[Open] Got to Start Somewhere

[aboveangrybees]

Who| Steve Rogers and ANYONE!
What| Arriving somewhere new isn't always a welcoming experience.
Where| District 9 Floor, the Roof, and Commons
When| Day of the Newbies (May 13th)
Warnings/Notes| At most some mild spoilers for Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Steve didn't fight the second time he woke up, if these people figured out how to sedate him, he needed to tread more carefully. It's not his fault he thought they were Hydra at first; it was eerily similar to when he woke up at SHIELD the first time.

Working for SHIELD this past year has really set home the idea of covert being as useful, if not more useful, than outright action against an enemy. Gather intel on your enemy, then strike. Don't go in stupid. Stupid gets you killed. But he's only been told the barest of facts of his new found situation and expectations, so surface his feet aren't even wet, but he can see that the injustice of it all runs deep. His teeth are already set on edge, the more he learns the harder it'll be to keep holding back.

His arm feels light without his shield, but coupled with the lingering grogginess of being sedated, Steve decides to take the needed time to recover before setting out. The shield isn't necessary, but it makes him more cautious to be caught unaware without it.

[1. District 9 Floor]

[So, this is his gilded cage? It's nice, he'll give it that much. Very secure, but he's more bothered by how that security could so easily be turned around on them. He's not surprised, if they grabbed him, then they probably grabbed other people who are just as capable, so they need to know they can lock up their captives when they need to.

Moving over to a window, Steve raps his knuckle against it, able to tell the thickness and sturdiness without much trouble. He could easily survive the fall, but wouldn't be able to break the glass, not with how weak his body feels or lacking his shield.] Well, there goes that escape plan.

[2. Commons/City Circle]

[He doesn't stay in any place for long after leaving his floor, moving from one location to the next, curious but guarded, trying to grasp all the knowledge he can get about his situation, audience, and environment. There has to be weaknesses, chinks in the well crafted armor. These people are obviously cautious, they're not so arrogant as to take them too lightly, but there's still some arrogance, and where there is ego there is fault.

He'll find it.]

[3. Roof]

[It's where he ends his day, in the garden that makes it almost easy to forget his situation, back to the city as he leans against a statue. He doesn't forget though, not even in the slightest, but it's a good place to piece together his information, maybe even entertain learning to use his communication device.

His anger builds as he comes to realize he's found less to work with than he would like, but Steve has always had a tight reign on his emotions, keeping it locked down. When the time comes, he'll happily explore them while tearing this place apart, but until then, he's going to try and keep a low profile.

Wouldn't do to have their eyes trained on him too soon.]


ooc: Feel free to reply in prose! I'm open to either option of Rping.

Comments

[3]

[assassinat]

[ There is already a pair of eyes on him other than the mechanical ones that whir in secret throughout the area. The roof isn't entirely private, but it's vacant enough for Natasha to make her appearance.

If he's felt as though he's been watched most of the day, there's a good chance he has been. So far she's discovered Thor and Stark are from different realities than her own while Bucky is from her own. Thankfully. Had he not been, it would have been the first visible crack she's given this place.

She steps out in front of him outfitted in her District 8 gear and her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, almost as if she's ready to fight herself. Just a bit on edge, after all she's already got shot at once. May as well be prepared in case he doesn't remember and if he does?

Well, she has every reason to be on edge. They did lie about Bucky's death and now here she was, facing someone who had every reason not to trust her. ]

How long?

[aboveangrybees]

[Steve turns to look at her, looking more resigned when he sees her. Another to add to the count of those he doesn't want here, yet can't do anything about. It makes him even more concerned for Sam. But his eyes catch the difference in her vs the Natasha of recent memory. For one, her hair is longer; two, she's far more cautious than a woman who's down right at home with him should be.

Bucky said he was from a different world, maybe she is too.

But for now, he doesn't do anything more than give her a tired but warm look. Different or not, she's definitely Natasha.]

Since this morning. Yourself?

[assassinat]

Long enough. [ To get answers and to see there are five of them here. Bucky, Stark, Thor, Rogers and now herself. Five associates with the Avengers and not a single one of them knows how they were brought here, right? ] Can you recall anything before your arrival?

[ Just the slightest bit of difference in his every day life is all she needs. Some lead to go after.

She's surprisingly quick to get down to business, not once entertaining the thought of wasting time on sentimental things like apologies and how this wasn't part of the plan Fury, Bucky, and her all came up with. This wasn't the life she promised to get him back.

Natasha won't apologize for it, but the regret wears her down just a bit more in his presence. ]

[not_cocked]

She's up on the roof, because no matter how much she tries to pretend it doesn't bug her that they're about to ride on the murder go round again, she can't shake the weight off her shoulders.

The new people aren't helping. Working hard to find out everything she could about everyone, and then having a whole bunch of new variables dumped into the situation was doing nada for her nerves. It felt wrong to drink before sunset. Not that it hasn't stopped her before, but now she's on camera all the time, and has a reputation. Weirdly. So at least till nightfall proper she was working to keep herself sober and busy.

And only so much time could be spent training. And the Capitol soap operas were shit.

So here she was, to watch the sunset. Except instead she found a new tribute up here, too.

Well, at least he was easy on the eyes.

"At least it's a nice sight, right?"

[aboveangrybees]

He's aware he's not alone up here, that not only other people come and go, but there are probably cameras everywhere. Or ears at least. If he wasn't safe in his own home from it, then he doubts he's safe from it anywhere these people allow him to go. So, when she speaks, he turns his attention on her, giving her a nod in greeting, a friendly look crossing his face.

At the very least, she's a welcome distraction from his mind going over the information he's gathered a fifth time. Going over it again and again hasn't helped unveil anything. Maybe she knows something more than him.

"Yeah, gotta give them that. It's a lovely view," of a corrupt city but he leaves that to himself. "Been here long?"

[not_cocked]

"This'll be my second time in."

She walks slowly up to stand next to him, eyes on the strange city below. It reminded her of driving past oil refineries late at night. Pretty as hell, all lit up with twinkling lights, till you realized how much they stank.

"This is your first go, isn't it?" Glancing up at him, she realized that question could be a little bit unnerving. "Sorry. You'll learn fast they aren't big on privacy round these parts. It takes some getting use to."

At least it had been for De. She wasn't use to having her life up in lights.

2

[smarterthanthem]

Pretty weird, huh?

[Clementine asks him from behind, fingers straightening the battered baseball cap on her head. It's just outside the training center and there's a small wind blowing.

She nods to the citizens moving down the streets, in their brightly coloured clothing and hair which makes Clem, the stranger and most other tributes stick out like a sore thumb.]

Like a circus.

[aboveangrybees]

[Steve looks down at the girl, having to swallow the sharp and bitter spike of anger and fear of seeing a child here. He hoped, against all hope, that she wasn't a part of the death match he was going to be. But the overwhelming dread says otherwise.

Still, he keeps it together, just barely, turning his attention to the crowd again.]

All the squawking they do makes me think of exotic birds.

[smarterthanthem]

[Clementine grins.]

Like parrots. Or magpies, I think they're the ones drawn to shiny objects, just like them.

[she gestures at the crowd.]

[1]

[hit_girl_mindy]

Be lucky that you don't try that. Peaekeepers will be on you like white on rice. Now me, I got brought straight into the Arena. At least you get some peace fr a little while.

[And on the opposite side of the room is a young girl, drinking hot cocoa. She'dd been watching him, wondering why he looked so familiar].

You just get here?

[aboveangrybees]

Not a fan of their captives jumping out windows? Pity. [Steve turns to look at her, his expression stuttering from an empty amusement to shock. He wasn't expecting a child - okay she's a teen, but still a child - her voice had sounded young, but not to the degree he's seeing. It takes a second to school his expression from upset at what he's seeing to safely settling for a neutral but friendly expression.

He takes one last look at the window before making his way over to her.]

I did. [He offers a nod in greeting.] Steve Rogers, and you are?

[hit_girl_mindy]

[Preteen technically but its understandable why he'd think otherwise: Mindy found it was far too troublesome to play the poor little kid act when she was one of the newest mentors for District 9.]

Nah. I'm not super old, but so far there've been 3 arenas. Steve Rogers. I'm Mindy, Mindy Macready.

[While her brain screams STEVEROGERSHOLYSHITITSMOTHERFUCKINGCAPTAINAMERICAWHATTHEFUCK]

[2]

[oredinary_hero]

The other man sticks out in the crowd of Capitol citizens, even with only a brief exposure to the latter. Rokk hasn't met many of the other Tributes yet and it's as good a time to start getting to know them as any. He needs to build connections, find out who here can be relied upon to help tear down the authorities, though it's going to be a hard task while sticking to his team-mate's ruse of being villains. On the other hand, seeing who finds a self-professed villain loathsome is a good start to determining their character.

Hands in pockets he saunters over when the man stops moving for a moment, commenting idly, "Let me guess, you're new here too? Seems like they brought in a lot of fresh blood for the killing fields all at once. Makes me wonder what most beings chances of surviving are."

[aboveangrybees]

Steve looks away from the building that had caught his attention, placing his attentions instead on the guy beside him now. A bemused look crosses his face as he looks down at himself then the crowd. He really hadn't thought he was obviously new, but he can see how he sticks out like a sore thumb.

"Do you normally refer to people as beings?" He's honestly inquiring, his eyebrow raised. It feels like such a disconnected word, scientific, he can't help but ask about it.

[oredinary_hero]

"Not all the time, no. Sentients works." A sidelong glance and an indifferent shrug. "From what I've heard about our new home? Cannon-fodder seems to fit too. Obstacles maybe. Why? What would you prefer I use?"

He's watching the stranger closely, trying to gauge his reaction while appearing uninterested. It's not a role Cos particularly enjoys - someone callously unconcerned about anyone but themselves - but he's no stranger to putting on false faces and if it might help avoid attention from those interested in suppressing rebellion? Then he'll just have to cope.

(3)

[asklepian]

Julian's mood is a dark thundercloud, after the chaos of the last few weeks. Not that he was normally thrilled to be here--exactly the opposite really. He wanted terribly to hope that the arrival of all these 'guests' (not that he was at all ignorant of the fact that they were simply more prisoners) meant little but a sign of the capricious will of the Capitol. But he really couldn't.

And now there were still more people arriving, and he couldn't determine what that meant for those that were the Capitol's esteemed guests.

He was finding more and more that he was fed up with the uncertainty and games of the government.

Retreating to the roof for some fresh air, quiet, and hopefully a fleeting glimpse of beloved stars rendered nearly invisible by light pollution was about all he could do at the moment.

There's, of course, nearly always other people about. Solitude is more than he can hope for. But he doesn't really mind that so much, in fact he settles on a bench near a face his prodigious memory can't place a name to. He flips his communicator over in his hands idly.

[aboveangrybees]

Steve attention is caught by the man as he settles in. Just watching him for a moment, almost able to see the dark cloud above the him, wondering if it's from time here or finding himself here. Steve has been able to keep his own dark mood tightly held, but he knows that won't always last.

Not wanting to surprise him, Steve clears his throat before talking. "I wonder if the constellations here are the same back home. Not that you can really see them to know." He offers a friendly look, not smiling, but Steve has a hard time not being welcoming when meeting someone.

2.

[swill]

It wasn't that he was hiding from everything happening around him, but Hawkeye had hardly found himself out of the district floors during this recess. The power being flaunted didn't make him shy away, but it was another reminder that he was maybe out of his depth and that running his mouth, surprise!, might not be the best solution to anything. A revelation it wasn't, but Hawkeye certainly spent less time slinking about looking for things to stealthily break for the sake of pointing the finger at another poor soul. There would be other times to knit a grandmother's sweater over Enjolras' statue and blame some green-hatted man for the vandalism. Excursions to the city were resolved to always be productive- a bored doctor helped nobody and especially not himself- but still nearly always ended (or started) with a bar and drinks. Sometimes he'd laugh along with a joke out of some stranger's mouth- Hawkeye sure wouldn't deny it. The war wasn't Us or Them, it was Right or Wrong, and sometimes Hawkeye--

well, he shouldn't feel guilty about it but maybe he did. Maybe he didn't. Maybe he didn't like having free time any more than he liked feeling life slip from him. Maybe he just didn't like having to always readjust the part in his hair after it was always mussed and tussled about. Maybe he just didn't like that this one guy in front of him was walking like he either didn't know where to walk or like he knew exactly where he was going and so he booked the entire evening to take in the sights of a cracked wall here, an advertisement there. Oh look, one man with dyed skin and a monkey.

So who was this guy, anyway? Entirely unassuming, entirely normal, entirely too clean. Something smelled fishy. Chum for the sharks, no doubt. And Hawkeye takes the cue to skip up to the guy, because it's been a busy couple of whatever it had been- days, weeks, months, years-- who even kept track? And it wasn't exactly a hopscotch-skip forward, but he did find a spring in his step that put him at arms-length from the other man in an instant. Hawkeye takes a second to figure what kind of distraction he was itching to spark before offering, "I know you don't want to be noticed, fella, but that's exactly how you get yourself noticed."

Just a friendly Hello to the newbie would do.

Oh woah! Sorry this was marked as replied

[aboveangrybees]

Steve looks over at the man who just joined him, his eyebrow inching up curiously. Blending in and not being noticed are things he gave up on hours ago, hard not to when you stick out like a sore thumb, when these people expect a show and he's not giving them one. No, Steve knows he's got people's attention, but he's not going to do anything about it. Not yet at least.

Besides, looking around, he's not even going to try and blend in. These people look like clowns; all of them desperate to look different, yet all it does it make them blend together like muddled paint.

"Clearly," he isn't smiling, but he's friendly, his voice almost humored. "Guessing this isn't your first rodeo."

3

[sithcretapprentice]

[Even with how many interruptions he's received in the form of people deciding to spend their time on the roof, it's still the best place to sit and gather his thoughts. Meditation is his go-to method to stay relaxed, and after a long day of training, mental clarity is a good thing to have.

He's probably not easy to notice, sitting off to the side, but he does notice Steve after a while. Starkiller finds it hard to focus in the presence of other people, so he can't help but be a little annoyed that his meditation is interrupted.]

You realize there isn't much of interest up here, right?

[Despite his annoyance, he forced a neutrality to his tone. He isn;t in the mood to pick fights with any newcomers.]

[aboveangrybees]

[Steve looks towards the voice, catching sight of someone he wasn't aware of before. He knew he wasn't alone, but he hadn't cared to locate the person. It seemed outside the arena was safe enough not to worry for his safety at every turn.

He raises a curious eyebrow at him, wondering if that was a hint to leave. And if so, then tough luck, Steve's not going anywhere. Despite that, his demeanor stays neutral but friendly.]

That's half the reason I'm up here. It might be the only place that doesn't directly remind me of my new status. [It still does, but it's much more subtle.]

3;

[guardiandevil]

Matt's first instinct was to find a rooftop. The indoors had always felt claustrophobic to him, and the ground even more so. Up high, above all the people, he could hear the Capitol singing. It sounded like a funeral dirge.

He was just slipping away from the Avox minders and onto the roof when he caught the scent of someone else on the air. Seconds later, he was able to zero in on the steady thudding of the other man's heart, pulsing through the still air of the rooftop and bouncing off the statues in little ripples. Matt paused, slowed his approach, but ventured closer, testing the waters with this vaguely familiar stranger.

[aboveangrybees]

When he notices the new presence, Steve looks over, watching the man's approach for a long moment. He's quick to notice something's off, but it takes longer than he wants to admit to notice the man's eyes. Blind.

"I knew these people were bad, but they didn't even give you a stick?" He shakes his head, taking on a tone of empty humor. It's not funny, it's another thing to be frustrated about, but he keeps that to himself. He takes a step away from where he's leaning, moving slightly towards the other man. "You seem to be doing alright for yourself, but would you like a hand?"

[BONUS] super special prompt that takes place before the next arena

[assassinat]

[ After sending a private message to him via Lonestar's safe encryption, Natasha waits for Steve in the South Wing of the Training Center. Out of all the names she could pick to watch this stuff with, she ended up choosing Captain America for a good reason.

He seemed the respectable leader to both Thor and Tony, meaning that there's a good chance he's the one who ties all the Avengers of his universe together. Furthermore, it'll give her the chance to figure out who she was to him. Watching their companions fight and struggle in the Arena is a perfect first date.

That and she saw two Tribute names she shouldn't have seen, didn't want to see, and thought it best to tell him first before he heard from others.

Today her hair is wavy and worn down around her face, a look she was hoping would be more familiar to the man. If it was to Tony, then maybe it would have an affect on him as well. ]

Re: [BONUS] super special prompt that takes place before the next arena

[aboveangrybees]

[Steve doesn't take long to arrive after the message. Yeah, he found himself a little surprised and suspicious of her offer, wondering if she's working an angle or playing a game, but it didn't stop him from accepting it. He doesn't mind the idea of company while trying to watch the horrors on screen.

Nor mind the idea of see her reactions.

He'd already watched Mindy's final arena and planned to dig deeper, find anything else useful from the past arenas. He by no means enjoys watching them, but he'd be stupid to pass up such a vital resource; his own survival and the survival of his allies is far more important than his personal discomfort.

The hair style change doesn't go unnoticed, but he's seen his own Natasha go through a handful of hairstyles in the couple years he's known her, so he doesn't even blink.]

Fancy meeting you here. [He's not entirely sure if they should act like this was unplanned, since they did communicate over an encryption.]