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001 // @strange.magic: video

Consider this a little public service announcement, and my good deed for the day.

[At first it’s just Stephen Strange, looking even more like a magic hobo than he usually does, before he moves the feed to focus on a mini-fridge sitting in the corner of the communal kitchens and wouldn’t be anything to comment on if not for the heavy chains wrapped around it keeping the door shut, or the padlock that really looked like overkill.]

If you see this fridge here, missing its padlock or even worse open and I’m not already there dealing with it? I recommend either finding me, or a flamethrower immediately.

[The mini-fridge, which had been sitting quietly until this point started to shake, the sound of something inside smacking against the door making the chains around it rattle. Stephen came into view just long enough to smack the top of the fridge with the handle of a broom which seemed to startle whatever was inside into silence again.]

It should be in the floor 5 kitchen so if it’s not, even if it’s still locked, you’re going to want to come get me and I’ll deal with it.

And if you value your continued good health don’t eat anything that comes out of this thing.

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... okay so, steel works until it doesn't. Thanks, that is really helpful for coming up with a plan on how to fix the issue. I can tell you're just brilliant at this problem shooting thing.

[ here have a little salt for your fucking weird food ]

Is it the composition of steel in general, or is that all you have ever tried?

Look, Wong considered the problem solved with heavy chain and padlocks. When one broke he simply got a replacement.

[Because being a salty bastard is a new thing to him, and clearly that's the way to get an overtired asshole sorcerer to be more helpful right?]

[ Totally is, what else is he supposed to do? Ask nicely?]

....he never thought to, I don't know, make it so that the chains didn't break? Don't you have like, magically reinforced chains? You know what, nevermind. I don't care. I will make something that keeps that damned fridge closed and only opens to your fingerprint. Or something less easy to forge.

We had more pressing things on our plates than child safety locks-

[He takes a moment, raking trembling hands through his hair to try and settle his temper somewhat. He knew it wasn't Tony's fault, he knew he was just too fucking tired, but god damn did the man make it easy to want to be a fucking jerk back at him sometimes.

Deep breaths now.]

Yes. That would be perfect, thank you.

[Look he's trying okay. He's just used up his whole six-month store of 'real human social graces' since he's been here.]

[ Stephen.... look, Tony doesn't care ~~yes he does~~ but you seriously are making him worry about your state. Like... what the hell. The engineer blinks at the phone a few times, processing everything before--]

What the hell happened, Stephen.

[ It's quiet, soft and serious and look, he used your name! ]

[Nope he's fine. Everything is alright.

Except clearly not, this is time number two that Tony had poked him about his state, so clearly he was looking as shit as he felt.]

You'll have to specify Tony, my life has been one disaster after another as of late.

[ Look, Tony knows disasters, knows what it is like to be a professional Mess all the time, but he has never seen Stephen like this. It is more than a little worrying. Just--

Fuck, this is not a strong suit for him. ]

Uh, how about we talk about this kind of shit over tea. Or go to that fucking festival thing. And find you a razor.

[He's usually a hell of a lot better at hiding how much of a mess he was, when he wasn't quite this wrung out.

He let out a soft, humorless sound that was almost a laugh.]

That your way of telling me I need a shave?

[But no, going out was not something he wanted to do, not right now.]

Tea sounds fine.

That's my way of telling you that I have seen dumpster fires look nicer than you. And seriously, facial hair bro? Not right now you aren't.

[ There is movement and shuffling before the suit appears and wraps itself around Tony. He was out on the perimeter, clearly, now he has plans to return.]

Tea it is then, I'll be back to the kitchen in like... ten. I'll grab some steal from the festival on my way in.

To think all I needed to do to avoid that nickname was look like I just rolled out of a cardboard box.

[He's so tempted to find somewhere to hide and avoid this line of conversation, it's so tempting.]

I'll put the kettle on.

Is that really what you wanted, though?

[ Shooting Stephen a bright grin, the worry hidden in the curves of it, Tony cuts the video off and flies himself to the festival. It takes him longer than ten minutes, but that really isn't his fault, before he makes it back to the housing.

He has tea!

Coming into the communal kitchen, Tony sends the armour into the room, the space beneath his bed being used to store armour, and grins at Stephen.

Yeah, still look like shit there.]

Despite it being hard to find, I located the necessary leaves for leaf water!

[He really was tempted to find somewhere else to be. Somewhere that Tony wouldn't find him with his questions and worries and sudden offers to talk-

And yet when Tony returned he was still there, perched at the breakfast bar while the kettle was heating.]

I'm glad to hear it, or I'd have put that kettle on for nothing.

[ He would hunt you down, Stephen. No sulking along, facial hair bro.]

Eh, we could have made a really weak coffee for you still, I am sure.

[ Wandering in, he tosses the tea in the bag onto the counter and leans, arms folded, to watch the kettle.]

You gonna throw my razor back at me if I offer it to you?

[But he's really good at the sulking thing.]

Coffee and tea aren't the same thing.

[For the moment the tea is left to sit, the man just huffing a faint annoyed sound.]

I've got a razor. Just more likely to wind up with a slit throat than a neat beard at this point. [Do you see the way his hands are shaking Tony? The fact that he can manage anything is really more a testament to how fucking stubborn he is at this point.]

[ Yeah. No. Not allowed. It is undignified or something just... stop.]

Uh huh, right. I know that, but coffee is still far superior in pretty much all respects, so I was really being nice to you by offering it.

[ Tony sniffs a little and watches Stephen. The man really does look like hell, and Tony knows that it takes a damned lot to get him to the point where he doesn't seem to care about how he looks. He is a lot like Tony in that sense. Maybe that was why they either got along far too well or were at each other's throats most of the time.

There is a beat of silence, Tony taking in the shaking hands, worse than Tony has ever seen them, before looking back at Stephen. He rubs at his own facial hair absently before, tentatively:]

Uh, I can do it if you want?

[ Of course, Tony doesn't really look at Stephen when he offers, finds himself moving to make the tea (make tea right next to Stephen, wow, great avoidance skills there, genius) rather than watch the effect the words had. I mean, it was kind of... a thing? He doesn't know. Whatever.

Tony knows that being able to keep up that facade for the outside world matters, and matters a lot, to him. He figures that it means the same for Stephen, and Tony respects the man enough to offer.

Water. Cup. Leaves. That's-- well Stephen's not telling him that he is ruining it so he must be making it okay.]

[Whatever he'd been expecting, that offer hadn't been it. Tony definitely threw him through a loop, enough so that he didn't even protest when the man took over dealing with the tea.

A long moment of silence before he finally replied.]

...I'd appreciate that.

[Tony wasn't wrong in his assessment. Stephen hated being out of control of a situation, hated when he looked like such a disaster, but he'd been going so hard for so long that the idea of stopping long enough to handle it had just not been something he could even ponder.

He knew he'd feel better looking more like himself than a fucking mess, that much was certain.]

[ Good, it means that Tony isn't losing his touch. That would suck. He would have to find other ways to get under people's skin and he really doesn't have time for that.

The smile he gives Strange as he pushes some leaf juice at him is amused and just a little understanding.]

Just don't get mad when you realize that I do a far better job than you, alright?

Can't do worse than 'box under the bridge chic' if we're being honest.

[Accepting the tea as he replied and yep, gonna pretend he's fine and that there's nothing happening back home that's weighing on him and causing his downward tailspin into disaster because clearly he's fine.

Just fine.]

Ouch, that hurts me, Stephen!

[ He feigns hurt, hand pressing to his collarbone before he drops it and leans back, sharp eyes still on the sorcerer.

Part of Tony wants to let Stephen stay as is, let him deal with whatever disasters are on his plate as quietly as he would like, because that is how he would like to deal with things.

But there is a good chunk of him that saw Stephen as a friend, and wanted to help in some way. Anyway. Even if that meant prying and being obnoxious and drinking fucking tea in an alternate reality kitchen.

Somehow, Tony isn't all that surprised.]

So, should I wait until I have a razor pressed to your face before I start asking the impossible questions or wait a few days?

[ He might even honour your choice.]

You're a big boy Tony, you can take a little teasing.

[He's not sure exactly how to handle this whole 'someone is worried about him' thing. Wong was a different story, had it down to a science where he simply steamrolled the sorcerer until he'd done things like eating, sleeping, and generally felt more human. Here Stephen didn't have that backup, so he had to...

Speak up? Ask for help?

Fuck that noise, self-destructive downward spiral it is!]

As if you'd get me to stay put to answer the questions any other way.

[And he knows that if he doesn't talk about it now, he's never saying a goddamn word because he's a stubborn bastard.]

Perhaps, but that still doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt.

[ It is clear though since he is laughing that he isn't all that hurt. If anything he is taking comfort in the fact that Stephen has the ability to snark still; Tony knows that things are bad when the sorcerer loses his wit.

Tony wasn't about to let him spiral down without accompaniment at least.]

You have a point there, so perhaps we should try to restyle your hobo chic after tea? Not that I am really giving you a choice in the matter now, that atrocity has to go.

[ There was a pause, Tony watching Strange intently. When he speaks, there is a tremor of something honestly worried in his voice.]

You're not going to drop dead, because of whatever, are you?

I trust you'll weather the pain.

[Even if he was still joking, it was a thin sort of thing. A cover more than anything, in a way that normally wasn't nearly so obvious on even his worst days.

Clearly he'd been Through Some Shit.]

I leave myself in your capable hands then, to relieve me of my hobo-fashion statement.

[The inquiry, the concern he could hear in Tony's voice just startled a short laugh. No real humor in it, more bitter than anything.]

No Tony, I won't be dropping dead. If only it was that simple.

[ Tony snorts at that, amusement and something a bit bitter edging the noise. But he stays focused on Stephen, observant as ever and probably far too smart for Stephen to be comfortable with. Not that Tony was speaking out loud about what he was thinking, just filing things away for assessment later.]

My capable hands, huh? I never thought I would hear you say that, Strange. but I am not complaining.

[ There is a small smile, Tony trying to lighten the mood because there is more darkness creeping around this conversation that he or Strange, can deal with right now he is sure.

But when Strange reassures him, Tony can't quite help the huff of relief that falls from his lips. ]

Good, I mean not good that apparently death is simple, but I can unpack that one later, but you are one of the more tolerable people around here.

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001 // @strange.magic: video

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