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

[latrodectus]

I don't know why you ever let it get long.

[anotheroldsoldier]

I don't. Least not that I can remember.

[Barring that period of time where he had no choice in things like that. One of the first things he did when he got his head back was cut his hair, and at this point in time, he's kept it short.]

[latrodectus]

[ Awkward. Natasha hasn't really kept track of Bucky's haircuts, but she knows he's worn it long for the past while. ]

Well, you should keep it like that. It suits you.

[anotheroldsoldier]

[It only really got long after his life went even more to shit, probably due to a lack of fucks to give about his personal appearance, but back home, he's not there yet. Things were still... okay. As okay as they got.]

After looking at the back of Barnes' head for hours, I gotta agree. Someone needs to take a pair of scissors to his mop.

[latrodectus]

[ The thought makes her feel strange, just like seeing two of him does on the video. ]


Won't that ruin Stark's control?

[anotheroldsoldier]

He's good at adjustments. I think he'll manage.

[He's not going to actually cut Barnes' hair. Even if it's tempting. The fever is just making him a little delirious.]

[latrodectus]

[ No, she doesn't expect he would. Too much respect for other people's ability to make choices. Too much experience not having his own. ]

He hasn't made you sicker, has he?

[ She jokes, but she's worried. ]

[anotheroldsoldier]

I dunno, sharing a couch bed with Barnes isn't helping my nausea.

[Spoiler: they don't get along that well when they're both cranky and sick. Then a more serious answer,]

It was going to get this bad no matter what.

[latrodectus]

No. That isn't an answer.

[ It makes her more worried. ]

[anotheroldsoldier]

Tony's doing everything he can. The magic part of this virus is the wildcard element that nobody seems to be able to pin down.

I hate magic.

[latrodectus]

So we get a mage.

[ Natasha has a realistic enough assessment of her own abilities to know she can't fix the disease. But maybe she can find someone who can. She can be… persuasive. ]

[anotheroldsoldier]

If you've got one in your little black book here, be my guest. I

I'm not sure what options are even viable.