[ 001 ] [ Peggy Carter ] [ video ]

[solidrighthook]

[ The sounds of footsteps can be heard as Peggy inspects the device on her wrist with interest. She's got no idea how it works of course, but after a few moments a video feed pops up and her face appears, her exact location somewhat hidden. It's night, and although some trees can be made out behind her, that's all that's visible with the lack of light.

She waits, using the small pause to clear her throat, and then she speaks. The British accent is very obvious, and she's careful to use a calm, even tone. ]

I'm not sure whom exactly is behind my appearance here, but I should warn you my presence will be noticed and the people I work for do not negotiate with kidnappers. If you release me now, I haven't seen your faces and I don't know where I am. It's a good deal, you should take it.

[ With that said, she tries to smile. Not for very long though, and it isn't much of an effort to begin with. Peggy stares at the communicator a moment longer, hits another button and then the feed cuts out. ]

Comments

[thezerothlaw]

I think your approach is a new one, but I'm afraid I don't hold out much hope for its success.

[He's calmly sympathetic, if nothing else.]

My name is Daneel Olivaw. I trust that you've arrived safely?

[solidrighthook]

Is there a particular reason you think this then?

[ She's naturally mistrustful of the person responding to her, and as she proceeds it's with clear caution. ]

Very safely indeed. Might I enquire as to who exactly you are? You've told me your name, but that doesn't give me an awful lot to go on.

[thezerothlaw]

I'm a humaniform robot created by Dr. Roj Nemennuh Sarton and Dr. Han Fasolfe. I was also brought here in much the same manner as yourself.

[Saying that he's a captive, or that he came against his will, is just a little alien to his psychology.]

[solidrighthook]

You're...a robot.

[ Forgive her for being a little on the side of disbelief, she's hardly used to that kind of a reveal. She's half a mind to dismiss him as crazy, but well..stranger things have happened. ]

How long have you been here, then?

( voice )

[indiscreet]

[ The response comes via audio, despite the initial video communication. The voice on the other end is American-accented — mostly: there's also a hint of something Easter European, probably Russian, around some of the consonants.

It's also a rather youthful, lyrical sort of voice. ]

A pity our kidnappers aren't interested in responding to any of our demands, or even apparently acknowledging our existence beyond the time it took to kidnap us in the first place.

[ God, they all ask the same questions, don't they. ]

( voice )

[solidrighthook]

Our? So this happened to you too.

[ Her interest is immediately piqued. She's careful to stay calm and collected, but there's no denying that her questions come slightly faster than her initial message. ]

What can you tell me about this place?

( voice ) — THE LATEST TAG BACK; no worries if it doesn't seem relevant anymore

[indiscreet]

Yes, our. [ drily ] And aren't we the lucky ones.

So far we've found it to be an odd mix of dreadfully dull and bizarre, disastrous chaos. There have been wolf attacks and a god in a box and I suppose now the food is disappearing — though if anything that's less unsettling, given that we never could figure out who was keeping it stocked in the first place.

Might I ask where and when you're from? Apparently the latter matters, around here.

[VOICE]

[primogen_vampirate]

Ah, someone new to welcome to our little party.

I'm afraid, darling, that getting away isn't precisely on the menu for these people.

Neither, it seems, is making demands or negotiating.

[VOICE]

[solidrighthook]

Right, well. [ She doesn't respond for a moment, frowning as she pieces together what little information she's been given so far. ]

How long has this been happening for?

[primogen_vampirate]

Almost three weeks. Quite dreadful, really.

[agentx13]

[ Sharon gapes at the video feed on her wrist, going perfectly still right as she's about to climb a step on her staircase. ]

[ Peggy. That face. It was Peggy's. She can't figure out why her aunt sounds English, but it's Peggy's face. Maybe Peggy is undercover? Or maybe this isn't her Peggy, just like it isn't her Steve, or her Tony, or her Cheese. ]

[ Right. So... until she knows more, she'll continue to tread carefully. Even if it were her Peggy, her aunt is young enough that the announcement of a niece would likely come as a surprise, especially as the two of them seem to be around the same age. ]

[ She's tempted to go about her business and merely keep an eye on things. That might be the wisest course. No alarming anyone, no freaking anyone out, no need to feel the ache of having her favorite relative around but not being able to tell her who Sharon really is - or at least, less of a need. And if Sharon is lucky, or skilled, she can suppress the feeling of injustice that the people from that other universe all have each other, whereas she only has a wolfman, his clone, and a missing best friend. ]

[ In the end, though, the video feed comes on. ]

They likely won't answer. There are plenty of us in the same position. We're working on getting out but so far haven't had much luck. Is there anything else I could help you with, maybe?

[ Evidently, at the end of the day, Sharon is a masochist. Wonderful. ]

[solidrighthook]

[ She's started to walk around the town when the video feed comes on, and as she looks at the woman responding to her she can't help but feel slightly more comfortable. Finally, a professional. Of course she doesn't recognise the face, but there's no mistaking the tone of voice used. She's heard it her whole career. ]

I'd like to know a bit more about where we actually are, if that's information you have. It seems there's a few of us in this boat, do you know how many precisely? Is there any connection between the people taken?

[ Surprisingly she is actually okay. This isn't the first time she's woken up behind enemy lines, this is just the first time it's happened in such unusual circumstances. ]

[agentx13]

[ Calm, Sharon. Keep it together. ]

It might help if I can explain in person. Have you found the fountain?

[pursuitofcappiness]

[ He's in the middle of reading when his wristwatch starts sounding to let him know there's a feed coming, and he thinks nothing of it until he hears a familiar voice and suddenly he freezes.

He looks down at his watch and squints. His vision is still blurry and it's hard to make anything out, but in his mind she's clear as day.

Steve gets to his feet immediately, runs outside like his life depends on it and moves towards the forest. ]

Where are you?

[ The video's just a blur of the lit-up buildings where he is. ]

[ He backtracks, remembering she was just trying to send a message to the kidnappers. ]

Peggy, it's me.

[solidrighthook]

[ She can't quite believe it. She can't believe it, because she heard him go down and she knows how he died, so it really can't be him.


Peggy knows that voice though, and there's no mistaking that it's his. There's got to be something at play here, some angle and she for one is not happy about it. Mouth set in a firm line, she raises the communicator and she's frowning as she responds. ]

I appear to be next to a church.

[ That's all he gets by way of a response and then she shuts off the feed, removing her weapon and checking it over carefully before placing it back at her hip and sitting down. Whatever is going on, she's going to find out.

And if her heart is beating a little faster at the sound of his voice? Well that can just be ignored. ]

[pursuitofcappiness]

[ The church.

It's a small town; he knows exactly where that is and he's gone and prayed. He would never have prayed for this because he didn't know it was possible. It's 2012. It's 1932. It's 2044.

But in his heart, he thought 1943 was lost forever. And there she is, standing in front of him. He can't.

See.

But the light from the church casts her a silhouette and illuminates enough for him to see the yellow cast down and make gold leaf of single strands of hair.

He might fall over. He might be falling over.

A warmth spreads in him and he feels a sense of healing, and if she'll let him, he'll take open-armed gentle giant strides towards her and lift her from the ground. ]

[ Video ]

[theshield_agent]

[Phil knows that face. He can't put his finger on it, but he knows that face. It isn't until Rogers identifies her over the communicator that it connects. Oh.

The video comes on and he opens and closes his mouth a few times awkwardly.]

Hi--Hello. I'm Agent Phil Coulson. I'm afraid we're all stuck here for now, but we're working on it.

Not--not that you aren't perfectly capable and welcome to help. If you'd like to, of course.

Ma'am.

[ Video ]

[solidrighthook]

[ Well that's certainly not what she was expecting when the video connects again. She waits until he's quite finished before responding, and it's clipped, polite and even a little brash when she responds.

...And no, that definitely isn't a slightly amused look on her face, Phil. ]

I haven't heard conversation skills like that in quite a while. It's nice to meet you Agent Coulson. If there's an organized escape effort I would very much like to assist in any way I can.

[ She looks at him for a moment or two, raising an eyebrow, then adds. ] I'm Agent Peggy Carter. What do you know so far?

[ Video ]

[theshield_agent]

[Phil nods and reminds himself to check that. He is a grown man and he doesn't need another repeat of I watched you sleep. It's not as if he wants to wear anyone's skin. He's just excited!]

Well, I don't know who you are.

[Why is it that he's a perfectly capable and downright good agent when he's not dealing with people relating to Captain America? He needs to remember how he does that right now.]

We don't know much. Some people have disappeared. Only a few of them have come back. Oh, there are giant wolves!

[gloryisbullshit]

A good deal as opposed to...?

[solidrighthook]

Me and mine tearing this place apart to get home?

[gloryisbullshit]

Wow. Wow, that is cute. Whatta you and yours got exactly? You don't exactly look explosive, baby.

[beenunmade]

'm expecting everyone's pretty much said there's no way out of here. [ Clint was finally getting used to the idea. ] There's a good group of people here, so you're in luck.

[solidrighthook]

I've been well and truly informed of that by now, yes. [ She smiles, a little tight but still there at least. ] Thank God for small blessings, at least.

[beenunmade]

It's pretty easy to get used to this place. [ Clint already liked it. ] But if you ain't into the idea, ma'am. I wouldn't fake a smile. It jus' makes people uncomfortable.

See? 'm uncomfortable right now. You're makin' me uncomfortable, sweetheart.