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

text, un: Yousoro★

[ayes]

what if i dont want to hurt people though

[Yeah, something might seem off with her.]

[america]

Hey. This isn't about hurting other people.

It's about protecting yourself from people who want to hurt you.

[ayes]

is there really a difference though
even if its just defending yourself youre still hurting someone else

if someone's attacking you and you shoot them theyre not any less shot

[america]

There is a difference.

There's a difference between keeping yourself safe from someone trying to attack you, and you using what you learn to attack someone else.

But you're right. You shooting someone doesn't make them any less shot.

The point here is to give yourself a chance. A lot of people didn't have that chance when they were kidnapped and tortured.

[ayes]

I still dont know if thats something I want i dunno hey steve can I tell you some things

[america]

Of course.

You can tell me anything.

Is everything okay?

private

[ayes]

so i was one of the people who got kidnapped in olympia and when they rescued us one of the kidnappers grabbed me to idk be a threat and he got shot i know he was a bad person and he did a lot of bad things but i still remember what he looked like is it bad if i dont think i could do that to anyone

private;

[america]

No, of course it isn't bad.

It means you've got a good heart and there's nothing wrong with that, You.

[ayes]

its not like im squeamish or anything
i skinned my knees all the time growing up so im ok with blood

but id never seen anyone dead before

thats what im talking about though
the person who shot him was saving me

but that guys still dead

i dont think i can do that

[america]

It's tough but sometimes a choice has to be made.

And sometimes that choice isn't an easy one to make.

But it was you or this guy and you shouldn't feel guilty over that.

[ayes]

maybe i dont know if i could be the one to shoot him though the thought makes me feel like i want to throw up but maybe that makes me useless

[america]

Hey.

You're not useless.

You being hesitant to kill another person, good or bad, doesn't make you useless. It makes you someone with a conscience, someone who puts thought into the actions you make.

[ayes]

well yeah ok and i like having a conscience but if people are captured and its down to me ill let them down i dont want to be useless but i also dont want to hurt people steve