( video )

[abide]

[ When the feed begins, Steve's face is relatively solemn the thirty seconds before he decides on what to say. There's plenty to address, and he doesn't want to drag it out needlessly. It seems their "captains" have done a good job of that so far. ]

There's been a lot of talk lately. [ He pauses, collects his thoughts again. ] From what's been said, I know most of us aren't happy with the situation, and that's okay. It's not a normal position to be put in. For some of us, anyway. But it's also important to remember the goal we should be working towards, and that's getting home. Not all of us are gonna want to go, but the majority seems to be in agreement.

Whether we trust those in command or not, we shouldn't forget that. Fighting or killing isn't going to solve the problem. Calling people out for things they've done in our own world or someone else's is only going to cause fires, and we should be trying to put 'em out. Not start them. [ He takes a breath, expression still relatively neutral. He's not pushing, not angry or worked up. If anything, he just looks... sad.

If those running the ship won't say it, he will. ] Some of you aren't going to listen, and some of you might be too scared to have a voice. That's fine too. Not everyone's willing to see eye-to-eye, but this isn't just about us. It's about the ones we've left behind, the people who are counting on us to make it back to them. Fear can do a lot of things, and right now, it's got us right where we shouldn't be. So... [ Another small breath. ] If you ever need someone to stand with you, fight for you— that's what I plan to do. Back home, it was my job to help keep everyone safe, and being on the Moira means this is my home now. It's all of ours, and we should be protecting it, not trying to destroy it. Or each other.

Even if it's not what I was assigned to here, I'm not gonna quit. I'll be around if anyone considers taking me up on that. [ Uh. ] My name's Steve Rogers. Thanks for your time.

[ And it immediately ends there, the lingering hint of a soft smile settling at the corner of his mouth. ]

Comments

[twelveminutesolder]

[ he is a petulant teenager sort of. I mean. He's 20 so he's graduated from petulant teenager to annoying adolescent that counts for something ]

More important? No.

[ He's agreeing with Jessica on that point, at least. ]

But what do you want them to do? Push a broom through the streets to make it clean again?

[higginsdrive]

[ Alright, that's it. ]

What I want is for people to not be persecuted because of something they didn't fucking ask for.
For people to realize they're not the only ones who've lost something.

What I want is for assholes to not try and fill a power vacuum by blowing up Hell's Kitchen and sending it into a tailspin. To not turn people into their fucking puppets and abuse their powers.
What I want is for people from outside Hell's Kitchen to pay attention to the shitstorm their actions created. Responsibility is a burden we all have to bear at some point. Some of us shouldn't be the only ones left doing the heavy lifting.

[ And that's it. She's done with this and with him, already having said too much because he'd struck a nerve. She'd spent so long taking care of other people and fighting to keep them safe that his seeming dismissal of it all, that possibly inadvertent dig that her anger wasn't founded. That it was petty - well, it was one of the few things that really struck a nerve with her.

Anyone near Nomo Deck might notice a fist-sized dent near room #12. It was definitely not Jessica punching a wall. ]

[twelveminutesolder]

[ It's Pietro's turn to get mad now. It's the puppets comment that has him seeing red and has him actually switch from text to audio. Jessica's hunch he's from Sokovia itself is right--his accent is thick, his words sharp and clipped. ]

Are you the only one with this particular problem? I wasn't aware you were the only person in the universe who has lost something or someone. A neighbourhood. A city. People. They're responsible for saving more lives than you, I am willing to bet.

[ And the next phrase comes out as a hiss, almost snakelike, through the other end: ]

Are you brave enough to explain yourself face-to-face? Are you responsible enough to bear that burden?

( private video )

[higginsdrive]

[ UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH. There's so much wrong with that statement, something she'd hated herself for. She was never going to be the hero people seemed to want or need. Hell, she didn't want that anymore. She was tainted and her hands were stained with blood. She was responsible for so much pain and suffering and no matter how many times Trish told her it wasn't her fault, it'd never be enough. She wasn't ever going to get the sight of Hope's lifeless body in her arms out of her mind. Of Reva. Of her parents. Everything she touched turned to shit, it was one of her special gifts.

She actually stills, pausing a long moment to address him privately before she was going to cut the feed. If anyone cares enough to hack it, they can, but that's not what she's interested in right now. She didn't want certain things getting out there for people to know, but she also needed to shut this the fuck down. His fire was met with a surprising calm. Dangerously calm. ]

I never said I was the only one with that problem, nor did I ever claim to be the only person who's suffered a loss. That's where you should've stopped. You don't know me and don't think for a fucking second you can just fill in the gaps of my life with whatever you've assumed about me.

If it helps you sleep at night, keep talking shit - but it's not my job to make you feel better about whatever the fuck happened in Sokovia. [ It's the only conclusion she can come to about why he's fixating so strongly when it comes to one particular thing. ] I don't owe you a goddamned explanation because it's not your trauma to know. [ God, she hates that word. She hates it so much, but it's the only word that she can think of to accurate summarize everything... It's a trauma. It's pain, fear, loss, scars, and rage - all rolled up into a neat little package. She knows what it is to have to rebuild yourself after being completely broken. To face the problem rather than running away. Who the fuck did he think he was calling her bravery into question? ]

I'm not going to come meet with you, because if I see you right now? It won't go well. It's also why I'm done talking to you - because you don't fucking listen. You made yourself a part of this conversation, now it's time for you to leave it - it's already gone on too damn long.

[ And with that, she cuts the feed and cracks open a new bottle of whiskey. ]