[Semi-Open] No one can blame you for walking away

[livingsymbol]

who: Steve Rogers (616) and whoever wants to join him
what: Missing Loki and looking for distractions
when: backdated from June 6th to around June 15th
where: Around and about
warnings: Beware. There might be a feeling.



i. via the devices; text; closed to previous CR

[He makes it about a day before he starts getting restless. Not just because Loki is gone, but because he really doesn't have much to keep his mind off of the fact. Normally, he'd just bury himself in a mission or find other companionship, but for some reason that's just not appealing. So he tries to find other means of distraction. For those he knows hold odd hours, it might be well past dusk when he sends a message.]

Are you busy?

ii. OPEN; Well, that was the entire plan.

[He really should have come up with a better plan for filling his time. After spending days doing between work, the gym, and long runs around the Quarantine, even Steve is out of ideas for what to do with himself. He considers a trip out beyond the fence, but ultimately gives it up, because he doesn't want to spend too much time away from the city. He tries relaxing in the park or by the riverbank, sketching out scenes in the hope that the peace will just come to him.

So people who happen by will see one frustrated blond tearing a page out of his sketchbook, crumpling up the half-done work and throwing it down with an annoyed grunt. The paper ball joins a collection around his feet as Steve lowers his head in frustration and then lies back where he's been sitting.]

Come on, focus.

iii. OPEN; Everything is totally under control

[Later in the week, it's starting to bleed into his performance. While he's with the Guard or on his own patrol, Steve manages to somehow trip up and fall short on his usually flawless coordination. He's distracted, and during training or some other run he manages to stumble, missing leaps or punches and eventually ending up on the ground. His pride is injured more than his body, but that's suffering a bit too. He gets back up with a grumble of protest to those around him, waving any offer of help away.]

I'm fine. Just a bruise. Let me go again.

Comments

ii.

[yakyuuman]

[ Jyushimatsu didn't take long to use the park as his main source of entertainment other than the baseball stadium. Here he can actually run around and do whatever he wants without disturbing the team he's mascot of. So he spends a great part of his free time swimming through the river and running the fastest he can around the entire perimeter of the park, then swimming again, running again, rinse and repeat until evening.

Today, too, he's doing his routine while wearing his usual hoodie + shorts combination, because he's got no baseball gear from back home and it's not like he's concerned about ruining his clothes. The sight of a guy surrounded by balls of paper attracts his attention and he leaves the river to approach, filled with curiosity.

Here's a guy flashing a way too big smile on his face, soaked from head to feet. ]

Hey hey hey mister! Whatchu drawing?

[ He's not trying to be rude, but a dialogue has got to start somewhere. ]

[livingsymbol]

[ The voice startles Steve out of his thoughts and the enthusiasm helps shake the frustration that has been littering the ground around him. He sits up, grass blades in his hair, and frowns at the unfinished drawings he's been unsatisfied with. ]

I was trying to draw them.

[ Steve nods toward a small group of people. Just some passersby enjoying the park like Jyushimatsu, adults talking and kids playing in the sun. It's a normal scene, but usually Steve finds some fondness in those. ]

I can't get it right today. I think I'm just making a mess at this point.

[yakyuuman]

[ Jyushimatsu briefly glances at the direction this stranger nods at. ]

Ohh! So you're an artist who's having a creative crisis, or something like that?

[ Please excuse him as he wildly shakes his head like a dog to get rid of the excess water. He slaps the side of his head so a gush of water comes out of his ear on the other side. ]

Ahh, much better! I was going deaf!

[livingsymbol]

I guess you could...

[ Steve's response is completely derailed by the display. He looks dumbfounded, not even sure he really just saw what he saw. There was no sign of magic or announcement that would tip him off to anything out of the ordinary was about to happen, and suddenly he's staring as a little fountain of water ends up coming out of the man's head. How does that even work? ]

I... How did you do that?

[yakyuuman]

How did I do what?

[ He's not pretending he didn't hear, this is just ordinary administration to him and he's not used to people questioning it. His brothers had given up figuring him out a long time ago. When all of the water is out, he rubs the back of his head. ]

I was in the water until now and some of it got in my ears, hehe! Was that too gross?

i

[anotheroldsoldier]

[It should figure that Bucky is up in the middle of the night. He has trouble sleeping sometimes, and especially with the weather warmed up, it's easier to clear his head outside.

When the text comes, he texts back almost immediately.]

No. Up on the roof.

[livingsymbol]

[Steve doesn't reply. He goes right up to the roof, bringing two mugs of coffee along with him. He isn't even sure what is really bothering him this time. There are no nightmares that haunt him into fleeing his bed. Just a low, persistent ache he can't seem to get rid of.

Bucky as a distraction is a relief.]

You doing okay?

[Please give him something to do.]

[anotheroldsoldier]

[Bucky shoots him a slightly grateful smile, taking the second mug of coffee from him and taking a long sip. It's a little bitter and bracing, and he breathes out, cupping the mug in his hand while he takes a better look at Steve. He seems restless, to put it lightly.]

I'm alright. Just a little insomnia. [He's pretty used to not being able to sleep well some nights.] Are you okay? You seem a little off tonight.

[livingsymbol]

[Steve hovers a bit, because it's much easier to focus on worrying about Bucky than it is trying to work out why he's feeling so restless. He frowns slightly when his friend says that he's having insomnia, wondering if it's less or more severe than Bucky says.]

I'm fine. Just checking up, I guess. Anything you want to talk about?

ii

[seeingscarlet]

[Littering? For shame.

...but it's good to know that a knack for getting into trouble isn't the only thing the Steves have in common.]

It can't have been that bad.

[Wanda tends to go on walks to clear her head, but trying to solve someone else's problems is a much better distraction. At least that way she feels like she's being more productive than just wallowing in it.]

[livingsymbol]

[Steve looks up, smiling at the familiar face greeting him. He needs the break, since apparently all he's managing to do is collect a very creative pile of paper.]

You sure? Don't say that unless you see it.

[He gets to his feet so he can give her a proper greeting.]

Were you going anywhere specific or just enjoying the day?

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda just laughs, feeling much lighter now that she has company.]

It's still better than I could do. [And she doesn't even need to see it to know. Music is her thing, not art.] I think you are too hard on yourself.

It's a nice day. And going for walks helps me clear my mind.

[livingsymbol]

[Her laugh warms him somehow. It's not familiar, but in a way the feeling is. He senses the friendship in it, the sentiment, and that makes all the difference. He relaxes, shaking his head at the idea that the drawings are really all right, but smiling like he might secretly believe it because Wanda said so. She believes it.]

Can I join you? I think I need a clearer head.

i

[worldsaway]

I'm trying to be.

[He's been trying to distract himself since Loki left, but it has not worked in his favour. He's restless with a variety of half finished projects just begging to be completed and absolutely no resolve to finish them.

So, he's pretty sure he knows exactly what the text is in reference to. He doesn't want to ask how are you, because he doesn't think he'd want to be asked the same thing. Instead, he poses another question.]

Do you want to get something to eat?

[livingsymbol]

[It's actually a relief to get an answer from Thor. He's the person Steve thinks has to be dealing the hardest with Loki's decision and he's as much checking in on the god as he is distracting himself.]

Yes. Let's go out.

[Get out of the too-familiar rooms and the moment. Maybe they can help each other keep busy.]

There have to be some places still open.

[worldsaway]

From experience I know there to be a diner that stays open all hours of the night.

They make pancakes. And they serve drinks. And I know you to be the sort of man who enjoys pancakes and drinks.

[livingsymbol]

I could use some pancakes right now.

[They both could. Maybe binging on breakfast and keeping each other company will make things sting less.]

Do you want me to meet you there or should I come pick you up?

i

[buildsomething]

[The reply comes quickly enough that it's pretty clear Tony isn't sleeping. Which isn't that much of a surprise, really.]

Always. But I could make some time for you. Need something?

[livingsymbol]

Just to talk.

[He's grateful for the quick answer, but when faced with that question, Steve finds he isn't sure how to really respond. What does he need?]

What are you working on?

[buildsomething]

[Steve is actually asking to talk? Tony pauses in what he's doing to consider his phone for a moment.]

Do you want me to come over or do you want to come here?

[livingsymbol]

Here being your lab?

I can come. Give me a few minutes.

[It's not a rushed reply, but it's maybe quicker than it should be. Something like Steve trying to find a reason for urgency.]

strolls in late

[inebriety]

[The only way Tony sleeps is if he managed to drink enough to pass out so a fast reply isn't surprising.]

Never when it comes to you.

[livingsymbol]

I guess I need someone to talk to. I couldn't sleep.

[inebriety]

Bad dreams?

[livingsymbol]

Bad memories.

Do you think they can really bring us back and forth through the portal when they know where our worlds are? Can we come back if we want to?