[ It had been tempting, when they discussed it, for Steve to point out that Sam had gone to jail — a much nastier version of what was in store for him now — on Steve's behalf. That means that it was definitely Steve's turn this time around, especially since Sam has his reputation to think about it. It's not something he can toss aside so easily, though Steve suspects that he would if push came to shove.
Thankfully it hasn't gotten to that point. ]
We ran into a few guards and managed to take them down. I'm not sure if anyone was lost in the explosion, but we did everything we could to limit casualties.
[ He and Jesper had talked that out beforehand. A death count would only make things that much more complicated, and Steve did prefer to avoid cutting people down whenever he could. ]
But don't worry, I'm not planning to kick up any more of a fuss. I already did what I set out to do, so now it's just a matter of carrying out whatever sentence they give me.
[ A small price to pay, as far as he's concerned. ]
[ honestly, it was tempting for both of them to bring it up, even if it hadn't been the first thought that came to sam's mind. this whole process, this whole exchange, has happened to him more recently - his time on the raft is over five years from now, for him. coming up on six. geralt's trip into the desert and subsequent jail time closer to two. thankfully sam's not quite looking at it that way - thinking about the years, the time spent, that's a rabbit hole he's not really interested in diving into right now.
instead- his focus is just on now, on what they could do to steve while he's being kept there. still- it's not a situation they're unfamiliar with, so sam's nerves are hardened but contained. ]
LET'S HOPE EVERYONE GOT OUT WHO WAS IN THERE YOU THINK IT'LL BE ENOUGH TO STOP WHAT THEY WERE DOING?
[ steve knew what sam's thoughts were on all of this. no casualties, unless necessary. but even sam knew how bad these things could get.
steve might be able to feel the sigh - a kind of exhaling of stress. ]
ITS NOT YOU IM WORRIED ABOUT JESPER'S NOT MADE TO BE KEPT BEHIND BARS I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOT THE PATIENCE FOR IT
Not stop them, no. They've already figured out how to make the technology, and that information is sitting in someone's brain or written down somewhere. But it at least sets them back.
[ Maybe some wouldn't consider that enough to be worth all the risk, but Steve's used to fighting wars like this. He'd taken out plenty of Hydra bases in the hopes that it would make some sort of difference, that it would save even a few lives. Sometimes it's a matter of death by a thousand cuts, and while he doesn't want to completely dismantle the Free Cities' military, he also doesn't want them to get so powerful that they conquer the other territories.
That, and it had been personal for him. He and Geralt had watched as soldiers hauled the corpse of the Thunderjaw away, and even back then they'd known what was coming.
He just wishes his best work didn't continue to be after the fact. ]
I'll keep an eye on him. I'm presenting it like this was all my idea and he was just following my lead, which is true, so hopefully he'll get a milder sentence.
He knew what he was signing up for, though. He'll be alright.
YEAH AND IT'S DEFINITELY WRITTEN DOWN I TOLD YOU ABOUT VIKTOR'S LAB, RIGHT?
[ still, sam would like to think it might work to dissuade them. if anything, he's hoping that the destruction will put them back on the path for long enough that they'll change their way of thinking, but until he gets a little more information, there's no telling exactly how they'll retaliate.
but sam can do this work, for right now. can keep his name in the minds of the decision makers, can be a physical presence and a reminder and hope that he can talk enough of their ways out of it. he's not looking to get jesper or steve fully pardoned - and a jail-break had certainly been on both his and steve's minds - but they're thinking about the bigger picture.
and from what he can tell, the mines are a standard fair working camp. sam doesn't like it, doesn't like the idea of jesper there (steve... well. steve knew what he was getting into, in a way. of course sam doesn't like steve being there either, but he also knows what steve can handle. jesper, he's less sure of.) - especially doesn't like the idea of jesper getting bored out there. ]
I KNOW HE KNEW HONESTLY IF YOU WEREN'T THERE HE PROBABLY WOULD'A GOTTEN UP TO MORE TROUBLE I JUST ALSO KNOW HE'S THE TYPE TO START STUFF IF HE'S FEELING TRAPPED OR BORED WHICH I KNOW YOU KNOW BUT
You mean everything that happened with them using his tech that they seized to develop the weapons they used to bomb Castle Thorne? He told me about it.
[ Or rather, Steve happened to be passing by when he spotted Viktor at Portham Hall, aiming to speak to someone about what they'd done even though he'd known it would likely be a futile effort.
Again, they still had to try. ]
I do know, and I'll make sure that he doesn't get himself into even more trouble while we're serving out our sentences. I'm hoping the hours of manual labor will leave him too exhausted to cause a whole lot of trouble.
WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE THE NOTES TO KEEP MAKING MORE VIKTOR SAID HE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ELSE WAS TAKEN BUT WE CAN ONLY ASSUME ANYTHING VIKTOR WAS WORKING ON IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE MILITARY WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN GET IT TO WORK IS ANOTHER STORY
[ sam had touched base with viktor right before that, though he doubts viktor had wanted to get cornered by the captains right in the midst of it. still, yes, they still had to try.
they always have to try. ]
I KNOW YOU WILL AND IM HOPING FOR THE SAME I'LL SEE IF I CAN COME OUT AND VISIT MY TWO JAILBIRDS SOMETIME SOON :)
[ there isn't a whole lot else they can do at this point, really, which sam hates more than anything else. but they can only take it one step at a time. ]
I think between what happened to Viktor and now the proof of what they were able to develop from the Thunderjaw, it's pretty obvious that anything they take they're going to find some way to weaponize.
[ In Viktor's case he hadn't even been trying to make weapons, but it does mean that any Summoned who develops tech or does engineering projects is going to have to be that much more careful. ]
Only if you can do it without bringing undue attention on you. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see you, but I think I'll survive a month of separation if that's what it has to be.
[ It will be an adjustment after he's spent so long seeing Sam every day, but Steve's more than used to accepting the consequences of his actions. ]
IF WE'RE GOING BY LOGIC ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WE'VE BUILT IS OPEN FOR THE MILITARY'S USE SO IF YOU SEE A WHOLE LOT OF WINGS FLYING 'ROUND, LET ME KNOW SO I CAN GO HUNTING
[ steve would know how much that bothers sam - something he'd had an issue back all those years ago when he'd first retired, first been grounded. the access he had to wakandan tech and avenger connections had been a boon at the time, something that sam had become very aware of when he'd first been summoned.
it was hard, when tony had been around and had built the first prototype. when sam had realized that wings were something that were within reach. and then there were the patents, the understanding that the government was watching every step, and then the decision to stop reporting on each and every detail.
some part of sam knows it's just a matter of time. he can only imagine how fully viktor feels that too. ]
AND HERE I WAS READY TO PAY BACK THE JAILBREAK PRETTY SURE ITS MY TURN
Thankfully I haven't caught wind of anything like that so far, but I think we should stay vigilant just in case. Maybe they just haven't found a need for that kind of tech yet.
[ But it comes up, they'll deal with it. That's what they always do.
Steve's all too aware of how Sam feels about it. It's the issue that always comes up when trying to replicate tech from home — that looming possibility that the military is going to find a way to take advantage. It leaves them between a rock and a hard place, but is that really any different from how it had gone back home? ]
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no subject
Thankfully it hasn't gotten to that point. ]
We ran into a few guards and managed to take them down. I'm not sure if anyone was lost in the explosion, but we did everything we could to limit casualties.
[ He and Jesper had talked that out beforehand. A death count would only make things that much more complicated, and Steve did prefer to avoid cutting people down whenever he could. ]
But don't worry, I'm not planning to kick up any more of a fuss. I already did what I set out to do, so now it's just a matter of carrying out whatever sentence they give me.
[ A small price to pay, as far as he's concerned. ]
no subject
instead- his focus is just on now, on what they could do to steve while he's being kept there. still- it's not a situation they're unfamiliar with, so sam's nerves are hardened but contained. ][ steve knew what sam's thoughts were on all of this. no casualties, unless necessary. but even sam knew how bad these things could get.
steve might be able to feel the sigh - a kind of exhaling of stress. ]
no subject
[ Maybe some wouldn't consider that enough to be worth all the risk, but Steve's used to fighting wars like this. He'd taken out plenty of Hydra bases in the hopes that it would make some sort of difference, that it would save even a few lives. Sometimes it's a matter of death by a thousand cuts, and while he doesn't want to completely dismantle the Free Cities' military, he also doesn't want them to get so powerful that they conquer the other territories.
That, and it had been personal for him. He and Geralt had watched as soldiers hauled the corpse of the Thunderjaw away, and even back then they'd known what was coming.
He just wishes his best work didn't continue to be after the fact. ]
I'll keep an eye on him. I'm presenting it like this was all my idea and he was just following my lead, which is true, so hopefully he'll get a milder sentence.
He knew what he was signing up for, though. He'll be alright.
no subject
but sam can do this work, for right now. can keep his name in the minds of the decision makers, can be a physical presence and a reminder and hope that he can talk enough of their ways out of it. he's not looking to get jesper or steve fully pardoned - and a jail-break had certainly been on both his and steve's minds - but they're thinking about the bigger picture.
and from what he can tell, the mines are a standard fair working camp. sam doesn't like it, doesn't like the idea of jesper there (steve... well. steve knew what he was getting into, in a way. of course sam doesn't like steve being there either, but he also knows what steve can handle. jesper, he's less sure of.) - especially doesn't like the idea of jesper getting bored out there. ] [ he worries!!! ]
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[ Or rather, Steve happened to be passing by when he spotted Viktor at Portham Hall, aiming to speak to someone about what they'd done even though he'd known it would likely be a futile effort.
Again, they still had to try. ]
I do know, and I'll make sure that he doesn't get himself into even more trouble while we're serving out our sentences.
I'm hoping the hours of manual labor will leave him too exhausted to cause a whole lot of trouble.
no subject
they always have to try. ] [ there isn't a whole lot else they can do at this point, really, which sam hates more than anything else. but they can only take it one step at a time. ]
no subject
[ In Viktor's case he hadn't even been trying to make weapons, but it does mean that any Summoned who develops tech or does engineering projects is going to have to be that much more careful. ]
Only if you can do it without bringing undue attention on you.
Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see you, but I think I'll survive a month of separation if that's what it has to be.
[ It will be an adjustment after he's spent so long seeing Sam every day, but Steve's more than used to accepting the consequences of his actions. ]
no subject
it was hard, when tony had been around and had built the first prototype. when sam had realized that wings were something that were within reach. and then there were the patents, the understanding that the government was watching every step, and then the decision to stop reporting on each and every detail.
some part of sam knows it's just a matter of time. he can only imagine how fully viktor feels that too. ]
no subject
[ But it comes up, they'll deal with it. That's what they always do.
Steve's all too aware of how Sam feels about it. It's the issue that always comes up when trying to replicate tech from home — that looming possibility that the military is going to find a way to take advantage. It leaves them between a rock and a hard place, but is that really any different from how it had gone back home? ]
Is that how it works? Are we trading off now?