[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

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?

[inebriety]

Yes to both. The technology exists that can open portals and keep them open. We have some guy called Mysterio rotting in a holding cell back on my Earth who was opening portals between his world and mine until we caught him.

[livingsymbol]

What if something happens?

We don't know what's going on with the other worlds. If they're safe when they return home. Or if they even remember any of this.

[inebriety]

[Talking about death to someone who has an incurable disease and has died recently is not going to result in a nice answer that makes them feel better.]

We're not safe here either. This isn't limbo.

If someone has promised you they'd return, all you can do is trust them.

[livingsymbol]

[It's an honest answer and that is really all Steve is looking for.]

I can handle anything that happens here.

[How's that for arrogance?]

I do trust him. I just wish there was a way to know he'd come home safe.

[inebriety]

[That sentence sets off all sorts of warning bells, but Tony knows he is in no position to deal with that so he'll have to move on to what he can do something about.]

I once worked with a kid called Reed Richards to build a machine that could allow us to observe different universes. Reed may have decided villainy is for him, but I can attempt to replicate that work to check on them if you want. There's a good chance he'll return before I finish, but it'll be something.

[livingsymbol]

Reed?

[Wow, Tony, laying these heavy facts on Steve like this. It's eye-opening and troubling on multiple levels. Steve has his problems with Reed, but villain isn't a word he'd ever really think of to describe him.]

What did he do? Your world's Richards?

[inebriety]

Why? He's only relevant because he's half the brains behind my solution. He wasn't evil when we worked on it so nothing bad will happen.

[livingsymbol]

I just... never thought about the possibility.

We don't have to chase after them. I wish I could be confident that this won't turn out to be another permanent change.

[inebriety]

[So whatever Reed is like in Steve's universe, he's not evil. There's another mark in favour of his world being the dystopia.]

That would be stupid. You can only be prepared to embrace what comes.

[livingsymbol]

I'll accept it, but I don't know if I can embrace it.

I'm tired of this.

[inebriety]

Did you ever talk to a someone like I suggested a while ago? Because I'm going to recommend it again.

[livingsymbol]

Isn't that what I'm doing now? I'm talking to you.

[inebriety]

People usually don't come to me for this sort of thing.

[livingsymbol]

Well, I'm coming to you now.

I just need someone to talk to.

[inebriety]

Are you making that literally? I can come to you instead or we can find a bar somewhere.

[livingsymbol]

I can, if you're up to that.

I don't know about a bar, but maybe coffee?