video; @gamora

[godslay]

[ When the camera switches on, Gamora is in her apartment, Godslayer across her lap (diligently cleaned and freshly oiled), and she’s holding her communicator with her usual unreadable expression in place. ]

I want to expand my training opportunities. Those looking to spar or test their abilities – I want a challenge.

[ And with a slight lift of her brow— ]

Or let me know if you simply want others to practice with. Tell me how you prefer to fight, and we can work something out.

[ What a friendly and welcoming message.

… Except definitely the opposite of that.

Gamora is working on that “reaching out” thing, on trying to get a better idea of who and what surrounds her in the city, and she might as well use it as a chance to stretch her legs and potentially come up against a worthy opponent or two. ]

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He holds her gaze for a few breaths. Then, slowly, ]

How am I supposed to trust that me putting the pillow away won’t just lead to you taking another cheap shot while I’m unarmed?

I mean, you’re the one who fired on me while I was defenseless, after all.

[godslay]

You have my word that I won't.

[ And her word is worth quite a lot, after all. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter still looks skeptical, maintaining his hold on her wrists. He studies her for a few seconds, waiting for some tic that’ll give it away, but at length, his glare loses some of its edge. ]

If I have your word, then we both back off on the count of three. Got it? No funny business.

[godslay]

No funny business.

[ Though she's mostly just repeating him, at this point.

She glances at his pillow, then back to his face, and: ]

One... Two...

[ And on three, like a good sport who gave her word, she releases her pillow. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter counts aloud with her, watching her warily. He’s always been at least a little paranoid – a quality instilled in him by Yondu, who liked to remind him how rough and unforgiving the galaxy could be – so when they reach three, he waits a bare half-second longer to see what Gamora does.

But of course she drops her pillow, and being a man who keeps his word – at least when it comes to folks who could snap his arm like a brittle twig – he lifts both hands, palms flat in a gesture of concession. ]

Satisfied?

[godslay]

[ With her wrists released, Gamora sets her empty hands on the back of the couch instead. ]

Yes.

Now are you going to wait for me to tell you when you can come watch me or simply find out for yourself?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He points out he could just snoop scope out whenever she made her arrangements, what with this still being a public forum, but he also knows that’s weird and creepy to just show up without her leave. ]

Tell me when, and I can be there with pom-poms and an aggressively sunny disposition.

[godslay]

That would be another distraction.

[ No pom-poms, clearly.

Though she really can't do much about whatever disposition, sunny or otherwise, he decides to bring along for the ride. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Blandly, ]

The sunny personality is too much, huh?

[ yes pom-poms. ]

[godslay]

You're going to lose your invitation.

[ Which isn't the most potent threat, but. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

Aww, Gamora. Is that really any way to treat your one-man cheering squad?

[godslay]

Did I ask for a cheering squad?

[ No, no, she did not. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

You don't just ask for a cheering squad. [ and he says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world. ] Sometimes, you just get one.

[godslay]

Then how do I send it back?

[nostalgiabomb]

How dare you.

[ in the flattest voice in the galaxy. ]

[godslay]

[ And equally flatly: ]

Ditch the pom-poms.

[nostalgiabomb]

What? But that's, like, an integral part to the cheer experience!

[ especially considering Peter's primary exposure to cheering comes almost entirely from high school movies, where cheerleaders were frequently in their uniforms for almost the entire film. Just in case the audience forgot they were cheerleaders. ]

[godslay]

You're distracting enough as-is, without any additional... [ She pauses, waving a hand vaguely. ] ...flailing.

[nostalgiabomb]

Dude. Come on.

In what way am I distracting?

[godslay]

By existing.

[ Which is not actually intended to be flattering, but. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ It certainly doesn't sound flattering. ]

... Real nice, Gamora.

[godslay]

[ In an attempt to explain just a tiny bit more: ]

You draw attention to yourself. It's difficult not to look at you.

[ ... Because he's gregarious. Clearly. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He lets the words sink in for a moment, pressing his lips together.

Then, brightly, ]

On account of my being so handsome, you mean.

[godslay]

That definitely was not what I said.

[ But it's also not necessarily untrue.

Not that Gamora would ever outright feed his ego. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

But it was implied.

[ that's fine man no one needs to feed the fire that is Peter's pride.

he does it well enough on his own. ]