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Tweak says, "why not both?"

Steve Rogers (kidfrombrooklyn) wrote in paradisolog,
@ 2016-08-20 02:24:00

Entry tags:

steve rogers (kidfrombrooklyn), ~mary crawley (ladycontrary)

WHO: Steve Rogers & Mary Crawley
WHAT: Building a shelter & getting to know each other
WHEN: Friday morning (backdated a bit!)
WARNINGS: TBD; will update
STATUS: Closed | Complete

Steve had been more than happy to offer to help build Lady Crawley a shelter for herself. It had been the right thing to do, but it also turned into a really great distraction. Things were getting complicated with Peggy's arrival, so it was nice to take his mind off all of that and get lost in building something with his hands. His morning had started off very early, just as the sun had risen, and he'd stripped his shirt off within the hour to deal with the heat. The frame work was all done by the time Lady Crawley came up to check in on his progress, and he offered her a warm, easy smile as he saw her approach.

"Morning, Lady Crawley," Steve greeted, hoping she wouldn't mind the fact that he was dressed only in his cargo shorts and sneakers. His shirt was tucked into the back of his shorts and he'd been using it to wipe the sweat off his brow every so often while he worked. "I'm making good progress," he offered. "I should be done in a few days, hopefully." He was going a bit slower than he would've liked because he wanted to make sure he was doing it correctly.

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ladycontrary
2016-08-24 04:55 pm UTC (link)

Mary shrugged and gave a slight eye roll. "It's all rather boring, really. It's a country life. Our estate leases land to farmers for a share of the profits and I help to manage the leases and make sure that everything is on the up and up with the farmers." Other than that, her life was kind of dull compared to what it sounded like Steve's life was like. "My sister was actually quite involved in the suffragette movement, yes."

She eyed him. "A man like you did not have a wife back home?" Might as well lay it out.

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kidfrombrooklyn
2016-08-26 09:38 pm UTC (link)

He chuckled at that. Lady Crawley probably hadn't felt very challenged, Steve supposed. "You weren't?" he asked, surprised that she said just her sister had been into it and not the pair of them. She turned the conversation to him and he felt the blush that started to color his cheeks.

"Nah, no wife for me. I uh, well my plane went down in the Arctic before the war was over. I was frozen in the ice for seventy years or so," Steve explained. "When I woke up, the world was too different to even really think about having a relationship with anyone." There had been Sharon, but in the light of day, Steve couldn't quite be sure if he'd been interested in her because it was her or because she was Peggy's niece and he'd been mourning.

"And yourself? Surely you've made a man very lucky in Downton?" It was a heck of a lot easier to talk about her instead of him.

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ladycontrary
2016-08-26 09:49 pm UTC (link)

"Not particularly. Sybil was the civic-minded one." Being the oldest, Mary was more traditional than her sisters. It certainly wasn't that she disagreed with the idea of women being able to vote, it was just that she was far too conservative to campaign for such a thing. In that sense, she was a typical wealthy lady.

"How incredible," she said of his story. "Sometimes being here I feel as though I have done that as well." Most of the people here tended to be from an entirely different era and it made her feel awkward.

She gave a sad smile at his question. "I am a widow," she replied. "My husband has been dead three years." Thinking about Matthew still hurt, and thinking about him here made her feel as though she were being unfaithful to him.

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kidfrombrooklyn
2016-08-27 08:54 pm UTC (link)

He could understand that. There were always those who preferred to not get too involved in causing a stir until it was more socially acceptable. Steve wouldn't begrudge Lady Mary for that in the slightest. Especially since it seemed like she was all for it even if she wouldn't come right out to support it ahead of it's time. Steve hadn't ever been like that, but he knew plenty of people who were.

"You'll adjust," Steve promised her. "You're smart, Lady Mary, and kind. You'll find your way soon enough and everyone here will be kind enough to help however we can. I know that much, even if I don't know everyone on the island just yet." So far, everyone seemed pretty nice.

His smile quickly turned into a frown at the mention of her husband passing away a few years ago. "I'm so sorry to hear that," he replied, gathering her hands in his. "That can't be easy to carry around with you every day." There was a part of him that wondered if that was why she came to the island, but it would've been to insensitive to ask. Steve would always try to be as polite as possible.

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ladycontrary
2016-08-27 09:14 pm UTC (link)

It had played a small part. At that point in her life, she had broken it off for various reasons with both men who were courting her and she felt like she had no idea what she wanted. Uncomplicated sex sounded fun at the time.

"Thank you," she said. "I have mostly come to terms with it, though one is never truly over something like that."

It brought up sad memories though and she did not want to think of them here in this beautiful place with a man who looked like Steve. She turned her gaze back on him, particularly on his sculpted chest.

"Many people have been helpful, though you have been particularly helpful. I feel as though I should repay you for your kindness."

Perhaps she should not get in the habit of repaying men for favors with sex, but something about Steve made it feel ok. Mary didn't think he would take advantage of the situation.

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kidfrombrooklyn
2016-08-28 06:13 am UTC (link)

"The loss of a loved one is hard," Steve agreed quietly, thinking of Bucky. Losing his best friend had been his own fault, and what followed for him in the seventy years Steve'd been asleep in the ice was on him, too. Bucky'd never admit it, or even agree to seeing it that way, but it didn't matter because that was the way Steve saw it.

He was distracted from his line of thought when she said she felt she needed to repay him, and Steve wasn't so dumb as to miss her meaning. "I'm flattered, Lady Mary, really, I am. And I'd love to...get to know you like that, but only if you want to. I'm not expecting anything in return for building a shelter for you. It's just the right thing to do."

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ladycontrary
2016-08-28 07:11 am UTC (link)

He spoke like someone who had experienced such a loss, though Mary did not press. They had time to get to know each other.

Which led her to their other topic of conversation. Perhaps he was right. "Maybe I should not set the precedent of offering intimacy for favors, though I assure you that I wouldn't do such a thing unless I wanted to. I'm quite sure I want to with you, Mr. Rogers, but for now perhaps we can settle on a kiss?"

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kidfrombrooklyn
2016-08-28 03:40 pm UTC (link)

Steve couldn't help smiling at that. Lady Mary sure was something else. She was a good woman and would potentially be a good friend. She reminded him a bit of Peggy in a way, if only because of how straightforward she was. It was good to see a woman going after what she wanted, and Steve was flattered that it was him that she wanted.

"I think that'd be swell," he replied with a smile. Steve was happy to take the initiative this time though, so he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers gently, though he wasn't in any rush. Lady Mary was beautiful and kind, and he was happy to pass the time with her.

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Moved to the iPad, done fighting my laptop

ladycontrary
2016-08-28 04:11 pm UTC (link)

Any woman here had to be at least a little bit of a firecracker, Mary felt. They had to be able to voice what they wanted. At the same time though, Mary was happy that Steve had initiated the kiss. She put a tentative hand on his chest as she leaned into him. For a man who claimed little practice he was good. Perhaps now was not the time to go all the way, but Mary definitely had her sights set on him for the future.

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kidfrombrooklyn
2016-08-29 08:48 pm UTC (link)

It was an easy kiss, a gentle one that was more about getting to know one each other than anything else. Steve was certainly interested in getting to know her better because she didn't have any connection with his world. Things hadn't ever been this complicated before and it was putting him all out of sorts.

When he pulled back, Steve was still smiling. "I should probably get back to work," he said, mostly because he did want to finish it and he needed to be sure she wasn't trying for anything just to repay him.

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ladycontrary
2016-08-30 06:20 pm UTC (link)

It was a good kiss. It was warm and Mary could tell there was feeling behind it. She was very interested in seeing where it could go.

"I suppose you must," Mary said with a sigh, reluctantly removing her hands from him and standing up. She smoothed her skirt down. "Please let me know if I can assist you in some way, even if it is only to bring you some food or water."

Mary was happy to do it since he was being such a huge help to her.

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	kidfrombrooklyn 2016-08-30 11:51 pm UTC (link)
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