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.
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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.
[ 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.
[ 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. ]
[ with a satisfied nod, she waits for him in the hallway. there's an eagerness in her posture that almost embarrasses her. peggy isn't given to joyful violence, exactly, but it's hard not to anticipate enjoying a tussle with steve. ]
Must we shake on it? Or have we moved beyond needing such things.
[ but he looks so amused, almost on verge of laughter. ]
Peggy -
[ he looks above her, to the lights he worked so hard on hanging. he may have hung a few of those mistletoe on the wires. he is somewhat torn between feeling entirely too pleased with himself and slightly horrified that she might actually punch him for this little trick. ]
[ her chin lifts. she examines the space above her head and! ] Oh, for -- [ peggy rolls her eyes. certainly, the instinct to (as barnes had put it) ring his bell a few times surfaces. but she resists; there'll be time enough for that in the cargo bay.
for now, she might as well try and press a slim tactical advantage. peggy crooks her finger -- calling him nearer, to join her under the sprig of green. ]
[ he nods, settles for simply being pleased with himself, for now. It's not a trick that will last; she'll find the others and remove them, too. just one victory, better make the best of it. ]
But you really shouldn't argue with holiday traditions.
[ he reasons, wrapping an arm around her waist, swaying just a bit, an intimate little dance. ]
[ she spreads her hands gently across his chest. peggy steps forward, claiming the space between them. she even indulges him his mild sway before using the minimal momentum to tip forward and kiss him. quite a keen kiss, too, despite the public nature of the hallway. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action
Date: 2016-12-30 05:34 pm (UTC)[ if you need another day off. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 06:04 pm (UTC)[ 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.
action
Date: 2016-12-30 06:08 pm (UTC)peggy huffs. ]
There's something that could be done, [ she assures him. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 07:30 pm (UTC)[ 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.
action
Date: 2016-12-30 07:39 pm (UTC)Good. That would make it easier to box you in'em.
[ your ears. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 07:47 pm (UTC)You know if you wanted to spar, I wouldn't have minded. Probably best to put away that tea-cup, though.
[ ever so amused. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 07:49 pm (UTC)Us? Sparring? [ watch her as she chews it over. considers it, earnestly. must be a christmas miracle. ] That'd end badly, surely.
[ surely??? ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 07:58 pm (UTC)[ 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. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:01 pm (UTC)[ a bold claim! and it looks as though she believes it. peggy carter things she can take steve rogers. hand-to-hand. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:05 pm (UTC)[ 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. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:07 pm (UTC)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. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:09 pm (UTC)[ though with these terms, he's rather determined not to. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:10 pm (UTC)[ so to speak. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:24 pm (UTC)[ he counters, doesn't miss a beat. ]
You offered me what I want, what do you want?
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:30 pm (UTC)instead, buying herself a moment: ] I -- I'm not certain.
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:36 pm (UTC)I guess you'll have to think about then if I ever do lose. Doesn't seem likely, though.
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:45 pm (UTC)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.
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:48 pm (UTC)[ he arches both eyebrows, clearly confused. ]
You know he put a warning on that bottle for a reason.
action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:53 pm (UTC)action
Date: 2016-12-30 08:55 pm (UTC)[ 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.
action
Date: 2016-12-30 09:09 pm (UTC)Must we shake on it? Or have we moved beyond needing such things.
action
Date: 2016-12-30 09:20 pm (UTC)[ but he looks so amused, almost on verge of laughter. ]
Peggy -
[ he looks above her, to the lights he worked so hard on hanging. he may have hung a few of those mistletoe on the wires. he is somewhat torn between feeling entirely too pleased with himself and slightly horrified that she might actually punch him for this little trick. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 09:29 pm (UTC)for now, she might as well try and press a slim tactical advantage. peggy crooks her finger -- calling him nearer, to join her under the sprig of green. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 10:28 pm (UTC)[ he nods, settles for simply being pleased with himself, for now. It's not a trick that will last; she'll find the others and remove them, too. just one victory, better make the best of it. ]
But you really shouldn't argue with holiday traditions.
[ he reasons, wrapping an arm around her waist, swaying just a bit, an intimate little dance. ]
action
Date: 2016-12-30 10:38 pm (UTC)Enjoy them while you can, I suppose.
action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From: