05 | We'd Like to Know a Little Bit About You for Our Files

[sinistral]

WHO: the Soldier (sinistral) and whoever wants to put up with him tbh
WHERE: network and out and about
WHAT: attempts at contacting the Agrii
WHEN: some appropriate amount of time after this
WARNINGS: n/a, will update if that changes

---

AGRII OUTREACH
→ Text;

[Utilizing the functionality of the communicator to contact the Agrii, as opposed to the normal device network, the following message is typed:]

I have questions for you. The first concerns the ships; you will have noticed our numbers have exceeded the capacity of the ships you have provided. The Atroma used to possess the ability to expand crew capacity of the ships. Can you not do the same? Or if not, why not consider bringing in the Huntress or the Caprine, or one of the others, as you seem so fond of the Fleet's vessels.

The second concerns recent events. If you were supposedly trying to reach us while we were trapped in the space of Billy's making, why were we even in that situation in the first place? Something drew Billy into the Calibrations space, but we are unable to enter the space from this end. You're the ones who bring us there. So why was this allowed to transpire in the first place? And how many more of us have you taken in the same way?

NETWORK
→ Text;

I have need of someone skilled in the drawing arts, and in taking a spoken description and depicting it on paper. Preferably in ink.

LAKESIDE
→ Early Morning;

The shore of the lake still bears some sign of the recent celebration. The Soldier can only guess at the forms its activities took, having chosen to spend his time elsewhere. But the sandy beach doesn't hold his attention as much as the lake waters themselves. He looks out over the crystalline surface, remembering conversations some time ago. Remembering his time in the Fleet. Trying to piece the whole thing together. Too few answers overall, and no real way that he'd trust to seek additional information. He wasn't willing to trust the Agrii on their word alone. But what did he have other than the Agrii's word?

When had he decided that he cared, anyway?

Likely when Billy had sought him out after their return, then again when he needed a place to stay. The Soldier knows he should consider himself compromised.

He shakes his head, banishing that tangle to later consideration. Something in the back of his brain had picked up on the sound of approaching footsteps; he prefers not to be so caught up in such thoughts in the presence of another, not when said thoughts are so chaotic. Compromised indeed; he does a mental check of his weapons and their location out of habit more than anything else, a self reassurance of optimal functionality.

ELSEWHERE
→ Wildcard;

Anything else? The Soldier can mostly be found in the more secluded areas and avoids communal spaces and gatherings as much as possible, but we can certainly work out where your character might run into him. Alternately if we missed running into each other on the last event and there was something you wanted, we can handwave it happening and thread out aftermath, if you'd prefer. Hit me up via PM or at sometimesamuse if you'd like to hash something out.

Comments

Network

[plate_builder]

Person, Place, or Thing?

[sinistral]

Places and things, not portraiture.

[plate_builder]

I'm not certain that I could perfectly reproduce things, but my training is good for places. Comes from architecture work.

[sinistral]

It might suffice.

[plate_builder]

Well then, I'd be happy to try and help you.

Lakeside

[itsamysterio]

The Soldier was a hard man to track down, and Beck wasn't sure how safe it was to be approaching him alone. It wasn't as though he had much choice though, he hadn't be lured out by the beach party, and it pure chance he'd happened to spot now.

Beck wanted to try and get out ahead of things like he'd done with Tommy, make sure those he'd wronged in the other world didn't come looking for revenge, and the Soldier had been particularly wronged.

His feet crunch with his approach, palms pointedly flashing to show he's unarmed

"...You missed a good time," he notes, nudging what might be some of the tattered remains of that inflatable eyeball with his foot.

[sinistral]

The cadence of the footsteps was unfamiliar but still he thought he could read caution in the way they were placed. The posture of the other man confirmed as much, when the Soldier turned to look. He thought he recognized the face, but he couldn't be sure if the knowledge was from this world or from that other place.

Still, no one approached in such a manner unless he considered the possibility of violence. The Soldier filed that thought away.

"A matter of opinion," he replied, noting the scraps of sand-stained white. Litter on the beaches of an abandoned alien planet: go figure. "I don't enjoy such gatherings."

[itsamysterio]

Well, the Soldier didn't immediately seem to associate him with what had happened in Billy's city, so that was good. That or he was handling it remarkably better than the kid. Beck didn't quite let down his guard, but his shoulders did relax a little, lips quirking.

"Yeah, that's fair. They were never really my thing either."

[sinistral]

Then why bother going he could ask, but the Soldier wasn't going to poke that potential hornet's nest. People had their own reasons; far be it from him to tell others how to spend their time. "Then I can assume you're not here to tell me why I should have attended."

He was sure that at least one person was unhappy with his lack of attendance, but he'd deal with that confrontation if it came.

[itsamysterio]

Beck shook his head. "S'not my business," he assured, looking him over curiously. He was different than in the other world, and Beck wondered if it was better to acknowledge what he'd done to him there before the other man put it together, or leave it alone in the hopes that he remained in the clear.

"Am I interrupting?"

Network

[thesepreciousthings]

I'm no John James Audobon, but I've been foraging quite a lot lately. If I find anything new, I can bring you a sample for whoever you do find to document everything.

Network

[sinistral]

I am not documenting this place, but that may be of interest to anyone who is.

[thesepreciousthings]

I've been keeping Jon updated, if that's what you mean.

Do you mind if I ask what you are documenting? Might still be able to help somehow. I was a special agent with the FBI, I'm no light hand at gathering intel.

[sinistral]

I was a member of the Fleet. Your offer is considerate, but will not help. You lack the firsthand knowledge.

[thesepreciousthings]

[she's not offended by the curt tone, having come from the background she does. he's just being efficient.]

The original one? Damn. I won't take up your time right now, since you're clearly busy with your project, but whenever you have some down time I'd love to hear more about that.

Agrii Communication

[trpmods]

A message comes back a day later, also written out. The vernacular isn't quite as smooth as usual so it might be safe to assume Ga Re is not the one responding:

Ship yes. Took A trough ma B four. Take A gain no. Can knot. Try yes. Suck seed no. Agrii ship work. Soon help. He Rows find lay tour. Pro miss. Agrii help He Rows. Help fast.

Bill E no Agrii. Agrii room no. Not Agrii. Agrii no know how. Learn. But no Agrii. Agrii no hurt Bill E. Bill E He Row. No hurt. Trust. Agrii learn more. Tell He Row soon. Trust.

Agrii Communication

[sinistral]

[Clearly this must be Ha Re.]

What assurances are in your promise? From where I stand, it seems pretty empty, especially when you keep bringing people here knowing there's no space for them in the ships.

You have to know how unbelievable that sounds. Trust you who bring us here against our will and keep information from us? You'll have to do better than that.

[trpmods]

[Big ship up there...]

Ah sure ants? Con fused. Pro miss is pro miss. We learn pro miss need keep. Agrii keep. You see. We prove. We prove pro miss. He Rows d serve good. We make good.

All rest dare stand not. Un dare stand no. Un dare stand not. Will? Agrii bar row He Rows. Help need. He Rows help. He Rows want help not? Help bad?

Agrii bad?

[sinistral]

[La Re?

Also, HR representative for the so-called He Rows the Soldier is not; he's honestly the last person who should be having this conversation. Especially when he's annoyed.]

Promises mean nothing when you don't follow through. I'm sure some people will trust your words. I don't.

You take us without asking. That's not borrowing, it's stealing. If you really want to help, tell us who's pulling your strings.

[trpmods]

[Who knooooows...]

Star rings? Agrii no star rings have. Not pop pits. No stand. No un dare stand.

Star ring pull who?

[ms_unknown]

Nat spots Bucky in one of those secluded areas. Longer hair... This must be the other one she'd heard about. She's cautious as she approaches, but makes no attempt to hide. Stopping a few meters away, she crosses her arms and leans her weight on one foot as she looks him over.

"Well now... I'd heard there were two of you. Seeing it is something else, entirely."

[sinistral]

Smart that she doesn't try to conceal herself; it would have only made him suspicious. As it is he knows he'll be on edge around her; he can't be anything else than what he is, and she's similar enough. Word games that conceal more than anything else, from his experience with her in the Fleet. That, and caution.

To say that he's not impressed with the observation is an understatement. "There are not two of us. We're our own persons." He has to keep believing that, and believing that he can maybe eventually be more person than weapon himself.

[ms_unknown]

His reaction tells her everything she needs to know. With that, she change her stance slightly, uncrossing her arms and spreading her hands for a moment before dropping them to her sides.

"Fair enough. What should I call you, then?" Better to ask than risk guessing.

[sinistral]

Her reaction likewise tells him what he needs to know; she's not the person he knew in the Fleet. He doesn't allow himself to examine his feelings about that. Not here, not in front of her.

He shakes his head slightly. "Soldat, the Soldier. I don't have a name."

[ms_unknown]

She nods. It's been so long since she'd faced the Winter Soldier. So much had happened, so much had changed. Suddenly she felt very old. She wasn't, not in the grand scheme of things... but the weight of the last 5 years was heavy on her shoulders.

"How long have you been here, Soldat?"