video | un: iron.man

[buildsomething]

[The video flicks on to Tony's tired face, though he actually looks pretty good, considering that he's still mildly sick. He grins at the camera, though, the pleased look of someone who's managed something.]

Hey, so. For anyone still caught with this plague thing, I've got a...well, not a fix. A work around, maybe. A focused EMP seems to deactivate the nanities long enough for some of the symptoms to fade, at least for a little while. It doesn't get rid of the things entirely, but it should give you a nice break from feeling like shit.

I'd like to thank my lovely assistants for working with me on this.

[The camera pans across the workroom to focus on the couch, and the two bodies sprawled on it. The eagle-eyed might recognize one (or both) of them as Bucky Barnes, but the way they're both just kind of slumped in a heap makes it kind of hard to tell. It's not that large a couch.

One of them twitches slightly, and there's a snort as Tony turns the camera back on himself.]

That's it for now. I'm still working on a more permanent solution, but magic is really not my thing. Someone else wants to have a crack at that part, be my guest.

[A sudden crash comes from what seems like the vicinity of that couch, and Tony gives the screen a sardonic look before the feed cuts.]

Comments

action -> closed to the barneses

[buildsomething]

[Okay, so maybe putting both of them in the same place wasn't the best idea. But Tony had gotten used to dragging both of them back home with him whenever he spotted them careening around in public, and they'd seemed like good test cases for the idea he'd been working on, and it had made sense at the time.

It had not, however, occurred to him what putting two super assassins in close quarters when they were both off their game would mean.

There's another, louder crash, and Tony sighs. He's honestly not sure if he wants to know, or just live in blissful ignorance.]

Everybody alive?

Re: action -> closed to the barneses

[advanced]

[Bucky still feels like crap, though less crap than he did a little while ago. His fever has gone down, now he just aches all over and it's left him feeling more than a little testy.

He scowls and shifts uncomfortably.]

Don't you have separate beds?

voice; @star-lord

[nostalgiabomb]

... Uh.

Are those dudes okay?

video @jb.barnes

[anotheroldsoldier]

[This is just a close-up of a metal finger flipping the bird for a full minute before it cuts out.]

voice;

[buildsomething]

[Tony sounds just a little distracted. Averting World War III is hard work.]

They're fine. Just dramatic.

un: n. romanov

[latrodectus]

Why do you need two of them?

[buildsomething]

One of them is the control group.

[advanced]

We're not actually the same person.

video;

[neversurrender]

Good work Tony.

[There's no hiding the relief on his face.]

Do you need any help with your...'assistants'?

video;

[buildsomething]

I think we're okay.

[Almost immediately punctuated by a thud and what sounds like quiet cursing. Tony sighs.]

Tell you what. If they start breaking things, you have my permission to come give them disappointed looks.

[anotheroldsoldier]

We ain't kids who need managing, Steve. [Someone's cranky.]

un: scarletwitch

[seeingscarlet]

[For a while Wanda thinks about not saying anything. Either Tony remembers her or he doesn't, and she can't decide which is worse. She can't even fully untangle the complicated mess of how she feels about him. But there are people who need help, and as usual, that's the deciding factor.]

Do you think I can help?

[People are being forced into comas, she has power over minds...it's not that much of a stretch.]

[buildsomething]

[Oh, hey. There's an unexpected response. He considers it for a moment before responding.]

Maybe. It seems like part of this thing is actual magic, but I don't see how you can hurt.

[krasnaya_vdova]

The EMP fix is temporary.

The time it takes in between pulses gets shorter each time.

[Ask how she knows this.]

[buildsomething]

Yeah, I know. Well, I know it's temporary, I didn't know it gets less effective. Hoping that if we can knock out the tech aspect, someone else can try to get rid of the magic.

video; un: sg.rogers

[livingsymbol]

Are they okay?

[Priorities, since they're working toward what seems to be a solution and he can't offer much.]

[buildsomething]

Good as they can be? They say they're feeling better.

[Would either of those men lie about their health?]

video- un: GivesYouHell

[hititwithacrowbar]

...Captain Barnes?

[ He would have said Bucky, but well, aren't their two? And only one is usually his commanding officer.]

Are they going to live?

[buildsomething]

[That does narrow it down a little, actually. Tony glances briefly over his shoulder at them and shrugs.]

Long as they don't kill each other or wreck my workroom, sure.

[anotheroldsoldier]

Todd. [Jason gets a slight smile when Bucky pulls out his phone to try and salvage his reputation a little.] Gonna live, unfortunately. Doesn't always feel like it, but I'll be back out to boss you around before you know it.

video | un: breq

[breqintopieces]

[The gleam of silver in the background is certainly enough to catch Breq's attention. She recognizes the arm, mostly, from a spar in the Guard barracks. She remembers the coughing.

Well, that explains that.

But really, the Bucky pile is less important than the substance of Tony's announcement.]

Discovered anything about the nanites, while you're at it?

[buildsomething]

A fair amount, yeah. A lot of that is research from Junior. Er-- the other Tony. But there's only so much that's good for when the other component is magic.

[Goddamn magic. Does Tony sound frustrated? Because he is.]

audio un:pnwsalex

[11calls]

Are they okay?

video

[buildsomething]

Who, them?

[He jerks a thumb over his shoulder at the Bucky pile.]

Sure. Don't they look it?

un: TheStrandInstitute

[nobasisinfact]

I assume they're still breathing.

[buildsomething]

Judging by the amount of bitching, I'm gonna say yes.

video @ frankenstein

[jolting]

Yeah, I figured an EMP would help. I've also been using a device that detects nanites in a body, which has been helpful in diagnosing.

I'm afraid I don't have a suggestion for the magic side of this hybrid. The most powerful spell I know of was used and it didn't work. I have seen magic successfully used to eliminate something created by combining magic and science, so if you know someone able to use magic willing to consult, maybe we can put our heads together.

[buildsomething]

I know a couple, whether or not they're in a position to help is another story. This thing seems to be hitting everybody.

[Video | @threewings]

[heavenfell]

[Magic is more her thing - that and the inherent healing power that she has been given as a top tier angel.]

A short respite is better than none. [She is looking tired - sleep is a luxury these days.] I am willing to offer my powers and my expertise if they can save others from infection.

But my...situation...is...strange. I would need to explain.

[buildsomething]

[One of Tony's eyebrows lifts slowly. He's heard a fair amount of weird stuff, but anything with that preface is bound to be a thing.]

I'm listening.