[ open ] #throwbackthursday

[aeturnus]

who: Cain (now Romulus), Anyone
what: During the effects of the Temporal Chalice, Cain gets to explore some of his much, much earlier years. He's in his early twenties, not immortal, shy and gentle, and goes by his birth name: Romulus. Oops.
when: 15th until the event ends.
where: Housing during the day (floor six + around), and out in the Quarantine at night mostly. Specific starters upon request.
warnings: Romulus at this point in his life is a slave. Mentioned of free vs not, expectations of having lesser value, and possible other related subjects are very likely. More will be edited in if necessary.

i. Housing. Floor six.
[ He's not sure what to do with himself here. One of the first things Romulus did when he came to was familiarize himself with the device he carries around with him, because he remembers that being important, and notices that the job he only vaguely recalls sent a message to not show up if you couldn't do the work citing distraction to the other workers who were still in their right minds. He supposes that means he should stay away from the place and he intends to. It just doesn't leave him a whole lot to do aside from putter around the floor he knows he belongs in, even if most of his belongings feel foreign and familiar at the same time. Sparse, too. Some technology to work, small knickknacks here and there, and nothing that really speaks to who he is. All except for a plain lantern hanging from the bedpost with scenery drawn on it that makes him feel more at home. It's familiar to him, only a breath away, if he were back home at all. That lantern is lit every night to help him sleep.

Either way, Romulus putters. Messes around in the kitchen to try and make food but plenty of the products are foreign and confusing and he sticks with what he knows, basic fruits and vegetables and puts together simpler things with simpler tools and methods. He's not going for anything fancy, just subsiding on what he can until he figures out what he's doing here anymore. What he doesn't do is actively bother anyone. Finds his own supplies and makes sure whatever he uses is communal and doesn't belong to anyone in particular, shops with the money he's found for himself to buy things he can't find.

It's probably easier to ignore the guy who's suddenly turned wallflower around floor six, or even in the rest of the building where he comes and goes quite often out to explore the city. Except... he didn't used to be like this, not at all, entire demeanor changed. Not that he's the only one but it's pretty radical and noticeable. Kinda sad, really. ]

ii. Quarantine.
[ Mostly, he goes out at night. Lots of people don't notice the nervous ones at night because crime still exists but Quarantine is better protected and managed than most cities in other universes, apparently, and a lot of the older residents expect the nervous ones to calm down eventually. Romulus isn't nervous because of crime, but instead because it feels like a lie. He shouldn't be out here without a cause or an order or a reason given to him to explain if anyone catches him out — but he's not doing anything wrong. There's no master here, no one holding him in their hands and certainly no one to say he can't explore or shop or live.

It's freedom, and it has his heart constantly in his throat. What do you do with freedom?

Either way, he stumbles into people because he's not paying attention, lost in thought. Flinches back and swerves to press nearer to the walls or almost walks into the street sometimes and has to get fished out of the way. It's all very nerve-wracking, but again, people expect it more in the darkness for whatever reason. Sometimes he does go out in the day, too, but this is easier for him. ]

I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to run into you—forgive me.

[ He doesn't meet many peoples' eyes in the dark of the night, either. ]

iii. Wild Card.
[ Romulus gets places he shouldn't. Curiosity is certainly his vice and that's never gotten him anyplace good. It's usually up to Remus to keep him from wandering and Remus isn't here. He doesn't go into dangerous-looking places, but stores or odd streets or stopping to watch something odd? There's no reason not to. ]

[ Make something up, and I'll work a response in! Contact at plurk or at biomagnet#1925 @ disco to discuss more if necessary. ]

Comments

[aeturnus]

[ His nostrils flare a little and he wants to argue. To say something. Because it isn't illegal and his life is still the way that it is, and back home Remus is still in the same situation Romulus should still be. ] That isn't the case where I'm from.

[ That hand being held out gives him pause and he turns slightly, looks at it and how articulate it is and doesn't move to do anything with it. Finds it hard to turn such an offer down even if it's rather out of the blue. ]

A... digital human? You own a fake human?

[amelioraate]

[ the reaction that Tony gets is-- odd. makes him wonder and file away more than one question about where and when Romulus was from. but they were not questions for now, instead he is going to focus on at least making him feel like he was worth the attention that Tony was giving him.

the grin on his face doesn't falter as he is asked about Friday and he barks out a sharp laugh.]

Uh... no? I mean, it is more so a computer program the emulates human characteristics; speech patterns, humor, empathy. The last one is still hit and miss, but she isn't-- human? Still more robot than human, but she does have a holographic form that looks human and has fooled more than one person.

[aeturnus]

[ There's going to be work involved in that, but Romulus isn't going to step away just yet. His curiosity compels him to stick around and vague memories says this man can be trusted to a certain degree. Even if they obviously don't agree on a more serious issue. That can, for now, be looked over as long as it isn't put into the spotlight again. ]

Why would you do that?

[ Like, he gets that this Friday is some kind of simulacrum rather than the real thing, but it seems hypocritical to make something like that if... well. ]

[amelioraate]

Do what? Create an artificial program or give her a holographic body?

[ he will follow this train of thought with you for a while then, Romulus, if only because he knows that you can get just as much from idle conversation that he steers in a certain way as he can from flat out questions.

do not let anyone say that Tony was not able to be sneaky in his own way; he preferred being forthright but he is also aware that there are times when that is not as possible.]

I gave her a body because, well, it was the natural progression of things. As for why I created AI's in the first place, why not?

[aeturnus]

[ There's a few things about Romulus that is vastly different from Cain. He's completely uneducated in everything that doesn't pertain to the keeping of a house and survival within that environment. His ability to act out is severely stunted and his confidence is pretty much null. However, he's still rather smart and has a fire in him that can never be totally put out.

What he says next isn't planned, surprises him, but he won't take it back. ]

Which means that you made someone specifically to be a slave without the serious trouble that goes with it because you wanted one anyway.

[amelioraate]

[ there is a beat after Romulus speaks that stretched the moment tight between them, and then--

Tony can't help but laugh. not the kind that was cruel or mocking, but honest to god laughter that makes his whole body shake. he should have known that, meek or not, there was still some of that fire to Romulus as there was with Jacob.

blinking back more laughter, Tony nods at Romulus, smile on his face.]

I guess... well you are not wrong from how you are looking at it honestly. I suppose that would imply that she has the freedom removed from her though, when-- well she has left of her own accord more than once actually. What makes a slave a slave, Romulus?

[aeturnus]

[ That laughter, the odd reaction, it all kind of brushes up against the wall of panic where Romulus's instincts kick back in and he realizes what he just did. This is another reason he needs Remus with him because they keep each other in check and Romulus has been on this whole time when he usually can pull back and sink into his own head and not spin around in circles of panic because a lot of this just doens't make sense.

He's trying very hard, but his understanding and control just slipped and the laughter gets him flinching even if he's trying to contain the reaction. Just reacting at all after something like that. He takes a breath, two, three, more. Words filter in and he's working very hard to come up with an answer because that was a direct question. Okay, he can do this. He just talked back in a major way but he can do this. Ride it out. Sure. ]

Ownership, Sir. Power over the slave. Understanding of that relationship.

[amelioraate]

[ it wouldn't take a genius to see the flicker of panic that jolts through Romulus when he realizes what he has said sets in. Tony probably shouldn't have laughed, so he tries to calm the other as much as he can, passive stance and softer voice, without making it too obvious.

at least he knows that he is will equipped to handle any panic attacks that might happen.]

Hey, it's okay? I mean, I guess you are not used to speaking your mind like that but--- uh, I kind of like it?

[ Tony makes a face, grimacing almost because he still doesn't quite know how to handle this despite having grown up in a position of power and privilege his whole life. maybe that was why he couldn't quite grasp it, because despite that he was always more than kind and fair to those that worked for him, and he rails against the idea of forcing someone to do something. ]

Power dynamics, which I will tell you right now, I hate so much. My AI was created by me, but I wouldn't necessarily say I own her. She works for me, yes, but trust me when I say she makes me work for her just as often. [ there is a sigh, the suit disassembling from around him and reassembling next to him complete; he feels like he is lording too much of said power by staying in the suit at this point.] Do you have freedom of choice, Romulus?

[aeturnus]

[ The noise of the suit shifting around draws his attention and Romulus glances up, brows furrowed and breath still strange and tied up in his chest. He's still focusing on the words while his emotions rage and they're two very separate things trying to crash into each other. ]

No, Sir. We don't.

[amelioraate]

[ Tony makes a little face at the 'sir', but doesn't mention it for now. rather, he keeps focused on Romulus and watches to make sure that the younger man continues to breath normally.

Tony shoves his hands into the pocket of his jeans, and cocks his head to the side.]

That is key. It is what makes slavery so... well, so horrible. Because it strips humans of that fundamental aspect of being human. Freedom. Individuality. Agency. In contrast, Friday... well she shouldn't have those things, but she does, because I gave her that choice. Programmed it into her really. I suppose, in a way, you are not wrong. But I didn't create her because I wanted someone to do work for me, I wanted a companion of sorts. Also, a little bit of pride to be honest, because I could make her.

[ and yes, he is aware of how pathetic that sounds. ]

[aeturnus]

[ That Tony has removed the armor says a lot but Romulus isn't ready to really delve into the meanings of gestures right now. He doesn't know if there's a right answer out of this because Tony says he's right but still contradicting him and, well, Romulus's master is not an angry man but he knows anyone can do angry things. Like his master's sons. Those boys certainly know how to punish without being actively mad.

He has questions, but he doesn't dare ask them yet. There's a lot of questions he's never asked. He just mumbles, eyes downward and doing his best to keep his breath from hitching. ]

What you do isn't my place to comment on.

[amelioraate]

[ one day, Tony will understand how to talk to other people without talking over them, or confusing the hell out of people who are clearly not in the right mind to be having philosophical discussions about freedom and morality.

though when Romulus casts his eyes down and his chest strains, Tony pays a little more attention. as slowly as he can, he moves towards him.]

Uh, Romulus? Is it okay if I put my hands on your shoulder?

[ clarity. communication. ]

[aeturnus]

[ It isn't even that Tony's doing that badly, it's just that Romulus is... Romulus at the best of times. He doesn't know how to deal with this sort of thing and pretending only works so well up until a little snap turns into a spiderweb of breaks and now everything he's balancing threatens to fall through.

What's worse is it's all his own fault, really. If he hadn't said what he'd been thinking...

There's another hitch of his breath. Touch him? Hand on his shoulder? Saying no and flinching away would only make things worse and he tries to get a good breath first. It fails, but it was worth a try. ]

Yes, Sir.

[amelioraate]

[ Tony knows that him asking is probably a moot point entirely, that Romulus is going to say yes either way because he feels like he has to, but Tony knows from experience that at least some contact helps ground you.

so, slowly, Tony presses his hands to Romulus's shoulders and lowers himself ever so slightly to try and catch his eyes.]

Can you do me a favour, Romulus?

[ Tony waits a beat, keeps his gaze and his voice soft. ] I want you to look at me, and breathe with me okay?

[aeturnus]

[ What?

It really happens before he even realizes it because it's something like an order and he's ready to follow those while the rest of him catches up. His shoulders hunch to the touch, stiff and bracing, but he finds himself looking up and pulling in another attempt at a breath. He isn't sure what he expects to see here but the utter lack of anything but some kind of calm shakes him and he shudders, another shaky inhale. ]

Okay.

[ What now? ]

[amelioraate]

[ Tony smiles faintly when Romulus looks up at him, makes sure to keep the grip on his shoulders loose, like they might fall off at any moment. then, Tony breathes in a highly exaggerated manner knowing that, whether Romulus wanted to or not, he would automatically mimic the actions.

as he does this, Tony speaks in the most calming manner he knows. which really just means that he isn't speaking at a rapid pace.]

Just, follow my breathing yeah? I know it sounds totally ridiculous but it-- well it kinda works? My friend, Rhodes, he taught-- he taught me this once. Had a really shitty dream, thought he was crazy when he asked me to do this with him but... well...

[aeturnus]

[ His first attempt is pure stubbornness and his natural instinct to try and go his own way, difficult and yearning for freedom, but survival kicks in and he's slowly starting to match Tony's pace. It's difficult and tiring and it does actually help him calm down and relax under that soft, hardly-there touch. ]

My brother... We have to keep each other calm sometimes.

[ Obviously, this is where everything went wrong. He's alone. He left Remus behind. ]

[amelioraate]

[ the fact that Romulus seems to want to do the exact opposite of what Tony is telling him makes his lips twitch. for a moment he does feel an awful lot like Rhodey right then; trying to deal with a stubborn jerk that just doesn't do what is good for him.

when Romulus mentions a brother, Tony files the information away and hums to let know that is he listening. ]

That was-- that was Rhodey for me. More grounded than I ever was. What is your brother's name?

[aeturnus]

[ Romulus can't help but make a small sound while he's breathing, just a bit distressed that he's losing the distress. It doesn't make sense but right now not a whole lot does, and examining it really isn't within his purview. He just wants his thoughts to calm down. ]

Remus. He's not here.

[amelioraate]

[ even with that noise, Tony continues to breath with Romulus and keeps his eyes on him. there is another mental note made about his brother (Romulus and Remus, that was-- well Tony was going to have questions that was for sure), but he doesn't bring it up now. rather, he drags his hands down the slope of Romulus's shoulders as he removes his hands, and gives the other a lopsided smile.]

Didn't get swept up in the portal with you then. That's-- Rhodey didn't make it here with me either.

[ there is the faintest tremor in his voice, because Rhodey is dead and fuck, Tony tries not to think about that, but--]

He might... well the portal tends to bring people through at strange intervals, he might show up eventually.

[aeturnus]

[ He swallows hard, trying to keep pace and ignore how the air at his shoulders feels cold and bereft once Tony lets go. It's both a relief and a strain. He can't take his eyes away just yet even if he wanted to, and it means he noticed that waver. ]

He's... I'm—if this thing changing people is fixed... it shouldn't matter. Right?

[ Just thinking about that is the wrong path to go down but it's the natural one for him now. His shoulders shake again and he tries to focus, keep his eyes on Tony and the rise and fall of the other man's chest. Trying. ]

[amelioraate]

[ as soon as Tony realizes that moving his hands is having the opposite effect that he wants, he moves them back. warm and grounding as he continues to breath in an over exaggerated manner with Romulus. Tony thinks on what is being said for a moment before he answers because, even if he doesn't remember this all when the chalice is destroyed and such, Tony still wants to be honest.]

I don't know. I don't know enough about magic and the way the portal works to really get it, I can handle physics and science but magic? Not my forte, sorry.

[ he knows people who are good at it, he does, but it just gives him a headache most times. ]

[aeturnus]

[ There's another sound, trembling, but he does seem to relax back into the touch. He's ashamed that he would fall apart in front of someone like this, heating his cheeks and making him wish he could just turn and leave and lick his wounds in private — only no, he really does need someone here because he's never had to deal with anything alone before. It's different and completely unknown, being without Remus.

The honesty is strange and unexpected, but appreciated. He isn't the only one with no answers. ]

It's all... Isn't that all the same? Learning?

[amelioraate]

[ that assessment makes Tony open his mouth and then shut it quickly because.. well that sadly makes sense. he huffs a laugh, cocking his head to the side and trying to draw Romulus out of his panic.]

Now that.. that is far too logical. Magic does not obey the laws that I am used to okay; ask me to build a sentient suit of armour and sure, I can do that. But the shit that Strange does is... different.

[ yes, excellent use of words there, Tony. so eloquent. ]

[aeturnus]

[ Far too logical? Was he right about it or not? Romulus isn't sure but it's getting easier to draw his breath and talk about something entirely unrelated to anything else. Just a conversation, one where he notices the gap in their stations way too easily but it's more comforting in some ways. Tony is clearly far above anything Romulus will become but he's talking about it anyway. Sort of. ]

But there are... laws? It's just different? [ Yeah, he's confused. ] That can't be learned?