preston rawlings, psychic accountant (ex_clerk820) wrote in rooms,
Re: Hotel: meet n' greet
[Preston was aware of Shae, but all that was really important was that nobody there got a really good look at her, and there wasn't any reason for them to do so unless it all went horribly wrong. He took a little bit of comfort from the idea that he had allies around somewhere and he tried not to fuss about their welfare, even in his head. Judging from the first few minutes of conversation, no "horribly wrong" was immediately pending. He hoped. Preston was terrible at fieldwork. He kept treating this like interdepartmental cooperation. It's what it felt like to him.
Preston was very aware of things like style and hemlines (not that there was any evidence in his own assembled but otherwise unremarkable appearance, and he figured Peggy for high-level military intelligence as soon as she walked up. Again it was the stride and the shoulders, except he was extremely impressed by the height of her heels, which said something about her total comfort with her appearance. Preston envied that. He nodded politely at Peggy and indicated more seats. If nobody sat down, he wasn't planning on being offended.
Bucky was a little more worrisome. Preston read the old tolerance for violence in the soldier's eyes, and there was a toughness about him that reminded Preston of foot soldiers just off the planes from the desert. Such men were to be treated with respect and caution, and the faint touch of sympathy to Preston's alert, knowing eyes was fleeting but easily present. A second nod, and he turned back to Steve.]
Good to meet you all. Ash is a good name for me, right now. [And, to trained spies, the use of Preston's birthname on his own lips tended to be confusing. The body tells were a mix of screaming truth and total lie. He hated being called 'ash,' but it was helpful.]
Tell me what you're most worried about in our world. [He used 'our' intentionally. A glance at Peggy.] Nothing classified. Just generally.