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[witness_this]

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[Furiosa spends most mornings in the gym. Honestly, she'd prefer the Enclosure, but she needs to be moving long and often enough that she can't justify using more than her share of the precious time in the false environment. She works out quickly how to run on the treadmill, but most of the other machines remain a mystery to her. If the right person is using them, they may see her watching, or so may decide to approach.

Some mornings her prosthesis is on, and others it is off, tucked protectively and nearly underfoot, out of habit, though this doesn't seem like the kind of place where anyone is likely to get any ideas.

When she is done, she usually ends by slipping upstairs, showering quickly, and permitting herself what feels like the decadent luxury of putting her feet into the pool. It takes her until about the fifth time to get up the nerve to walk in to the water, to lower herself down in it until she feels it lap up around her neck, then to hold her breath and gingerly, cover her mouth and nose, and cautiously, gingerly slip under the surface and just let herself float, suspended.

She can be found in any of those places.

Still, a workout isn't the same thing as practice, really, and the conversation that has been going on here has weighed heavily on her, though she hasn't participated. So, finally, she takes a break one morning in the gym and turns on the feed.]

Video

[She has to clear her throat to start, and wipe the sweat off her face. She's sitting in the frame, bare feet apart, elbows rested on her knees, metal arm down at her side. Furiosa isn't comfortable, exactly, talking to a little plastic box that will take her words all over the ship, but this is important to her.]

My name is Imperator Furiosa. I'm human. No powers. I'm in the gym.

If you need, I've been teaching people a little about how to fight. If you don't need, but you're--

I could use the practice.

[Short, unceremonious, she disconnects.]

Comments

[punched_hitler]

[He just waits, nodding, catching his breath.] Someone in the infirmary could probably help with that, if it does bother you. Any of our, uh, doctors could probably take care of that without expending too much energy.

[It's sort of strange, not having any medical doctors on board, although he still trusts that the wardens who do serve as medical staff there could handle just about anything.]

[witness_this]

I'll check on it next time I'm in.

[A week later, she's still doing follow-ups for a lot of her other damage.

Speaking of which, she stops to drink water.]

[punched_hitler]

Sure. [A half-smile, like, Whatever you say, but if he said anything else, it'd be pot calling kettle, and he respects her, so he doesn't.

He'll just take the time to catch his breath, although he does ask,] You get the radiation poisoning looked at?

[That's a little more serious than an old wound.]

[witness_this]

Yeah.

[A short, surprised grin.]

They just- melted it out of me. They gave me an IV for the kidneys, they've tested my blood since and are talking to me about the things people are supposed to eat- honestly I feel like I could storm the place single handed.

[It's so much better.]

[punched_hitler]

Yeah? Good. [He looks utterly pleased - and understanding, at what she says next.]

There's nothing like suddenly feeling good, when you've been living with not good for so long that you never knew there was an alternative. You really do feel like you can take on the world. It's a better high than - anything, probably.

[witness_this]

Then- if you don't mind my asking-

[She looks him up, and down again, because she can bet that this transformation hasn't put him back in a 'good' direction.]

[punched_hitler]

[No, it really hasn't. He remembers the couple of weeks right after Pearl Harbor, where he'd gotten Bucky to train him, try to make him fit so he could join up. He'd never been more exhausted in his life... and he's pretty sure that's exactly how every day is going to be on the Barge, like this, but that's not what matters to him.]

Why would I go back to this? Because I didn't need any of that to do what I'm here to do. I said I believed the Admiral wasn't necessarily wrong to take away powers, because powers don't make the person, and I meant it. I don't think anyone here needs powers to grow, and while I admit it's frustrating as hell to lose them, I think maybe it's an important step in the process. I don't know. But I just don't think it's wrong.

And I also don't think it would've meant a thing, if I weren't willing to step up to the plate and make that same sacrifice. You can call me an idiot, [the person he cares about most on this boat already has, repeatedly,] but the man who gave me that power, he told me not to change because of it. Maybe - I've got to prove to myself that I haven't.

[witness_this]

I know what you mean.

[She says, and offers no explanation beyond that. But she does; her life became violent when she was a young girl. She grew strong with time, stronger than most, even, and she sometimes wonders now what she would be like without this kind of power.

Furiosa can't say she's ready to go back, though.]

[punched_hitler]

[He nods; it's up to her whether she wants to explain, but he's not surprised that she knows what he means. He really doesn't know much about her life, but he can see it in her - she's had to fight for what she has, and she's likely made sacrifices along the way, too. She's not a soldier by choice, he doesn't think, but she's a sort of soldier, all the same. Maybe it's that way for everyone in her world, although he hopes it's not.

Nor could he blame her for not wanting to give what she has up - he isn't asking it of anybody but himself, anyway, and he's not thinking less of anyone based on what they do or don't do, when it comes to this debate.]

I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. But I don't think this is one of them.

Thanks for working out with me. For being honest about it. I know I've got a lot of ground to make up for.

[He hates admitting it, but it's true. It doesn't mean he gives up, though - it just means he works harder.]

[witness_this]

[Well, if he wants honest.]

You can't afford to take a real hit, from a bigger opponent. Your days of fighting with force are over, because there's no way to block every single blow. You're going to have to be smart, you're going to have to be fast, you're going to have to be a very good shot and a better tactician. You'll do the most good by thinking. By bluffing. By redirecting and applying specific pressure, and by not going down throwing yourself at the first mountain of muscles we hit.

[She can do blunt.]

Build your stamina as much as your lungs allow, and carry a gun in a fight.

[punched_hitler]

[He likes honest, and he likes blunt. He may not like what he hears because of them, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to hear it.

Besides - she's right. He knows she's right. He didn't gain superhuman tactical abilities as Captain America only to want to throw it out the window again. Before, in the streets of Brooklyn, fighting with force was all he knew. Sure, he'd been smart about it, but he'd still been throwing punches - or trying - just like Bucky would, and getting knocked down over and over because of it.

Here, he's not fighting bullies like that. And she's right - a real, serious opponent out here will level him with one hit, and he won't be any good at all.

He nods.] I'm a good tactician already. Plenty of practice. I don't know if I can be a very good shot, but I plan to find out. [He was a very good shot - not like Bucky, but sniping was never his forte - but his eyesight's not 20/20, anymore.] But you are right. Changing my tactics is the best thing I can do, even if it's probably going to be the hardest.

[He's used to working around problems. He can work around problems. Maybe he even got a little lazy, being able to throw himself at opponents and trust to his speed and strength and agility and reflexes to get him out of it alive.

Either way, he nods, and he smiles a little wryly.] Now all I gotta do is hope the flu doesn't go around at a bad time. And then make a plan for when it does.

[witness_this]

Good.

[She says, with obvious approval.]

Because I don't understand this place at all yet, so my tactical abilities are going to be pretty much shot, maybe for the first half year. I'll be looking for advice, Rogers.

[He seems like a good man to have at her back, even in this new form.]

[punched_hitler]

I don't know if any of us ever will understand this place. But anything I do know, I'm happy to share. And you will get used to it.

[Either way, she seems like a good woman to have at his.

He's quiet a minute, then nods with his chin to her arm.] Can you handle heavy loads? Or is that more for delicate work? [Honestly, to him it looks like more of the former, but he doesn't really know. He's not a technical expert.]

[witness_this]

I have to be careful.

[It's so strange, novel, to be able to admit to having a hesitation like this without it being a possible sign of blood in the water, a death sentence.]

The weight transfers through the straps and can leave bruising. In a pinch, I'm capable.

[punched_hitler]

[He nods. Not exactly like Bucky's, then - but Bucky's had some version of the serum, and nobody was interested in making him comfortable.]

I just - you saw my shield? [He was carrying it, the first time they met, and he handled it like it weighed no more than something made of lightweight metal.] It's heavy, about fifty pounds, but it'll protect you from nearly anything.

There aren't a lot of people who can use something like that. I told Bucky to take it, if he needed it, but... [He's not sure he will.] If you ever think it would be useful, just ask. It's a good weapon, offensive or defensive. In a pinch.

[And there's no way he can handle it now, at least, not like he used to. Defense, maybe. But he can barely lift it with two arms.]

[witness_this]

I could use that on one arm.

[She says, eagerly. She'd thought she'd meant moving boxes.]

I'd be very interested in training with it, some time, particularly with you to explain how it's used.

[punched_hitler]

[He nods.] That's what I was thinking.

And I'd be happy to bring it, sometime. [Whereby bring, he probably means drag at this point.] It's indestructible - [he grins] which means you can pretty much use it however the hell you want. But I've got a couple of techniques that I've perfected, over the years.

[He can't show her - but he could explain them. Diagram them, even, in very great detail.]

[witness_this]

Please.

[Immediately, utterly enthusiastic. She'd seen it and admired it then, and is hungry for a challenge. More than that, she could do some good with it, especially if she can learn something before the crisis hits.]

[punched_hitler]

[He grins - she reminds him of one or two other women he knows and respects greatly, at this point, and maybe they haven't known each other long, but he trusts her.] You got it.

[He pauses, considering.] I don't know if you know Kira, but I was showing her the ropes, too. She can physically show you anything I can't. I just want to make sure it gets used if it's needed, so the more people that know how to handle it, the better, in my opinion.

[witness_this]

I don't know her yet.

[She says, with an agreeable nod. A physical demonstration will probably help, rather than a mostly theoretical one.]

I'll watch for her.

[punched_hitler]

She's a good kid. I'm sure she'd be happy to show you - honestly, she'd be happy to have someone to practice with. She picks up stuff pretty quick.

[witness_this]

I'm in here most mornings.

[She admits, with an eager nod.]

We can, whenever you're ready, and whenever she'd like to join us.

maybe fade out on this one? 8D

[punched_hitler]

Yeah? I am, too. Usually go for a run, first. [Which... takes significantly longer, these days. But he still does it. And his tone of voice says she's welcome to join, if she wants.]

But I'll let Kira know. I think it'll be sooner rather than later. [As long as she's not too pissed at him.

He takes another drink of water, sets it aside, glances at her.] Wanna go a few more times? I know where to avoid, now.

sounds good to me!

[witness_this]

[Furiosa nods, and gets back to her feet.

Good to go.]