video: un: s.rogers

[america]

[ The video flicks on, blurs for a moment, then comes into focus on a rather handsome-looking man in his late 20's with a fairly scruffy looking beard and long-ish hair swept back. He's still got something of a boyish look to him even if his eyes have the kind of depth to them that expresses that he's seen some shit.

Some might recognize him from past battles, the wave-drops, the riots, or most recently: the torture room. Some might have seen him walking through the city of Olympia while on Royal Guard duty. And some might recognize him because of the shield he carries. It's kind of hard to miss.

He clears his throat and begins to speak. ]

I'm sure I've likely seen a lot of you at the recent coalition meeting - [ There's a mild expression on Steve's face, something very nearly unreadable - but he's very obviously not happy about it. ] - if not before that.

[ There's a pause. ]

And that's actually what I'm here to speak to you about. My name is Steve. I don't make a lot of network posts - [ This being his first, actually. ] - but I wanted to reach out to anyone who feels angry, frustrated and helpless from the kidnappings and everything that happened after. I want to start up a kind of self-defense class. A training club, if you will.

Sure, it might not change the future possibility of something like this happening again, but maybe it'll help some of you feel just a little more in-control of the situation. If anything, it's a good way to vent some of the frustration out. [ He shrugs a shoulder. ] I've found it helps me.

I've got a fair amount of experience in hand-to-hand combat myself but I could always use a little more practice. Anyone's welcome to join me. Anyone who can teach me a couple of things would be great too.

[ He figures having a couple of volunteer teachers alongside him would be beneficial for everyone involved. ]

I'd like to use this post to gauge interest and maybe set something up for the weekend. I'm usually training then, anyway.

Thanks for watching this.

[ Steve moves in to hit 'stop' on the recording, and with that the message ends and the screen goes black. Clear, simple, to the point - that's Cap. ]

Comments

[america]

Welcome aboard, 'Nobody'.

[ Steve sounds pretty impressed, anyway, with this guy's resume. (The real test will be seeing what everyone's like at this actual gathering.)

He raises an eyebrow. ]

I'm hoping that's not your actual name.

[icingonthecake]

[Axel snorts a laugh and shakes his head.]

No, no, it's... it's Axel. Nice to meet'cha, Steve, it was? [If you can believe it, 'Steve' is actually kind of an uncommon name where he comes from.] The username was mostly just kind of a joke. You know, break the ice? 'Oh, who're you?' 'Oh, you know, Nobody.'

[It's kind of a lie, but he's also not wrong.]

I saw someone had snagged 'nunya', and I'm just disappointed in myself for not thinking of that one, honestly.

[america]

That's right; it's Steve. Nice to meet you too, Axel.

I don't know if you've ever read the story of Odysseus and Polyphemus, but at one point of the myth, the hero of the tale, Odysseus, goes by the name of 'Nobody'.

[ It's not a pretty story but it's one he remembers well enough, especially where the name 'nobody' is concerned. Seen plenty of art for it too. ]

[icingonthecake]

[He taps his chin in thought.]

Odysseus, Odysseus... it rings a bell... [He snaps his fingers.] Ah, that's Greek, right? Never read the actual story, but I did go to the Coliseum a few times, for work. [Actually he met Philoctetes, who claimed to have trained Odysseus, but... he has a feeling that's a little too time paradoxy for anyone not from home.]

[He laughs softly and waves a hand.]

No relation, though, I assure you. [Unless Odysseus maybe ever lost his heart to Darkness. Which, to be fair, he really doesn't know one way or the other.]

[america]

You worked at the Coliseum? [ They really are taking people from all points in time; all walks of life, aren't they, these Natha?

At least that's what Steve's understanding from Axel's implication. ]

Ever met any other Greek heroes?

[icingonthecake]

[... Well. He wasn't expecting this guy to be so open to the idea of his having visited the Coliseum in its prime, but since he rolled with it right off the bat...]

I didn't work at the Coliseum, but I did travel a lot, and the Coliseum was on the destination list a few times. I did meet Philoctetes once, briefly--friend'a mine actually got a few hero lessons out'a him, though. Apparently he's a real hardass.

[He's 100% serious; there's no sarcasm in his delivery. If inter-world time travel isn't a big deal where this guy comes from, there's no reason to pretend it's something bizarre or taboo.]

[america]

Huh. Can't say I'm too familiar with Philoctetes.

[ And, yeah, if he's pulling Steve's leg, he can't sense it in the earnest way he explains his time at the Coliseum. ]

Well, I can promise I won't go easy on anyone but I don't think people would call me much of a hardass either.

[ A stubborn ass, maybe. ]

[icingonthecake]

He's the guy that trained all those hero types, or so he claims, anyhow: Perseus, Theseus... Odysseus. Man, a lot of Greek dudes are named '-yeus', huh? I never noticed that before.

[Axel waves a hand then, grinning.]

Don't gotta be wishy-washy to not be a hardass. There's always a happy medium, I'd say.

So you got a time and place in mind for this little shindig?

[america]

I'd like to try and have our first session this weekend. And given the amount of interest so far, if all works out, maybe it can become something of a regular event.

[ Obviously massively backtagged because the mun is garbage and hasn't had any time to set up a log.

BUT YOU KNOW. ]

It'll be completely voluntary, drop-in and drop-out as you please.