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ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴘᴏsᴛ 2019-2020 ( ɢᴇɴ + sᴍᴜᴛ )
☂ leave a prompt, lyric, quote, picture, video or anything else.
☂ aus, canons, game!verses, modern!verse are all welcome.
☂ profit!
☂ leave a prompt, lyric, quote, picture, video or anything else.
☂ aus, canons, game!verses, modern!verse are all welcome.
☂ profit!
[ it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
With Tony, it's always been a bit of a hit or miss. After he lost his parents around that time of the year and of course, was not very willing to talk about it, each year consisted either him ignoring the holiday altogether or over compensating. Morgan changed things - no father can go ahead and ignore Christmas altogether with a kid but Pepper put her foot down on the over-compensating thing, too since the one year he got the kid a full-sized merry go round.
go figure.
so they've settled on a grand Christmas within certain boundaries. What those boundaries were, well. ]
-- I really don't see why we can't throw her a Frozen themed Christmas. The guys from Disneyland said they wouldn't mind coming over. I'm paying them overtime.
With Tony, it's always been a bit of a hit or miss. After he lost his parents around that time of the year and of course, was not very willing to talk about it, each year consisted either him ignoring the holiday altogether or over compensating. Morgan changed things - no father can go ahead and ignore Christmas altogether with a kid but Pepper put her foot down on the over-compensating thing, too since the one year he got the kid a full-sized merry go round.
go figure.
so they've settled on a grand Christmas within certain boundaries. What those boundaries were, well. ]
-- I really don't see why we can't throw her a Frozen themed Christmas. The guys from Disneyland said they wouldn't mind coming over. I'm paying them overtime.
Honey...
[ There's an air of patient tolerance clinging to every syllable of Pepper's tone, like she's had to explain this several times already. Which she has. Tony's hearing was selective when it came to certain things. She finishes readjusting the bright red ponsettia on the kitchen window sill, turning to snag the oven mitts; the scent of fresh shortbread cookies is filling the air. Snow drifts lazily down behind the window, and with only a couple of weeks left until Christmas, Tony's grand ideas to give Morgan another over the top holiday ramp up steadily. ]
We've been over this, remember? It's too much. The house already looks like every Christmas catalog threw up on it.
[ Albeit conducted with Pepper's discerning taste so it's not too gaudy. She pulls out a tray of cookies from the oven and leaves them to cool on the stovetop, giving Tony a fond smile as she slips the oven mitts off-- already anticipating a counter-argument. ]
And you already spoil her enough as it is.
[ There's an air of patient tolerance clinging to every syllable of Pepper's tone, like she's had to explain this several times already. Which she has. Tony's hearing was selective when it came to certain things. She finishes readjusting the bright red ponsettia on the kitchen window sill, turning to snag the oven mitts; the scent of fresh shortbread cookies is filling the air. Snow drifts lazily down behind the window, and with only a couple of weeks left until Christmas, Tony's grand ideas to give Morgan another over the top holiday ramp up steadily. ]
We've been over this, remember? It's too much. The house already looks like every Christmas catalog threw up on it.
[ Albeit conducted with Pepper's discerning taste so it's not too gaudy. She pulls out a tray of cookies from the oven and leaves them to cool on the stovetop, giving Tony a fond smile as she slips the oven mitts off-- already anticipating a counter-argument. ]
And you already spoil her enough as it is.
Oh come on, kid loves Elsa and Elsa's basically you, independent, way too stressed, narrow waist, awesome hair.
[ he lists all those qualities while walking to the holo-table, swiping left to show her a rough sketch of what he has in mind. ]
We could have the whole thing on the roof - snow machines - some of that weird snow man dolls, themed food, disney princesses. Kid could perform Let it Go with Elsa.
[ he points his finger at her. ]
She knows all the lyrics, hun.
[ he lists all those qualities while walking to the holo-table, swiping left to show her a rough sketch of what he has in mind. ]
We could have the whole thing on the roof - snow machines - some of that weird snow man dolls, themed food, disney princesses. Kid could perform Let it Go with Elsa.
[ he points his finger at her. ]
She knows all the lyrics, hun.
[ Pepper snorts as she turns the oven off, returning dryly, ] Thanks a lot.
[ A long-suffering sigh escapes her at Tony's sketch; he's really been planning this to the T. Not that it surprises her in the least, but it is making it harder for her to turn down without making the Grinch out of herself. She pours them each a mug of warmed, spiced cider and hums in wry amusement. ]
Oh, I know she does. Trust me.
[ They've both been subjected to Frozen directly or indirectly too many times to count. Hell, Pepper knows the lyrics by now, too. Joining Tony by the holotable, she hands him one of the mugs. ]
What happened to good old Santa?
[ A long-suffering sigh escapes her at Tony's sketch; he's really been planning this to the T. Not that it surprises her in the least, but it is making it harder for her to turn down without making the Grinch out of herself. She pours them each a mug of warmed, spiced cider and hums in wry amusement. ]
Oh, I know she does. Trust me.
[ They've both been subjected to Frozen directly or indirectly too many times to count. Hell, Pepper knows the lyrics by now, too. Joining Tony by the holotable, she hands him one of the mugs. ]
What happened to good old Santa?
Uh, come on sweetheart.
[ he takes a sip of cider and looks at the flurry little scene on the holotable. ]
what's better - a fat old geezer shoving himself through the chimney without consent or an independent, strong woman with killer hair, a beautiful dress and ice powers? you're the one who said to encourage her to have female idols. Elsa's not even married.
[ just saying. ]
[ he takes a sip of cider and looks at the flurry little scene on the holotable. ]
what's better - a fat old geezer shoving himself through the chimney without consent or an independent, strong woman with killer hair, a beautiful dress and ice powers? you're the one who said to encourage her to have female idols. Elsa's not even married.
[ just saying. ]
Just so you know, preying on my feminist beliefs especially in regards with our daughter to get your way is absolutely ruthless.
[ Just saying. She hates it when he's right. Sometimes. Pepper heaves a sigh, shoulders jumping up and down. Morgan does love Frozen and Elsa. There's no way to turn this down without looking like the mean parent. ]
Fine, but this is not going to become a habit, okay? She's not going to grow up expecting her rich parents to just give her what she wants on a silver platter. And you'll better make sure Disney doesn't get wind of this-- they are rich enough without bleeding us for copyright infringement.
[ The Mouse is the worst cutthroat of all. ]
[ Just saying. She hates it when he's right. Sometimes. Pepper heaves a sigh, shoulders jumping up and down. Morgan does love Frozen and Elsa. There's no way to turn this down without looking like the mean parent. ]
Fine, but this is not going to become a habit, okay? She's not going to grow up expecting her rich parents to just give her what she wants on a silver platter. And you'll better make sure Disney doesn't get wind of this-- they are rich enough without bleeding us for copyright infringement.
[ The Mouse is the worst cutthroat of all. ]
I'm going to take it as a compliment.
[ he presses a soft kiss to her cheek. he knows he's right and he knows when he's about to get his way. ]
I promise. You know I know what's up. I got given everything except for what I wanted.
[ toys, computers, cars but never a hug, never 'I love you'. He made a tentative peace with who his father was and still he aims to do better, to be better for Morgan. ]
And don't diss the mouse, you know I love the mouse.
[ he presses a soft kiss to her cheek. he knows he's right and he knows when he's about to get his way. ]
I promise. You know I know what's up. I got given everything except for what I wanted.
[ toys, computers, cars but never a hug, never 'I love you'. He made a tentative peace with who his father was and still he aims to do better, to be better for Morgan. ]
And don't diss the mouse, you know I love the mouse.
You really shouldn't,
[ she retorts without missing a beat, even as she tips her head a little into the kiss and slings her free arm around him, idly rubbing the small of his back through his sweater. A wordless acknowledgement, along with a fleeting sad smile, in response to his words. He's the best dad in the world for Morgan and his extravagances stem from love, but sometimes he does need a little reining back. ]
Oh, I diss the mouse. In less than ten years they'll have bought out every single rival in the entertainment field and every new feature will be just another take on Frozen or re-imagined Star Wars.
[ She smiles sweetly, sipping on her cider. ]
You were joking about the Disneyland guys, right? [ He'd better have. ]
[ she retorts without missing a beat, even as she tips her head a little into the kiss and slings her free arm around him, idly rubbing the small of his back through his sweater. A wordless acknowledgement, along with a fleeting sad smile, in response to his words. He's the best dad in the world for Morgan and his extravagances stem from love, but sometimes he does need a little reining back. ]
Oh, I diss the mouse. In less than ten years they'll have bought out every single rival in the entertainment field and every new feature will be just another take on Frozen or re-imagined Star Wars.
[ She smiles sweetly, sipping on her cider. ]
You were joking about the Disneyland guys, right? [ He'd better have. ]
[ Yeah, she catches on in like 0,2 seconds; giving him that dead-eyed stare, head tipping just a fraction to the side and lips pressed in a thin line of disapproval. ]
Tony...
[ These are those precious few moments where she, although disapproving in general, hasn't yet completely settled on a full-on absolutely not and might still be persuaded. Tony ought to make good use of them. ]
Tony...
[ These are those precious few moments where she, although disapproving in general, hasn't yet completely settled on a full-on absolutely not and might still be persuaded. Tony ought to make good use of them. ]
I mean, how much money do you think these people make? some of them aren't even understudies and I'll be paying them extra. Think of how much help we'll be giving them, a month's pay for half an hour.
[ it's purely altruistic, see? ]
And she'll have a field day. Come on, I gave in and agreed to the whole postponed Disney trip - only when she's twelve, like you said. Throw me a bone. Let's get her Elsa. Think of her face.
[ irresistible, right? ]
[ it's purely altruistic, see? ]
And she'll have a field day. Come on, I gave in and agreed to the whole postponed Disney trip - only when she's twelve, like you said. Throw me a bone. Let's get her Elsa. Think of her face.
[ irresistible, right? ]
[ Pepper's expression cycles through several stages in a matter of moments along with Tony's explanation: from utter frustration to disbelief at being emotionally extorted like this to reluctant amusement and fondness. She inhales a deep breath and lets it out just as slowly, all the while staring into Tony's eyes with that I can't believe you roped me into this look of hers. God damn it. ]
This is emotional blackmail, you understand. You're extorting me with our daughter's happiness. I hope you're at last a little ashamed.
[ Though she absolutely knows he is not. ]
This is emotional blackmail, you understand. You're extorting me with our daughter's happiness. I hope you're at last a little ashamed.
[ Though she absolutely knows he is not. ]
[ may, 1950.
The days are getting warmer and after two weeks, so does Steve. At first, he was still prone to feel the chill every so often, to sleep through the days, to struggle to put on weight. But the serum flushed most of it out of his system by now. At first there was only one other visitor, but Steve hasn't seen Howard in days, even though it is his house.
Mostly, it's him and Peggy. He's been her mission even before he woke up. It's something else, getting to spend all that time with her. Her hair is longer, and he can finally see her in more civilian clothing.
She's bossy as hell, too. ]
--- with all due respect ma'am, I really think they can stop makin' these.
[ howard's crew of mad scientists created a series of milk-like beverages. They helped Steve put on weight.
They were also terrible. He looks at the brand new jars and speaks up, again. She's somewhere above him on the first floor. ]
I'm not drinking these.
The days are getting warmer and after two weeks, so does Steve. At first, he was still prone to feel the chill every so often, to sleep through the days, to struggle to put on weight. But the serum flushed most of it out of his system by now. At first there was only one other visitor, but Steve hasn't seen Howard in days, even though it is his house.
Mostly, it's him and Peggy. He's been her mission even before he woke up. It's something else, getting to spend all that time with her. Her hair is longer, and he can finally see her in more civilian clothing.
She's bossy as hell, too. ]
--- with all due respect ma'am, I really think they can stop makin' these.
[ howard's crew of mad scientists created a series of milk-like beverages. They helped Steve put on weight.
They were also terrible. He looks at the brand new jars and speaks up, again. She's somewhere above him on the first floor. ]
I'm not drinking these.
[ like a miracle, he'd returned to her. to them. because, by times, peggy still needed to pinch herself and be reminded that he wasn't found and revived and rehabilitated merely for her own sake. there's steve's well-being to be considered. and, beyond that, the investment made by the american military. they wanted every t crossed and i dotted within a full, comprehensive report outlining whether steve rogers is still fit to...well, fit to do anything, really.
so it falls to her. the rest of the howlies are overseas and howard never did have an official title with the ssr - though the agency is quick to take him up on the offer to use his fine country estate, the one with acres and acres of wooded land all around them. privacy for miles. it's a huge, echoing house. it's got enough bedrooms that a family of five could live in the rooms between hers and steve's. still, he feels unbearably close.
- just now, she hears him down in the entrance hall. she might be one floor above him, but she can see him as soon as she leans over the second story balcony. peggy folds her arms on the banister. ]
Drink them. Don't drink them. That's your business. [ except that she'll have to record his reluctance, later, in a fresh series of hand-written notes. ] But at least move the whole lot of them out of the entranceway.
[ these deliveries, these dead drops, were all getting a bit ridiculous. howard mightn't visit as often as he used to, but he damn well interfered. when peggy had first moved into the mansion, she'd opened the wardrobe in her assigned bedroom only to find an array of fine silk lingerie - all somehow perfectly matched to her size. howard had left a little note simply telling to have fun "doing" your duty.
but, thus far, she's managed to keep things awfully professional - barring a wandering eye or two. ]
so it falls to her. the rest of the howlies are overseas and howard never did have an official title with the ssr - though the agency is quick to take him up on the offer to use his fine country estate, the one with acres and acres of wooded land all around them. privacy for miles. it's a huge, echoing house. it's got enough bedrooms that a family of five could live in the rooms between hers and steve's. still, he feels unbearably close.
- just now, she hears him down in the entrance hall. she might be one floor above him, but she can see him as soon as she leans over the second story balcony. peggy folds her arms on the banister. ]
Drink them. Don't drink them. That's your business. [ except that she'll have to record his reluctance, later, in a fresh series of hand-written notes. ] But at least move the whole lot of them out of the entranceway.
[ these deliveries, these dead drops, were all getting a bit ridiculous. howard mightn't visit as often as he used to, but he damn well interfered. when peggy had first moved into the mansion, she'd opened the wardrobe in her assigned bedroom only to find an array of fine silk lingerie - all somehow perfectly matched to her size. howard had left a little note simply telling to have fun "doing" your duty.
but, thus far, she's managed to keep things awfully professional - barring a wandering eye or two. ]
[ there she is. Steve smiles as soon as he sees her. It can't be helped, she's captivating in many ways that go beyond physical beauty.
Steve knows he's missed on years at her side. Rationally, he knows Peg might even be seeing someone else. She's a hard professional. Steve tries to melt some of the steel away every so often. ]
Yes ma'am. Thought I'd ask you if you want to try 'em instead of tea.
[ he did make tea. He points to the kettle on the stove before picking up all the boxes and carrying them away. ]
Steve knows he's missed on years at her side. Rationally, he knows Peg might even be seeing someone else. She's a hard professional. Steve tries to melt some of the steel away every so often. ]
Yes ma'am. Thought I'd ask you if you want to try 'em instead of tea.
[ he did make tea. He points to the kettle on the stove before picking up all the boxes and carrying them away. ]
[ she does indeed have her own thawing to do. made a little uneasy by the depth and potency of her own feelings, she's stuffed them down into a lock-box. even so, there's no forgetting the last kiss they shared. no forgetting their tearful goodbye. peggy tries to pretend like it's all business as usual, but they've caught themselves in the middle of longing glances.
it's all she can do to shake her head and bend once again to her clipboard.
but today he's made tea. she hums, standing far far above, and doesn't descend the staircase until he's already gone. upon his return, peggy is entrenched in the kitchen with a cuppa and a stack of garibaldis. she isn't sitting on a chair but, rather, leaning against a counter. ]
...How are you sleeping?
[ she does this, on occasion. simply asks questions before he can charm her fully with his small talk. before he can coax her into a cribbage game. before he can talk her into listening to baseball on the wireless. ]
it's all she can do to shake her head and bend once again to her clipboard.
but today he's made tea. she hums, standing far far above, and doesn't descend the staircase until he's already gone. upon his return, peggy is entrenched in the kitchen with a cuppa and a stack of garibaldis. she isn't sitting on a chair but, rather, leaning against a counter. ]
...How are you sleeping?
[ she does this, on occasion. simply asks questions before he can charm her fully with his small talk. before he can coax her into a cribbage game. before he can talk her into listening to baseball on the wireless. ]
[ he thinks a lot about Peggy, in many ways that he shouldn't. In the war, she carried a scent of soap and gun powder, these days she's wearing perfume. Steve likes it, it's rich and aromatic rather than flowery.
Her stockings are nicer, too. He shouldn't be observing her but it stands out. He walks back into the kitchen. Her question makes him smile. ]
Who's askin'?
Her stockings are nicer, too. He shouldn't be observing her but it stands out. He walks back into the kitchen. Her question makes him smile. ]
Who's askin'?
[ the corners of her mouth twitch upward. it's a sly, near-smile. the only real acknowledgement that he must (at times) chafe under this arrangement. they're not being allowed their natural course, because she can't be just peggy for him.
although, god above, she damn well wants to be. ]
Whoever you'll actually answer. [ she says, sipping her tea between words. ] That's who.
[ she'll set the "uniform" aside for a moment, if he prefers, but it'll all end up in the report anyway. ]
although, god above, she damn well wants to be. ]
Whoever you'll actually answer. [ she says, sipping her tea between words. ] That's who.
[ she'll set the "uniform" aside for a moment, if he prefers, but it'll all end up in the report anyway. ]
[ steve figures that as soon as they let him off her leash, they could talk. For now, Peggy is seeing to her duties, perfectly understandable. Steve has his own agenda; he thinks that she might agree that it's understandable too. ]
Like a baby.
[ he reaches for the kettle. The tea is for her. He needs a coffee. ]
Like a baby.
[ he reaches for the kettle. The tea is for her. He needs a coffee. ]
[ ...her eyes narrow. it's as if she always knows when he's lying, but she never quite takes him to ask for it. not in so many words. except perhaps to say: ]
Funny. I thought I heard pacing, last night, 'round three o'clock.
[ which only means that she was up and awake, too, though mostly it's because she couldn't quite knock him out of her thoughts. the snow had just begun to recede around the country house and he'd dared to head outside, yesterday, and chop wood for the drawing room fireplace.
she'd watched from a second story window. and, she must confess, her attention had been a little less than professional. ]
Funny. I thought I heard pacing, last night, 'round three o'clock.
[ which only means that she was up and awake, too, though mostly it's because she couldn't quite knock him out of her thoughts. the snow had just begun to recede around the country house and he'd dared to head outside, yesterday, and chop wood for the drawing room fireplace.
she'd watched from a second story window. and, she must confess, her attention had been a little less than professional. ]
Babies have a weird sleep schedule.
[ he smiles, taking a sip of coffee before sitting down and looking at her. While he's not trying to difficult, he realizes he might yet achieve that very end and none of this is Peggy's doing. It's her job; steve needs to gather his patience and accept that he's her mission for a while.
Only he's never been good at that. ]
I'm fine, Peg. I know you gotta ask and they'll take your word for it and not mine, but I'm okay.
[ he smiles, taking a sip of coffee before sitting down and looking at her. While he's not trying to difficult, he realizes he might yet achieve that very end and none of this is Peggy's doing. It's her job; steve needs to gather his patience and accept that he's her mission for a while.
Only he's never been good at that. ]
I'm fine, Peg. I know you gotta ask and they'll take your word for it and not mine, but I'm okay.
It's not that no one wants to take you at your word, Steve.
[ - give a moment, just a moment, to recover from the achingly intimate gesture inherent to how he calls her peg. he'd never dare, during the war, but there are flickers and flashes of someone altogether different since he came out of the ice.
the top brass fear those changes. peggy, meanwhile, adores them. she seems them for what they are: a man who looked self-sacrifice in the eye, didn't blink, but still got delivered unto a second opportunity to live his life. to her, he seems damn well fearless. ]
It's that you mightn't even realise if something's amiss. The serum kept you alive, thankfully, but anyone else would have died in that ice. It would be daft to take it on faith that there were no other consequences.
[ it's the most she's said about her position in a fortnight. even in the evenings, when she loosens her blouse a little and reads by the fire - or lets him peek at her crosswords - she rarely deigns to offer her own opinion on why they've both been sent here. ]
[ - give a moment, just a moment, to recover from the achingly intimate gesture inherent to how he calls her peg. he'd never dare, during the war, but there are flickers and flashes of someone altogether different since he came out of the ice.
the top brass fear those changes. peggy, meanwhile, adores them. she seems them for what they are: a man who looked self-sacrifice in the eye, didn't blink, but still got delivered unto a second opportunity to live his life. to her, he seems damn well fearless. ]
It's that you mightn't even realise if something's amiss. The serum kept you alive, thankfully, but anyone else would have died in that ice. It would be daft to take it on faith that there were no other consequences.
[ it's the most she's said about her position in a fortnight. even in the evenings, when she loosens her blouse a little and reads by the fire - or lets him peek at her crosswords - she rarely deigns to offer her own opinion on why they've both been sent here. ]
I know.
[ logically, he does. It would have been worse if they had sent another agent. The thought of her out there in the city would have made him bust out. Still, she's here but at least for a while, she must wear the hat of the hard-professional. Steve understands the circumstances but he resents them, too. ]
I'm fine. I wasn't a good sleeper before the ice. This isn't new. You can tell them that.
[ logically, he does. It would have been worse if they had sent another agent. The thought of her out there in the city would have made him bust out. Still, she's here but at least for a while, she must wear the hat of the hard-professional. Steve understands the circumstances but he resents them, too. ]
I'm fine. I wasn't a good sleeper before the ice. This isn't new. You can tell them that.
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