Steve has questions. Steve has many questions, and he has those questions for many reasons. He can't ask most of them, because those answers would all be the information Hydra would want - or so he assumes.
He also isn't at all sure whether he's being told the truth or this is information for their likely invisible audience to try to convince them to close the damn gate. Except... why would he want that? He can't go home if that happens.
"Were you conscious when you came through?" That's... fairly safe. He thinks. Nothing like trying to find a way to stop the entire ass world he has no connection to at all anymore from going down, when also relatively helpless and effectively brainwashed and mind wiped. "Or brought to this cell?"
"I assume, of course, they'll be questioning me about what could come through from home in short order," he goes on. "Not that I'm accusing you of anything personally, but the only reason to put two people in captivity together is to see if they'll talk to each other. Either they're listening or they'll have you repeat what I've just said."
It's fine. He hasn't let anything slip yet. Nor has he lied.
"I was...in and out of consciousness, I think," he says with a frown. "One moment I was in my workshop, and then I was so dizzy and nauseous I couldn't see or think, and then I was in a repulsive-smelling room with a bunch of hulking great humans surrounding me."
There's a momentary pause, and then he adds: "I've been playing dumb up until now. You can tell them I'm a gnome, if you like. I don't think it will matter to them."
"There's at least one other reason," Steve says, very dryly. He's not relaxed enough to sit down, but he actually wishes he were. It would be physically more comfortable and he'd stop looming over Barcus. "Leverage. That one's a matter of opportunity, rather than a primary objective."
Does he count as being 'in captivity'? Sure. It's a strange thought.
He really wishes he were dumber sometimes. He would much prefer not seeing the potential, massive, dangerous problems in what else might come through that door. It would save him all sorts of (literal) headaches.
"Leverage?" He blinks. "What, they think we're going to get attached to one another? We're not even the same species."
In fairness, this is him putting on a front, on some level. Already, he feels considerable, if wary, compassion for this strange human. There's nothing for either of them to gain by acting like it, though. If Steve has an iota of intelligence--and the gnome is pretty sure he does--he'll understand. "They overestimate my charisma, I fear, if that's the case. They should have brought you a pretty elf, or maybe a halfling. Everyone likes halflings, they can't help it. Hells, I like halflings."
"No one cares what happens to gnomes. Especially deep gnomes."
"I would like to go home," he nods agreeably. "However, not at the expense of your entire civilization and/or universe. We have our problems under control in Faerun at the moment, but I hate to see what a handful of mindflayers would do to a realm that's not prepared for them."
"You like cats." That is a solid, valid point. You're not the same species as a cat, they can be assholes, and you're clearly worried about your cats. What the heck does species and charm have to do with anything.
Also, truthfully, Steve's pretty sure this one is more about them gaining leverage over him than the other way around.
"All right." Good info. Means if he can get a chance and enough info, maybe he can shut this thing down. Pay for it, but at least that's not the entire universe or planet paying for it. Mindflayer seems like something would think they'd be able to use, but almost certainly couldn't control. The situation for everyone else doesn't improve if they can. "Maybe they'll be smarter about it than usual."
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branchandroot
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Date: 2026-02-01 05:07 pm (UTC)He also isn't at all sure whether he's being told the truth or this is information for their likely invisible audience to try to convince them to close the damn gate. Except... why would he want that? He can't go home if that happens.
"Were you conscious when you came through?" That's... fairly safe. He thinks. Nothing like trying to find a way to stop the entire ass world he has no connection to at all anymore from going down, when also relatively helpless and effectively brainwashed and mind wiped. "Or brought to this cell?"
no subject
Date: 2026-02-04 01:05 am (UTC)It's fine. He hasn't let anything slip yet. Nor has he lied.
"I was...in and out of consciousness, I think," he says with a frown. "One moment I was in my workshop, and then I was so dizzy and nauseous I couldn't see or think, and then I was in a repulsive-smelling room with a bunch of hulking great humans surrounding me."
There's a momentary pause, and then he adds: "I've been playing dumb up until now. You can tell them I'm a gnome, if you like. I don't think it will matter to them."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-04 01:55 pm (UTC)Does he count as being 'in captivity'? Sure. It's a strange thought.
He really wishes he were dumber sometimes. He would much prefer not seeing the potential, massive, dangerous problems in what else might come through that door. It would save him all sorts of (literal) headaches.
"I assume you'd like to go home?"
no subject
Date: 2026-02-15 04:58 pm (UTC)In fairness, this is him putting on a front, on some level. Already, he feels considerable, if wary, compassion for this strange human. There's nothing for either of them to gain by acting like it, though. If Steve has an iota of intelligence--and the gnome is pretty sure he does--he'll understand. "They overestimate my charisma, I fear, if that's the case. They should have brought you a pretty elf, or maybe a halfling. Everyone likes halflings, they can't help it. Hells, I like halflings."
"No one cares what happens to gnomes. Especially deep gnomes."
"I would like to go home," he nods agreeably. "However, not at the expense of your entire civilization and/or universe. We have our problems under control in Faerun at the moment, but I hate to see what a handful of mindflayers would do to a realm that's not prepared for them."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-25 08:48 pm (UTC)Also, truthfully, Steve's pretty sure this one is more about them gaining leverage over him than the other way around.
"All right." Good info. Means if he can get a chance and enough info, maybe he can shut this thing down. Pay for it, but at least that's not the entire universe or planet paying for it. Mindflayer seems like something would think they'd be able to use, but almost certainly couldn't control. The situation for everyone else doesn't improve if they can. "Maybe they'll be smarter about it than usual."