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?

text

[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.

video;

[mysterzie]

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

text

[proudlywehailed]

[he'll be texting right back.]

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

[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]

[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.

video;

[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]

... 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.

[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?

video;

[proudlywehailed]

[because your face is weird.]

So you don't do your job at all?

[he actually sounds kind of amused.]

video;

[mysterzie]

My job is "tactical," whatever that means. Didn't do shit to help me when we got attacked a few weeks ago.

[proudlywehailed]

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

video;

[proudlywehailed]

Did you have guns and a pilot to pair with?

video;

[mysterzie]

We have a pilot. No guns, no shields, no fucking warning.

[ He doesn't want to mention the severe, withdrawal-induced panic that it inspired. It was completely terrifying. ]

video;

[proudlywehailed]

.. Sounds like it was pretty traumatizing.

video;

[mysterzie]

[ There's a shrug. ]

Hey, we lived. Welcome to space. Standing room only, and bad guys ready to blast us outta the sky at any minute.

video;

[proudlywehailed]

Well, thanks, in any case. You got a name?

video;

[mysterzie]

Aaron. You?

video;

[proudlywehailed]

Call me "Commander."

video;

[mysterzie]

Uh... no. Did you miss the part where we're not actually a fleet or anything like that? C'mon.

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...

[tothefly]

You seem pretty sure there are alternatives. Guess nothing can beat your optimism.

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]

[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. ]