riverview | video | un: iron.man

[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.]

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[Steve frowns a bit more.]

I guess not.

Uh huh.

[Yeah, that's definitely the look of someone with no issues whatsoever.]

Seriously. What?

[Yup. And he's showing some irritation when pressed, tensing up but refusing to blink because it's Steve.]

You sure this isn't going to backfire?

Backfire how?

[Tony might be side-eyeing him a little, but he's also genuinely curious. Steve does occasionally see things Tony misses.]

[Steve is just naturally wary. He focuses so much on the job that sometimes he just can't take things without that rain cloud overhead.]

You said that your EMP approach isn't a complete solution and that there's some kind of magic force working with it. What if using an EMP repeatedly allows that magic element to develop a work-around? Knocking it out just seems like a short term solution.

[Guess where he learned that from? Tony can probably tell that Steve's understand of what he's concerned with is pretty basic, but he knows that they'll need more than an EMP charge.]

[Tony pauses for a moment, because it is genuinely a good point. He's never minded people nitpicking, it's a good way to make ideas stronger, but something about Steve's attitude is still throwing him for a loop.]

Maybe it will. The idea here was that if we could knock out the tech portion, maybe the magic side would be easier to deal with. Well and the temporary relief, but that's secondary to finding an actual fix.

[Steve nods. The doubt is still there, but that's because he's neither a mage or a tech wizard. He's helpless against this kind of threat and that just makes him angry. There's something in him that bucks against the calm approach and wants to anticipate any possible disaster. But Bucky trusts Tony. Steve forces himself to relax slightly.]

All right. So you need someone who can use magic to help?

[That at least sounds more like a viable plan.]

I mean, it'd be nice.

[He gives Steve a slightly odd look through the connection but nods once.]

I take it you have someone in mind?

[Steve gives Tony a knowing look back.]

Would that be a problem?

No? It'd be kind of helpful, actually.

[Like he doesn't know exactly who Steve means. But he's not going to bring it up first.]

[The response is actually reassuring. Steve looks surprised, because he was expecting more of a protest out of Tony. Maybe he misjudged their history.]

Helpful.

[A new emotion makes its way into Steve's tone. The tense anger carries a thread of something else, softer and more fragile.]

You need someone that knows magic, right? Loki can heal injuries.

Yes? I know shit about magic, Steve, you know that.

[Is said with all due wryness, but it's really true.]

Can he? I'm guessing he can't just fix this, though.

[It doesn't even sound mocking, amazingly enough. Just curious. If there was that easy a fix, they'd probably know about it.]

No.

[The tension is back, but this time it's concern and not anger. Guess who's shit at processing his feelings? If Steve knew better, he'd apologize, but having Bucky tell him to stand down just managed to snap him out of the blind anger.]

I don't think anyone so far as been able to cure it on their own. I'm not sure I understand the cause, but if you think it's both technology and magic, then maybe you can help each other find the solution we need.

Yeah, well. Couldn't hurt.

[Is he just going to come out and admit he needs Loki's help? Never.]

[So much stubborn pride. He thinks the same is probably true of Loki too. The god won't want to admit he needs help, but so far they are all struggling to find answers.]

I'll talk to him. How are you feeling?

[Tony just shrugs and runs a hand over his face.]

Like I've got a low grade flu while everyone else has pneumonia? Not great, but I'll live.

What can I do?

[Because he really needs something. Not having any outlet is killing him.]

[He lets out a slow breath.]

Keep an eye on people? It's hard to tell just how fast this thing can go bad.

All right. If you notice a chance then let me know, Tony.

I can come back if you need help.

video | un: iron.man

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