001 - video

[neverdanced]

[He needs to stop thinking that he's incapable of being surprised. By the end of the Battle of New York, Steve thought he had seen it all. Insane technology, other worlds, aliens... What else could there possibly be?

The answer, of course, is a giant turtle in a realm outside the continuity of time. He had a long chat about nearly everything with the locals that helped him earlier, but it's still crazy, and he probably wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't seen some of the turtle shell himself.

Yet here he is. It'll probably all sink in over time; Steve's been overloaded with so much information over the past few hours and it's exhausting, even for him.

Getting on the computer hadn't been his top priority, but he's already gone outside of his new home and back. Steve's experienced enough culture shock for today. He might as well at least reach out and introduce himself to all of the other people who wound up here like him.

Once he's got the computer up and running, he accesses the network using the video function. He looks a little stiff and probably as exhausted as he feels, but that's the least of his concerns right now.]

Hello. My name's Steve Rogers. The kedin- kedan? - brought me up to speed already, but I only just arrived here a few hours ago.

[Maybe longer than that. He hasn't exactly been keeping track of time. In any case, it's really jarring to be talking to a computer screen and not actually know who's on the other end.]

I have a couple questions that I'd like to have verified. [It doesn't necessarily mean he'll believe whatever he's told, but second opinions are typically useful.] We're all more or less stuck on this turtle, right? But there's a way back.

[That's a question as well, but it ends up sounding more like a statement. It sounds like a reasonable assumption. There obviously isn't a rush since no time is passing back home; he just wants to know.]

The other question I have is about jobs. Since it looks like I'll be here awhile, I'll start looking soon. Does anyone know which places are hiring offhand?

[He pauses for a moment before adding a 'thank you.']

Comments

[neverdanced]

[It's not every day that Steve can say he's honestly glad to see Tony; he hasn't known him very long at all, and they've certainly had their share of bickering.

But still, it's nice to see a familiar face, and makes him wonder if there are other people he knows here.]

I must've missed the memo. I didn't keep you waiting long, did I?

[manofiron]

Six months, give or take.

[ He gives him a quick, there and gone smile. It's not really all that amused, but it isn't bitter and mean, either. ]

Most of the rest of the band's here. Just waiting on Barton now.

[ Does he tell him about the alternate realities or does he wait? Maybe he ought to ease him into it. ]

[neverdanced]

[It's an incredible revelation, and that's apparent by Steve's expression. It makes sense, though; if time is frozen back home while he's here, it's only natural that there are some discrepancies in time. Confusing and slightly jarring, yes, but Steve is at least able to grasp everything he's learnt today so far.]

I heard somewhere that being fashionably late was good.

[Perhaps it's meant to be a joke, except it isn't really funny. Not when he says it.]

I've got to say I'm surprised. I thought I'd be the only one here.

[He did consider the idea of this being all some sort of coma-induced dream at first...]

[manofiron]

Well, you know what they say, right? Misery loves company.

[ And Steve's kind of turning the whole "fashionably late" thing into a habit that probably could stand to be broken. Otherwise, who knows when and where he'll wake up next. At least, that's the way Tony looks at it. ]

Its... a little weird. The whole living on a turtle thing. But you start getting desensitized to it. Eventually.

[neverdanced]

[There's a curt nod.]

And who would I be to object to it?

[Somehow, he holds in that sigh. He'll probably feel better about all of this after he gets some rest- he just feels so exhausted- but who knows how much of an improvement it would actually be.]

Are you used to it?

[manofiron]

[ A rational guy who's losing his patience, Tony thinks, but doesn't say. That still leaves the other question, though. Lie or be honest? Lie or be honest... ]

No.

[ Honesty wins the day again! ]

But like I said, it's only been six months. After a year, who knows?

[ The answer will still be no. ]

[neverdanced]

This doesn't seem like something anyone can just get over.

[Tony least of all, but that's just Steve's assumption.]

I'll make sure you don't get too complacent.

[He doubts Tony'd need to help any help with that, and it's a rather silly thing to say considering Steve's yet to really know what it's like here.]

[manofiron]

Must be my lucky day.

[ It's mild instead of snappish, a faint joke while he decides if he wants to make the offer. On the one hand, this is the guy he has never been able to live up to. On the other, if it hadn't been for his father, Tony would have grown up idolizing the guy right along with everyone else.

He's making the offer. ]

Hey, listen, since I'm funding Thor's mom until she finds a niche, I'll give you some money too until you find a job. Unless you wanted to work for Stark Industries—It's a long story. Started by the other...other Tony Stark. Uh, then I can put you in. Head of the art department. Security. Whatever. Up to you.

[neverdanced]

[That's something Steve has to mull over. He's not the type to accept handouts; he would much rather earn his living from his own hard work and merit. In a situation like this though, what options does he have?

He doesn't have any use for the cash in his wallet, and military backpay isn't going to help him here, either.

There's another moment of hesitation before he finally responds.]

I'll pay you back, as soon as I'm able to.

[That's a given, of course. As for the job, Steve can't really afford to be picky. There's a difference between Tony offering a job and Steve asking for his help, and that makes it a little easier.]

What sort of things would need to be done within the art department?

[That has his interest. When it comes down to it, duty comes first, but art...

If the war never happened, he would've tried finding a way to make it part of his career.]

[manofiron]

Do I look like an artist to you? I don’t know.

[ In a very limited capacity, Tony is an artist. He can draw schematics and blueprints with mathematical precision. But that’s all he can do. Drawing lifelike representations of people, conveying feelings through lines and color when he has trouble even admitting that he has any, these things are well and truly beyond him.

Steve doesn’t know him. Not really. Not how he operates. Not yet how to read between the lines of what he says and what he means. Acknowledging that, Tony throws him a bone. ]

I’m saying, you can have an art department. Run it. Turn it into a, I don’t know, whatever. Design stuff if the techs and scientists want it. Open up a gallery. Spend all day trying to formulate the perfect shade of red. You’re the art guy, not me.

[ Which may be a clue that for all his prickly standoffishness, Tony has been interested enough in Steve’s life at some point to learn these little details. ]

[neverdanced]

[Steve has to admit, at least to himself, that he's underestimated Tony. This is surprisingly generous, especially considering Steve's initial evaluation of Tony had been the assumption that he's selfish, self-centred, and... well, spoilt.

He's honestly really glad that he's wrong about Tony.]

I - [He's not even sure how to respond to this. Free reign to do whatever? The possibility alone is more than he imagined for himself.] - would really like that.

[Steve will have to do something to return this favour somehow.]

Thank you.

[He would ask why, but he doubts he'd get a straight answer anyway.]

[manofiron]

Sure. No problem.

[ He waves the thanks away like it's no big deal. Like this kind of thing happens all the time. Truth is, he doesn't know how to deal with gratitude and figures that moving beyond as quickly as possible suffices. ]

There's a large office on the second floor. It's yours. Knock down a few walls if you want, expand it. Turn it into a studio. It's up to you.

[ He snaps his fingers. ]

Oh, and let me know if you want staff. Secretary. Assistant. Underlings to boss around. Paint brush cleaners. Whatever.

[neverdanced]

Which sector is it in?

[He's sure he could find it easily, especially if he just asks any person he sees on the street, but getting a general idea is helpful.]

I don't think I'll need staff, or at least not yet, but I'll let you know. [He has to figure out what he wants to do with it first.]

I could take a look at it tomorrow. I don't exactly have a busy schedule. [He just might end up being incredibly hungover tomorrow, not that he knows that yet.]

[manofiron]

Fire. You can't miss it.

[ He taps out a brief set of directions, starting from the center of the city, and then sends it over. ]

Here. If you need something more detailed, let me know. Far as stopping by, you can come anytime. I practically live there these days.

[neverdanced]

[He reads over the directions quickly, nodding. It seems like it'll be easy enough to get to, but he'll end up writing the directions down in shorthand before going over there, just in case.]

Alright. I'll let you know beforehand, though.

[Tony might be there a lot, but Steve doesn't want to show up unannounced.]

[manofiron]

[ Far be it from Tony to insist Steve Rogers breaks with courtesy. ]

Sounds good. You need anything else, let me know.

[neverdanced]

Alright.

[He won't, unless it's absolutely necessary. Which probably will be the case, once he decides which supplies he needs.]

See you later, then.

[He can't think of anything else to say for now, so he ends the feed.]