[ she hisses, leaning in to nose against his cheek and maybe hide from his eyes (for once) as she feels true words bubble up the back of her tongue. ] I suspect you know exactly how fragile the 'rule' really is. Give it a shove and it'll crumble.
[ give her a shove and she'll crumble, she means. but she's never said so before -- always hiding behind a guise of self-control and easy denial. ]
[ he says, as honest to a fault as her at the moment. if they have to discuss the rule, there isn't any part of him that's going to hide what he feels about it. unadulterated frustration mixed with annoyance and a note of long-suffering on top. ]
we should have thrown that one out the airlock months ago.
Months ago! Months ago, we hadn't even -- [ she pauses with an uptick of her brows. honesty at least sparing her from outright saying so.
well, if they're going to talk about this then she's resolved to talk about it with a level head and without his fingers playing siren's calls along her spine. she nudges him back onto his side of the bed. ]
As rules go, it has its uses. [ she huffs. annoyingly, just earlier this day, she'd unintentionally blabbed about the rule to natasha. ]
[ he complains but moves nonetheless, shifting backwards onto his back with a sigh of great, horrible agony. she might as well have gone and hit him in the face again with how dramatic he is about it all. ]
It doesn't have any uses. Peggy, it's unnatural. It's not going to work for much longer. It's not working now. Can we just leave these things to common sense rather than rules?
[ but is he going to be any good with common sense? by the way he eyes her, that's not entirely clear. ]
[ there's a lot she could seize upon -- although unfortunately he makes good points with some of his arguments. but hands off, and with a bit of space between them, she can at least approach the topic with a modicum of objectivity.
she pillows her head on her arms, folding them behind her neck. ]
[ she huffs a sigh the moment he undoes her buffer and braces a hand against her side. peggy slides her fingertips along his wrist, but doesn't deflect him just yet. ]
'Has' to go, does it? [ he speaks with considerable conviction. but, then again, steve always does. ] I don't suppose you've got a well-plotted plan B in mind to replace it.
[ it's a soft murmur as he tries to tug her closer, to resume the trail his fingers have been following up and down her spine, to touch her properly. ]
but you didn't seem to think it's a solid one.
[ but apparently, he does think he could convince her otherwise. she had to go and remind him of last time, of her sleeping in his shirt, of the way he pulled that shirt away from her. it wasn't a very good idea. ]
'Do the opposite of the rule' is not, in fact, a viable alternative to the rule.
[ that much is true. but it's also true that she's easily tugged, fitting wonderfully against the front of him as she drapes an arm over his waist. her fingers find the small of his back, anchoring her there with a steady pressure. ]
There's our professionalism to consider, Steve. [ again, no argument she makes suggests she's pro-rule. only that she feels some duty-bound responsibility to it. ]
what about it? no one is pressing their ear to our door. you're the most professional person I know, Peggy. Tossing the rule out the airlock isn't going to change. it's nobody's business
[ except, well, natasha's but he doesn't know about that yet. ]
if someone makes it their business they'll have another thing coming.
[ indicating that he's more than willing to introduce said someone to his fist but he does doubt it'll get to that. ]
[ she's never lived in a situation where claiming a space -- living in it -- was quite as allowed as it is here. before now, spaces haven't been her own. they've been shared or rented or assigned or else they were howard stark's charitable offerings.
but steve's not wrong. it's not anyone's business; no one polices what happens behind these doors except for themselves. beyond that, he takes the chivalrous route -- and although she offers him a look she knows there's no need to remind him that she can do her own fist-based introductions. ]
Perhaps -- [ she hums, considering the middle ground ] -- perhaps only during weeks we're drifting.
[ but if they're stopped in a system, there's nothing stopping them from getting a place of their own for the afternoon, the day, the week-end. it's the beginning edge of a compromise. ]
Based on who's definition of 'awful,' Steve? [ sometimes -- sometimes! -- being honest with him is shockingly easy. ] Because I would have slept with you on the water planet. Happily.
[ happily.
and she's so matter-of-fact about that admission. ]
[ he smiles, tugs on her chin until the angle is good enough for him to kiss her, short and sweet. he's getting somewhere, he doesn't want to ruin his chances. ]
alright, next time, we'll do that. but if it's poisonous or made up of lava then we can call it an exception to the rule, yes?
[ damn him. he's trying to pin her down to specifics -- and he knows he can, so long as she's speaking the truth. peggy sidles a touch closer and enjoys his kiss. ]
-- I can agree to it. Alright. [ a huff of breath. ] You have yourself a tentative deal.
[ it feels like a victory. a much-needed one. steve has his sight set on higher goals, on an engagement ring and a small ceremony and seeing the set of necklace and ring finally complete but that can wait a while longer. ]
[ he takes it for an invitation, pressing close, stealing a longer, deeper kiss, humming happily at the familiar trace of strong tea and the scent of her soap. He clutches her close and his sigh is a happy sound. ]
[ she wants to wave off his sentiment -- tell him, perhaps, that it's been a week and (in theory) she's been here the whole time. but she also feels it: this preponderance of missing one another. it drives her forward, leaning into his kiss and accepting the break it causes in their conversation.
such as it is. ]
Now you're simply trying to sweet-talk me. [ ... ] It won't work.
What if it's both a bit of a sweet-talk but also absolutely true?
[ if at first you don't succeed, after all. Having gotten his way, he seems okay with taking his time, now. All in all, this is an important note he's trying to make. ]
I suppose that rather depends on what you're after, in the end.
[ why he's telling sweet sweet truths and inching his fingers along her skin. oh, she knows. it's been the subject of their little spirited debate for a few minutes now -- but just because she's honest doesn't mean she's nice, and maybe she wants to make him say it. ]
[ oh he's after something but as determined as she is for him to say it, he's equally determined to avoid it. in general, he found that it's healthier for peggy not to get her way too easily - she never seems to enjoy things as much if they fall into her lap without a struggle and so. ]
[ after something and up to no good both. but the question is asked like a sigh, trailing into a happy sound as she locks her fingers against the nape of his neck, urging him to keep up with his kisses and his ministrations. ]
In this, I trust you about as far as I can throw you.
[ and in all else, she trusts him to the ends of the earth. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 04:42 pm (UTC)[ she hisses, leaning in to nose against his cheek and maybe hide from his eyes (for once) as she feels true words bubble up the back of her tongue. ] I suspect you know exactly how fragile the 'rule' really is. Give it a shove and it'll crumble.
[ give her a shove and she'll crumble, she means. but she's never said so before -- always hiding behind a guise of self-control and easy denial. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 05:24 pm (UTC)[ he says, as honest to a fault as her at the moment. if they have to discuss the rule, there isn't any part of him that's going to hide what he feels about it. unadulterated frustration mixed with annoyance and a note of long-suffering on top. ]
we should have thrown that one out the airlock months ago.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 05:28 pm (UTC)well, if they're going to talk about this then she's resolved to talk about it with a level head and without his fingers playing siren's calls along her spine. she nudges him back onto his side of the bed. ]
As rules go, it has its uses. [ she huffs. annoyingly, just earlier this day, she'd unintentionally blabbed about the rule to natasha. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 05:32 pm (UTC)[ he complains but moves nonetheless, shifting backwards onto his back with a sigh of great, horrible agony. she might as well have gone and hit him in the face again with how dramatic he is about it all. ]
It doesn't have any uses. Peggy, it's unnatural. It's not going to work for much longer. It's not working now. Can we just leave these things to common sense rather than rules?
[ but is he going to be any good with common sense? by the way he eyes her, that's not entirely clear. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 05:36 pm (UTC)[ there's a lot she could seize upon -- although unfortunately he makes good points with some of his arguments. but hands off, and with a bit of space between them, she can at least approach the topic with a modicum of objectivity.
she pillows her head on her arms, folding them behind her neck. ]
Since when have you had any common sense?
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Date: 2017-09-09 05:43 pm (UTC)[ and steve doesn't do well with this distance between them. he shuffles closer, rests an arm around her middle. ]
we have to come up with something else. call it plan B, but the rule has to go.
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Date: 2017-09-09 05:59 pm (UTC)'Has' to go, does it? [ he speaks with considerable conviction. but, then again, steve always does. ] I don't suppose you've got a well-plotted plan B in mind to replace it.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:03 pm (UTC)[ it's a soft murmur as he tries to tug her closer, to resume the trail his fingers have been following up and down her spine, to touch her properly. ]
but you didn't seem to think it's a solid one.
[ but apparently, he does think he could convince her otherwise. she had to go and remind him of last time, of her sleeping in his shirt, of the way he pulled that shirt away from her. it wasn't a very good idea. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:07 pm (UTC)[ that much is true. but it's also true that she's easily tugged, fitting wonderfully against the front of him as she drapes an arm over his waist. her fingers find the small of his back, anchoring her there with a steady pressure. ]
There's our professionalism to consider, Steve. [ again, no argument she makes suggests she's pro-rule. only that she feels some duty-bound responsibility to it. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:12 pm (UTC)[ except, well, natasha's but he doesn't know about that yet. ]
if someone makes it their business they'll have another thing coming.
[ indicating that he's more than willing to introduce said someone to his fist but he does doubt it'll get to that. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:28 pm (UTC)but steve's not wrong. it's not anyone's business; no one polices what happens behind these doors except for themselves. beyond that, he takes the chivalrous route -- and although she offers him a look she knows there's no need to remind him that she can do her own fist-based introductions. ]
Perhaps -- [ she hums, considering the middle ground ] -- perhaps only during weeks we're drifting.
[ but if they're stopped in a system, there's nothing stopping them from getting a place of their own for the afternoon, the day, the week-end. it's the beginning edge of a compromise. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:35 pm (UTC)[ he never forgave those people for the nerve to offer waterbeds of all things. ]
that can be an exception.
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Date: 2017-09-09 06:37 pm (UTC)[ happily.
and she's so matter-of-fact about that admission. ]
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Date: 2017-09-09 06:39 pm (UTC)[ he runs a hand up and down her arm, humming in thought. ]
if you think it's awful, then it's awful. likewise if it's for. those were the only two I'd call awful.
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Date: 2017-09-09 06:42 pm (UTC)[ again, without a hint of emotion in one direction or another. casual; careless. she might have played it more coy in another conversation. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:45 pm (UTC)alright, next time, we'll do that. but if it's poisonous or made up of lava then we can call it an exception to the rule, yes?
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:57 pm (UTC)-- I can agree to it. Alright. [ a huff of breath. ] You have yourself a tentative deal.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 07:05 pm (UTC)[ it feels like a victory. a much-needed one. steve has his sight set on higher goals, on an engagement ring and a small ceremony and seeing the set of necklace and ring finally complete but that can wait a while longer. ]
feels like a deal.
[ and a damn good one. ]
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Date: 2017-09-09 07:07 pm (UTC)[ she insists -- where he needs a victory, she does do. ]
As deals go, it's left rather unsealed.
[ -- which isn't exactly an invitation. but it's not exactly not an invitation either. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 07:28 pm (UTC)[ he takes it for an invitation, pressing close, stealing a longer, deeper kiss, humming happily at the familiar trace of strong tea and the scent of her soap. He clutches her close and his sigh is a happy sound. ]
I've missed you.
[ this, them. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 08:37 pm (UTC)such as it is. ]
Now you're simply trying to sweet-talk me. [ ... ] It won't work.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-10 04:31 am (UTC)[ if at first you don't succeed, after all. Having gotten his way, he seems okay with taking his time, now. All in all, this is an important note he's trying to make. ]
Will it work then?
no subject
Date: 2017-09-10 02:05 pm (UTC)[ why he's telling sweet sweet truths and inching his fingers along her skin. oh, she knows. it's been the subject of their little spirited debate for a few minutes now -- but just because she's honest doesn't mean she's nice, and maybe she wants to make him say it. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-10 07:10 pm (UTC)[ oh he's after something but as determined as she is for him to say it, he's equally determined to avoid it. in general, he found that it's healthier for peggy not to get her way too easily - she never seems to enjoy things as much if they fall into her lap without a struggle and so. ]
you make it sound as if I'm to no good.
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Date: 2017-09-10 07:15 pm (UTC)[ after something and up to no good both. but the question is asked like a sigh, trailing into a happy sound as she locks her fingers against the nape of his neck, urging him to keep up with his kisses and his ministrations. ]
In this, I trust you about as far as I can throw you.
[ and in all else, she trusts him to the ends of the earth. ]
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