13548/A Quiet Night at the Watchtower

A Quiet Night at the Watchtower
Date of Scene:	24 June 2021
Location:	Living Quarters, Watchtower
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Wonder Woman, Captain America

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Wonder Woman has posed:
Everyone has a turn to take in keeping watch at the Watchtower. Whether it's quiet or busy, it's a cycle of shifts that everyone serves their time. It monitors a great many things, and unless something has happened then there is always someone here. For tonight, the someone that is here happens to be Diana. She's been here for a few hours already, and things have been quiet. Almost painfully so, and it's made the time drag somewhat for her.

Diana has just finished up with setting up the feeds so that they'll transmit to a datapad that she's carrying. With the datapad in hand, she makes her way to the hub off of which branches the various living quarters. She sets the datapad down on the coffee table, then takes a moment to stretch before gather up her hair at the back of her neck. She twists it up, then coils it before reaching to pick up a hairstick from the coffee table and stab it through her hair. Satisfied with it, she steps over to a window that looks out into the star spangled expanse of space. She's dressed comfortably -- a pair of grey cotton pants, a blue t-shirt, and bare footed.

Reaching out to pick up her phone, she thumbs it open before tapping open a messaging program. She's kept in touch with Steve, since meeting him at the gym and sparring with him. And since they've each had lunch at the other's domain. It only takes her a moment to send a simple message to him: <Were you still planning on dropping by for a visit?>

Captain America has posed:
Steve Rogers had been placed on the active guest list, with certain privileges. He had access to the teleportation device that brought people up to the Watchtower and back down, was allowed to go to certain parts of the station. He had similar privileges at the Alpha Flight Space Station. And of late, the Avengers had been taking more of an interest in it, with zero-g training, and things of that nature.

He had arranged to meet with Diana up there, but with a gap in his schedule, he had come up early, and gone for a swim. It amazed him that they had an Olympic sized swimming pool in space. So when he got the text message, he was just finishing up from the shower after his swim. Reaching for his phone, he texted back, <I will be there shortly.>

He would finish towelling off and dressing, putting on a grey t-shirt that said 'Property of the Avengers', navy blue sweatpants, white socks, and red and white athletic shoes. He would slip the phone into his bag, he had borrowed a Justice League towel, which went into their wash bin, and slipped his swimming shorts in a bag, so it wouldn't get anything else wet.

A few doorways and corridors later, and he found himself knocking on the door to Diana's quarters. He waited patiently after having knocked. His hair was still a bit wet, having only towel dried it. And he had a slight smell of chlorine mixed with Gillette deodorant.

Wonder Woman has posed:
The addition of his name to the guest list of Watchtower had been noticed. Being on the guest list afforded certain privileges. Space training was important for anyone who served the earth in a protective capacity. She's done some training of her own in space, though hers is a little bit different on account of her abilities -- the cold of space doesn't harm her, and she can survive about thirty minutes without breathing when she's in space.

She planned to make use of the pool later, though her plans were fairly fluid in nature once her shift was over for today. She had shifts for the next few days as well, since it made sense to stay up here for a series of days at once. Diana cast a glance towards the datapad, though it would sound an alarm if anything untoward were detected, and then she reached out to pick up her phone. She thumbed it open and read the message, a smile quirking her lips. <No rush. I hope I have not interrupted you, with the message.> She sets aside her phone to the back of a nearby armchair, then turned her blue gaze back to the depths of space.

When the knock came upon her door, a smile touched the corners of her lips. "Come in, it is not locked," she offers, turning to look in the direction of that very door, and to step lightly over towards it. Her quarters are tidy and neat, though there is little in the way of personal effects here that speaks to it being her room. The main things are a Themysciran shield, and a painting on the wall that depicts Themyscira Island.

Captain America has posed:
Steve opened the door at the verbal invitation. It was a touch pad, rather than a knob. He walked in, and set his bag down by the door, since he didn't expect he would need it, though it wasn't in the way of the door. As he took a few steps away from the door, it closed on its own. It was on a sensor for closing after being opened. But would not open until someone, on either side, pressed the touchpad.

"Thanks for inviting me, Diana. You look good." She did, though very casual. He rather enjoyed her company, though had trouble understanding exactly what they were, or had. It was something he was curious to pursue and see where it might lead. Walking towards the painting that depicted Themyscira, and admired it, for what it depicted, and for the artwork itself. He was an amateur artist himself.

And then he made his way to the couch, taking a seat, since this was her quarters, she had invited him, and it seemed odd to stand in the middle of it. The quarters looked much like any other quarter, with a living room, kitchenette, presumably doors that led to a bedroom, bathroom, linen closet, and laundry room, perhaps an office. Everything someone might need.

Wonder Woman has posed:
A smile touched at the corners of her lips as she watched him come in, giving the bag a glance as he set it nearby. She didn't ask anything about it, her attention turing back to him. Lifting one of her hands, she caught a stray lock of hair to brush aside from her face, tucking it behind one of her ears.

You are welcome, Steve. Thank you," she says, ducking her chin slightly at his words. "You look good as well," she adds, inclining her head towards him. "How did you enjoy the pool?" she asks, a flicker of curiosity to her voice. It would seem that, even though he hadn't mentioned it in the messages, she's aware that's where he came from. Likely the smell of the chlorine yet lingering to him. She'd granted little in the way of insight as to what they had and what they were. Sometimes, things were less complicated without a definition or a label put to them. She glances towards the painting that he admires, and then turns her blue gaze to him. "One of my Sisters painted it," she offers, by way of explanation. Themyscira is a beautiful island -- paradise, as some might call it.

"I thought it might be an opportunity for us to sped a bit of time together. Get to know each other better, perhaps. Would you care for anything? Something to drink, perhaps?" she offers, tiltig her head a touch to one side. The screen of the datapad had gone to sleep, a blinking light indicating it was still powered on. She wasn't concerned about it. She would be able to hear if an alarm was raised even without the datapad receiving the streams from the main observation room.

Captain America has posed:
She had a smile that could melt the coldest heart, and with her playing with her hair, he returned the warm gesture in kind. His hair was cut considerably shorter, so there really weren't locks to play with, but there was enough to run one's hand through, grab, or play with. It wasn't military length, but was short to medium length for a man.

"Thank you, Diana, you're too kind," he began, but when she mentioned the pool, his lips curled into a bit of a smirk, "didn't quite manage to get all the chlorine out, did I?" He didn't like the shower they had in the men's changing room. Not enough pressure.

"It is a nice painting, good brushwork, and I like what she did with the negative space. It looks beautiful," though he understood as a man, he was not welcome there except for special occasions, like a supervillain about to destroy it, or some other catastrophe.

"I could drink something. Whatever you're having will be great." He wasn't picky, although that had gotten him into trouble when Thor brought out some of the Asgardian alcohol. "It's nice, being up here, with you, and no one shooting at us." He smirked again, enjoying the view of space, though the view of the woman beside him gave the stars a run for their money.

Wonder Woman has posed:
"No kinder than what you are, and 'tis only the truth," Diana says, inclining her head towards him. There's a sparkle that finds her blue eyes, and then she gives a small shake of her head as a smile quirks her lips. "Some of it yet lingers. It has a way of doing that. I always end up washing my hair a few times after I have been in the pool," she says, a smile easily returning to her features.

"She did an excellent job in capturing the majesty of the island. It truly is something to see from above, to be able to admire the fall of the land and the waterfall, the rivers. I have had the opportunity to explore it from one end to another," Diana says, a soft tone to her voice. "Perhaps with Themyscira having an Embassy, you might be able to visit it at some poit," she adds, a thoughtul tone to her voice. That decision is upon another rather than up to her.

One of her eyebrows quirks slightly, and she gives a nod to him. "Silver needle tea, then," she says with a smile. She steps towards the kitchenette, retrieving the kettle in order to fill it and get it on the burner to heat. "I have a few hours yet of being on duty and keeping an eye to things," she comments, turning her head to look towards him. She retrieves a pair of mugs and then puts in tea strainers with the loose leaf tea. "It is always nice to not be getting shot at," she says, one of her eyebrows quirking up slightly. "It is nice to have your company, as well. Have you been enjoying your time here at Watchtower thus far?"

Captain America has posed:
"Ah, so that's the secret." He said with an easy voice. For someone with a reputation for being rigid, he could relax, seem at easy, just enjoy sitting on a couch beside a friend. "I rarely spend much time in the shower. Probably army training," since he had been taught not to waste water. He went in, cleaned himself, and got out, with minimal dawdling.

"That's... out of my hands, but it would be nice. I'm sure someday I will be." He was ever the optimist. It also helped that he seemed to be long lived, and he was on relatively good terms with the Princesses, so it stood to reason he might get to visit it at some point. Either that, or some supervillain would inadvertently issue him an invitation.

He let her get the tea, since she offered, it was her home, and she knew where everything was. Still, he wanted to help. He got up, joining her in presence, if not in fact. He was showing in body language that he was with her, even as she did all the work. "It's impressive." He tapped his foot, "artificial gravity, or through spinning, however it's achieved. Spacious, sturdy, you have a pool. It's something to be able to swim in space. Although, anywhere would be fine by me. It's the company that's important." He didn't even mean that as a line. It kind of surprised him that it came out that way. He was just thinking off the cuff.

Wonder Woman has posed:
"It is, or at least one of them," Diana comments, a smile coming to her features. "Then again, I also have more hair than what you do, so it takes a few washes in order to get it all washed out," she adds. With that comment being made, she lifts her right hand to pull the hairstick from her hair before tucking it into a glass sitting on a window ledge beneath a reflective window that shows an image of Themyscira that could well be in real time.

"It is out of my hands as well, but I will suggest the notion that those who might come and help fight off a supervillain might benefit from knowing the layout of the island for such purposes," Diana says, a thoughtful tone to her voice. "Perhaps the logic in the notion will be heard," she adds, then gives a small nod. She finishes with making the tea, then with the two mugs in hand, she turns to offer him one of them. "If you wish sugar or milk or anything to add to the tea, then please ask," she says, a smile coming to her features.

"It is a fairly impressive feat of technology. It could be called a collection of technologies," she says. "I believe it is artificial gravity, although I could be wrong. The technology here is greater than what was on Themyscira," she comments, giving a soft chuckle. "I enjoy the pool as well, and usually swim every day when I am here. The opportunity is not so easy to come by when I am in Manhattan," she says, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "The company is important, regardless of where one happens to be."

Captain America has posed:
"You do," he agrees, as she pulls the hair stick out, letting her hair flow more freely. He reached for his own hair, running his right hand through it, feeling it, and wondered what hers might feel like, but he didn't think it appropriate to ask.

"It would give a tactical advantage to know the lay of the land, the culture, the existing fortifications. Of course, the alternative is that letting us in could be seen as a security risk, as we'd be better prepped for an invasion. It's hard to make a case like that. Everything we can say for, usually is paired with something against." He takes his tea as is. Sometimes he likes milk or sugar, but today, he was just taking it the way she was.

"You know, I don't think I got enough of a swim out there," he was exaggerating, "I might just need to swim a few more laps... once you're off duty. Care to join me when you can?"

Wonder Woman has posed:
Lifting her right hand, she lightly draws her fingers through her dark hair, tussling it briefly before letting it fall over her shoulders. There's a brief glance given to his hair, but her gaze readily returns to his face, watching him. "Are you hungry at all?" Diana asks, a flicker of curiosity to her voice. She does try to be a good hostess.

"Mmm, well... learning the culture is a thing that would take a bit more time. Learning the layout of the land and the existing fortifications could be useful. It is a risk, and yet there are benefits to it as well. There would have to be a certain amount of trust extended to those who would be coming to the island. And we are... beholden of a certain wariness where men are concerned," she muses, her tone thoughtful in nature. She shifts her weight slightly, to lean against the counter behind her. She, it would seem, adds nothing to her tea either.

One of her eyebrows quirks up at his comment about his swim, and she tilts her head a touch to one side. "Well, I was considering going for a swim once I had finished my shift. I could certainly do to swim at least a few laps, once I am off duty," she says with a smile, her blue eyes showing a sparkle to them.

Captain America has posed:
"No need to cook on my account, or..." he was going to say order in. His face scrunched in thought. "A station of this size, there has to be a cafeteria of some kind. Do they deliver?" He shook his head, amused at the thought, before bringing it back to, "if there is food, I will eat, but if not, that's fine too." He didn't want to be impolite.

"If you want to fight alongside someone, you should know them, what motivates them, what they like, what they don't like, how they fight, how they live, it's all part of the..." he was going to say human, but he wasn't sure if Amazons were humans, or like Asgardians, some other species, so he settles for, "experience of life."

He watches as she shifts her weight, and instinctively, he mirrors it, leaning against the same counter, looking at her. "So, we have a plan for after your shift. How are we going to spend the rest of your shift?"

Wonder Woman has posed:
"Cooking is not a skill that I am particularly good at, as of yet," Diana says, a smile quirking at the corners of her lips. She laughs lightly, and then she gives a nod. "There is a cafeteria, and they early always have a variety of foods available to choose from. They will bring food to the rooms, if it is asked for," she comments. She lifts her tea, taking a sip of it from her mug.

"And what, if I might ask, motivates you?" Diana asks, raising an eyebrow slightly and watching him. "You should bring your shield the next time we spar off against one another, then I can see how you fight with it. Life has many experiences to offer, I have learned," she says, giving a small nod towards him. She shifts the mug within her hands, holding it cupped between both of them, the heat of it apparently not bothering her.

"It would seem that we do. How many laps do you usually swim?" Diana asks, a flicker of curiosity coming to her voice. "As for the rest of the shift, well... I do need to keep an ear to the monitoring systems, but I see no reason that we cannot spend it in each other's company, learning more of each other," she says, one of her eyebrows quirking up slightly.

Captain America has posed:
"I thought everyone learned to cook. We can't eat out all the time." He wasn't a great cook, but he knew how to cook some things, "plus, the internet is great for it. I've tried out a few recipes that I found online." Although having the cafeteria made it easier, and being a superhero space station, they were likely healthy options.

It was funny she should mention the shield. It was currently in the bag he had left near the door. As well as his toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, mouthwash, swimming shorts, towel, comb, wallet, Avengers communicator, and his Captain America uniform. Everything he might need. "I could say duty, honor, country, but that's a slogan. The truth is, I do what I do because I think it's right. Might sound a bit simplistic, but not everything has to be complicated."

"I really more of a runner than a swimmer. The pool at the mansion is outside, where anyone with a helicopter, or long lens can take photos. Tony says there's some kind of energy field that prevents photos from being taken, but running is just easier, plus, it's far more scenic. I like to run different places."

Taking his tea with him back to the couch, he takes a seat, hoping she'll join him, "what about you Diana, what motivates you, to be Wonder Woman, to be a member of the Justice League, and to spend time with me?"

Wonder Woman has posed:
"I can cook some basic things, so I am not wholly without options, but I am not what I would consider to be a great cook," Diana says, quirking a smile. She raises an eyebrow slightly at his mention of the internet for recipes, and then she gives a nod. "It is, there are a great many on it. It is very useful for a great many thigs, I have found," she comments, her gaze following him.

Diana tilts her head slightly to one side as she listens to the answer that he offers, and she gives a small nod. "There is something to be said for doing things because they are the right things to be doing, Steve," she says. "Things do not need to be complicated or have great long answers or expansive reasons behind them. Sometimes the simplest answer is the best answer," she adds, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Running is good, as well. I used to run a fair bit on Themyscira, to explore the island and what have you. I enjoy swimming here. It is a very large pool, and I quite like it," she says in a thoughtful tone. She follows him over to the couch, keeping her mug of tea in hand and glancing towards the datapad as she passes it. Then she settles on the couch, tucking one of her feet beneath her. "Me? Ah, well. Much like you, I do most of the things that I do because they are the right thing. I do what must be done. I put myself in the way of danger to protect them from it. I want people to be safe, and to be happy, and do what I can to see that  happen," she says softly, a smile turning at the corners of her lips. "As for spending time with you, well... that has a simpler answer -- thus far, I like you. And the only way to get to know you is to spend time with you."

Captain America has posed:
"Seeing the stars while swimming is a surreal experience; I probably spent a long time just wadding near the glass," or whatever it was made out of. The only thing that separated him from the vacuum of space seemed to be that pane of glass, although it was no doubt some material far more durable.

He was touched by her simple, but honest answer to why they were spending time together. "I like you too, Diana." He did. They had a lot in common, both being new to this world, both being heroes, both iconic to their people, fighting and defending them. But more than that, they seemed to have a lot in common interest and personality wise.

He reached out to place a hand on the couch, between them, but not touching. Though as he did that simple move, testing to see what she might do, he simultaneously asked, with a bit of a wry grin, "so, an island of no men. When you swim, do you prefer one piece, or bikinis?" A lot of women in this day and age seemed to go with bikinis, but he kind of preferred the more modest. It seemed to be an uncommon view.

Wonder Woman has posed:
"It is, yes. The first time I swam in the pool, here, I spent much time in gazing out at the stars and looking out into space. It is much different than swimming in the ocean," Diana says, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I am not sure what the walls of the pool are made of, but they are very durable and thick," she adds, giving a small nod. She lifts her mug of tea, taking a sip of it.

She inclines her head slightly towards him when he says he likes her, and a smile turns at the corners of her lips. "Then it would seem that you have fair reason to spend time with me as well," she says, her blue eyes showing a spark of amusement to them. They do seem to have some few pieces of common ground to stand on.

She's aware of that placement of his hand, though for the moment, she does nothing about the fact that it's there. She draws her other leg up and tucks her foot beneath her, settled now in cross-legged fashion upon the couch. "Mmhmm, an island with no men. I personally prefer to wear a one piece bathing suit. Many of my Sisters are similar in their tastes. It is not very often that I go to somewhere more public to swim, though there is the odd time when I do," she says, watching him.

Captain America has posed:
"They'd have to be. There's got to be a lot of pressure from the water, and the gravity. I hear some of the Justice League don't play too nice," what with their god-like powers, present company included, "and, there's everything outside to think about." Space was mostly empty, but there were objects that travelled through it, some natural, others not so, that could easily crack or dent it, if there was much give.

He lifted his mug with his free hand, taking a sip. He carefully watches her reactions when he admits that he likes her too. He liked how amused she seemed to be by the admission. When his gesture is understood, but goes unremarked and without any overt response, the hand is pulled back, ostensibly to hold his tea in hi other hand, but it was an attempt that failed. No need to dwell on it. He nods in agreement about the swimming and the decor.