Application || betenoire_rp
1. Player Information
Name (or internet handle): Val
Current characters in Bete Noire: N/A
2. Character Information
Name: Howard Stark
Livejournal Username: billionaire_dad
Fandom: Captain America
Image: http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/112635910/40112902
Reserve: http://magistrated.livejournal.com/10038.html?thread=1789750#t1789750
3. Character Information II
Age/Appearance: Howard's age is one of those things that is hard to pin down as the Marvel movieverse has its share of inconsistencies. But if I had to wager a guess, I would say he was in mid to late twenties. Between 26-28 years old is my best estimate for him to be as well studied and promient as he is, yet still manage to look in fairly good shape in the early 70s in that film he leaves for Tony in Iron Man 2.
Appearance wise, he is a well bred, dapper looking young man. He has short black hair, brown eyes, a black mustache and is seen almost always wearing a suit, even while overseas, living on an army base during World War 2, he didn't allow himself to dress too down, always keeping up his look if he isn't in a lab. He's about 5'9" and on the lean side, physically he is fairly decent shape for being an engineer. He has a couple of cuts and bruises on his face from prior experiments blowing up in his face that would barely be healing, but nothing that will leave major permanent scarring.
History:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_America:_The_First_Avenger
http://marvel.com/universe/Stark,_Howard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Stark
Personality: Howard Stark is what many would call a man of vision, a real forward thinker; definitely a guy that is way ahead of his time. He is very committed to science and the improvement of life through technology and innovation. During World War II he was not only the leading weapons contractor for the United States, but he was also the best mechnical engineer in the country. So much so that not only was he a part of the Manhattan Project, he also worked as chief weapons designer for Captain America's unit, creating the shield and uniform that Steve Rogers would use in battle. But weapons are not the only thing Howard Stark has an interest in. Being a man of vision, means he loves to invent and push the boundaries of known technology, crossing all the way into uncharted waters as it were. He has just as much enthusiasm for the idea of inventing a flying car or creating a new energy source as he does for creating weapons that can destroy America's enemies.
When it comes to being presented with unknown technology, he is more than willing to rise to the challenge, get in there and start studying it; trying to understand it in hopes that maybe he can replicate it. He loves taking things apart and discovering what makes them work. He is definitely not afraid to get dirty when it applies to work related matters. He is very hands on, not one to rely on his assistants to do everything for him. If something blows up in his face, he takes it in stride, opting to dust himself off and get back to what he was doing. As with all inventors, there are always failures, but he even when an invention doesn't work out right; he doesn't let it get him down. He just goes right back to the drawing board and tries again. Howard is very dedicated and hardworking to the point of letting himself get consumed in whatever project he takes up. The fact that he takes such pride in his work, also means that he loves to show off his successes. He has quite the flair for showmanship and enamoring the masses with things they have never seen before.
On the other side of the coin, because he is such a workaholic, his personal life tends to suffer for it. Oh he has great social skills when it comes to rubbing elbows with high society, working his business and government connections and even charming the ladies, but he's not one to let very many people close to him. But those who manage to get past those walls he puts up, find that he is deep down a good guy at heart, despite his eccentricities. For a guy who is well spoken, very charming and dashing with a big passion for his work and an infectious enthusiam that can be inspiring to others. He is also very indulgent in his lifestyle. The man is rich and he sees nothing wrong with living the high life that is afforded to him. When he is out to party, he'll live it up, excessive drinking, lots of flirting and just general cutting loose. Traits that later lead him down a road that see him become an alcoholic and even more distant and work centered, especially in regards to his son.
Tony described his father as being cold, calculating and never even telling him that he loved him, a lot of this perception likely came from the fact that Howard would push his son to be the best and to have some direction. Considering how driven and ambitious that Howard is in his youth, it stands to reason that he would be upset by the notion that his own kid would prefer to act like a punk and rebel against him. He just can't abide by any flesh and blood of his, being lazy and unmotivated. Especially when he was aware of the genius levels of intelligence that Tony had going for him. Coming from the old school, where men just didn't share their emotions openly, it's not hard to imagine that he wouldn't want to 'coddle' his son, his successor, his very legacy by showering him with affection. Despite his coldness toward Tony, he had high hopes for him, his son was also part of his vision for the future, he just never got the chance to openly express it to him.
Of course Howard of the past, before his marriage and having a kid, is far from being cold, though as was mentioned earlier he does keep people at a distance. It seems likely that the cold and calculating nature begin to develop over the years as his business begins to grow and life just gets more and more complicated. It may even be attributable to the partnership he forms with one Obadiah Stane. The two of them together take Stark Industries from being a profitable business and turning it into the prominent powerhouse that Tony later inherits. One has to be willing to pound their competition into dust, if they are going to remain at the top after all.
Though it also seems safe to say that, the losses during World War II definitely affect him on deeper levels that he will probably ever admit to anyone. It isn't until Steve Rogers apparent death, that the audience catches a glimpse of a man deeply saddened and unwilling to give up on finding his friend's body. This is very likely his way of trying to gain closure for himself, Peggy and the rest of the people who had worked along side Steve. It is also likely the reason, he continued to invent weapons even as he went on to work, trying to create a new source of energy that would make nuclear power obsolete. It says something that he ended up leaving a message for Tony, pointing him in the direction of finishing his life's work; which turned out to be a new power source and not an actual weapon. His idea of changing the world wasn't by way of destroying it, but by finding a way to enrich it. That's the legacy he wanted to give his son to carry on.
In the end, Howard is not without a heart, no matter how deeply he may try to hide it, he does care about the world and definitely wants to make it a better place.
Sexual Preferences/Orientation:
While Howard is a big time flirt. He doesn't really give off the impression that he sleeps around a lot. Mainly he said it himself, that he favors throwing himself into his work rather than trying to understand how a woman's mind works. However the fact that he is from the forties and is a part of the upper crust of society no less. I think he's playboy image is just that, an image. Howard actually has some old fashioned values when it comes down to it. Otherwise he never would have bothered getting married, let alone bothered to stay faithful to his wife. It says something that while Tony saw his dad as being calculated, distant and cold, he never did seem to see him as being a philanderer. There are never any rumors of Howard being unfaithful to his wife, only that he was a workaholic who tended to neglect his family, but there aren't any mentions of mistresses or bastard children popping up.
That leads me to believe that deep down, he is reserved when it comes to his sex life. Sure, he likes to have fun as much as the next guy does, but not at the cost of disrespecting a woman or sullying her reputation. He wouldn't necessarily turn a lady down outright if she puts out the offer, but he would take into account her mindset and make sure she wasn't impaired. He's a smart guy, he wouldn't put himself into a situation where a woman could cry foul on him. On occasion he might put out the offer himself, but he wouldn't be pushy about it. If a woman tells him no, he'd likely shrug and move on. No big deal. Certainly not the end of the world.
Howard Stark without a doubt in my mind is heterosexual. Aside from the fact that he flirts up a storm with Peggy Carter. He seems to really enjoy when he is surrounded by his dancers during his showcase at the World Fair. Eventually he settles down and marries Tony's mother Maria. And well he's never really shown as taking a sexual interest to men, though he is shown as being platonically friendly with them. Given the time period and the mindset of that time, it doesn't seem likely he could allow himself to get close to a man in any sort of sexual way. In fact if a man showed interest in him in that way; he would likely distance himself quickly and even be alarmed by it. That's not to say that he couldn't accept others being in same sex relationships, but it would be a big adjustment in his own mindset to see it as anything other than wrong in the beginning. Though he would also likely see it as it being a personal matter and their business and would probably do his best to avoid speaking about the issue at all. He doesn't like discussing personal things like that openly anyway. One of those 'Gentlemen, don't kiss and tell' type of deals.
Powers: Howard is only human, no real bells and whistles here. All he has is his considerable smarts and work ethic. Aside from being an engineer, inventor, scientist to some degree and a pilot, there's no actual noteworthy powers within him. He's just a man with a lot of drive, tenacity and ambition.
Reason for playing: My main reason for wanting to play him is because I think Howard is a remarkable character and the surface has barely been scratched with him in Captain America. There's a tremendous gap between his time in the forties and how he is remembered in the Iron Man movies. And I would love to be able to explore the facets of his personality that take him from that driven ambitious young man to that workaholic absentee father that was presented later on through his son's eyes.
I love the idea of seeing him react to being in a futuristic/modern day setting and the fact that he would have to deal with meeting his future son and even have to reconcile that in the future he wasn't a good parent. There are just a lot of opportunities in Bete Noire to really get to the heart of his character and explore that inner dark side of his. Hey I'm not even going to lie here, I would also just love to have him interact with the decently sized Marvel Universe cast that is amassing in this game and I am sucker for cross fandom interactions in general.
4. Original Character Supplement
World History: N/A
Character History: N/A
5. Samples
First-Person:
Woah! Some of the technology I've seen in his place is really handy. These PDA things are really useful, wish someone had invented these sooner. Truth be told, I'm kind of jealous I didn't think of something like this myself. It would save me a lot of trouble in keeping my notes organized and so much easier to access things. The guy who invented these is probably raking in the dough! I'm thinking I could probably get use to this place, just the tech alone is enough to whet my appetite!
[ I also have a dear mun post too! Just in case!]
Third-Person:
He had been having trouble finding that usual enthuisasm he had when it came to studying new things. Discovering the power source that Hydra and Schimdt had been using to fuel their technology, would have usually been a cause for wide eyed excitement and an eagerness to learn; however Howard's heart just wasn't it in. If he had to chose between finding the source of their technology or finding any signs of the Captain. He honestly would have chose the Captain. At least if they had found a body, it would have given everyone some closure. The hero that saved the world, wasn't suppose to go out the way he did.
Silently Howard sat in his lab, the strange cube they discovered under containment, while he jolted down some notes on what they had managed to learn about it. Which granted wasn't a whole lot yet. He should have been more dedicated to learning all he could about it, this was potentially an unlimited power source if it could be tapped into correctly. However Howard found himself hestitating when it came to the cube, it was a lot of power...maybe too much power for any one nation to handle.
He sighed deeply, rubbing his face with one hand, while closing his notebook with the other. It was late, maybe he'd have a fresher prospect once he got some sleep. Tiredly he called to one of the assistants to lock down the lab for him, not that he expected anyone to breach the government building they were in, but rather be safe than sorry. Taking off his labcoat, he grabbed up his notes and files and quietly headed for the doors, he'd figured things out later...maybe.
He wasn't paying too much attention as he made his way toward the exit. It wasn't until he stepped outside that he was caught off guard, by the fact that nothing looked familiar. In the place of the well lit parking lot he thought he was heading toward, he found himself looking down the business end of one dark alley. Quickly he turned back toward the building he exited, only to find it wasn't there. Instead he found himself staring at a concrete wall with no small amount of confusion plastered on his face.
"...Maybe I'm more tired than I thought..." He mumbled to himself. Quickly he pinched his arm to see if he were even still awake and to his surprise he did indeed feel pain. "Oh boy, this can't be good." He added in a wary tone, swallowing hard, before cautiously moving forward. Wherever he was, he certainly wouldn't be getting any answers just standing around.
Third-Person #2:
He always thought Peggy was beautiful, he never made a secret about it. Of course, he also respected her as a colleague and friend as well, but that initial attraction didn't go away. Perhaps it had been inevitable that she'd come to him for comfort after Steve disappeared. Whatever the case things had started out so innocent. Rarely did Peggy ever show her vulnerability, but when she wrapped her arms around him and softly weeped into his shoulder, Howard couldn't help but hold her close.
Gently he ran his hand up and down her back in an attempt to be reassuring, he knew the lost had hit her hard, but she would bounce back. There would be life after Steve Rogers for her. How could there not be? They both would move on and continue to fight the good fight in their own ways, of that he was sure. Though it wasn't until she slowly pulled back and their eyes locked that he could see that quiet desperation written all over her face.
"...Howard." She softly whispered, a hint of lust in her voice that sent a shiver down his spine.
There was a brief moment when he thought to step away, but that thought was fleeting the minute she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. Instinctively he kissed her back, his arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her close. Instantly she wrapped her arms around his neck in response, not protesting the closeness but leaning further into it. The kiss they shared was experimental at first, but it didn't take long for them to deepen it. His tongue pushing passed her lips to mingle with hers, dragging a moan out of her.
Her hands came up to tug at his suspenders and he obliged her by shrugging his arms out of them. Suddenly things were feeling urgent on both sides as their hands moved to start undressing each other. It was all a haphazard blur in his mind as she unfastened his pants, while he pushed up her skirt. Sense and reason were left by the wayside, the moment he buried his face into the crook of her neck and pushed inside of her. She cried out, grasping his shoulders tightly as she wrapped her leg around his waist, urging him to continue.
Again he crushed his lips to her, thrusting into her more roughly than he normally would be. Though if she felt he was being too rough, she made no protest as she continued to grip him tightly, practically mewling under his ministrations. Things quickly began to reach a fevered pace, the closer he got to the edge. It wasn't until he felt her body tense and shudder underneath him, her nails almost digging into his skin, that he allowed himself to completely tumble over that edge too.
Quietly they panted, slowly regaining their senses as they continued to hold on to each other. The moment his mind returned to him, a wave of guilt washed over him. He really wasn't one to take advantage of a lady in grieving like this and he could kick himself for doing so with her.
"...Peggy...I-" He started, but she quieted him with a finger to his lips.
"It's okay, Howard. I know." She replied, giving him a watery smile. "Thank you." She added in another soft whisper, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
All he could do was swallow the lump that had began forming in his own throat and hug her in return. It was a silent promise between them that they would never speak of what happened between them again, but it wouldn't be a night that either of them could or would ever forget.
Name (or internet handle): Val
Current characters in Bete Noire: N/A
2. Character Information
Name: Howard Stark
Livejournal Username: billionaire_dad
Fandom: Captain America
Image: http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/112635910/40112902
Reserve: http://magistrated.livejournal.com/10038.html?thread=1789750#t1789750
3. Character Information II
Age/Appearance: Howard's age is one of those things that is hard to pin down as the Marvel movieverse has its share of inconsistencies. But if I had to wager a guess, I would say he was in mid to late twenties. Between 26-28 years old is my best estimate for him to be as well studied and promient as he is, yet still manage to look in fairly good shape in the early 70s in that film he leaves for Tony in Iron Man 2.
Appearance wise, he is a well bred, dapper looking young man. He has short black hair, brown eyes, a black mustache and is seen almost always wearing a suit, even while overseas, living on an army base during World War 2, he didn't allow himself to dress too down, always keeping up his look if he isn't in a lab. He's about 5'9" and on the lean side, physically he is fairly decent shape for being an engineer. He has a couple of cuts and bruises on his face from prior experiments blowing up in his face that would barely be healing, but nothing that will leave major permanent scarring.
History:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_America:_The_First_Avenger
http://marvel.com/universe/Stark,_Howard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Stark
Personality: Howard Stark is what many would call a man of vision, a real forward thinker; definitely a guy that is way ahead of his time. He is very committed to science and the improvement of life through technology and innovation. During World War II he was not only the leading weapons contractor for the United States, but he was also the best mechnical engineer in the country. So much so that not only was he a part of the Manhattan Project, he also worked as chief weapons designer for Captain America's unit, creating the shield and uniform that Steve Rogers would use in battle. But weapons are not the only thing Howard Stark has an interest in. Being a man of vision, means he loves to invent and push the boundaries of known technology, crossing all the way into uncharted waters as it were. He has just as much enthusiasm for the idea of inventing a flying car or creating a new energy source as he does for creating weapons that can destroy America's enemies.
When it comes to being presented with unknown technology, he is more than willing to rise to the challenge, get in there and start studying it; trying to understand it in hopes that maybe he can replicate it. He loves taking things apart and discovering what makes them work. He is definitely not afraid to get dirty when it applies to work related matters. He is very hands on, not one to rely on his assistants to do everything for him. If something blows up in his face, he takes it in stride, opting to dust himself off and get back to what he was doing. As with all inventors, there are always failures, but he even when an invention doesn't work out right; he doesn't let it get him down. He just goes right back to the drawing board and tries again. Howard is very dedicated and hardworking to the point of letting himself get consumed in whatever project he takes up. The fact that he takes such pride in his work, also means that he loves to show off his successes. He has quite the flair for showmanship and enamoring the masses with things they have never seen before.
On the other side of the coin, because he is such a workaholic, his personal life tends to suffer for it. Oh he has great social skills when it comes to rubbing elbows with high society, working his business and government connections and even charming the ladies, but he's not one to let very many people close to him. But those who manage to get past those walls he puts up, find that he is deep down a good guy at heart, despite his eccentricities. For a guy who is well spoken, very charming and dashing with a big passion for his work and an infectious enthusiam that can be inspiring to others. He is also very indulgent in his lifestyle. The man is rich and he sees nothing wrong with living the high life that is afforded to him. When he is out to party, he'll live it up, excessive drinking, lots of flirting and just general cutting loose. Traits that later lead him down a road that see him become an alcoholic and even more distant and work centered, especially in regards to his son.
Tony described his father as being cold, calculating and never even telling him that he loved him, a lot of this perception likely came from the fact that Howard would push his son to be the best and to have some direction. Considering how driven and ambitious that Howard is in his youth, it stands to reason that he would be upset by the notion that his own kid would prefer to act like a punk and rebel against him. He just can't abide by any flesh and blood of his, being lazy and unmotivated. Especially when he was aware of the genius levels of intelligence that Tony had going for him. Coming from the old school, where men just didn't share their emotions openly, it's not hard to imagine that he wouldn't want to 'coddle' his son, his successor, his very legacy by showering him with affection. Despite his coldness toward Tony, he had high hopes for him, his son was also part of his vision for the future, he just never got the chance to openly express it to him.
Of course Howard of the past, before his marriage and having a kid, is far from being cold, though as was mentioned earlier he does keep people at a distance. It seems likely that the cold and calculating nature begin to develop over the years as his business begins to grow and life just gets more and more complicated. It may even be attributable to the partnership he forms with one Obadiah Stane. The two of them together take Stark Industries from being a profitable business and turning it into the prominent powerhouse that Tony later inherits. One has to be willing to pound their competition into dust, if they are going to remain at the top after all.
Though it also seems safe to say that, the losses during World War II definitely affect him on deeper levels that he will probably ever admit to anyone. It isn't until Steve Rogers apparent death, that the audience catches a glimpse of a man deeply saddened and unwilling to give up on finding his friend's body. This is very likely his way of trying to gain closure for himself, Peggy and the rest of the people who had worked along side Steve. It is also likely the reason, he continued to invent weapons even as he went on to work, trying to create a new source of energy that would make nuclear power obsolete. It says something that he ended up leaving a message for Tony, pointing him in the direction of finishing his life's work; which turned out to be a new power source and not an actual weapon. His idea of changing the world wasn't by way of destroying it, but by finding a way to enrich it. That's the legacy he wanted to give his son to carry on.
In the end, Howard is not without a heart, no matter how deeply he may try to hide it, he does care about the world and definitely wants to make it a better place.
Sexual Preferences/Orientation:
While Howard is a big time flirt. He doesn't really give off the impression that he sleeps around a lot. Mainly he said it himself, that he favors throwing himself into his work rather than trying to understand how a woman's mind works. However the fact that he is from the forties and is a part of the upper crust of society no less. I think he's playboy image is just that, an image. Howard actually has some old fashioned values when it comes down to it. Otherwise he never would have bothered getting married, let alone bothered to stay faithful to his wife. It says something that while Tony saw his dad as being calculated, distant and cold, he never did seem to see him as being a philanderer. There are never any rumors of Howard being unfaithful to his wife, only that he was a workaholic who tended to neglect his family, but there aren't any mentions of mistresses or bastard children popping up.
That leads me to believe that deep down, he is reserved when it comes to his sex life. Sure, he likes to have fun as much as the next guy does, but not at the cost of disrespecting a woman or sullying her reputation. He wouldn't necessarily turn a lady down outright if she puts out the offer, but he would take into account her mindset and make sure she wasn't impaired. He's a smart guy, he wouldn't put himself into a situation where a woman could cry foul on him. On occasion he might put out the offer himself, but he wouldn't be pushy about it. If a woman tells him no, he'd likely shrug and move on. No big deal. Certainly not the end of the world.
Howard Stark without a doubt in my mind is heterosexual. Aside from the fact that he flirts up a storm with Peggy Carter. He seems to really enjoy when he is surrounded by his dancers during his showcase at the World Fair. Eventually he settles down and marries Tony's mother Maria. And well he's never really shown as taking a sexual interest to men, though he is shown as being platonically friendly with them. Given the time period and the mindset of that time, it doesn't seem likely he could allow himself to get close to a man in any sort of sexual way. In fact if a man showed interest in him in that way; he would likely distance himself quickly and even be alarmed by it. That's not to say that he couldn't accept others being in same sex relationships, but it would be a big adjustment in his own mindset to see it as anything other than wrong in the beginning. Though he would also likely see it as it being a personal matter and their business and would probably do his best to avoid speaking about the issue at all. He doesn't like discussing personal things like that openly anyway. One of those 'Gentlemen, don't kiss and tell' type of deals.
Powers: Howard is only human, no real bells and whistles here. All he has is his considerable smarts and work ethic. Aside from being an engineer, inventor, scientist to some degree and a pilot, there's no actual noteworthy powers within him. He's just a man with a lot of drive, tenacity and ambition.
Reason for playing: My main reason for wanting to play him is because I think Howard is a remarkable character and the surface has barely been scratched with him in Captain America. There's a tremendous gap between his time in the forties and how he is remembered in the Iron Man movies. And I would love to be able to explore the facets of his personality that take him from that driven ambitious young man to that workaholic absentee father that was presented later on through his son's eyes.
I love the idea of seeing him react to being in a futuristic/modern day setting and the fact that he would have to deal with meeting his future son and even have to reconcile that in the future he wasn't a good parent. There are just a lot of opportunities in Bete Noire to really get to the heart of his character and explore that inner dark side of his. Hey I'm not even going to lie here, I would also just love to have him interact with the decently sized Marvel Universe cast that is amassing in this game and I am sucker for cross fandom interactions in general.
4. Original Character Supplement
World History: N/A
Character History: N/A
5. Samples
First-Person:
Woah! Some of the technology I've seen in his place is really handy. These PDA things are really useful, wish someone had invented these sooner. Truth be told, I'm kind of jealous I didn't think of something like this myself. It would save me a lot of trouble in keeping my notes organized and so much easier to access things. The guy who invented these is probably raking in the dough! I'm thinking I could probably get use to this place, just the tech alone is enough to whet my appetite!
[ I also have a dear mun post too! Just in case!]
Third-Person:
He had been having trouble finding that usual enthuisasm he had when it came to studying new things. Discovering the power source that Hydra and Schimdt had been using to fuel their technology, would have usually been a cause for wide eyed excitement and an eagerness to learn; however Howard's heart just wasn't it in. If he had to chose between finding the source of their technology or finding any signs of the Captain. He honestly would have chose the Captain. At least if they had found a body, it would have given everyone some closure. The hero that saved the world, wasn't suppose to go out the way he did.
Silently Howard sat in his lab, the strange cube they discovered under containment, while he jolted down some notes on what they had managed to learn about it. Which granted wasn't a whole lot yet. He should have been more dedicated to learning all he could about it, this was potentially an unlimited power source if it could be tapped into correctly. However Howard found himself hestitating when it came to the cube, it was a lot of power...maybe too much power for any one nation to handle.
He sighed deeply, rubbing his face with one hand, while closing his notebook with the other. It was late, maybe he'd have a fresher prospect once he got some sleep. Tiredly he called to one of the assistants to lock down the lab for him, not that he expected anyone to breach the government building they were in, but rather be safe than sorry. Taking off his labcoat, he grabbed up his notes and files and quietly headed for the doors, he'd figured things out later...maybe.
He wasn't paying too much attention as he made his way toward the exit. It wasn't until he stepped outside that he was caught off guard, by the fact that nothing looked familiar. In the place of the well lit parking lot he thought he was heading toward, he found himself looking down the business end of one dark alley. Quickly he turned back toward the building he exited, only to find it wasn't there. Instead he found himself staring at a concrete wall with no small amount of confusion plastered on his face.
"...Maybe I'm more tired than I thought..." He mumbled to himself. Quickly he pinched his arm to see if he were even still awake and to his surprise he did indeed feel pain. "Oh boy, this can't be good." He added in a wary tone, swallowing hard, before cautiously moving forward. Wherever he was, he certainly wouldn't be getting any answers just standing around.
Third-Person #2:
He always thought Peggy was beautiful, he never made a secret about it. Of course, he also respected her as a colleague and friend as well, but that initial attraction didn't go away. Perhaps it had been inevitable that she'd come to him for comfort after Steve disappeared. Whatever the case things had started out so innocent. Rarely did Peggy ever show her vulnerability, but when she wrapped her arms around him and softly weeped into his shoulder, Howard couldn't help but hold her close.
Gently he ran his hand up and down her back in an attempt to be reassuring, he knew the lost had hit her hard, but she would bounce back. There would be life after Steve Rogers for her. How could there not be? They both would move on and continue to fight the good fight in their own ways, of that he was sure. Though it wasn't until she slowly pulled back and their eyes locked that he could see that quiet desperation written all over her face.
"...Howard." She softly whispered, a hint of lust in her voice that sent a shiver down his spine.
There was a brief moment when he thought to step away, but that thought was fleeting the minute she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. Instinctively he kissed her back, his arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her close. Instantly she wrapped her arms around his neck in response, not protesting the closeness but leaning further into it. The kiss they shared was experimental at first, but it didn't take long for them to deepen it. His tongue pushing passed her lips to mingle with hers, dragging a moan out of her.
Her hands came up to tug at his suspenders and he obliged her by shrugging his arms out of them. Suddenly things were feeling urgent on both sides as their hands moved to start undressing each other. It was all a haphazard blur in his mind as she unfastened his pants, while he pushed up her skirt. Sense and reason were left by the wayside, the moment he buried his face into the crook of her neck and pushed inside of her. She cried out, grasping his shoulders tightly as she wrapped her leg around his waist, urging him to continue.
Again he crushed his lips to her, thrusting into her more roughly than he normally would be. Though if she felt he was being too rough, she made no protest as she continued to grip him tightly, practically mewling under his ministrations. Things quickly began to reach a fevered pace, the closer he got to the edge. It wasn't until he felt her body tense and shudder underneath him, her nails almost digging into his skin, that he allowed himself to completely tumble over that edge too.
Quietly they panted, slowly regaining their senses as they continued to hold on to each other. The moment his mind returned to him, a wave of guilt washed over him. He really wasn't one to take advantage of a lady in grieving like this and he could kick himself for doing so with her.
"...Peggy...I-" He started, but she quieted him with a finger to his lips.
"It's okay, Howard. I know." She replied, giving him a watery smile. "Thank you." She added in another soft whisper, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
All he could do was swallow the lump that had began forming in his own throat and hug her in return. It was a silent promise between them that they would never speak of what happened between them again, but it wouldn't be a night that either of them could or would ever forget.