#01; 22 Feb, morning.

[paragon]

[ Steve's a city boy, Brooklyn born and bred. It's too quiet here at night, and he already has enough trouble getting to sleep the more he remembers. It's something to keep in mind, at least, if he's ever in doubt as to which set of memories really belongs in his head. Mostly, he knows where he comes down on it, and so he tries not to dwell.

They have snow in New York, though. If it's not welcomed, it's not unfamiliar, either. And if there was one thing being a Depression era kid taught him, it's that neighbors help each other out. ]

Steve Rogers here. I hope everyone's enjoying the snow day and you kids don't miss me too much. [ Oh, Mr. Rogers, you nerd. ] I'd rather not spend the whole day inside myself, so if you have somewhere you need to be let me know and I'll stop by to clear some of it away. Uh, if I'm not here you can try to catch me out and about, or go ahead and leave a message. I'll keep checking back in every once in a while.

[ He misses cell phones. ]

Comments

[singly]

[ Who would welcome snow? Who? Malia's keeping herself cooped up inside, not so gladly but it's better than going out and being cold. Not like she has any clothes suited for winter weather, anyway. ]

What if it just keeps snowing and you do all that work for no reason? [ She sounds real happy about the snow! Not annoyed or put out at all. ] Wouldn't it be easier to just stay inside? [ And be a recluse as a result of something as silly as snowfall. ]

[paragon]

Seems to be holding off for now.

[ The suitability of Steve's clothing for the weather is a little questionable as well, but it's not exactly like he has to worry about frostbite. ]

Life goes on even in this kind of weather. Sometimes you've just got somewhere to be. Is this Malia?

[ He's actually got a pretty damn good memory when he's not an amnesiac. ]

[singly]

[ She softly hums -- obviously he's not wrong. Malia's lips part to provide some response, probably something equally as displeased (she really is not a fan of the snow), any idea fading away when he asks for her name. ]

Yeah. It's me, Mr. Rogers. Malia.

You got somewhere you actually gotta go today? [ Don't you dare say the school. For any reason at all! Cherish the days off, brought on by snow! ]

[paragon]

Me? No.

[ That subtext is coming in loud and clear, Malia. Lucky for her he's not gonna regale her with tales of walking uphill both ways in the snow with no shoes on to get to school — partly because Brooklyn was pretty flat and Steve at least had soles on his shoes, but mostly because even without any restrictions on their freedom to do so he's not really one for reminiscing over the good old days. ]

Missed you in class the last couple days, though.

[singly]

[ For a human (hell, even a werecoyote) that would be too much effort to go to school, from Malia's perspective. No matter that it's but a saying. Or that she would've had to do what her parents told her to do when she was a kid; she drives to school now. Or. Did, in Beacon Hills. Where she goes to school most days!!

She takes in his answer, switching the phone to her other ear, sighing at how direct his next words are. ]

So? There's...been important stuff to do. [ To try to seek out, actually. Trying to drudge up answers with no regard on what trouble may find her. ] I'm...prioritizing. [ Is she in trouble? Are you gonna write her a detention?! ]

[paragon]

[ Sure thing, he'll write her that detention right now and deliver it to her by sled. ]

That's up to you. [ Maybe not the appropriate party line for a teacher nowadays, but where he'd grown up — where he'd really grown up — education was sometimes a luxury not everyone could afford. He'd never finished art school himself, which makes his current position slightly ironic; he understands prioritizing, if that's what she's really doing. ]

Could be a good place to learn things you'll need to know someday, though. Or for someone to know where to find you.

[ That's not the standard line, either, if she's smart enough to pick up on it. ]

[overdraws]

Any advice for trying to deal with it on our own?

[ Not that she wouldn't appreciate the help, but he's probably going to be busy. ]

[paragon]

[ Yep. ]

Put your back into it. Only way to get through this much snow without a plow.

[overdraws]

Great. [ You know. In that way that isn't great, like, at all. ]

I'm not even sure I have winter clothing. Maybe we can just stay inside the house for the week.

[paragon]

I didn't say that.

[ Though someone sure as hell did, and he's not at all inclined to follow the sheriff's advice. ]

The important thing is to stay dry. You don't wear enough layers the snow will melt right through 'em, wear too many and you'll sweat. You don't want either.

[overdraws]

My dad was usually the one who took care of the snow.

[ That's vague enough for anyone listening, right? She could absolutely be talking about Wayward Pines. ]

How many layers is the right amount of layers?

[paragon]

Depends on you. Some people don't need as many. But if you're gonna start near home you can at least go back inside if you think you're not dressed for it.

[ He pauses. ]

I really don't mind lending a hand.

[overdraws]

I just don't want you to go out of your way. You're probably already going to be busy.

[paragon]

For what it's worth, Malia was the first person to call me back.

[ How he knows that Allison and Malia live together is anyone's guess, including his. Lately he just rolls with it, especially when it comes to his students (former or otherwise), or he'd never get anything else done. ]

[overdraws]

Really?

[ So that's who Malia'd been talking to... ] Was she asking about school?

[paragon]

I think I got a talking to about that, actually. Between the two of you I'll have nothing to do today.

[overdraws]

Even teachers deserve a snow day, right?

[paragon]

Don't know how much that has to do with it. Beats sitting inside all day, though. Hence the offer.