riverview | entry_info={ .01 span:ARRIVAL, engage:VIDEO }, username=stark.naked

Skip to Main Content

Entry tags:

entry_info={ .01 span:ARRIVAL, engage:VIDEO }, username=stark.naked

[ The look on Tony's face as the feed clicks on is clearly unamused. Possibly even Unamused, capital and all. Why is he so irritated you might ask? Well, don't you worry about that, he is bound to let you know. As soon as he finishes sipping on his coffee in a more than obnoxious way. If you look close enough, and know Tony, you will be able to see a darkness beneath his eyes, the kind that comes with too much coffee and too many ideas and not enough hours in the day, so clearly he has to sacrifice some of the night for the Greater Good or some shit.

Whatever. That is why there is coffee.

Once the coffee has been consumed, Tony gets up from where he is sitting, and it becomes very obvious that he is in the kitchen on the floor, a kitchen you have all seen thanks to a Viking, but there is no sign of him now. However, there are signs of someone making a rather large breakfast here (if only you could smell it, seriously, Tony would kill to eat some of it okay) and not sharing.

This? This is why Tony is unamused.]

Really, you come in here, use the space and leave the dishes, while also not sharing?

[ Steve is gonna be annoyed. Not that he isn't usually in that state. The images shifts as Tony puts the phone down, and there is the sound of more coffee making its way into his cup while you get a lovely view of the ceiling. Look, no scorch marks. Yet.]

That's just rude, even for gods of chaos and mischief. And here I was going to make you a fancy partial AI for your phone. Ha.

[ Look, he doesn't know if it was Loki, but he assumes it is. Because if it was Steve or Bucky they would have shared, and he is pretty sure that Stephen only eats things that are still moving, and Billy-- well maybe him too. But for now, his ire is on Loki.]

Also, working on some ideas for the defence perimeter, some new weapons and targeting systems, if there is anyone that has any ideas, let me know. I mean, I've probably already thought of it, but still might be nice to bounce ideas around.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think we should do our own recon. See what is out there so we know what to prepare for.

What time is it?

You want to ask Bucky if he's up for a little science trip? The more data I can get my hands on the better.

And it's almost noon, why? Doesn't your phone have a clock?

Why don't you ask him? I'm sure he'll be glad to help.

Does it?

I'll send him a message then. Saw him the morning, said to run it by you and Captin Apples or something.

And yes, it should. Don't give me that shit, Steven.

Well, I'll talk to him, then. And Captain Apple.

[He is not taking the bait to comment on the Captain's name. It's low-hanging fruit, Tony. Don't do it.]

Leave me alone. I don't know how these fancy new devices work.

[ You are no fun, Steve. NO FUN.

SIGH.

Uh huh, next you're gonna pull the senior citizen card again. It's a phone, Steve. If you need me to teach you the basics I will, but I think you can handle it.

Oh, also going to have to take note of metal and such that I can salvage. You know, just in case. So if you see any, make a note of it, please?

I don't know what you're talking about, Tony. It's got so many buttons. These things are your speed.

If we find salvage, we'll bring it back for you.

No, they are about seventeen picoseconds behind my speed, but whatever. They've tried. And you've figured out texting don't even.

But thanks, the more salvageable things with electronics the better, I don't know what else is out there, but I am hoping there will be enough to work with.

It's like a really small typewriter, right?

[He pauses, thinks, then adds:]

Do you want company?

[ .... can you hear him facepalming, Steve? CAN YOU?]

Yeah, totally. With carrier pigeons just waiting to take the message away.

....you're not busy?

I was wondering what the fluttering noise was. I thought that was a fancy gadget noise.

[What a question. There's another pause as Steve finds a way to change his messages from texts to video. He's slower than Tony, of course, but not quite as incapable as he plays up.]

I can make time.

[ Look, you switch over just in time to see Tony laughing into his mug of coffee because you shit.]

Can you? Thought that was like, a thing gods handled. There something you're not telling us?

That's your department, isn't it?

[It is, admittedly, an offhand and kind of mean comment, but Steve isn't trying to be malicious at the moment. That shows when he drops the point.]

Is that coffee fresh?

[ Oooh, ow. Okay, that makes Tony wince. He has half a mind to get defensive (kind of does, in how quickly he sits up), but Steve drops it and Tony doesn't feel like picking that live grenade back up thanks.]

Yeah, you want me to save you a cup? Because I might be able to do that for you.

[Steve sees Tony sit up and wonders for a moment if he'll pick up that insult. Maybe throw it back his way. And Steve is ready to deflect it right back, like he's done with thousands of things thrown at him before. Except Tony doesn't comment. He switches direction.

And Steve isn't sure if he's grateful or disappointed.]

I'd like that, Tony. Keep one warm for me.

[He accepts the gesture for what it is. It's nice, and Steve's offer was genuine. Of course he can make the time to talk to him. They should talk. Steve disconnects and heads to the floor kitchen. Just like that. He strides into the room like he was meant to be there, wearing a worn pair of jeans and a simple shirt that he picked up while he was settling in--after all, he needs something that isn't a uniform.]

I thought you might want help cleaning up.

[ There will be time to yell at each other later, Tony is sure of it. Even now, there is a tension between them, strained and vibrating and ready to snap and Tony is more than aware that he is in now state to try and be the bigger person. Honestly, he never was when it came to Steve. The blond always managed to get under his skin and irritate him and--

Whatever.

Tony nods at the screen before getting up and moving towards the pot of coffee. It's not what he is used to, but at least he has it. Tony has a mug out and is pouring a cup for Steve when the blond walks through the door. Looking over, Tony gives a quirk of a smile to him.

It's hesitant. Guarded almost.]

What, you think I am going to clean up his mess? Nuh uh, then we will have to do it all the time. We're gonna leave it. And he will clean it or we put it in his damned bed, I don't care what he says about fire.

[Steve notices the hesitation in Tony's smile, but doesn't comment on it. He just nods the way he would to anyone, politely acknowledging his friend with a quiet greeting as he comes in to inspect the damage to the kitchen.]

No, I don't expect you to clean up anyone's mess.

[Instead, it is Steve who checks the kitchen sink for dish soap and towels to clean up the mess that has been left strewn over the counters. He considers the haphazard piles and begins organizing them as he brings them closer to the sink.]

Mm, is that what he said? He'll set things on fire?

[ Yeah see... that is what has Tony so on edge. It's like all this shit that was going down with Carol; it feels like he is walking on goddamned eggshells that are rigged to a host of explosives. One wrong move and everything about this facsimile of hospitality will come crashing down, only with Steve, Tony doesn't know why. He hates that, so much. So he sighs at the acknowledgement and leans back against the counter, hunching a bit.]

Yeah, not even my own right?

[ Fuck, why does he always--

Tony pushes off the counter and moves towards the sink, resigned and annoyed but also more than okay with washing dishes with Steve. It feels-- familiar. Not quite safe, but close.

As the sink fills with hot water, Tony helps move a few things around, tossing utensils into the water right away, keeping his eyes on the counters and moving around Steve seamlessly.]

Yup. Put anything in his bed, and the bed goes up in flames, along with whatever happens to be on it. Granted, that might only be if I put the things in the bed, you might get away with it.

[Steve doesn't look up from his task when Tony makes his comment. He hears the tense implications in the question, takes them in, and decides he isn't going to answer. Dos he think Tony cleans up after his messes? Of course. The man has always been attentive--sometimes too much--to anything he views as his. But there are other issues Steve has, and he isn't sure he can say one without pointing out the other. So he opts to keep his peace and let Tony decide for himself what his responsibility entails. He's smart like that.

Steve scrapes off the larger bits of remaining food into the garbage can, restacking cleaner plates neatly next to the sink and picking out charred bits from frying pans. His eyes drift briefly over to Tony. Mhm. Helpful, even if he denies it.]

Could always make him run laps. If he doesn't like kitchen duty, I've got plenty of other chores to put him on.

[ That is probably for the best, Tony still isn't pulled together enough to manage to keep himself from cracking a little if Steve were to push back at all. Part of him wonders if he isn't pushing at Steve to get that reaction; have the familiarity of something he knows happen, versus this new fucking universe and the lingering fear of what is going on back home curdling in his stomach.

The ease of stepping up next to Steve, of sliding into place to move around and clean the kitchen doesn't require thought. It's calming in a way Tony doesn't want to think too deeply on.]

Mmm good luck with that. I don't think he can run in his skinny jeans. But if you manage to make him do anything, I-- well you might be the only person able to honestly.

[Tony is probably pushing Steve. Maybe unconsciously or maybe just because he feels compelled to, but in the same way, Steve is anticipating that and subconsciously or instinctively stepping back. They've played the game too often. It's part of the routine, and Steve decides not to get into it while they are still feeling each other out. He cleans the dishes instead, focusing on the work rather than Tony himself. If they keep dancing around each other like this than nobody has to move first.]

He'll come around. He's being difficult because that's what he's used to. He's not used to being in a building with us.

[Going up against the wall of heroes and other roommates, Steve doesn't think anyone will put up with Loki's shenanigans forever.]

[ Tony lets out a breath he wasn't entirely aware he was holding, letting Steve just slide up next to him and begin working. The way things have been so often. The two of them work well, and they both now it, even if they often disagree on how to work. Tony can't help the way he relaxes just a little, grabbing some cutlery and a cloth to wipe them clean, standing with a faint smile on his face as he tries to imagine just how this is all going to pan out for the poor godling.]

Mmm, I don't see him having to clean dishes on Asgard, honestly. Though I don't know why he doesn't just... magic them clean. I feel like it's a test.

[ A way to see what he was dealing with.]

You think he's testing us?

[Which is how Steve interprets Tony's words. He also doesn't know why Loki would go through the trouble of cooking when he could probably summon whatever food he wanted through magic--but he doesn't understand magic.]

If it's a test, then he's not very creative. It looks more like like a kid trying to avoid doing his chores.

[The rhythm of cleaning is safe for both of them. It reduces the awkward tension, because if they are both cleaning, then they aren't directly interacting. It's easier this way. Steve scrubs off one of the dishes that Loki left, holding it up to inspect it. That is more for Tony's amusement than anything else.]

Maybe we should ground him.

Would make sense wouldn't it? Like some kind of rebellious kid that is trying to figure out where they belong in the family. He's gotta be feeling off kilter, I mean, he is on a floor filled not only with people who know each other really well but also are, in general, not fond of who he was. Or will be. I still don't really get that one.

[ There is a shrug as Tony wipes down a few more utensils, seriously what the hell did Loki even use them all for? Fuck. The movement from Steve beside him catches his attention and he slides him a sidelong glance and snorts. Yeah, maybe they should try to resolve awkward tension through cleaning.

You know, so long as Steve doesn't get to the point where he wants to smash plates on Tony's head.]

Yeah, because grounding him will totally work. Think about how you would have responded to being grounded at his age, it-- wait, how old is he? Like, still couple thousand or like... twenty? I can't tell. Fucking gods.

[ And yet, he is laughing a bit as he thinks about it.]

[Tony talks about Loki in a strangely understanding way. He's sympathetic under the teasing, and Steve isn't sure if he can agree that Loki is just acting out because they have bad history. He still thinks Loki is trouble, and he can't shake the instinct to blame the god for more than just the messy kitchen.

But he holds his tongue and continues to move around Tony, cleaning plates and then setting them back on the counter after they've been rinsed.]

All right. So we keep cleaning his dishes and reminding him to pick up after himself. You think he'll listen if I say it enough times?

[Having Tony laugh actually helps relieve some of that awkward tension between them. Steve can tell Tony is watching him, ready for some sort of action, but Steve pretends not to notice.]

He's stuck with us. He'll have to learn at some point.

action;

amelioraate - 2017-03-21 01:04 (UTC) - Expand

action;

livingsymbol - 2017-03-21 17:22 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only