[ that's true for many a ressource here, and Sam has no desire to harbor secrets here. ]
speaking of the adamant, you guys weren't able to get that map on your devices, right? redwing couldn't pull it either, so I was thinking between everyone here we might be able to slap something together anyway. I hear diy's on trend.
life would be so much easier if wakandan tech was randomly compatible with alien tech.
oh please. I feel like I got a taste of your medicine. try missing five years of internet culture, and getting schooled by your barely-even-teenaged nephews.
[ even the bad guys have their own apps now. ]
Text; un: nina - sometime in the middle of the Thessyx visit
[ Hello, Sam. Did you know it's bad luck to eat semla on your own? (It isn't, but it is a convenient excuse Nina has made up and she is inflicting it upon you.) ]
oh my god.... I owe you 700 apologies, I didn't see this
（ she looks a little like a lost teenager — what can she say, she has a good moisturizer regimen. but the oversized hoodie, two-toned hair and the gum she got from somewhere probably isn't helping the image.
she is a mature adult, thank you. ）
I'd say it does the job.
（ he looks good, but nat hopes that the color scheme is to his tastes, and not just donned for political reasons. ）
[ Sam's smile tags into something lopsided briefly. It still feels weird to don the suit here. To Layout claim to a title and position that is still Steve's, and to have a wingsuit he now feels like a drauf in. Natasha doesnt need to know that, though. ]
Well it ain't the nice Falcon getup, but it's what I got here. The wings are sweet. C'mere.
[ He holds his hand out to her, beckoning so she can grab onto him for the sport flight up and on top of the wing. ]
I distract them with Redwing. They like to chase him, it's cute.
[ Sam doesn't lift her up into his arms in a bridal style carry, just loops both arms securely around her midsection and then unfurls the wings.
Natasha has seen the old Exo-7 model, she's seen the improved Stark Industries version of the same wingsuit once Sam joined the Avengers. They've trained and fought side by side long enough. This close, she'll see that the new wings are bigger, sturdier, and yet much lighter, with the unique sheen of vibranium. Sleek where the old wings by comparison looked clunky. And they leave his hands free during flight. The vibranium looks almost lightweight like this, the wings trembling faintly where they catch a breeze, deceptively delicate.
Sam waits until he can tell Natasha has gotten a good hold on him, too, and then lifts them both up. The new thrusters are quieter and take them to the air much more smoothly than the old ones.
Flying's never felt this good, and it shows, perhaps, in the immediate way something in Sam relaxes despite how controlled the tension of his muscles is on the ascent, body perfectly poised to move with the wingsuit. He steers them out from under the arch of the wing, and then up and over, until he can land then on top of it, the landing as easy and smooth as the ascent, and the wings folding away near soundlessly. ]
（ she's done highwire training, you know? there's nothing quite like it. there's freedom in flying, if you let it be there.
he lets her down gently and she steps away with a ballerina's flourish, sweeping one arm out.
it's beautiful up here. beautiful, wild, and the whole world feels like it's laid out before them. it's nothing like earth. too many colors. too much that would kill them if given half the chance — strange plants, odd animals, acid rain. but it's nice in its own way. there's not much sound that carries up here, and the wind feels — bracing. ）
[ Which means: Not as often as he'd like. There's always something to do, between Bucky's chronic insomnia, the Aid Station, training, not losing sight of his people, and all the big and small things going on in and around camp. ]
（ but aren't peace and loneliness just two sides of the same coin? they always seem inexplicably linked. natasha sits down, knees drawn up, arms around them like she's a moody teenager, and then she reaches for sam to tug him down beside her. ）
Not trying to get all up in your business, but this guy mentioned you're a PJ?
（ from roughly the same era, too. sam is a community man — he's shit at reaching out for himself, but give him an ounce of brotherhood and he's ready to walk backwards into hell for it. ）
[ he'd change his user name to falcon just to be a little shit, but well... that ain't really his title anymore, even if it was his callsign way back when. ]
well see now that takes me back to my days of counselling vets.
to an extent - captain childe runs a tight ship, but not unreasonably so. it's all hands on deck everywhere, we're short on everything, the coffee's horrible, the broccoli sad, and everything spits acid at you. guy who runs security better become your best friend so you can borrow a protective shield when you need it.
[ Blew off his shift at the Aid Station for the first time since coming here, and scoured as far and wide as he could, hoping for a trace. Redwing confirmed Natasha's and Wanda's presence in camp, but... Steve and Bucky? Not a sign.
But this is how it goes. Sam soars, and and the people he cares for leave, or die, or vanish otherwise. ]
（ it's easier if she thinks about this as something she needs to do for sam. not herself. but it's — the snap all over again, people gone without a trace, almost nothing of them left. she barely knows barnes, so that was — easier. but steve...
[ He needs a threat to handle, a wound to sticht, a problem to solve, someone or something to save.
He needs his partner back. Losing Bucky's a first.
Sam doesn't know what he needs that could be given. His instict , however, is to deflect and bury it all, and let the pain fester like a rot. Except he's not alone here - he has others to think about. Natasha, for one. ]
[ Sam's many things, but he knows he's not a great liar - not with his loved ones, at least. And sure, he could stroll into the Aid Station, proclaim he's fine and get away with it. Half the trick is to let people think they know you while you smile and keep them at arm's length.
Natasha is one of the few people that does not work on, and when he knows she has her grief with losing Steve and Bucky, too - Steve especially - after everything she suffered for five years...
Well. Sam doesn't say anything when they meet up, just pulls Nat close and takes them both up in a gentle swoop, grateful for the goggles that prevent the wind form stinging in his eyes when he's already feeling like his composure is hanging by a threat.
When they land, he doesn't let her go for a moment, unsure if he's prolonging the hug for his own sake or hers. Maybe a little bit of both. ]
（ the thing about natasha, she never rests too easy. she never anticipates that good will stay good. nothing lasts, nothing lingers, everyone dies. eventually, the world burns to nothing and if you're lucky, you stand in the ash of it.
she's spent too long in the ashes.
at least she's practiced. her mind is carefully blank as sam carries her, and deposits them both, and hugs her. she hugs back because that element of human contact has been ingrained in her after a lifetime of physical contact meaning sex or violence. she learned to hug clint. laura. her little nieces and nephews. she's hugged steve a time or two. bruce.
(thor, she recalls, has hugged her. picked her clear up off her feet as if she weighed nothing at all. that was... new.)
sam asks her that question and her mouth quirks up in a smile that doesn't immediately crumple like human lungs at the ocean depths. ）
Well, presumably they'll be going back to the moment they left. We know how Steve's story goes, and you know how Bucky's is. I think that's probably the best we could hope for both of them.
[ Steve goes home to 5 years of unimaginable grief, and he comes out unable to stay, needing his happy end while knowing all the outcomes - no more risk of sudden losses, and Sam can't begrudge that. Bucky goes home to being miserable and in pain, chasing bad decisions and butting heads with Sam - but they get on the upswing shortly. They whether the storm together and Bucky comes out with genuine smiles, playing with Sam's nephews. They move forwards.
Sam wants to go home, too, he really does. Misses his sister and his nephews and hell, the version of Bucky he's grown so used to. It's just that he can't imagine having reunited with Natasha only to lose her again. ]
Yeah... you're probably right.
[ It's selfish to mourn their loss here, isn't it? And yet here Sam is. For a moment he had a chance of having all his people with him. Nothing but sandcastles. ]
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text ↪ un: s.rogers
un: vidar
no subject
what's your read of him?
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He's eager to get more information and supplies to share, and sounds like he was pretty successful on his first go.
[ Plus he was open about it. It's not a bad first impression. ]
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[ that's true for many a ressource here, and Sam has no desire to harbor secrets here. ]
speaking of the adamant, you guys weren't able to get that map on your devices, right? redwing couldn't pull it either, so I was thinking between everyone here we might be able to slap something together anyway. I hear diy's on trend.
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I'm five years out of fashion, so I'll trust you on that.
[ gentle teasing, all sounds good to him. ]
no subject
oh please. I feel like I got a taste of your medicine. try missing five years of internet culture, and getting schooled by your barely-even-teenaged nephews.
[ even the bad guys have their own apps now. ]
Text; un: nina - sometime in the middle of the Thessyx visit
[ Hello, Sam. Did you know it's bad luck to eat semla on your own? (It isn't, but it is a convenient excuse Nina has made up and she is inflicting it upon you.) ]
oh my god.... I owe you 700 apologies, I didn't see this
[ this is company that's always welcome ]
all good!
👩➡👨🏾🦲🕰❓
[ She'll just come meet you somewhere then! When's good? ]
text ↪ un: romanoff
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Gummi worms.
The sour ones.
The sort you get in gas stations where no one's cleaned the bathroom in six years in little towns that don't show up on maps.
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damn... yeah. I feel you on that.
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So what's a girl got to do to take the wings for a spin around here, Sam?
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If you want a view I'm happy to chauffeur though.
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（ the joke here, of course, is that murder is apparently on the table. ）
Well, since you're offering and all, I graciously accept. Please, good sir, escort me thither.
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what, right now? where to - just up on the wing?
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Place like this is bound to have a gorgeous view.
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（ important questions with natasha romanoff. ）
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Ten minutes. Look sharp.
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[ and speaking of, he'll be there a little ahead of his deadline, wings and all, grinning when he spots Natasha. ]
Sharp enough?
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she is a mature adult, thank you. ）
I'd say it does the job.
（ he looks good, but nat hopes that the color scheme is to his tastes, and not just donned for political reasons. ）
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Well it ain't the nice Falcon getup, but it's what I got here. The wings are sweet. C'mere.
[ He holds his hand out to her, beckoning so she can grab onto him for the sport flight up and on top of the wing. ]
no subject
but this is — trust, too. it's not as if she feels sam could never drop her, but she knows he'd catch her if he could.
if not, well.
they're both soldiers of a sort, aren't they?
she takes his hand with a coy little tilt of her head, and steps in close. ）
I'm surprised the kids haven't swarmed you yet. You're probably the closest most of them have ever seen to a roller coaster.
no subject
[ Sam doesn't lift her up into his arms in a bridal style carry, just loops both arms securely around her midsection and then unfurls the wings.
Natasha has seen the old Exo-7 model, she's seen the improved Stark Industries version of the same wingsuit once Sam joined the Avengers. They've trained and fought side by side long enough. This close, she'll see that the new wings are bigger, sturdier, and yet much lighter, with the unique sheen of vibranium. Sleek where the old wings by comparison looked clunky. And they leave his hands free during flight. The vibranium looks almost lightweight like this, the wings trembling faintly where they catch a breeze, deceptively delicate.
Sam waits until he can tell Natasha has gotten a good hold on him, too, and then lifts them both up. The new thrusters are quieter and take them to the air much more smoothly than the old ones.
Flying's never felt this good, and it shows, perhaps, in the immediate way something in Sam relaxes despite how controlled the tension of his muscles is on the ascent, body perfectly poised to move with the wingsuit. He steers them out from under the arch of the wing, and then up and over, until he can land then on top of it, the landing as easy and smooth as the ascent, and the wings folding away near soundlessly. ]
Best spot in the whole damn camp.
no subject
he lets her down gently and she steps away with a ballerina's flourish, sweeping one arm out.
it's beautiful up here. beautiful, wild, and the whole world feels like it's laid out before them. it's nothing like earth. too many colors. too much that would kill them if given half the chance — strange plants, odd animals, acid rain. but it's nice in its own way. there's not much sound that carries up here, and the wind feels — bracing. ）
I see why. You come up here often?
no subject
[ Which means: Not as often as he'd like. There's always something to do, between Bucky's chronic insomnia, the Aid Station, training, not losing sight of his people, and all the big and small things going on in and around camp. ]
Oddly peaceful, ain't it?
no subject
（ but aren't peace and loneliness just two sides of the same coin? they always seem inexplicably linked. natasha sits down, knees drawn up, arms around them like she's a moody teenager, and then she reaches for sam to tug him down beside her. ）
What was it like? Coming back after the blip.
text ↪ un: crowe
Not trying to get all up in your business, but this guy mentioned you're a PJ?
（ from roughly the same era, too. sam is a community man — he's shit at reaching out for himself, but give him an ounce of brotherhood and he's ready to walk backwards into hell for it. ）
laaaate reply, sorry
you a vet, too?
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Got out in '09. Chicago PD these days.
Name's Sam.
（ spiderman pointing theme, men named sam with odd bird themes, go. ）
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[ he'd change his user name to falcon just to be a little shit, but well... that ain't really his title anymore, even if it was his callsign way back when. ]
58th rescue squadron, afghanistan. left in 2008.
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Or we could go #armystrong and use our last names, I guess.
Nothing but respect for you guys. Had a couple friends in the PJs, seems like we were always pulling asses out of fires together.
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think about it. you know it's funny.
thanks, man, that's respect I can only return. how you holding up in this entire mess?
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No complaints. I could crack all the jokes in the world about Chicago v Alien Worlds and probably still have some left over, so... you know.
Sounds like you've been here longer. Had a chance to get a bead on this place?
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to an extent - captain childe runs a tight ship, but not unreasonably so. it's all hands on deck everywhere, we're short on everything, the coffee's horrible, the broccoli sad, and everything spits acid at you. guy who runs security better become your best friend so you can borrow a protective shield when you need it.
no subject
Huh. Duly noted.
So is he like, Master Sergeant level asshole or Quartermaster level asshole?
text ↪ un: romanoff
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I was coming to make sure you weren't.
（ she's used to loss. it doesn't cut her the way it does others. but she still feels it. ）
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[ Blew off his shift at the Aid Station for the first time since coming here, and scoured as far and wide as he could, hoping for a trace. Redwing confirmed Natasha's and Wanda's presence in camp, but... Steve and Bucky? Not a sign.
But this is how it goes. Sam soars, and and the people he cares for leave, or die, or vanish otherwise. ]
no subject
What do you need right now?
（ it's easier if she thinks about this as something she needs to do for sam. not herself. but it's — the snap all over again, people gone without a trace, almost nothing of them left. she barely knows barnes, so that was — easier. but steve...
well. ）
no subject
He needs his partner back. Losing Bucky's a first.
Sam doesn't know what he needs that could be given. His instict , however, is to deflect and bury it all, and let the pain fester like a rot. Except he's not alone here - he has others to think about. Natasha, for one. ]
do you want to sit up top for a while?
no subject
Sure. Let's go.
text -> action
Natasha is one of the few people that does not work on, and when he knows she has her grief with losing Steve and Bucky, too - Steve especially - after everything she suffered for five years...
Well. Sam doesn't say anything when they meet up, just pulls Nat close and takes them both up in a gentle swoop, grateful for the goggles that prevent the wind form stinging in his eyes when he's already feeling like his composure is hanging by a threat.
When they land, he doesn't let her go for a moment, unsure if he's prolonging the hug for his own sake or hers. Maybe a little bit of both. ]
How're you holding up?
no subject
she's spent too long in the ashes.
at least she's practiced. her mind is carefully blank as sam carries her, and deposits them both, and hugs her. she hugs back because that element of human contact has been ingrained in her after a lifetime of physical contact meaning sex or violence. she learned to hug clint. laura. her little nieces and nephews. she's hugged steve a time or two. bruce.
(thor, she recalls, has hugged her. picked her clear up off her feet as if she weighed nothing at all. that was... new.)
sam asks her that question and her mouth quirks up in a smile that doesn't immediately crumple like human lungs at the ocean depths. ）
Well, presumably they'll be going back to the moment they left. We know how Steve's story goes, and you know how Bucky's is. I think that's probably the best we could hope for both of them.
no subject
Sam wants to go home, too, he really does. Misses his sister and his nephews and hell, the version of Bucky he's grown so used to. It's just that he can't imagine having reunited with Natasha only to lose her again. ]
Yeah... you're probably right.
[ It's selfish to mourn their loss here, isn't it? And yet here Sam is. For a moment he had a chance of having all his people with him. Nothing but sandcastles. ]