@sg.rogers; video

[livingsymbol]

[Steve is commandeering the floor's kitchen for the moment. With the festival going on, he gets more time to himself, but there's still the situation to consider. They are all new people getting used to Quarantine. So Steve sets up with his device, sending out a message while he takes a break from the activity.]

Floor five, clean up your messes. Loki, that means you.

[Because that's easier to start with than anything else he can think of.]

If we haven't met yet, my name is Steve Rogers. I'm working with the Perimeter Guard here in Search and Rescue. If you have any problems, you can contact me directly. It doesn't have to be an emergency situation. We're all adjusting here, so if you need anything, feel free to come up or give me a call.

I typically go for a run in the morning and train in the evening. Just in case anyone's interested in joining me. Thinking about taking a better look at what's surrounding us, too.

Comments

[VIDEO]

[dust_of_life]

Um...a plain tee shirt? And jeans, I think?

[Not exactly Paris runway material. She'd mostly just been impressed with the muscles upon muscles.

And apparently had failed to impress, well, anything.]

[VIDEO]

[livingsymbol]

[Well, that's actually pretty close to true. But Steve by now has figured out his guess his right.]

Actually, there's another man named Steven Rogers here. I expect he's been making some rounds as well.

[VIDEO]

[dust_of_life]

[Seriously? An evil twin gag? Fatima would be even more incredulous, if not for the fact that some Cainites in her world can do that shit.

She's definitely not sure what to make of all of this.]

Forgive me for the phrasing of this but...

What's the difference between you two, exactly?

[VIDEO]

[livingsymbol]

[Steve tilts his head and raises his eyes, looking up through the device with a questioning sideways angle.]

I don't know him, but I imagine we don't have everything in common.

[Even people that have tried to be just like him have always been different. They could never replicate Steve Rogers the way some had hoped to create an army of super soldiers. Sometimes he regrets that, but sometimes, like now, Steve is proud of being the only fluke specimen.]

I've met another man who shared my name before. Turns out, names are just names.

[VIDEO]

[dust_of_life]

[Fatima gives him a sideways smirk. Try growing up in an all-white suburb with a name like 'Fatima' post-2001. That's when you learn that names are more than just names. They have a power.

But that's not really the point and she isn't going to fight with a perfectly decent-seeming stranger.]

I just mean, I already mistook you for him once. How do I tell you apart?

[VIDEO]

[livingsymbol]

[The woman smirks and Steve just furrows his brow, expression becoming serious.]

Because we're not the same person.

[VIDEO]

[dust_of_life]

[She bites her tongue just short of saying "Yes, but you look the same." That'll come out all wrong. All white people look the same to her or whatever.

How would Auntie Diana manage a situation like this?

Probably by flirting and shoving her breasts out. Fatima can't really do that. So, time to default to Arty's technique. Conversation.]

Where are you from?

[VIDEO]

[livingsymbol]

[He's offended already, because like Hell he's standing for someone taking his name again. That went bad enough before. He'd say more, but her question is simple enough that he manages a simple answer. Control. It's all about control.]

Earth.

[Well. He's never been perfect at that, either.]

[VIDEO]

[dust_of_life]

[Okay, now that's just stubborn. She's trying to find the differences so she doesn't screw up again, but he's not helping.

It's a times like this she regrets not taking the time to study Arty's art of reading people's auras. It would really solve a lot of problems.

Like human beings being human beings.]

Guessing east coast?

[He doesn't have a California temperament.]

[VIDEO]

[livingsymbol]

I work for the government. I travel.

[And as a soldier he lived wherever the deployment took him. Home has a completely different meaning after that. Where he's from at this point is Earth, as sarcastic as the answer had been stated.]

[VIDEO]

[dust_of_life]

[Blocky Steve is kind of Grumpy Steve. But she's not going to throw Bucky under the bus.

She nods slightly.]

Okay.

Well. Then I guess now is the point where I should tell you that I'm not a terrorist...

[VIDEO]

[livingsymbol]

[He frowns deeply at that.]

What?

[VIDEO]

[dust_of_life]

My name's Fatima. People assume.

[And she laughs first, because if she laughs at herself, no one can hurt her.]

un: jb.barnes, video

[anotheroldsoldier]

[The video opens on a lightly smirking face, because he can't resist the opportunity to tease Steve a little bit, especially when he's getting serious like this. It's also an interjection to hopefully keep Steve from spiraling into a lecture, because he's dealt with someone trying to steal his identity before.]

My Steve's the wide one that can't fit through air ducts. He's blocky.

[dust_of_life]

[That makes Fatima laugh. Both because it answers her question and because she recognizes that sort of camaraderie. It's pleasant and comfortable. Like well-worn slippers.

It's something she misses, being alone as she is here.]

So should I call him "Blocky Steve?" And tell him you said it was okay?

[anotheroldsoldier]

I deny responsibility for that. [He shrugs briefly. Steve won't take it personally, coming from Bucky, but there's a little part of Bucky who still insists that his is the 'original' Steve.] You could call the other one Baby Face Steve. He looks fresh outta boot camp. Mine's got some weathering.

[dust_of_life]

Okay, but if I call the other one "Baby Face Steve," can I still blame you?

From what I've learned in middle school, the first rule of nicknames is to always have someone to throw under the bus.

["But Katie called her a terrorist first, Mrs. Wilson." How many times did she hear that as a kid?]

[anotheroldsoldier]

I'll take responsibility for Baby-Face Steve. Just don't tell the other Bucky. Nobody needs that feud. [Honestly the other one is probably reading this and will take it up with him personally if he's offended, but oh well. Bucky is only responsible for his Cap.]

[dust_of_life]

[She tilts her head to one side.]

There's another you? I find that hard to believe. You seem pretty one-of-a-kind to me.

[But then, she had that nagging feeling when she met him that she'd seen him somewhere before.

Well. Maybe she did. But why wouldn't she remember that?]

[anotheroldsoldier]

I am. Ain't like any of us are clones. Alternate timelines. [As if that explains everything. To someone from his world, his specific timeline, it would, honestly. His tone is gently chiding.]

Luckily we're easier to tell apart. [They could be brothers, maybe, but not twins. This Bucky keeps his hair cut short, his face clean-shaven.]

video; u little shit

[livingsymbol]

Bucky.

[Of course his partner would see this. Of course. The only thing that could embarrass him more is to have Captain America there to tease him over it.

...And he misses that Bucky has again successfully distracted him from turning a conversation into a rant.]

u love it rogers

[anotheroldsoldier]

Steve. [He could just go talk to him in person since they both live and work together, but it's fun to tease him a bit over video like this. And it keeps him off the less-pleasant thoughts that might come up.]

I coulda been more uncharitable. Dunno how she mistook your ugly mug for anybody else, pal.

you are taking advantage of his love, bucky

[livingsymbol]

[He could have just walked up to him, but that isn't the same as getting in between Steve and his problems, which Bucky has always been uncannily good at. He manages to find the right things to say. Even now, Steve just frowns on his end of the network, also wondering why Bucky didn't walk over to him. It's enough to distract him.]

Yeah? Maybe it's just because they like how I look. Don't be jealous.

[At least he seems in better humor now.]

[anotheroldsoldier]

[There. A noticeable uptick in Steve's mood, at least noticeable to Bucky, who reads his moods like a comic book. In full color, laid out on the page.]

Oh, buddy, you think I'm jealous. [His grin curls at the corners of his mouth, teasing.] I only speak the truth here.

Not here. THIS IS A LURK.

[amelioraate]

[ OHMYGOD Buck. You are... Tony is cackling like a madman rn in his office space. Jesus. ]