（ ００１ ｜ ｖｉｄｅｏ ）

[mannerism]

(un: p. carter )

[ Well, here we have a username that hasn't been seen on the network in a while. The video itself is, alas, distorted at the moment. It seems the device itself is being moved rather quickly from hand to hand. ]

-- bloody well doing alright by myself.

[ And then there's Peggy Carter and a native nurse who has apparently made the mistake of trying to open and hold the device for her. It's enough to get her chased out as the woman struggles to sit up. On her way out, the nurse does take a few bloodied bandages with her. ]

Well, turns out one can get promoted in their absence.

[ She holds up a file of pages, apparently her new job description. ]

Is it too much to hope that my house is still intact?

Comments

[mannerism]

An old sexism thing? Get a load of you, are you declaring it dead and gone already? Rosie the Riveter, you are.

[ And while she hates to admit it: ]

But as to your questions, yes, she's supposed to be me. I thought that much was also well-known.

[madeupnames]

[Peggy, he's so red, spare him.]

No, I don't mean it's old like...! [There's a familiar old social cue in his head going off in blinding red letters: ABORT, ABORT, ABORT, though it'd probably be the most embarrassing thing he'd ever done in his life, letting old flight habits kick in when he's talking to Peggy Carter. So he stares at his feet instead and curses how badly he's introduced himself already.]

You're right, sorry. I mean, I wasn't super into the, um, the radio shows. That was my grandpa, and I never really met my grandpa, so I don't really know them all that well— [Did I really say "is this an old sexism thing, I really said this is an old sexism thing, i'm gonna think about this every night in a cold sweat until i'm dead"] Iiii've wasted enough of your time, I should leave you to — heal up, from —

[What's she even injured by? Peter? PETER WAIT STOP GETTING UP WHAT HAPPENED TO NOT ABORTING THIS MISSIOn-]

[mannerism]

Mister Parker.

[ it's stern, it's sharp, it's unhappy. The boy is talking and talking and talking still and Peggy has been home not an hour ago, Peggy has had a madwoman pushing her down onto a bloody rebar, there's a mysterious substance at work that she still doesn't understand, these people have forced pain killers on her and she is apparently done. ]

Sit back down, right now.

[madeupnames]

[He sits sharply down.

"I can't believe I'm gonna be murdered by an injured Peggy Carter," he thinks, only half-joking. Fidgeting with his cast seems like the best course of action, other than turning into a cherry tomato. Which is already achieved, thanks.]

[mannerism]

Use your good hand to pour us both a drink, would you.

[ she points to the left side of her, to the bedside table next to him. When she says a drink, she clearly means the jar of orange juice sitting there. She sits up, muttering to herself all the while. To think that she'd need strangers for a job that simple but they put the blasted bedside table too far from the bed. ]

Start from the beginning. Your name is Mr. Parker, you go to school and you study -- whatever it is Tony Stark is teaching you; physics, I wager. Where do you come from?

[madeupnames]

[Oh, oh, okay. This he can do, while he lets that mortification settle into something more tolerable. And bless his soul, he doesn't remotely assume 'liquor' regardless of the wording. He's not old enough to drink, y'know. He hands her the cup with one hand, not remotely worried about dropping it; sticky hands, and whatnot.]

I'm from Queens. And I don't study anything too specific yet, but I'm pretty good at chemistry and physics, yeah. With a side of robotic design. Still kinda' green on that compared to other people at Midtech, though. [He's not as good as Ned at computers, neither.] Mr. Stark just... gives me a place to work, with things I can't usually afford.

[Status: de-reddening.]

[mannerism]

New Yorker, are you?

[ it does make her smile, only a bit. ]

I used to live in New York, not too long ago. Thank you.

[ she's about to take a sip before - ]

It's only orange juice, Mr. Parker, I do not plan to keep you in spirits. Do help yourself.

[madeupnames]

Oh! Thanks.

[He gets himself a cup, rather expertly despite his wrist cast, and sits with it in hand — he'll drink it, he swears, but he wants to be attentive and polite (especially after goofing it up so bad already).]

New York's really great... I guess It's all I've ever known up 'til about a year ago, but I like the people and how busy it is, and there are always funny characters running around that make your day totally awesome — or totally lame, so you can complain about it later in some big tale.

... Did you like living there?

[mannerism]

[ a curious one, this boy. she has questions, of course she does, but there's time for those. At least he calmed down a notch. ]

It wasn't bad, though I doubt it's the same New York you remember. I liked the weather.

[ it's so much harder at California, no matter what everybody says about the heat. ]

And what have you been doing here, I wonder? Do they still have a school? They did when I was here last time.

[madeupnames]

Oh, yeah...! It's a little like this place, but... less aliens and wizards and stuff. No, actually, there's still some of that. [He smiles, humored. Operation De-Escalate Panic, a success. And apparently once the kid's comfortable enough to talk, he's pretty social.] I've been going to school here, but I'm a little behind on the lesson plans — so I've been catching up a lot. It's pretty cool though.

Other than that? Been trying to not get into too much trouble.

My aunt'd kill me if I took advantage of not having her eagle eyes on me.

[mannerism]

You live with your aunt?

[ the aliens and the wizards can wait until her mind is clearer, for now she sticks to the safe questions, those who apparently reduce the babbling to a minimum. She takes another sip of juice and rolls her eyes. ]

I'd say she could count on my nephew to keep you out of trouble but the man seems to attract those wherever he goes. Iron Man, indeed.

[ tony stark apparently has an aunt, too. ]

[madeupnames]

Oh, yeah! Me and my aunt. Yup. She's really cool — I lucked out, having her in the family.

[Honestly, when it comes to orphan kids who blame the death of their uncle on themselves, the wizards and aliens are probably safer. Go figure. But he seems pleasant enough, and he likes complimenting May, because she's one of the most badass people he knows.]

But...! I also lucked out meeting Mr. Stark! Because it's pretty cool, too. It's crazy to me that I even get to work with him, because, like... I used to run around my apartment with his mask on. You know? It's wild.

[mannerism]

[ well, he's all kinds of sweet, is he not? Lord help her, he does make her smile. Still, she steels her tone, points at his chest. ]

It's going to get to his head, you know that. If the man's head gets any bigger, it might explode. I'm trying to teach him some humility, you understand.

[madeupnames]

Yeaaaah, I dunno how humble Mr. Stark can be. But he's saved me, like, twice now... So I guess he can have a few more pumps of helium into that dome.

[Peter did you just imply Tony's got a balloon head?

(Of course he did.)

... And yes, he's lying about the amount of times Tony Stark has saved his ass. But it's half-honest, because he's mainly referring to Peter Parker. Also, he finally takes a sip of the juice. Finally. Slow ass.]

Sorry if I sabotage your mission, though. I probably don't help.

[mannerism]

Careful, Mr. Parker, careful.

[ she says, calm and smiling and not at all terrifying, surely ]

Lest you'll become my new mission.

[ Because you really want this woman in your life, right? ]

[madeupnames]

[He holds up his wrapped wrist.]

Hey, hey, you're beating me in some areas. Like concerning hospital visits; I just came in to get this taken off.

I should be the one keeping an eye on you!

[mannerism]

And how are you planning to do that, I wonder?

[ she's smiling, God help them both. ]

[madeupnames]

[He considers the question SO VERY SERIOUSLY, hand on his chin.]

Uuuuh...

I could send people like Mr. Stark to check on you and make sure you're not getting into any tomfoolery. Or something. Oh! I can yell "this guy thinks Captain America is a no-good punk!" and see if you come running over.

... I'd be a bad covert agent-type.

[He's entirely just being a little shit, but it's a funny visual, you gotta admit.]

[mannerism]

I should hope my nephew knows better than to think he can guard my steps.

[ And oh lord, she rolls her eyes ]

The worst, I'm afraid. Luckily, you're more interested in robotics or physics.

[madeupnames]

[He smiles, sipping the orange juice very politely.]

I think he'd be smart enough to stay out of your way, yeah. [That's so cool, though. Peggy Carter called him her nephew. Clearly Peter needs to file this away if Mr. Stark does anything stupid that needs to be called out.] I dunno if you'd have much faith in my robotics, either, if you met some of the stuff I've built.