backdated a couple days, after his conversation with Charles

[thestarspangledman]

[Onscreen, there is a very recognizable shield. --Well, to be exact, it's the side of that shield, before a rag is quickly swiped over it and Steve adjusts the camera angle. Scattered behind him is an open sketchbook filled with various doodles of Barge inhabitants, views of the CES, and a tin of polish he scrounged up from somewhere or another. But he settles back and grins.]

Seems like every time we get new arrivals, lately, it's after a flood where everyone's distracted for a few days. So I'd like to say thanks to --everyone who helped me out when I was ...well, smaller than usual. Or offer apologies. I was kinda an argumentative kid, if you didn't notice.

[Spam for Tony:]

[After he's finished with polishing his shield, Steve meanders down to Tony's room with an empty sketchbook in hand and a few pencils, in search of one particular person. He knocks and rocks back on his heels, a little cautious.]

Tony? Hope you don't mind a visitor.

[--And once he's opened the door, hopefully:] I brought you something to keep you entertained. [And he offers the sketchbook, a little sheepishly.] I'm sure you're used to -- your computers, or those tablet things, whatever it was that Coulson showed me, but...it's something, right? Might get some of those ideas out of your head.

Comments

action!

[aggravating]

[Tony has a ball. He found it the other day in the rec room, just a little tennis ball wedged under a couch. And right now? Right now he's lying in his bed, injured leg propped up against the headboard the ball getting tossed and bounced off the wall in front of him again... and again... and again. Of course, the fact that he's been bouncing a ball off of the wall that separates his and Natasha's rooms for like, four hours is completely cooincidental.

If he thought that Steve was going to be Natasha when the door opened? Also coincidental.

But it might be why Tony's just kind of staring at him for a second with a confused look on his face before he swings his legs around, pushes himself up and tosses the tennis ball off into a corner of his room, eyeing the sketchbook being held out to him.] Tablets. No, you got it. Tablets or touchscreen. [And if a muscle in his jaw is twitching at the mention of Coulson's name, let it remain unmentioned] Which this place has an annoying lack of, helmet excluded.

[He sort of shrugs a should, an awkward motion.] Uh. Thanks. You can... [He makes a lame gesture at the bed next to him, or the desk... on the opposite side of the room. Sometimes, he hates the awkward tension when people try to hand him things. Especially when Happy or Pepper aren't there to redirect it.] Anywhere.

Re: action!

[thestarspangledman]

Uh, sure. [So he comes in, still a little awkward, and sets the sketchbook and pencils on the bed next to Tony.]

Can I sit, or do you -- not want to be bothered? I figured you might like the company. I know how boring sittin' in bed can get.

[aggravating]

[There's a whole fifteen seconds of silence after Steve sets down the sketchbook and pencils where Tony just sits there, staring at them. But as soon as enough time passes, he's letting out a breath, reaching over and picking up the book and flipping through the blank pages absently.]

Considering I was about five minutes away from all work and no play? Yeah, sure. We can even call it team bonding. You can sign and slip and give it to Charles and I can get my gold star. [There's a slight edge to Tony's voice, but it's not an actual attack. It's more... discomfort. He has a feeling he knows why Steve's bothering to check on him, keep him company.

And, damnit, he doesn't want to talk about the full cause of his injury yet. Not with the guy he got tortured trying to protect.]

[thestarspangledman]

[--Yeah, that's a reference he doesn't quite get yet, so he'll ignore it.]

It's not -- nothing like that. I mean, yeah, it would be good to have team bonding now that we've got more people here, but this ain't exactly the time for it.

I just...wanted to say thanks. Charles told me what happened.

[silvestris]

What's that? [She's focusing on the drawings more than anything.]

[thestarspangledman]

What, this? It's my shield. [He waves at the camera.] Hi there, miss, I don't think I've seen you around before.

[silvestris]

I'm new around here, still getting settled in. My name's Selina. [And now that she's seen the shield she's pretty sure she knows who he is. Buuut.]

What's your name, stranger?

[thestarspangledman]

Pleased to meet ya, miss. I'm Steve Rogers. Or, uh, Captain America, if you want. [With a little nod to the shield, there.]

[silvestris]

Oh, you're the one everyone's been talking about. Let me guess: Warden?

[thestarspangledman]

I sure am. People have been talking about me?

Private

[lastincident]

Are you doing alright now that you're over twenty again? [ Just checkin' in, teammate-wise. Really. That's all. ]

Private

[thestarspangledman]

Sure am, though I found out some thanks are in order. --Thank you, too, for keepin' an eye on me and Bucky.

Private

[lastincident]

Not at all. I just wanted to make sure your brief visitation to childhood did not go pearshaped.

private

[thestarspangledman]

Not as such, no. I'm gonna bring Tony something to do.

private

[lastincident]

How's he doing? [ Bruce had to retreat for his own sanity, for a time. Now he's -- not sure about going back. About talking about what was seen. If it'll be talked about at all. You can never be sure with Tony. ] Or are you going to go find out?

[ichoosefight]

Man, I'm sorry I missed it. I would've liked to meet you as a little kid. [ She likes little kids, even Damian. A little. Don't tell anyone. ]

You know, not a whole lot of people show up in the middle of floods. It does happen, though. I think someone once showed up in the middle of a breach. One hell of a welcome, right?

[thestarspangledman]

Judging by this place, it'll probably happen again sooner or later.

...Wow. I feel sorry for them, that musta been somethin'.

[ichoosefight]

Seems likely. We get age-swapped a lot for one reason or another.

[ She snorts. ] At least it was probably easier to explain what ordinary floods were like, after that.

[thestarspangledman]

Yeah, I guess it would be.

[ichoosefight]

I can't say we won't get another flood for Halloween but we're basically assured peace and quiet until then.

[notthatfondue]

You were terribly argumentative. I noticed.

[She's teasing, see the smile?]

[thestarspangledman]

Well, maybe only around ladies. Sorry, Peg. [he's grinning back, though.]

[notthatfondue]

I've found it in my heart to forgive you. My 8 year old self, on the other hand... Maybe not so much. [She laughs a little and shakes her head.]

[thestarspangledman]

[He's going to look playfully solemn for just a moment, here.]

Then I'd like to offer my deepest apologies to your eight-year-old self. And reassure her that she probably coulda kicked my ass if she wanted to.

[notthatfondue]

That would have been like kicking a puppy.

[She's still grinning, though.]