[So beautiful. Peggy always looked so gorgeous. There was obviously a lot more to her than just that, but it always struck him anew how stunning she was.]
Been on my own for a while now and I got really tired of burned meat and crunchy veggies. It was an act of self preservation. Plus I really like being able to feed my friends. I'm pretty decent at most things now! But ah, not baking. I don't burn the cookies anymore, but they don't quite stack up to my ma's either . . .
[Steve wanted to make her smile, maybe even laugh. It was all true too. He'd learned to cook more so he didn't have to eat nasty food he made himself, but being able to feed others was a huge plus. Steve now always had something in the fridge for a hungry belly.]
[He looks exactly the same way as she remembered. Maybe the hair was a little different, though she would put that down to whatever the style was in the current time.]
I am glad to hear that you've picked up new skills and can share the fruits of that with your friends. My own mother was always very insistent about teaching me how to cook, even if I spent a lot of time wanting to play outside instead.
[Peggy does laugh at the baking part, envisioning how many times it took him before he no longer had any issues with burning cookies or anything else.]
Maybe I could teach you a few baking recipes, Steve. They may not be as good as your mother's, but they pass my own taste test, and anyone who came over for Sunday dinner.
[If anything, it would be an excuse to spend some time with him, doing a fun activity without any pressure.]
[More like he kept forgetting to cut the damn stuff. And when it was a little longer, it had . . . uses. He grinned at Peggy, pleased he could still get a laugh out of her.]
I can just bet you were itching to get outside. Me and Bucky were always scrounging around the streets when we were little, one of the reasons I had to eat half-raw or charred food for so long. Staying home just wasn't something we usually did. But I'd love to try your recipes! I bet they're just as good as the ones I remember eating. Kinda wish now I had my ma's old recipes, but she never did have anything written down.
[His smile turned just a little sad, but only for a moment. Having Peggy back meant he had every reason to smile forever, even if they were in a hell hotel.]
[His comments about how he spent his time with Bucky makes her feel slightly guilty. Peggy had it so good at home, never having to worry about searching for scraps and always having a roof over her head.]
I am sure that you and Bucky made quite the pair when you were out and about. I'm glad you had - well, still have each other now.
[Her expression grows softer.]
It's been a while since I have cooked for another person. Back where I was, I stayed at one of Howard's houses and his butler, Mr. Jarvis, did all of the cooking. But I'm sure my cooking will be just as good as ever, with a little practice.
I'll be sure to write them down for you.
[She knows it won't be easy to live in this place, given what she has seen so far. But Steve is here. His best friend is here, and Peggy has already made friends with people who knew them both. ]
[Steve didn't look on most of his memories with anything but pleasure. Sure, there'd been hard times, but they'd pulled together and survived. That was what mattered. Not the pain or the hunger or the cold. He'd had family and friends and that had made everything bearable. Well, he'd had his mother, Bucky and Bucky's family, and that had been enough.
He gave her a soft smile, glad they could pretend things were mostly normal. It was one of the ways Steve coped. Taking full advantage of the calmer times.]
We were pretty naughty, that's for sure. Definitely did all the things they tell kids not to. And it's . . . I hate to say it, but it's a real gift to have him again. I don't really wish anyone here, but I can't say I'm sorry to see his face every day. Or yours.
[He did wish her home, and safe, but Steve was also selfish enough to take advantage of having her in the hotel. As long as she was there, he'd want to be around and available. It wasn't just the romantic potential. Peggy had been a friend before anything else, and that would always be important to Steve. True friends were worth anything.]
How . . . how was Howard? When you left I mean? Was he still doing his thing?
[She didn't hesitate to admit it, knowing how she felt about him. At the same time, Peggy doesn't think that he belongs here. None of them really do. But there isn't much she can do to change those circumstances and Peggy will take comfort in the fact that someone she cares deeply for is around. ]
Howard has never really stopped doing his thing. Chasing women, building new and exciting projects. [Getting into trouble with the authorities.]
He is fine though. Been a good friend to me over the past two years. Even when we butted heads.
[The thought makes her laugh, and she finds that she misses him.]
[He blushed and ducked his head. Taking compliments, from people who mattered to him anyway, was still difficult. And everything that came from Peggy meant so much more.]
I miss him too, yeah. Believe it or not, but I know his son now. As much as he doesn't like being told he's like his father, Tony's a lot like Howard. I think you'll like him. He's here too, although he's not always easy to find.
[Tony was . . . He was a lot more stable than some other versions Steve had known, but the man was also too damn secretive. They needed to work on that.]
[His reaction only endears him even more to her. She always felt drawn to Steve, no matter what he looked like; his heart and willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good was also something she liked about him.]
I would like to meet him one day. If he's anything like his father, then that can only be a good thing - stubbborness aside of course. [She smiles.]
Oh I think he'd love you. He'd also try to talk you to death. Tony's a talker, unlike his dad. Mostly he never shuts up, but in an endearing way. He's brilliant too, like Howard. Whatever your problem, he'll come up with a completely impractical but totally amazing solution. They usually even work too!
[Teasing. Steve was always teasing, although it was normally done with a great deal of love. If he wasn't gently poking fun at someone, he probably didn't like them very much.]
Life without a Stark just doesn't feel right. Tony isn't Howard, but now and then you see flickers. And he's seriously smart. He has a whole monopoly back home, even a giant tower he named after himself.
[Steve hadn't ever really thought about what children Howard might or might not have had. He'd rarely thought about the future at all during the War, it was too scary to try and make plans that could change in a moment. On the island, however, he'd seen some might-have-beens that were pretty nice. Not for a hell hotel, but if he ever got the chance a redo . . .]
A giant tower? Now, that is impressive. I hope he hasn't let his achievements go to his head too much. [She laughs a little.]
We can talk some more about him and everything I've missed at dinner. How does that sound?
[Peggy hoped that she would make it out of the War in one piece and perhaps have a future with Steve in it. Even if they didn't end up in a romantic relationship, she would still want to have him in her life.]
I mean, it's a little bit of an eyesore, but not completely outrageous. In the dark. In the daylight . . . And he's definitely not a shy violet. It takes some getting used to, but once you get past the ego he's truly very sweet and caring. Not that he'd admit to anything like that. And absolutely! I have so much I can tell you! About everything!
Then I look forward to meeting him and seeing all of his sides.
[She's dealt with all kinds of people after all.]
I'm also looking forward to whatever you have to tell me. I have things I want to share with you as well, about what I've been up to since the war. Not all bad, I promise.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-09-24 02:32 am (UTC)Been on my own for a while now and I got really tired of burned meat and crunchy veggies. It was an act of self preservation. Plus I really like being able to feed my friends. I'm pretty decent at most things now! But ah, not baking. I don't burn the cookies anymore, but they don't quite stack up to my ma's either . . .
[Steve wanted to make her smile, maybe even laugh. It was all true too. He'd learned to cook more so he didn't have to eat nasty food he made himself, but being able to feed others was a huge plus. Steve now always had something in the fridge for a hungry belly.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-24 11:17 am (UTC)I am glad to hear that you've picked up new skills and can share the fruits of that with your friends. My own mother was always very insistent about teaching me how to cook, even if I spent a lot of time wanting to play outside instead.
[Peggy does laugh at the baking part, envisioning how many times it took him before he no longer had any issues with burning cookies or anything else.]
Maybe I could teach you a few baking recipes, Steve. They may not be as good as your mother's, but they pass my own taste test, and anyone who came over for Sunday dinner.
[If anything, it would be an excuse to spend some time with him, doing a fun activity without any pressure.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-26 09:33 pm (UTC)I can just bet you were itching to get outside. Me and Bucky were always scrounging around the streets when we were little, one of the reasons I had to eat half-raw or charred food for so long. Staying home just wasn't something we usually did. But I'd love to try your recipes! I bet they're just as good as the ones I remember eating. Kinda wish now I had my ma's old recipes, but she never did have anything written down.
[His smile turned just a little sad, but only for a moment. Having Peggy back meant he had every reason to smile forever, even if they were in a hell hotel.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-27 03:14 pm (UTC)I am sure that you and Bucky made quite the pair when you were out and about. I'm glad you had - well, still have each other now.
[Her expression grows softer.]
It's been a while since I have cooked for another person. Back where I was, I stayed at one of Howard's houses and his butler, Mr. Jarvis, did all of the cooking. But I'm sure my cooking will be just as good as ever, with a little practice.
I'll be sure to write them down for you.
[She knows it won't be easy to live in this place, given what she has seen so far. But Steve is here. His best friend is here, and Peggy has already made friends with people who knew them both. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 04:31 pm (UTC)He gave her a soft smile, glad they could pretend things were mostly normal. It was one of the ways Steve coped. Taking full advantage of the calmer times.]
We were pretty naughty, that's for sure. Definitely did all the things they tell kids not to. And it's . . . I hate to say it, but it's a real gift to have him again. I don't really wish anyone here, but I can't say I'm sorry to see his face every day. Or yours.
[He did wish her home, and safe, but Steve was also selfish enough to take advantage of having her in the hotel. As long as she was there, he'd want to be around and available. It wasn't just the romantic potential. Peggy had been a friend before anything else, and that would always be important to Steve. True friends were worth anything.]
How . . . how was Howard? When you left I mean? Was he still doing his thing?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 06:31 pm (UTC)[She didn't hesitate to admit it, knowing how she felt about him. At the same time, Peggy doesn't think that he belongs here. None of them really do. But there isn't much she can do to change those circumstances and Peggy will take comfort in the fact that someone she cares deeply for is around. ]
Howard has never really stopped doing his thing. Chasing women, building new and exciting projects. [Getting into trouble with the authorities.]
He is fine though. Been a good friend to me over the past two years. Even when we butted heads.
[The thought makes her laugh, and she finds that she misses him.]
I know he has missed you as well.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 07:05 pm (UTC)I miss him too, yeah. Believe it or not, but I know his son now. As much as he doesn't like being told he's like his father, Tony's a lot like Howard. I think you'll like him. He's here too, although he's not always easy to find.
[Tony was . . . He was a lot more stable than some other versions Steve had known, but the man was also too damn secretive. They needed to work on that.]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 07:25 pm (UTC)I would like to meet him one day. If he's anything like his father, then that can only be a good thing - stubbborness aside of course. [She smiles.]
Do you think he would like me?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 07:50 pm (UTC)[Teasing. Steve was always teasing, although it was normally done with a great deal of love. If he wasn't gently poking fun at someone, he probably didn't like them very much.]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 08:00 pm (UTC)[It was nice, talking about their friends and what they meant to them.]
Good that some of Howard's brilliance and ingenunity has passed onto someone. Even if I never expected him to have a son.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 09:18 pm (UTC)[Steve hadn't ever really thought about what children Howard might or might not have had. He'd rarely thought about the future at all during the War, it was too scary to try and make plans that could change in a moment. On the island, however, he'd seen some might-have-beens that were pretty nice. Not for a hell hotel, but if he ever got the chance a redo . . .]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 09:34 pm (UTC)We can talk some more about him and everything I've missed at dinner. How does that sound?
[Peggy hoped that she would make it out of the War in one piece and perhaps have a future with Steve in it. Even if they didn't end up in a romantic relationship, she would still want to have him in her life.]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 09:54 pm (UTC)we could wrap here and then I'll send you a message once the log is up c:
Date: 2021-10-04 01:17 pm (UTC)[She's dealt with all kinds of people after all.]
I'm also looking forward to whatever you have to tell me. I have things I want to share with you as well, about what I've been up to since the war. Not all bad, I promise.
I'll see you at dinner then.
yep yep!
Date: 2021-10-08 02:21 am (UTC)