( open ) I knew the waiting had begun

[rightly]

who: Steve Trevor & YOU!
what: Steve's arrival at the Quarantine.
when: August 20th-30th
where: all around
warnings: none expected
note: feel free to poke me @ extreminator or PM if you'd like a more specific starter or have another idea for a thread!


I ▹ ARRIVAL & RECOVERY ▹ HOSPITAL

[ It's a sudden feeling to him, like being pulled violently by a rope tied around his neck. Steve finds himself gasping for air and choking on the first breath that fills his lungs. Feels like a very first breath too, it hurts and makes his throat and lungs burn, his vision blurring as if confronted by light for the first time too.

It's not heaven, he reckons that much. No sort of afterlife, period. Everything here is far too overwhelming, confusing and painful for this to be supposedly what comes after death, and after he's revived and tended to, put back to sleep again so he can have some rest, only to wake up later on, mostly alone on a bed in a communal room, he soon realizes where he is.

A hospital. He's not a stranger to them, even if everything in here is completely foreign to him. The furniture is strange, the windows and the sight beyond them boggling, the various machinery and wiring too confusing and overwhelming. There's a box by the corner with moving pictures, with the very faint sound of voices and music filtering through, but it's nothing he understands.

Honestly, he doesn't understand anything at all, ranging from what this place is, to how did he even get here. But it's not like he can do much more than just lie and wait for the doctors to let him leave— well, he could leave, but at least for the first few hours, any attempts to even get up aren't very successful, and he ends up stumbling until he's leaning against the bed, finding himself forced to sit back down on it. ]

... crying out loud...

II ▹ EXPLORING ▹ STREETS

[ To say that the city's foreign to him is putting it very mildly. Once he's released from the hospital, and is actually capable of standing on his own two feet, he immediately decides to explore the Quarantine, as if that alone will suffice to learn everything he must about the city.

He's soon proven wrong, of course. Between the cars and bikes driving by too fast, the overload of information at every corner, and the odd fashion choices of almost everyone walking up and down the streets, it's not long until Steve looks like a headless chicken walking about, looking this way and that, stopping every so often and just standing in the middle of the street, staring at a screen playing out some moving picture on a store window, or a woman's skirt that just happens to be a little too short.

It's not particularly difficult to bump into him when he's out and about, and he'll immediately turn to face the person who's just walked into him, lifting up his hands to help just in case they lose their balance. ]

Sorry— sorry, my fault. Are you alright?

III ▹ GETTING LOST ▹ STREETS

[ It's also not too terribly surprising that, after long periods spent roaming the streets and parks outside, Steve finds himself losing his way on more than one occasion. As the days go on, he starts to memorize some paths and is able to place himself a little more easily, but he still realizes he needs some help to find his way back a few times, and although his pride keeps him from reaching out immediately, he eventually accepts defeat.

Approaching anyone who seems at least vaguely friendly, he smiles, tipping his head slightly. ]

Excuse me. I was wondering... could you point me in the direction of the community housing?

IV ▹ WILDCARD ▹ ANYWHERE ELSE

[ Between looking around various places for a job, having to look for shops where he can buy a few new clothes, or simply relaxing or settling in for a quiet night reading at the balcony of the 7th floor, feel free to bump into Steve or cross paths with him just about anywhere! ]

Comments

[rightly]

I'm curious, at least. Not so sure about eager, but we'll see how I feel in a week or two.

[ He tips his head in a small nod. ] Alright. Grace, then. More fitting. [ Down, boy. ] Steve works just fine, for the record.

[seductless]

Steve. [She echoes it with a smile. An unusual name, but it seems to suit him.]

But what will happen in a week? Do you think things will change?

[It's an interesting idea, though Grace wouldn't mind more of a chance to see things as they currently are. She wants to go out and experience everything, but even she can be overwhelmed eventually. In all her years, she's never been in a place quite this alien. Best to take things slow, if possible. That way she can truly understand.]

[rightly]

[ Certainly not unusual where he comes from. But then different worlds ought to have plenty differences. Even different countries would prove to be enough of a divide. ]

Oh— [ He laughs softly at the question, shaking his head. ] No, that's just... a manner of speech. As if saying that in a week or two I'll be a little more settled in, so I'll know how I feel about this place a bit better.

[seductless]

[That does make more sense, though Grace can't help but give him a curious look.]

I hope you find your way, then. But can I ask what is giving you such trouble?

[Grace will admit to not knowing him particularly well, but from what she can see he seems the stalwart sort. It makes her wonder exactly what he's encountered here to put him so ill at ease.]

[rightly]

[ He looks around briefly, pursing his lips. ]

It's— very different, where I come from. Or, more accurately, when I come from.

[ He has no frame of reference with her, though. She might not even be from Earth to begin with. ]

There are a lot of technological advancements here that are considered commonplace, which to me are practically unthinkable. There's also plenty that seems socially acceptable that it just... would be frowned upon, in my time. I'm just not used to any of it, is all. Takes a while to adjust.

[seductless]

[At the description, Grace nods slowly, her expression shifting to understanding. If it's a shift in time causing him trouble, rather than simply a new location, she can see the difficulty. For something to seem familiar enough that it should be recognizable, but different enough that everything seems wrong. Perhaps it's easier for her, that everything is new.]

But think of all the things you have to learn. [The smile she gives seems to make it clear that the suggestion isn't much of a consolation. But it is the best she can offer, under the circumstances.]

[rightly]

[ He can't say if it would be easier or not. There are a few familiar things here, but then that might be why Steve expects some things to be a certain way, only to find out otherwise. Either way, habit will eventually make that shock wear off, he hopes, though some things will likely take longer for him to get used to. ]

That doesn't make it more overwhelming or anything. [ Let it never be said Steve doesn't like learning new things, but still. ] What about you? This place any similar to your world?

[seductless]

[The question makes her laugh, for all that Grace has been half anticipating it. How did one attempt to explain the City of Doors to someone who had never been?]

Some things. Mainly, I think, in that you never know quite what to expect.

[It's almost fond, the way she says it. There are a number of reasons she'd chosen to stay in the city with the entirety of the Outer Planes before her.]

But otherwise no, not very. Though I haven't seen much of it yet. There might be more familiar things I've not come across.

[rightly]

Suppose that is true wherever you are, though, isn't it?

[ Life can take unexpected turns, it can change in a moment in a myriad of ways. People can also change in a heartbeat, he's come to learn. Not always for the best, sadly, but... well, one can hope. ]

You and I are the same, then. Plenty in this place neither of us have seen or learned about yet. I think only time will tell.

[seductless]

Some more than others. I believe this may me one of those place where truly anything could happen.

[It brought them all here, hadn't it? She would never be having this conversation with this man if not for this fascinating new city. And she's only managed to scratch the surface, yet, Grace can tell.]

It seems so. Perhaps we'll have to keep track of what we find.

[rightly]

A journal should do the trick. Oh— there are easier ways to take photographs too, as I understand. That should help, too.

[ Certainly easier and quicker than sketches, which Steve has to admit, he's not very good at. ]

[seductless]

[Grace pauses and tips her head to the side curiously.]

What is a photograph?

[rightly]

[ Oh. It should have occurred to him that she wouldn't know. He debates for a moment on how to best explain it. ]

It's when you capture the stilled image of something you see onto a film, then transfer it to a piece of paper. Though here you don't need film or paper. Wait— I'll show you.

[ He digs his phone out of his pocket, struggling with it for a few good seconds, finally lifting it up and taking a picture of her. He steps closer and shows it to her afterwards. ]

There. A photograph of you.

[seductless]

[Grace studies him as he handles the communication device, looking vaguely puzzled. As he holds it out to her, she leans in to peer at the screen. And her eyes suddenly go very wide as she takes in what is being shown.]

It's me!

[She sounds so surprised by it. Not a reflection, that much she can tell. And no magic necessary, or at least none that she can sense. How fascinating.]

[rightly]

[ His smile widens at the look on her face, and he lets out a soft laugh at her exclamation. It's not surprising, considering she didn't even know what a photograph was, but he finds her whole reaction to be very endearing. ]

It is, yes. [ He nods, then goes back to the camera mode, snapping a picture of their surroundings and showing it to her. ] You can take pictures of just about anything, provided there's enough light. You should have the same feature on your own phone— it's called a camera.

[seductless]

[Phone...that must be the communication device. She's heard people mention it before, but she's never managed to put the two together before. And a camera to go with it now. Clearly she has even more things to learn than she's even realized.]

I see. Thank you, for showing me.

[And she does sound quite pleased about it. Grace had worried that there was no way to find a sensation stone here, that she would never be able to describe half the things she's encountered so far to her faction, should she ever return. These pictures seem to be a reasonable alternative.]

[rightly]

[ He shakes his head a little, smiling at her. ]

Not at all. We're all here to learn from each other, aren't we?

[ Well, maybe it's not the main purpose, but they'll never get a better chance to learn about such strange new things than this. ]

If you'd like, I can send you your picture. The phones can also do that.

[seductless]

Of course. And so we are, and we will.

[Though her please expression shifts into something a little more puzzled.]

What would I do with an image of myself?

[rightly]

Well— some people like having pictures of themselves. You can offer it to people that care about you. It's a nice memento.

[ Steve doesn't know how else to explain it. Honestly he doesn't care about pictures of himself either, but he does like having pictures of himself with other people he's fond of. Not that he has any here with him, but still. ]

[seductless]

[It seems to be the sort of thing that lovers might do, exchange images of themselves. And Grace very much does not have one of those.

Still, the offer seems kindly meant, and Grace can't help but smile at him.]

All right, then. What do I need to do?

[rightly]

Nothing, actually. First I have to send it to you, so... let's see, I have to open a message...

[ His voice drops until he's muttering under his breath, guiding himself slowly through every step of finding her name on the list of contacts, opening up a text box, and selecting the picture that's supposed to be sent.

She's free to take a peek at what he's doing, especially since it will take him a few good minutes. Finally he sends it out, and he glances over at her, waiting to see if her own phone pings. If she even has it with her. ]

[seductless]

[Grace just waits patiently, watching him with her head slightly cocked in curiosity. Doubtful that she'd be able to follow along with whatever it is he's doing, but he does seem quite focused on her.

It's almost a surprise when her own communication device chimes, and she pulls it from one of the pouches at her belt.]

Ah. [She sounds both surprised and pleased to find the image of herself there.] My thanks.

[rightly]

[ He feels mildly accomplished when her device rings, and he smiles as she grabs it to see that she got his text. Technology's never been difficult for him, but these devices and the computers are still something completely new to him, and it's still a learning process to him. ]

You're welcome. [ He tips his head, smiling. ] Now you know you can send people pictures whenever you like.

[seductless]

Of course.

[It's a polite agreement as she tucks the device back away. She still isn't entirely certain why she would do such a thing, but it is good to know that she can. If it ever comes up.]

And you will let me know if there is ever something I can do for you?

[rightly]

[ Steve puts his own device away, tipping his head at her in a nod. He can't really think of anything he'd ask of her at the moment, but it's a nice offer nonetheless, and... well, one never knows. He might just need help with something sometime, so he won't turn down the offer. ]

I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.