uprightness | ɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ

I can talk to Kara and Kitty, ask them who to talk to on the Tourist and the Windrose.

[ he eyes the little cup she's still holding and smiles. ]

But in the mean time, it's Christmas.

[ and that means enough business for one day. ]

The world doesn't stop turning just because it's Christmas, Steve.

[ -- never you mind that they're not on a 'world' at all. ]

No, it doesn't.

[ as lightly as that. ]

But we can still take a break for one day.

We just took a break. [ it's not that she's got anything against christmas, per se. but relaxing at the hotel has left her with a latent restlessness. her shoulder wants to get back to the grindstone. ] You, me, and one very large bed.

Yes, I remember that.

[ and he seems to refuse to let the entire concept of we, you, me, a large bed distract from the current task. ]

But than was then.

[ 'then' was not so long ago, at all, but still. ]

And this is now. Hardly any time has passed. [ is she giving him a hard time? yes, she's giving him a hard time. you'd think she'd be kinder after such a lovely gift. but hearts are strange and fickle things, and she suddenly wants to pretend like she hasn't been terribly moved by the tea cups. ] You've gone soft.

[ if you need another day off. ]

Highly likely.

[ and he softens, still, in the face of this sternness, taking a step closer, on the edge of her personal space. ]

Nothing much to be done about it.

[ she stands her ground -- not least of all because it means keeping him close. how unfortunate a side-effect of their time sharing a room in the hotel: he's less skittish; less reserved; less likely to hang back and wait for her first move. she loves it and resents it all at once, not yet certain how to adjust to these little progressions.

peggy huffs. ]

There's something that could be done, [ she assures him. ]

Really?

[ the smile is hidden, tucked back to the corners of his lips but very much present in his tone. it's a bit of a challenge but mostly a flirt, easy and comfortable despite of or perhaps because of all the huffiness. ]

I'm all ears.

[ she raises a very threatening!!! fist. along with an eyebrow. ]

Good. That would make it easier to box you in'em.

[ your ears. ]

[ he arches his eyebrows right back; evidently curious, now. ]

You know if you wanted to spar, I wouldn't have minded. Probably best to put away that tea-cup, though.

[ ever so amused. ]

[ -- she hadn't been serious. but. ]

Us? Sparring? [ watch her as she chews it over. considers it, earnestly. must be a christmas miracle. ] That'd end badly, surely.

[ surely??? ]

That's not a no.

[ he should have known his winning card will have to involve adrenaline rather than hot chocolate and cuddles. of course this might be the thing that works. ]

I mean, we already exchanged presents.

[ why not fists, really. ]

[ a little surprised, really. but definitely not a no. ] There's no way you can win, Steve.

[ a bold claim! and it looks as though she believes it. peggy carter things she can take steve rogers. hand-to-hand. ]

Really?

[ it seems to be his turn to huff. he folds his arms. ]

And if I do? What's it gonna be?

[ it seems to be a tradition by now, these wagers of theirs. ]

[ she likes this. very much. the back-and-forth. the negotiation. she falls into it far easier than she does gentler gestures.

whip-quick: ] If you win, the day is yours. We'll be as disgustingly festive as you like. No further protests.

[ well maybe SOME protests. ]

And if I lose?

[ though with these terms, he's rather determined not to. ]

Depends. [ ... ] What are you willing to lay on the table?

[ so to speak. ]

Depends.

[ he counters, doesn't miss a beat. ]

You offered me what I want, what do you want?

[ she bites down on her first felt answer. peggy nearly wagered that he should just go ahead and move into her quarters -- still a little lost in the lingering memory of sharing a room together on corona. but no, it's too soon. too quick. that's a question for another day -- and certainly one too important to be touted as stakes in a sparring match.

instead, buying herself a moment: ] I -- I'm not certain.

[ that's a first, but he says nothing, tilts his head at her with a small smile. ]

I guess you'll have to think about then if I ever do lose. Doesn't seem likely, though.

[ carefully, she replaces the tea-cup in its box. they are exquisite. really, she ought to show more gratitude. but instead, she's gone and dug herself into this awkward little standoffish hole.

turning towards the door, she hedges: ] I know Winn gave you a bottle of that high-powered spirits for Christmas. Maybe that should be my stakes.

The bottle?

[ he arches both eyebrows, clearly confused. ]

You know he put a warning on that bottle for a reason.

Not for me. If I win, you'll drink with me tonight. [ ... ] Me, with the bottle of whatever Eugene brewed up in his still. And you with yours.

...alright. I'll accept those terms.

[ though god only knows how strong that stuff is and that could result in blackmailing material for her and a rather big headache for him but it is what it is. ]

If I lose, we'll do that.

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