and it's harder than you think [OPEN]

[assembles]

Who: Steve Rogers and YOU
Where: All around the island of Genosha
When: Throughout the event (08/05 - 08/09)
Rating: Mainly PG-13, possible R for violence
Summary: Steve is a Human outraged by the way that his kind are treated, and he isn't going to stay quiet about it... even if he is under 100 pounds and asthmatic. Responses will come from preserum.
The Story:
Tensions are rising and Steve is as ready as he can be.

He's already come to terms with the fact that he's hardly a key player in the Human Resistance Movement, but that won't stop him from contributing however he can. Some of his fellow resistance members don't hesitate to take him along when they plan an attack, while others are more insistent on him remaining back at their hideout to serve as support. Steve does what he can to make it into the action whenever possible — and well, if a mutant happens to get in his face while he's going about his life on Genosha, he isn't about to let them get away with it. He won't take their abuse, or curl into himself like a scared animal and whimper until he's left alone. He's going to give them a piece of mind, consequences be damned.

It's not like he hasn't paid for his boldness a number of times already. He's got some nasty scarring on his abdomen from burn wounds from a pyrokinetic — that would be the worst example, but he has plenty of other scrapes, bruises, and scars littered across his body like a map of all his bad decisions.

Whether Steve's back at the hideout checking in with other members of the resistance (which is also where he usually sleeps these days), or out on an assignment with them, or simply wandering around the island minding his own business, he won't make a secret of the issues he has with the way Humans are treated. With the Queen's remarks about them, he's more fired up than ever, and someone should either take advantage of his unruly temper or try to talk some sense into him.

He's got plenty of friends — supporters in his fight, people who are just as ready to fight for their rights. But he's also made plenty of enemies, and all it takes is one careless statement about Humans to get him seeing red.


[ OOC: I will respond to prose or brackets! Feel free to find Steve at the resistance hideout or wandering around the island making trouble. ]

Comments

if this is too late, just let me know! no harm, no fowl

[deathlessness]

[Freya isn't part of the movement one way or another, but she won't stand for abuse of other people either. She just wants her and her sister to be left alone and allowed to live their lives. That, however, is likely never going to happen, so when she spots Steve after he's tangled with a mutant or two, she won't chase after his assailants - she knows there's nothing they'll be able to do about that - but she will stop to make sure tiny Steve is alright and not having suffered anythng serious.]

Are you alright?

[She makes her way forward, hand extended to help him up and check him out for herself.]

not at all! sorry for my delay

[preserum]

[ It's not that uncommon for someone to come check in on Steve after one of his famous tussles, and he can't even blame people for being worried, not when he's crumpled to the ground, completely drained of energy. His chest feels like it's on fire -- he just needs to get his hands on his inhaler, and then he'll be fine. Right now, though, his arms don't seem to want to move.

He looks up at the woman asking after him, face white as a sheet and shoulders slumped with fatigue. ] Yeah, I'll... I'll be fine. [ His voice is quiet, coming out in a wheeze as he fights to get some oxygen into his lungs.

Whatever that mutant did to him, it sucked all the energy out of him. Not a good thing for someone who's already got a laundry list of health problems. Suffice to say he doesn't look fine and he isn't making any move to stand or do much of anything just yet. ]

[deathlessness]

[And well he shouldn't. Freya's eyes narrow more sharply as she looks him over, before shifting next to him so that she can help him sit up a little more.]

Here, lean on me. It will help your breathing.

[She can't do much for an asthma attack with what she has on her, but if she can stabilize him enough to walk she can get him to her shop where she has things that are more helpful.]

My name is Freya. What's yours?

[preserum]

[ Steve's usually too proud for this kind of thing, but she's being nice about it and he really isn't in any position to turn his nose up at this. So he manages to lean against her, his crooked back going as straight as it can as he sits up.

Talking isn't even that easy right now, and he struggles through a few more shaky breaths before he responds. ]

Steve.

[ Slowly, he lifts his hand and digs into his jacket pocket until his fingers curl around his inhaler. He pulls it out and then lifts it to his mouth, sucking in the medication and then gasping at the instant relief it gives him.

As his vision grows a little more clear, he glances over at the woman who's awfully close to him now. ] ... Thanks, Freya.

[deathlessness]

[She gives him a small smile in return.]

Of course. If we don't help each other, who will?

[Humans have to stick together, especially in a world like this.]

[preserum]

Good point.

[ Steve's always willing to help others, but rarely willing to accept help himself. Still, he can't just sit here forever, and so he twists to set one of his hands against the wall. ]

I'm... gonna try to stand up now. Sorry in advance if I end up stumbling against you.

[ He isn't used to women showing him any kind of attention, even pity, but he thinks he's handling this pretty well all things considered. ]

[deathlessness]

[Freya nods her agreement, before slowly starting to get up with him, ready to reach out and catch him if he winds up unsteady on his feet.]

Take your time.

[preserum]

[ There's a little bit of the promised stumbling and he finds himself gripping a little too hard onto Freya's arm, but eventually Steve makes it to his feet.

He still feels woozy, like he's just gotten a lot of blood drawn, but he manages to maintain his balance. ]

Uh... were you headed somewhere?

[ Steve doesn't want Freya to be late to wherever she was going on his account. ]

[deathlessness]

[She shakes her head, because while yes, she was going somewhere, she's not necessarily going anywhere important.]

I have a shop for homeopathic remedies not too far from here. Why don't you come with me? I can make you a cup of tea.

[preserum]

[ The offer seems so sudden, so kind, that Steve's actually suspicious for a few seconds. Is he being lured somewhere? But as he stares up into Freya's face, he doesn't see anything malicious there. And he considers himself a pretty good judge of character.

So after that brief pause, he nods. ] Sure. Lead the way.

[deathlessness]

[Freya's tea shop isn't too far from where Steve got jumped, all new age-y and aiming for soothing elements in the face of some conflict outside. She opens the door for both of them, before closing the door and heading behind the counter towards the loose leaf blends she has boxed for sale.]

Do you have a preference for the kind of tea you like or would you like me to surprise you?

[preserum]

[ The shop is quiet and relaxing in comparison to pretty much everything outside, and it has a nice smell to it. Steve isn't that much into new age remedies or anything like that, but he has to admit that this place has a nice vibe to it.

He follows Freya over to the counter, though resists the urge to lean up against it even though he's still exhausted. ]

Surprise me.

[ A pause, and he bows his head sheepishly. ]

And thanks for all this.

[deathlessness]

Of course. I'm not that good in a fight, unfortunately, so the least I can do is help patch them up when it's over.

[She browses through the herbs in question, before finding some dried khella - good for opening up airways and other ailments - before mixing it with a few other herbs for a smooth flavor, while she sets he water to boil.]

The way they treat us ... it isn't right.

[preserum]

[ To be fair, Steve isn't that great in a fight either, which is why he's usually the one who walks away battered and bruised. At least there are people like Freya around to help out in the aftermath, as bad as Steve is at accepting this kind of thing.

He's also just not that used to people being nice to him like this, but as humans they've got to stick together.

Steve leans up against the counter, a subtle way of letting himself rest a little. ]

Yeah. And you'd think that'd be the most obvious thing, but I end up having to argue that point with someone almost every day. [ He sighs and bows his head to rub at his eyes. ]

[deathlessness]

[She shakes her head.]

We're all people, human or mutant. It's as though they feel the golden rule doesn't apply.

[It doesn't take long for the kettle to whistle, and she finishes fixing the tea with a sigh.]

Though I also believe in karma.

[preserum]

[ Steve glances over as soon as the kettle starts making noise, curious to see what this tea is going to be like. While he doesn't expect it to cure all of his ailments, he imagines that it will make him feel at least a little better.

There's nothing out there that could cure everything wrong with him, after all. ]

Karma? [ He cocks his head to one side. ] So you think they're going to get what's coming to them? [ It's a nice thought, even though it probably shouldn't be. ]

[deathlessness]

[She nods as she places the fragrant tea in front of him, before pouring a cup for herself.]

I do. There are reasons empires fall, after all. Someone will make a mistake eventually, and it will cost them.

[preserum]

[ As soon as the tea is set in front of him, Steve picks up the cup, sniffing at it before he takes a testing sip. It's still hot, but the taste is nice and he closes his eyes for a moment to enjoy it. ]

Thanks for this.

And... I guess you might be right, but I don't know. They have a lot of power.

[ Then again, powerful empires have fallen in the past, as Freya said. Maybe it's just a matter of time, but Steve doesn't know if he'll live long enough to see it. ]

[deathlessness]

[She nods in agreement.]

They do. But power can only last for so long. Everything burns out in the end.

[preserum]

I just kind of wonder when.

[ How much longer will they have to claw their way to any sort of place on this island?

Steve sighs and has another sip of tea; there's definitely something calming in it. ]

Thanks for this, it's really good.

[deathlessness]

[When she doesn't have answers for. So she'll just take his redirect and focus on the tea.]

It's a personal blend. It should help with your asthma.

[preserum]

Yeah, I can already tell it's doing some good.

[ Steve continues to drink, letting out a breath when he feels his chest open and expand thanks to the tea.

A pause, and then he glances back to Freya. ]

Do you sell this stuff? Think I might need to take some home...

[deathlessness]

[She nods with a small smile.]

I do. I'll put together a tin for you.

[preserum]

That'd be great. [ Steve starts to dig through his pockets for his wallet. He hopes that it doesn't cost too much, since he doesn't have a lot of disposable income, but this seems like it's worth it. And he'll be supporting a fellow human. ]

[deathlessness]

[To be honest, it's basically going to be whatever Steve can afford. She'd probably charge him nothing if she thought he would take it. She places the small tin down in front of him.]

You should let it seep as long as you can. It'll make the most out of the fragrance and the homeopathic elements.