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breakinglight11More Forever Captain fan fic scenes, this time from the currently-in-progress story Boulder in the Stream. The primary character struggle I've been writing for Steve is he's pulled between a fear of changing the timeline for the worse if he takes action, and his uncertainty whether the things he does matter at all. I thought it was a compelling challenge for a time traveler. This story is about putting him on a more active, plot-focused adventure where he has to very directly confront this struggle. This is a scene where, after seeing the results of his actions and being unable to stand the uncertainty any longer, he goes to try and seek answers from someone who might know.
I have a tendency to figure out intense, high drama moments before I figure out all the mechanical, structural plot beats-- I find that part to be much more work. So I sometimes end up spoiling important story moments because that's all I feel able to draft. So for this scene, I tried to cut it off before the real climax, while still including enough material to count as a scene.
This also references events from an earlier, completed story in the series, As Long as He Needs.
Day #7 - Change the World
From Forever Captain
By Phoebe Roberts
Bleecker Street, New York, 1955
STEVE ROGERS, formerly Captain America, now living as Grant Carter, late forties
MYRMIDIA, an acolyte at the Sanctum Santorum, early twenties
THE ANCIENT ONE, the Sorcerer Supreme, ageless
~~~
(STEVE ROGERS stands on Bleecker Street, staring up at the space between two towering brownstones. He approaches, and as he comes close, the magical veil is penetrated and the grand and enormous door of the Sanctum Sanctorum expands into view.
(STEVE takes hold of the door knocker and strikes the door three times. After a moment, MYRMIDIA appears, staring at him in confusion.)
STEVE: Hello. Sorry for the intrusion, but it’s important.
MYRMIDIA: Who are you?
STEVE: My name is Gr— Steve. Steve Rogers. I think you might be able to help me.
MYRMIDIA: You’re not supposed to be here. How could you even find us?
STEVE: I guess I just knew what I was looking for. I don’t mean any harm. I just… need some answers.
MYRMIDIA: Answers to what?
STEVE: (Taking a deep breath) I’d like to speak to the Ancient One, please.
MYRMIDIA: Sir, I don’t know where you’ve come from, but the Sorcerer Supreme doesn’t simply— take appointments—
STEVE: Please. Tell her… tell her a friend of Dr. Strange I here to see her.
MYRMIDIA: But, sir—
STEVE: Please. Just try.
(After a moment’s hesitation, MYRMIDIA withdraws, leaving him to wait. Soon she returns.)
MYRMIDIA: Follow me, sir. The Sorcerer Supreme will see you.
(He follows her into the Sanctum, where the ANCIENT ONE waits, looking exactly as he remembered her from decades into the future.)
ANCIENT ONE: Thank you, Myrmidia. We’ll speak alone.
(MYRMIDIA exits.)
STEVE: Thank you for your time. I know you have much to do.
ANCIENT ONE: I could hardly refuse one such as you. Leaving aside how you were able to find the Sanctum… you know of Stephen Strange?
STEVE: Not much. But I’ve met him.
ANCIENT ONE: And how can that be?
STEVE: Because I was there. In his time as Sorcerer Supreme.
ANCIENT ONE: You are from the future, then?
STEVE: And the past— in a manner of speaking. I think if you look at my history, you’ll see it’s taken an unusual path.
(She makes an arcane gesture, and flashes of insight spark around her. She considers them a moment, then regards him.)
ANCIENT ONE: I see. You ought to be frozen in the Arctic right now.
STEVE: I am. Or at least… one of me is. I came from another reality. I traveled to a different branch, to live out my life in the time period I was born in.
ANCIENT ONE: To change things?
STEVE: For myself. To return to the woman I love, and live a quiet life.
ANCIENT ONE: I take it that… has not entirely gone as planned.
STEVE: I guess you could say that. I never meant to shift the course of history… in fact, I’ve been afraid for a long time what would happen if I did. But I didn’t expect to wonder if I even could.
(Pause.)
STEVE: I never thought I could fight the whole world, ma’am. But I never believed in fate, either. And now… knowing what I know about how time and the universe works… I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what I can do, or fear to do. And I don’t think I can wonder any longer.
ANCIENT ONE: And… you believe I can tell you what you need to know?
STEVE: You did once.
ANCIENT ONE: I am not in the business of telling the future, Captain Rogers.
STEVE: That’s not what I want. I just want… to know how it works.
ANCIENT ONE: Men have been seeking to grasp the workings of the universe for millennia.
STEVE: Please, ma’am. Once you helped me understand the multiverse— or, you will, later in the timeline. It helped me to save my life— more than that. You’ve already helped me so much, and I will always be grateful for that. I don’t want to change the world, but… I can’t help but wonder. Can I change anything at this point? Anything at all?
(Pause.)
ANCIENT ONE: Come with me.
I have a tendency to figure out intense, high drama moments before I figure out all the mechanical, structural plot beats-- I find that part to be much more work. So I sometimes end up spoiling important story moments because that's all I feel able to draft. So for this scene, I tried to cut it off before the real climax, while still including enough material to count as a scene.
This also references events from an earlier, completed story in the series, As Long as He Needs.
Day #7 - Change the World
From Forever Captain
By Phoebe Roberts
Bleecker Street, New York, 1955
STEVE ROGERS, formerly Captain America, now living as Grant Carter, late forties
MYRMIDIA, an acolyte at the Sanctum Santorum, early twenties
THE ANCIENT ONE, the Sorcerer Supreme, ageless
~~~
(STEVE ROGERS stands on Bleecker Street, staring up at the space between two towering brownstones. He approaches, and as he comes close, the magical veil is penetrated and the grand and enormous door of the Sanctum Sanctorum expands into view.
(STEVE takes hold of the door knocker and strikes the door three times. After a moment, MYRMIDIA appears, staring at him in confusion.)
STEVE: Hello. Sorry for the intrusion, but it’s important.
MYRMIDIA: Who are you?
STEVE: My name is Gr— Steve. Steve Rogers. I think you might be able to help me.
MYRMIDIA: You’re not supposed to be here. How could you even find us?
STEVE: I guess I just knew what I was looking for. I don’t mean any harm. I just… need some answers.
MYRMIDIA: Answers to what?
STEVE: (Taking a deep breath) I’d like to speak to the Ancient One, please.
MYRMIDIA: Sir, I don’t know where you’ve come from, but the Sorcerer Supreme doesn’t simply— take appointments—
STEVE: Please. Tell her… tell her a friend of Dr. Strange I here to see her.
MYRMIDIA: But, sir—
STEVE: Please. Just try.
(After a moment’s hesitation, MYRMIDIA withdraws, leaving him to wait. Soon she returns.)
MYRMIDIA: Follow me, sir. The Sorcerer Supreme will see you.
(He follows her into the Sanctum, where the ANCIENT ONE waits, looking exactly as he remembered her from decades into the future.)
ANCIENT ONE: Thank you, Myrmidia. We’ll speak alone.
(MYRMIDIA exits.)
STEVE: Thank you for your time. I know you have much to do.
ANCIENT ONE: I could hardly refuse one such as you. Leaving aside how you were able to find the Sanctum… you know of Stephen Strange?
STEVE: Not much. But I’ve met him.
ANCIENT ONE: And how can that be?
STEVE: Because I was there. In his time as Sorcerer Supreme.
ANCIENT ONE: You are from the future, then?
STEVE: And the past— in a manner of speaking. I think if you look at my history, you’ll see it’s taken an unusual path.
(She makes an arcane gesture, and flashes of insight spark around her. She considers them a moment, then regards him.)
ANCIENT ONE: I see. You ought to be frozen in the Arctic right now.
STEVE: I am. Or at least… one of me is. I came from another reality. I traveled to a different branch, to live out my life in the time period I was born in.
ANCIENT ONE: To change things?
STEVE: For myself. To return to the woman I love, and live a quiet life.
ANCIENT ONE: I take it that… has not entirely gone as planned.
STEVE: I guess you could say that. I never meant to shift the course of history… in fact, I’ve been afraid for a long time what would happen if I did. But I didn’t expect to wonder if I even could.
(Pause.)
STEVE: I never thought I could fight the whole world, ma’am. But I never believed in fate, either. And now… knowing what I know about how time and the universe works… I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what I can do, or fear to do. And I don’t think I can wonder any longer.
ANCIENT ONE: And… you believe I can tell you what you need to know?
STEVE: You did once.
ANCIENT ONE: I am not in the business of telling the future, Captain Rogers.
STEVE: That’s not what I want. I just want… to know how it works.
ANCIENT ONE: Men have been seeking to grasp the workings of the universe for millennia.
STEVE: Please, ma’am. Once you helped me understand the multiverse— or, you will, later in the timeline. It helped me to save my life— more than that. You’ve already helped me so much, and I will always be grateful for that. I don’t want to change the world, but… I can’t help but wonder. Can I change anything at this point? Anything at all?
(Pause.)
ANCIENT ONE: Come with me.
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