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Entry tags:
TDM 001
TEST DRIVE MEME 001 ❀
CONTENT WARNINGS: potential character nudity, violence, trypophobia (images) as well as light mentions of gore.
Please note: FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS AFTER 'HATCHING', CHARACTERS WILL FEEL WEAK AND ANY POWERS THEY HAVE WILL NOT WORK.
Test drive meme threads can be considered game canon for players who are later accepted and wish to keep their CR. The rescue mission prompt will be a TDM-exclusive, but the other prompts that you see here will also appear on our first game log. There will, of course, be more going on that week.
Please reserve questions about consequences for altering or meaningfully investigating the setting for the first log of the game, where we will have a Mod Questions thread at the top of the log. On this test drive meme, please reserve this thread for clarification and setting questions.
On the first day of reserves (May 10th), only players who participate in the TDM will be allowed to reserve. You must link an AC-length thread from the TDM for early access. Starting on the 11th, any prospective player may submit a reserve. Our hope is that this will avoid overwhelming our reserves.
Congrats, you've woken up in an egg. I'm sure this is exactly how you wanted to spend your Saturday, right? There's no time to get curious and check out the other egg sacs. By the time you've fought your way out of the membranous sac, spilled electric blue goop everywhere, wiped it out of your eyes and sundry other orifices to get your bearings, you have a spear (or a gun) leveled at your face, throat, or other vital organs. Even if you might be inclined to fight, you can barely lift your arms to protest being grabbed and dragged off. Before you can even get a word in edgewise, you've been thrown into a holding cell.
Characters will not have a chance to retrieve their items at the time of the first hatching, and may not even know there is anything left in the remaining eggs.
The holding cell stinks of something sour and acidic, like rotted citrus, but you are not alone. Several other detainees sit in similar squalid confusion, dressed strangely and equally gooey. Time to make nice, ask questions... figure out what the hell is going on, and maybe do something about all that slime?
Over the next few days, a few things become clear. Despite the alien greeting, your captors speak a language that you understand, and the unpleasant circumstances are revealed to be a matter of necessity, not choice. Supplies are low, but they ensure that the new arrivals' time imprisoned is as painless as can be — they offer hot communal showers of less than three minutes, some strange starchy meal-replacement, and medical treatment to those in need. You might strike up a conversation with your new best friend in the shower over a low soap dispenser or when you realize you might need to share towels.
The cost of these luxuries comes in the form of touch-and-go interrogation by the security officers keeping tabs on the cells and supervising the shower time.
A few notes:
Please note: FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS AFTER 'HATCHING', CHARACTERS WILL FEEL WEAK AND ANY POWERS THEY HAVE WILL NOT WORK.
Test drive meme threads can be considered game canon for players who are later accepted and wish to keep their CR. The rescue mission prompt will be a TDM-exclusive, but the other prompts that you see here will also appear on our first game log. There will, of course, be more going on that week.
Please reserve questions about consequences for altering or meaningfully investigating the setting for the first log of the game, where we will have a Mod Questions thread at the top of the log. On this test drive meme, please reserve this thread for clarification and setting questions.
On the first day of reserves (May 10th), only players who participate in the TDM will be allowed to reserve. You must link an AC-length thread from the TDM for early access. Starting on the 11th, any prospective player may submit a reserve. Our hope is that this will avoid overwhelming our reserves.
❀ HATCHING
Congrats, you've woken up in an egg. I'm sure this is exactly how you wanted to spend your Saturday, right? There's no time to get curious and check out the other egg sacs. By the time you've fought your way out of the membranous sac, spilled electric blue goop everywhere, wiped it out of your eyes and sundry other orifices to get your bearings, you have a spear (or a gun) leveled at your face, throat, or other vital organs. Even if you might be inclined to fight, you can barely lift your arms to protest being grabbed and dragged off. Before you can even get a word in edgewise, you've been thrown into a holding cell.
Characters will not have a chance to retrieve their items at the time of the first hatching, and may not even know there is anything left in the remaining eggs.
The holding cell stinks of something sour and acidic, like rotted citrus, but you are not alone. Several other detainees sit in similar squalid confusion, dressed strangely and equally gooey. Time to make nice, ask questions... figure out what the hell is going on, and maybe do something about all that slime?
Over the next few days, a few things become clear. Despite the alien greeting, your captors speak a language that you understand, and the unpleasant circumstances are revealed to be a matter of necessity, not choice. Supplies are low, but they ensure that the new arrivals' time imprisoned is as painless as can be — they offer hot communal showers of less than three minutes, some strange starchy meal-replacement, and medical treatment to those in need. You might strike up a conversation with your new best friend in the shower over a low soap dispenser or when you realize you might need to share towels.
The cost of these luxuries comes in the form of touch-and-go interrogation by the security officers keeping tabs on the cells and supervising the shower time.
A few notes:
☆ Your character may get pulled away for interrogation at some point. No torture, no drugs; just questioning.
☆ Locals will be stopping by outside the freestanding holding cells to ogle or ask questions. Are you really going to be mean to that little kid staring at you with wide eyes?
☆ Characters will be let out for bio breaks. No one has to pee in a bucket, that's just inhumane!
☆ Attempts to escape will probably get you tasered. The mods will not facilitate escape-plots/etc on test drive memes. However: if you app and are accepted you are more than welcome to chat with us about the possibility of having escaped or attempted it.
☆ Locals will be stopping by outside the freestanding holding cells to ogle or ask questions. Are you really going to be mean to that little kid staring at you with wide eyes?
☆ Characters will be let out for bio breaks. No one has to pee in a bucket, that's just inhumane!
☆ Attempts to escape will probably get you tasered. The mods will not facilitate escape-plots/etc on test drive memes. However: if you app and are accepted you are more than welcome to chat with us about the possibility of having escaped or attempted it.
❀ EXPLORE THE BASECAMP
On the heels of a little benign interrogation, a medical inspection, and a stern talking to by Captain Childe, the survivors at Basecamp Leviathan determine one thing: you don't appear to be an active threat.
Released from the detention center after three days, you are given the run-down by the locals — you're on a planet called Ethyraia, and the people around you are survivors of the catastrophic crash of the UCSS Adamant several years prior. You, in fact, showed up on the third anniversary of the crash. Weird coincidence, huh?
You're being allowed to mingle with the others. The first order of the day is having a proper meal at the mess hall — some of the Adamant's survivors will be friendlier than others. They've been stranded here for years, remember? Some of them will be so desperate to talk to someone who has news of other places, and some will be giving you the cold shoulder.
You'll be fed the same as the rest of them. A plastic plate of crumbled protein of unidentifiable origin and gravy over rice with a single wilted stalk of broccoli and a cup of the worst coffee you've ever had. Maybe somebody bumps into you and spills said coffee, maybe you make it all the way to one of the long tables set out for communal eating.
Time to strike up a chat with your neighbor — maybe ask them to pass the salt?
(What do you mean, there's no salt!?)
After a meal — it's hard to say which one you'd call it, since the whole crew is on rotating schedules — you may decide to wander the basecamp. Folks in every department could use a hand. Those willing to help out may get friendlier reception than those who play the tourist. For more info on what else you might find, check out the LOCATIONS page.
During this time, characters will be able to return to the Central Chrysalis where they hatched. While there are no clues as to how they got there, they might find items — their own, or someone else's. Everyone is strapped for supplies, but try not to snatch up anything that isn't yours. The security officers don't look kindly on people chasing one other down the hall, trying to get back their dirty magazines.
A few notes:
Released from the detention center after three days, you are given the run-down by the locals — you're on a planet called Ethyraia, and the people around you are survivors of the catastrophic crash of the UCSS Adamant several years prior. You, in fact, showed up on the third anniversary of the crash. Weird coincidence, huh?
You're being allowed to mingle with the others. The first order of the day is having a proper meal at the mess hall — some of the Adamant's survivors will be friendlier than others. They've been stranded here for years, remember? Some of them will be so desperate to talk to someone who has news of other places, and some will be giving you the cold shoulder.
You'll be fed the same as the rest of them. A plastic plate of crumbled protein of unidentifiable origin and gravy over rice with a single wilted stalk of broccoli and a cup of the worst coffee you've ever had. Maybe somebody bumps into you and spills said coffee, maybe you make it all the way to one of the long tables set out for communal eating.
Time to strike up a chat with your neighbor — maybe ask them to pass the salt?
(What do you mean, there's no salt!?)
After a meal — it's hard to say which one you'd call it, since the whole crew is on rotating schedules — you may decide to wander the basecamp. Folks in every department could use a hand. Those willing to help out may get friendlier reception than those who play the tourist. For more info on what else you might find, check out the LOCATIONS page.
During this time, characters will be able to return to the Central Chrysalis where they hatched. While there are no clues as to how they got there, they might find items — their own, or someone else's. Everyone is strapped for supplies, but try not to snatch up anything that isn't yours. The security officers don't look kindly on people chasing one other down the hall, trying to get back their dirty magazines.
A few notes:
☆ Feel free to help out anywhere. Every little bit of assistance you offer to the locals will raise their estimation of you. You could easily help clean dishes after the meal, help fix leaky piping or repair hammocks. You could stop by the aid station and assist with the wounded. You'll be watched closely and some of the survivors will be warier than others, but most will appreciate the opportunity to have a 'break'.
☆ If your character leaves the basecamp and wanders outside the Leviathan, they may begin to notice that what they perhaps took as a giant cave is actually an enormous dragon. Everything they see that seems 'human made' will look varying levels of worn down, patched, repaired and patched again. This is not a place of prosperity and happiness. Many people are recently injured, or have new scars or missing limbs.
☆ PCs will be warned about going beyond the shade of the dragon's wings. For the sake of the test drive mods will not be facilitating plots that deal with characters going further; we ask that players with an interest in exploring this wait until the game is fully open.
☆ If your character leaves the basecamp and wanders outside the Leviathan, they may begin to notice that what they perhaps took as a giant cave is actually an enormous dragon. Everything they see that seems 'human made' will look varying levels of worn down, patched, repaired and patched again. This is not a place of prosperity and happiness. Many people are recently injured, or have new scars or missing limbs.
☆ PCs will be warned about going beyond the shade of the dragon's wings. For the sake of the test drive mods will not be facilitating plots that deal with characters going further; we ask that players with an interest in exploring this wait until the game is fully open.
❀ RESCUE MISSION
"There's no time to waste," the woman says breathlessly as she grabs your arm. She pulls you to an augmented reality sand table and you will find yourself standing alongside some of the others you may recognize as having 'hatched' with you. There are murmurs by the Adamant's survivors as they pour over data. Maybe you remember Captain Childe from the stern interrogation she gave you a few days ago, but in any case but she's standing at the edge of the sand table looking at the distance scaled between the enormous huddle of HUD badges — the Adamant's survivors — and a tiny pocket of pulsing green some fifteen kilometers away.
"They knew better," Captain Childe says, rubbing at the bridge of her nose. "They should have been back hours ago."
"Fucking scientists," says a man with a faintly French accent. He is scarred and battle-worn, and looks properly pissed off. He's also sporting several fresh injuries, one of which seems to have warranted the use of a crutch. "They'd lose their heads if they weren't attached. Let them wait out the storm."
"No," the captain says. "They're too close to the Rat Nest. We don't need a repeat of —" she trails off, as if seeing you for the first time. She looks you up and down, and then: "You've been told by now that everyone here has to pitch in. If you know how to fight, be ready in ten minutes. You're our rescue squad." She turns and walks out, and there's an awkward moment where everyone present is looking at you to make a choice.
Ten minutes really isn't a lot of time to get ready to walk into danger. Or maybe you aren't a fighter. Maybe you just don't care. But either way, there are people looking to you. To see how you'll react. To see what you'll do. To see if you belong.
What'll it be, hatchling? Fight or flight? Maybe you ought to start coming up with a plan.
FIELD WORK
There's a cadre of scientists cut off by acid rain. From their last transmission, they were driven into the Rat Warrens — and you've been tasked with rescuing them. Too many members of the Security Team are themselves injured, and none of the remaining ones have experience leading a fire team. Let's hope you do — or at least that you can fake it.
Maybe you've hand-picked your team. Maybe you're just stuck with whoever else was closest. Either way, your companions are some of the people you might recognize as fellow 'hatchlings'. If you know them already — good, you've got a head start on what they might be capable of out in the field, and you can chat about the little things. You know, like the weather. Acid rain, gotta love it.
Either way. You're given few small slabs of surprisingly lightweight alloy that has a sheet of — is that hide from the Leviathan? — stretched across them, to divide up amongst your team. "Helps with the rain," Ensign Porter says, trying to sound cheerful despite the grim set to his jaw. "Just come back in one piece. I kinda feel responsible for you guys, you know?"
Before you know it, you're outfitted for the trip. Weapons (if you didn't have your own) and maybe some medical supplies, handed over with a grimace by Doc Sunya.
So then it's just you, your tiny team and a fifteen kilometer hike. Oh, and the acid rain. Luckily, the shields seem to be keeping it off, but it's hard to hear anything over the impact of the drops. Anyone want to play I never?
Or maybe you think you should make a break for it. This is your first time being outside the Leviathan unsupervised. You've got supplies, and other people with as little to lose here as you do. Maybe you should talk.
THE RAT WARREN
You've made it to the last transmitted location of the scientists. What you find doesn't bode well — one of them seemed to have an arm torn off — at least, you think it's an arm — the way it's been disintegrated by the rain makes it hard to tell.
One thing's certain, though. There are bloodstains leading into the nearby maw of a hole in the ground. There's a putrid odor wafting from it, and the sound of frantic scrabbling.
You have an idea of what might be down there. 'Giant rats with tentacles', Porter had said. Don't let the tentacles grab you, they leave chemical burns that usually result in amputation if they can't be treated immediately. But there's a chance the scientists are still alive, and you need to make your choice.
If you and your small team venture down into the darkness, what happens next is up to you. You'll be encountering hoards of these monsters. The scientists are still alive, but will they stay that way? And more importantly, can you get them back to the Leviathan in one piece?
PCs versus the local fauna, round one, FIGHT!
A few notes:
"They knew better," Captain Childe says, rubbing at the bridge of her nose. "They should have been back hours ago."
"Fucking scientists," says a man with a faintly French accent. He is scarred and battle-worn, and looks properly pissed off. He's also sporting several fresh injuries, one of which seems to have warranted the use of a crutch. "They'd lose their heads if they weren't attached. Let them wait out the storm."
"No," the captain says. "They're too close to the Rat Nest. We don't need a repeat of —" she trails off, as if seeing you for the first time. She looks you up and down, and then: "You've been told by now that everyone here has to pitch in. If you know how to fight, be ready in ten minutes. You're our rescue squad." She turns and walks out, and there's an awkward moment where everyone present is looking at you to make a choice.
Ten minutes really isn't a lot of time to get ready to walk into danger. Or maybe you aren't a fighter. Maybe you just don't care. But either way, there are people looking to you. To see how you'll react. To see what you'll do. To see if you belong.
What'll it be, hatchling? Fight or flight? Maybe you ought to start coming up with a plan.
FIELD WORK
There's a cadre of scientists cut off by acid rain. From their last transmission, they were driven into the Rat Warrens — and you've been tasked with rescuing them. Too many members of the Security Team are themselves injured, and none of the remaining ones have experience leading a fire team. Let's hope you do — or at least that you can fake it.
Maybe you've hand-picked your team. Maybe you're just stuck with whoever else was closest. Either way, your companions are some of the people you might recognize as fellow 'hatchlings'. If you know them already — good, you've got a head start on what they might be capable of out in the field, and you can chat about the little things. You know, like the weather. Acid rain, gotta love it.
Either way. You're given few small slabs of surprisingly lightweight alloy that has a sheet of — is that hide from the Leviathan? — stretched across them, to divide up amongst your team. "Helps with the rain," Ensign Porter says, trying to sound cheerful despite the grim set to his jaw. "Just come back in one piece. I kinda feel responsible for you guys, you know?"
Before you know it, you're outfitted for the trip. Weapons (if you didn't have your own) and maybe some medical supplies, handed over with a grimace by Doc Sunya.
So then it's just you, your tiny team and a fifteen kilometer hike. Oh, and the acid rain. Luckily, the shields seem to be keeping it off, but it's hard to hear anything over the impact of the drops. Anyone want to play I never?
Or maybe you think you should make a break for it. This is your first time being outside the Leviathan unsupervised. You've got supplies, and other people with as little to lose here as you do. Maybe you should talk.
THE RAT WARREN
You've made it to the last transmitted location of the scientists. What you find doesn't bode well — one of them seemed to have an arm torn off — at least, you think it's an arm — the way it's been disintegrated by the rain makes it hard to tell.
One thing's certain, though. There are bloodstains leading into the nearby maw of a hole in the ground. There's a putrid odor wafting from it, and the sound of frantic scrabbling.
You have an idea of what might be down there. 'Giant rats with tentacles', Porter had said. Don't let the tentacles grab you, they leave chemical burns that usually result in amputation if they can't be treated immediately. But there's a chance the scientists are still alive, and you need to make your choice.
If you and your small team venture down into the darkness, what happens next is up to you. You'll be encountering hoards of these monsters. The scientists are still alive, but will they stay that way? And more importantly, can you get them back to the Leviathan in one piece?
PCs versus the local fauna, round one, FIGHT!
A few notes:
☆ Feel free to put player characters 'in charge' of the planning/logistics phase. If another PC tags into your thread, you and that player can decide which PC will be 'leading the charge'.
☆ Your character will have: a mini-railgun, a spear (if they don't have their items/weapons from home), a first-aid kit, the acid rain shields, ration bars (that are essentially condensed protein bars — they do not taste good) and one of the smartwatches, which will have a mini holographic HUD displayable on its interface. If your character is the sort to request other things, feel free to assume they received them (within reason — please remember that resource scarcity is the name of the game — feel free to be creative here!).
☆ There are fifteen kilometers to cover. If your character has an ability like superspeed/etc, please keep in mind it will work, but you also have your allies to consider. Normal walking time over this distance, given the difficulty of the environment (steep hills, acid rain, unknown territory, etc) would translate to several hours to an average person.
☆ Feel free to use the NPC scientists however you'd like. If you want your character to find some dead, you can. If you'd prefer they be rescued, that is also acceptable. These are essentially 'your' NPCs that you are using to facilitate the story at this point — the sky is the metaphoric limit!
☆ Your character will have: a mini-railgun, a spear (if they don't have their items/weapons from home), a first-aid kit, the acid rain shields, ration bars (that are essentially condensed protein bars — they do not taste good) and one of the smartwatches, which will have a mini holographic HUD displayable on its interface. If your character is the sort to request other things, feel free to assume they received them (within reason — please remember that resource scarcity is the name of the game — feel free to be creative here!).
☆ There are fifteen kilometers to cover. If your character has an ability like superspeed/etc, please keep in mind it will work, but you also have your allies to consider. Normal walking time over this distance, given the difficulty of the environment (steep hills, acid rain, unknown territory, etc) would translate to several hours to an average person.
☆ Feel free to use the NPC scientists however you'd like. If you want your character to find some dead, you can. If you'd prefer they be rescued, that is also acceptable. These are essentially 'your' NPCs that you are using to facilitate the story at this point — the sky is the metaphoric limit!
❀ BOOZE
A week. You've been here for a week.
By now, you might have tried to venture out of Basecamp Leviathan and experienced firsthand the acid rains that the security officers warned you about. Or you might be teaching the kids at the schoolyard how to gamble. In any event, Thorkil seems to take pity on his disoriented new friends and taps his distillery for a little help.
Invitation passes by word of mouth to meet at the memorial wall. Moonshine of questionable quality is passed around in tin cups — hope no one's afraid of germs — as Thorkil explains the great relief it is to be gaining people instead of losing them. This settlement isn't big, and they aren't overburdened with hope or supplies, but there's been a lot of loss in the past three years. Some people might be willing to look at the arrival of these newcomers as a sign that things are turning around.
Bottoms up, hatchlings, and ... Happy Birthday?
A few notes:
By now, you might have tried to venture out of Basecamp Leviathan and experienced firsthand the acid rains that the security officers warned you about. Or you might be teaching the kids at the schoolyard how to gamble. In any event, Thorkil seems to take pity on his disoriented new friends and taps his distillery for a little help.
Invitation passes by word of mouth to meet at the memorial wall. Moonshine of questionable quality is passed around in tin cups — hope no one's afraid of germs — as Thorkil explains the great relief it is to be gaining people instead of losing them. This settlement isn't big, and they aren't overburdened with hope or supplies, but there's been a lot of loss in the past three years. Some people might be willing to look at the arrival of these newcomers as a sign that things are turning around.
Bottoms up, hatchlings, and ... Happy Birthday?
A few notes:
☆ Feel free to turn this into an impromptu party. Maybe you're celebrating getting all the scientists back alive! Maybe it's something like a wake to remember them in the sad event of their passing. Either way, many of the engineers and other NPCs may join you in this moonlight drinking session, as well as whatever PCs you tag out to or are tagged by.)
❀ OBLIGATORY NETWORK
Welcome people of all kinds to Basecamp Leviathan! I'd give you a hand moving in except...
I have no hands.
Because I'm an AI.
Get it?
It's a joke.
My name is Cartagena. But anyway, this isn't about me or the Adamant for once. This is about all of you. So if you would kindly fill out the following questionnaire to get to know each other; it would also be very helpful for my systems.
NOTE: Participation is MANDATORY.
That was another joke. It's all voluntary. You people and your free will.
1. What is your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. What's your favorite smell? Please describe it as you would to a person without a nose. Because I do not have a nose.
4. If you could be any animal in any world, what would you be?
5. How old are you?
6. Did you enjoy this questionnaire?
Thank you for your participation! Please enjoy the rest of your stay here at Basecamp Leviathan.
I have no hands.
Because I'm an AI.
Get it?
It's a joke.
My name is Cartagena. But anyway, this isn't about me or the Adamant for once. This is about all of you. So if you would kindly fill out the following questionnaire to get to know each other; it would also be very helpful for my systems.
NOTE: Participation is MANDATORY.
That was another joke. It's all voluntary. You people and your free will.
1. What is your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. What's your favorite smell? Please describe it as you would to a person without a nose. Because I do not have a nose.
4. If you could be any animal in any world, what would you be?
5. How old are you?
6. Did you enjoy this questionnaire?
Thank you for your participation! Please enjoy the rest of your stay here at Basecamp Leviathan.
got me before I edited canon point, first 30 mins of Endgame!
He pulls in a sharp breath.
The viscous goo's got him half blind and deaf, a swipe with the back of his hand spreads it across his face on the first pass. Can't hear his name as it's called out, only has enough time to get up on one knee before there's boots in his blurred line of sight. A spear-butt nudges his shoulder as a greeting, a second spear point tips his chin up.
Right— message received.
His jaw tightens as he struggles to his feet, dragged down an apparently well-traveled and goo-slicked path. Uses the short trek to try to recover his bearings, take stock of the faces, weapons, uniforms. Head's in better shape than his body, moving his limbs feels like wading through that goo. Still has the stealth suit on, they'd only just gotten back—
Doesn't remember falling asleep. Doesn't feel like a dream.
(he just left a nightmare)
— what the hell is this?
There, again. Hit like a truck and he forgets that he's supposed to be walking or paying attention to his surroundings. With a surprised grunt he's shoved into the cell, barely catches his balance to avoiding slamming into the person closest to the bars because now he's hearing things, and now he knows this is the start of some kinda nightmare he's had half a dozen times since he watched half the world turn to dust.
But he looks anyway, face pale and eyes wide. ]
Buck?
[ It's muscle memory by now. ]
haha u suck
Wasn't really expecting this particular uniform.
He stiffens at the sound of his name. Untangles himself from the bars slowly, like he's reluctant to turn around.
Figures it's a fifty-fifty shot he's finished the circuit and finally actually lost his damn mind. Flash of a face is one thing, he's seen that more than once in passing in a crowd. Hearing him say his name is another, and so help him god, Rogers, if you're not there when he turns around--
Might sound a little too relieved when he exhales out an answer. )
Steve.
( Relieved, but absolutely goddamn baffled, too.
In any case, he's striding on over to grab for Steve's forearm anyway.
Might or might not be checking to make sure he's not seeing things. You know, just on the off-chance. )
no subject
If there's relief in his features, it's mired in disbelief. Weakened as his body still is he's rigid under Bucky's hand, every muscle gone tense until it reaches his jaw, his brow. Eyes narrow, wary as he scans him up and down twice over before settling on his features.
Hard to know how long it takes for him to open his mouth. Swallows first, grimaces as his gaze takes another pass. ]
What the hell's going on?
[ Not an accusation. But he's woken up in a painted room once before. Had his thoughts dug around in, shown him what he thought he wanted. The egg-wakening and the guards don't exactly fit with any of that, but they're secondary by a mile right now. ]
no subject
(Even if he doesn't understand how in the hell Steve's here right now. Pit stop on his permanent vacation, maybe.)
He answers on an exhale. )
I don't know.
( And in an exasperated, slightly louder, more deliberately pointed voice he twists to aim at the bars — )
Apparently they're hard of hearing.
( He knows they're not. He also knows they speak English, he heard them talking to each other as they drug him in. Another discontented exhale, and he turns his attention back to Steve. )
They're not telling anybody anything.
no subject
Pal, I'm gonna need you to tell me something, how you're here, because—
[ He trails off as if he's lost all of his words, features tight as his mouth twists into another pained grimace.
You're gonna have to give him something, or give him another minute. ]
no subject
How am I here? How are you here? When we talked you didn't exactly mention a pit-stop as a scrambled egg on your way back.
( Doesn't exactly look like retirement in this holding cell.
If it is, count him out, thanks. )
You're supposed to be gone. Way out of stuff like... whatever the hell this is.
( Otherwise, what was the point of you leaving? )
no subject
You're supposed to be gone. ]
Buck, you were gone. [ His whole expression twists up, his voice gone hard. ]
You. [ His grip flexes, damn near shakes him by the arm as if that'll get through his meaning any better. ] Sam. Wanda. Half of everyone out there—
[ Gone.
And all he remembers before this is their last lead going dead. ]
no subject
Can't exactly take the time to appreciate the flood of relief and the sequence of untwisting knots he feels seeing him again. Not when he looks like that, sounds like that, and a strange understanding slowly dawns across his features. )
You're from before.
( Which probably makes as much sense to Steve as the damn eggs make to Bucky right now, but...
Time travel. God damn time travel. He heard the whole story, he just... Christ, didn't think he'd see any of it himself.
First thing's first, because they need to get this established before Steve's gonna be able to focus on the rest of this -- he reaches out with his free arm to settle a (metal) hand tightly on his shoulder. Levels him with a steady, focused look. )
You fixed it, Steve. You and the rest of the people that were left. It wasn't easy, but... you fixed it.
no subject
You're from before.
It wasn't easy, but... you fixed it.
His grip tightens and loosens reflexively again. Solid beneath his hand. Closes his eyes again, tight like his jaw. ]
Pal... you got no idea how bad I need to believe that.
[ Mad titans. Alien invasions. Talking trees. Time travel. There's a stone for that too. Nothing's too strange these days.
Nothing's completely beyond belief when you've got nothing left.
Whether he believes it or not right that second the tension in his shoulders seems to loosen, slumping, chin tilting down. Half shrugs Bucky's hand of his shoulder to pull him in with a solid thump.
Held it together. ]
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His slow exhale says a lot and nothing at all, at the same time. Too much conflict to put into words, and half of it doesn't even matter. Half of it doesn't even need to leave his own brain. The second round of realization that's actually Steve earns another redundant thud against his back, a barely-noticable little shake with his fingers digging into--
Well, digging into goop, because it's goddamn everywhere. )
I'd say you're gonna think I'm nuts, but...
( He says before he even starts retracting. He doesn't go far. Still in elbow-gripping range, because.
You know. It's complicated. )
I'm pretty sure we just hatched twenty minutes ago, so I'm not really sure where we're drawing the line anymore. The short version is... a guy that's also an ant built a time machine with a giant green rage monster that's apparently nearsighted?
( And every single word that just came out of his mouth has taken ten years off of his life. It's... he's tired. It's goddamn absurd. )
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He lets Bucky untangle them, his body half on auto-pilot because otherwise he'd give it a few more seconds before breaking off, his eyebrows drawn up together again as tries to parse all of that. ]
Scott? He helped us out in Germany... [ 2016 Germany, not '44. But as far as anyone on his side knew Scott was on the list, no one'd heard from him in three weeks. Not even his kid.
Near-sighted green rage monster is just... getting packed away for now.
(you're supposed to be gone, he won't remember that til later, either)
Hatching. Time travel.
There's strands of goo between their chests where they'd met, thin connecting threads that pull apart and drip back down.
Christ. Okay.
The ground's uneven but he seems like he's catching his footing, slowly but surely. He pulls in a breath, holds it with his lips parted for a second as he gathers his questions. ]
How long ago? [ Did it all happen? ]
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Doesn't bother hiding the obvious concern still written in the tired lines of his face. It's gotta be a hell of a lot to process, staring at it from the other side. Not knowing it was ever gonna get put right again. Makes his own grievances look petty, that's for damn sure. )
Few months, for me. I don't know how long it's been for you, but... they're calling it the blip. ( Don't look at him, he didn't name it. ) It lasted five years, for everyone that wasn't...
( A shrug.
You know. Dust. )
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Five years in a second. Yeah, maybe you could call that a blip. Not the most important part though.
Five years.
Could hardly process stepping back onto that ship empty handed. Five years is a void.
There's a delayed nod, acknowledging that he heard it right, gaze fixed on Bucky's shoulder. ]
Three weeks. [ he supplies in turn. Counted every day that passed. Felt infinitely longer or shorter depending on when he'd last slept.
His eyes flick up, meeting his gaze again. ]
We get everyone back.
[ No inflection, but it's an ask. ]
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Could leave it at that. Could leave it there. Happy ending, everyone comes back and goes home safe, the end.
Steve wouldn't believe it. That's not how it works. )
There are casualties.
( Frankly. Whether or not he names them, though... not sure if that's his place. If he should. If Steve should know, if it'd somehow... mess things up.
But he's gotta be honest about it.
There are always casualties. If you don't know that, you haven't been in a war. )
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There's no surprise at there are casualties.
Closes his eyes again. Goes quiet for a moment.
Not ready for that shoe to drop when the first half's still barely sunk in.
Still has to know. ]
Who do we lose?
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( He starts out reluctantly, clearly hedging. Doesn't get the opportunity to finish before there's a sudden rapping along the bars. A guard drags a spear across it like the world's worts xylophone.
"You two," he says, and after a beat points to another couple. "And you. You shower first. Come on."
He exchanges a look with Steve, lips pressing into an unhappy line.
...Followed by a glance down at his own body and then up again, saying without words: goo, Steve. Goo.
He's not a fan. Not that he wants to follow orders from people keeping him captive, but... wouldn't mind a god damn shower if he's gotta be in a cell at all. )
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His mouth shuts to a firm line, a torn glance at Bucky before he straightens to face the guards.
Still feels like his legs are made of sand on the walk, but he matches their pace, refusing to trip over his own feet.
"Three minutes."
Including the time it takes to remove their goo covered clothes. He shrugs unceremoniously out of the stealth suit after letting it get wet under the hot water. Has to duck his head to get beneath the spray of water, the showerhead too low on the wall. The guards keep their weapons in hand as they supervise without commentary, the other pair of captives moving just as quickly in their disorientation to strip down.
You got less than thirty seconds before he asks you again. ]
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One glance out of the corner of his eye is all it takes, and he's shaking his head with unwarranted exasperation. )
Don't —
( Because he knows that look, he already knows what's coming, come on, man. It's not a good idea. )
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I need to know.
[ You're gonna have to tell me. He's stopped scrubbing at himself, letting the water turn his skin red around his neck and down his chest from the heat as he shoots a look at him.
"Two minutes, folks. Quit wasting it." ]
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( He returns immediately, pausing his own scrubbing with his flesh hand planted flat against the wall beneath the shower head.
It's clear his will isn't gonna hold out for very long on this. He's already relenting, he's just reluctant as hell. )
Look, I'll... ( He drops his voice down to something lower, as though anybody else in the general vicinity could possibly know or care what their conversation's about. Like it even matters. ) I'll tell you, alright? Just. You think maybe it should wait until we figure out—
( A wordless, vague gesture to the general vicinity of around. )
This? One thing at a time?
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Drops his voice to match when he speaks again, focusing on scrubbing beneath his arms. ]
Can't place those guns.
[ Make or model. And he'd eat his left boot if these guys aren't some kind of military. A long way from home and resupplies, looking at those handmade spears. ]
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Yeah. ( An absent grunt, an acknowledgement. Same thought, same question. ) They're not Wakandan.
( He can say at least that much with some measure of certainty. In terms of bizarre tech and unfamiliar weaponry, Wakanda's usually the first thought that comes to mind. Might as well go ahead and take that one off the table. )
Not Soviet. Nothing I've seen with HYDRA.
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Maybe nothing on Earth.
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( He muses in deadpan, shifting his head out of the water and carding his hair back with his fingers to keep it from dripping in his eyes. )
More aliens. I was just thinking about how it's been too long since I've seen an alien.
( Really tainted his love of the genre, that whole apocalypse thing. )
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I was thinking more like we're not in Kansas anymore.
[ Not aliens invading Earth, the other way around. ]
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