Peggy Carter (hisbestgal) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-01-12 17:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, peggy carter |
Who: Peggy Carter and Doug Ramsey
What: Random encounter
Where: Target
When: Recently
Rating: G
Status: Complete
If someone had told Peggy that she would be spending this much time inside a Target store ever she would have laughed in their face. Target wasn’t a place that Peggy ever spent time at, granted she lived overseas for most of her life, but now with the baby on the way she was there far more often than she ever imagined.
They had put together a baby registry at the store, but she wanted to pick up a few things, which included some computer items over in electronics. She pushed her cart full of random baby items, some clothes, some food, and a handful of Christmas clearance items over to that section. Her mind was wandering when she pushed her cart into someone else’s and she immediately flushed, “Shite, I am so sorry!”
***
“Not your fault! My fault entirely.” Doug sing-songed it as he danced out of the way, and slapped his cart, making it jump up, then spinning it over hers and landing it softly on the other side. Thus situated in a fraction of a moment, he turned to make sure she was okay.
“Sorry about that. I wasn’t watching where I was going. I keep looking for this one computer that was advertised and…;” he flailed one hand. “I think I was sent on a wild goose chase. Or it already sold out. Or something. Are you okay?” He peered at her concernedly.
He had come in for the latest high tech computer system, a state of the art job, but now he wondered if it was all gone.
***
“Oh certainly mine,” Peggy tried to explain to the man who was twirling his cart around and she couldn’t help but smirk a little. At least she hadn’t run into someone who was a total jerk about the whole situation. If that had happened she probably would have gone off on them thanks to the hormones, but for now she got to stay calm and cool at the local Target school, “And don’t worry, I wasn’t watching either. And that is usually what happens when you’re looking for something in the ad. But yes, I am fine.”
She tried to reassure him with her voice. It was hard enough shopping here for normal things that Peggy couldn’t imagine trying to find the items that were in the sale ad. Everyone was mad about shopping, but Peggy felt like Americans took it to new extremes. At least this wasn’t Black Friday.
***
Doug smiled, then and nodded. “Yeah, okay.” He waved around. “I may be completely lost, too. I’ve been trying to upgrade my computer system and I think I maybe be unable to find anything I’m looking for.” Without thinking it or meaning to, his accent and very bearing became more like hers as he spoke to her. His nascent abilities had been, unbeknownst to him, doing odd little things like that.
Shaking his head, and feeling abashed, he smiled to her and her cart and raised an eyebrow. “Can I help you? Maybe my luck will change if I’m not actively looking for what I want.”
***
Peggy’s ears certainly perked at hearing his voice change a little, but she wasn’t going to say that. Sometimes you just couldn’t help what happened when you heard people speak. “Well, I don’t know if Target is the best place to upgrade your computer. You might be better off at Best Buy, honestly, but that’s not my decision,” she countered with a sly smile. Best Buy would be her go to for those kind of electronics, but she left those things up to other people for the most part.
“Oh, I think I’m doing alright for now, but thank you for offering,” the smile grew into a more natural one, “I’m doing a bit of wandering now. I like impulse shopping every once and awhile. This unborn baby has far too many things and I feel like I deserve a treat every once and awhile.” She was going to be swimming in baby items for quite awhile.
***
“Best Buy? Maybe I should head there. “ He shook his head. “I’m a little clueless when it comes to computers. I didn’t even like them until I had a very weird dream.”
Doug smiled at her. She seemed very nice.
“I can imagine that the baby keeps you busy. But buying yourself a treat is a definite good thing.” He nodded. He thought one should occasionally spoil one’s self.
***
“Oh really? So, you just had some dreams about computers and now you want to make one?” Peggy was slightly intrigued by that. It was more than likely he was a Dreamer as well, but that was an odd interest to suddenly have.
“Yeah, right now it’s not so bad since she’s still cooking, but once she’s outta her little jail she’s going to be a handful,” her hand absentmindedly went to her stomach where she could feel her daughter flipping around and being a crazy person. She was so curious as to if the serum from Steve would bleed over to her, “And might as well treat myself before all my money goes to her.”
***
“Yeah, it’s like my fingers itch for it. So many thoughts in my head like I can see components and how they fit together. Which is weird. I never liked computers before now.” He shook his head.
Doug chuckled, smiling. “Ever since I started dreaming a stupid fantasy life, I’ve begun to think I am crazy.”
He smiled at her as she talked about her child.
“Absolutely. You sound like you are going to totally be an awesome mom, and for now you should totally treat yourself.”
***
“That is so odd. You weren’t bit by some kind of weird computer-radioactive spider or anything?” Peggy couldn’t help but grin a little at the idea of this man being like Spiderman in her world, “But hey, that’s not a horrible hobby to get in. And you’re not entirely crazy because I’ve dreamt of a whole other life too,” Peggy pointed out. Valar was a pretty prominent thing around here and by the way he was talking she thought he might be on it.
“And thank you, that’s very sweet of you.”
***
“Not as far as I know, no.” He chuckled. “That would be weird.”
Doug stared. “You have? Are you on the network?” He goggled. That was so cool! “What sort of life? And what do you do in it?” He was curious now.
***
“I am on the network. I’ve dreamt about the 1940’s and working for a special branch of the military to create a super solider, what about you?” Peggy was curious especially since the random aptitude to computers came out of nowhere. Maybe it made sense - he was possibly a hacker or some kind of crazy pencil pusher.
***
Doug relaxed, smiling. “I dream of being a mutant who can understand any code, any language within minutes of seeing it, and can hack almost anything, apparently, even alien tech.”
He shook his head. “Dream me goes to a school for such people, each with different powers.”
“If it wasn’t for the fact that my real life closest friend was in the dreams, and dreams, too, I might think I was crazy.”
***
“Wow, that sounds...impressive. And incredibly useful. Even alien tech…..If you’re ever looking for a job, let me know, I think I know where you could fit in,” Peggy could totally use someone with his skillset at the Agency, but only if he was looking for a job, “And that’s good that your friend is in the dreams as well, makes it easier to handle things.”
***
Doug blinked. “Really? I mean, I don’t know if any of those skills have transferred over yet. You’d be taking a chance on me.” He felt stunned. People generally didn’t just offer him jobs.
“I, ah, don’t need one so much as want one. I am so very bored. I was a competitive surfer until the dreams started and now, it feels like surfing is a waste of time, somehow. It’s kind of maddening.” He shook his head. These dreams were taking over his life.
“Yeah, Kitty is pretty cool. She has made sure I’m not completely losing it… mostly.”
***
“Well, you can always wait and find out. It doesn’t have to be immediately,” Peggy explained as she opened up her purse and pulled out one of her business cards, “Just give me a call whenever you want and we can chat. We do some interesting stuff and I think your skills once they come through would come in handy.”
At least he seemed receptive to the idea of working. He might think otherwise if he finds out what exactly he was going to do, but at least she could get him to come in.The fact that he was bored made her smile a little, what she would give to be a little bored, but then this was coming at a good time.
“Good, you’ll need more people around to help you out when things start happening. I know how it can be. I’ve seen a lot of people develop their powers on the network.”
***
Doug took the card and nodded as he listened to her talk. “Well, yeah, okay. Sure. I mean, that sounds interesting and vague in an intriguing way.” He grinned at her to show he was teasing a little.
Doug liked her style, and he hoped he could live up to her expectations, suddenly. He hated disappointing people. If he had to lose surfing and gain hacking, well, he would like to be able to use it well. For something important.
“This happens a lot? Oh man.” He shook his head. It sounded like the OC was even crazier than being chased by a Santa Elf had led him to believe.
***
“Yeah, this place is nuts, but I’m around if you ever need to chat. I should get to buying this stuff, my ankles are starting to kill,” the main downside to pregnancy was not being able to be as active as she used to be. Her body ached more than she knew it could, “I’ll see you around and it was very nice to meet you.”
***
“Thank you. And of course. See you, Peggy./ I hope your day goes well.” He nodded to her and turned to go, bouncing a little and feeling a little more relieved and excited about his possible chances.
A job? That could be cool.
It was only an hour later that he realized he hadn’t asked what the job might be. Oh well. Probably an office job, right? Right.