Red Fish Mingle

[mortalcoil]

Who: The crew and (many) visitors of the Red Fish!
Broadcast: Nope
Action: Aboard the SS Red Fish
When: Nebulously after the Great Winter Soldier Violence Spree of '16

[it was bound to happen sometime. all three captains of the SS Red Fish are hauled back home in various stages of medical distress, and things have been a little weird since then.

one of these things is the super soldier with the busted metal arm that is brought in to be kept locked up in Coil's lab for a while. turns out those restraints he'd had installed did come in handy. that's a thing.

so, whether you're here to check on one of the various ailing people here, gawk at the guy chained up in the dungeon lab, or are just trying to live your life in relative peace and sanity, come on in!]

Comments

Winter || OTA

[reconstitution]

[ medical bay ]
[ It has probably come to the attention of the residents of the Red Fish that there is an outsider lurking on the ship. Well, not so much lurking as staying very much in one place, restrained to that one wall that doesn't fit in a medical bay.

Even if he could probably break those restraints and escape, he doesn't, because he has a guilt complex and probably deserves this. Winter's a mostly-silent guest, but if someone happens to engage him, they won't be ignored. Just.. don't expect much by way of conversation.

If you want to come give him a peace of your mind, or see how he's doing, he's not going anywhere for a while. ]

[mortalcoil]

[waking on the ship, dipping agonizingly in and out of consciousness, allowing the soldier that had attacked him to be installed into the same space that he's currently occupying, has all been a bit of a blur. he remembers the important parts, he's been aware enough to answer and make decisions and run on auto-pilot when needed. but most of his mind has been set on healing, and powering through the pain.

it isn't until he can hoist himself up into a sitting position without being wracked with fiery spasms through his chest that he finally actually looks at the soldier with any amount of clarity in his eye. he's actually awake now. it has been a few days, but he can finally pick up where he'd left off and address the problem left chained up in his lab.

so, once he's caught his breath from sitting up, he turns to dangle his legs over the edge of the bed and just look over at the man for a minute--making sure he's seeing something familiar, and not the creature that had nearly killed him, before making another move.]

[reconstitution]

[ The past few days have been.. awful. Number one, healing is a goddamn process, even with the serum pumping through his veins. He's never really had much opportunity to heal outside of cryo after an injury. Everything hurts, and his head is pulsing with the sound of his blood pumping between his ears. Most of the deep bruising is mottled yellows and greens, disappearing completely in another day. Scratches have inched their way closed, though the wound is still angry and dark.

The only thing that's been giving him trouble is his damn leg-- The deep gouge out of his thigh is mending, but if he so much as moves, it threatens to tear anew. It's still not as bad as the severed tendons. They simply aren't healing. The remaining strands are probably trying to gain purchase and fuse back together, but it's an agonizingly slow process. He'll worry about that one later.

Winter is a light sleeper, and the sounds of the unfamiliar lab and the extra life in the room wake him. His eyes are open when Coil finally sits up, he's been watching the kid, his brow furrowed in worry. He did that. Clumsily, he brings his uninjured arm up, the restraints clanking at the movement.

It's a little difficult to sign with only one hand, but dammit, he's going to try anyway. 'Sorry.' At least that one only requires one movement and not spelling out the letters. ]

[mortalcoil]

[Coil is in that quiet, careful place he gets whenever he doesn't have reason to lower his guard. aside from the hints and tracks of pain around his eyes and the tense line of his mouth, there isn't much to read on his face. cold and faraway. he's wearing the mask that he shows strangers.

he doesn't answer Winter's apology at all, but the fact that he continues his way off the table probably means that he's at least seen it. it at least answers the first question in his head.

his feet are bare on the floor, and he doesn't remember who'd removed his shirt but he's glad that they did, so he can keep an eye on his own wounds. even with all the incremental healings, it's still an ugly painting across his chest, centered like gruesome petals around the shape of the soldier's fist. he wears it like a banner as he slowly approaches--it's maybe his first form of communication while he's still considering what words to use.

he's pale and a little wobbly on his legs, but he still paces around the outside reach of those restraints looking like he's maybe considering whether or not their fight had really ended, or needs to be continued.

eventually, he asks, 'what happened?']

[reconstitution]

[ Winter awkwardly pushes himself into a sitting position, his good leg curled underneath him. It's an effort to keep himself upright, if only because he's so goddamn tired. Residual effects from his glitch, life catching up with him, or the results of his injuries, he doesn't know. It's annoying as hell.

He watches Coil come closer, but it's like a slap to the face. The ugly bruises are nothing more than a reminder of what he was made to do, and a small voice in the back of his head supplies that he's lucky that he's still alive. He resolutely doesn't want to think about that, though it's weighed heavily on his mind since waking up on the Red Fish.

Winter considers the question and shakes his head. 'don't know.' He brings his hand to his throat and points to his temple. 'voice in my head' then, 'd-a-r-k.'

Maybe it's helpful, but maybe it isn't. He brings his hand up as much as he can toward his head, dragging his middle finger across his forehead. 'Empty'. Thankfully, all things he can mostly do with one hand. ]

[mortalcoil]

[his brow furrows, looking like skepticism at first, but it's a very brief expression. of all the things he knows that Winter is capable of, lying has never seemed like something that would be very high in that skillset.

'don't remember?' signing the most full and formal versions of the words, just so there's no mistake.

though, he doesn't wait for an answer. there's leftover anger and shock lying deep in there somewhere, and the supposed gap in Winter's understanding is the opportunity it needs to vent a little. Coil is more than ready to explain, though the signs are a little stiff and abbreviated because of his current condition. the motions are short, sharp, pained. very pointed.

'you attacked my partner, me, others.' the blankness of his face is interrupted with the small twist of a grimace then--either from pain or bitterness. 'like enemies.'

then a few disembodied short signs tangle together--fingers curling hard at his mouth and both hands set in claw-shapes moving at each other, for anger and battle--before he points at one side of Winter's body. 'I took your arm.']

[reconstitution]

[ Oh, he's capable of lying, but he has absolutely no reason to in this instance. It won't help him out of the situation, and isn't called for.

He shakes his head to the question, there's nothing yet. He doesn't doubt that it'll come back quickly enough, though. God, this is a fucking mess, any he has no one to blame but himself.

Winter's mouth draws into a thin line, thinking of how to explain. ]

There's this code..in my head. It's like a fail safe, makes me compliant. [ He pauses briefly, eyes flicking up to catch Coil's. ] I heard it in my head. Wasn't a way to stop it.

[ And well, Coil knows the rest. ]

[mortalcoil]

[whatever explanation he'd been expecting, this isn't exactly it. his brow lowers, he frowns, and his anger tentatively begins to slide toward a different target.

voices in his head, hmm? at least Coil is taking that claim very seriously, and two different options immediately come to mind. knowing the people here, someone breaking into his thoughts to activate a code doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility, but... in his experience, whenever his own mind has been meddled with here, there has been a different cause.

questioningly, he turns his head and taps a finger against his own augment, where the grey plastic peeks above the skin behind his ear.]

[reconstitution]

[ He debates on whether or not he should mention who he thought it sounded like. Winter doesn't want to shift blame completely if it wasn't just some augment glitch; but it still doesn't make sense as to how it happened if it weren't. He doesn't remember the words until they're spoken, which he supposes is part of the beauty of it.

Winter's expression is somber as he nods his head. It's looking more likely, especially with all the weird things that have been going on lately. ]

That's the assumption.. I don't have any answers aside from that.

[ He still doesn't feel like himself, fully, though, that's always a moot point. ]

for realsies this time

[theboogieman]

[his visit to the medical bay is inevitable. he walks in with a full face of skull-makeup, stops just past the doorway to regard the person chained up against the wall... and turns, walking to the still-sleeping Coil to check on him instead.

he does normal things, checking readings, making sure his chest isn't dented in and sticking to itself like he last remembers. he quietly runs his fingers through the air in front of Coil's mouth, as if he could glean something out it... but if he does, he doesn't share or react to it beyond turning away again.

which means he's back to looking at Winter, though he's doing so from a distance. he doesn't seem particularly on-edge, or angry, or guarded... if anything, he's leaning back against one of the counters, posture slumped in unspoken exhaustion.

he's tired and he's watching, maybe even thinking--but that's all.]

[reconstitution]

[ Whether he was asleep before Zhas enters the medical bay or not, he watches him move to where Coil is. He'd seen that the other was back in the roster, but hadn't gotten the chance to really say anything to him. Not that he talked much with the skull-faced guy before. He does remember meeting Zhas before he was stationed on the Caprine, though..

In either case, he's sitting up when Zhas turns around to watch him. He offers the other a nod, though doesn't make any sort of motion to break the silence. ]

[theboogieman]

[Zhas remembers him too, a little bit. not enough to really know who he is, but enough to think it strange that the guy would go on a rampage and throw him into a wall. punch a hole in Coil's chest. the second one bothers him more than the first, honestly.

but someone (Coil, he thinks) did a number on the guy's arm. and he's here, and not dead, which also implies Coil's involvement. Zhas himself has been out with the remnants of a swollen brain for a while, so his memories of the incident are... extremely touchy, when they are present at all.

it's gut instinct that finally gets him to move, nodding once in return before walking closer. he stops within conversational distance, well inside where Winter could reach him if he wanted. that said, Zhas could also reach him back--if he wanted.

which he doesn't, right now. normally, he avoids speaking--but this seems an appropriate time for him to use his gravelly, apathetic monotone to get to the bottom of things.]

What happened.

[reconstitution]

[ Winter doesn't lash out, though he's not sure if anyone expects him to. He has the capability, certainly, but not the temperament. Even if Zhas were to reach out and strike him, he wouldn't do a damn thing to stop it. He kind of deserves whatever his victims need to get out of their system. ]

Heard a voice in my head, then everything went black.

[ He pauses, shaking his head. Maybe he should back up and try to explain a little better. ]

There are words-- programming. Mission protocols. In my head. It must have gotten triggered by something.

[theboogieman]

[of all the crimes committed against him in his lifetime, being launched into a wall is a relatively small one. even if he wanted to do something, he's got too much self-control for that. if everyone is calm, he has no need to escalate.

besides, what he's saying is... strange, and important.]

What kind of voice.

[reconstitution]

A woman. I could have sworn it sounded like her.

[ A pause. ] Like Diamond.

[ It was a comforting sort of voice, no serious intent. But he can't be exactly sure of what he heard. He was alone, and as far as he knows, that's the first time he's ever heard a voice in his head. ]

[theboogieman]

[he considers this for a moment, but nods at the end of his thoughts. he believes him, especially after hunting down his own monster. he remembers remembering it more than he can recall the actual thing, but he knows it had something to do with this place.

he ends up tilting his head to the side, almost in a shrug.]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

[a simple saying, but one he's heard over and over since he was very young.]

[reconstitution]

[ It's honestly a good enough answer for him. They're not direct enemies, but there's still an arm's length of distance. Winter prefers it this way. ]

Thank you.

i'm so sorry at how late this is WOW, i lost track orz

[collegedropout]

[Sometime after Sam and Syeira talk about this, it's clear Winter's staying put. Sam's not pleased exactly by the restraining, but he also isn't the one who gets to make that call. It's Winter's. If the guy gave him the word to cut him loose, he would, no question; as far as Sam's concerned, the Atroma could mess with anyone the way they did him. The fact that he already had some issues from the past only made him a good target to perpetuate some hysteria, if anything.

He wanders over to bring him something to eat; nothing too heavy, since he figures the guy doesn't feel that great anyway. It's a shake, the kind he made Coil, full of the necessary ingredients to keep a guy healthy.

And also an exported candy bar he has left over from the prior planet.

Hey, everyone needs simple pleasures.]

Hey. You awake?

[Let's talk, man.]

there is no time limit, you're good!

[reconstitution]

[ People are assuming that he's upset with his current lodgings, but he's really, really not. Even if he could break out with his current strength, it's a safety net- it gives the illusion that people will be safe. With his head still unchecked, no one is. It isn't likely he'll relapse again, but he's not sure. His head still aches, throbbing at the temples.

Someone entering the medical bay causes him to stir- he's a light sleeper anyway, but being in a place that's eerily reminiscent of HYDRA, any unfamiliar noise has him alert. Winter keeps his eyes closed, trying to recognize the footfalls, but he's not familiar enough with anyone on the Red Fish to have their steps memorized.

A voice- (Sam?) comes from to his left, and he eases the tension in his back and looks up at him. ]

I am.

[ Winter pushes himself awkwardly into a sitting position. ]

[collegedropout]

[Sam sets down the tray beside him, so that he can reach it properly.

Then he takes a slow seat.]

Wanted to see how you're feeling... Um, not just physically, but. [He taps his temple.] Up here, too. It's not easy, to wake up knowing you weren't in control of yourself, you know? Wanted to check on how you're doing.

[reconstitution]

[ Winter doesn't automatically reach for the tray. He'll help himself once Sam has gone.

He watches him sit, and the wary expression on his face gives way to something more conflicted. Winter has to do a mental analysis. His head is pounding, but it's more or less back to the dull, throbbing ache at the back of his skull. His memories are still ash in the wind, so his brain is pretty much just a well-categorized clusterfuck.

Mostly, it's just the guilt that's eating him from the inside out. ]

I'm..functioning. [ That's about all he's got right now. It isn't even functioning properly. ]

[collegedropout]

[Lord, words out of his own mouth from a time since passed. The response draws a visible wince out of him, his way of wordlessly replying I bet, or and how's that going for you. Really, you're not functioning all that great if you're chained up. That's just a fun fact. He threads his fingers together to hang in his lap, quiet for a moment - hey, look Winter. It's not so bad. Sam's pretty much healed thanks to a certain small fae child. All the fingers you broke are totally fine now!

He sighs.]

The Atroma messed with something pre-existing, right?

I spoke with Steve. He was pretty careful to not say much out of respect for your privacy, but that much I figured. I wanted to let you know you're not alone with your problems — there's help here, people who might relate to what you're going through.

[reconstitution]

[ Sam couldn't understand that this is better. He's not being controlled again, he's not with HYDRA, and he's not glitching again.. At least he doesn't think he will again. There's no way to be sure.

How many people did Steve talk to about him, exactly? It doesn't really matter in the scheme of things. Winter shouldn't be surprised. ]

Yes, it's pre-existing. There's this programming.. for mission protocols.

[collegedropout]

[He breathes in deep, then out his nose.

The thing is, Sam could understand that this is better - granted, he doesn't believe that this will change anything (because let's face it, the Atroma can change anything in a person's head they want), but he still gets the general idea.]

I do get it. If there's something going on with your body and you don't feel safe to be around people, it's well within your right to stay here, chained or not. I'm sorry we caused a bit of a scene earlier — but, uh. I get it. Once I got your input, anyway.

... Is there a way to tell when you're going through these episodes? A way to tell they're over? Sooner or later, you've got to be released from here and carry on with your life. Got to get time to heal, yourself. Not just physically.

[reconstitution]

I don't think so. I don't know.

[ He hasn't felt right since he woke up. Winter's not sure whether it's from the augment glitch or his mind trying to rebel again. It could be the guilt already starting to manifest. ]

Never kept me out of the ice long enough to find out.

[ De-ice, wipe, protocols, mission, wipe, ice. Rinse and repeat. But that was the Soviets. More recently, HYDRA relied heavily on ice, memory wipes, and fear.

So honestly? He doesn't know if this is normal or not, but he doesn't feel like he's out of the water just yet. ]