?

Well. [ Pauses, thinking of the best way to put it. ]

Let's just say they're not like the kind of faeries we're used to reading about.

Which means that they are the dangerous kind. [A sigh.] Mundanes never seem to want to do nice things for us.

Yeah. [ With a half-shrug, half-smile. ] But at least she's letting me bring my --

[ Compass, he'd been about to say, before remembering that ... Peggy doesn't exactly know about it. Ahem. ]

-- uh.

Letting you bring your what, Steve?

[Now she's all kinds of curious about that.]

My compass. It's ... it's a useful thing to have.

Yes, of course. Although I'd rather hope you'd have something else to protect yourself with.

I'll have my shield there, too.

That's a little more reassuring.

What is she trying to have you...'take the rap' for, Captain?

An oversight she made once. She's just worried it'll happen again with me.

[ Decisively -- ] But it won't.

Of course it won't. Not if you're overseeing the proceedings. [The words are spoken with absolute confidence. She knows that there are few things that would stop Steve from keeping his word.]

What has she signed you up for?

Thanks, Peggy. That means a lot. [ With that vote of confidence, Steve can't help but smile. ]

And it's just some countryside. With faeries, apparently.

You're welcome, Steve.

[Her smile falters when he mentions the faeries, remembering stories from her childhood.] You're going to be dealing with the fae?

If I manage to get in, I will. [ And noticing her faltering smile, he frowns, concerned. ]

Is something the matter?

I'm sure you'll get in if you're watching over your mundane. [Which worries her a great deal even if she knows he can take care of himself.]

In the stories I heard as a girl, the fae weren't always sweet creatures that are in some of the children's books. They were dangerous tricksters. They might look benign, but they cared little for mortals, especially if they thought hurting someone would be amusing.

[ A blink of surprise -- he'd figured he could hide what he'd be dealing with, if only so Peggy wouldn't end up worrying about him so much. Or even at all. ]

I see. [ Steve thinks over her words before adding: ] Like magical bullies, then. [ ... followed by a sheepish pause. ]

That sounded better in my head.

[It would be absolutely impossible for her not to worry about him. If she hadn't been able to develop that talent during the war, she never would.]

But, despite her fears, she can't help laughing at his choice of words.]

Yes, that seems like a apt description. I'd ask you if you'll be careful, but I know what you'll say if I do. Are you going to have your team there to help you.

[ And Steve knows she will -- just like he worries over her, really, even though he knows she can always take better care of herself than most can. ]

Don't worry, Peggy. I'll be careful, with or without a team.

... Most likely without, it's looking like.

None of the Commandos or Avengers are going to be there? I would have thought that once they knew you were going to be sent there some of them would go with you.

I don't think any of them know, that's the thing. This one here seems dead set on me having trouble there, I suppose -- or maybe she doesn't know where to find them.

[Biting her bottom lip, she has a rare moment of uncertainty, glancing away before meeting his eyes.]

If you did want someone from your team there...It could possibly be arranged.

Really?

[ Brightens -- and then remembers, gah. Mundanes. ] But I wouldn't want to put them in any danger on my account.

My mundane and I have been having a discussion about how I need a purpose other than gathering dust in this place she keeps me in. I've almost convinced her to send me somewhere.

[Her expression softens to give him a reassuring smile.] We willingly chose to follow you before and I'm certain none of us would regret making that choice again.

Peggy.

[ Oh gosh, sudden clash of interests. Of course he wants her to not be gathering dust, to be out there and happy and ideally somewhere with him. But considering the kind of world he's going to ... ]

I know. [ Softly. ] But I couldn't let you do that again. This place isn't a nice one.

[In those discussions with her mundane about places she could be sent, Steve's presence had been one of her strictest requirements.

Is it nicer than a war zone, Steve? We've went through terrible things in the past and it never got the better of us. This place might be difficult, but we'd find a way to survive and help the others that are trapped there.

[Stepping closer, she looks up at him, hoping he'll accept that if she does go to this place, she'd be doing so because she truly wants to.]

It would be a second chance. It can't be all bad if it can give us that.

[ Don't mind a certain Turk listening in on this particular conversation, arms folded under her chest and eyes discerning. This man is one of those her writer has been squealing about over the course of the past few hours, him and his writer her own's unfortunate targets. Curious? Oh very and it's... almost funny how that speech of his draws something of an honestly considerable smile out of her. Almost. She's not laughing. ]

Are you always such a motivational speaker, Mister...?

Motivational speaking tends to come with my job description, although I'll admit I was going for something a little sterner here. Steve Rogers, ma'am.

[ There's a friendly smile to go with his offered handshake as he speaks. He's heard of the nice young lady in front of him, albeit in the loud and rather excited tones of his own writer (ow), so when he says -- ]

It's very nice to meet you. [ -- the words are entirely sincere. ]

[ Inclining her head forward in turn, Valeria unfolds her arms and extends a gloved hand to grip his firmly, yet gently and shake it much the same. Steve Rogers. That's right. Her writer might have let her walk blind to meet Loki, but not this man and she smiles that much wider now. ]

You took the words out of my mouth, Mr. Rogers. It's a pleasure.

[ And she means that. If what she has heard from he writer is any indication, it is indeed a pleasure at the very least. ]

It's my understanding that you're to be joining us in Demeleier. Is that right?

[ His hand is careful but steady as it shakes hers, appreciative of her grip. Interesting how much one could glean from a handshake and a shared smile, and Steve would've been able to tell from that alone that they'd get along. Even without being indirectly introduced to her via a certain enthusiastic writer on this end. ]

The pleasure's all mine. And yes, that's about right. [ A pause, and his smile goes a little wry, a little exasperated. ]

If this one here can hurry up with the proceedings, that is. How about you? Have you been at Demeleier very long?

Edited 2012-03-16 03:55 (UTC)

[ Interesting indeed how much one can glean from a handshake and a shared smile. It confirms what she'd expected all along, that they're bound to get along very, very well, and that is something of an honest relief. She brightens a bit. ]

You could say I'm a recently returned long-term resident. I've been back for three weeks now, but I've spent a year's time or close there.

[ Or close. As often as her writer has yanked her chain over the course of the past one to almost two years now, that's as best she can figure. She doesn't let the thought stick or mar her smile, though. ]

If you've got any questions, I'll be happy to answer them here and there.

[ Thor arches an eyebrow at Steven. ] No you are not the type to run away. Just who is you lady trying to have you as you say "take the rap for"?

[ And Steve smiles back. ] No one in particular, my friend. Just a mistake she made a long time ago.

Well I am sure if it is in the past then she should let it lay there, if it was serious then she knows not to make it again and if it was not then she should just let it roll off her shoulders.

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