milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Steve has made good use of his time in Milliways, and his drawings are done.

(The two he's giving away are. The third, he's not sure what to do with.)

He's put them into envelopes with thin pieces of cardboard, one addressed to David Posner and the other to Ellen Park. Ellen's envelope has postcards and photographs, too, from the western leg of the USO tour: California beaches, Nevada deserts, Arizona canyons, Utah rock formations, Washington forests. He's even added a few comics of his own--literally, his own, including the first Captain America issue where he socks Hitler on the jaw right on the cover.

And when he stops at the bar to drop them off, what's waiting for him but another parcel from Ellen? Even the partial pages make him smile. He loves seeing how comics are done in other places and times--he's learning so much.

Dear David,

I redid one of my trading cards for you. (Yes, they've made trading cards about me. It's all a bit silly if you ask me, but maybe it can do you some good.) Whenever you feel like it's too much for you, remember: Captain America has faith in you.

Yours,
Steve Rogers

Dear Ellen,

I'm so sorry I missed you! I was so happy to see the new pages and can't wait to look through them.

I managed to get home since the last time we talked and put your package together: more pictures, this time of the western part of the country. We even got down to Mexico for a night! I had something called Abulita for the first time. It's a spicy hot chocolate, very delicious. I aim to try it at the Bar, too.

I've also included some of the Captain America books for your world's archives, if you think they'd take them. The stories are completely made-up, but as I'm constantly reminded, good for morale.

Since you mentioned you'd never seen the ocean, I decided to give it to you my way. You'll see it someday. I'll take you myself, if it comes to that.

Take care of yourself,
Steve Rogers

With the envelopes in Bar's care, Steve orders that cup of abulita and starts looking over the comics Ellen left for him. Time stands still while he's here--he feels no guilt about putting off his return.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It changes a lot, but it's still baseball. Just don't get used to the Dodgers being in Metropolis." He isn't going to say a thing about players unions, designated hitters, or George Steinbrenner.

"The Dodgers are in Brooklyn," says Steve. "I live a couple blocks from the stadium.

"We must be from different worlds."

"Yeah. Brooklyn's in New York, right? We don't have a New York." Same old story. Everyone has one but Knox. "Park's called Ebbets Field?"

"That's the one. They'd better never leave Brooklyn--the city won't be the same without them."

"Then here's hoping your world isn't like mine. Though Gotham does okay without the Giants." That is, it tolerates the Mets and longs for something, you know, good.

"Always wished I could have been to the old parks. Hot dogs for five cents, beer for about the same, and green grass everywhere."

"It does seem far away," Steve says quietly, then adds, "I haven't been home for a while. I won't get to a game until next season--probably longer."

"Ah.

"Europe, the Pacific, or basic training?" Makes sense. A guy in that good a shape has better be in the service.

"USO," Steve says, trying not to look embarrassed by it.

"Oh." Alex's recollection about the USO is that it was a bunch of singers, chorus girls and Bob Hope. A lot of Bob Hope.

"You're with Bob Hope?"

"No." If he were, the show would be less ridiculous, he hopes.

"I'm with the Captain America tour. War bonds fundraising, mostly, across the country. We're heading to Europe in a few months, though, and hopefully the focus will be more on entertaining."

If the chorus learns another song, it might even work.

"Well, war bonds are important.

"But what's Captain America?" It sounds like the sort of fundraiser name they give those annoying call-a-thons from otherwise good charities.

"He's, uh, me."

"I don't get what you're saying."

"I'm Captain America."

"You're some sort of..actor in an USO fundraiser dressed like something you draw?" Seems silly, but if it works...

"Hang on," is all the warning Steve gives before lifting Alex's stool, with Alex, over his head.

He puts Alex back down, smiles, and resumes sipping his cocoa.

"Wait. Wait. You're a real superhero. And they have you doing USO shows? While Hitler is killing Jews and running wild?" There is a flash of anger in Alex's eyes. "That has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard from the US Army." And he lived through Vietnam.

"If only someone would convince my CO of that," says Steve.

"Any reason they're holding you back? Or are they just busy being the army?" The stories he heard from his dad about the bureaucracy in WWII are clearly true.

Steve pauses a moment, trying to figure out where to begin.

"I think they don't know what to do with me.

"I'm the result of an experiment, you see. There were supposed to be more like me, but the scientist who knew the formula was murdered and no one knows how to recreate it.

"So I was presented with two options: be exiled to a lab or go on tour. Going on tour seemed like it would be more useful than being poked and prodded in a lab."

"And they didn't think about handing you a gun and a parachute and dropping you into Berlin to make a mess on your own? Because I bet you could make a pretty big mess. I know a bit about what a hero can do.

"You just need the right gear." Like black leather armor, and a cowl, and a fancy car.

Steve smiles and says, "I like that option."

"But they won't listen to you. And that oath you took when you were inducted means a lot, right?" It was the 40s. Everyone was that square. Even the mobsters, from what Knox has read. "Sounds rotten."

Steve nods. "Orders are orders.

"And it's not bad, the USO tour. War bonds sales get a ten percent bump in every city we visit. My movies and comics increase morale, I'm told. There's even going to be toys of me at Christmas."

"I guess there are worse things you could be doing.

"Ever meet any movie stars?" Who was big back then? Betty Grable, right?