[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

/jack!

[cleanedslate]

Great, because she would much rather do that. The foraging thing. She was in the Girl Scouts. Tons of merit badges. In fact, I don't know why she didn't say that to begin with.

[ hi Sif hi Pepper you don't mind him butting in and deciding things for you and making up things about your childhood right? ]

ahahaha reading comprehension, i do has it i swear

[onehotpepper]

[Tony what the hell]

I was never a Girl Scout, and the only thing I'd much rather do is go home.

[plus, she's sort of itching to do something. being here makes her anxious. at least if she's productive, it'll take her mind off how hot it is here.]

[cleanedslate]

Really? Could've sworn. I bet you would've sold hundreds of cookies.

[onehotpepper]

[not funny, Tony.]

You're not helping.

[cleanedslate]

I'm being very helpful, actually. I'm helping you not volunteer to set things on fire or rip trees out of the ground.

[onehotpepper]

If I can put this situation to good use, I don't see why I shouldn't. I can't just keep it all inside.

[cleanedslate]

We get this fixed, you can put it to all the use you want. Good use, bad use, you can -- swat flies with telephone polls and roast marshmallows with your fingers for all I care.

[ definitely starting to sound strained here ]

As soon as it's fixed.

[onehotpepper]

Which could be forever from now. We're not home, we've got nothing to work with, and we have no idea if tomorrow we'll wake up here or in New York or in Antarctica.

1/2

[cleanedslate]

Pepper.

[ those are definitely all things he's been worried about ]

I can do this. I could do this -- blindfolded, tied to a chair. And I'm not either of those things.

Bruce is going to help. We're going to get this done.

2/3

[cleanedslate]

We just need -- time. Slightly more than twenty-four hours.

[ please. ]

[cleanedslate]

And it would help if you could maybe refrain from any superhero shenanigans in the meantime.

[ almost back to lighthearted. almost. ]

[onehotpepper]

[Bruce is right: it's not easy staying calm, especially not with whatever is going on, and with this sudden urge she has to just run. she sees your good intentions, Tony, she just-- hates this feeling that she's a time bomb, something dangerous that has to be watched constantly]

Then make decisions like that with me, not for me. Okay?

[cleanedslate]

[ he -- breathes out, slow. eyes move over her face on the view screen.

he's scaring her, and it takes what feels like forever for him to really process that. so much longer than it would take to process and break down even the bitchiest equations.

he's scaring her.

another breath, and then he puts a hand to his own forehead. ]

With you. Got it.

[ one more breath, then ] So, how much irony do you think the human body can even stand? Me, telling you to be careful.

[ he trusts you. he does. with everything. this shouldn't be different. ]

[sublimating]

...That was really smooth, by the way.

[he stops paying attention for five minutes, Tony]

[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.

[actlikealady]

...It doesn't sound to me like that would be her preference, Stark.

[cleanedslate]

Yeah, well, you have to listen to the words she's not saying.

[actlikealady]

How about if I don't?

[bitch you are not trying to exert your macho male power over your wimmen right in front of her, are you]

[cleanedslate]

[ SURE LOOKS LIKE IT ]

Sure, there's always that. Look, you don't understand the situation here. Which is not your fault. You're slightly behind the times and two or three galaxies over.

So just trust me. She shouldn't be on tree duty.

[actlikealady]

Then it is well that I am not making any decisions, and rather leaving it to someone who can make her own, perfectly informed.

[cleanedslate]

[ his teeth are set briefly on edge ]

Some decisions, you don't actually get to make all by yourself.

[actlikealady]

Some decisions can only be made by oneself. And no one else has the right to make them for you.

[cleanedslate]

[ he just-- her tone is so deadly serious, he can't tell if it's that she doesn't understand or if she thinks she understands and still feels this way.

but he can't. ]

I don't have the right? The right to... what, exactly? Stop the woman I love from killing herself to help you play woodcutter when you just said you had more than enough people doing that already?

[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?

[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 ]