[ Two people. He wonders who, but he's certain she'll extend the same courtesy of anonymity to them. ]
how much do they know about our date?
[ because any information is, well, extending the number of people likely to grass them up — willingly or unwillingly, when there are telepaths in this city. ]
[ Her home, on the other hand, still has some ears. Trusted ones, but enhanced by supersoldier serum to pick up a whispered conversation. Peggy ducks outside into the cold, bundled up against the chill, and heads towards the stables where she keeps her newly acquired horse. As private as can be. ]
Hi. [ Quietly said and genuine, even with the edge she works to soften. ] First of all, I need you to understand that I don't make a habit of sharing my dates — [ To use his word. ] — with others. But one of the two is my partner from home and we served together in the war, sometimes in the same unit. And the other —
[ A puff of breath. ]
Landed in the first wave with me. Among other things, doing a bit of detective work with me in the aftermath of the attack, he was one of the doctors that found a cure for the epidemic. I approached him about the sketches we found to get his opinion and he asked how I came by them. [ A pause. ] I meant to imply I'd worked alone but John... kept pressing the issue. Worried that if I get into a fix, he wouldn't know who to get in touch with, that sort of thing. [ A scoff, only not really. ] Wouldn't let it go.
[ Ah. The sketches, a partner — it's a lot of information to share. He didn't expect her to ask for his permission or anything, given that their secret is jointly owned, but it's still a surprise. ]
Hey. [ he's terribly fond of her and trusts her more than most, which softens this slightly. He's also new to Kingsman — new to the secrecy that he was told is paramount to his success. And yet because being a spy is so wrapped up in loyalty, in the test he passed with flying colours by refusing to acknowledge any connection between him and Kingsman, secrecy remains a sensitive topic. ]
[ softly. ] I get it, Peg. [ Why she chose John and mentioned having a plus one. Hell, Peggy pressed him about Roxy, however lightly it was intended, and proved some questions are impossible to dodge successfully. ] Don't love it, but I get it. [ For a moment, Eggsy hesitates. ] I'm not asking you to clear shit with me first or nothing, but — could've used a heads-up, yeah? [ and by way of explanation. ] My people are mental about that sort of thing, y'know. [ His people. Kingsman. ] We ain't even allowed partners, full stop. [ well, a specific type of partner. wink wink. ] The shit I do with you is so off the books.
[ Christ. She doesn't apologise, but it's a near thing; likely it carries in the softness of her voice. It's not ideal, not by half, and given her record, she should know better. Interrogation under the Gestapo is one thing, but trust is a currency carefully earned and rarely spent. She was trained to take her own life before breaking. (Upon deployment into the field, an SOE operative was given two things: a token like lipstick, and a cyanide pill.)
But in the years after, she also learned something else: to let at least one person into your life who would care if it was in danger. It's a hard lesson and it isn't always easy or so cut and dried. This conversation is proof. ]
Every one of my assignments have been run solo until this point; but I told John for the same reason I approached you to join me. What we're looking into is bigger than idle curiosity, especially if it puts others in danger — not just us. [ A pause, and then: ] I'd considered not bringing this up at all, but you deserve more than my dishonesty. Not just as a partner but as a friend.
[ It's not a promise to warn him — to give him the heads up he asks for her, but her sincerity is obvious. Peggy always does what she thinks is best — for everyone, not just herself — and Eggsy trusts her judgment. Regardless of her sound reasoning for it, Peggy cutting him out of her decision leaves him hurt. ]
Maybe don't lead with "I considered not telling you what I did with the evidence we found together." [ teasing, but also, well, not, which he recognises is a bit childish, even as he says it. And he realises this is bigger than the both of them, too, but he'd rather have discussed what to do with the information that they found together. He doesn't want or expect an apology, of course. They're both adults. And he knows the score from now on: They're still independent agents, not partners like he and Harry. Being friends and spies makes things difficult, but it shouldn't. ]
[ Best to get back to business, isn't it? ] Reckon we should tell Cree about John?
[ John is her friend first, so Eggsy defers to her in the matter. ]
[ She exhales explosively, the soft thud of the back of her head dropping against the stable wall likely audible. The reprimand isn't necessarily unwarranted, she'd likely say the exact same in his position. To go haring off without a second thought, make a decision that impacts more than just herself, however small, however well-intended. Until the SSR, Peggy truly had learned to appreciate working alone. Partners are complicated in all senses of the word. But people like Daniel Sousa and Edwin Jarvis have taught her it's all right to place some trust in others, to share the load.
Your desire to help others is noble, but I doubt you'll find much success unless you allow others to help you.
Too bloody true, Mr Jarvis. And this is what she gets for trying to do right by that. But while she understands where Eggsy is coming from, she can't help but bristle a little. What she almost says is for fuck's sake; what she almost says is this is precisely why I thought about not telling you — but she bites it back for something else. Something less emotional, less accusatory. ]
I'm not one to mix the personal and professional. We don't owe him every aspect of our lives. [ Low, firm. ] If the situation arises where it might be better to do so, then yes. But I'm not here to put someone else in the thick of it — if there's any blowback from a decision I make, then let it be on me. [ A pause. ] Like now.
[ It's the answer he'd expected, and the one he would have given, in her shoes — until the end.]
Peggy, I didn't mean to — I should have said earlier. [ Something, anything, even though words aren't his strong suit. He put himself in a compromised position, he revealed himself to Peggy, agreed to work with her, didn't say how much secrecy or openness he expected, made the mistake of assuming they were the same. No, he made the mistake of thinking she was Roxy. Because Peggy is so much of her: from confidence to competence (and warmth, he thinks, that too). Of course it isn't that simple, in the end. Of course she's her own woman from her own agency with its own rules and tendencies. He swallows. ] I won't mention him. Swear down.
[ He pauses, then. Like her, he wants to snap again: Do I get to know what he thought of the drawings? Are you still thinking about not telling me that, too? Instead, he says, ] What did he think of the drawings, then?
[ Because of course she was going to tell him. They found them together, and whatever Cree thinks of them is an opinion they wont be privy to, so it was important to seek out another. Taking them to someone with a little bit more expertise in biology, with a proper informed medical background, had been her reason for sharing the sketches. Because even with her own passable knowledge — it is the Strategic Scientific Reserve, after all — a second set of eyes is always helpful. ]
Remember what I said when we found them? That I'd encountered a gas that triggered similar effects? Turns out that sort of thing isn't isolated to one world or the next. [ Her tone all but says big surprise. Science is both wonderful and horrific. ] He'd seen experiments before, too. In both instances, they were invented for chemical warfare with the projects shut down because of how disastrous the results were.
[ For John, it was H.O.U.N.D. that created such a thing to trigger fear in the enemy to weaken them and resulted in paranoia, insanity. For her, it was Howard Stark and his blasted Midnight Oil meant to keep soldiers on their feet for days — which induced psychosis, aggression. The results of sleep deprivation. And, of course, death ]
You saw the notes. You can imagine what the scientists working on such a thing are after. The cases John and I worked had those results as side effects, they were never meant to be fatal — but they were weaponised because of it. Which doesn't bode well for our little discovery since it seems quite intentional.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
how much do they know about our date?
[ because any information is, well, extending the number of people likely to grass them up — willingly or unwillingly, when there are telepaths in this city. ]
no subject
no subject
it's just me and jb at home
no subject
Hi. [ Quietly said and genuine, even with the edge she works to soften. ] First of all, I need you to understand that I don't make a habit of sharing my dates — [ To use his word. ] — with others. But one of the two is my partner from home and we served together in the war, sometimes in the same unit. And the other —
[ A puff of breath. ]
Landed in the first wave with me. Among other things, doing a bit of detective work with me in the aftermath of the attack, he was one of the doctors that found a cure for the epidemic. I approached him about the sketches we found to get his opinion and he asked how I came by them. [ A pause. ] I meant to imply I'd worked alone but John... kept pressing the issue. Worried that if I get into a fix, he wouldn't know who to get in touch with, that sort of thing. [ A scoff, only not really. ] Wouldn't let it go.
no subject
Hey. [ he's terribly fond of her and trusts her more than most, which softens this slightly. He's also new to Kingsman — new to the secrecy that he was told is paramount to his success. And yet because being a spy is so wrapped up in loyalty, in the test he passed with flying colours by refusing to acknowledge any connection between him and Kingsman, secrecy remains a sensitive topic. ]
[ softly. ] I get it, Peg. [ Why she chose John and mentioned having a plus one. Hell, Peggy pressed him about Roxy, however lightly it was intended, and proved some questions are impossible to dodge successfully. ] Don't love it, but I get it. [ For a moment, Eggsy hesitates. ] I'm not asking you to clear shit with me first or nothing, but — could've used a heads-up, yeah? [ and by way of explanation. ] My people are mental about that sort of thing, y'know. [ His people. Kingsman. ] We ain't even allowed partners, full stop. [ well, a specific type of partner. wink wink. ] The shit I do with you is so off the books.
[ which is why he hasn't told Harry. ]
no subject
[ Christ. She doesn't apologise, but it's a near thing; likely it carries in the softness of her voice. It's not ideal, not by half, and given her record, she should know better. Interrogation under the Gestapo is one thing, but trust is a currency carefully earned and rarely spent. She was trained to take her own life before breaking. (Upon deployment into the field, an SOE operative was given two things: a token like lipstick, and a cyanide pill.)
But in the years after, she also learned something else: to let at least one person into your life who would care if it was in danger. It's a hard lesson and it isn't always easy or so cut and dried. This conversation is proof. ]
Every one of my assignments have been run solo until this point; but I told John for the same reason I approached you to join me. What we're looking into is bigger than idle curiosity, especially if it puts others in danger — not just us. [ A pause, and then: ] I'd considered not bringing this up at all, but you deserve more than my dishonesty. Not just as a partner but as a friend.
no subject
Maybe don't lead with "I considered not telling you what I did with the evidence we found together." [ teasing, but also, well, not, which he recognises is a bit childish, even as he says it. And he realises this is bigger than the both of them, too, but he'd rather have discussed what to do with the information that they found together. He doesn't want or expect an apology, of course. They're both adults. And he knows the score from now on: They're still independent agents, not partners like he and Harry. Being friends and spies makes things difficult, but it shouldn't. ]
[ Best to get back to business, isn't it? ] Reckon we should tell Cree about John?
[ John is her friend first, so Eggsy defers to her in the matter. ]
no subject
Your desire to help others is noble, but I doubt you'll find much success unless you allow others to help you.
Too bloody true, Mr Jarvis. And this is what she gets for trying to do right by that. But while she understands where Eggsy is coming from, she can't help but bristle a little. What she almost says is for fuck's sake; what she almost says is this is precisely why I thought about not telling you — but she bites it back for something else. Something less emotional, less accusatory. ]
I'm not one to mix the personal and professional. We don't owe him every aspect of our lives. [ Low, firm. ] If the situation arises where it might be better to do so, then yes. But I'm not here to put someone else in the thick of it — if there's any blowback from a decision I make, then let it be on me. [ A pause. ] Like now.
no subject
Peggy, I didn't mean to — I should have said earlier. [ Something, anything, even though words aren't his strong suit. He put himself in a compromised position, he revealed himself to Peggy, agreed to work with her, didn't say how much secrecy or openness he expected, made the mistake of assuming they were the same. No, he made the mistake of thinking she was Roxy. Because Peggy is so much of her: from confidence to competence (and warmth, he thinks, that too). Of course it isn't that simple, in the end. Of course she's her own woman from her own agency with its own rules and tendencies. He swallows. ] I won't mention him. Swear down.
[ He pauses, then. Like her, he wants to snap again: Do I get to know what he thought of the drawings? Are you still thinking about not telling me that, too? Instead, he says, ] What did he think of the drawings, then?
no subject
[ Because of course she was going to tell him. They found them together, and whatever Cree thinks of them is an opinion they wont be privy to, so it was important to seek out another. Taking them to someone with a little bit more expertise in biology, with a proper informed medical background, had been her reason for sharing the sketches. Because even with her own passable knowledge — it is the Strategic Scientific Reserve, after all — a second set of eyes is always helpful. ]
Remember what I said when we found them? That I'd encountered a gas that triggered similar effects? Turns out that sort of thing isn't isolated to one world or the next. [ Her tone all but says big surprise. Science is both wonderful and horrific. ] He'd seen experiments before, too. In both instances, they were invented for chemical warfare with the projects shut down because of how disastrous the results were.
[ For John, it was H.O.U.N.D. that created such a thing to trigger fear in the enemy to weaken them and resulted in paranoia, insanity. For her, it was Howard Stark and his blasted Midnight Oil meant to keep soldiers on their feet for days — which induced psychosis, aggression. The results of sleep deprivation. And, of course, death ]
You saw the notes. You can imagine what the scientists working on such a thing are after. The cases John and I worked had those results as side effects, they were never meant to be fatal — but they were weaponised because of it. Which doesn't bode well for our little discovery since it seems quite intentional.