entranceway | 001 ☆ video

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001 ☆ video

[When the video feed starts up, it shows a man seated at a desk in a rather nondescript room. Not much can be seen behind him beyond a bed and closet. Much more noteworthy is his face, which has a few bruises and a line of stitches extending outward from the corner of his mouth.

Despite that, he has a bright, open look on his face, though the fact that he's sitting up straight and looking head-on at his phone's camera makes it clear that he means business.]

So... had a few days to take everything in, read what information I could find. It's been helpful, it really has. [A lot of the work and investigation had already been done for him, though that hasn't prevented Steve from doing his own exploration.]

Just a few questions, if anyone can help. [And so far, most everyone has been helpful.] I can only assume there's some escape effort that's been put together here. A group of like-minded people, working together to get everyone home. I'd like to be a part of that. [It might seem overly transparent to ask about something like that over a network like this, but Steve has no interest in secrecy, especially not after everything that he's been through.]

Secondly, I've heard a lot about people being from different worlds. I'm trying to get an idea of how many we're dealing with. [He knows about Asgard and has heard vaguely of the Nine Realms, but beyond that he's clueless. He needs to determine the scope of this operation.]

Oh, and the name's Steve Rogers. I'll do whatever I can to get us all out of here. [It's meant mainly as a test to see if anyone here is going to recognize him, or if he actually has some manner of anonymity in this place.

With that said, he offers a small smile and then ends the feed.]

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[ the view of his face is what has her responding, first, more so than the message he's sending to the network as a whole. she can't really help the way her gut reaction is to make sure he's okay, even if he obviously is, and there wouldn't be much she could do. ]

You're hurt. [ she's worried, sorry steve. ] Have you been down to the clinic yet?

[ and then she'll shift a little, realizing that there's an entire rest of his post to the network that she hasn't taken into account yet. ]

I'm sorry but I won't be much help with the escape efforts. I would talk to Emma, Emma Swan. If anyone would know anything about that, she would. [ there's a level of fondness to her tone when she mentions emma, a smile, but then a blink and she's continuing. ] As for the worlds, I would say a good amount. Just about everyone I've spoken to here, beyond those I know [ or supposedly know ] from home, everyone's from a different one. And they all vary fairly widely on laws and rules. It's enough to make your head spin.

[ and then mary margaret is giving him a small smile. ]

It's nice to meet you, Steve. I'm Mary Margaret.

[Steve isn't surprised that a few people have expressed concern over him, but he's quick to brush it off. If he wasn't in a state to handle himself, he wouldn't have made this announcement in the first place.]

Yeah, that was my first stop when I got here. [For good reason, as he'd been half-dead upon arrival.]

I've already talked to Emma, she seems to know what she's doing. [It looks like Mary Margaret here is probably a friend of Emma's, which Steve makes a mental note about. Slowly but surely he'll get a feel for the different relationships and groupings here.]

I'm kind of finding the same thing. With the different worlds and the head-spinning, I mean. It's nice to meet you too, Mary Margaret. I've gotten... quite the welcome here. [Which is a good thing. People aren't completely beaten down, it's a good sign. Gotta keep morale up.]

[ it seems as though there's a physical weight taken off mary margaret's shoulders when she hears that he's been to the clinic. just knowing that martha's at least looked at him alleviates a lot of her worry. not all, but a good amount. ]

I hope it heals quickly, that looks pretty painful. [ it's supposed to be something of a joke, layered with a slight smile and a nod when he says he's spoken to emma. ]

She's good at that. Knowing what she's doing, I mean. If she can't answer your questions, I don't know who can. [ if steve is going to try and keep a mental note on everyone's personal connections, his head is going to start spinning even more with just the people from her home.

not that her's doesn't at this point, but still.

but then her smile is growing a little more, and she's nodding. if there's one good thing about this place, it is definitely the community. ]

This place...isn't easy, and because of that a lot of the people here have grown together. We all know what it feels like to be dropped here out of nowhere, so we all do our best to help each other out. Most of us, at least. Though I have to say, you're taking this a lot better than I did when I first appeared here.

[Martha has in fact looked at him and made sure that all his stitches were in order. Steve will be as good as new in no time.] No need to worry, really. I'm resilient.

[Steve definitely plans to keep Emma on speed-dial, as the term goes, since she's been here for a while and had been able to answer all of his questions. That, and she's dedicated to the escape effort, which makes her a good contact.

He's glad to hear that people have been banding together to get through this. That's ten times more useful than being at each other's throats all the time. It's hardly an army, but it's something.]

Well, let's just say this isn't my first time going through something like this. Once I've got my feet on the ground, I'll definitely contribute however I can.

[ thank god for martha. ]

Good! I'm glad. Judging from what's left I can't imagine whatever happened was easy.

[ she's smiling a bit as she says that, relieved that he's okay despite his apparent injuries and content in knowing that at least he doesn't seem the type to totally shrug off any kind of injury. he didn't have too much of a pride issue with going to the clinic, after all.

an army? no. but a group of people who have found themselves in a dangerous situation and have learned to band together? yes. mary margaret's not a soldier, not at all, but she can see the advantages in working in groups. working together. ]

That experience will at least make it easier on you, though I have to say I'm a little curious as to how you could have possibly gone through something like being kidnapped to Wonderland.

[No, it hadn't be easy. Not because Steve isn't capable of taking a few hits, but because of who those hits had come from.

He finds it simpler not to answer, not wanting to give anything away to someone he's only just met. He wouldn't even know where to start explaining everything that happened with Bucky.

It's no surprise that Mary Margaret is curious about his own experiences, after that little hint. Steve's already told a couple of people about what happened to him, and so he doesn't hesitate too much this time around.]

I sort of... ended up in a situation where I was asleep for seventy years. [Okay, that was the worst delivery ever, and he offers up an apologetic smile.] It's kind of a long story, but after I woke up, things were pretty different. So this is kind of like that. Maybe a more extreme version, but...

[The point is, he can adapt. He's already done it once.]

[ mary margaret has a sense that there's a lot more going on behind he scenes. it's a sense she used to get with emma, back in story brooke, and has gotten even more-so here. it's a strange feeling that sits somewhere under her skin, but she doesn't let that show.

instead, she just ends up listening when he does decide to respond, her forehead creasing a little bit. when he gives that apologetic smile, she gives a sympathetic one back. ]

I can understand how difficult that must be. I had- well, it wasn't similar, but a difficult situation back home as well. It is still admirable, though.

Have you been able to find anyone you knew back home?

[Steve doesn't know that he'd call it admirable. He simply did what had to be done, but if Mary Margaret can relate, then he's got to know what her story is now.

He answers her question first, nodding firmly.] Yeah, I've got... [His instinct is to say friend, but he changes his mind at the last second.] A teammate of mine here. We're used to working together.

[Natasha doesn't seem ready to call him friend yet, so he'll respect that.]

So, what was your situation back home? If you don't mind me asking.

[ he might not consider it admirable, but coming from someone who is still trying to come to grips with what is her apparent...'situation', the way he's managing himself is quite admirable.

but at the mention of a teammate, mary margaret seems to relax a little. not realizing she was already worrying for him if he had come here all on his own. ]

That's lucky, really. There are a few people here who show up with no one. At least you have someone you remember from home.

[ friend or no, having someone is better than being completely alone.

and then she's smiling, a little sheepishly, at his question. ]

No, I don't mind, but you probably won't believe me if I did tell you.

[Don't worry, Mary Margaret, when Steve first woke up and found out it was 2012? He hadn't handled himself so well. He's had some time to let it sink in now, but that first reaction had still been pretty harsh.]

Yeah, she's someone I trust, so it's kind of a relief to have her here. [Would it be better if Steve were alone? It's difficult to say. But he realizes Natasha wouldn't have wanted that, so he's allowing himself to be glad that they're stuck in this mess together.]

And you can go ahead and try me. I've heard a lot of unbelievable things lately.

[Not just having to do with Wonderland, either. Steve's had to deal with plenty of it back home too. It's basically been a roller-coaster of impossible things ever since he woke up.]

I can imagine that's almost better than having a friend, for some.

[ she says as though that's not the case for her. which, really, it isn't, but sometimes she feels as though she wishes she did have people to trust. with the whole story going on back home - emma believing it, henry being okay, regina and david, there's always david - mary margaret almost doesn't know who to trust.

but then she laughs a little, almost in self deprecation. ]

Well, it's a little harder to explain since it hasn't happened to me, but apparently everyone in my home town is from... [ again, she laughs, before taking a breath. ] We're all story book characters. Or cursed story book characters, so that we don't remember it. I'm the only one here from my home who is still cursed, but I'm supposed to be Snow White.

[ a pause, and then she shakes her head. ]

I told you it was crazy.

It can be, yeah. Someone who you know has your back.

[It seems like teammate and friend basically go hand-in-hand for Steve at this point, though. Even Bucky had been both his best friend and his second-in-command, so the lines blur pretty easily for him. Steve has a difficult time keeping things strictly professional with teammates, which may be why Natasha was so confused when he asked her to be a friend to him.

Well, it's something they can work on. They're apparently going to have plenty of time for that here.

It's obvious that Mary Margaret is embarrassed by what she's about to say, but Steve pays close attention, keeping his expression serious to put her at ease. Though when she comes out with it, he has to admit it's not really what he expected. He's probably heard some crazier things today already, but that ranks pretty high.]

Seeing how we're in Wonderland, I can't say I'm too surprised. Being cursed to forget who you really are has gotta be pretty disorienting, though.

[It's obviously not the same thing, but Steve's thoughts still go to Bucky.]

More than a friend would?

[ she's curious, and she's not quite sure how she wants to read steve. he could just be someone who presents himself as very professional. even if mary margaret may not really have any room to ask about friendships versus teammates, seeing as she only has a handful of friends and no teammates. but something about him has caught her eyes.

she figures, if anything, he can always avoid the question if he wants. ]

More disorienting when the last thing I remember was that everyone was on the same page. Then I show up here, and suddenly I'm the only one who doesn't remember. It's one thing to randomly show up in Wonderland, it's something else entirely to have - as far as you know - lived your entire life without memories that everyone else tells you are real.

[ her voice drops a little with that. almost sad, but more regretful. if only she could remember. but then she takes a breath, shifts back to her smile. ]

Or twenty three years of it, at least.

It depends.

[Steve could explain in more detail, and it's not like the two things (friend and teammate) have to be mutually exclusive. But now he's a lot more interested in what Mary Margaret has to say, so he doesn't go out of his way to clarify.]

Yeah, time is funny here. With the people I know too, most of us are from different times, some of them pretty far apart from each other.

[It sounds like Mary Margaret's been left in the dust, though, and Steve has an idea of how frustrating that can be. No wonder she said that she had a similar situation. Similar, and yet completely different at the same time.]

I guess you just have to take their word for it, for now. There isn't any reason for them to lie to you, right? Maybe someday you'll catch up. [Apparently this place can do that, send someone back to live out a little more of their life before yanking them back in again.]

That is true.

[ because everything always depends on the person, the situation. mary margaret knows that, and assumes that rather than try and chase steve into explaining, it's probably best left at that.

she nods at his observation, finding herself laughing lightly at how ridiculous they both sound, simply stating facts of wonderland. ]

There is always the chance you could get sent home and live through what they've lived through, or they what you have, but it's still incredibly off-putting while you're trying to live through it.

It gives putting your trust in someone a whole new meaning, if you believe what they say of your future. [ mary margaret pales a little, shrugging. ] I like to think there's no reason for them to lie, but I'm not so sure. Or- not as sure for everyone I know from home.

[ evil queen and all that. ]

[Steve hasn't actually had anyone show up and start telling him about his future. Well, Natasha had been maybe a few days ahead of him, time-wise, but that's not much, and everything she'd told him he could have assumed easily enough.]

Well, you seem to think pretty highly of Emma. Is she someone from your home? Sounds like you could trust her, at least.

[It may not be distrust so much as having a difficult time believing. The wool's still pulled over Mary Margaret's eyes, so to speak, and it has to be tough, feeling as if she's been left behind by everyone else.]

I know there's no real easy answer for that, though. I'm sorry. [It's like Wonderland chose to keep her in the past simply to make things harder on her. Steve's noticing a pattern there.]

Emma? [ mary margaret sounds almost...well, fond, if she was going to be completely serious. ] She's family. [ there's a like that should probably be in there, but mary margaret does without it for now. ] I trust her more than anyone I know, but yes. I know her from home. We're roommates.

[ her smile is easy, but complicated. weighted, in a way. she knows emma knows more than she's letting on, than she's telling mm, but like she said - it's complicated.

mm ducks her head a little, almost in a nod. ]

No, there's no easy answer, but as far as I'm concerned it could be much worse. I know people here who already have it much worse. There's not too much to be hung up on when you take the 'what could be' into account.

[Family, and a roommate on top of it. Some people can become family without actually being a blood relation. That's how Steve and Bucky are, for instance. "How they had been" might be more accurate, but Steve sure as hell hasn't given up yet.]

Then if you can believe anyone about it, believe her.

[Mary Margaret quickly tries to downplay her own situation, citing what others have been through. It's a tactic Steve himself has used, and he can't repress a smirk.]

Always gotta find that silver lining.

[ well, their familial relationship is a little more complicated than mary margaret lets on. even if her slight smile drops a little when steve mentions trusting emma.

she does trust her, but the things she's being asked to believe...

with a breath, mary margaret just sort of nods. because he's right, he is, and she can admit that. but in that same vein she actually thinks she does believe emma. even if it's not necessarily true.

when he points out what she's doing, she ends up just giving a small smirk in return. ]

Sometimes that's all you need.

Sometimes that's all you have, too.

[Steve's hit some pretty low points at times. During the war, and even after it, when he'd woken up to a world that had moved on without him. When he found out that everyone he cared for was gone, save for Peggy, which is its own can of worms.

But he's always been able to pick himself back up and focus on the positives. He's not sure how he would have made it this far without that ability.]

Thanks for sharing, though. If you ever need someone to listen, you can drop me a line, all right?

[Given that he's the one who's brand new to this place, it might seem a little strange that he's the one reassuring her, but Steve falls into that role very naturally.]

And being able to make do is a skill.

[ she can tell, in the way he seems to hold himself, that he's been through some rough patches. not that everyone hasn't had their own version of a 'rough patch' at some point, but she can tell it's something a little different here.

and yet he's soldiering on, and mary margaret can respect that. more than she probably lets on. ]

I will. But that also works the opposite way, Mr. Rogers. Sometimes we all need someone to listen.

[ it's very natural, even to her, in just meeting him. but in the same way he fills that roll, she has to fill her's. to be there in support, for anyone. maybe not as well as steve, but she's trying. ]

Guess it is, yeah.

[For the first however-many years of his life, that's what Steve had done. He'd made do. He'd barely had two pennies to rub together, and his physical conditions hadn't made life any easier.

But he'd made it through, and now here he was in 2014 and somehow still living a life. For everything that went wrong, something else went right. So he'd keep working at it.

He's not at all shocked that Mary Margaret offers him the same kindness. Steve has never been good at venting his feelings, but he'll still keep her in mind.]

You're right about that. I'll make sure to track you down if anything comes up. Thanks, Mary Margaret.

[With that, he ends the call.]

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001 ☆ video

video ∿ i'm so sorry this is so late feel free to ignore and we can handwave :c

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