video

[prespangled]

[technology like this is easier to learn the second time around. so steve rogers, product of the 1940's, takes to the tab like a duck to water.]

Just when I thought I couldn't get any farther from Brooklyn, I end up on another planet. But between the cave and all those Flash Gordon comics that my buddy and I used to read, maybe I should've seen this one coming.

[speaking of buddies:]

My name's Steve Rogers. I'm looking for anyone who might've ended up here with me, or maybe knew me before that. [steve frowns, brows thoughtfully furrowed.] Or...after that, I guess. I hear I look a little bit different then.

I'd also rather not waste any time when it comes to pulling my own weight, but I'd like to do that while also helping others. If anyone knows of jobs that can do both, I'm all ears. Thanks.

Comments

audio;

[brokeassgoing]

Ain't you supposed to be bigger? Also what kinda work did you do before all this.

audio;

[prespangled]

That's what I've heard. Do we know each other?

I patrolled a lot, scavenged for the clinic. Unless you're talking about Brooklyn, then I mostly just...sold newspapers.

audio;

[brokeassgoing]

No, but I've seen you around here, before. When you were a big dude.

So you're used to doing odd jobs.

audio;

[prespangled]

I was already here?

[steve's surprised, until he remembers that that happened before too. people would know him, tell him that he should be taller. maybe that's the pattern, his future self paving the way everywhere he goes now.]

Yeah, exactly. I like to do everything that I can, as long as it doesn't involve any little red wagon.

[warandpeace]

You look a lot different.

[His conclusion is now that Steves and Buckys live insanely complicated lives.]

[prespangled]

Is it my hair?

[smartass little punk.]

[warandpeace]

You don't have that gap between your teeth.

[He can be a smartass, too.]

Safe to assume you're from a different timeline too, then?

audio

[readytocomply]

I ain't gonna pretend to know what's going on, Steve, but I'm glad you're back. Well, here. [One leaves, another shows up. Doesn't matter much to Bucky if Steve's big or small.] Are you somewhere safe?

[prespangled]

Buck?

[so maybe that knot in his stomach wasn't because of the ingress, because it's loosening now.]

Back? Oh, right. [because he's heard by now. steve's starting to feel like he's always going to live in the shadow of his future self. and from what he hears, it's a pretty big shadow.] Not exactly. Are you alright?

[readytocomply]

Yeah, it's me. [Sort of. Not the only one. If Bucky was better at lying to Steve, he wouldn't admit there's another of him, but all he can do is let his best friend know and hope it's not the same as before - and this Steve won't pick one over the other.] You should know there's two of us. I'm the oldest by a couple years, but we've both got quite a few on you.

Gotta be honest, it's makin' me homesick seeing you like this.

[Bucky flicks to video.]

I wanna see you, but I don't look the same as you remember.

video;

[seeingscarlet]

Steve.

[There's no way to keep this from being awkward, is there? He won't remember her, and that stings, but she has to respond.]

It is good to see you again.

video;

[prespangled]

Wanda.

[it's more than just knowing her name. there's recognition in his eyes, in his voice.]

You too. Is this where you ended up?

video;

[seeingscarlet]

[And that's enough to make most of her tension visually disappear, although it raises more questions than it answers. Wanda won't complain, but by all rights he shouldn't have any idea who she is. Or anything about Captain America, really.]

I have not been at home for a long time. Almost a year and half, more if you count the time slip.

video;

[deconstruct]

[ oh. what? uh. ]

You're small again.

[ A+, andyr, way to go, stating the obvious like a champ. give him a second, he's processing. ]

video;

[prespangled]

Bucky?

[because he's already been told that there's two of him, so steve jumps the gun. but the more he looks at him, the more he notices the little differences.]

Yeah - well, let's just say that it's complicated. The guy you know is me but someone else.

[yeah, that should clear it up for him.]

video;

[deconstruct]

[ ah. so it's one of those things. the steve he'd known is still gone, and while this is the same person, it isn't the same person that knew him, that he'd grown so close to. it hurts more than he'd thought it would. ]

No. Andyr.

[ it's not so complicated to him, given he'd already gone through this with the buckys. ]

The two Buckys here are the same. The other you left already. [ there's a practiced blankness to that. he doesn't want to think about not seeing him again. ]

audio; id: barnes

[dislocked]

...Steve?

[ why are you little now? ]

[prespangled]

Bucky?

[that does seem to be the question of the day. for everyone except steve.]

It's okay, you can show yourself. I know that you're different too.

video;

[dislocked]

[ this feels like steve. this feels so much like him, so strongly, so powerfully like him that bucky has to be quiet for a moment. his steve, is that it? the one that seems to be able to read him even though he can't see him.

he flicks the camera feed on. ]

How did you know that?

( text )

[polyphobic]

There was a cave in Brooklyn?

( text )

[prespangled]

Just sewers. But I got trapped in a cave between here and there. It's a weird story, but probably less weird to the folks here.

[polyphobic]

You've been kidnapped before?

[tearsinajar]

I thought the same thing when I first got here. Only it wasn't with Brooklyn, it was with Yemen.

[ A warm smile. ]

It's good to see you again, Steve.

[prespangled]

Ma'am.

[steve nods at her, eyes bright with curiosity.]

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't remember you. The Steve you knew...well, I reckon he's not here anymore.

[tearsinajar]

[ Ma'am. How darling. ]

He's not. I haven't seen him around for a while. But you don't need to apologize, this sort of thing happens, people coming and going and then coming back.