[Open] Sometimes with turbulence

[aboveangrybees]

Who| Steve & Anyone
What| It's been a crazy couple of weeks.
Where| A little bit of everywhere
When| After Cruentus' announcement, but also backdating welcome.
Warnings/Notes| There will be mention of: Arena Death, the District 3 Tragedy, and the Abuse of a Punching Bag. In one tag, which will be marked, there will be mentions of Nazis and the Holocaust.
You can date anything as far back as two weeks ago when Steve got out of the arena, but for time reference: The Training Center is Anytime Post District Three Announcement and the Speakeasy is Anytime Post Quarantine.


1. Roof:

[Up here on the roof, the air feels fresher. Away from everything, up here it feels like a small escape, even if he never can. His mind is always going over plans and ideas for how to take this place down, going over maps Lonestar shared and ideas for communication - especially after learning about the chip and it's upgrade.

All of it being thought out as his hand flies across the paper sketching - people, places, memories, the plant to his left, nothing anyone could look at and see any of his thoughts. If anyone is up here too long with him, he'll end up sketching them too.

But even if he's drawing or looking out at the city on thought or reading, Steve looks up when people come too near and acknowledges them with a nod.]


2. Training Center:

[It isn't as if he thinks his slight change in routine will go unnoticed, how after what happened to District Three he could be found down in the training center more often, but he keeps what he does down here varied. Hopefully to keep them thrown off to precisely his reasons for being down here more often.

Working at multiple stations, using them to practice skills and to gain new ones. Not just things like making a fire or fishing hook, but also his body in all aspects, especially his parkour training and stamina. Sometimes beating the snot out of a punching bag.

The frustrations of what happened and being helpless to act now is what's driving him into the routine change, but it's also to keep in shape and his mind sharp for the day he finally gets to take on the capitol.]


3. Speakeasy:

This is a good place; yeah it's useful, but more than that, it's got an atmosphere he can appreciate. A reminder of the days before blood and ice and war. Even the name feels right to him. Everywhere in the Capitol is behind enemy lines, so he'll never forget his situation or be properly comfortable, but it's nice to have that moment of memory.

So, he's not surprised to realize he's coming here whenever he feels like meeting someone. Maybe make connections, find people with similar goals against the capitol - a task too big for even him to take on alone.

He greets anyone who approaches him with a nod and if they are familiar a hello along with it. The company is welcome, he doesn't come here to be alone with his typically non-alcoholic drink.


((OOC: Prose or Brackets work fine by me! I like both.))

Comments

[aboveangrybees]

Steve listens, nodding here and there to show he understands. Sounds a lot like Bucky, but less torture and brainwashing. Part of him really wants to ask, but he wonders if that's prying where he doesn't belong.

"No, nothing like that with me, I-" he hesitates, looking off to the side in thought. He doesn't talk about it, not really, it's not shame, but there's something about mentioning being a super soldier here that makes him hesitate. No, perhaps in a more secure setting he will, but not here.

"I wasn't supposed to survive, but I did. It was a bit of a shock to everyone," and he leaves it at that. "Was it your choice to be frozen?"

[silberfuchs]

"No. I was involved in the entire zero zero cyborg project against my will. They kidnapped nine of us from around the world, four in the sixties and the other five in the 2000s once the technology had advanced enough. Thanks to a scientist on the project who had a change of heart, the first generations were unfrozen and we all escaped together."

Everyone he knew in his old life, his new family of cyborgs, even those he'd grown close with afterwards on Mocawa... and all that's left of them now is Jet. He's glad for it, for Jet still being alive and here with him, but he can't help but mourn the rest. And he understands Steve's reticence at sharing his own history. He can't fault the man for it. Hell, if things were different he would likely be just as tight lipped, but...

"Usually I don't much talk about all this, but with the Capitol spreading lies I feel as if someone besides my partner and I should know the truth."

[aboveangrybees]

It does sound like what Bucky went through, except his friend lacked the good fortune of people with a conscious. For people to be captured and forced into situations like this against their will, it boils Steve's blood. Even before learning about Bucky having a similar history, Steve would have been upset by it. He does believe in human decency, but more often than not, he doesn't witness it often.

"Capitol seems to have a thing about spreading lies," Steve knows now to be more careful to not believe what the Capitol says.

"Thank you," he means it, he appreciates the honesty. "And for what you and your friends went though, what you survived, I'm sorry. No one should have their basic human rights stolen from them like that."

No one. Steve wouldn't even submit his enemies to that.

[silberfuchs]

"Some of it is lies, some of it is wild speculation spun as truth, but it all amounts to the same thing."

Albert's mouth twitches a bit into what could be a smile, but he's exhausted. He's only ever panicked that badly twice in his life and each time had left him feeling drained and like he could sleep for months. Compound it with reliving some very unpleasant memories and Albert's ready to simply go crawl back into bed and not come out until Jet's left the Arena at the very least.

"No, but it does happen. The best we can do is not perpetuate it ourselves." And fight back, but they're being monitored, he can't say that here, and truth be told he's not sure if he has the energy.

[aboveangrybees]

"That's the power of a good person," taking the bad that happened to them and trying to keep it from being inflicted on other people. The situation can cause people to become bad, to do worse than was done to them, but it marks a good person who can resist that urge.

Steve gives Albert a lingering look as he sees just how tired the man seems to be. Emotional trauma can be rough. "You look wrung out and I'm beat, maybe we should call it a night?"

Actually, he's not beat at all, but he figures it's better to not point out that he's trying to give Albert a chance to rest.

[silberfuchs]

He can tell what Steve's trying to do, taking pity on him in such a way to protect what little pride he may have left. It's appreciated, even if it doesn't quell the knot of shame in the pit of Albert's stomach.

"Alright." He gets himself to his feet, using the wall to get himself there and feeling unsteady but forcing it down, making himself at least present strongly despite their both knowing its an illusion. "Thank you, for hearing me out."

[aboveangrybees]

Steve rises to his feet as well, not moving to help the other man, just letting him protect his pride and do it on his own. Too many years in the military taught him a man's pride is worth the struggle.

"Thank you for hearing me out too," while he doesn't plan to apologize again, his expression and tone show he's still remorseful for the error on his part and causing Albert to relive trauma. He is grateful that Albert was willing to hear him out, forgive him. He knows the other man didn't have to.

[silberfuchs]

Albert shakes his head. "You just made a mistake. I can't blame you. Anyone who's sane hates the Nazis."

With a breath, Albert centers himself, looking less wobbly and not using the wall for balance. He still feels some of that lingering weight, it's still a little hard to get a full breath, but it will pass.

"I still consider us allies, despite the mistake." He smiles a little at Steve, offering his hand for a shake before he takes his leave.

[aboveangrybees]

It still wasn't excuse enough in Steve's book to believe the lies the Capitol wants to spread like that. He just has a low tolerance for people like the Nazis and Hydra and jumped to conclusions.

"As do I," Steve returns the smile and takes his hand, giving it a firm shake. He watches the man leave before turning to look out at the city and think for a spell.