eachdraidh | second jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts (backdated to approx Feb 20)

(Howard hadn’t been much use during the battle, and that was something he wasn’t particularly proud of. But then again, he had only just arrived when it suddenly came down on them, and he’d never been much of a fighter. Because of this he had stayed behind to assist with the evacuation of Caer Scima, choosing to help with the library, trying to save as much of the knowledge from there as possible. He remembered similar work being done during the war, the Nazis had tried to destroy so much so that the world could be shaped in their own image. Stealing art from museums and homes and those they didn’t think worthy of them, destroying books and art by artists so called “unpure” races. To this day they were still working to uncover art and relics that had been hidden away in homes of Nazi generals, or in underground or mountainous locations. And then of course there was the historical part, the burning of the great Library in Alexandria that he remembered reading about when he was a boy. How much knowledge of the world had been lost during that, and how many centuries had it set humankind back?

He didn’t know how much of the information that was found in the library would be available anywhere else. He’d only gotten to just touch the surface of what could exist within it, and already he’d found dozens of books that looked to be hand penned. Those were likely unique, and so they needed to be taken somewhere safe. So it was in the library he was when the walls started to come down. He’d been organising manageable stacks to be carried, others to be loaded onto horse drawn carts. Then there was a crash, and he remembers seeing fire begin to take a bookcase, and that he was moving to try to put it out, and blackness. The next thing he remembers is waking up with a freezing arm, it had burned and they were using some sort of cooling magic to heal it, and being told that he was in Spire 3, having been set on one of the carts he’d helped load on top of the books.

Shame wasn’t something most people thought of when they thought of Howard Stark, but for this he was ashamed that he hadn’t been able to do more. He’d try to tell them that he was in good enough shape to go out and fight, when he learned of the Jabberwock attack, he wanted to help, but they had forced him to stay put against his will. Of course, he won’t admit to any sense of shame, but it’d be noticeable around those who had fought, a reluctance to talk about what he had done, and what had happened. But he had survived, he’d saved some books, so at least he had that.

But he needed to get out of there, too. He needed some time to himself. He wanted to see if there was any way to recover some of the information that had been lost. Some sort of backup system in place, and the most likely place for that seemed to be this Station that he’d heard mentions of, which was where he had now decided to head. If nothing else, at least he’s been promised that it’s the sole place where technology works, and he wants to see what the future of it all holds.

He’s still unsure about the fairy rings, and whether or not he should trust them. He’s looked at the one here at the spire, walked around it, tried to see if there was anything secretly powering other than magic, but there doesn’t seem to be anything that he can see. So he wants to find out about other methods of transportation, if there are any. Walking would just take too long, but he’s not sure he trusts horses either.

Before he goes, however, he has some information he wants to ask about, maybe it’ll cut out some of the work for him.)

(The video feed clicks on, and while Howard looks tired and worn out, it could be a lot worse. There’s a bruise healing on his forehead, a cut on his cheek that’s almost disappeared thanks to a salve he was given to put on it, but in the right light you can see the light pink tightness of new skin. The smile that had been so easy going the first time he had come across the screen seems tighter now, more forced, but he’s always been one to try to maintain the façade of cool, calm and collected. He’s going to do that, now too.)

I have a couple of questions.

(He feels like maybe he should say more. Comment on the battles that occurred, that he hopes no one lost anyone close to them, but so much has already been said, and he still feels shame. He doesn’t want to be questioned of where he was and what he did.)

First of all: these fairy rings. How much is actually known about how they work? Have there ever been any ill effects caused by them? (Namely death, but he won’t say that out loud. Onto the next topic.) I want to go to the Station, and horseback just isn’t my style.

(Onto the next topic.)

I know that there are blacksmiths responsible for forging the weaponry here, and from what I understand, the metal they use comes from the dwarves. Is there any type of order form that’s used? Maybe a list of what kind of metals they have in their mines, and the corresponding prices? Or maybe in general just a list of what’s been found naturally in this place, I’ve been looking for information, but it’s been a bit of a struggle.

Lastly, to end on a high note: what do people do for fun around here? Does this place have a Vegas or Monaco or Riviera?

[private to Steve Rogers & James Barnes]

You guys make it through?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You see one battlefield, you've seen them all. Anyway, you're a scientist, not a soldier.

I'm pretty sure a lot of people who are fighting this war aren't soldiers. I should have done more, either way. Scientist or not.

Yeah. That's the problem with this place.

[Well, one of them anyway. Steve sighs.]

You got pushed into everything pretty quick. I think you can cut yourself a little slack.

So far I'd say that this place has more problems then not-problems. But maybe that's just me.

(h u f f.)

I just have to be better prepared for whatever happens next. (He has no idea what that might be, but he's going to do his darndest. He won't mention that part of the reason he's so determined is that he doesn't want to become irrelevant.)

Is my shield still alright?

It's tough. This place doesn't follow any rules.

[Which Steve, in theory, should be just fine with. How many rules and orders has he broken in his life?

But actual magic is another story. He tries to be as prepared as he can, but he still gets surprised sometimes.]

Yeah, I don't know what I'd do without it. [Steve smiles and lifts the shield up for him to see.]

I haven't exactly been known to follow them myself, but I do like a little more order than this usually.

(Steve is actually worse than Howard, if we're honest. That's pretty miraculous.)

Good.

(Another little piece from home. That. Apparently has survived somehow. He's not sure about all of that, yet, but it makes him smile a hell of a lot.) You'd be in debt to me for the rest of your life if you lost that.

I remember. You helped me break a couple myself before.

[He smiles a little. Steve might call on him again for that before it's all said and done.]

I already am. Want me to sign an I.O.U.?

For the greater good, right? At least, that's what we tell ourselves.

(There's a hint of something more behind that, that maybe it isn't just a light, airy joke, but he's still grinning. Joking about it makes it easier to handle.)

Yes, I do. (He snorts.) That'll be the most valuable piece of paper I own. We'll have to have at least ten witnesses for the signing.

[His smile fades. He doesn't sleep so easy some nights. For lots of reasons.]

I'll see who I can round up. In the meantime, where do you plan to go from here?

(That wasn't what he was trying to do. It was a bitter joke, but he didn't want it to sour the mood.)

I'm not sure, yet. After my arm heals up, I want to do something, though. I'm itching to get out and see what this place has to offer.

You need someone to take a look at it? I've got a friend who could help. She's on your side of the tracks.

Oh, no I'm good, Steve. Aria has me holed up in a room, my arm is covered in goo and seems to be in working order, at least compared to where it started with the skin black and flaking off. I'm still on bedrest, technically, but I need to get out soon or I'm go off the walls.

I'm in good hands.

So you got too close to it too.

['It' being the jabberwhelp.]

Aria?

[Is that who Steve thinks it is.]

I'm not sure. It was all a bit of a blur. I was helping with evacuations, getting out supplies, books, suddenly the place is on fire and I get knocked out by a burning beam. Either way, it hurts something terrible. Better now, but it's still not great.

(A small smile.)

Ariadne? Sweet gal.

Yeah, she is.

[Steve smirks a little, tries to lower his head to hide it. Does he say it? Does he dare say it?

He's saying it.]

Hell of a kisser, too.

(oh really? that sort of...catches him off guard. his brow crinkles a little, but then again, for him he still knows peggy, who is still mourning him, still in love with him. but that's been years for steve. but it still feels like he shouldn't approve. not directly.)

Yeah? That's good, I suppose.

[And Steve, he knows that she'll be okay, that she'll go on to marry someone great and have great kids. She moved on and lived her life, a great one. He's hoping he'll be able to do the same.]

Sorry, that was [what would the kids call it] TMI.

[He's still getting used to the 'having a girlfriend' thing, and maybe he just wanted Howard to know that he's not being shot at by one for a change.

But he catches a hint of his disapproval in the I suppose.]

Something wrong?

What's TMI?

(at least it distracts him from his earlier disapproval. which he knows is ridiculous, especially considering how long it's been for him.)

No, nothing. (his smile is slightly sour, though he supposes he should explain. it wouldn't be fair to do otherwise.) Where, when I'm from, it's barely been a year since your crash. Peg's stilll, (mourning him. heartbroken. things he is, too.) She doesn't get out much, from what I understand. Hearing about you kissin' on someone else is weird.

Too much information.

[Steve lowers his eyes a little, understanding when hears Peggy's name.]

I get it. Peggy...all I can promise you is that she'll be okay. I've actually been trying to take her advice. But I'll tone it down.

Newfound shorthand?

(He smiles a little, and then shrugs sheepishly.)

It's been years for you, I know. It's just something I need to really wrap my head around. You'd think that'd be easier than this whole magic place, but apparently not. (But that makes him smile.) Of course she'll be okay. It's Peg. I'm more worried about myself than I am for her. (He doesn't even know how well he's hitting the nail on the head right there.) She might be plenty capable of taking care of herself, but she's still my dearest friend. I at least try, even if it's terrible attempts.

second jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts (backdated to approx Feb 20)

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