[network] @captsteverogers; [Video] Coldness Bites Bone Deep [open] Night 148

[bottledblond]

I can't remember the last time I was this cold.

[Its not fair to say that he's afraid. He isn't. Worried? That he'll give you. Steve is illuminated only by the screen. He's huddled under his coat in a room with no furniture. The whole house is empty and while that isn't likely always a problem, tonight it's bitterly cold.]

Actually that's not quite true. The last time I was this cold was the winter of 1928. Ma was really sick and we ran out of coal for the furnace. I had to crawl into bed with her. I think that was the only time in my whole life that I was pleased she had a fever.

[His lips tremble from his shivering but he still smiles. Only Steve Rogers could smile through something so depressing.]

i hope everyone is keeping warm tonight. Body heat helps if you're lucky enough to be with someone. Think warm thoughts and stay safe.

Comments

@zachtastic; text

[majorlazer]

[He's pretty sure Steph has fallen asleep already, and Zach's got his tablet on above her head, keeping her as close to him as he can in their little nest of blankets. He'd have used video, but he doesn't want to wake her up, so instead, he types:]

Hey, Cap, d'you know where you are in town? Steph and I are staying in a house tonight that had heating during the afternoon. Might want to huddle there at some point.

@ASolomons; text

[devoutish]

Which house?

[HEAT. HE NEEDS TO KNOW.]

[majorlazer]

Just south east of the pond and the chapel. Let me...

[Zach pulls up House's map.]

It's number 86 on this map.

double entendre definitely intended

[devoutish]

[Huh. He'd been there and hadn't noticed the heat. Maybe it's random, and they'd just gotten lucky.]

Thanks.

Re: @ASolomons; text

[bottledblond]

[Ooc: so this puts them all in the same house haha. Okay let me think on this before I respond.]

[majorlazer]

((ooc: DAMN I had NO idea! Zach and Steph have been in the house most of the afternoon/night. It's a fairly big house though and they didn't move much from one of the downstairs bedroom. edit: pinged you on plurk!))

@captsteverogers; text

[bottledblond]

To be honest, I was really turned around. I'm not sure where I am at all.

[But there's some coughing coming from the other room, Zach. So weird!]

action! /SLIDES IN HERE

[spoileralert]

[ Steph's head pops up at the quiet sound. ]

Did you hear that?

[majorlazer]

[Zach frowns - the house has been quiet most of the time they've been here. Yeah, sure, they were distracted, but still. They would have noticed one of the weird noises these houses like to make, and that sounded distinctly human.

Disentangling himself from Steph slowly, Zach emerges from their nest of blankets, grabbing his crowbar on the way. It's only a few steps to the door, and he swings it open fast, holding his makeshift weapon up -

Only to see Captain America, huddled close to the door, shivering. Zach drops his arm.]

Cap?

[bottledblond]

[Though he'd had his head tucked under his cost to retain a little heat, Steve was alert and ready to jump up when the door leading deeper into the house had slammed open. He hadn't even thought to check. How stupid is that? He should have secured the house before hunkering down. It looks like this person knows him though. And that weapon in his hand lowered so Steve relaxes.]

Sorry. I didn't know this place was occupied.

[spoileralert]

[ Steph is close behind, a shard of glass in her hand. If it's a monster that won't help much, but if it's the Joker she will totally stab him in the neck.

But it's not the Joker, and Steph shoves the glass back into her utility belt. ]

Geez, Steve. How, uh, how long have you been here?

[ i.e. are you lying about not knowing people were here to be polite ]

[majorlazer]

[Zach smiles a little, feeling a flush on his cheeks at Steph's mention of Steve having been here long. So incredibly embarrassing. It's so strange, to think the last time Zach saw Steve was the first time he met Steph, and now - it feels like a weird kind of deja-vu.

Still, Zach motions to the room he and Steph are in.]

Also, it's warmer in this room. And we - there's blankets.

[bottledblond]

[Cue one confused and blinking blond who hurries to his feet, despite how frozen solid they are.]

Only-- An hour. Maybe less.

It's nice to meet you in person-- Steph, right?

[And out goes his hand to Zach.]

Steve Rogers-- [Just being polite. He knows that you know!] --I don't want to impose. I'll be fine out here.

[Sorry his hands are so cold, Zach.]

[spoileralert]

Mmhmm. [ She smiles, a little uncertain. They didn't exactly leave things on the best terms when they last talked.

She nods in the direction of their room. ]

You said you were cold, right? We've got a big pile of blankets and things. I don't mind sharing if neither of you do.

[majorlazer]

[Zach firmly shakes Steve's hand, nodding. It's strange, knowing that he's kind of a celebrity when he comes from. Every time Zach thinks about it, it's...strange. And he, himself, has been sort of infamous the last few days he's been on Earth.] Zach Spencer.

[He'd say they met before, but what good would it do Steve? Instead, he grins at Steph, raising his eyebrows like he's about to say some tease, but biting his lip before he does.]

Seriously, don't put you turning into an ice cube on our consciences. C'mon. [He retreats back into the room, gesturing for Steve to follow them.]

[bottledblond]

Don't you mean 'again?'

[He doesn't mind poking fun at himself. Everyone else seems to.]

Thank you, yes. I'll take you up on the offer.

[He's a big guy. At least he should be pretty warm to share a blanket with. Walking almost hurts though. It's like his toes refuse to flex in his boots as he staggers after the pair. And untying them takes a very, very long time. His fingers won't cooperate.]

[spoileralert]

[ Steph grins at Zach knowingly. They won't be able to make dirty jokes long into the night, but that's probably for the best. ]

It's selfishly motivated. Like they always say: three bodies are better than one.

[ Nobody says that Steph ]

How are you for supplies? I'm always happy to share.

[majorlazer]

Ah! [Zach chuckles, his hand brushing Steph's back as he walks past her, back inside the room. Steve follows them, thankfully.

He settles their nest a little, allowing another body in it - he doesn't mind if Steph goes in the middle.]

The day's been bad for you, then?

[bottledblond]

[You do what you gotta do. When it's cold, you huddle. Steve won't mind being a bookend though. And actually, it would be way more appropriate to keep Zach in the middle but he won't complain either way and try to keep a sheet between himself and whomever.]

I got myself turned around somehow. I thought I was heading north but I should have made the convenience store by now if I had.

[spoileralert]

[ Steph has zero shame, and even less when she's unconscious. She will no doubt end up cuddling like a koala with both of them before the night is over. She settles into the nest stomach-down, picking up her tablet again to continue reading over the day's updates. ]

Yeah, it's been a weird fricken day. Either of you see wildflowers outside?

[majorlazer]

Wild - no. I saw houses that weren't here before. Did you?

[God, wildflowers. Something different from snow. It's almost a wonder they managed to meet up - Zach was incredibly determined, that helped.

They settle, Steph between Steve and Zach, a blanket around Steve - he is the colder one of the three of them, after all, and Zach gets to benefit from Steph's body warmth even more than Steve does; he wraps an arm around Steph, spooning right close to her, and buries his face in her hair for a moment.]

The convenience store is like, directly opposite from here, Steve. You can probably get there in a couple of days if you still want to go there - you meeting anyone?

[bottledblond]

[Once his boots are off and placed directly at the foot of where they are sleeping, Steve lays on his side with his back to the two of them. He feels warmer already, hands tucked under his armpits.]

No wildflowers. I don't know how I was so thrown off-- [And it only bothers him a little.] I'm trying to get to the people that are somewhat like the friends I left behind when I woke up here.

[Give him a second. He's warming up just fine but it takes more than a few seconds under a blanket to defrost. He should know.]

[spoileralert]

Way off in the distance, yeah. [ Just spots of color, so far away, like Spring was waiting on the horizon.

She wraps one arm in front of herself to hold Zach's hand, effectively anchoring his arm around her. ]

I figured it was more weirdness, like those wandering shadows. That's probably how you got lost, Steve.

[majorlazer]

Another bunch of hallucinations, probably. Solomons' said that they've had them too, and so did the guys in the tunnels. [Hopefully Kesara's okay.]

Apparently they show on video, too.

[Zach closes his eyes, wondering if anything else will happen on the network tonight. Hopefully not.]

Okay, Cap? Warmer?

[bottledblond]

[He did feel so much better so he was just listening to the two chatter in a way that didn't feel quite like eavesdropping.]

Yeah. Do you both have enough blanket?

[He waited for a confirmation before he turned his head to look at the pair.]

Hallucinations...? That's dangerous. If people are seeing things, they might misjudge distances and be locked out...

[He's not comfortable with the thought or the fact that he can't do anything about it.]