entranceway | [accidental video] backdated to the 29th

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[accidental video] backdated to the 29th

[ OOC: tw for mentions of blood and a corpse ]

[ So far, Jemma's managed to avoid accidentally broadcasting anything, both here and at home; she never had any sort of bathroom-microphone mishap, or even a misdirected email. Today, however, her luck changes, and she switches her communicator on as she rummages in her pocket. The camera peeks over the fabric, giving a slightly swaying view of the hallway as Jemma makes her way to her lab.

Well, her lab by way of Darcy's coffee shop, as she runs into Darcy, and she agrees to tag along with her for a bit first. ]

I was wondering if you've considered partnering with the school, or Pepper's art gallery, maybe to establish some sort of art classes? [ It's something Jemma's been thinking about since speaking with Pepper, shortly after Tony's disappearance. ] It seems like it might be a nice distraction here.

Dude, I don't think I could be a teacher or anything. At least not on a legit scale. Maybe a TA... [ Which is something she’s actually offered. She'd put in the work at college, she might as well try and use it for something -- maybe not full-blown art, though.] I could teach them about the wonders of macaroni art. Seriously, it's severely underrated.

I thought you could advertise for a teacher, if there isn't already one offering classes. It might generate some business for you, and some more artwork for Pepper's gallery. Art can be therapeutic as well -- Oh!

[ The conversation stops abruptly, and the feed sways a little more now, indicating that Jemma has stopped walking, as well, at least for a few seconds. Then the hallway swings into motion again as Jemma rushes forward and sinks to her knees. The camera picks up shards of broken glass, the frame of a broken mirror, and blood splattered across the carpet and the pieces of glass, which bounce red reflections between each other. ]

Oh my God -- Agent Coulson? Can you hear me? Darcy, help me clear some of these pieces away! Help me -- Is he still bleeding? Is he --

[ Jemma's voice shakes, and she stops firing off commands. Said commands fall on deaf ears, the only response Darcy can manage to get out being stuttered starts of words as she takes in the sight in front of her.

It takes her a moment to pull herself together enough to move, dropping next to Jemma as a tentative hand reaches out to feel for a pulse.]

He's -- There's no -- What -- [ Her voice breaks as the tears fall, now shaking hand pulling back.] We should move him. He'll -- When he wakes up, it sh-shouldn't be here. God, there's so much blo-- [ The words dissolve into a sob as memories of her own revival flood her mind. ]

We'll need help to move him. [ Jemma now sounds calm, though maybe "focused" is a better word. ] I'll call someone.

[ Her immediate thoughts are Fitz and Skye, though would they be able to help move a body easily? Maybe she should call some Avengers instead. Captain Rogers or Thor ought to be able to carry him, surely?

Jemma takes her phone out of her pocket, which now sweeps over Darcy and more hints of Coulson's body before it focuses on Jemma's face. Her cheeks are wet, and her eyes are red, but she's not crying at the moment. She frowns at her phone, then her eyes widen in realization. ]

I -- Oh. I'm... sorry to have put this out there so... [ She gives Darcy a quick look. ] We've been broadcasting all this time.

[ Jemma focuses back on the screen, and though she tries to be strong, it's a struggle. Darcy isn't even bothering to attempt to appear strong, jaw slightly slack as the next bomb sinks in. This wasn't exactly a moment she'd wanted anyone else to see, head hanging slightly to make her hair fall in her face -- obscure at least some of the tears. ]

Agent Phil Coulson has died. Darcy and I will be tending to his body. If anyone has any information as to how this happened, please inform me or someone else associated with SHIELD immediately. Thank you.

[ OOC: Replies will come from either of them. ]

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[It takes a moment, but she manages to pull herself together enough to grab her own device to respond. She angles her body slightly so the only thing that can be seen is her. There was no point in plastering Coulson's dead body all over the network. She takes another breath, locking her elbows so the camera feed would be steadier than she was right now.]

We're on the f-first floor. Between the stairs to the basement and the coffee shop.

[It's not Darcy who Steve expects to reply, but maybe Simmons is busy tending to the body. It looks like Darcy is only barely holding herself together, but maybe she'll calm down once someone else shows up to help.

As soon as she gives out the location, Steve starts down the stairs, and the hallways in the mansion whip around behind him on the feed as he gets on the move.]

We can take him up to his room. That's probably the best place for him to wake up. It's gonna be okay, Darcy.

[Right now, that's what she needs to hear.]

[ Jemma would like to say that she's holding it together, but she's only managed so far to try to clear the larger pieces of glass away -- and she's closed Coulson's eyes. Her voice is watery and thin when she speaks, off screen. ]

Do you think you'll need help, Captain? I could call someone else, too.

[ She would offer, but she doesn't think she's strong enough -- certainly not physically. She doesn't really want to find out if she'd be strong enough emotionally. ]

[Darcy's about 90% sure that help for him will come whether he needs it or not. It was the nature of the group. There's no comment on his saying it'll be okay, instead her gaze lingering on Phil's body for a moment before she tries to speak again. A thank you almost comes out for Jemma, for closing his eyes, but somehow it just doesn't seem right.]

He shouldn't be alone when he wakes up.

[The words are barely above a whisper, voice choking slightly as the camera gets a nice view of the ceiling for a long moment.]

No, I can carry him myself.

[Jemma probably already knew that much and had only been asking because it helped to fill the silence. Steve won't mind if they call someone else in, but he also figures that the less people who have to see this, the better.

This death would hit harder than the first if Steve didn't know Coulson would be back. He's gotten to know him better over the past few months. Right now, though, Steve's managed to blank out any of his own feelings on this. It's just about getting the job done and making sure that Jemma and Darcy are all right.]

As far as we all know, this is the first time, right? Here, I mean. Which means he'll wake up a day from when it happened. [Not that they know the time of death, although Jemma may have the capability to figure that out.]

I'm almost there. [They'll be able to see as much on the feed too, since he's not really bothering to point it at his face now.]

Is that how it works?

[ She hadn't known it down to those exact details. That explains her own death, then. ]

How long does it take the second time?

[ She's asking because she wants to distract herself, because she's still clearing away the last few pieces of glass so Captain Rogers won't have to cut himself when he carries Coulson to his room. ]

I can stay with him.

Two days, as far as I know. [Steve can't speak from firsthand experience there. His only death in the mansion had actually happened on the Oregon Trail, and in that case he hadn't even had to wait a day before reviving. He'd just hung around for the rest of the time as a ghost. It doesn't really count.

By this point, he's just around the corner, so he ends the call and then appears at the end of the hallway. He spots Simmons and Darcy grouped around the body, and pauses for only a moment before approaching them.

Steve hadn't actually seen Coulson's body after his first death, so it's quieting now, to see him completely drained of life.

His gaze flicks between Jemma and Darcy.] Staying with him the whole time isn't going to do you any good. Stop by his room tomorrow. [Sitting with a corpse for twenty-four hours can't be good for anyone's psyche.]

I'm gonna lift him, all right? [Steve remains composed, calm, an anchor for both of them.]

[The only addition Darcy gives to the conversation is a small nod. 24 hours for the first death and so on. Seemed simple enough to keep track of and as far as she knew it was his first death here. While she's relieved to see Steve, it doesn't show. No, she's doing everything she can to not completely and totally freak out... Something that's so much easier in theory than in practice.

She'd already stood to give him room to step in to move the body, wrapping her arms around herself as she watches. She's already trying to distance herself somewhat from it all, taking a steadying breath as she tries to keep herself composed. She can melt down later, away from it all. It would be ok - it had to be.]

[A meltdown would be entirely understandable in light of this. Steve is far too used to death at this point, which is why he's able to keep his composure. It does help to know that it isn't for good, but Coulson's already been through this once. What will going through it again even do to him, psychologically?

That's something they'll have to worry about a day from now. Jemma and Darcy have to be Steve's concern until then.

He bends down and carefully pulls Coulson's body into his arms. It's already cold, and Steve has to fight not to shiver at the feeling of dead weight against his chest.

He stands up and Coulson's limbs dangle from either side of his hold, but Steve has a solid grip on him. He turns to look at both of them, expression grim.] I'll take him up to his room. You can come with if you want, but you don't have to.

[ It's hard to stand there and watch Captain Rogers pick Coulson up, easy as that, even though she knows this isn't easy on him, even if his weight isn't that much of a problem. Seeing Coulson dangle there is doing something to her stomach, as much as she wishes she could be strong for him.

Captain Rogers is right. He'll be fine tomorrow, just like she was. Still, it's... It's hard to watch. ]

Thank you, Captain. I... I'll stop by tomorrow. If you need anything, let me know.

[There's still Darcy to consider, and while Steve could just take off and save her the effort of having to answer, that doesn't feel like it would be the right thing either.

So he shifts himself around just enough that he can look to Darcy and tries not to think of the weight in his arms.] The same offer goes for you. Either way, both of you should let me know if you need anything.

[Even if it's just a shoulder to cry on. He's got broad shoulders that could hold their weight with no problem, and plenty of empathy on top of that.]

[Part of her had been hoping that he might not acknowledge her - let her attempt to blend into the hallway. She didn't have the same connection to Coulson as the others, though death was death - permanent or otherwise. It moved people in weird ways, evoked emotions and stirred up memories.

With a little sigh, she nods. She'd leaned on him once and eventually, she might seek him out to talk - but not right now.]

Thanks, Steve.

[It doesn't look like either of them have it in them to follow him right now, which is fine. Steve doesn't mind taking this on alone -- it's nothing he hasn't done before, with people who died a lot younger and much more permanently.

At least they'll have each other to lean on in this moment. He'll make sure to reach out to both of them within the next couple of days.

With a nod, he heads down the hall toward the stairwell so that he can place Coulson in his bed and make sure that his revival is as comfortable as possible.]

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[accidental video] backdated to the 29th

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