( IC INBOX )

[mucked]

PEGGY CARTER | MCU | DRIFT FLEET ( action ) or ( text ) or ( video )

Comments

[reconstitution]

It's already done.

[ Gone for help and fixed it, to his knowledge. ]

[mucked]

[ well, then. there's a flash in her eyes. ]

And?

[ ...was it a success? ]

[reconstitution]

He said he retired the mission protocols.

[ Honestly, he can't tell whether it worked or not. He certainly doesn't feel any different. ]

[mucked]

But you can't be certain. [ i can't be certain, more like. ] Still, it's worth feeling hopeful for. He seemed terribly certain of his...art.

[reconstitution]

He wouldn't lie. If he couldn't do it, he'd say so.

[ The trust in Charles is new from the last time they spoke, certainly. He was wary of the telepath before, but now he'll defend him tooth and nail. ]

[mucked]

Lie? No. [ ... ] I'm more concerned as to whether he's oversold his abilities. I want to trust in his confidence, I really do. But --

[ at long last, her expression turns into a wry half-smile. ] I'm not ashamed to say I have a hard time trusting others.

[reconstitution]

He hasn't oversold anything. He was in my head and he didn't do anything other than what he said he'd do.

[ Charles is the first person to ever look out for him in that way. It's still remarkable to him, though Peggy might not see it the way he does. ]

[mucked]

And yet, we'll never know. Not for certain. [ ... ] I suppose that's an uncertainty I can live with. It's not as though we can be certain of many things in this life, or any other.

[reconstitution]

I trust him at his word. [ That's all there is to it. ]

[mucked]

-- Then I suppose I ought to, as well. For your sake, if not for anyone else's. [ but this conclusion is tersely voiced. as though peggy feels painted into a corner, forced to accept the man's abilities without fully believing in them.

and yet she'd always maintained that the choice had to be winter's. isn't this what she wanted?

so why is she so dissatisfied? ]

He has my gratitude. Steve's, too, I imagine. We thought we might have lost you.

[ again. ]

[reconstitution]

He saw everything. When we were on the Iskaulit and he was trying to bring me back.

[ Bucky studies the woodwork of the table, shaking his head in disbelief. ]

After all that, he still wanted to help.

[mucked]

-- Would you ever have expected anything different from him?

[ the man is loyal to a fault. ]

[reconstitution]

I don't expect anything from anyone.

[ There's no let-down if you expect the bare minimum of human decency. Even if they fuck you over, the burn isn't as bad. ]

[mucked]

Expecting nothing, you know, is still a sort of expectation.

[ just a very sad one. ]

[reconstitution]

I don't know what else to tell you.

[ He shakes his head, feeling defeated. ]

[mucked]

-- You could tell me this is has all amounted to one great step forward, and not one giant slide backwards.

[ almost pleading, really. she wants good news. ]

[reconstitution]

Would that make you feel better if I did?

[ Because he honestly doesn't know how to feel. He trusts Charles, had gotten help from him, although some people still hold reservations about him. Hell, he's not a stranger to that, either. Everyone else is.. making him doubt he's made any sort of progress at all. Like his judgement can't be trusted. ]

I should leave.

[mucked]

[ her arms tighten across her chest. ]

Maybe you should.

[ time. this will take time. ]

[reconstitution]

Right.

[ He stands up, moving to the door to leave. ]

Enjoy the planet.

[ lol, bye Peggy. ]