05 § video;

[definingfuture]

[Tony starts out sitting in front of the console. He's a little slow to start up what he wants to say-there's an awkward pause beforehand like he's just sizing them up through the video itself.]

So, I've been busy lately. And I've gotten a little distracted by other things, but-

[Something catches in his throat and cuts him off. Tony clears his throat and tries to look casual and calm. He's distracted and maybe in need of some sleep, with his attention wandering from the feed, but he's not going to drop the flippant tone. Especially not now.]

But apparently there have been some strange disappearances lately, and those people might actually still be around.

[He seems to want to say more, but his heart isn't in it. Maybe he should be offering to try to help those semi-disappeared people. Probably. Unfortunately he can't make himself do that.]

That's not what I want to talk about. I need... [Don't finish that, Stark.]

I need someone who knows how to take care of flowers. Horticulture isn't my thing and I have some and I have to make sure they, they don't die, so if you have any advice, I could use it. That or animal counselors. I'm sure those exist out there somewhere.

[ooc: cw for mentions of child deaths and violent arguing.]

Comments

[ofmyth]

Will it aid you to have company?





[How does one small talk.]

[definingfuture]

[Tony is kind of touched by the gesture and kind of afraid of showing weakness in front of Thor. He clears his throat and tries to act relaxed.]

I'm all right. Nothing we haven't seen before, right?

[Not exactly true, but Thor is probably more comfortable than Tony is about this and he's trying to keep up.]

[ofmyth]

[There's a moment of silence as Thor ponders what exactly there is to say in such a situation as this. Just because you've felt it before doesn't mean it isn't painful.]

Certainly it is something I have seen too often.

[If you get bored one day, ask him why he brought Loki back.]

[definingfuture]

[He probably will ask some time. Tony has a morbid curiosity.

He's quiet for a time before speaking up again.]

We're here to help everyone.

[But they keep leaving goes unsaid.]

[ofmyth]

[And here Thor is reminded again of the distance between himself and the humans he fights beside. All too soon, for him, those he knows on Earth will have left to he knows not where.

It is a fact of his existence, though one that he does not care to consider often.]


If I ever discover an answer, I shall let you know.

[definingfuture]

[Tony would be part of that typical pattern. He's lasted longer than a man has a right to, but he doesn't have the experience to brush it off. Losing someone for him is always a grave, injuring loss. He knows Thor is facing a harder overall existence, but Tony is mortal. That's simply beyond him.]

No cosmic wisdom, huh? [That's a joke, of course.]

[ofmyth]

["The universe will turn on" is of no comfort to anyone.]

Ask me again tomorrow.

[It's an admission that, for all his power and godhood, Thor doesn't have all the answers either.]

[definingfuture]

I thought you'd say something like "we do it because we have to". Or maybe "because it's our responsibility". Come on, don't- don't make me make this up. You know what happens when I start making up my thoughts freehand.

[Tony wants to sound confident. Maybe if he really tries he can fake it. He does have a knack for that, especially when he uses jokes as a cover. But right now he's still having trouble getting his footing.]

[ofmyth]

Aye, I know what happens when the mind of Anthony Stark begins to spin. [That's just about a smile there.]

New things are brought into creation.

[Things made with creativity and innovation on a scale the likes of which none of Asgard can match. Asgardians change slowly if at all- it is humans, for all their short lives, who burn hot and bright.]

[definingfuture]

Yeah... lots of new things.

[A lot of them not very good things. But there have been good moments, too. He does know that. He wishes he could say that the good outnumbered the bad, but that isn't close to accurate. Still. Every little bit counts.]

How do you do it?

[He slips that question in quietly. It might even sound meaningless, and if Thor wanted to, he could choose not to answer. It's one of those spur of the moment questions that keeps driving Tony forward, for better or for worse.]

How do you keep going?

[ofmyth]

[The problem is, Thor isn't the best person to ask that question. It's his nature to be large and warlike and worthy, and to be that way forever. He can no less stop doing that than become Loki.

And he knows that he will continue to be as such for a very long time.]

Do you know what the difference is between men and gods?

[definingfuture]

[Tony's initial impulse gives him several potential answers to that question. None of them are the right response. He does manage not to blurt out some inane answers, though.]

You're bigger.

[Most of them.]

Real powers versus synthetic ones?

[Tony smiles a little. The expression is easy to read: Am I getting warmer?]

[ofmyth]

[The corner of Thor's mouth turns up. Not quite there, Anthony, but it's a good guess. Thor certainly is bigger.]

It is choice.

[He's quiet a moment, gauging Tony's reaction.]

[definingfuture]

[Tony's expression falls a little bit. It's not a huge change, but it's there. The answer is kind of depressing when most of your choices have ended up with terrible consequences.]

The choices we make or the ones we can make? Because if it's the former, that's not very flattering.

[Not that he really expects it to be regardless. It's another joke, that's all. But he seems to be processing Thor's response even as he answers. Fully understanding anything usually takes a little longer than Tony's initial retorts.]

You have choices.

[He lowers his voice a bit. It might be from sympathy, actually. As if Tony doesn't believe that someone who is his friend and fellow Avenger doesn't have the ability and inherent right to choose how he lives his life.]

[ofmyth]

Of a kind.

[Thor doesn't mind Tony's thinking out loud. It's a very Tony thing to do.]

In the time you have known us, have you ever known me not to be warlike and noble, wielding Mjolnir for those who need help? Or known my brother Loki to be cunning, planning mischief with deceit and sleight of hand?

[Thor has no qualms describing Loki as such, or even himself. This is how they are, this is what separates them from humans.]

[definingfuture]

[Tony hesitates, because he doesn't want to give Thor the answer he expects. Part of him is just stubborn that way, always trying to be contradictory to test the rules, and part of him honestly believes that what Thor is saying isn't true. It's a coincidence or a self-fulfilling prophesy. Avengers aren't bound by fate.]

You're a hero, Thor. You do the whole saving people in need gig and come from nobility. I kind of don't expect anything less.

[Partly- no, that's mostly true. And it's what he wants to believe.]

Loki's just... complicated. I know he's your brother, but you've got to admit he's got issues.

[This is starting to sound like an excuse, but Tony sticks with it anyway. He can make this work. Even gods can learn and grow. It probably helps that Tony isn't all that strictly religious.]

[ofmyth]

[He smiles. He sees what you're doing there, Tony.] That is true, for both of us.

It has been true since we were boys- and it will likely be true of us until we are ended.

[He does say "die" because death isn't the end, for them.]

We can change a little, but that takes time. But I could no more become my brother than he could become me.

[definingfuture]

[Shh. He's not lying. He's giving his friend the answers he needs without playing by the rules, that's all. He does it because he cares. He wants the freedom for Thor that Thor seems to think he doesn't have. This is what he does. He gives people what they need.

The last line is sad, though in a vague sense that makes Tony uncomfortable.]

Well, I... think that's true for everyone. We can't just become anything overnight. It takes a lot of work, and- and some things we can't get away from.

[That hits home. Tony usually avoids touching his spectacularly bad past record, the legacy he's trying to avoid, but he's got a point to make. It's not hopeless for Thor, even if he is tied to whatever ties gods to their roles.]

But there's always tomorrow.

[ofmyth]

You are correct, but I do not think you realise just how much.

For me and my kind- yes. There will always be tomorrow. Even when we die we will not end.

[And now Thor smiles. He doesn't think that Tony quite understands that it isn't a problem for Thor to be the way he is. Dissatisfaction is not in his nature.]

You asked how I go on? That is how. I go on because I must.

[definingfuture]

[It's a problem for Tony, because he isn't a god. He lives by choice, for better or for worse, and he holds on to that frustrating piece of existence pretty tightly. It may not always be pretty, but it's his.

Then again, unlike Thor, Tony is always a little dissatisfied.]

That sounds... Just like you.

[He gives Thor a fond smile. Of course. Leave it to the Norse god to sum up everything simply because to him it's all got clear definition. He's naturally good--that's part of what Tony admires about him--and he'll always be that way. Some people just have that in them. And he doesn't fully accept it, but he accepts that reality enough. On his terms.]

That's why we need you around here.