riverview | video; un: sg.rogers

[He's out of practice. Steve is quiet for a second as he starts the transmission, bracing himself.]

My name is Steve Rogers. In my world, I'm also known as Captain America. Some of you might know me, but that's not what I want to talk about.

[Well, not about his work specifically. He does wants to talk about work.]

We're all here for different reasons and I'm not going to pry into anyone's business, but I think there are some of us who are used to defending people in our home worlds and if you are, I'd like to work with you. If you're from a world like mine, then this city is quieter than others. But that doesn't mean we don't need to look out for it. The wildlife and technical problems still need attention. I know I'm asking you for more time on top of the work we're already doing with the Perimeter Guard and official positions, but I'd like to make that extra effort. A lot of you are probably better suited to organizing this than I am. If you have projects going, I want to join you. I want us to share those ideas and work together to help the city.

[His posture gets subtly more stern, with his chin raising and his shoulders straight. This part may not just be a general appeal for teamwork.]

It's easy to overlook some problems when most of the big issues are under control. We get by well enough. It's a nice place. I'm not going to let anything put this place in danger. I'm going to be on guard, to make sure nothing gets out of hand. I'm sure this doesn't apply to everyone, but if you're interested in a little community service, maybe we can do that together. Thanks for listening.

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[The question does make him wonder briefly about who Alec has spoken to and what their opinion on superheroes is, but he decides that those details won't change his response, so he nods.]

That's what people called me back where I'm from, yeah.

[Which to him makes it sound like he's something more than he is. It makes him uneasy, but Steve has never been able to shake that bigger image people have of the word.]

I can always use help with the wildlife. We're on the same assignment, so that'll make meeting up easier.

[It's at Alec's question that Steve pauses, frowning.]

There are always dangers. This is a quiet place for the most part. I just think... we should keep our eyes open.

Where I'm from, superheroes are stories. My friend told me that there were people who had powers that weren't based on the supernatural. They usually had code names and wore costumes.

My little brother used to read comics about them. [It's probably an awkward conversation, but Alec assumed that he should tell Steve why the idea is strange to him. At least he managed to sound normal while talking about Max.]

It will. We may be able to help with technology, but someone would have to teach us. The society we're from has a love/hate relationship with technology.

My family and I have been trying to keep an eye on things, but there's only so much that we have access too.

Overlooking makes it sound like you think there's a danger waiting to attack while we're lulled into complacency or there a conspiracy going on.

[It's gotten harder for Steve to imagine a world without superheroes. Sure, once upon a time he himself was someone that treated superheroes as more of a fantasy ideal than a practical reality, but he's been living with them for so long now that he has trouble picturing another world. What would people have instead?]

That's how things are where I'm from. Superheroes are pretty active, and I guess costumes are part of the tradition, yes.

To be honest, I'm not that familiar with a lot of advanced technology. It has its uses, but I leave most of it to the engineers. Still, we need it to keep things going.

[He can't help slightly pursing his lips when Alec points out his concerns. He's trying not to point fingers or be too obvious, but the man isn't wrong.]

I just... want to be careful.

We have people who protect others, but if your world is like Cisco's, you have superheroes and we have the supernatural. My family and I are part of the group who protects people who don't realize there's dangers out there.

[Which is one of the reasons why Alec decided to talk to Steve. He might want a normal life, but he also wants to protect this place so that they can stay here.]

My sister might understand it but I'd be lost. I'm the brawn and she's the brains. [Knowing how Izzy would react to that, he smiles ruefully.] And the brawn when she needs to be.

I want to be careful too. The last place we were at messed with our minds to keep us complacent so we didn't question what was happening around us. But I just - [Would he go back if Quarantine is the same as Wayward Pines had been? No. Not unless it's the only choice to keep everyone safe.] This is home now and I don't want to leave.

We have superheroes. I don't know that we don't have the supernatural...

[But he also isn't sure what that entails, so he wouldn't be able to say for certain one way or another. Is that different from magic in his world? He thinks it must be.

He grows serious when Alec talks about his last experience.]

I don't think this place is controlling us. They've been open with us so far, letting us ask questions and view their records. And if there is anything going on, we'll find out about it.

It's home. We'll defend it.

[He's still testing out that feeling, but he does. Voicing it aloud helps make it concrete.]

We have vampires, werewolves, ghosts... magic.

[Alec knows that in some worlds the Downworld is just stories, but it could also exist and the Mundanes of those worlds don't know what exists around them.]

I don't think it is either. The other place we were at had rules we had to follow and if we didn't, we disappeared for a few days or permanently. I haven't heard anything about anyone being brainwashed or taken away to be disciplined.

[He's more relaxed here, but if he'd heard a hint of incidents like that, he would have started digging. So far he hasn't seen anything on his official or unofficial patrols of the moon.]

Most people don't see this place as home.

We... have some of those.

[All of those, but not nearly as frequent or familiar to Steve. The magic community would probably know all about them, but the average hero? Steve looks lost.]

You were in another place? You mean another world like this? It sounds like a prison. How did you get here?

[Maybe they should be figuring out how the portal works, if there are other worlds out there kidnapping people and brainwashing them. Doing God knows what to innocent minds.]

How many people do you know came from the world you were at?

Back in my world, I was one of the people who helped those beings. We were peacekeepers and warriors.

We were in a place that was supposed to be a small town in Idaho. I'm not sure if it really was. We didn't realize it was a prison. We just thought it was a very strange town with strict rules. It wasn't until later that we found out what was really happening.

[He's still not sure of everything that happened to them, but the medical facilities here said they were healthy so Alec accepts that there was no lasting damage to their minds.]

My husband, sister, and I were at that place for awhile. My best friend and my little brother were brought here from our reality when we arrived.

I don't know if there's anyone else from Idaho. I've seen people who are vaguely familiar, but they altered our memories so much, I'm not sure if what I remember is true.

[The story gives Steve chills because he recognizes a large part of the memory alteration and brainwashing from his own world. It resonates with him, calls back to incidents he and his friends have all had at some point. And there were many ways to put people under the control of another. Magic, hypnosis, even some strange advanced technology was able to generate memories that never existed, making them question what was real. He grows quiet, frowning deeply as he tries to think of a way he could help Alec after that experience. And if only he could travel out and rescue others.]

I can keep an eye out for more people from your world if you'd like. And if there's anything you think I should know and keep watch for, I'll do that too. We don't know how much might slip in from different worlds or who might show up. But that's why I think we should keep in touch and explore beyond the Abandoned City. To see what's out there.

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