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

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.

video;

[neversurrender]

[He expression shifts to amusement, the hint of a smile appearing.]

If they start breaking things I would expect you'd have them out on the curb.

Do you have an estimated time limit on how long the EMP is effective?

[buildsomething]

[You would think that, but Tony seems to have developed a slightly worrying soft spot for them. It wouldn't be the first time visitors have broken his things, anyway.]

Depends on the symptoms, severity, things like that. At least half an hour, by my count. Though apparent the duration gets shorter and shorter each time.

[neversurrender]

Hopefully a cure comes sooner rather than later then.

[No pressure. He's just consistently annoyed that there's no way for him to help. To do something.]

I'll bring Sam by for the boost. His symptoms haven't gotten too bad, but I don't trust him to walk in a straight line on his own.

[buildsomething]

He still in the hospital?

[Tony might have been just a little focused lately.

[neversurrender]

Last time I checked. Unless he's tried to check himself out.

[In which case he's in big trouble.]

[buildsomething]

I think he's the sane one, doesn't sound like him.

Setting off an EMP in a hospital seems like a real bad idea, though.

[neversurrender]

Which is why I'm bringing him to you.

You can do more for him now than any of the doctors can.

[buildsomething]

Now that's a horrifying thought.

There's room, anyway, even if my glamorous assistants are still here.

[neversurrender]

I can bring him back to his place and stay with him if things are getting too crowded over there.

I don't want to overwhelm you with patients.

[buildsomething]

As long as we don't put him on the sofa, it should be fine.

[neversurrender]

Well, no. It looks pretty occupied already.

But what about everyone else who is sick and might come by looking for help?

[buildsomething]

I can't fit them all in my workshop. And I don't think detonating an EMP over the whole city will earn me any friends.

[neversurrender]

My point exactly. Which is why I suggested getting him back home afterwards. You might need that extra room for someone else who has it worse.

If the Buckys are anything to judge by, not everyone is going to take a dose of EMP and walk away right after.

[buildsomething]

Well the plan here isn't exactly to invite everyone over, it's to work something out that folks can do for themselves. This was just test cases in a controlled setting.

[Well okay, it was the fact that he'd dragged them both there and then decided to try to make something useful out of it. Details.]

[neversurrender]

So you're expecting others to set off EMPs on their?

[Because that sounds safe.]

[buildsomething]

Look, I'm making this up as I go and we're still in the testing stages. If you've got better ideas I'm all ears.

video; @falcon

[wingedman]

[It's at this point in the conversation that Sam peers at the feed, looking not unlike a curious bird. He's still a little gaunt from his illness, but his eyes are bright and more focused than they were while he was sick, and he looks reasonably chipper. While he's clearly not in the hospital, judging by the background, he's not at home, either.]

Well, I was gonna say that I'm not coming over till you get those idiots out. But also, just fyi, I have a clean bill of health from the hospital. [You know, after being in a coma for about six hours. Details.]

And try poking the hipster Loki about the magic thing, he can come in handy in a pinch. [Since Sam isn't quite sure Tony would trust the Loki from their world enough for something like that.]

[buildsomething]

Oh, hey. That makes things easier.

[And he does genuinely brighten a little. Good to see you, Sam.]

Yeah, he's on my list. So's the other one.

[wingedman]

Don't write me off just yet, Stark.

[There's a certain fondness in Sam's smile that maybe only Tony can read. (Maybe even Tony doesn't catch it. It's possible.)]

Seems like you couldn't throw a rock without hitting a wizard for a little while there. And now half of 'em are gone, just when we need them. [A beat, and then:] The Strange from our world went back home.

[buildsomething]

[Tony's smile widens just a hint before it settles back into something more thoughtful.]

Yeah, I know. We talked.

Seems to me that you've got a fairly good relationship with a wizard, though.

private

[wingedman]

Do I?

[Sam just raises an eyebrow, although a smirk plays around the corners of his mouth.]

The two of you finally compared notes?

[anotheroldsoldier]

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

[neversurrender]

[He responds with a raised eyebrow.]

That's not how I would have put it. But if they're anything like the guy laying next to you you're handling being down for the count about as well as I would.

[Hint: you would be handling it very badly.]