002 | Tony Stark | Video

[manofiron]

[ The video begins with Tony rubbing at his forehead, eyes closed. ]

All right, so I might have had an idea about how to…

[ Lowering his hands, he opens his eyes, only to blink and allow the words to trail off into silence. He blinks again, turning away from the communicator as though searching the area around him for something. ]

You’ve got to be kidding.

[ It’s a low murmur under his breath, and abruptly he’s looking back at the communicator again. Actually looking at it. ]

It’s back. Just like—Steve! Anna! Are you listening to this? Are you okay? Is everything back to normal?

[ Whatever he’d been about to say originally has evidently been forgotten. ]

What about the rest of you? Sight, ability to talk, whatever. Is anyone still having trouble with it?

[ He grins then, happy and not afraid to let anyone see it. ]

Bruce! Put on that suit you got for Christmas. We’ve got some celebrating to do.

Comments

[ video ]

[gleans]

[ He's smiling! ]

Yeah, mine came back yesterday, I meant to ask. That's a relief, dude.

[manofiron]

Seriously? That's great news!

Was there a catalyst? Anything you remember, anyway?

[gleans]

Uh -- for losing it, or for getting it back?

[manofiron]

Getting it back. I think the catalyst was the unmarked packages we apparently got. At least, that's what I've been told.

[video]

[justlove]

[Blaine's grinning as he responds.]

I just got my sight back yesterday.

[He sounds really relieved and happy that it wasn't permanent.]

[manofiron]

You too? Fantastic!

[ Tony grins back at him, equally relieved. ]

How long were you stumbling around like an idiot? It's been... Hell, I don't even know. Since the party at least, for me.

[justlove]

Yeah, it's great!

I guess you missed me walking into a chair for everyone to see.

[Yep, he's still embarrassed about that.]

I think it was sometime before the party. Maybe the day before.

[He wasn't at the party, but he heard bits and pieces about it.]

[manofiron]

Well, that's the thing. I couldn't see.

[ He never thought he would be able to see again. ]

Thought it was just me for a while. I didn't realize it was affecting the whole town. Just another day at the Cape, huh?

[audio]

[greenisnteasy]

[When Bruce sees the message, his first impulse is to reply right away, say yes, and start planning what kind of celebration they might have -- but then reality kicks in. He'd told himself that once Tony got his sight back, he'd start putting distance between them, and it looks like the time for that is now. Tony's message is proof enough; he wants Bruce to be a friend, and Bruce... doesn't want that, and he can't have what he does want. It isn't fair to Tony to keep hanging around when Bruce has feelings for him, and anyway, Bruce and relationships don't work anymore.

So when he replies, it's audio, and he tries to sound distracted. If it were video, he's sure Tony could see right through him -- another reason to start distancing them now.]

That's great, Tony. I'm really glad to hear it.

[manofiron]

I know, right? I thought I was going to be blind forever.

[ Nothing really strikes him as odd about the lack of video or Bruce's distraction. Apparently he's working, or so Tony thinks, anyway. ]

So where are you? The clinic? I'll head over - I can actually do that now without ending up lost in the woods - and then we can go down to the bar from there.

[greenisnteasy]

[Here we go.]

I'd love to, but I've got my hands full over here, actually.

[manofiron]

Okay, skip the bar. I can help. Actually help this time, instead of standing around looking awkward. What're we working on? Fill me in.

[audio]

[rigging]

Wait, are y'saying people lost the ability t'do those things?

[manofiron]

Yep. Just part of the old Cape Kore charm.

Sorry, are you new? I've been kind of... out of the loop lately.

[rigging]

Great. [ Sigh. ] Yeah, I'm -- uh, Jesse. Jesse Finch. Probly shoulda introduced myself but y'know, the lack of sight thing got my attention.

[manofiron]

I get that. I really do.

Tony Stark. Pleased to meet you. Sorry about the circumstances, though. We're trying to fix that.

[plaidsamurai]

Glad yer back to yer old self again, Stark. [He gives him a forced smile. He's become a good liar over the years though, and it mostly passes as genuine.]

[manofiron]

I think that's the first time anyone's ever said that to me.

How's it going? Any luck?

[ Logan strikes him as a smart cookie. He trusts that he'll understand that he means with Laura. ]

[plaidsamurai]

[Logan's eyes go a little darker as the fake smile quickly dissipates and he shakes his head grimly.]

Nothin's turned up and I'm still havin' problems...

[afallenstar]

[ Anna's quick to respond, video feed flickering on and giving Tony a view of a stupidly bright smile. ]

Yours is back too?

[manofiron]

Doth mine ears deceive me or hast thy beauteous Lady Anna regained control of her dulcet tones?

[ Yeah, he's in a good mood. ]

[afallenstar]

Lady Anna hath found her voice indeed!

[ Equally good moods are coming from Anna too, as might be obvious from the stupid grin and general bubbly demeanour. That doesn't happen very often Tony, relish in it. ]

I never thought I'd be so damn glad to just speak again.

guess who doesn't check the comm...

[pursuitofcappiness]

Back to normal.

You alright? I'm coming home.

[manofiron]

You don't have to stop what you're doing. I'm fine.

[pursuitofcappiness]

I promised to put on the sweater, didn't I?