ʜᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ sᴛᴀʀᴋ ● ss bishop ✈ ᴘɪʟᴏᴛ

[speedboat]

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[universal_charm]

_{[ Hey Howard, have a Kirk ringing you up, with that fresh out of the shower look. ]}

Hey, are you free? I have some stuff I want you to take a look at if you got time.

[speedboat]

Free... Time... [ these are things he never has. but he answered so that's signal enough that he'll allow himself to get roped in. howard is still dressed from the night before, his hair in slight disarray. ]

Never heard of it. [ a brief, if weary, smile. ] But for you I can make some.

[universal_charm]

_{[ He sees the state of his hair and his eyebrows rise up just a touch. ]}

Oh, I'm not interrupting anything, am I?

Or should I be bringing over some wine and cigarettes?

_{[ Going a little higher now and there's a smirk. ]}

text;; backdated to hell and back

[reconstitution]

We need to talk.

[ Because nothing says 'welcome back' like a nondescript text. ]

text;;

[speedboat]

[ well that's ominous... but expected, kind of, after everyone has been acting so dodgy around him. ]

I'm all ears :-) Though this little face has none.

text;;

[reconstitution]

[ It's definitely not you, Howard. They got all kinds of fucked up after you left. ]

I need to know what you've been told.

text;;

[speedboat]

It's nice to hear from you again too pal.

[ he's getting sick of this, honestly. but he's willing to tolerate the run-around from those from his time. at least for a while. ]

You'll have to be more specific, I've talked to a lot of people about a lot of things as it goes in this place.

text;;

[reconstitution]

Glad you're here. The others must be happy.

[ Not that he's not pleased.. Really. It's good to see him alive. Or talk to him, at least. This conversation should probably be had in person, but Bucky's not entirely sure he can. ]

Has Steve filled you in on anything?

text;;

[speedboat]

And you? I'll admit, I thought you forgot about little old me.

[ not that he needs validation from barnes, but... it would be nice. howard really is happy to hear from him, even if he'd rather see him in person. ]

About what? [ can someone just speak plainly to him, he's losing patience fast. ]

text;;

[reconstitution]

Couldn't forget if I wanted to.

[ AHAHAHAHA HA. Fu c k ]

What you've missed.

text;;

[speedboat]

[ oh my godddd bucky what is going on??? ]

Do you? Want to.

Should we have this conversation in person?

text;;

[reconstitution]

It's complicated.

Twenty minutes. Iskaulit.

[ It's a conversation best had in private, but on neutral ground. ]

text --> action;;

[speedboat]

[ it was a suggestion howard himself was about to make so it's easy enough to agree. ]

I'll be there.

[ and for once he is, on time and everything. he's wearing a much more sober demeanor than bucky might be accustomed to even as he gets up to greet the other man. he smiles and there's even a crinkle in his eyes -- it really is good to see him. ] Barnes. [ he nods, holding out his hand for a shake. ]

[reconstitution]

[ It's the most agonizing twenty minutes in recent history, but he comes armed with half a liter of vodka. Actually seeing Howard is another thing entirely, and he can feel his heart beating in his throat. ]

Stark. [ He only hesitates a moment before shaking his hand, but pulls away just as quick. Bucky nods his head down the hallway. ]

I know someplace private we can talk. [ He doesn't wait for a reply, just turns and starts walking toward one of the more secluded corners of the ship that has yet to be taken up. He would have monopolized Natasha's dance studio, but Bucky's not sure about how many people she's shared it with, and he doesn't want to share it for her. ]

[speedboat]

[ his eyes light on that bottle almost hungrily, but he holds it together long enough to get through bucky's characteristically brief greeting. as happy as he is to see that vodka, he knows something is about to go down and he's not ready. whatever it is he just knows he isn't ready.

but as with anything else he jumps in feet first and without much thought at all. he follows bucky down the hallway without too much hesitation either. ] You're starting to freak me out. [ an admission he might not usually give out, but he's about at the end of his rope here. ]

[reconstitution]

Preaching to the choir, pal.

[ He's freaked to hell, too, but dammit he's trying to keep composure. This is a big thing, and he wants to handle it with a little more tact than the situation had been in the past. Bucky doesn't want to tell him necessarily what's going to happen. Not outright. Gleaning what information he can first might soften the blow that things are going to go pear-shaped. Though Howard might already have come to that conclusion just by being back.

Once they're in a secluded enough spot, he sits against the wall and offers Howard the bottle. ]

[speedboat]

[ oh. now he feels bad!! howard sits by bucky and accepts the bottle, offering the other man a wan sort of smile. ]

I'm guessing I'll need this before you get started. [ don't worry, he's already taking a generous swig. he almost doesn't feel the burn. it's just nice to have booze okay. even if he knows it's preceding something fucked up. ]

fuckin uuhhhhhhhhhhh feb. 4th sure

[invigorates]

[ Good morning. Afternoon. Whatever space is stupid and time makes no sense. But all of that is irrelevant because one way or the other Lioriley is coming into the Melting Pot with a notebook under her arm. At first she seems to be looking for something - someone? - but when she can't seem to find what she's looking for, she hones in on the one person in the establishment that looks genuinely pleased to be alive. ]

Hello! I hope I am not interrupting, but I could not help but notice you were alone. Would you mind if I joined you? [ Something about her delivery suggests this is a genuine request. like she's not making a poor attempting at coming onto him despite the very stupid line she just delivered. ]

literally whenever this is space bish

[speedboat]

[ i couldn't help but notice you were alone. ugh, howard bristles visibly, but then he's looking... down?? for once at a tiny elf princess. well. this changes everything. ]

Mind? I'm going to have to insist, dollface. [ his mustache twitches in a friendly manner, pointing to the booth seat across from him. u kno u wanna ]

[invigorates]

[ A pause. The hand not clutching her book raises to her cheek as if to feel for a noticeable difference in texture. Apparently, dollface is not a term she has ever heard before, and she looks visibly confused for a second before she realizes - if only perhaps by the tone of his voice - that he probably didn't mean that literally. Oh. ]

No need to insist, I am more than happy to oblige. [ She manages with a smile, once the initial surprise and befuddlement have worn off; nodding her head in thanks as she sliiiiides into the mentioned seat. ]

It is nice to meet you, ser. I am Lioriley. [ Another pause. A few humans so far have gone for a handshake. Her hand raises slightly, just in case, as she bows her head once more. ]

[speedboat]

[ o-oh, well at least she's not yelling at him. that's what most (read:all) women do here. he shakes her hand professionally, nodding along to her words as he abandons his already cool coffee. ]

Howard Stark, miss. At your service. [ watch him not even kiss the back of her hand. the progress on this guy! ]

[invigorates]

[ Honestly, kissing the back of her hand would have been less weird than just shaking it. She doesn't really follow the idea behind it. but whatever. humans have odd customs here and back home — she can roll with it. ]

I am going to guess, given where we are, that you are a part of the Fleet. [ This fact seems to please her, if the way the visible glowing lines on her skin seem to pulse with color. She smiles. ] I have not been here long, but I am always excited to meet others and hear about the worlds they come from. Would you care to indulge me? You do not have to, of course, I am always willing to speak of other things.

[speedboat]

[ he starts to nod, but then looks vaguely uncertain as she goes on... first she isn't bothered by petnames or him being generally weird in general and now she's asking him to talk about himself??!! this seems like a trap. ]

Did Peg put you up to this?

[invigorates]

Pardon?

[ Her smile fades into a confused frown, her brows furrowed in confusion. ] No? I do not know anyone named Peg, and no one 'put me up to this', ser. I am just curious.

[speedboat]

[ wait what?? everyone knows peggy. this is unpossible. ]

Peggy Carter. Captain of the Starstruck? [ duhhhhhh wtf. except wait- ] You must be just arrived. [ no you just didn't notice a purple glowy girl before???? howard ]

[invigorates]

[ She shakes her head, frowning apologetically. Sorry??? Who dat??? ]

A week or so ago, yes. And I have not met anyone by that name yet.

[speedboat]

[ no. wait. wait wait wait wait ] So... you were really just asking me about myself? [ well ain't that embarrassin ]

Sorry about that, Lior. [ he's not sure if that's your nickname but he has no idea how to say her full name even tho it was just said to him. whatever. ] I [ he touches his chest indicatively ] am an innovator, a pioneer, and the best damn civilian pilot in the States, or so I've been told.

[ wanna hear more? pls say y e s ]

[invigorates]

Yes.

[ It's not, but she won't correct him. Fantasy elf names are hard for people okay. ]

The States? [ does that count as a yes? ]

[speedboat]

[ yes. god is it his birthday or what? ] The United States? Of America? Best damn country on the whole planet. [ oh yeah. ] Earth, that is. I'm from Earth, New York and LA 1947. I keep forgetting... that isn't a given here.

[invigorates]

[ now she's pulling her notebook out and writing all of this down. Important things to look up!! ]

I have heard a few mention Earth already, but nowhere so specific. New York is your... homeland, then? On Earth?

[speedboat]

It sure is, doll. New York is the greatest city on Earth, too. [ don't let peggy tell u different!!! fuck london etc. actually, it's gr8 that he gets a hold of someone before her for a chANGE. ]

Tell me about your home. [ he leans both elbows on the table now, at fuLL attention ]

[invigorates]

Oh! You will have to tell me more about it, then! I wonder if there are any books in the library on it as well... [ muttering.

wait, what? No, you're not supposed to ask her things!! ]

Ah, well. The world itself is called Kilarra, and the city in which I and my people reside is Maligrae. [ All words Howard will have a hard time saying if he can't even say her full name. She'll make sure to enunciate. ] 'Tis a small city, built into the side of a mountain in a region of the world that does not see sunlight. I am too used to the weather, but I have been told by other races that visit that it is almost unbearably cold.

[ a beat. ] That does not make it sound unpleasant, does it? [ Dammit. ]

[speedboat]

[ wow it sounds like alaska so fuck that tbh. the rest of the details like names are lost on him, so she can save her enunciations. he's already forgotten them. ]

Hey, if you like it. [ that's what counts?? maybe???? ] Not exactly my kind of place, though.

[ dark, cold. desolate, lonely. he can do those things all on his own without the weather, so is it any wonder he feels that way? ]

Well, like I said I split my time between New York City and Los Angeles. Two most happening places. New York is cold in the Winter and LA is hot in the summer so I never have a cause to suffer for much. [ and maybe less so for the weather and moreso for the people. howard stark can get lost in a crowd faster than you can say suffragettes. ]

[invigorates]

'Tis certainly not for everyone. Then again, I am not overly fond of excessive heat, so perhaps it is all a matter of taste.

[ She's not offended that he doesn't seem into the idea of bitter cold, perpetually dark mountain cities, at least. ]

Happening? [ She's trying to discern what that means by the tone of his voice. ] Does that mean they are ... lively? Exciting?

[speedboat]

[ he smiles wide. ] That's exactly what it means. Never a dull moment, no matter where I choose to lay my head. [ half the time he's too drunk to remember where he is anyway so it all balances out. ]

[invigorates]

Do you not sometimes wish for a dull moment? [ She does. Her life has been too exciting, too happening and not in the good way. Of course she shouldn't be surprised that someone might enjoy such things. ]

[speedboat]

No. [ he answers in earnest. even when he's fighting for his life with his friends, at least he feels alive. sometimes days turn into weeks without him noticing around here. it's enough to get a guy depressed. ] Never.

[ he could have been much more boisterous about it as was his inclination, but she seems sad about something. or perhaps just remembering -- something he understands all too well. and so he keeps his voice soft, if still vehement. ]

You know what they say about idle hands, after all.

[invigorates]

Fair enough.

[ They probably don't have the same saying back home, but she can fathom a guess as to what he's driving at. ]

From what I have heard so far, the Fleet can be rather exciting. Hopefully dull moments are few and far between for you, in that case.

[speedboat]

Oh, don't worry, sweetheart. I'm always game to make my own entertainment. [ he winks before taking a sip of coffee. it's basically stone cold now but he doesn't seem to mind. ]

[invigorates]

[ What ]

What is it you do for fun then, during downtime like this?

[speedboat]

[ he makes a thoughtful noise, mulling that over. ] Any project I can get my hands on, really. I made a buddy a leg over Christmas. I'm working with an Engineer augment on my ship to make it more efficient. Feel free to let me know if you have anything I could sink my teeth into.

[ yes really ]

[invigorates]

I assume you do not mean that literally.

[ Please don't mean that literally? hello? ] But I will be sure to keep you updated, should I find anything that might... interest you.