tushanshu | 001

[He needs to stop thinking that he's incapable of being surprised. By the end of the Battle of New York, Steve thought he had seen it all. Insane technology, other worlds, aliens... What else could there possibly be?

The answer, of course, is a giant turtle in a realm outside the continuity of time. He had a long chat about nearly everything with the locals that helped him earlier, but it's still crazy, and he probably wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't seen some of the turtle shell himself.

Yet here he is. It'll probably all sink in over time; Steve's been overloaded with so much information over the past few hours and it's exhausting, even for him.

Getting on the computer hadn't been his top priority, but he's already gone outside of his new home and back. Steve's experienced enough culture shock for today. He might as well at least reach out and introduce himself to all of the other people who wound up here like him.

Once he's got the computer up and running, he accesses the network using the video function. He looks a little stiff and probably as exhausted as he feels, but that's the least of his concerns right now.]

Hello. My name's Steve Rogers. The kedin- kedan? - brought me up to speed already, but I only just arrived here a few hours ago.

[Maybe longer than that. He hasn't exactly been keeping track of time. In any case, it's really jarring to be talking to a computer screen and not actually know who's on the other end.]

I have a couple questions that I'd like to have verified. [It doesn't necessarily mean he'll believe whatever he's told, but second opinions are typically useful.] We're all more or less stuck on this turtle, right? But there's a way back.

[That's a question as well, but it ends up sounding more like a statement. It sounds like a reasonable assumption. There obviously isn't a rush since no time is passing back home; he just wants to know.]

The other question I have is about jobs. Since it looks like I'll be here awhile, I'll start looking soon. Does anyone know which places are hiring offhand?

[He pauses for a moment before adding a 'thank you.']

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You'll want them on your side, I'm sure of it.

[Probably for the best. A lot of people tend to hate mutants. Layla's always more prepared for hate than acceptance. Unfortunate as it is.] We're people with a mutation on our 23rd chromosome, called the X-Gene. This gives us, well, mutations. Some would call them super powers. Some are mental, others are physical, they run the whole gammut of things.

[Steve didn't study genetics in high school, but he understands enough to understand why mutants wouldn't want to expose themselves. He's not sure how much it's changed in the present, but being different was never a good thing growing up.

It makes you a target, something Steve knows about first-hand. (Though it certainly didn't help that he spent his childhood instigating that...)

It's definitely not right or okay; he just knows that it happens.]

It's safe to say that I either don't know anyone in my world like that, or they haven't told me. Those I know with super powers- [He's borrowing her word here, and of course including himself in this statement even if he's not explicitly saying so.] -aren't born that way.

Fair. [And then she's nodding.] There are people in our world, too, who have them by artificial means. Our mutual acquaintance, Tony Stark, for example. Yourself.

But then there are those like me and my friends, who have no choice in the matter.

[Steve's honestly not sure how to respond to any of this.]

And I'm sure those without these abilities don't take it well, if they know.

[Possibly stating the obvious here, oops.]

No. No they don't.

Mutants are killed, beaten up, bullied. There's a huge problem of suicide within the mutant community. People are afraid of them. And we're afraid of ourselves.

It's a story you'll hear a thousand times over, a different minority every time. You think we'd learn from our history, but people like to think they're on the right side of history. I'm sure you understand.

I do.

[The confirmation of what he was assuming makes him angry.]

I'm sorry. No one should ever have to live like that. It's wrong, and shouldn't happen anywhere, much less America. That's not what we fought for.

It's not. But believe me when I tell you that history repeats itself. I've seen it.

I believe you. [There's just not anything he can do about it, not here, anyway.]

If I can find a way to prevent it from happening when I get home, I'll use everything in my power to do so.

Thank you, Steve. I thank you. A lot.

There's no need to thank me. It's the right thing to do.

What a kid from Brooklyn thinks is the right thing to do isn't always what's viewed as the right thing to do.

They just need to be taught that there's no reason to treat others differently.

[It's very idealistic, and the solution is definitely more complicated than that, though.]

They do. I've thought that for some time.

It'll happen.

[It's said with certainty, because at some point, it has to.]

I wish it would be sooner rather than later.

Maybe it will. Sometimes the future can be surprising.

Not all that surprising when you've been there.

True.

[There's a moment of hesitation before he speaks again.]

I shouldn't hold you up from whatever you've up to prior to this.

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