[ 001 ] ★ [ Video ]

[latenightfondue]

[ A solemn looking man with a serious expression appears on the screen, an impressive fountain in the distance behind him, and the sounds of rushing water carrying over the feed. He's wearing a white turtleneck jumper with a suede coat, brown hair looking flat and dark circles ring his eyes. ]

There goes the search for Cap. [ He sounds defeated, which rarely happens, but he says it with a sarcastic tone, masking the weight he carries with him for so far failing to find Steve in the wreckage.

He fiddles around with the device as he looks directly at it, now, rather than at the surroundings around him. ] So, anyone out there gonna fill me in on what the hell's goin' on 'round here or do I gotta figure it out for myself?

Comments

[punchedhitler]

[He's checking over the other people talking to him]

Bucky's coming to get you, right?

[For the love of all that's holy, Howard, please be discreet]

[latenightfondue]

Think that's about the size of it, but it ain't easy to decipher everything the guy says between insults.

[ He looks like a man who really doesn't mind this, and he's too busy still staring at Steve on the screen. ] You been here long?

[punchedhitler]

Six months or so.

[Steve is doing that shifting thing he does when people look at him too long]

[latenightfondue]

Six months? [ Mumbling to himself. ] No wonder I couldn't find you.

[punchedhitler]

Yeah, something like that.

Listen, you got a handle on this machine yet?

[latenightfondue]

Seems simple enough.

[ This is when a few beeping sounds carry over as he jabs a few buttons without making the thing blow up. ] It's got all the basics. But it sure ain't from back home.

[punchedhitler]

Can you make this line private?

[latenightfondue]

Hang on there a second. [ His tongue pokes out a little at the corner as he concentrates, examining each of the buttons and somehow managing to find the right one.

He presses it. ] That do you?

Private;

[punchedhitler]

Thanks.

Don't tell Bucky he's dead. Don't tell him I crashed that plane.

Private

[latenightfondue]

[ He wasn't expecting that, and it shows. ]

Figures. The guy's clueless. But how's he even here? Come to think of it, how are you here? [ Because unless this is some sort of Heaven then nothing is making sense and he hates it when things don't make sense. ]

Private

[punchedhitler]

People can come in from their worlds at different points in time...that's what everyone says, anyway. Bucky's last memory of home was before we got on the zipline. Mine's crashing the plane.

Guess I didn't make it.

Private

[latenightfondue]

Guess he's the lucky one, then, huh? [ He might not be the best of pals with the guy, but he's not so heartless he doesn't feel bad for him.

And the weight he's been carrying since the day the plane went down gets heavier. ] So you know about that. One less piece of knowledge to bite back. And you sure you don't remember anything after that?

Private

[punchedhitler]

Nothing. Waking up here.

How's...

You? Peggy?

Private

[latenightfondue]

I'm gonna make it my business to find you. Y'got that? Got the best machines on this one, and the best men.

[ He chooses this moment to look anywhere but at the device. ] Peggy? She's good. [ Except for the prolonged silences and subtle tears when no one's looking. ] Not good, but doing okay all things considered.

Private

[punchedhitler]

You should focus on finishing the war, Howard. And...you have to take care of Peggy.

Private

[latenightfondue]

War's as good as over, it won't be long. And you know Peggy, she's a touch cookie, that one, she can take care of herself.

Private

[punchedhitler]

Howard, I need you to promise.

Private

[latenightfondue]

You really care about that dame, huh? Sure, I'll take care of her. Never been one for promises, but I'll do what I can. If I ever get outta here.

Private

[punchedhitler]

Thanks.

Don't know how soon that'll be.

Private

[latenightfondue]

Yeah, about that. Anyone know what happens to the others back home while we're here?

And don't worry about, Cap, I ain't gonna tell him.

Private

[punchedhitler]

People say time doesn't pass.

[A sigh of relief]

Thank you.

Private

[latenightfondue]

This place keeps on getting better.

Any time, Cap, I owe you that much. While we're on the subject, does he know about you?

Private

[punchedhitler]

No.

I haven't told him.

Private

[latenightfondue]

Say nothing. Got it. I can do that.

So, what's the deal here?

Private

[punchedhitler]

It's called a pocket universe, or something like that. People get pulled here from their world.