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Video;
[ The video begins with a dark-haired man centered in the middle of the frame. He’s got dark eyes, a precisely cut goatee, and hair that’s a little too styled to be naturally that neat. There isn’t a lot to see beyond his chin, he’s sitting too close to the camera, but what can be seen looks vaguely like a shirt of shiny red metal.
His brow knits almost immediately after the feed starts recording, his expression edging toward disbelief as his lips twist into a mild frown. ]
Look. I get it. In a time of crisis, rationing’s necessary to keep resources moving in the right direction. Perfectly understandable. You guys needed to save your turtle. What responsible citizen wouldn’t do their part for that noble cause?
[ There’s a slight hint f sarcasm creeping into his voice, as though he’s heard the whole turtle spiel already and not only hasn’t been impressed, but also doesn’t really buy it either. Not even after having spent half a day scouring the network for information about what’s really going on here before making this video. ]
But really? Twenty bucks?
[ The low, indistinct murmur of another voice can be heard, though what it’s saying and who it belongs to is anyone’s guess. Whatever it says, it’s enough to make the man roll his eyes. ]
Juulan. Whatever. Doesn’t matter. The point — [ Whether he’s talking to the camera or the unidentified voice is unclear. ] — is that it isn’t enough for a day, let alone the entire bogus adventure.
[ It isn’t so much the way he looks at the camera – his eyes have never left it – but the change of his tone, less querulous and more curious, that indicates that he’s talking to whoever’s on the other end of the console. ]
So really. Turtle propaganda aside. What’s a guy gotta do to get some decent money around here? Sell his organs? Hit the street corners? Scrub barnacles off the bottom of the turtle? What?
His brow knits almost immediately after the feed starts recording, his expression edging toward disbelief as his lips twist into a mild frown. ]
Look. I get it. In a time of crisis, rationing’s necessary to keep resources moving in the right direction. Perfectly understandable. You guys needed to save your turtle. What responsible citizen wouldn’t do their part for that noble cause?
[ There’s a slight hint f sarcasm creeping into his voice, as though he’s heard the whole turtle spiel already and not only hasn’t been impressed, but also doesn’t really buy it either. Not even after having spent half a day scouring the network for information about what’s really going on here before making this video. ]
But really? Twenty bucks?
[ The low, indistinct murmur of another voice can be heard, though what it’s saying and who it belongs to is anyone’s guess. Whatever it says, it’s enough to make the man roll his eyes. ]
Juulan. Whatever. Doesn’t matter. The point — [ Whether he’s talking to the camera or the unidentified voice is unclear. ] — is that it isn’t enough for a day, let alone the entire bogus adventure.
[ It isn’t so much the way he looks at the camera – his eyes have never left it – but the change of his tone, less querulous and more curious, that indicates that he’s talking to whoever’s on the other end of the console. ]
So really. Turtle propaganda aside. What’s a guy gotta do to get some decent money around here? Sell his organs? Hit the street corners? Scrub barnacles off the bottom of the turtle? What?
no subject
[ He taps a finger against the console's screen. ]
I'm not the guy you were hoping for. I get it.
[ This is the story of Tony's life. And if this guy's thinking it, then he knows that the others must be too. ]
So I'll make you a deal. Temporal distortions, right? I'll work out where he went, find the one you lost.
no subject
[ Except it was and Jack immediately felt guilty for thinking it's Tony but not the right one as though that somehow cheapened this version of the man.
I, I'm sorry. That was... I shouldn't have said all of those things just now.
... does Pepper know?
no subject
[ He's used to filling a space beside people who wished he was someone else. This is the first time that he's been unwanted because he isn't some other version of himself. And he thought not being able to live up to Captain America was bad. ]
Can't imagine it'll take her long to figure it out. But I'll tell her anyway. Just to be sure.
[ The smile he gives him is meant to be reassuring, but it doesn't reach his eyes. ]
Sorry to ruin the party.
1/2
[ The assertion slips out with a lot more force than he'd anticipated, fueled by an uncomfortable sense of deja vu. Jack's been that person too, who was never the right one. ]
2/2
But um, welcome to the turtle. Sort of.
no subject
[ He doesn't know how to make this not be awkward. Or be easier on the guy. All he can do is try to stay out of the way. At least until everyone's adjusted to him. ]
It's all right. I promise.
no subject
[ He'll do it anyway, once he's had time to process this better, and not make this Tony feel bad for not being someone he's just expected to be. But the next part is 100% genuine. ]
I know; I trust you.
no subject
Thanks. I'll remember that.