Action + Video | Captain on the bridge. Sort of...

[brooklyn_boy]

Who: Steve and you!

Broadcast: Video, yes: Fleetwide

Action: SS Bishop
When: Yesterday, after arrival

ACTION:
Steve has just about managed to acquaint himself with the strange, new idea that he is now in space when the next curve is thrown his way. One second he's standing in a hallway, just about to walk up and ask someone if they have any idea what he's doing here. The next, he's...on a bridge. With confetti? And are those pudding cups? What the Hell is going on? He blinks around, his first instinct to always look and see if there is some sort of fight about to happen. Hands are in fists and he really wishes his shield was somewhere around here. But he dropped that in the dirt a few months ago, so fat chance.

Steve will stand down slowly, once no one attacks him right off the bat. Sadly, he's been in this position before; in a strange place and time, not knowing why or how. His thoughts are back on Earth and with the friends he's broken out of their floating prison and now, seemingly, abandoned. Maybe there is a way out of here. Or, maybe, he's needed here more? Hopefully someone is going to be able to talk him through it all.


VIDEO:

Many hours later, Steve sends out a broadcast, finally understanding how and wanting to reach out to anyone else that might be here. Anyone else he might know.

"Uh. Hey. My name is Steve Rogers. Hopefully I'm doing this right and you can all see and hear me. I just arrived about..." He looks down at something and then scrubs a hand over his face as though in disbelief. "Two days ago. A lot got packed into those days, it seems. But I'm sure you all know how that feels."

Steve pauses, shifting a bit before getting closer to the camera, face serious. "I've met some people here so I know that what happened to me has happened to a lot of other good people. I have questions and a lot of things I want to look into. But first, I want to know who else is out there. Who else might have the same questions I do and who wants to start getting some answers."

He moves back and tries to smile. "Or who maybe just wants to talk? Anything. So, yeah. Thanks. How do I....um. Is it this butt-"

Video cuts off abruptly.

Comments

[rebuildyourruins]

[That proves it - had Steve remembered his time here, he would have already known about the eye. Though not the newest state of it, he admits to himself. Shaking his head, Thor sounds calm enough when he replies.]

Ah, no, no it wasn't here. [He taps at his left temple, aiming for reassuring but most likely not being so when he follows up with:] My sister stabbed me in the face some time ago, so I got a replacement.

[brooklyn_boy]

Your sister?

[Thor has a sister? Obviously not a close one.]

Your siblings and you have a complicated relationship...

[rebuildyourruins]

[Steve doesn't know the half of it. Thor huffs a laugh, somehow finding the humour in it despite the utterly dire state of his family situation.]

Yes, though that one was straightforward in the end. [He hums in thought, tapping a finger against the side of the communicator.] How long has it been since you last saw me? That will help with the explanation.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Last time he saw Thor? It has been a long time.] Ultron. Fighting him was the last time that we saw each other. A lot has happened since then...

[Steve sighs, thinking of Tony and the Avengers]

The Avengers are splintered, now. I was grabbed just about then. Not really how you left us.

[rebuildyourruins]

Ah, yes. The Accords thing.

[That is in fact how Thor chooses to refer to the whole ordeal. 'The Accords Thing.']

Natasha has told me about it. It sounded like a complicated time.

[Where Thor stands on it is debatable. He understands Steve's position... but at the same time, he also understands entirely how Tony had reacted to the later complication of his parents' deaths.]

[brooklyn_boy]

[The Accords Thing. Yes, Thor. Steve becoming an outlaw, beating one of his friends bloody, and having his companions locked up on the first penitentiary cruise liner was 'The Accords Thing']

That's a word for it. Not the one I'd use, but yeah. Not wrong.

[rebuildyourruins]

[A half-smile tugs at Thor's lips.]

Well, you know the details better than I. I learned enough from Natasha to understand the basics of it.

[The smile fades out as he sighs, knowing he needs to continue with this. He gives the communicator a more measured look.]

My own point in time is two years past yours. A lot has happened for me as well. But... you ought to know that I found Banner. He is safe.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Two years. So much had happened in two years? But Bruce. Bruce was alright. That was good news]

He is? [Nat would want to know, if she didn't already. But she was here. So who knew what good it would do. He dismisses it reluctantly, latching on to something else.]

Two years. Something about your face is telling me finding Bruce wasn't the highlight of all that time...

[rebuildyourruins]

Yeah - found him on another planet, if you can believe that. I almost didn't, and I was there.

[And Bruce had found it a bit hard to swallow as well, if his twitching and panicking had been anything to go by. Thor's not entirely surprised to realise that he misses the man - if anything, Bruce knew just how bad things had gotten for Thor. Had been there for much of it.

Observant as ever, Thor thinks as Steve turns his attention back to what hasn't been said. It brings a smile to his face, even if it's less bright than Thor's usual.]

It wasn't the only thing that happened, no. Which ship are you on? I'll come find you.

[He doesn't much want to do this over the communicators.]

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve can feel the bad news radiating off of Thor. Part of him almost doesn't want to know, but he needs to. He needs to know whatever Thor needs to say.]

I'm on the SS Bishop.

[Steve hesitates, not sure what to say, next. Thor is coming to deliver this news in person. It has to be awful.]

Just tell me...whatever happened. Can we fix it? If we go back, can we fix it?

[rebuildyourruins]

[It's difficult not to feel as though the wind's been taken out of Thor's sails at the question. There's a long, painful moment where he just stares at the screen, not sure how to answer.

There is a certain steel in Thor though that is almost impossible to temper. Even in the face of the worst possible defeat. Surrender is not in his nature. So even though there's something almost unbearably worn down in his eyes, he says this:]

I don't know yet. I don't intend on giving up.

[He can't, really. He has someone he needs to kill first. He shoves the thought away and adds something lighter before he signs off.]

I'll see you in about five minutes.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve nods, not sure what else there is to say. As soon as the connection is cut he's thinking about all the things that could have gone wrong back home. Tony. Sam. Bruce. Clint. They were all still there. Who knew what could have gone wrong.

Despite his anxiety, Steve waits at the docking area with his USO smile painted on. Whatever happened, Thor appears to have lived through it. God only knew what he'd been through. Steve had to put that first.

No matter what.

After five minutes he's not exactly pacing but he's not standing still either. Steve Rogers is many things but patient isn't one.]

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor arrives in short order, stepping out of his shuttle to find Steve already there waiting for him. Thor doesn't look much livelier in person though he's bolstered somewhat by Steve's presence. It's been a while since he was last in the Fleet, and much has changed since then.

He walks up to Steve immediately and claps him on the shoulder, half a smile on his face.]

There you are. Enjoying space so far?

[brooklyn_boy]

[Thor, even as weary as he looks now is able to lift Steve's mood. Steve returns the pat on his shoulder before just pulling Thor into a quick hug.]

Enjoying isn't the word I'd choose. But it is definitely an interesting new experience.

[One Thor is likely far more used to than he is. Small blessings.]

Better with friendly faces around, that's for sure. C'mon [He pats him on the arm once more before leading out] I have a room it seems. Let's go and talk, yeah?

[rebuildyourruins]

[He hadn't started the hug but that doesn't mean Thor doesn't return it. It's sorely needed after being in the Fleet, and being at home.]

Oh, I don't enjoy it either. I hate this place.

[Brightly and bluntly. Thor's opinion of the Fleet is fairly poor, even without current circumstances being what they are. Following along behind Steve, Thor takes note of this ship's layout.]

Yeah, they do that for everyone. You can also transfer ships if you decide you want to be on a different one.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Well, that is good to know.]

I don't know enough about one ship or the other to know if I'd want to do that, but I'm glad it's an option. This ship is apparently pretty advanced in the way of offensive weapons. It's a good one for me to be on, I feel. In case anything should happen.

[Steve looks over at Thor, instantly sympathetic and concerned]

How's your ship? How're you? Really? And Loki?

[rebuildyourruins]

[Of course that's where Steve's priorities go. Thor wouldn't expect anything less. That's... a lot of questions though, with wildly different answers to give. Blowing out a breath, Thor tips his head back and stares at the ceiling for a moment.]

My ship's fine. I'm the captain, since the previous one disappeared. [He turns to Steve once more, a shade of doubt entering his voice.] You've already seen Loki then?

[brooklyn_boy]

He contacted me, before. We spoke a little. He mentioned that things were well between you two. [Steve can't take his eyes off of Thor and how bone-tired he looks. Something has beat him down. Something... something has crushed something inside him and Steve can't figure out what]

Thor... In my timeline, I haven't seen you for awhile. But something's gone wrong. What happened?

[rebuildyourruins]

[Well, if they had a conversation that wasn't poisonous, that was really something. Loki had shown little regard for the man last time he was here. Thor's willing to leave it at that rather than pry into whatever else might have been said.]

Yeah, I know. I don't make it back to Earth for three years. [A lot can happen in that span. He breathes in slowly, knowing where he has to start.] Asgard was destroyed. Not long ago.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve's whole face goes slack with horror. He stares at Thor, not knowing what he can even say to express how sorry he is for his friend.]

Thor...

[He walks forward to place a hand on either side of his shoulders, squeezing.]

Thor, I am so sorry. I can't imagine what this has to be like for you. I'm just... I'm so, so sorry.

Anything you need, I'm here.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor feels a little distant from himself even now, though Steve brings the reality of it back to bear. It's just so jumbled. Thor had spent a year in this Fleet coming to terms with what had happened, only to be shoved back into the timeline where it was fresh, and bound for more sorrow.

It's all he can do to nod, casting his eyes down as his expression twists into heartache.]

Thank you. Truly. There was no other way but it is still a hard loss to bear.

[brooklyn_boy]

[It's probably not the right time, but Steve's mind is already rejecting the thought that there is nothing else to do.] The Atroma here...they can transcend time and universes. Maybe...if we learn more about them...we can figure out how they do that. Go back before it is destroyed and...

[And what? What is he going to do next? He doesn't even know how the planet was destroyed.]

And. Maybe there is something different we could do? All of us?

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor's already shaking his head, something harder in his expression.]

I do not rely upon the Atroma for my own wellbeing, much less that of my people. No, Steve. I understand what you mean by it, but no.

[He won't take it as a suggestion. Steve is new, however, and doesn't yet know the history of this place and their captors. Nor why Asgard had to be destroyed in the first place.]

Besides... it would not change the reason why it had to be destroyed. It was the only way to defeat Hela.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve stalls on that, pulling back his additional thoughts in the face of the knowledge that he clearly doesn't know the whole story. Nor does he know all that much about the Atroma if they give Thor a reaction like that. He shelves it to come back to, later. For now he focuses on the other part]

Hela? Was that...another god from your planet?

[rebuildyourruins]

The goddess of death, yes. She was also my sister.

[He smiles a bit then, humourless.]

And before you say so, I know I never mentioned having a sister before. That's because I didn't know.