[ at that point, serge wonders how they could have anything in common. there are probably other people here from the same “earth” that he knows, as well as the same “paris,” but too much of a gap in time means they might as well be another universe away.
peggy is likely the same, to him. even if she’s the closest he’s gotten to someone being from a place he recognizes as normal, he now gets the impression that they’re still different. unless he meets someone he’s personally met from home, he’s learned very well that even the name marie antoinette has a different weight depending on the origin. ]
I guess that’s better than being too close. They would know more about you than you do!
[ …don’t even know what to say to that. they’re coming from a conversation about serge’s uncertain future, and while it’s true that knowing what choice he went with in the end would help ease his mind, he can’t say he would prefer it. even if he’s able to change the future set up for him, it’s hard to wrap his mind around someone else knowing it, from his perspective, first. ]
What… sort of feeling is that? [ so he asks, but he can guess. ] If the question isn’t too personal.
[ too personal. but the reality is that peggy has grown all too accustomed to her future infamy. already, there has been a half-dozen instances of people recognizing her from news articles or textbooks or pictures hanging up in shield offices. ]
It's—surreal, frankly. You start to appreciate the ones who lie to you and let you introduce yourself as if they don't already know your name.
[ if it ever once was too personal, serge probably thinks it still is—and he’s just about to retract the question entirely when she offers up an answer anyway. it’s a good one, too, like something he would read in an interview with a polished professional. she’s just much more sincere. ]
Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m certain I know nothing about you except what you’ve told me. [ he smiles. ] It’s a proper friendship from the ground up, no?
[ —his position catches her (ever so slightly) off-guard. and so it brings a smile to her lips, brief and soon buried in a cup of tea. she may breeze through life appearing exceedingly self-assured (and for the most part, she is) but friendship has always set her off-kilter. ]
Yes, [ she agrees, ] I suppose it is.
[ and with that in mind! ]
Thank you for that. It's more appreciated than you know.
[ it’s not that serge is bad at interpersonal relationships, but compared to how completely unskilled he’s proven himself to be with romantic relationships, friendships come easily and naturally.
he shakes his head politely. ]
It’s only how I truly feel. Though… people tell me I come on too strong sometimes.
[ he shrugs, a quick motion of the shoulders, like it’s something he can’t help. ]
I would rather have too many friends than too few.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ at that point, serge wonders how they could have anything in common. there are probably other people here from the same “earth” that he knows, as well as the same “paris,” but too much of a gap in time means they might as well be another universe away.
peggy is likely the same, to him. even if she’s the closest he’s gotten to someone being from a place he recognizes as normal, he now gets the impression that they’re still different. unless he meets someone he’s personally met from home, he’s learned very well that even the name marie antoinette has a different weight depending on the origin. ]
I guess that’s better than being too close. They would know more about you than you do!
no subject
As it turns out, even the strangers seem to know more about me than I do.
[ her smile is awkward and long-suffering. ]
Rather, they know about my future—something I could only guess about before they started sharing details.
no subject
[ …don’t even know what to say to that. they’re coming from a conversation about serge’s uncertain future, and while it’s true that knowing what choice he went with in the end would help ease his mind, he can’t say he would prefer it. even if he’s able to change the future set up for him, it’s hard to wrap his mind around someone else knowing it, from his perspective, first. ]
What… sort of feeling is that? [ so he asks, but he can guess. ] If the question isn’t too personal.
no subject
[ too personal. but the reality is that peggy has grown all too accustomed to her future infamy. already, there has been a half-dozen instances of people recognizing her from news articles or textbooks or pictures hanging up in shield offices. ]
It's—surreal, frankly. You start to appreciate the ones who lie to you and let you introduce yourself as if they don't already know your name.
no subject
[ if it ever once was too personal, serge probably thinks it still is—and he’s just about to retract the question entirely when she offers up an answer anyway. it’s a good one, too, like something he would read in an interview with a polished professional. she’s just much more sincere. ]
Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m certain I know nothing about you except what you’ve told me. [ he smiles. ] It’s a proper friendship from the ground up, no?
no subject
Yes, [ she agrees, ] I suppose it is.
[ and with that in mind! ]
Thank you for that. It's more appreciated than you know.
no subject
he shakes his head politely. ]
It’s only how I truly feel. Though… people tell me I come on too strong sometimes.
[ he shrugs, a quick motion of the shoulders, like it’s something he can’t help. ]
I would rather have too many friends than too few.