lessthanmyth

((OOC: Sooo. I am a dumbass. Anyone else ever call a hiatus pretty much as soon as the problem gets solved, because that totally just happened to me. >_< I apologize for any angst I may have caused, and will attempt to be less of a dumbass in the future. I'm posting now before I forget, but I have class soon, I'll tag back later!))

I've been thinking. Plotting, actually, but that word reminds me of fighting and peril. Although, to be honest, there probably will be fighting and peril. I'm fighting for something, after all. But I seem to have hit a speed bump, a rough patch in my path to understanding, to stopping something, to saving...very many people, literally and figuratively.

I remember what I've learned. God, I couldn't forget some of those images if I tried. Bucky. Sharon, oh, please let her be all right. And everyone is suffering, and I'm. Well, I'm the least of it. I know images fade, that things that appeared to be clear as a bell once can lose focus, but I swear I won't lose focus on this.

But what happens when I go home? Will I remember all I learned? If I think of a plan, will I remember that? If I don't think of a plan, will I at least remember what might happen, so I can think of a plan as I go along? Will I remember the good, the bad, or only the ugly? Will I even remember the ugly? If I forget everything...will everything happen the same way?

Can I really change this?

( Private-To Tony Stark )

It was very nice to be able to rhyme yesterday. Usually, I only do that sort of thing by accident. Although it was a little hard to do anything more than couplets. I really liked some of the sonnets that were...written, is that the word? They were very creative, and filled with feeling. Still, I'm sort of relieved the curse is over, because sooner or later I'd end a sentence with "orange". It's very hard to rhyme that word sometimes.

Those dinosaurs the other day are all gone now. Thankfully. I suppose dinosaurs could have been fun, but once they started trying to kill everyone...well, there was no fun to be had. But everyone--thanks for your help. I don't think I could have done all of it at once, and those T-rexes.... Well. Just. Thank you, very much. You really helped save some lives.

[Steve imagined, as he sprung onto his heels, that dinosaurs coming to life would be a fun, entertaining thing. Hey, when he was a youngster, that's what he wanted most besides being a cowboy. But that was then, and this is now, and now the dinosaurs aren't fun anymore. They're pretty deadly as a matter of fact. They're not as deadly as...anything during the war, of course, but those teeth and claws-those can't be good. And there were people here, innocent people who just wanted to have a good day at the zoo.]

Down you go. [And that's about when he took out five raptors with a well aimed shield toss. Angles are his are of expertise, and if he threw in just the right direction, he could topple almost all of these like dominoes. But he stayed firmly planted to his spot, blocking as much of the truck as possible. When that required shifting, he did that, and once the car stopped stalling dramatically, gave it a helpful push forward. Not that it was needed, it moved faster than the dinosaurs. The dinosaurs were lagging, because of the cold. He doubted he'd remain this lucky all day.]

[He followed the truck's speedy, hasty escape, sticking close and bashing any dinosaur that came within a hundred feet, smashing his shield over their heads and making them lean the other way, occasionally getting a claw mark across his thankfully sturdy uniform. He'd never been so happy for the chain mail until now. And honestly, everything seemed to be going rather well, all things considered. The truck appeared safe, and those fences--Oh, no. Almost as soon as he thought it, the containment fence faded away, disappearing in a spark. He narrowed his eyes and dashed over as quickly as possible.]

[He was met by three fairly hungry looking T-Rexes. He took a breath, staring up at them, before planting his feet and covering as much of himself as possible with his shield, standing firm and tall.]

You're going to regret this in the morning.

It's really a shame. I liked that curse the other day, that made us relive past glories. But yesterday's curse-I could do with never seeing those things again. Is everyone all right now? Even if the memories aren't gone, they can't be erased, but at least not circling around us over and over.

(Private to 616/unhackable)
Tony told me. About the future. About my future. Or at least the probable one. I'm still not sure what, if anything, I can do about it, but that's not important just yet. I heard...well, saw, the war. Is everyone all right now? No permanent damage? It's okay, what happens to me, but it's not right if all of you are suffering, too.

(Private to Romana/unhackable)
Tony said I should talk to you. About all of this. Is it okay with you if I do? I'm, um, not sure what I'm supposed to say. If there's anything to say.

((OOC: ref. Steve knows most everything about his death, *except* that Sharon shot him. Er, please don't tell him about that part without asking!!))

I punched Hitler in the face.

On the-- it was one of the first things I did after I became, well, Captain America. I didn't even have a round shield then, just this one that looked like a triangle. And I remember--I remember bursting in the war room, before the U.S.A. even joined the war, even cared about all the people suffering in Europe, and just feeling like if I could do this, this one thing, that everything would get resolved. I was just a kid then, really young, brand new to having abilities and strength. Brand new to war, and how to fight it. I thought if I could just...hit him a lot, make him hurt, then the war'd be over and everything'd be hunky dory.

It didn't work that way. It turns out punching him in the face solved nothing, nothing spectacular. It didn't change how the war worked, or the fact that we weren't even supposed to be fighting it yet. It didn't stop his war machine. It didn't stop twelve million people from getting mutilated and murdered in dark, secret places. It didn't stop millions more from losing their lives, whether by trying to stop them or for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But at the time, I thought--I really thought it could.

I don't regret it. I never will.

((OOC: Simple, sweet, and to the point, behold the cover of Captain America #1: BAM!))

I didn't mean- I'm not- I'm sorry. It was a cur-

I said some...things when I was cursed yesterday, and I didn't mean to say them. I apologize for any...confusion, and I didn't...I didn't mean any of that. I won't hold anyone to any promises or anything that was said. You might not have really wanted anything, even though the curse made...everyone say those things. It was not a choice made under free, conscious will, so it's not a real choice in the first place. If anyone still wants to go on a date, I'll go, but I must stress that I don't normally act like that, and you might be disappointed.

And if anyone needs a ride out of this building due to... spending time with Tony yesterday, I'd be happy to provide a lift, no questions asked.

((OOC: Come, poke the embarrassed superhero, currently hiding under blankets in his room for the rest of his life. Strikes are slightly viewable~ ETA: OFF FOR THE NIGHT, TAGS IN THE MORNING.))

It's looking like a very nice night, not too many criminals out here to cause trou---

Except you. You must be a thief, because you've stolen my heart.

((OOC: Steve is so totally cursed! SON OF ETA: Because he isn't...attracted to men, expect them to get bits to their tags that aren't pick up lines. Sorry.))

I don't know if the deities can read these posts, and I don't think I care right now. I'm assuming since they claim to be divine, they can read whatever they like. It's not important. But if they harm my friends ever again, they'll have bigger problems on their hands. How dare they toy with us. How dare they play games with our lives. They don't have the right. Just because they have divine abilities, or so they claim, it gives them no right, no reason, to treat us like little puppets, like pawns, like sheep. If they want us to believe in them, perhaps they could give a better reason than fear of reprisals.

I'm only going to say this once, so listen up, deities: if you toy with my friends' emotions ever again, harm them in any way, I won't hesitate to end your reign. I'm warning you now, because it's fair, and because that's a promise.

[Filtered to Teddy]
Sorry, I never showed up for dinner at Turnabout, some...I got distracted. I'll stop by later, if that's all right.

[Filtered to Tony]

Tony? Are you still here? Are you all right now?

[Public]

What about you? Did any of you have anything happen on Valentine's Day? Are you all right? Did you enjoy the holiday regardless of the curse?

[Private/filtered to self]

I need to start looking for a job, even if I disappear tomorrow. Where can I find a newspaper around here, anyway?

((OOC: ref: http://morethanasuit.livejournal.com/14630.html As punishment for this raeging against the heavens, he's going to get hit *hard* with the next few curses.))

Does anyone know why it rained those...little candy hearts this morning? Does it always do that here around Valentine's Day? I hope no one got hit with them too hard, they look like they'd be a bit painful. Still, I supposed a little bit of candy wouldn't be so bad...

[Pause. Humming noise.]

Last time I checked, candy hearts had cute phrases on them that were spelled badly. Not...one word. Not like this, anyway. Hm. I wonder...

[More humming.]

Oh! I get it! This must be someone's early Valentine's present for someone else! It's certainly very impressive. Would you be wanting these back, then, if they're personal and all...?

I have a flashlight, if anyone needs one, but there seems to be plenty of light to go around. More than enough, actually. I'm still not entirely sure how they made that lion earlier.... It's really very impressive. I've got to find out how they do this, it can't be just electricity, can it? It's very calming, even though it's so bright. I wonder if there'll be fireworks later. I heard there were, but you never can tell with these. The sky looks clear, though, so at least rain and clouds won't be a problem. I hope. I don't think I have an umbrella yet.Although my shield works better than an umbrella any day.

Is everyone okay? From the, um, curses. They all ended, right? I hope that means all the bad events went away, but I can't be sure. I don't know. I hope so. If anyone still needs help, I'll head over right away.

((OOC: Should anyone run into him, he's drawing on a bench by the fountain. If you want, feel free to ask him to draw you! He'd probably have to be actually goaded into charging for it, so consider it free [Unless you *want* to pay for it or something]))

If anyone happens to see any scarecrows wandering around, I profusely apologize. It appears I should beware of Greeks bearing gifts, or in this case, cities bearing pens.

Gotta go. Duty calls. Everyone, stay safe. Please.

-Cap

P.S. Am I supposed to sign these posts? I'm not sure, but how else could you tell who's sending? Typing? What verb is this called, anyway?

Whoever delivered this has my gratitude. No, really. Thank you, it's a very nice welcoming present of a pen.

[On a park bench, outside in the evening air, there sits Steve Rogers, out of his uniform. His shield is hidden safely behind his back, should he need it, but he hopes he doesn't. More importantly is the sketchpad on his lap. He sketches with pencil first, loose, simple, moving lines. He's learned you should always start with pencil, so you don't make any mistakes later. Occasionally, he erases a line, but mostly, he just keeps moving the pencil back and forth until he has a shape. And once the form has shape, only then does he begin to outline it in fine tipped pen.]

When a man's an empty kettle he should be on his mettle~
And yet I'm torn apart~
Just because I'm presumin' that I could be kind-a-human~
If I only had heart~

[He sings lightly as he works, his sketch resolving itself into a scarecrow. There's little stalks of corn in the background, and even a nice, bright sun. And as he finishes his drawing, adding lines here and there with his new found pen, he keeps humming, not quite noticing the shape resolving itself a few feet from where he stands.]

I'd be tender - I'd be gentle and awful sentimental~
Regarding Love and Art~
I'd be friends with the sparrows~
and the boys who shoots the arrows~
If I only had a heart~

((OOC: Cap's been hit with The Imagination Song curse! For the next three days, fear him and his create-o-pen! Oh, this is my first curse ever, so let me know if I'm doing it wrong!))

This is…not my apartment, is it? [Sighs] I didn’t sign up to visit an alternate dimension this month. I was getting worried for a second there. I’d think I could have a normal life, but then things like this happen to prove me wrong. Usually when these---these dimensions pop up, someone asked for help or hinted at what we have to do. There must be something for me to do here, some reason I’ve been brought here. Otherwise, I’d still be home, right? Right? Oh, I hope there isn't a reason. Please, let there not be a reason. Let this be an accident, not...not on purpose. Please, please let no one be hurt. Please, please let everyone be all right. [Another sigh, and then he goes quiet for a minute.]

Is—is that ticking noise normal? It doesn’t sound—am I imagining this? It sounds like…a timer, but what’s it for? Is anyone else hearing this? Where's it coming from? [A noise, like gripping something tighter, and a deep breath.] There's only one way to find out. Alright, everyone just hold on, I'll take care of-[Pause] Or is it the other way around? Does the [Struggles for a word] timer have to keep going, or does it have to be stopped...?

Where am I, exactly?

((OOC: In costume, should anyone run into him. GOING TO BED, WILL TAGBACK TOMORROW! Oh! I totally forgot! Please don't tell Cap he's dead right away! Give me and the muse a little time to get used to this place before total death drama, yes?))