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Oh. Yeah. That one.

[ Tony traces a finger across the sketched edges of his diagrams and then taps it on the paper, agitated. He scrunches his face, turns back to the fading message on the wall. ]

What about him?

It seemed like a very odd thing to tell a total stranger.

He's sort of a national treasure where we come from, guess he's trying to make sure the legend continues. [ Is that mean? It's probably mean. ] Did he say anything else, or just announce he was Captain America and then leave to cut the ribbon at a mattress store?

[yeah Viktor is sensing some Unspoken Issues here but whatever. Not his business.]

He actually said he wanted preempting your telling me about it. I see the value in that.

[ Tony's half-paid-attention to the whole exchange as he attempts to fasten a bracket to the nearby wall for some shelving – easy-peasy with power tools, but a little more challenging when you're dealing with solid brick, a hand drill, custom anchors you had to solder in the shop, and – interpersonal demons, he guesses. He turns the crank once, twice, with increasing force, as his grit teeth hold the next screw. ] Oh, good, glad to know our latest trust exercise involves him letting me fall on the floor.

[ He leans back from the bracket, glances at the one he put up fifteen minutes ago, realizes they're uneven from each other. Slightly, by like, a couple milimeters. He drags a hand down his face. ] Also, like, presumptuous? Assuming I'd be tripping over myself wanting to dish? About him? Why would I ever want to talk about him, honestly. We've got bigger fish to fry.

[ A couple seconds. Then– ]

Like, what did he say I'd want to talk – say. About him. Anyway.

[okay, Viktor is increasingly feeling like he stepped in it. The good news is that Steve and Tony, generally speaking, are not his problem.

That said.]

I asked him why he'd offer potentially compromising information to a stranger, but it seemed my familiarity with you was enough for him to feel comfortable sharing. All he mentioned was that you'd probably inform me anyway, given our current arrangement. That was all.

[He should leave this alone. He should. Not. Ask any more questions.]

You were colleagues?

Edited 2022-07-04 21:59 (UTC)

[ Oh.

Tony's shoulders deflate. He drops his hands from his face and lets them hang at his side. Shuts his eyes for a couple of seconds, tries to let the anger drain.

It's – tough, navigating all this. Hearing that things turn out some kind of okay, but still feeling like – he can't forgive everything until he sees it. Feels it. Ugh. Tony grabs a nearby rag and wipes his hands on it. Why's Tim asking about all this, again?

He pauses. No – seriously. Why is Viktor asking? ]

It's complicated. I mean, you probably guessed it was complicated. Kind of like how you guessed you'd get by my radar if, after, like, a week of radio silence, you suddenly broke the ice by asking me about a "colleague" instead of "that guy who science famously turned into the übermensch" – so like. What's on your mind, buddy?

[Hm. Yes. Complicated.]

Curiosity. [A tacit admission that Tony does not actually have to answer anything, if he doesn't really want to, but Viktor gets the sense that Tony likes to explain himself.] It seems like I'm meeting a lot of your colleagues, and they all have different things to say about the military outfit you were part of. My understanding is that it is, at least in part, dissolved?

If you have an actual question for me, you should ask it.

Curiosity. Uh-huh.

The Avengers. Not military, though that's... kind of complicated. Even more complicated than usual, seeing as most of my "colleagues" are from five years in the future, so they probably have a better idea of whether or not our band-getting-back-together arc ends in unmitigated disaster. Or like – I mean, I know we save the universe, so. Guess we didn't do too bad.

[ Aside from him dying. Hm. Right, time to move on– ]

Anyway. I could give you more gory details, but I do have an actual question: If you've already met "a lot" of my colleagues, then why are you only now dropping a line. To ask about Rogers. Specifically.

I'm a scientist. It's my job to ask questions.

[Viktor. That's not.]

He was easily the strangest one so far. That's why.

[ Tony narrows his eyes at the glowing text on the wall, from the spot at his table where he's cracked open a bottle of whatever the locals call beer. Takes a swig. Ugh. Yeasty. ]

Just wait 'till you meet the guy in Solvunn.

[ Does he press the question? He taps his fingers on the tabletop. ]

Speaking of colleagues, you wanna tell me what's been going on between you and Tom Brainy?

[is Wanda NOT the guy in Solvunn? Oh no. Anyway,]

I don't know who that is.

Do you really have to–

Jayce. I'm asking why you and Jayce have been so weird. It's been a real inconvenience to me, you know.

If you're going to refer to us by esoteric nicknames based on your world's culture, I will occasionally need you to explain the reference.

[one day, Tony, someone is going to explain A Christmas Carol to Viktor and then he will beat the shit out of you]

What was inconvenient? I had business in Aquila, if that's what you were wondering about.

You're esoteric.

Oh. [ Had Viktor mentioned that? He'd probably mentioned that. Tony's been too wrapped up in his own wing designs and attempts at handyman entrepreneurship, he guesses. He carries on– ] What kind of business?

[ Much easier than talking about other things, anyway. ]

Yes? I make no pretensions of my incredibly niche area of study.

[he's fully fuckin around now sry tony]

I was assisting someone with an errand. It was also nice to take some time away from Cadens.

[my name is Viktor Leagueoflegends and I love lying]

Uh-huh. Because you really strike me as the kind of guy to ditch the lab for an art tour.

Also, check the convo with Jayce, I pinged you. Uncharitably.

Edited 2022-07-30 23:38 (UTC)

Tony, you're not the first person to offer me an uncharitable nickname and think yourself clever for it. You certainly won't be the last.

[he's on to you, guy!!]

I'm told that ocean air is good for the constitution.

Edited 2022-07-31 00:08 (UTC)

You know what, you're right, I should think up something more fitting.

Liar-liar-pants-on-fire, maybe? Just spitballing.

At least you'll have graduated to something I can control, as opposed to something I can't.

What is it you want to know so badly? I told you, I was assisting someone with an errand in Aquila.

OK, ladies and gentlemen – we've established he did some kind of errand, for some kind of person, relating to some type of business, in some part of Aquila.

Would it be cool if I ask Jayce for more details, or like absolutely not?

Ask Jayce. I don't care.

[ Dammit. ]

Fine, I will.

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