I'll follow behind you on rainbow road

[paragon]

Who: CAPTAIN AMERICA WANTS YOU
Where: The Baromanogerneson Residence (i.e., 5031)
When: May 9th
What: Mario Kart and subversion, two great tastes that taste great together.
Warnings: Please warn in subjects as needed!
[Open]

The thought had formed pretty much as soon as he'd opened the box that was left on the front porch. The people here need a way to talk. There are two rooms in the house where they would be free to do so. He'd come home one day — not long after the body had disappeared from the upstairs bathroom and all the cameras he'd ripped from their wiring between there and the garage had been put back in place in their absence with a friendly maintenance note left behind that all fixtures in need of repair had been seen to, along with a bill for the expenses — to find Natasha sitting on the bed, writing a note in Sharpie. He'd leaned against the door frame and watched her hold it up to the cameras and make a deal: Steve wouldn't break any more cameras, if they give them the privacy of their bedrooms. As there had only been the three of them at the time (despite the insistence in his head that the house has always been filled by his teammates, just as he remembers of the last few years before Wayward Pines), that had meant the master bedroom downstairs, and Bucky's upstairs.

It had actually worked, though Steve wouldn't have trusted the word of whoever's behind the cameras himself if it weren't for Natasha's daily inspections, and so far the deal's held.

But it's not — can't be — a luxury only afforded to them, for their own sakes. He's told others here and there, and he knows his friends have, too. It's not enough, but nor does he have a way to get people over without arousing suspicion. But then there's the Nintendo system. A little unorthodox, as far as his own methods go, but he'll work with anything he has.

He doesn't put it down anywhere in writing, letting news of the party travel by word of mouth and hoping that's enough to keep it out of the wrong ears. At least for now. There's a chance — a good chance — that it will eventually get the Sheriff's attention, but by then it will have had the effect it's supposed to and given the people here the chance to speak to each other truthfully. And if that comes down on anyone, it's gonna be the people prepared to deal with it.

The day of the ninth is a rainy one, a good day to stay inside and play games with friends. It also provides a good excuse to use the master bedroom just off the end of the foyer as a temporary coat room. Straight ahead in the living room, Mario Kart is all ready to go, and in the kitchen next to that, snack food and drinks are available.

((ooc: THIS IS A MINGLE POST. While I will be tagging around with Steve a bit, this is mostly to give people a chance to chat with each other without the cameras watching. Per Natasha's deal with the powers that be, the cameras in the master bedroom and Bucky's room upstairs have been removed. Natasha will be greeting people at the door and taking them on a "tour" (i.e., to the master bedroom to explain the camera situation, why the party's really happening, and that they are not to discuss the lack of cameras while elsewhere in the house). Feel free to wander in there any time for a chat, or simply enjoy some Mario Kart and refreshments! Commenting around is encouraged, and please note in your top-levels whether they're open or closed. If you have any questions for me I can be found on plurk (jeeps) or discord (jeeps#9644).))

Comments

[coy]

[ He draws her from the wall and she's equal parts disappointed and relieved. However, whatever disappointment she might feel before she disappears when he starts to talk, sitting them both on the bed and holding her hand.

She listens intently, following most of what he's said. It sounds... intense vaguely familiar although a part of her thinks that it explains quite a bit about him, the honor that seems to be so deeply ingrained within him. She sees where it comes from now, although as she connects the dots from what he's said before--]

Yeah but... from what you've told me... it sounds like the battle didn't end completely? [ Because it sounds like he's fighting another war.]

[volitaunt]

Most of the Empire got stamped out. But there were--are--people who still...

[ Disgust steals his focus for a moment, and he can't look at her, not when what she would see on his face would so obviously be hate.

Steady, Dameron.

She's so easy to talk to. He could tell her what he remembers of his mother, her faith in the goodness of the universe, her steadfast belief in people, in the future. He could tell her about that conversation with his father, when he was nine years old, the fear that followed Poe all the way to enlistment. "What are you afraid of now?" he'd asked. He could even hear the words in his father's voice: "That it was all for nothing."

He could tell her that sometimes, in guilty moments that quickly pass, he's glad his mother didn't live to see the First Order's rise.

Instead he says: ]

They came back. New name. New leaders. Same monsters. I was a New Republic pilot by then, and I tangled with them a few times. The First Order. The Republic wouldn't do anything about them, even when they hijacked civilian ships. [ Even when they blew one of his own subordinates away. ] So I joined General Organa and the Resistance. That's what's waiting for me. That's what I have to find a way back to.

[ He squeezes her hand between his. ] All I have is in that fight, until it ends or--

[ Or he does. ] I can't let what my parents fought for die. I can't let my father see the rise of a new Empire. I won't.

[coy]

[It's weird how familiar this conversation feels and yet, how utterly foreign. He speaks about space ships and rebellions, of generals and republics and of his parents, of the things they did and the things he seems to want to honor; it feels so big, like a huge weight on his shoulders.

She feels the urge to tell him then, to be honest with him, to tell him what she is, about the things she's been through, the people she's lost, the her struggle to stay alive and keep her loved ones alive. But she's a coward in that moment. She may justify it as not telling someone else's secrets, risking the exposure of the rest of the Mystic Falls crew but she was about to tell Steve the very thing she wasn't going to tell Poe.

Steve's rejection was going to be hard enough, she didn't think she could handle Poe's in the same day (or ever). And somehow, right now, what he's saying feels almost the same in tone as what he'd said in their false memories.

Her expression, somehow, stays measured and even as she nods, although she averts her gaze for the first time.] We'll figure out a way to get you back home, [ she says quietly, remembering that conversation and yet, somehow the memory morphs between Poe and Tyler.

Then stay. Just be the love of my life, Just love me more than you hate him than you need to fight.

Don't you dare walk away from me. I swear to God, Tyler Poe if you take one more step, we are done, okay? No more surprises, no more excuses, no more chances. We are done.

Her fingers flutter to her forehead as it furrows, the memory slamming into her brain. She's not in love with Poe, she doesn't need to say those things, she doesn't need to threaten him. She won't have to feel her heart shatter when he walks away.]

I understand. I get it.

[volitaunt]

[ He presses a kiss to her temple, the motion somehow chaste even after what they were doing only minutes ago. ]

I'm not abandoning anyone here. If I go home, you're going home, or with us if you can't. [ Us-- Cassian, Jyn, Rey, General Organa, BB-8. ] I'm not leaving anyone who doesn't want to stay.

[coy]

[ She looks at him after that kiss, after those words. Her eyes meeting with his and she offers him a sad smile.] You're right, I have to go home too. [ There's a brief pause before--] I have my own battles to fight. Not rebellions or wars but... I have people who need me.

[volitaunt]

[ Somehow, he didn't expect that to hurt.

He didn't realize there was a part of him that hoped she would want to come with him--them. He steps on it, hard, with that constant reminder: He barely knows her. He doesn't know her world at all. He has no idea what's waiting for her, and no right to expect she'd leave it. None whatsoever, no matter what memory tells him. ]

Then we'll figure out a way to get you back home. [ He rests his forehead against hers again, this time not moving for a kiss. It's just for the contact, the solidity of someone else who's in this place, this mess, just like him. (Just like Jyn said.) ]

[coy]

[ It's not that she doesn't want to come with him, there's this part of her that does. Her heart even leapt when he said he'd take her with him. But it was a crazy thought, given what she was, what he didn't know about her. He'd change his tune when he found out, maybe.

Her eyes close for a moment as their foreheads meet.] It'd probably sound insensitive of me but... a part of me wishes I could go back with you and help with your rebellion. That even with how crazy it sounds, it would be... [ She shakes her head. She doesn't want to say, it feels wrong to say. But she wonders if his world would be less exhausting than her own, the constant struggle, enemies coming out of the wood work, drama all the time.

As callous as it might sound, at least it'd be consistent.]

[volitaunt]

Insensitive? [ He chuckles. ] We need all the help we can get.

[ He would never be so blunt about it in front of his people, but--his people, the knowledge of them rolls over him like a tide, too many faces and names for him to focus on, washing in to the empty spaces and making his head start to pound. He straightens up slowly, massaging his forehead. ]

[coy]

[ She knows exactly what's happening as it does and she lets out a breath.] They're still coming in for me too. [ Giving his hand a squeeze, she offers him a quiet smile.]

Maybe we should take a break. Get some food and something to drink... I'll even let you beat me in Mari Kart once.

[volitaunt]

[ He squint-smiles. ] Oh, no. If I'm going to win, it's because I won.

[coy]

We'll see, [ she smirks, her smile a complete challenge. ] Because I'm really good at MarioKart.

[volitaunt]

Then kick my ass. [ He winks, standing up before he lets her hand go. ] Only way I'll learn.

[coy]

[ She laughs and moves to stand.] Oh, I'll learn ya, [ she puts on a southern accent before moving to mess her hair up a bit more.]

Do I look thoroughly tussled?

[volitaunt]

[ REGIONAL JOKES. It goes over his head, but he can at least recognize that it is a joke of some kind.

He tries to be professional, neutral, in his appraisal-- which only works insofar as he doesn't decide she needs to look more tussled. ]

You look perfect.

[ ACCIDENTALLY LOADED WORDS. Poe clears his throat and opens the door, bowing like he's a gentleman or something. ]

[coy]

Thanks, [ she reaches up to muss his hair as she speaks.] You do too. [ And once he opens the door, she moves to head downstairs to kick Poe's ass in MarioKart.]