we were born with nothing [OPEN]

[assembles]

Who: Steve Rogers and YOU
Where: All over Wonderland
When: Duration of the event (06/27 - 06/30)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The mansion has drained everyone of their powers, and in the case of Steve Rogers, that results in a pretty large (or rather, small) change. (Replies will come from preserum).
The Story:
1.

Sometimes, Steve has dreams where he's the way he used to be. Small and frail, but still full of spark. Sometimes there's an explanation for it. The Red Skull catches up to him and somehow drains all of the serum's power out of him, to leave him weak and gasping on the floor. Sometimes there's no explanation at all. He's in his Captain America uniform, he's running around with his shield and trying to make a difference, but his heart's racing and his chest's burning.

He's never thought much of these dreams. The first twenty or so years of his life, that's all he'd known. It makes sense that it returns to him in his dreams.

But on this particular morning, when he wakes up the dream isn't over. Steve opens his eyes and draws in a shaky breath. His heart beats ineffectively, and at first he doesn't even feel like he has the strength to get out of bed. Instead he falls out of it, and when he hits the floor it hurts a lot more than it should.

When Steve picks himself up, his body is both familiar and completely wrong. The shorts he'd slept in, now far too big for him, immediately slip to the floor. Steve had finally started to learn his new shape, and yet here he is again, shrunk back into a form that had never actually been able to support him. It also feels as if the world's changed around him, like all the color's been sapped out of everything. Or is that just a result of his bad eyesight?

Steve approaches one of the mirrors in his room and pulls away the sheet he usually covers it with, to see his small stature, his thinned out face. His breath catches in his chest, and that turns into a cough, one that he's quick to muffle with his hand.

Bucky. Bucky's next door, and even if this change is temporary, Steve's reluctant to see his friend's reaction. No, he needs to get out of here. He yanks his now-too-large shirt off of his head and goes to the closet for a new set of clothes that'll fit him. Now, each action feels like it's a struggle. Before, he hadn't known what it was like to be healthy -- he'd put up with his problems because he'd never known anything different. Adjusting back to it? That's a lot harder, and just getting dressed feels like it's enough to tire him out.

He did this for years. He may have had it good for a while now, but he can do this again. It's only for a few days, right?

So once he's dressed, Steve heads for the stairs and starts down them. It's still early and he doesn't know where he's going, although halfway down those seven flights he has to pause so that he can catch his breath. He can't even walk down some stairs without his heart rate escalating, dammit.

2.

On the one hand, Steve really doesn't want to draw a lot of attention to himself. The only person here who's ever interacted with him like this is Bucky, and that's its own problem. What's everyone else going to make of it? He doesn't want their pity or their help or much of anything, which is why he doesn't pay much attention to the network and tries to keep to himself.

The easiest thing would be to lock himself up in his room, but he doesn't want to hide from this either. He's not some invalid who can't get out of bed. So instead, he wanders the grounds (at, admittedly, a rather slow pace).

It's when he's having a quick rest on one of the benches out in the gardens when a whole horde of puppies comes excitedly racing toward him. Steve blinks in surprise, but he's always admired dogs and their unwavering loyalty.

Besides, they're pretty cute, he has to admit. So when a few of them start sniffing at his legs, he reaches down to offer pets. Let's just hope none of the larger ones jump up on him and try to knock him over...

3.

A pretty common place to run into people is the the dining hall, and while Steve's usually always up for conversation, he tries to plan his meals at off times so that he finds the room empty. When he heads in well after 2100 hours, the dining hall's completely abandoned.

Not that he has much of an appetite right now. Not like when he's got the serum burning through food at an unbelievable pace.

Still, being this small again, it brings back a whole lot of memories, and before Steve can really stop himself, he thinks of the chicken noodle soup his mother used to make him when he was sick in bed with a fever. It appears on the table and he sends the bowl a sad smile before taking a seat to dig in.

4.

While once again trapped in this defective body, there's a lot Steve can no longer do. He's fairly certain that trying to throw his shield would end in disaster, and even one of his usual laps that he runs most mornings would definitely trigger an asthma attack.

What he can still do is draw, and so Steve finds a random tea room. There's a golden retriever puppy already occupying the room, but Steve doesn't mind the company. He sprawls out on the couch and the dog curls up on his stomach while Steve sketches to his heart's content.

That's the idea, at least, but one of the many downsides of being like this again is that he tires very easily, and so eventually his hand stills on his sketchpad as his eyelids flutter close and he falls asleep with his puppy companion, where anyone could find them.

5.

Wild card! Steve will make an effort to avoid people, especially those who know him, but he will wander around a fair amount, so feel free to find him out on the grounds and in various parts of the mansion. He won't be in his room except for in the evenings.

Prose or brackets, past or present tense, I will match you! ♥

Comments

2

[no_eels]

Toothless' walks haven't gotten him too far, at a time, with a hoard of puppies yipping and jumping at his legs and wings. One or two smaller puppies even sit on his tail, riding him before gravity inevitably slides them off into the grass of the gardens. They keep his attention firmly — he doesn't even notice Steve a few feet away as he slides onto his belly, puppies swarming him, and rolls around on his back, baring his teeth playfully.

None of the puppies seem to care that a dragon might eat them — Toothless isn't going to, anyway, he's got plenty of fish elsewhere — and yip excitedly as he swishes his tail for his very enthralled and fuzzy little crowd.

[preserum]

Steve's in serious danger of being bowled over and knocked from his bench by these puppies when they all get distracted by something else and race off. Steve's holding back a mixture of laughter and wheezing, and he struggles to recover before looking in the direction that the dogs ran.

At which point he sees something he's entirely unprepared for. At first he thinks it's some huge, black lizard that's rolling around in the grass and playing with the dogs, but then he catches sight of those wings.

He takes a few seconds to catch his breath, then stands up and wanders over, completely baffled by what's before him. He's fought off aliens already, but an honest to God dragon? How could he not look a little closer?

So Steve pauses about ten feet away and crosses his arms over his chest. It looks like both the dragon and the puppies are having the time of their lives, and Steve can't help smiling.

[no_eels]

Every time the puppies jump on those wings, Toothless raises them gradually and they slide off unharmed — and excited — to the grass again. And then the cycle continues again, as the puppies realize that they've more or less found a giant, rubbery slide that occasionally licks and nudges them with his head and paws.

It's a few minutes, actually, before he looks over and spots Steve watching him.

But he's having enough fun with the small, fuzzy creatures that he doesn't mind being watched, and gives a happy little snort in Steve's direction. Did you want in on some of this? he seems to be asking.

[preserum]

It takes Steve only a few seconds to realize that the dogs are actually using the dragon's wings as a slide, and he continues to watch silently. If those animals are comfortable enough with the dragon to play with it like that, it must mean that it's not all that dangerous.

When the dragon catches sight of him, Steve freezes in place for a moment, but the noise it makes isn't threatening or defensive.

If anything, it seems to be calling him closer, and so Steve takes a few more steps toward the pile of dragon and puppies. No one is going to believe he saw this, are they?

"Hey there," he says as he kneels down, and one of the puppies wanders over and nudges its muzzle against his chest. Steve scratches the back of its neck and then watches the dragon again. "Never seen a dragon around here before. Is that part of the event too?" Not that he expects anyone to answer.

[no_eels]

Toothless' eyes are half-lidded from contentment. This place can't be all that bad if it gives him tiny little play companions. They're not dragons, but they'll do — and given the sheer number of them, perhaps it's best that they aren't dragons. Terrible Terrors would have eaten every scrap of food in the lodge by now.

Or tried, at least.

He gives a low rumble in response to Steve's question, almost like the purr of an engine. The Nightfury can't answer, but he can show that he understands a little of what Steve is saying. Events are still largely unknown to the dragon. They won't stay that way for long, but for now, event means puppies, apparently.

[preserum]

No, it isn't much of a response, and Steve doubts that the dragon can even comprehend what he's saying. Still, it's behaving in a way he would almost call docile, and so any thought of being cautious leaves his mind. He should definitely be taking care with himself, considering his current physical state, but Steve's always been a little reckless.

He gathers the puppy up in his arms and then closes the rest of the space between him and the dragon. Once he's close enough, he carefully sets the puppy on its back and watches as it goes scrabbling down the dragon's wing.

Now that he's this close, Steve studies the beast more closely. The scales, the expansive wings, its expressive eyes...

"Kinda wish I had my sketchbook with me. I've never had the chance to draw a dragon before." He reaches out carefully and slides a hand over its back.

[no_eels]

Warm and leathery — warmer than usual thanks to the sun, even — Toothless holds still as Steve touches him. Though some of that is definitely because a very brave (or silly) puppy jumps on top of his neck like he's king of a mountain, yipping, and Toothless doesn't want to do anything that'll harm the little creature.

They don't seem to be quite as sturdy as Terrible Terrors, these fuzzy things.

But he does shift his head a little to watch Steve. A sketchbook. Hiccup has one of those. He draws in it quite a bit. Or at least, he had one in Berk. Toothless isn't sure if he still has the thing here on this very strange island he's come to understand is called Wonderland.

[preserum]

As expected, the dragon doesn't spook or snap at him or anything like that. Steve's a little surprised. Not that dragons have ever been real where he comes from (as far as he knows), but in the stories they've always been portrayed as vicious, territorial beasts.

Not this one, though. Steve wonders if this dragon is like so many other creatures and people out there: simply misunderstood.

"You gonna still be here? I'll be right back." Rushing up to his room to get his sketchbook? Not the best idea, but Steve's inspired enough to take the risk. Getting a little winded, it shouldn't be such a big deal. He hasn't had any asthma problems yet, so he might be feeling a little bit bold.

[no_eels]

Toothless blinks. For a moment, he wonders if perhaps he frightened the skinny viking. But then he's swarmed by puppies, again, and all thoughts are dashed aside from defending his harness against them. He continues to amuse them with his wings, as it does seem to take their attention away from it.

But he doesn't move from his spot, otherwise, and he'll still be there when or if Steve returns with his sketchbook, nudging the fluffy little creatures that have all decided to adopt him.

[preserum]

Steve takes note of the harness and the way that the dragon almost looks to be protecting it, like he's saving it for someone. If he's harnessed, then that must mean that someone has ridden him. Steve tries to imagine what it would even be like to fly on the back of a dragon, but reckless as he may be, he won't take it that far.

Not while he's like this, anyway.

"I'll be back," he says, and with that he turns and strolls back to the mansion, watching the dragon over his shoulder as he goes.

With his room up on the seventh floor and no elevator to speak of, Steve's trip takes longer than it should, and by the time he makes it back down with his sketchbook and pencils in hand, he's winded.

He reaches the bench he'd been sitting on before and collapses onto it to catch his breath.

[no_eels]

For a moment, he's absorbed by the fluff trying to chew on his paws and chin. But then he hears Steve panting, and the green eyes widen to look over at the viking. Toothless is reminded just a bit of Hiccup, though running had never quite winded him as much as it seems to wind Steve.

It concerns the Nightfury, who shifts on his back so that he can see Steve more easily. He makes a low, trilling noise in the back of his throat, looking as concerned as he can be while 'weighed down' by a load of puppies.

Are you all right, viking?

[preserum]

The worried sound that comes from the dragon helps to ground Steve, and reminds him that there's more to the world than just the burning in his chest and the sound of blood rushing through his ears.

Not that a dragon will be able to tell anyone that he almost had an asthma attack. That's the one upside here.

"I'm... all right," he says through huffed breaths. "Just... my room's kind of up on the seventh floor, so..." He really should have grabbed a bottle of water while he was at it. Or an inhaler, even.

[no_eels]

As gently as he can, Toothless rises to his feet. Some puppies go tumbling, but some paw determinedly to his back and stay there as he trots over to where Steve is to give him a worried sniff-over. His breath is warm, like the rest of his hide from the sun, although it does smell of fish.

Much like a giant cats' would, really.

When he's satisfied that Steve isn't injured, just winded, he gives him a gentle nudge with his snout.

[preserum]

That warm puff of air that expels from the dragon's mouth -- and more than that, the strong smell that comes with it -- draws Steve out of his own head successfully. He peers at the dragon, who's close enough to nudge him now, and lets out a quick laugh.

It occurs to him that if some of his friends saw him this close to a dragon while he was in this compromised state, they would probably have a heart attack. But Steve can see that the creature's completely friendly.

"Hey," he says as he reaches out to set his hand on the top of the dragon's head, "I'm all right. My name's Steve, how about you?" This should be a decent test to see if the dragon understands any human speech.

[no_eels]

Ah, now this is why Toothless loves to hang around Hiccup when they meet new people. Hiccup can explain his name in a second — he's the reason that the dragon has one to begin with. Dragons communicate in a very different way from vikings. But still, he supposes he should try to give it a shot.

Toothless rumbles, low in the back of his throat, and then opens his mouth as he takes a step back from Steve. For a second, his row of blunt white teeth are exposed. But then he retracts them into his rosy gums, and he holds his mouth open.

They're going to have to play charades for this part.

[preserum]

For a moment, Steve thinks that he's done something to upset the dragon. It makes a grumbling sound, steps away from him, and bears its teeth, so there's a split-second where Steve's worried he'll get snapped at and then have to run to the clinic with some kind of injury (or scorch wound? can it breathe fire?). Which would be awful, because then he'd have to hide from his friends even more than he already has been.

But nothing happens. The dragon only retracts its teeth to show a set of pink gums, and Steve imagines that this is supposed to mean something.

Well, he'd asked a question. This may be the answer. Steve tilts his head to the side and thinks it over. "Uh... okay. Retractor? Gummy? No-Teeth?"

Those all sound like horrible names.

[no_eels]

Communicating with vikings — humans, apparently, no, vikings just sounds better — is a complicated business. He and Hiccup tend to simply understand each other, but then, Hiccup had named him; they hadn't had to play this game. Dragons have no use for names, themselves.

Toothless looks mildly demoralized by the suggestion of Gummy, but then immediately brightens when No-Teeth comes along. It's close! How does he get that across?

He perks up both ears, eyes widening, and nods his head a few times, hoping it will do the job.

[preserum]

The dragon has to understand him, with those various different reactions to Steve's guesses. His most energized response is to the last one.

"No-Teeth? Is that right? Or at least on the right track?"

Steve's never had to name any pets, so he can't say he's an expert at this kind of thing, but No-Teeth seems a little unwieldy. "I guess it doesn't matter too much, so long as you can understand me."

[no_eels]

Laying his head in Steve's lap, the dragon gives an almost violent trill which vibrates even his scales. It's close enough. Unwieldy, but Toothless isn't all that picky. Maybe Hiccup can set him straight, later, but in any case, Steve is understood.

It's only the details which get lost in the translation, really. Toothless understands the important parts.

Most of them, anyway. Vikings say a lot of strange things.

[preserum]

Close enough, then. Steve smiles and rubs his hand over the top of the dragon's hand, back and forth. The reptile-like skin is warmed from sun, especially since it's all black, and it feels surprisingly nice.

As fun as it might be to pet No-Teeth here all afternoon, though, he went to all the trouble to bring his sketchbook down here, so he may as well use it. Steve leans down to pick it up from where it dropped onto the grass and then smiles at the dragon.

"Do you mind posing for me?" he asks hopefully.

[no_eels]

Toothless' eyes widen as he takes a step back. Pose?

Oh, sure, he's posed for Hiccup before. It's a good day for it. Of course, Toothless won't pose for that long, only because he doesn't quantify time in the way a viking — human — does. But as long as there's a crowd of puppies to sit with, Toothless will remain in the garden for a while.

His ears perk up as he rumbles again, settling down on his stomach. Immediately, a husky puppy leaps onto his back.

[preserum]

It might be a little difficult for No-Teeth to stay still when he's got puppies jumping all over him, but maybe Steve can try to incorporate that into the sketch.

Most people would probably be more interested in riding a dragon, rather than drawing it, but Steve realizes he's in no position to be doing that right now. Maybe another time, if No-Teeth is in fact a permanent installation in the mansion.

Steve begins to sketch the outline of the dragon, and tries not to get too distracted by watching him play with all the puppies. This honestly feels like something out of a fairy tale.