snowblindrpg | [network] @captsteverogers; It's not exactly Best Buy [open]

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[network] @captsteverogers; It's not exactly Best Buy [open] - Day 153

[Though he's learned to make personal calls, there's just something exciting about actually finding something he thinks is useful and Steve dives right into the network. Tony had mentioned needed electronics and, well, Steve thinks he's found some. There's one machine here that looks like it still has power. Someone ought to tell him that this is not exactly news.]

Tony, is something like this what you were looking for?

[Steve holds the tablet towards a machine that dispenses SD cards. He's not sure what they are or what it does, but he's gotten himself a black one and tries to show it off as well. He just wants to be helpful.]

It's at Mallard River Market.

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Hullo, Steve! I've seen that machine before. Were you and Mr. Stark looking for SD cards for a particular reason?

Is that what these are? I don't know. Tony mentioned needing electronics. It's not really my area.

Edited 2016-09-01 13:56 (UTC)

Um, yeah, anything like that.

[This is surprisingly public. Tony once again finds he doesn't know this Steve's habits. It's a weird feeling.]

Thank you.

Uh. Are... you okay?

Edited 2016-09-01 13:20 (UTC)

Great. I'll leave this here for you but it looks like you can get another. You just push a few buttons.

[He keeps his smile. He doesn't know how off putting that might be.]

I'm fine. [Not really a lie. He just spent the night in a house with holes in it. That was pretty bad actually.] How's the rest of the team?

'Fraid those probably won't do too much for him, but they're good to hang onto. You can put programs on them, then transfer those programs to other people. That machine in there actually has power, so that's likely the most interesting thing, yeah? Not many places with power.

Just be careful you don't stay too long at the shop.

[Okay, he's really getting worried here.]

Everyone is fine. We all checked in.

[Including Bucky, even though Tony doesn't call him by name. He wants to reassure Steve that they are okay.]

Are you sure you're all right?

[He sounds gently concerned.]

So the last me here warned. [That fact bothers him a little less now.] I don't want to be stuck outside. It's bad enough in a house at night. I don't want to see how cold it is without a roof over my head!

What kind of programs can people put on these? I thought the tablets were impossible to use for anything other than what they were intended.

[Either someone is smarter than Tony Stark here or maybe Tony was lying about what he could do?]

[Why is Tony concerned about anyone other than himself? Okay that's not fair. Steve heard about Rhodey. And he'd seen Tony care about people in the past. ]

What do you want me to say? None of us are really fine but we're all making due. I'm better off then a lot of people right now. [Meaning that he's alive. Not everyone has survived the last few days.] So I guess, yeah. I'm doing just fine, considering everything else.

[He just sort of wishes he had stayed with Steph and Zach. That was his last warm night.]

[He winces a little at that response, but holds his ground.]

I just want you to tell me the truth. We didn't... Last time the conversation didn't end well, and I admit that it was partially my fault, but I wanted to make sure you were doing all right.

[Guilty conscience.]

Edited 2016-09-01 14:55 (UTC)

That's kind of how we do it, right? We don't have a lot of good conversations. They always just-- I know you'd be here for me if I needed it and I hope you know the opposite is true.

But I'm doing good. All my fingers and toes are attached. Skin isn't blackening. I've found shelter before the doors lock us in. I have food and water.

[He holds up a few bags of chips. It's all junk food but it's still food.]

Not going to lie. You're throwing me for a loop here. I just wanted you to know I found something you might be able to use, we don't-- We don't have to have a conversation, Tony. I just seem to make you made or upset every time we do.

[They aren't really having a whole lot of luck with that.]

It really isn't. Or at least it wasn't.

[And it bothers him a lot that this is apparently the default routine between Steve and Tony in another world. They've had their moments, but never anything lasting. It's never been that distant and cold, even when they were fighting.]

No, it's not your fault. Really. I want us to be able to talk.

[Steve wants to be able to talk too. It's why he keeps up the communication. It's why he keeps calling.]

We can talk. I'm... I keep trying not to sever the lines of communication. You just-- I think-- what we need to do is stop expecting the other guy to act a specific way. I'm not your Captain. Or the Captain that use to be here. And you're not the Stark that I recently... Uh... Had some words with.

[Good way to put a near fight to the death right?]

I'm just a person like every other person here. We all need to work together and I'm ready and willing to step up and do what needs to be done.

[Steve thought he was pretty good with being alone. He gave up the shield. He gave up his title. He gave up the Avengers-- So now he's just Steve again. Just a kid from Brooklyn. But being alone is getting really tough, really quickly]

If you think of anything else you need me to do, just call. Always got this thing on me.

But you're not. I'm telling you, you aren't the same as the rest of us. Maybe that's all just image, but it's a hard impression to break.

And, okay, maybe I'm not exactly the same either. I agree with you that we need to work together. I still don't agree with all of your decisions, but I get it. Trust me. There are things I haven't said before that I should have.

[He grows more serious.]

We don't have to keep everything this professional. We're not just working together because we have to tolerate each other to go home. Maybe that's the way you guys did things before, but it's going to make this harder here. We're all part of a team. If you want me to rely on you, I need to know that you'll rely on me too. I'm not just calling in when I need something.

[For the record, he's pretty touched. He also is sort of sad to let Tony down like this.]

What I am-- What I was helped along to be-- Uh it's not working here. Strength, speed-- I'm kind of embarrassed to say this but I'm getting winded after a few minutes of walking around outside so-- Yeah. Yeah I'm just like everyone el--

[Oh and there's that cough again. The sick, wet, heavy cough. He's been doing so good keeping it from everyone but Clint. And Clint hadn't asked.]

Sorry. At least the asthma hasn't kicked in..?

I hear what you're saying, though. And I-- I'm real touched, Tony. I'm not saying I need someone looking out for me, but it's nice to know I do here.

You should probably find someone to travel with, sir - Steve. Even just one other person can make it a lot easier to deal with any anomalies that turn up or at least huddle with overnight for the warmth.

As for the types of programs, we've found a few scattered around Norfinbury. [And there's one John would like for Steve to have, but he can't exactly just advertise it openly.]

I've heard about a mapping app, and a few people have programs that let them hack or decrypt things.

[He should have stayed with Zach and Steph. Even if he was crashing their... Whatever it was.]

I know I should. It seems basic. But the smaller the group, the less chance of everyone being in danger right?

[Trying to get to Clint, Tony and Natasha is probably a bad idea]

A mapping app...? That sounds incredible useful. I've been following the map House made available and the other Captain left some really nice maps on the walls of most of the houses here. I just found some markers too so I was going to fill in the rest as I go.

Tomorrow.

I need to find a house without holes in the roof tonight.

Doctor Watson? Does Tony know about the hacking software? That sounds like his game.

Edited 2016-09-02 00:46 (UTC)

We seem to be okay in groups up to four. At least for the mo. But even small groups can be attacked. Keep on your guard, yeah?

And Dr. House's map is probably the most complete one we've got on hand at the mo.

As for the hacking software, I'm not sure. Might be a good idea to let him know about it, though. I know Quark and Jim have two of the programs. They're the reason we have the Data App on our tablets, apparently.

[Steve has gotten pretty decent with technology since he was pulled from the ice but that doesn't mean he understands half of that. He tells Watson that he'll let Tony know though.]

I've seen some of the research about group numbers and moving around a lot. I heard uh... The last Captain met with an anomaly.

I'm not sure I like what I can't fight, Doctor.

[Tony frowns, getting serious again. He knows what it all means even before Steve starts explaining, and if his expression is critical, it is the type of judgment that comes from someone who is tackling a particularly difficult problem.]

You shouldn't keep things like that to yourself. We're all off our game here. That makes working together and communicating even more important.

[Yes, he's giving Steve a teamwork talk. The same one he'd give to younger heroes that haven't learned to depend on the rest of the team yet.]

You don't have to play tough. Especially if you're getting sick.

[Steve is king at playing tough without anything to back it up so he's not going to say anything. This is a guy that knew he outnumbered and outgunned and going to lose but still fought his own battles. He can fight sickness too!]

I haven't been sick in years.

Pretty sure there's nothing you can do anyway. I'm going to bunk down at a building across the way for the night. Are you guys still headed in this direction?

You're trapped in a town that specifically pulled us out of our homes and deactivated every advantage that we have. You can get sick.

[Don't you wave him off, mister. He's not going to let Steve get out of this.]

We're heading South. Ish. Clint... saw some things and we got turned around. There's something I want to check out, but I'll get back to you after that.

How about this? I'll tell Doctor Watson and see if there's anything to be concerned about.

I'm going to still make for the school. Moving has been really slow with this cold. Whatever you're checking out, be careful.

Talking to Watson would be a good idea.

[As he says that, Tony's expression shifts minutely. He usually calls Watson John because that's the name the man introduced himself with and Tony is usually the more personal type. Steve called him Doctor Watson.

Damn.]

We're still close by. We can meet you after we run- after we look at something. We'll wait and rendezvous with you.

[Steve does not like the way you word things, Tony.]

If this weather keeps up, I should make it to the school in about two days.

Maybe three.

So. Uh. Good luck with your thibg. I'll bring you this card.

He did, I'm afraid. He died protecting Ms. Peggy Carter, though. And I very much doubt he went down without a hell of a fight. [Which... may be at once unsettling and comforting. John's not really sure how he'd feel hearing things about a double. He moves on from that quickly.]

We're working out ways on how to deal with them, though. I managed to escape from one with Beckett and Haurchefant's help. I'm not sure anyone else has. It snagged my leg, but the rubble from the houses around here can actually hit them. They threw all of that down on top of it and dragged me up into shelter. Not my proudest moment, but it worked.

[It's fine. What could possibly happen?]

Thanks. We'll keep in touch. Just let me know when you're close and we'll pick a building.

And keep warm!

And it proved a good lesson.

[He shouldn't have brought up the other Steve. He wasn't sure how to feel about Peggy being here and being with him... Her destiny had been with another man. She moved on. She had a family. And he was with her towards the end of her life too. He was there at her funeral. He carried her to rest. And that was how he wanted to remember her. His best gal. The rest? The rest is painful. He has other things to focus on now. Like, oh, this cough. The one that completely interrupts his train of thought. And poor Watson's story too. It's thick. And wet. It's heavy in his lungs.]

Sorry to bother you about this... Do you know if there's a place I might be able to look for an inhaler? Just in case.

I'll see if I can request one for you. Otherwise, you'll want the pharmacy and hospital in the ice tunnels. Haven't ever seen one in either building, but they're where we've located most of the medical supplies we have, as far as I'm aware.

That cough, though. How long have you had it?

[Ice tunnels? There was a hospital inside of some tunnels made of ice? Or through ice? Steve needs to sit down with the map tonight once he's settled.]

Three days. Maybe the outset of four. I'm not sure if it's getting worse or not. I use to get like this whenever it got too cold as a kid.

[Yes. Before the serum. John's just going to avoid mentioning that. Right.]

It might be MN poisoning, in all honesty. For the people who've got the sickness end of it, seems to manifest as a sort of cold, then get progressively worse over the course of about a month. I can definitely prescribe you some cough syrup. That should help a little, at least. Do you have any medication allergies that you know of?

Worse? How much worse?

I don't think I had any allergies... It's been awhile since I've taken medicine either.

[He's not helpful, John, and he's sorry. Having an immune system that doesn't seem to want to work any more isn't something he's unused to, but it's been a long time since he's worried about it. ]

[He doesn't want to scare Steve, but this is just the way it is.]

Pneumonia-like symptoms plus coughing up blood. I'm sorry, sir. The medications seem to get less effective as time moves on, but no one's actually died from it at present, just been left miserable.

[Coughing up blood.]

Tuberculosis?

[Not a great way to go. But neither was pneumonia. And he knew all about that.

I'd honestly need to examine someone fully in the final stages to give you a better rundown of what it's most like. TB's another decent description from what I've heard. It's not actually bacteria, though. It's nanomachines in our blood pumping out too much waste. The Admin says we've got scrubbers for it in our bodies, too, but some people seem to have them functioning better than others.

My turn to get the bad end of the deal then.

Thanks for your help, Doc. If you want to take a look at me, I'll make an appointment.

I'm a little set on a course at the mo. I think we're nearby each other. Do you have anywhere particular you're going? I am planning to head down to the hospital. Probably can make it in the next... oh, week or so. This weather's bloody awful.

Don't worry about me, Doc. I'm trying to meet up with some people but--

[He has to laugh.]

Barely being able to move is taking the better part of forever. I don't think I'm anywhere close.

Mm, well, if you're at the Mallard Market, we're not too far from each other. And just got a notice back from the Admin. You'll find some medication in the next few days. Varies how quickly they get it out, though. I'm prescribing you Pulmicort, as needed for your inhaler, and a bottle of cough syrup. Hope those can help, sir.

I'm sure you'll meet up with your team soon enough.

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[network] @captsteverogers; It's not exactly Best Buy [open] - Day 153

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