(August Catch-All) The Things We Do

[unclesam]

CHARACTERS: Sam Wilson & You (Open + Closed Starters)
LOCATION: Various aboard the station
DATE: Immediately post mission + the days after.
CONTENT: Catch-all prompts for post mission feelings
WARNINGS: Will be added to Top Levels

[ Top Levels in comments:
Infirmary: angsty hurt people after returning from the mission
Mess Hall: the evening post mission, after the food delivery, alcohol is on the table
Simulation Room: the day after the mission, sam disappears and can be found zoned out in the simulation room
Training Room: hot dude working up a sweat while training, various days post mission
Lab and Tech Storage: redwing is the best boi, fight me (and Sam)
TBA: maybe closed starters for Bucky/Natasha?

If you'd like a closed starter or have a different kind of thread idea for which none of these setups work, feel free to hit me at inkcharm, Discord inkcharm#4573 or send me a PM. ]

Comments

[unclesam]

[ Sam hums in agreement, focus on Redwing as he recalibrates the way the drone buffers for air resistance. ]

They feel they gotta compensate for size. In this case, it's the middle child being fussy, though.

[ He glances over his shoulder with a grin that drops when he notices Hermann in the wheelchair. Oh, it's not the chair that confuses Sam momentarily - he's just pretty damn sure he'd have noticed if someone aboard the station was using a wheelchair before. ]

Shit, what happened down there?

[bijective]

Ah, this—

[The beige knitted cardigan he’s wearing (that is obviously three-sizes too large for his lithe frame) does a decent enough job covering his arm splint underneath.

If you would’ve asked Hermann the same question a few days ago, he more than likely sink in embarrassment. One of those incidents that could have been avoided if he had an ounce more of common sense.

Instead, he glances at both the chair and his splint and then up at Sam. There’s pride shining through those eyes.]

A result of my recklessness back in the Gyeongje palace. At first, we thought we had them convinced that our group was on their side to gather further intelligence. But we were bested — Or I was bested. Drugged by some truth serum spiked in our beverages.

As you can imagine, attempting to escape while heavily dosed has its hazards.

[unclesam]

[ A low whistle, and a nod. Color Sam appropriately impressed, honestly. He's been preoccupied mostly with how things went down on the Yuryeong side of things, but this sounds like their team mates back in the city had quite the interesting situation on their hands, too. ]

So lemme guess - you figured anyone can do a battle scar, you'll shoot for the broken bone instead.

[ There's humor in his voice, but the pride in Hermann's eyes is matched by understanding in Sam's. ]

Good on you for making it out. Seems that recknlessness paid off well.

[ He'd never judge recknlessness like that, truth be told - Sam is, after all, the guy who jumps out of collapsing buildings in nothing but jeans and t-shirt, knowing a helicopter will either catch him or he'll be pulp on the ground. What's life without some fun thrills like that? ]

[bijective]

[All that pride he quickly fizzles off when Sam mentions their plan paying off.]

Not as much as we liked. If only I had been more prepared to expect such a dastardly scenario.

[His apologies, Sam. Hermann can’t help but reflect on his teammates having to nurse him back to health. It felt as though he dragged the entire operation down.

But Hermann puffs his chest and rolls towards his personal workstation.]

More field experience is what I need! One can only learn so much from being cooped up within the confines of a lab for so long.

[unclesam]

That's the spirit, man.

[ And Sam beams, easy and genuinely swept up in the energy Hermann's putting out here, despite the slight initial damper. The 'getting back onto that horse' vibes are immaculate, though, and Sam's here for it. ]

And hey, between you and me, I seen seasoned veterans slip and fall flat on their ass, too. Not me, of course. Nah, I ended up flying face first into a tree this time around - much less graceful, honestly. Important thing is coming back swinging, and you seem well on your way for that.

[ Sam makes a gesture at their surroundings. ]

So, what's your usual deal in the lab, when you're not getting some field experience in?

[ And he'll just file that away for later - gotta keep an eye on this one and maybe find ways to help make that field experience safe without coddling the man. ]

[bijective]

[Hermann genuinely grins at that. He may not be like one of the fighters on the front lines, but he considers himself to be clever and determined enough to go toe-to-toe like the best of them.

But they’ve enough people who can scrap. What they need is his brain and so he happily obliges to offer his expertise.]

I suppose that depends on what you need.

[With a flick of a switch, the monitor turns on.]

On paper, I have a well-decorated record in engineering and applied sciences but—

[He takes another second to enter a few inputs from his keyboard, revealing his own orderly, chaotic mess of datasheets and diagrams of star maps.]

A significant change in historical circumstances quickly changed that into anything that requires concise calculations; quantum physics, computer science and the sort. Not all that difficult to pick up on if you have the correct resources to putter about.

[unclesam]

[ Have a low, clearly impressed whistle as Sam leans in and takes a look at the presented data. He's by no means an experts on anything presented here - engineering he can somewhat keep up with, to a point - enough that he can tinker with his own gear, at the very least. This is Tony Stark level of genius as far as Sam can tell. ]

And by 'not difficult' you of course mean 'holy shit, I'm a genius'. 'cause you clearly are. Color me impressed, man. And here I am trying to sweet talk my decided not sentient drone into not pulling left just 'cause I asked nicely.

[ Have a warm, easy grin Hermann. ]

You aiming to dig deeper into the guts of Ximilia Station?

[bijective]

[He nods in gratitude. This is obviously not the first time Hermann has been praised for his genius intellect. He’s seen and heard all the impressive whistles and brow arches. It’s a talent that he doesn’t feel bashful or modest about.]

That is the goal.

[His mind proceeds to fast-forward to their inevitable dissension into the next mission. They are all walking on a tightrope and they don’t know what is on the other side.]

Unfortunately, time isn’t exactly on our side. What with having to prepare for missions and prevent dastardly geopolitical quagmires. There is only so much breathing room one has before jumping face-first into the next crisis.

[unclesam]

I'd crack a joke about you just needing to clone yourself... but honestly, can't risk the joke, 'cause between you and the Doc I don't trust you won't actually try it. I'm too black to risk that kinda horror movie origin story.

[ Hey, he's worked with Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. Sam knows the wonders and terrors of that kind of...

Wait, hold up.

Has he found Less-Punk-Stark and More-Punk-Banner with Hermann and Newton?

Holy shit. ]

Speaking of mission prep, though. That cast's off, you ever need some combat pointers, I'm sure I can help out.

[bijective]

[That gets a small smirk out of Hermann. An absurd thought, but he gets the joke. Even by Hermann’s standards, he is mortified at the thought of having another him around.

But he’s even more surprised by Sam’s offer to teach him combat skills.]

A-Are you sure?

[When you’re a scientist for one of the last remaining strongholds for humanity, self-defence classes are at the bottom of the list for you. All they need is your brain and nothing else. But here’s his chance to improve himself and be more effective on the field!]

Do you mean I can learn how to keep hostiles off my back?

[He says this like he’s got half a decade’s worth of military training under his belt. But he’s gotta get hip with the lingo in some manner if he is to "roll with the big dogs".]

[unclesam]

[ Sam's gaze softens at that. He remembers seeing Hermann walk on a cane before the mission, and wonders briefly how often the man's been overlooked or dismissed as too frail for anyone to bother. Nobody deserves to feel helpless or ill-prepared, and being the brains of any operation shouldn't limit the man's ability to fend for himself within reason. ​]

Yeah, man, 'course I'm sure. Long as you promise you won't go off tryna tackle armies just 'cause I can teach you to put a guy my size down on the mat.

[ He grins though, easy and warm, and extends a hand for Hermann to shake with his uninjured one. ]

Shake on it?

[bijective]

Yes. [Heavily nodding at Sam's hand.] Yes, of course!

[He extends his own (uninjured) hand for them to shake on it.]

I’m more than capable of holding a little restraint.

[The conviction in his voice might lead you to believe he is being dead serious about tackling entire armies on his own.]