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AUGUST TDM.
● ● ● T D M . 0 3
… What are you willing to do to erase your regret from existence?
The words, when they die out, leave you in emptiness — despairing, all-consuming, the kind that invites only the worst thoughts. What have you done? What have you agreed to do?
But then, from the emptiness, a golden light shines, and as you reach for it —
you wake up.
1.0 Perhaps it was less the golden light in your dream and more the insistent feeling of something metallic poking your side repeatedly, making beeping noises… wait, beeping noises?
When you look down, you’ll see a small robot staring at you and looking less than happy (maybe it has something to do with your disheveled state, maybe it's still mad about having to clean up after a certain pizza-induced mess). When you get up, it unleashes a series of beeps — and then furiously starts to scrub the floor.
Yes, the floor — instead of waking up in a bed, you find yourself lying on a hallway, white walls and white floor surrounding you. You don’t have long to stare at the minimalistic look of everything around you before the little bot starts poking you again, the word MOVE blinking across its visor.
So better get out of its way! Perhaps you’re on the hallway on your own and leave on your own… or perhaps there’s someone else, sleeping near you. Maybe do them the courtesy of waking them up before this little angry bot does! Or perhaps you’re the poor soul still sleeping and needing a rescue before the beeps make it to you.
2.0 If you need a visit to the infirmary, the situation may be more dire — perhaps there’s blood on the wall that you wake up against, your clothes may be dirty or ragged… whatever it is that has happened to you before waking here and has left you injured, it sure doesn’t create a reassuring sight. Best get to the infirmary as soon as possible.... with some assistance, perhaps.
Once upright, you may notice there’s something in your ear: an earpiece that, when you become aware of it, quickly runs you through the instructions for how to use the network, a recorded message by a female voice that explains exactly why you’re here… and leaves you with a map of the station.
So what else is there to do but to explore? Best get to know what is now your new home.
3.0 The most pressing question that you might ask yourself is: but where will I stay? The question is answered once you walk through the winding white corridors to the common area. Behind it, there are three types of rooms: those with one bed, two beds and four beds. The rooms are clinical yet clean, and sparsely-furnished — and most importantly, most are occupied. So be prepared to get some roomies!
4.0 You may find your way to the armory, where you can try to work the machine there to make yourself a weapon — perhaps to replace one that didn’t come with you to the station… or maybe you want to be prepared for the future. The recently-returned team members will surely recommend having a functional weapon with you.
And speaking of weapons: to put it to good use, head to the training room, where the entire purpose is to provide you with a space to spar and train to your heart’s content!
5.0 After you’ve exhausted yourself training, it’s time to grab a bite. For that, you should head to the kitchen, which… seems to be filled with a lot of leftovers: takeout boxes with an assorted collection of pizza slices, kung pao chicken, lamb curry... not to mention the entire tray of chocolate brownies. Feel free to eat your fill — or if takeout isn’t your cup of tea, open one of the large fridges to pick fresh ingredients and make your own lunch.
6.0 A welcome reprieve to the cold, dark space that surrounds the characters can be found in the sunlight room. A skillful illusion surrounds anyone who steps inside the room: you can hear the trilling of birds, feel a light breeze caress your skin as you walk through a grass field. A new addition is a flower garden where there once was a meadow — now, roses, camellias, lilies and dozens of other flowers sway in the wind, all varieties in their own flower beds, with a winding path of stones leading through them. The path leads to where a bridge rises over a sparkling, babbling brook.
Here, it is easy to forget you are in space at all. Perhaps that gives you comfort, or just makes you miss the real nature all the more.
7.0 If you’d rather choose tinkering over nature, the lab is guaranteed to provide you with some entertainment. Glass vials and jars of chemicals sit on shelves in a surprisingly beautiful display of colour on one side of the room, while the other side of the room contains stacks of boxes containing assorted equipment: cords, bolts, panels, buttons, gears, gadgets, gizmos, and thingamabobs. The downside is that the parts available seem to have no apparent method to their sorting. So get digging, and you may just find exactly what you need to make what you’ve always wanted to make!
8.0 If it’s items you’re lacking, though, some time after your arrival, the earpiece alerts you to a new message.
Indeed, the platform near the personal quarters is still whirring with power, and new items form neat piles on it. There’s clothes, shoes, dishware, skincare, books… even a couple of CDs, and a few cute stuffed animals. So sort through what there is and grab what you want, before someone else does!
(CW: POTENTIAL BODY MODIFICATION)
Whether you’re a quick study and you’ve become settled into life on the station, or you want to get the full lay of the land (in a manner of speaking) first, if you decide to explore the hall past the control room, you’ll eventually come across the simulation room.
Step past the threshold and the doors will slide shut with a quiet woosh. Nothing suspicious; nothing to worry about. But before you can really get a sense of your environment (a grey, large-ish empty room, no furniture, no discernable objects to provide markers), the room goes dark, and then … there’s really no other way to describe it: the room transforms.
You find yourself in a club. The music is upbeat, loud, but not too loud. Down a short flight of steps flanking the bar and seating is the open floor with more tables and booths bathed in a warm, dim glow of light, and at the very end of the room is a stage with its bright spotlight showcasing its performers — though, at the moment, the stage is empty.
9.0 When you take a step forward, you’ll feel a presence gently push at your chest or your shoulder — a tall and jovial man resembling a well-dressed bartender from the top up (the rest of him appears to move along wheels) approaches with a tall flute glass in hand. Its contents are sparkly and blue.
Will you proceed? Please respond ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.”
There’s something a little strange about his voice, a cadence that doesn’t sound quite natural even when the simulation is so realistic otherwise. Once you’ve given your consent, the bartender continues.
10.0 It seems the bartender wasn’t lying. Once you’ve allowed the drink (tasty, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, effervescent, with light notes of your fondest childhood memory) to settle in your stomach you might experience a myriad of effects on your body, ranging from a change in skin colour (pink? green? blue with spots?), an additional limb or two (or three), a tail or wings, or cybernetic parts such as lie-detecting eyes or a tongue that can uncover truths and lies in others. If you happen to find another Orber within the room and both of you have consumed the offered drink, you might find yourself experiencing a full bodyswap.
None of the changes are painful; if anything, they might not even be noticeable until you look into a mirror, look down at your limb-in-question, or your companion points it out.
11.0 The moment you approach the stage, a performer will appear as if out of thin air and begin to sing, her voice strong and smoky and melodic. Her enthralling performance could put you into a trance, but you have an orb to find and a personal task to accomplish, so it’s time to put your best foot forward and do a little investigating.
Talking to some of the patrons might prove fruitful as some of them are convinced that the stage has never sounded or looked so good, like there’s something giving performers that extra oomph that no one can explain. It might be wise to wait until that last performance before you sneak up there — or maybe you want to do a little snooping around now, you know, while everyone’s distracted. Strategize with your fellow Orbers and uncover the location of this hidden orb.
● ● ●
N O T E: The effects of the drink and the level of changes your character experiences is entirely up to you. Patrons of this fine club won’t bat an eye if you look a little like them.
Additionally, there are three personal tasks provided to each character as they enter the simulation. In-game, each character will be given one task. For the purposes of the test drive, we’re leaving it to players to pick a task for their character and run with it.
A If you’ve been given a particular body change that might aid you in this mission, do not use it to your advantage.
B Team up with a fellow Orber to uncover the hidden location.
C Get up on stage and put on a performance during the simulation. Your song choice will determine the outcome of success in your investigation.
F Y I
• TDM threads can be used as samples for apps. In fact, we encourage it!
• Reserves are currently open!
• Apps open August 27.
• For any questions regarding TDM, please direct them here. For questions about the game, please refer to the FAQ.
FOR SOME FUN:
Have a listen for some clues about the second mission.
(Hint: there are four clues in total.)
Steve Rogers | MCU
1.0 [The incessant poking startles Steve awake, causing him to leap up into a seated position before his eyes even finished opening properly. Instinct has him scanning his surroundings, searching for a source of danger, but all he sees is a very white hallway lined with what he's hoping are all sleeping people.
And a small robot continuously ramming into the side of his thigh. It messages for him to move as he blinks down at it, realizing that it wants to clean the floor underneath him. And, who is he to stop it?]
Alright, no need to be rude about it. [Is what he mutters to the robot as he drags himself slowly to his feet. His body is still in the process of mending some of the injuries he sustained in the battle against Thanos, and his injuries pull uncomfortably as he moves. But he doesn't go far, and kneels down next to the closest sleeping figure, reaching out a hand to gently shake their shoulder.]
Hello? It's time to get up now. You won't like the wake up call you get otherwise. [He's a bit of a sight to see: wearing a dirty and torn Captain America uniform that's stained with dried blood in places. He looks like a man in desperate need of a shower. And maybe some first aid.]
4.0 [After finding his feet a bit it doesn't take long before Steve finds his way to the armory. He knows he's going to need some kind of weapon going forward. He had woken up sans shield, and considering the state it had been in after Thanos shattered chunks of it, he wouldn't have been able to use it anyways. And somehow, it feels just as well. He's not here as Captain America, so he has no use for Captain America's shield. He has another shield in mind.
After tinkering with the machine for awhile, familiarizing himself with the control panel, he finally ends up with a finished product that he's happy with. Anyone coming by the armory will run into Steve securing two black shields to his forearms. Maybe it's not Vibranium, but it'll have to do.]
5.0 [The appetite of a super soldier is no joking matter. And seeing as Steve had endured days of eating very little on the go, a major battle, several injuries, and a couple of additional hours scouting out the station, by the time he makes his way to the kitchen he's practically ravenous. He collects a bit of everything onto a couple of plates and carries his meal to one of the tables in the mess hall. And proceeds to dig in.
He makes it through his first plate in record time, but by the time he moves onto the second his hunger is sated enough to eat a bit slower. But the damage is already done for anyone who just witnessed him devouring what looked like an entire pizza in moments.]
11.0 [Steve is in his element, having a mission with a clear objective, as well as a task of his own to complete. And lucky for him, his task coincides well with the larger mission. 'Team up with a fellow Orber to uncover the hidden location.' Isn't that what they're here to do anyways? Other Orbers might feel safer working alone, but Steve has always been a team player. Besides, this is as good a chance as any to get to know the members of his new team.
After listening in on the chatter going on around the club, and determining that something strange is happening involving the stage, he looks for another Orber to share information with. It's a bit difficult considering they all seem to have blended into the crowd one way or another. He doesn't know it yet himself, but he's grown a tail and his skin has taken on a deep blue coloring. But, finally, he spots someone he vaguely recognizes despite the changes and moves towards them, keeping his voice low once he's close enough that they can hear him.]
I don't know if you've heard, but it sounds like the stage is the highlight of the night.
wildcard; [Make your own starter! I'm open for anything. Feel free to use prompt 4.0 for training and for prompt 11.0 I'm open to bodyswaps. If you want to plan something out shoot me a PM or hit me up on Plurk:
5
What? Are you practicing for an eating cont—
[She cuts herself off when she sees his face.]
You left your secret base on the moon?
[Look, it’s what Sam and Bucky had told her.]
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He blinks rapidly a couple of times, his brows furrowing in confusion.]
I'm sorry?
[That sure is something to be asked by someone you've never met before.]
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I'm just now realizing I can't trust anything anyone here says to me.
[Daisy explains dismissively.]
And as far as bad first impressions go, this is definitely up there.
[
Let's try that again.]I'm Daisy.
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4.0
However, he couldn’t help but watch when some fellow started tinkering with the machine. He figured that the gentleman would be trying to recreate a sword or a firearm but instead, he makes two black shields. How curious...]
Two shields? [He questions with an arched brow.] Wouldn’t have one sufficed?
[One of the Royal Arms was indeed a shield. The Shield of the Just, an heirloom passed down throughout the line of Kings for the last few centuries. Regis never had much use for it since due to his reliance on magic but it was rather useful in a skirmish. Even so, he couldn’t picture having need for two of them.]
A sword and shield is the usual preference, is it not?
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The question prompts a glance from Steve as he finishes securing the shields in place. They're close enough to the ones he had based them on that he's satisfied with their weight and fit.]
It would, if I wanted to expand one of these shields in size to match that of a standard shield. But by having two smaller, more compact shields I can move more freely while still being protected.
[He raises up both of his arms, demonstrating how together the two shields provide his body the necessary coverage.]
I suppose. But even that is a bit old fashioned where I'm from. The shield has always been my preference. It's flexible, being able to act in both defense and offense. [It could break bones and make someone bleed, but it isn't a tool for killing. Not in the way a sword or gun is.]
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[ Regis couldn't help but agree somewhat. While wielding two shields at once might seem a bit impractical to him, the man before him made a sound argument. Even so, how does he really plan on fighting with two shields? Granted, they can break bones and easily stun an enemy but even so--Ah, wait. A thought comes to mind, one that Regis ends up voicing. ]
Even so, is it wrong for me assume you're a pacifist then?
[ The old king asks as he examines another blade he found. This one reminds him of the katana his good friend uses in combat. While Regis didn't have much training with these Eastern swords, he could probably figure it out in time. ]
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4
There's a moment where he thinks he's back in Gyeongje, that his mind is once again playing tricks on him. He see the broad back and the damaged Captain America uniform, the shields he last saw on Steve in Wakanda - more than 5 years ago for Steve, merely 6 months for Sam. And for a moment Sam just stands there, stares at the man's back and expecting him to turn around and be someone else, or vanish like an apparition. Sam's fingertips feels numb, like he's about to crumble away into ash and dust and nothing once again, and for a moment he can't speak.
He remembers morning jogs and regaining his wings, pool games and safe houses, four years side by side near constantly, remembers throwing his life to the side without a second thought.
He remembers dying, remembers coming back, back to back battles against forces so beyond something a dude with a fancy jetpack should tango with. Remembers living with Steve and Natasha for two years on the run, only to come back from the dead and be told that five years passed, that Natasha is dead. Remembers the floor falling out from under him when Steve didn't appear back on that platform.
Grief has dug deep trenches into Sam Wilson. Six months of mourning his closest friends in the entire world, jostling a legacy he never asked to carry. For a moment, he's not sure what he's meant to feel here - relief, excitement, resentment, grief. Is he supposed to laugh, to cry, to yell?
Sam shifts from one foot to the other, steps far enough into the room that the sliding doors close behind him again. Then he steps to the side a little, eyes on Steve's back. He swallows.
With nothing but a thought, he sends a short 'Steve is here.' to Bucky and Natasha, knowing he has to protect them from running into something emotionally tangled without prior warning. And then...
When you don't know where to start... you start at the beginning. ]
On your left.
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They're not the shields that T'Challa had given him before the battle in Wakanda, but they're similar enough to bring him flashes of memory he's spent years trying not to think about. He's also spent years unable to escape them. Only now they feel dimmer, muted under the weight of more recent hurt and sadness and failure.
He's so caught up in his thoughts that he doesn't notice he's being watched. That the person who had come in hadn't made much movement since entering the room. But that voice, that phrase, that gets a reaction.
Steve is turning to look over his left shoulder before he realizes he's doing it, like he's done a thousand times before. Like he had not too long ago, when facing a time displaced Thanos had looked as bleak as ever, until he'd heard that same voice say that same phrase. And then an army had arrived. That's when he had known they would win.
But he hadn't known the cost.
Seeing Sam standing there is almost like seeing him for the first time. The battle had been mayhem and there hadn't been a chance for them to have a real reunion. The aftermath had been a blur, eventually resulting in Steve needing to sleep. And then he'd woken up here.]
Sam.
[His expression is stricken at first, a hundred of emotions playing rapidly across his face before it settles into a small, hopeful grin. And then he's crossing the space between them, his arms going out wide, intending to wrap around Sam's shoulders and pull him into a hug.]
It's good to see you.
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But the truth is that while it hurt, he doesn't resent Steve. Never could. The man's been through more than enough, and Sam knows with the entirety of his own too big heart that Steve thinks of others long before he thinks of himself - that it wasn't malicious.
So for now, he chooses to put the hurt aside. To focus on to have that reunion that they never got. He meets Steve halfway, lets himself be pulled in, and hugs back tightly. Bit too tight for anyone else, but hey. What do you have a super soldier for if not hugs like this, right?
He hugs Steve like he's missed him - like he's not seen him in a long time. ]
I know - unlike you, I'm still handsome and don't look like complete shit.
[ It's a quip, muffled slightly against Steve's shoulder, and it's so easy, so familiar that it hurts. ]
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I'm so super sorry for how late this is. Illness knocked me flat on my ass oof
5.0
Peter got to the kitchen only a few minutes ago and was more than a little bit surprised to find Captain America in it, but before he could say 'hi' Steve was inhaling a whole pizza. Not like he could blame him, Peter is familiar with that kind of hunger and exhaustion. ] Want some company?
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Which he would almost find funny if it probably wasn't true. What regrets could most of them have that are bigger than him and the wreckage he caused? Or...maybe he's just projecting.]
It takes a lot of fuel to keep me at my best. [He stretches out a leg beneath the table to push out the chair across from him.] Please, have a seat. And feel free to have some of this if you'd like. I think I overestimated myself. [Now that some of his hunger is satiated he's looking at the amount of plates around him with a bit of embarrassment. It would be a shame to waste any of it though.]
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[ Misery does love company. Peter has turned pretending everything is fine and using jokes to cope into fine art, so he's going with that tactic for the time being. But even he will admit that these days it's harder than ever to keep up the facade. He doesn't bother so much now, taking the offered invitation with a 'thanks, man', before sitting down and grabbing the nearest box of cookies. Peter's got a sweet tooth. ]
We couldn't be properly introduced back then, and I don't trust anything Rocket might have told you about me, so...name's Peter Quill. I left earth when I was 8 years old, I've heard about you in History books, but I didn't expect to see a National Hero back from the death just like that. I guess life's just that strange sometimes.
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11.0
Though she supposes meeting him in space isn’t entirely ridiculous considering all the rumors about him being on the moon. Though, this station is definitely not the moon.
After a moment of dubious staring, she huffs, lifting her chin slightly as she speaks.]
Yes, I have heard. I am going to sing on it.
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But then she finally responds, and with an interesting tidbit as well.]
Really? [That could prove to be the easiest and quickest way to figure out what's going on with the stage; by being the one on it. But there's also the downside of not knowing what potential dangers could come out of it.] You're not worried that something could happen to you?
[Nothing seems amiss with the performers they've had on the stage so far, but that isn't to say they haven't been influenced somehow.
Either way, he could work with this.]
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No. This might be the easiest assignment I've ever been given. I will be fine.
[No sneaking around. No theft or vandalism. No murder. Just getting up on stage and singing whatever song she wants. It might be embarrassing, if she cared about that, but it’s not hard.]
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1.
[except, that doesn't sound like gris. so he opens his eyes and scrambles back because the last thing he remembers is going to be on the mantis and now he's-- where is he?] Uh. You're not Greez.
[it takes a deep breath and a moment to remember that he'd made a deal last night and now-- well, he doesn't remember the floor but stranger things have happened. maybe he got captured again? the man in front of him looks worse for wear, bloodied and like he's come out of battle which cal's sure he hasn't himself. he would remember that.] Uh. Sorry. Are you alright? [sure doesn't look it and cal's brain hasn't actually caught up with the situation to realize that's probably some type of rude.]
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Guilty as charged. [He tries for a friendly grin, aware that it probably looks a bit strange when paired with his dirty and beaten up appearance. But he's trying not to freak the kid out even more.] My name is Steve. Steve Rogers.
[After rising to his feet, Steve reaches out and offers Cal a hand up. He doesn't seemed bothered by the question. In fact, he would be asking the same thing if he ran into someone looking like he did now.]
I'm fine. I was in a fight before...well, before. I'm mostly healed up already.
5.0
Sure, they may have all agreed to come here, but from experience, that doesn't dull the blow all that much.
The few people he stumbles across as he makes his way back out of the sunlight room are given the answers they ask for. Or at least as much as he's able to give. But with a certain bottle still tucked away in the back of one of the freezers, he has a different plan in mind for the rest of the afternoon.
Or at least he did, right until he ends up coming to an abrupt stop at the entrance to the mess hall. When he catches sight of the man sat eating his fill of pizza.
Steve.
For the longest moment he doesn't know what to do. What to say. He's half convinced this is just his mind playing tricks on him again, and half prepared to turn around and pretend none of this is happening. But ultimately, he knows he wouldn't be Bucky Barnes if he could just up and walk away from Steve Rogers like that. Looks like that end of the line has been extended a little further.]
Some asshole decided to put pineapple on pizza. You never warned me.
i'm not even sorry
But, somehow, none of his imaginings had involved him nearly choking on a slice pizza the moment he catches sight of his oldest friend. He also hadn't counted on their first conversation being about the creation of Hawaiian pizza.
...It's infinitely better than their last big reunion.
He clears his throat, dropping the slice of pizza back onto his plate, and gives Bucky his complete focus.]
When was I supposed to do that? While you were on the run from me or during the time I was on the run from everyone else? [Ah, remember the days before either of them were wanted fugitives? Simpler times.]
There are just some things I can't prepare you for.
[It's surprisingly easy to fall back into their banter. Easier than it is for him to sort through the myriad of emotions he's feeling.]
such a great friend
Of course, he had Sam; someone he knows he wouldn't have lasted this long without. Court mandated therapy and a weekly lunch date with the father of a man he killed were not all that conductive toward building a life for himself. But in those final hours with Steve, he'd all but lied to the man about being both willing and capable of doing just that. He needed to. For Steve.
And now, here he is.]
Coulda let me know when you came to Wakanda. Feels like pretty important information.
['Hi Bucky. Thanos is coming. Pineapple pizza is a thing. Sorry.'
The grin that slips onto his face is likely proof enough of the fact that he's picturing that meeting. Wondering just how the others would've reacted if that'd been one of the first sentences out of his mouth. The Wakandans probably wouldn't have bat an eyelid at it, putting it down to yet another one of his weird quirks. But it would've been worth it to see how Natasha and Sam would have reacted. Another small reminder that he isn't the same person that fought them back on that bridge.
Or on the helicarriers.
Or Berlin.
And that's not counting the fights only Steve was a witness to.]
There's food in the kitchen for people like us, by the way. Comes in on every supply drop.
[High calorie meals for people with metabolisms like theirs. Of course, that thought alone isn't enough to keep him from grabbing one of Steve's slices of pizza when he finally crossing the room to drop into a seat opposite him. Something he wastes no time in taking a huge bite of. He's not about to put good food to waste. Especially when it comes alongside good company.]
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5.0
[ Natasha slides into a seat across from Steve, her own plate full of a post-workout meal, because training is a decent use of downtime and Natasha's not used to being without orders and without people to organize. She's still adjusting to this new team and this new place.
Steve's face is a welcome familiarity, though, and she throws him a little smile before she picks up her fork. ]
Hi.
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When Clint had told them what had happened to Natasha he hadn't had a moment to spare for grief. Not after what she had sacrificed to ensure that they could fix their mistake. There hadn't been time to second guess, to doubt. But something about seeing her now, after it's all said and down, fractures him right down the middle.]
Hi. [His voice cracks slightly over the word.]
I didn't think I would ever see you again.
[It's a simple and painful truth.]
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1.0
almost immediately, conner's on his feet again, teeth bared and eyes beginning to glow red.. until he realizes what's happened, and scrambles back with a horrified little noise, slamming his palms over his eyes to keep his heat vision contained until he can get it under control. ]
I'm sorry! [ he is, as it turns out, a teenager, and he sounds miserable. ] Are you okay? [ cautiously, he begins to remove his hands again, eyes back to their normal blue-gray. ] I didn't-- I didn't hurt you, did I?
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Although, judging by those eyes, maybe he's the one who should feel threatened?
But no. When Conner's eyes revert back to normal and he begins to apologize, seeming distraught over his own reaction, it's hard to find him threatening in the least. He'd only been startled. Something Steve can respect as an acceptable reaction to this scenario.]
No, you didn't. I'm fine. [He holds his hands up in a placating gesture and keeps his voice calm.] Do you recall where you are? Why you're here?
[He remembers his dream, the voice, its offer. He remembers accepting. But is there a chance not everyone does?]
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