[GP/EP] Check-in Day

[st_oneswidow]

The woodwinds in her collection were for noodling mostly, and the violin was for memory of her family, but when Curnen really wanted to play she turned again and again to her guitar. This would probably always be her best instrument. It was the first of the month, she’d been here over a year, and it was probably a check-in day. So she sat on the lawn with her instrument in her lap, sending out a subtle magic to call anyone stranded in their little world this way.

At one point, though, she set aside the guitar and turned her face to the sky. For just a few minutes she required a different kind of magic.

It had been a week now since Scanlan had vanished in the battle. And Pike, too, though Curnen honestly couldn’t have cared less about her going away if she tried. Still. The two of them were family to people very dear to her, people who missed them. And Scanlan had been her friend. You marked something like that with a song.

Of all the money that e'er I had
I spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done
Alas, it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

It was a traditional Irish goodbye, a farewell to friends said with love, drinking, well wishes, and the hope of meeting again. She couldn’t think of a better one for the occasion. And as she sang she twined her magic into her voice in a new way, sending the song to any ears that needed it, ears of those who knew and missed the departed. Not all of them might understand it, not all of them knew what she was, but she didn’t particularly care about that right now. The song was more important than the hiding.

Once the last note had dissipated she picked up her guitar again and resumed her work. If there were anybody out there, they had to know where to go.

Comments

Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers

[st_evengrantrogers]

It'd been a beautiful day when he started on his drive; partly cloudy with a light breeze. Steve had climbed onto his motorcycle this morning to take a drive up the California coast. He'd flown out here to clear his head after Peggy's funeral, to try and get his head back in the game. Going to Peggy's funeral and hearing Sharon Carter speak hit him a lot harder than he'd anticipated. There were a lot of conflicting emotions running around in there, ones that he wasn't sure how to handle. So Steve did something a little out of character for him: he ran away.

Then he did something even less in character: he got lost. With his gas tank running on nearly empty, he finally had to stop and ask for directions. He'd been on the road for hours and hours, and found himself completely and entirely lost. It wasn't the first time something like this had happened--and paper maps were an obsolete relic only slightly younger than he was. Natasha had shown him a couple of times how to use the map application on his phone, but he still wasn't used to the thing.

Twilight was gently falling when Steve pulled his motorcycle into the drive, parked, and started up toward the building. He'd noted the name of the hotel on the way in, but didn't think much of it. Madonna. The first connection he made in his head was to the Virgin Mary, not the pop singer. She'd come around way after his time, anyway.

This place looked interesting, and there were plenty of lights on in the windows. A sure sign of life. There must be someone inside who can help him find his way back to the interstate. Steve wasn't sure about things, though, as he headed inside the pink lobby. The concierge knew his name (then again, who didn't?) and insisted that he had a room here in this hotel.

Curiouser and curiouser. Instead of arguing the point, Steve gave a gentle, "thank you" and took the proffered key. Best to avoid conflict. Maybe there was someone else here that could help him figure all of this out. He turned to look around the lobby, wishing that he'd taken up Tony on the offer for more training on the blasted pocket computer. Then Steve decided to just get out of this place. He headed out to where he'd parked his bike... but the bike was gone.

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_raighttovampire]

Check-in days were always interesting and this one had been busier than most. They were still trying to clean up after the attack, a bunch of new people had shown up, and Curnen had been breaking hearts all day with her amazing music. Caroline had ducked out of the lobby for a minute, just one minute, to get a coffee, and when she'd come back, she'd already missed another new arrival.

Grabbing a basket as she went, Caroline headed for the front door and slipped out after the most recent guest. She was confronted as she did with insane broad shoulders, a perfect V torso down to a trim waist and hips. She may have focused a few beats longer on the ass in tight jeans than she should have before she shook herself out of it and got back to business.

"Whatever you're thinking, the answer is probably weirder," she said with cheer but not much force. She didn't want to scare him. Just make him turn around to see if the face matched the body.

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_evengrantrogers]

At the sight of the empty parking space, Steve's hundred-year-old heart began to beat a little harder and faster. Where was his bike? It was possible that he'd parked it somewhere else... but he didn't think so. He remembered walking past that...

A couple of steps behind him and a voice tugged Steve out of his thoughts and wonderings. Steve turned slowly, the key card still resting gently in his hand, and came face to face with a beautiful, young, blonde woman. Oh, the face matched the body. But Steve didn't really know it--it was part of his whole humility thing. A giant part of his personality was not quite understanding how attractive he was. Maybe it came from so many years in his youth, not having much confidence in his physical appearance at all, but some part of it lingered over.

The girl, though, was beautiful. She must have known it. Steve raised an eyebrow at her words. "And just what do you think I'm thinking?"

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_raighttovampire]

Oh man, that face may have been better than the body. Caroline did not wolf-whistle except in her head. She had some dignity, after all.

"That someone's playing a trick on you. Or that you're going crazy. Those are the two usual reactions." She smiled then extended the hand that wasn't holding a welcome basket. "I'm Caroline. I'm a guest here, like you. We try to make sure someone gets to new people quickly so we can answer questions."

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_evengrantrogers]

Steve reached forward and shook the woman's hand. His own hand was a little rough, large, and very warm. He had a firm handshake, and his eyes never left hers. They were really sweet. She had a very nice face.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ma'am." He said, and gently released her hand. "And you're absolutely right. My thoughts started with someone playing a trick, then went to some kind of mental illness."

He folded his arms across his chest. "I have quite a few questions, actually. About this place. Where's my bike, for starters? Do you know? Did someone take it?"

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_raighttovampire]

Rarely had Caroline been treated to such a perfectly calculated handshake. He'd been careful not to use much pressure in the handshake and Caroline knew from experience how that felt. Hot and a gentleman, she decided. "Caroline, not ma'am. And...no, I don't know where it is, but I do know it's gone. They always are after a few minutes - cars, trucks, motorcycles, planes. Come back inside, we can get a coffee," she shifted her other arm where the basket dangled from the hand holding her coffee, "or something stronger if you want. Which you might after you get the explanation. This is for you, by the way. Just a few essentials to get you started."

She took a couple steps backward toward the door, an invitation to follow if he wanted. "I guess you could say that we've been kidnapped to a different dimension. And so far, no one has figure out how to get out."

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_evengrantrogers]

It was a long time ago that Steve had learned how strong he really was. Strong, resilient, dexterous, long-living... but the strength was the thing he had to contend with the most. He didn't want to hurt anyone, especially not accidentally crushing a beautiful, young woman's hand because she was trying to be kind and welcome him to this new place.

A little smile broke out across his lips, showing off his teeth. He nodded. "Caroline it is, then." Steve lifted his napsack onto his shoulder as he turned to walk with her inside. He held a hand out to offer to carry her basket, but then she offered it to him. His eyebrows raised again, proving to be an interesting look, and he accepted the basket. "Well, thank you."

It was all very confusing. The coffee sounded good, but something stronger did sound quite a bit better. "What do you mean they always are? There are people here who steal vehicles and attempt to keep people prisoner?" Those sounded like bad people. Steve didn't like bad people.

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_raighttovampire]

"Not people, exactly," Caroline said, "Unless you count the staff, but they're not people exactly either. They're more like programs in people shapes. We call the front desk guy Darryl and the cook Kahni or Kenny. It's more like the inn itself has a mind of its own."

She slipped inside and since he hadn't indicated coffee or stronger, headed for the bar where both could be had, if not as elaborately as Xavin's coffee cart which was in the cafe today. "New people arrive twice a month or so. Sometimes one or two, sometimes a lot, like today."

The Silver Bar was, like the rest of the lobby, overwhelming in its ornamenatation, with the heavily carved wooden columns, bright pink upholstered chairs and bar stools and the ever-present rose carpet. But the lights were soft, catching the mirrors and crystal without being blinding. At night, it was one of Caroline's favorite spots.

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_evengrantrogers]

"Not people exactly?" Steve asked. He wasn't sure he liked the sound of this--he'd dealt with evil people before, and he'd dealt with evil not-people before. Actually, sometimes the not-people were easier than the people. There was something decidedly more evil about the people doing evil things than the not-people. The idea that humans could turn on each other in such a way. Steve had a much more optimistic view of human nature.

"So, I'm a new person here? This is old hat to you?" He asked. "You do this twice a month?" His head was spinning over it all. Kidnapped, but not quite? And this was normal to the people who were already here. He gave his head a gentle shake to clear it, then sidled up to the bar beside the pretty, blonde girl. He set his napsack down beside him, and the basket on the bar.

"I suppose I should offer to buy you a drink, Caroline." He said, giving her a smile. "What's your poison?"

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_raighttovampire]

"Whiskey, neat." She didn't see any of the bartenders around at first, but shortly after, a blonde knockout appeared from the back carrying something in her arms. Molly. Caroline waved her off and leaned over the bar herself, picking up a couple of glasses and a bottle of Johnny Walker. "There's not a lot of staff, just five. Everyone else, even if they're working, is a guest."

She offered him the bottle. "I've been here since last New Years. It's September, by the way. Sometimes people arrive from different points in the year."

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_evengrantrogers]

Wow. Were all the women here so absolutely stunning? Steve turned from the woman beside him to the woman behind the bar, and back again. Surprised. Not that he was expecting women to be horrible, but seeing so many people who were so ... perfect... kind of like him?

Steve wasn't about to say no to the bottle. He accepted it with a gentle, "thank you," and then poured himself a rather full glass. "September? But it was..." He frowned just a little. "People come from different points in the year," he repeated. Steve didn't like having time taken away from him. He'd lost so much when he was under the ice. "But what year?" Had he gone forward or backward?

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_raighttovampire]

Caroline sighed and crossed her legs. "That's the other thing. The hotel itself seems like it's stuck in 1995. For me, it was Christmas, 2012. But there's no rhyme or reason to it. Some people here aren't even from the same world. And...how do you feel about non-humans? Not non-people, like the staff. But elves and gods and monsters?"

Re: Assigned Threads - Steve Rogers & Caroline Forbes

[st_evengrantrogers]

So, back in time. Steve had gone back in time this time. He lifted a hand to run it over his face, gently pinching the bridge of his nose as he did so. This was irritating and confusing. He wanted to get back on his bike and ride the heck outta here, but his bike was gone. Maybe he could phone the police. Or Tony, or Nick, or Sam, or Sharon. He thought for a brief moment about Sharon, then shook his head again.

"I've spent time with a God." Steve said, thoughtfully. He himself wasn't exactly human anymore, either. Normal humans didn't look the way he did when they were a hundred years old. "What kind of monsters?"

Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_x5_494]

Alec often avoided arrival day. It wasn't so much he was dreading people he knew arriving, it was more he knew people from his world would never come, so what was the point?

He could, however, still recognize a new arrival on spot. It helped he could literally remember everything, ever. Eidetic memories were fun sometimes and a bitch most of the other.

"Don't worry, buddy. You'll get used to all this crazy sooner or later."

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_evengrantrogers]

Steve had been wandering the hotel and grounds since he arrived, after his conversation with Caroline. He'd set down his bag, his basket, and his shield in the room he'd been assigned, then took his keycard with him on his walk. It was nearly nighttime now, and Steve was thinking about how he should find some dinner... but he didn't know where to tgo, where to turn.

Then a voice rang out from behind him, and Steve turned. "Hopefully sooner? I don't know how to wrap my head around it. all. I take it you've been here for a while?"

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_x5_494]

"Yeah, almost a year coming up, actually. Fun times." That last part didn't sound as enthusiastic as it should have sounded.

"You already have someone do the whole 'you can't leave, this place is like being on drugs in prison'?"

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_evengrantrogers]

A year? . Steve couldn't stay here for a year. He had to find Bucky. He had missions to lead, people to save, things to do. The idea that he was stuck here indefinitely wasn't an easy thing to swallow.

"Yes. Though, I'm not sure how much of it I believe." So far he'd only met this young man and Caroline, and it seemed like they both believed the same thing. Steve wasn't sure he believed it. He didn't know how to swallow it. "You must believe it, if you've been here for a year now."

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_x5_494]

"Believe it, sure. Happy about it, nope." He shrugged. "I've been trying different ways to get out, but so far, none of them seemed to work. I'm still pretty sold on the idea this place is some sort of training ground or observation bullshit. Bring a bunch of people who are special in some way. See how they react to different things. Let the shoe drop eventually - whatever that happens to be."

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_evengrantrogers]

"Special in some way?" Steve asked, repeating the young man's words to him. Did this man know that Steve was special? Was everyone here some kind of special or another? "In what way?"

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_x5_494]

He shrugged again. "Depends on the person. Some people here can do things. Some home super strength, others can create portals, some are really good at singing. Oh, and a lot do magic. Yeah, that exists here." To which Alec had, for a long time, denied. "Or if they don't have some sort of thing interesting about themselves, their situations are. Like knowing aliens or being undead."

Yep. He was throwing all of that info at you at once, sir. You're welcome.

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_evengrantrogers]

Wow.

Steve let it all sink in for a moment. Aliens he could swallow. Super powers, sure. Create portals? Yeah, okay. But undead? The undead undead? That was a weird pill to take.

"What category do you fit into?"

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_x5_494]

"Have the fun is finding that out." He winked and looked more smug than he probably should have. Alec was a bit of an asshole sometimes, though there might be a few hints in at least the military lingo he tended to use. "A couple of days ago there was an incursion here. You missed out on all the fun. Flying bone dragon and mummies."

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_evengrantrogers]

"An incursion?" Steve asked, folding his arms across his chest. Finally, language he could get behind. This place was totally different from his world, but if there were battles and things, that was right up Steve's alley. He was, after all, a soldier first and foremost.

"The Inn was attacked by a flying bone dragon and mummies?" He asked--that part was a little less up Steve's alley. Battle he could do, but that was a bit more fantastical than he was used to.

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_x5_494]

He nodded. "Yeah, and a bunch of zombies and skeletons and who-knows-what-else... I'm sure they all have names, but I was more busy killing them. Seemed like something out of a fantasy movie if you ask me."

Re: Steve/Alec - the halls

[st_evengrantrogers]

Steve was torn between believing anything was possible (he was magically kidnapped, right?) and thinking this guy had some kind of... mental illness. He was leaning toward believing, though. Which was certainly saying something.

"Zombies, too, eh?" Now Steve was wondering where he could get his hands on some pistols. And he was certainly happy that he had his shield with him.