[video / action]

[actlikealady]

[the communicator flickers onto Sif's face, which settles into satisfied lines. she figured it out, this enchanted metal device, so now she can go back to what she was doing -- which is wrapping her free arm around a tree and casually hauling it out of the ground]

If we are to follow the whims of our captors -- which I'm of two minds on, myself -- we should at least begin by figuring out who is best-suited for what. [briskly]

So go on. [she drops the tree, also casually, and then goes to tear out another. she's not sure how much wood they'll need] I require knowledge of how many are here, and what skills you possess. We will want someone with knowledge of plants to forage, and someone with skill at fishing. We will need a source of fresh water, and likely vessels fashioned to carry and hold our supplies in. Those with strength or skill at construction who can put together the shelters, and those who might construct defenses around the constructs.

And those of you who are more accustomed to living in human cities, well... [a beat. trying to think of something charitable] We will probably need someone to -- gather sticks, and the like.

Comments

[actlikealady]

Excellent. [the most helpful! she could use more foraging and fishing folk] Banner has volunteered to find things to eat in the jungle, and he could certainly use help. I would like in the future to make nets to catch fish with, but for now it will be a more difficult task.

[cleanedslate]

[ no one should leave him unsupervised for nearly that long ]

Yeah, well. I'm -- streamlined. It helps with the flying.

[ VERY smooth, see. waxed-smooth. but there's still tension around his jaw. another breath, deeper and slower. his eyes flit up to Bruce's face. ]

Little shaky on the dismount, you think?

[actlikealady]

That's a very useful skillset. [making note of it] I hope we will not have need of it, but it is very good to know that should that need arise...

I didn't even think to ask how many here could cook. [she's a little amused. everyone just... takes turns cooking, when she goes adventuring. even if you're not skilled at it, you know how] We'll definitely need that once we have food.

[sublimating]

That was actually my favorite part. The rest of it came on a little... strong.

[cleanedslate]

[ he wets his lips. private conversations would be nice. he'll have to set aside like -- ten minutes later and figure that out. ]

So -- treating someone like super-volatile glass, you're saying... that might not be constructive?

[ hey there living breathing reminder of how he should handle situations like this. like he didn't see you tense up every time you talked to someone who knew, on the helicarrier and after. wringing his hands, but he notices he's doing it and forces himself to stop. ]

[actlikealady]

[oh, you want italics? she's got some italics for you] The right to bully anyone out of their decision, especially someone I am meant to believe you love! But rather than talk to her, you talk over her. Do you trust your beloved so little you cannot even be bothered to let her speak for herself? What kind of reputation does Tony Stark have?

[sublimating]

Maybe not.


[private]
[and, because he was just looking for it himself, you're welcome] You've got to ease up, Tony. You might be right that it's a bad idea for her to use her new abilities, but you need a better alternative than psyching her out about it.

[cleanedslate]

[ still his fave ] [ but he squints at the little notice dubiously for a beat before saying ]

I know. I know. I hear the words coming out of my mouth and I'm like, who is this guy? What the hell is his problem?

[ too rapid-fire, still. and obviously not completely honest. but by the last one -- god, when he saw the look on her face...

he scrapes his hands back through his hair, ducks his head, just focuses on breathing. ]

I sure dish this out a lot better than I take it, don't I? I almost died on her -- how many times? And I can't even handle the one.

[cleanedslate]

[ italics are pretty awesome. his attention is somewhat divided though, between her and Pepper -- and he's looking a little deflated already, before he starts to respond ]

It's not about trust.

[ quieter, and -- maybe weaker, too ]

[onehotpepper]

[Bruce is possibly the only person Pepper could stand to be around right now, after going from angry to scared so quickly. Sif, too, actually, because she exudes confidence and self-control, but she's going to do the heavy lifting, and Pepper--]

[she doesn't much feel like exerting herself right now. this entire day has been too draining already.]

That sounds great. I'll go find him. Thank you.

[maybe they'll get to be badasses together in a day or two. scary as the prospect of losing control is, Pepper wouldn't mind letting some of this out for a change.]

[onehotpepper]

[hypothetically? probably a lot. hers?]

[no idea.]

[it's a few long seconds of silence and looking some mixture of tired and sad and afraid before she finally speaks up, a lot more quietly than before] I'm going to go find Bruce. Apparently he knows a thing or two about plants.

[cleanedslate]

[ Pepper ]

[ he just -- nods, tightly. yeah. yes. do that. that's fine. he gets it. ]

Can't say I blame you.

[criminalmastermind]

I hope so too. Sadly, the need probably WILL arise, but there's not much a I can do to prevent it.

[emends]

I'm at your service, my lady.

[ Except when the berries strike. Then she'll be useless. ]

[onehotpepper]

[it's not your fault, Tony. it's not really anyone's fault. so much to say to you, too many people to overhear.]

Just breathe, right? [her new motto. small smile, for both their sakes]

[cleanedslate]

[ he's gonna have all the privacy encryptions set up by tonight ]

Absolutely, all the breathing. Nothing but hyperoxia from now on.

[ the joke is also for both their sakes. ]

[onehotpepper]

[achievement unlocked: there's a bit more of her old self in her smile now.]

I'll see you later.

[cleanedslate]

[ he's grateful, but not an idiot. he knows it doesn't make up for scaring her. if anything it's just more proof that he's lucky. but he widens his smile for her and nods.

when the little click of her closing the channel comes, he finally lets himself look away from the comm.

breathing and thinking. that's what he's good at, that's what everyone here needs from him, so that's what he'll do. ]

[slim]

I'm--not really sure who that is. But I'd be glad to help him.

[private]

[sublimating]

Yeah, well, don't blame yourself too hard. You haven't had all that practice dealing with it that she has. [a little gray humor for you there]

[everwalking]

...All right. [these are important tasks, he reminds himself! at least, someone has to do them] Thank you, Miss...?

[actlikealady]

How do you get "loads of experience" "sharpening things into pointy shapes"?

[actlikealady]

It poses no problem for me, but there are obviously many here who are not as familiar with a life of adventuring. No doubt they would be much more familiar with your "conditioned air" and "wifi", but who knows how long before someone eats something your kind was not meant to eat?

[actlikealady]

I suppose he'd best arrange a location to meet up, since I imagine not everyone knows him. But if we have people taking care of foraging and fishing, we will be well-prepared.

[actlikealady]

Sif.