Steve Rogers | OTA

[pursuitofcappiness]

WHO: Steve and You?
WHERE: Agrii ship in the water area
WHAT: A pool party!!
WHEN: Around debates time
WARNINGS: Not sure, will edit!

Steve has been trying to get in touch with the Agrii for days now without any luck. So far it's mostly just been hanging out by the water. And a few of them can really hold their breath a long time, it seems. They seem uneasy if he swims too far, so he sticks by the shallower bit of the pool for now.

If nothing else, the lush greenery is a nice change of scenery, and some days there's all this bountiful delicious food, such that he hasn't had better since before arriving here.

So, one day, after fruitlessly searching around by himself and not finding any better leads, he invites a few fellow He-Rows over for what appears to be a pool party. It's open to anyone who happens to make it through the thick botany, and he's definitely trying to encourage the younger Agrii to come play with them. Food and drink are just from the mess hall, and the games are simple ones like a hand-drawn deck of cards, and sitting on each other's shoulders trying to knock off your opponent.

If anyone wants to play that game with him, he'd definitely make a better root than pusher - don't worry, he'll be sure to keep his balance, so long as your character wants to keep playing.

Partway through he gets tasked with going back to get more ice or snacks or something, so feel free to bump into him then or in his yellow speedo (that he most definitely did not pick out himself) and towel, gathering supplies. You'll definitely score an invitation if you ask.

Then, when the 'party' starts winding down, Steve's maybe a little disappointed in not having made much progress, though he's sure a few of the younger Agrii might be coming around to them, so it's not entirely a fruitless endeavor. But he's gotten his hands on a piece of paper and graphite, and he might even ask your character to stand still for a second, as they look really nice under this foliage, and it'll just take a few minutes, if they don't mind.

[ OoC: Feel free to respond to any of the things Steve is doing or throw up your own toplevel so other people can tag you at the 'party'! ]

Comments

[in_extremis]

a.
On the one hand, it was a party, so it wouldn't be becoming to be punctual. Then no one would be there to see him arrive. On the other, it was a stakeout, a job to be done, which granted no favours to the fashionably late. On the third (he was good with his hands), it was orders from the boss, technically. That couldn't go without a little flagrant disrespect.

Unfortunately, the flicker of annoyance in Steve's eye was not there to meet Tony when he finally managed to pick his way through the foliage. Instead, he was the one pursing his lips as he searched, and his shoulders dropped slightly in resignation. He'd even missed the snacks, apparently. Listlessly, he wandered down the shore to find himself a spot to recline on a soft patch of moss, propped up on his elbows and juggling a bottle of oil in one hand like he might put on a convincing display of sunbathing should anyone ask. That was a perfectly reasonable excuse to sit staring at the water and waiting for something to happen, but mildly less effective when there wasn't a sun up there through the dome, and he was covered from neck to toes in a thin, golden film. He still wore his sunglasses like the artificial light would make him squint, letting him maintain the appearance of being very relaxed and not incredibly alert for whatever it was the Steve thought they were going to find.

b.
There was no way Tony could sit doing nothing for very long. He was not built for espionage, clearly. Subterfuge, perhaps. Some mild manipulation. And people had a certain image of him, which made some games easier than others. "C'mere, what are you doing? Stop that," he instructed, like anything else being accomplished at this party was a waste of time compared to what he was about to offer. "Do you know how to play Blind Man's Bluff?"

It was a very straightforward game, he was happy to explain, already shuffling the deck of crafty cards. Highest card wins. The catch was, you could only see each other's cards, not your own--that goes straight onto the forehead. He was even generous enough to lay out what that meant, that this game was really one of deduction, and reading your opponent, so in order for that to really work, you had to be prepared to bet something worthwhile. Something risky. "So, what are you prepared to risk?" he asked, getting comfortable.

b

[pursuitofcappiness]

"No, I don't," he says, but listens to Tony's explanation. "Tony, you know I don't have anything to bet and even when we were back on Earth, you were the one signing my checks." At least, for awhile. And even then, a money bet is useless with someone like Tony Stark. Favors, too, because they'd do them for each other without having to put on any sort of ruse.

"Questions. You gotta answer truthfully if I win, and I gotta answer yours if you win." Now that was something they could use as a competitive bet.

[in_extremis]

Ultimately, the most valuable thing they had in this situation was information, at least until the food system had any kind of breakdown, so Tony had to betray a slow smile of appreciation for the suggestion, even if it didn't sound like the most exciting one to him. Then again, it would be a short game if they were playing for clothes. "And I was happy to get it all back at poker," he did have to point out, so it wasn't like he was adverse to betting for his own money. That wasn't why he played.

"I know you're always truthful," he agreed, and before Steve could think too hard about that statement and take the chance to amend his offer, Tony was dealing a card out to him and bringing his own up against his temple. Couldn't change the rules once the game had started. Unfortunately, Steve's Jack was going to be hard to beat, unless his poker face was as bad as it was back home.

[pursuitofcappiness]

Hey, it might not be the most exciting but they have very little else to barter. "Then you're not asking hard enough hitting questions," Steve answers him. That's another challenge then: ask Steve something he doesn't really want to answer.

He might not have the best poker face, but he definitely keeps a decent one when he draws a queen for Tony, placing it up on him. "Ready?" he asks. Tony's eyes might be blue, but, they twinkle just the same as they do at home.

b

[the_freak]

Eddie eyed the nine on Tony's forehead as he considered, doing his best to keep his expression neutral-ish. It was an annoying card to go up against, a lot that could beat it, plenty that couldn't, and Eddie wasn't the best at beating the odds.

Also difficult- working out what meant something to him, but that Tony might also actually want. "...pack of smokes?" he offered, a low bar to set the stage, try and glean what he could from Tony's counter.

[in_extremis]

Eddie's odds were not great. That five on his head left Tony very relaxed and prepared to agree to any risk that Eddie offered, leaning back on his hands and crossing his ankles where he was stretched out with his feet in the water. That wrinkle of concern that threatened to dislodge the card from Eddie's skin could have been a telling reaction, or just the way that Eddie tended to look.

Cigarettes weren't a terrible exciting bet, though under the circumstances did seem appropriate. "Prison rules," Tony amended slightly. "If you got a pack on you, we can play for cigarettes." He waved a hand impatiently like Eddie should have intuited that and already been dividing them evenly to hand over. "And when I win, you can replicate more, or agree to a blood debt."

[the_freak]

"Contrary to popular belief, I've never actually been," Eddie joked, but he reached for his shed coat and fished out a mostly full pack out to start dividing them. "I've only been in lock up. Didn't play a lotta games in there."

He studied Tony's face as he made conversation, less sure now than he had been. The guy always looked so damn confident. He pushed his jeans up, feet joining Tony's in the water. "You seem pretty sure. Is it that low?"

A

[doubled_speed]

"If you were that hungry for a tan, you should have told me on the station. I found a great place for getting some."

Yeah, it's Tommy. In green booty shorts that read 'juicy' on the ass in glitter. Don't mind him as he flops down next to you, clearly shirtless, clearly having picked up a tan somewhere. Probably wherever he claimed to have found. Maybe he had found it.

"Not sure the grow lights will help you much," he observes with a smile at Tony. "But you know that. So, what are we really doing?"

[in_extremis]

"Maybe I'm growing," Tony replied, hand open to the possibility that there were other ways that the lights could be helping him. He only briefly glanced over at Tommy as he settled, keeping his watch on the water for anything out of place, but it was enough to note, "You look like you got plenty of some, wouldn't want to intrude on that. Good trip?" It was almost a shame then that they had to get back to business, even if it looked like a party.

[doubled_speed]

Growing? Tommy snorts.

"If you're a growing thing, then maybe I have some datapoint edge on understanding you. Get your chloroplasts on, man. I won't judge."

Maybe he will judge. Just a bit.

"It was useful. Got us lots of plants that, once they're out of quarantine, I'm going to work with others to get settled on the two ships. Not even going to lie man, got actual sugarcane and corn and because the world is damn good to me, onions and zucchini. Gonna keep them on the ships to keep them free of the soil and storm induced impurities here. Safest they can be. And did it all while eating better than I have in ages, and making sure Sunshine had a good birthday."

But yeah, business was something Tommy was clearly already thinking about. He had plans. He was going to help improve their lives through more growing things. And he seems happy with it. Superhero turned farmer, who would have thought?

[faceguy]

For Steve

Leo actually has been making some headway in getting the younger Agrii to warm up to him - not that he's really doing anything with that privilege. He's not particularly interested in trying to learn what the adult Agrii are up to. He just wants to hang out.

He's been to the lake to swim with the Agrii a few times now, though they often try to lead him deeper than he can safely go, even with his bigger-than-a-human lung capacity. But since he can swim underwater longer than a human can, he's been spending quite a bit of time with them down under the surface, exploring the aquatic world around the sunken dome the adult Agrii are arguing in.

But when he catches wind of what Steve is up to, he's quick to show up, popping out of the water like he belongs here and wading into the shallows to take in the spread. He's not wearing his mask or any of his ninja gear, so it doesn't get wet, so his normal distinctive blue is not on display.

"Water you doing? Hah." He folds his arms. "Having some kind of party?"

OTA

Leo is happy to hang around and play games (and also eat free food, of course, he's a teenager after all). He's particularly interested in playing chicken and can serve pretty well as the root or the pusher - for fifteen, he's pretty sturdy!

If he notices someone swimming out into the deeper water, he may come up to them and challenge them to a race.

"What's wrong? Afraid you can't beat a turtle?"

[pursuitofcappiness]

It's a good thing the turtle boys are differently shaped in this iteration, or else Steve might not actually be sure which of the brothers he's talking to. "Something like that," he responds, and smiles. He doesn't think he has to explain why he's set up like this. It's much easier to catch flies with honey. Not that Steve is attempting to manipulate - but he is really trying to get somewhere with this investigation.

"You're more than welcome to join."

[faceguy]

It’s simple to tell them apart: just look for the red stripes and obnoxious attitude.

Leo shakes the water off his hands, then trots over to where Steve has set up. And snags a snack, because of course.

“Don’t mind if I do!”

After eating for a second, he adds, “So what’s the occasion?”

[pursuitofcappiness]

He smiles broadly. "Well, we've got a nice pool and decent snacks for once, s I thought we should really take advantage of it."

And then, leaning in closer and dropping his voice even though he knows everything's being recorded, he says: "Don't you think it's kinda weird we don't see a lot of the Agrii?"

He raises an eyebrow as if he wants to point out that most of them are kids and they're hanging out on the other side of the pool. But maybe, just maybe, they're also fascinated in learning about the He-Rows. Right?

[ziedrich_bearer]

Okay, what? Here Gladio was, just enjoying some water, and now this is happening? Really? Man, what's up with that?

"Turtle?" he asks, looking at the guy treading water. "You don't have fins. Seems more like a tortoise. But if you say you're a turtle, yes. I'm not expecting to win that one."

[faceguy]

Trying to be pedantic at Leo about his own species is pretty bold. He gives the surface of the water a smack.

“I’m a red-eared slider, so, definitely not a tortoise.” He’s semiaquatic, thank you! “I can’t help it that some guy decided I would be better off with an opposable thumb.”

This he wiggles at Gladio.

“A big, tough guy like you is scared of little ol’ me, though? I’ll take that as a win.”

[ziedrich_bearer]

Hey, sometimes you just need to be pedantic. There were people in history back on his planet that didn't believe humans had evolutionary ancestors in common with apes. So clearly things can get wrong all the time.

"The thumbs do help. And not scared. Just know when evolution has me out matched."

For Steve - But that speedo....

[madginger]

Max, herself, took time out to make herself a swimsuit with wind shorts, and picked, of course, some bright 80s colors, so she stands out, but is fairly covered. She spends most of her time in the water, indulging as much as she can before getting out for refreshments.

Max is young, but she's not without eyes. She blinks for a second when she catches Steve getting more ice, while she is in the middle of getting something to drink.

The best thing about Steve? Max is pretty sure he's intelligent - and sassy - enough to understand her eyebrows furrowing together, one raised eyebrow, and that questioning ( what the hell, really? ) look she gives him as her eyes drift up to his face, but she doesn't ask. Yet.

"Thanks for this, by the way. I think we all sort of needed it. Agrii kids included. It's really nice of you."

[pursuitofcappiness]

Listen, Jan picked it out and he wasn't about to say no. He'd assumed he'd get a few looks, but it's actually not all that much more revealing than swimsuits had been in his day, though his stomach is feeling a bit exposed.

So he grabs his towel and slings it over himself, without drawing attention to the way she seems a little uncomfortable, tries to make off like he's just drying himself.

"Of course. I think there's just a lot of tension right now. Thought maybe we could cut through it." And, well. That other thing that Max doesn't need to know about, his investigation. "Are you having a good time? This beach isn't the best one I've seen, but, I think it'll do. You must miss 'em."

[madginger]

She wasn't uncomfortable, so much as confused. She tilts her head a little, but smiles up at Steve when he moves the towel.

What an actual nice guy. Maybe Captain Boy Scout is the most appropriate nickname for him after all.

"Yeah.... I had to get off the ship." She nods her head.

"I was missing the beach before I got here, so any beach will do, at this point." She cants her head in the direction he had been going.

"You need any help? Staying busy has been helping me."

[pursuitofcappiness]

"Oh yeah, sure," he says, happy to delegate some tasks. He'd felt the same way when they were planetside - he hadn't much to do and he was hurting for some work. Any work.

"Are you getting along with any of the agrii?" he asks. He thinks maybe they'll get along better with Max - she's young for a human and they're young for agrii, so maybe they have some things in common.

Steve, who's not even that old, definitely acts older than his years. Maybe they don't like that.

for steve (and/or competitors?)

[winsomelosesome]

Small as she is, Jan is a surprisingly tough pusher, perched on Steve's shoulders. If he were a normal man he might have bruises from how firmly those legs locked in her refusal to be pushed free, and she looks down at him apologetically, releasing her too tight grip on his hair.

"Sorry. I...get a little competitive," she pants.

[in_extremis]

A few feet down the shore, Tony was tense. He did his best not to look it, masked behind his sunglasses and fingers worked into the grass where they could twitch restlessly, but he was watching the people in the pool like he expected the chemical reaction to be explosive. It was the first time he had seen Jon actually out, near other people, in what felt like a decade, and as he watched him paddle across the water, he could follow the logic. It was almost impossible to say no to Steve, and Jon loved the beach. He might have organized his own pool party. Maybe they should have been seeing each other instead, it was probably a better match, Steve did seem very concerned about him--

Jan was concerned in a different way. They hadn't met, as far as Tony could tell, and it seemed to him like Jan was avoiding it. Jon certainly wasn't going to invite her over for coffee. That was going to take a little...push. Something to get all of this tension out of Tony's chest before it cracked.

Leaving his effects on the shore behind him, he slipped into the water to dive below the foliage that floated serenely on the surface and slip silently through the clear water toward the familiar, kicking legs. When he came up next to Jon's shoulder, he greeted in a breath, "They're tired, now's the best chance."

[pursuitofcappiness]

Steve is having fun, and as he is very much not a normal man, he's just taking everything in stride. "Don't apologize. And Tony, don't lie, we're not tired." He grins and keeps Jan on his shoulders, gripping tightly.

The two of them, probably because Jan had picked out his suit, appeared to be matching. Definitely giving off team energy. Despite him having very little experience fighting alongside her, they do fit like teammates.

[Open] (But also Steve, why?)

[butterfly_kiss]

I. The Doctor Is In

Dr. Takemi had expected to return to the Agrii ship and check on her burn patients. But of course the Agrii that had been hurt are nowhere to be found if they weren't young. So what is a doctor to do?

Clearly put on the bikini that Janet Van Dyne helped her pick out on the spacedock, throw her doctor's coat on over it, and headed off to the gathering she's heard about. Does she want to actually swim in the water? No. Does she want to sit on the beach, look pretty, and watch the show of people splashing around, with her doctor's bag next to her in case someone gets hurt?

Yes. Don't ask why. This is what she does with her life. At least she's pretty while doing it, right? Or she thinks that's the positive here.

II. A Soft Heart In A Hard Exterior

Those who have crossed Tae Takemi might have learned a few things about her. Her tongue was sharp, her patience could be short, and she was a woman that was hard as steel when she wanted to be. Then, of course...

There were the youngest of the Agrii. Those that came to her to reveal some of their healing injuries. Her smile are gentle, her attention doting, her whole self softer with the these young ones.

And when she catches someone observing it, well, they will get a sharper, colder look, as if challenging them to dare to think she's got a gentle heart. Say it. Definitely say it.