voice;

[kneecaptain]

[The voice is coming into and out of focus, but it doesn't seem to care. It's clipped, and determined.]

They really know how to roll out the welcome mat, don't they? I feel— [buzz and static] ain't the Blitz, but— [more of the same]

I heard the Avengers were here, and I wanna sit-rep. This is [more static] Captain America. [While the reception ain't great, anyone who knows him can tell this is Not Steve.]

I need to know what I'm dealing with.

Comments

voice;

[vampirique]

It is uncomfortably similar.

( A literal minute's pause. Does this person know how to use a computer... )

—To the Blitz.

voice;

[kneecaptain]

'Cept this time they want you to get undergound.

voice;

[vampirique]

( Sardonically, but with a hint of curiosity; )

You were there during that time? Alive?

voice;

[kneecaptain]

Well, I wasn't dead.

voice;

[livinuptothename]

There's assholes dropping gas bombs and more assholes with laser guns.

Fucking laser guns.

[ WHO DOES THAT EVEN. ]

voice;

[kneecaptain]

Yeah, I noticed.

voice;

[livinuptothename]

Freakin' hope so. Don't know what you're dealing with right now, but that's what I'm dealing with.

voice;

[kneecaptain]

You're not [more static] underground.

voice;

[myownbestfriend]

[What the actual fuck. It's not like she's BFFs with either Cap or Bucky, but she does know them both, and has spent enough time in Namor's memories to know Cap doesn't say "ain't."]

Barnes?

[At least she's not calling him "Bucky Cap."]

voice;

[kneecaptain]

Hey, you got it in one.

Who's this?

[stopcallingmebuckycap.jpg]

voice;

[myownbestfriend]

Emma Frost.

voice;

[chelicerata]

You heard that correctly.

[ they're not a full set, but a few of the avengers are here. as for the second half of that message? sorry, sir, but no sit-rep for you just yet. ]

Cap is standing a few feet away from me, and I doubt he's the one I'm speaking to. Who are you?

voice;

[kneecaptain]

I said I was Captain America, I didn't say—

Wait, is Steve here?

voice;

[chelicerata]

[ she might've played a different card under normal circumstances, perhaps let him continue to talk without questioning his identity to collect information, but they're under attack by the united earth and there are more important matters that require their attention. ]

He is.

I take it you're not claiming to be Rogers, then?

[gamora]

Because having "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" running around is exactly what this place needs.

[ in her experience they're too busy making it worse. ]

[kneecaptain]

I don't know what this place needs. Someone must've thought it needed me, though, because here I am.

I bet I like it a lot less than you do.

[gamora]

You and every two-bit individual they can get their hands on. Doesn't mean you're special.

That a bet you're willing to make?

voice

[implying]

My, but that seems to be a common title.

voice

[kneecaptain]

It was a hand-me-down.

Is someone else using it?

[fe_male]

[ Narrowed eyes. You don't look right. ]

Bullsh-[ convenient static aw yeah ]

Try that again.

[kneecaptain]

Look, my fancy membership card got lost in transit. [Actually they took it away when he got sent to jail, but details.]

If Steve's here [and people are saying Steve's here] he'll vouch for me.

[fe_male]

He's here. [ Unfortunately for you, Tony doesn't have that whole forged-in-war-brothers-type bond with the guy yet. ] Doesn't tell me who you are. [ Particularly if you are claiming that title but not the identity accompanying it. ]

[ Voice ]

[akidfrombrooklyn]

[ Captain America? He's not exactly sure how he feels about hearing that from someone other than himself. The voice sounds familiar, makes his chest ache the same way it always does whenever he gets reminders of anyone he's lost over the years, but it can't be, not if he's claiming to be Captain America - Bucky died before he left the 40s and the war behind him, so it's not possible. ]

Guess you're a replacement somewhere down the line, huh?

voice

[kneecaptain]

[The static and whole AU thing are enough to keep Bucky from recognizing the voice. Instead, he just sounds weary and resigned.]

Successor, maybe.

No one could replace him.

voice

[akidfrombrooklyn]

Not sure about that. If they let you put on the suit, you must be worthy of it.

[ Probably a lot more than he is, a man created to fit the suit rather than the other way around. ]