entranceway | 010 ☆ video/action

[ It's been a long, long while since Steve transmitted a message through the network, and that's been no accident. His last announcement was when he came back from his last trip home, over a year ago. It hadn't felt right to take the lead in the same way after that, and others had jumped in to take his place as needed. Hadn't they? He'd thought as much, but others have told him that he's still needed as a leader. Maybe not as Cap, but as Steve.

It's a work in progress.

But here he is all the same, sending out his message toward the end of the second day. He's indoors; the room he's in not well-lit but his face is still visible. It's quiet out, the calm before the storm. ]

Michonne and I took a trip past the gates today, and... there's something coming. Or, well, a lot of somethings. A whole horde of zombies headed right for us. She's already given you guys the rundown, but I wanted to get the word out. We're gonna have to fight, or barricade ourselves away from danger. [ His expression hardens then, something steely and determined. ] Whatever you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe, do it.

[ A pause as he gathers his thoughts, and then he's back to it. ] I know death isn't permanent here, but this isn't a way that anyone wants to go. [ Is he speaking from experience?? Who knows, he doesn't elaborate. ] And I'll do whatever I can to help. In case you didn't know, I've got super strength, super speed, and I can take a hit. I'm not even sure if this infection will affect me because of the way my metabolism is. So if you need help getting out a scrape, let me know, all right? Or even if you just need help barricading a house. [ He's perfect for all that heavy lifting. ] I'm here to do whatever I can.

[ It's never enough, but he's still going to try. If he's learned anything this past year, it's that. ]

Oh, it's Steve, by the way. Steve Rogers. Stay safe, everyone.

[ With a firm nod, he ends the broadcast. For someone who's rusty on the speeches, it could have been worse, right? ]

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Headshots are headshots. [ she counters -- not combative, exactly, but certainly eager to maintain her independence. ] I don't see why the target being undead makes that much of a difference, in the end.

[ others will argue. but, then again, she's not saying this to others. she's saying it to steve. it's a difference she remains cognizant of.

she could tell him she intends to do the smart thing and keep her distance. fire at range. but, between the last conversation and this one, she'd decided he's no longer entitled to the little missives explaining her state, her mood, or even her safety. that kind of exchange would only bleed sentiment.

and she can't afford it. ]

Yeah, but Peggy, there's... a lot of them. Probably almost a thousand. And we've only got so many bullets. That, and a gunshot's gonna attract them to you.

[ Steve can already tell that she's defensive, that she thinks that his concern is him implying that she somehow isn't competent or doesn't know what she's doing.

It's not that. One of these things killed him once. Maybe not the exact same kind of zombie, but he can still remember the moment when his jaw started to get stretched too far, when bone started to crack, before --

He exhales into the phone's receiver. ] Just... be safe. Please.

[ -- there's nothing outright rude in her response. but it's every bit as defensive as he might expect. chafed, unhappy, and deeply dissatisfied with how endearing she nevertheless finds his request that she proceed with caution.

with a shake of her head and a hard swallow, she reminds herself to banish those vulnerabilities. ]

I'll tell you what. I won't take any risks I wouldn't expect you to also take. [ double-edged, that. ] We can both be as safe as each other. Deal?

[ That's definitely double-edged. Anyone who knows Steve Rogers knows that safe isn't a part of his vocabulary, when it comes to himself. If he agrees to these terms, he'll be agreeing to Peggy acting as recklessly as him.

Not a great prospect when he's already worried. ]

That doesn't really seem fair. [ Yes, he's going to push the issue. If this is what they have to talk about (argue about?) to avoid talking about anything else, well, he'll take it. ] I'm enhanced, you're baseline human. [ To say nothing of his tendencies. ]

Being 'baseline,' as you put it, served me just fine before Project Rebirth. Before you. [ oh, she feels burnt by his argument -- especially the bits that ring truest. ] And it continues to serve me well after you're...

[ dead. but that's not accurate any longer. ] Gone.

[ hell, the reanimated undead isn't even the strangest thing she's ever seen. although it does come close. ]

[ 'Baseline' is one of those terms Steve has gotten used to after spending so much time around other powered people, same as 'enhanced.' He doesn't mean anything by it, but it doesn't surprise him that Peggy doesn't take it well. (She shot at him once; compared to that, this is nothing, right?)

She doesn't need him, is what she's saying. She does just fine without him. Of course, Steve always knew that. No, he's seen it. A whole life lived while he was absent, seen through photographs and news pieces. ]

I know that. I'm not questioning your abilities. I'm just saying that these things are bad news and there's a lot of them. One scratch or bite and you'll be like them.

[ Or more like, she'll have to ask someone to put a bullet in her head (or do it herself) before it gets to that point. ]

Yes. I've heard the warnings, thank you.

[ abrupt. peggy's got a talent for making even a stab at gratitude feel much like a stab at something else. the very stiffening in her tone suggests a posture that's ram-rod straight and a glance -- stoic in everything but her eyes -- that would have been unforgiving had she been granted the chance to give it.

the feet cuts briefly -- a blip, a hiccup of dead air, and she must have closed communications a moment. perhaps to hide a deep breath or a clearing of her throat or some other symptom of vulnerability that she doesn't care to reveal. god she wants to ask him why he's so certain that this 'isn't a way that anyone wants to go,' but as much as she's denied him that level of inquiry into her life, she knows she's forfeited the same in reverse.

before too long, the feed resumes. there's nothing sympathetic in the tone she wears now, but it is at least a touch less combative. ]

I'll be smart about it, Steve. [ she can't stomach telling him 'not to worry,' so instead: ] I hope you'll be the same.

[ For a moment Steve thinks that's it. Peggy's sick of hearing his voice and his concerns and she would rather handle things on her own, thank you very much. She'd been the one to reach out to him, initially, so he's at a loss for what to do.

But then she starts up the call again for a sendoff of sorts. There's no promise that they'll work together, probably because she still doesn't want to see his face.

Doubling down won't do him any good at this point. Best to just let her go, and have faith that she'll take care of herself. ]

I'll do my best. [ He's not frightened, exactly; more like determined not to repeat past mistakes. ] Take care, Peggy.

010 ☆ video/action

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