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]

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.

[in_extremis]

That was a challenge; Steve was supposed to be a good ol', honest American boy with dirtier boots than secrets, so Tony had to assume that Steve was confident in his card to bait him like that. That twinkle then was curiosity, which he tried to play off by lounging back on his free hand like he was even capable of affecting how disruptive his honest boredom was. "You've got nothing, engine's completely dry. Raise you, two questions, you're going to evade the first one anyway," he challenged. It would have been more obvious to try to fight the fangy smirk.

[pursuitofcappiness]

"I'm not going to, that's part of the deal. But fine, I'll meet your call. Two questions." But he plays conservatively, because Tony's got a very high card, but Steve isn't much of a gambler in any case. The best thing he can do is just keep cool.

Steve doesn't think his luck is drawing a king, so.

[in_extremis]

Tony didn't even have to look at his card as he nodded and dropped it between them. Steve hadn't tried to push him; they both knew this round was Tony's. "Okay, first question," he was ready to confront, and only hesitated then briefly as he caught sight of the card when handing the deck over to Steve to shuffle. That was close, enough that it would make Tony change his tactic, but the Steve he usually played poker with wasn't typically so malleable. He watched Steve closely for any sign that he might have been different, in case he forgot to conceal that when Tony said, "What are you afraid I'll ask?"

[pursuitofcappiness]

Kinda cheating to ask that, but it's clever. Tony's always clever. "About the other you. About why he's mad at me." 'Cause it didn't really have to do with the breaking up of the team, but also, really led to the breaking up of the team.

He looks down, quite embarrassed for a second. So, no, he's not lying or bluffing.

[in_extremis]

"He's mad," Tony echoed, muttered like it was a mild curiosity and not a pointed acknowledgement of that choice of framing while he impatiently plucked a card from the deck. Now they both knew what a mercy it was when Tony held that card to his smooth, golden chest, hidden between his heart and hand as he used his second question to ask, "Did you pee in that water? Little bit?" He spread his fingers to reveal his card where he held it, eyes narrowed intently to watch Steve's face for any revealing clue.

[pursuitofcappiness]

"He is, and he's got every right to be." But he clearly doesn't want to talk about that anymore. But as thankful as he is for Tony moving on, he scrunches his nose in disgust automatically on reflex. "Not even a little bit," he says, frowning.

"You got your two," he says, drawing another card. He tries to show as little emotion as possible when Tony selects one, almost just looking past so he doesn't react at all.

[in_extremis]

That did change the texture slightly as Steve claimed the blame again, though now Tony wasn't sure if it was because he was needled about it and thought it was the noble position. What Steve didn't change was his approach to the game, as programmed, still a little stiff, and very conservative because it was his turn and he was going to be kicking himself for not offering a raise on that king he was holding. Tony only gave him a beat, raising his eyebrows slightly to ask if he was sure he didn't want to say anything, then Tony did it for him, betting, "A question, and a confession." There were some things that were impossible to ask about. A wise man knew what he didn't know. "And the water's got to have some premium filtration, it's self-cleaning, it's a spaceship. They pee in it." This was declared with confidence, only for a flicker of curious doubt to tug at Tony's pout as he considered whether the Agrii even used their bathrooms.

[pursuitofcappiness]

"Tony," he lightly chides, "I don't want to talk about how anyone pees in the pool. Doesn't make it sanitary or okay. And I definitely don't want to know your answer to that." He looks at Tony like he can't believe they got on this topic of conversation.

"Are we still betting questions?" he asks, leaning back. The light washes over him, and though his skin has dried, his hair still drips onto it. There's something boyish and summery about his demeanor.

[in_extremis]

Steve knew exactly what he had to get ahead of, because Tony was already opening his mouth to admit to some far more obscene acts in uncomfortably public areas, there were degrees to how unsanitary or okay something was, and had to click it shut with an unconvincing smile of innocence as Steve warned him off. Ultimately, it wasn't the distraction he was hoping for, and instead Tony could see his carefully constructed game fall apart in that one move as Steve leaned away from him instead of taking his bet, and maybe that was for the best because Tony might have forgotten his own poker face as his focus dropped to follow a droplet tracing the planes of Steve's muscles. His own hand slid down from his chest, hiding the card again, not entirely sure what to do with it as he muttered, "I guess--no, we don't have to. We should be--watching, or whatever."

[pursuitofcappiness]

"Watching? Yeah, but, I'm keeping an eye out." He knows Tony is too. He wouldn't be surprised if Tony had something else keeping an eye on all this too, cameras or something like that.

"So we can keep playing. Unless you wanna do something else. But I think..." He looks at the water and scrunches his nose again. "Maybe no swimming." Tony's really put him off of it since now he only sees it as pee water. Thanks for that.

[in_extremis]

Tony breathed a laugh, then was quickly focused on pulling his sunglasses back down out of his hair and carefully gathering the deck together again to set it aside. That left his empty hands flexing restlessly, unable to find a grip on what Steve might have actually wanted and losing confidence that he had been managing to read him right over the cards in the first place. He only lasted as long as, "You needed a mission," before he was reaching for the cards again, blindly arraying them in front of his crossed legs. "That's why you were so down, on the station."

[pursuitofcappiness]

"Maybe I do," he says, lips set in a tight frown. "Never been one to settle for listless." But he also thought one day he could retire. He was looking forward to it. So maybe it's more that he doesn't like seeing the problems and not being able to do much of anything.

"Hold that while I get us more snacks," he says, gesturing towards whatever Tony's setting up with the cards.

[in_extremis]

Judging by that frown, Tony had missed something on that read, too. His hands slowed and he tipped his head inquisitively, but then Steve was off and Tony had to quickly figure out what he was actually doing with these cards. The answer to either of his problems was probably not somewhere in the bouncing light playing across Steve's back, and then Tony had to solve this new frustration by glaring at the water to reveal whatever it was the Agrii were doing so he could offer valuable progress, all while yanking up a towel to wrap around his own inadequate shoulders. By the time Steve was on his way back, he had to blurt at least one of these answers, and went with, "Have you played Scopa?"

[pursuitofcappiness]

"Scopa," Steve says, and then smiles brightly. "Yeah, we learned it on the Italian front. Can we play with these cards?" he asks, but then he remembers: "I could make us a deck."

If they had enough paper, that is. It wouldn't be the best, but it'd work in a pinch.

[in_extremis]

It was impossible to resist returning that smile, even while Tony's eyebrows jumped with some surprise for Steve not only having some experience, but a wildly different one than Tony. It did make sense that the game was more his speed, more tactical and mechanical. "My mom always played without the faces," he offered, holding up the cards he had already divided out, looking intrigued that there was some alternative. "That's why I thought of it, actually--she would play it by the pool when she was hosting, they'd be wearing bikinis and diamonds and drinking martinis, so I always thought it was more elegant than rummy. Maybe that was the beautiful, scantily clad women."

[pursuitofcappiness]

"Well, sorry about that Tony, but all we've got is scantily-clad guys." Which, where is Jan? Jan would probably be a fun person to have as a third person to play scopa. It's not nearly as fun with just two, but, it's easier.

"How'd she play without the face cards?" he asks. "Or are we just counting the numbers?"

[in_extremis]

"I didn't want to say anything, but you really don't know how to balance a guest list," Tony teased, with a dramatic grimace for the lack of bikinis or diamonds. A little reluctantly, he started to deal out the cards, laying the table cards between them as he confirmed, "Just numbers. It wasn't supposed to, you know, take a lot of focus. Something to keep the hands busy, give you an excuse to drink."

[pursuitofcappiness]

"That does sound like a good time," Steve answers. "And sorry - I invited everyone, but I guess you're the only one here at the moment who wants to play." And the only one not fashionably late.

"It's not my fault, it's not like I meant to uninclude anyone. Though - I think maybe it might've helped if we had extra swimsuits for everyone."

[in_extremis]

It was probably a very different image than whatever foxhole Steve was playing the game in, which made the completely different deck he had offered thematically appropriate, and left Tony still squirming slightly as he worked up, "They're probably just waiting their turn. Do you think they'd be here for the pee-water? Listen, this humble thing, it's only working against you." He was settling then, finding his smirk again and not holding the towel so tightly as he explained, "You're trying to solve the wrong problem. It's not the swimsuits, it's the example that you're setting. If you just went without, no one would need anything, everyone would be having a great time."

[pursuitofcappiness]

It's definitely a lot more glamorous than a couple of guys out in the trenches playing, but, to be fair, he'd also never considered what it'd be like to visit the coasts of Sicily and actually play as opposed to playing with his fellow soldiers in wartime, so it's not like he felt like he was missing out on anything.

"That theory might work if more people had shown up," he says. "Which means everyone's expectation is already that they should have a swimsuit. You're free to test your theory and start us off," he suggests.

[in_extremis]

"Ah-ah, you're doing it again," Tony said, stretching out his legs and lifting his chin with academic confidence. "You're not listening, the humble thing. You're the example, Captain Handsome, all around golden boy, lead and they shall follow. If I do it, I get a tabloid cover, I get everybody talking about me, sure, wins all around, but the talk is more about how I should be in jail for indecency, there's consequences I deserve and I'm too spoiled to even realize that, that's why I'm like this. You want another bet? Bet you that question I'm not supposed to ask you. You choose the weapon, whatever you can think of, but my bet is that even if you spit on one of these people, they'll thank you."

[pursuitofcappiness]

"Well, that's not what I asked you not to ask me." He couldn't even think of the formula for the question - wouldn't it be more like, what Tony thought people thought of Steve? But he already knew the answer to that. For some reason Tonies tend to think that everyone puts Steve on a pedestal. And, at least from Steve's point of view, Tonies think that Steve needs to be knocked down a few pegs.

"Also, that's disgusting. I would never spit on them, I don't even know where you get thoughts like this."

[in_extremis]

"No--the question is the bet, keep up," Tony corrected, hand out flat to make his point, then quickly snatched back as he accepted he might have been talking too fast. It wasn't like Steve was going to take a bet like that in the first place, especially if pushing it meant examining where Tony was getting his thoughts about where Steve could spit. He cleared his throat and muttered, "Forget it. The thing on the station, whatever that was, it was a fluke, is all."