file 001

[proudlywehailed]

Who: Steve Rogers (Winter Soldier)
Broadcast: Fleetwide video
Action: SS Golden
When: Post-shuffle

[The scene opens on the face of a man who looks to be in his thirties at most, with a short, thick beard and buzzed blond hair. His blue eyes have an icy edge to them, despite being more curious than anything, and he speaks in a low tone.]

... I'm guessing I don't get a choice here. No exits, right?

[At least he seems to know for sure that he should be getting a response.]

Comments

[video]

[asinisterkid]

That's about the size of it.

[ Something dangerous about this guy, something in the eyes, and it makes Jason wary. He keeps things surface-friendly, though. Dangerous isn't always bad... just something to be aware of. ]

The way it got explained to me, go too far away, and it's excruciating pain time. Try to go farther, and... surprise, you can't.

Welcome to reality TV in space. [ There's a wry twist to his mouth, and his tone's dry enough to actively suck moisture out of his surroundings. ]

[video]

[proudlywehailed]

Reality TV... You're kidding, right?

[video]

[asinisterkid]

Don't I wish.

We do good, we make the viewers love us, and maybe we get to go home. We don't, and...

No one's actually explained to me what happened if we don't. Could just be that I'm new here and no one's gotten around to it yet. Could be that it's something unspeakably horrible. And seeing as how there are plenty of idiots signing up for reality TV voluntarily where I'm from? I kinda suspect it's that second one. But maybe I'm just cynical.

[video]

[proudlywehailed]

... Or maybe none of us here has ever managed to fail.

[he is very uncomfortable. it shows on his face.]

Can't say I'm feeling very trusting right now.

[video]

[asinisterkid]

Considering the circumstances, if you were, there would be something wrong with you, and this conversation would be pointless.

All this is hearsay and speculation on my end: I just got here myself. I find out any different, I'll be shouting it from the metaphorical rooftops, trust me.

...It's Jason, by the way. Jason Todd. You got something I can call you? [ He's pointedly not asking for a name: if this guy's not feeling trusting then there's no telling if he'll want to give one. He's just going to leave it open for... whatever. ]

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[tothefly]

[Is that Steve? It takes her a second to make out face under all that fuzz and grime, and there's something about his eyes that makes her cautious enough to text, instead of making this a video call. He looks...different.]

We all missed our exit a few lightyears back, soldier, or so they tell me.

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[proudlywehailed]

[he'll be texting right back.]

I guess we'll have to wait until we make it around the universe and back, then.

[tothefly]

[Downside, now she can't see his face. Upside, that lets her be a little more rational about this. She wasn't expecting to see a familiar face ever, let alone so quickly.]

Might be waiting a while for that one. You sure you have the time to kill?

[proudlywehailed]

Not particularly. But for now, it seems like the only inevitability. Plenty of time to look for alternatives.

video;

[mysterzie]

None at fucking all. And for all of us being in space? Everything is insultingly tiny.

video;

[proudlywehailed]

[excuse the weird face he makes for a second.]

Cramped spaces are pretty standard for the military. If we're manning a fleet, that should be the goal.

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[mysterzie]

[ What is that face for? Jeez. ]

Nobody's manning anything. It's all automated for all the shit they give us about being the Fleet, taking charge and making a good show.

video;

[proudlywehailed]

[because your face is weird.]

So you don't do your job at all?

[he actually sounds kind of amused.]

action;

[recopy]

[Oh, what's that, you were actually talking to your comm? Well, when a guy's just outside the doorway--trundling down the hallway on his way past, incidentally--that sort of thing is kind of hard to tell...

Granted, it's a lot less difficult to tell that said mystery voice isn't even talking to him, but the sound of it's unfamiliar--enough to garner interest in itself--and the question just kind of cinches it. So, yes, don't mind the kid in an aggressive amount of blue suddenly poking his head inside your doorway entirely uninvited:]

Oh, actually, there's a shuttle you can take if you want to exit the ship for a bit! It's not very big but it's pretty easy to pilot.... [.....beat] Ah, if--that's what you meant? Sorry for butting in...

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[proudlywehailed]

[oh, hey, there's. a dude. alright. he looks up, eyebrows raised.]

I, uh--you're fine. I was just asking the inevitable. Kinda got a full plate back home.

[recopy]

Ah, okay. So you mean exit from this whole thing in general, huh?

[yep, sure is a dude. a pretty short kid of a dude, as it turns out as he leans a bit further into the doorway despite himself.]

I bet you've probably been told already but, seems like nobody's had any luck with that so far. Maybe someday...but oh, you must be new, then! Did you just get transferred here, from the Marsiva? [wow look at that he's almost properly through the doorway now] It's nice to meet you, if you are! Well, despite...everything in general...

[proudlywehailed]

Yeah, from the Marsiva... I was barely there, but yeah.

[he's gonna stand up and extend his right hand in greeting.]

I'm your newest security officer.

video

[balancetheblood]

[ Well now. This guy looks very familiar, but sort of in the same way Aziraphale did - almost identical, but not quite right. It's probably not Steve, and even if it were (she really doubts that, Steve was a bit of a puppy, this guy looks more like a wolf), he probably wouldn't remember her.

So instead she'll just smile wryly and say hello. ]

It doesn't seem like it. Lucky us, right?

video

[proudlywehailed]

[there's no recognition on his face when he sees her, that's for sure.]

Luck's never been my strong suit.

video

[balancetheblood]

[ Ah well. It was only a tiny hope - they weren't particularly close, her and Steve, but she'd liked him. ]

Mine either, ironically.

[ Wait, that doesn't make sense yet ]

Uh, my name's Lucky. Thus the irony.

video

[proudlywehailed]

Lucky. That's... not a usual name.

[video]

[mysunnydisposition]

I think if we had a choice, most of us wouldn't be here.

[ Pause. ] Maybe not all of us. If someone asked me, I might have chosen this over what was happening at home.

[ She knows better now, after what her friends have told her. There's actually something to go back for now. But at the time she came here... yeah, reality show in space is better than dying. ]

[video]

[proudlywehailed]

I guess it's not hard to believe that some worlds aren't better than being stuck in space. I'd kind of like to get back to work, though.

[video]

[mysunnydisposition]

Yeah? What kind of work do you do?

[video]

[proudlywehailed]

I protect people.

[he could say more, but then he'd have to kill you.]