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[controlledvariable]

audio | video | action

Comments

audio;

[controlledvariable]

I do say. You should write it down somewhere just in case you forget.

[haha

ha

fuck Haven]

audio;

[enshields]

Much as everybody likes reminding me, ninety-six doesn't mean senile.

[SLIGHTLY EXASPERATED TONE, THERE.]

audio;

[controlledvariable]

Run that one by me again.

[SUDDENLY SO MANY THINGS MAKE SENSE.]

audio;

[enshields]

[Oh. Well. He... kind of figured you knew, Steph, sorry.]

It's kind of a long story. And if we're going to get into it, I'd definitely rather not tell you over these things.

[DISDAAIIIIN FOR TECHNOLOGY...]

audio;

[controlledvariable]

So I'm coming over, then? 'Cause now you've got me curious.

[It's mostly just a joke, easy enough for him to brush off or turn down, but she really is curious.]

audio;

[enshields]

Sure, I just got back from patrol.

[And of course he's going to put together something to eat because his Mama didn't raise no inhospitable jerk, k.]

audio;

[controlledvariable]

[This time her small breath of a laugh is warmer, and there's the sound of movement as she hops to her feet.]

The spiral thing creeps me the fuck out, but at least it makes it easy to get around.

audio;

[enshields]

[He snorts.]

I hear that. ETA?

audio;

[controlledvariable]

A couple of minutes, I'm on the roof of- [there's a thud as her boots hit the roof] - seven now.

audio;

[enshields]

10-4. Feel free to let yourself in, it's just me here right now.

audio > action

[controlledvariable]

See you soon.

[She hangs up without another word, and just as promised she's there a few minutes later, climbing in through the living room window because Steve didn't say she had to let herself in through the door.]

Sup.

action

[enshields]

You could've used the door.

[He knows she knows he knows. He's not mad about it, or even moderately annoyed. He's just. Trying to find an equilibrium with her, because it never hurts to have more friends and he's years out of practice at it.]

Hope you like soup.

forever

[controlledvariable]

I don't like doors.

[Which is a light joke, but there's some truth in it too. People expect you to come in through the door, so the window is usually safer; it's less often watched and a planned trap would likely be by the door.

Trying to go in through the front door is what got her trapped in a dark tiny room for hours.]

But I do like soup. You sure you guys have enough to spare?

[enshields]

[There's more to it than what she says, but he lets it lie. Stephanie is tough and stubborn, like some people she could name, and he doesn't know her well enough to push. Instead, he sets a bowl down on the kitchen table for her and dumps some of it into her. It's vegetarian, since meat is hard to find, but it's got the contents of a can or two of decent vegetables in a thick broth.]

We've got enough.

[When you're stubborn and used to starving, a little can go a long way.]

[controlledvariable]

[There's something in the way she accepts the food, too, almost a little desperate, though she forces herself to eat slowly and carefully.]

How's the soup kitchen coming along?

[enshields]

[He leans against the counter and watches her eat. He recognizes all the symptoms, all those old wounds and after a moment he looks away. There's light coming in from the window, and although he can see the damned billboard past the glass, he focuses on the sun.]

It's coming. It'll be slow going, but we aren't in the market for miracles.

[controlledvariable]

[She's decide her favourite thing about Steve is that he seems to have managed to strike the balance between hope and realism. It's something that she struggles with, and she almost wants to ask how he manages it, but she doubts he could give a simple answer.]

If we can get out to the East that should help, there should be more food there than there is here.

[enshields]

I've heard the East is radioactive.

[He runs his tongue over his teeth and tips his head to one side.]

It didn't really bother me to be there for a few hours or to eat food from there, but unless a Geiger counter falls out of the sky I'm not sure we can judge how dangerous it is for someone who doesn't have an enhanced immune system.

[controlledvariable]

That's why we test it.

[She says the answer to the problem like it's obvious, because of course she was planning to test the potentially radioactive food.]

[enshields]

I have been.

[He gives her a Look. He knows that tone, boy does he ever.]

Bucky and I've worked out a system. Radioactive food doesn't usually kill you outright, the effects on the body are cumulative, so it's better to be careful.

[controlledvariable]

I know how radiation works. [There's something almost a little defensive in her tone.] And since you two aren't baseline, there's no point in you testing it.

[Well, there is for other super soldiers, which there aren't all that many of.]

[enshields]

[He shakes his head, lifting one hand in a gesture of apology.]

I didn't mean to imply otherwise, I'm sorry. Just thinking outloud. I won't try and dissuade you if you're determined, but be careful.

[That's coming from a place of genuine concern. He respects her enough to trust her judgement, but. He's a worrier.]

[controlledvariable]

Once we get over there I'll see what food we can get and ration it for myself for a couple of weeks.

[That should be long enough to judge if there will be any adverse effects.]

Do me a favour and don't tell Bucky?

[He'd worry too much, maybe try to stop her, and that isn't helpful.]

[enshields]

I keep as few secrets from Bucky as I can.

[It's not a yes. But it's also not a no. And it's all she's going to get out of him, because if there's one person who has experience dealing with self-destructive idiots, it's Bucky Barnes.

Steve shifts his weight from one foot to the other, socks slipping a little against the floor.]

I will say that there's bound to be other options, though.

[controlledvariable]

[It's not the best answer she could hope for, but it's not the worst either, and she figures she might be able to get him to make a compromise of don't say anything unless Bucky asks.

But it's something she can work on later, since she doesn't need to start straight away, and maybe Steve is right.

She hums, thoughtful, before having a little lightbulb moment.]

I'll feel like an asshole, but if I can catch some rats or rabbits they might not be bad test subjects. As long as they're not irradiated themselves.

[This is not as weird as it might seem; she's eaten mutant deer before.]