[ 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 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?

[amelioraate]

...well yeah there are laws to magic, but--

[Tony huffs. stop it, you are making magic sound logical and Tony is not okay with that. he huffs.]

I just don't like magic okay. It doesn't make sense, you shouldn't be able to bend space and time because you will it, there should be--- physics or something.

[aeturnus]

[ Romulus goes quiet, unintentionally focuses on his breathing while he tries to figure out what Tony is saying. There's always a reason and power behind what happens, what does it matter if it comes from a tool or a person? ]

I don't understand. Is it different from all the other amazing things here?

[amelioraate]

Honestly, no. I have just had some really terrible experiences with magic and I can't really make sense of it, potentially because I don't want to, but...

[ here don't mind the honesty. Tony dislikes things he can't understand, and magic is one of those things most of the time. he watches Romulus carefully, waiting to see if he was going to slip back into panic. however it is clear that Tony is listening to him like what he has to say matters, like Tony sees him as having valid points.

hell, he wouldn't admit that if he didn't.]

From what Strange has said, you can learn magic if you try hard enough and open your inner eye or something ridiculous, but I prefer math thanks.

[aeturnus]

[ Romulus dips his head just to the side, like he's loosening up and thinking it through. Like it's almost a normal conversation, his freakout lessening to the point where he can organize his thoughts. It's... nice. And weird. ]

I'd like to learn all of it. Or... any of it.

[ Not like he'll get the chance anytime soon. Not if his life continues the way it is. That doesn't mean he won't strain to pick up whatever he can when he gets the chance, even if it's all incomplete and difficult to understand. ]

[amelioraate]

[no, the conversation will start to get weird when Tony tells Romulus about multiple versions of himself in thousands of different universes. you know, if it ends up coming up in conversation or something.

for now, magic and math seem to be safe topics.]

Well I can point you in the right direction for magic, but if you want to learn math and machines, uh--- you are more than welcome to join me in my workshop if you want? I am not always the best teacher, but eh.

[ he chances a look between Romulus and the suit, before he shrugs. ]

No armour making though, I already have to steal my shit back from Doom. And--- well, Riri earned it so...

[aeturnus]

[ That's a lot to take in because someone just offered to teach him and it's more than he could have actually dreamed about. If he has to remind himself to breathe, at least this time it isn't due to panic.

He doesn't even care that part of the lessons already sound to be off limits. This is way more than he's been offered before. Almost astronomically so.]

You would show me those?