cape_kore | video

[ Something's gone funny with his memory... He could've sworn he was talking to Tony earlier. ]

Yeah. Yeah, here.

[ He picks up the sketchbook, flips it to a page of meticulous notes ]

Have you been to the forest?

[ That's relatively normal. And normal is safe. Normal isn't full of guilt and blame and being responsible for more death. ]

Yeah. A few times.

[ Swallowing, he starts to relax, lets the tension begin to ease from his shoulders. ]

There's the robots. The sabertooth cats. Guns from nowhere. Probably some other stuff. We should go in prepared.

...Just how long have you been here, Stark? Seems like you've been around the block a few times more than I have.

[ He picks up the pen ]

Did we get any of the guns?

[ He frowns, looking at Steve again in confusion. And if he's being honest with himself, just a little annoyance. ]

About as long as you have, Rogers.

[ It's got a bite to it, more than he intends, and he reminds himself to rein it in. ]

And no, I didn't get any of the guns. I was too busy trying not to get shot full of holes.

--Sorry. I... wait, something's not right.

[ He looks right in Tony's eyes, and just... stares at him. This is bizarre. He's looking at Howard Stark, but he feels like he's talking to Tony. ]

What's the address of Stark Tower?

[ Something that should confuse Howard, but that everyone else should know. ]

[ Steve staring at him like that is mildly disconcerting, but now that his back's up, there's no way he's backing down. Instead, he stares right back at him, meeting his eyes. ]

Two Hundred Park Avenue, New York, New York, one zero one six six. Why? Did you forget?

[ He blinks ]

...

I think I'm going crazy, because right now you look just like your father.

[ He's way too close, because he's never been this close to Howard before. But everything's in the right place, it's constant. Logically, from this close up, Tony should look like Tony. ]

[ It's almost like he's been slapped. The way he flinches back away from Steve certainly looks like the action of someone who's just been hit across the face. ]

That's... That's great.

[ And then the surprise turns brittle and nasty. ]

You need a little advice on how to tell the difference? That disappointment you're feeling, that's me.

Tony, I'm sorry. You don't-- I mean, normally, I can tell you apart.

Something's happening again. Do I still look and sound like me?

[ He hates that, whatever this is, it's got such a control on his senses. ]

Can we just start this all over?

Did you hit your head?

[ It comes out snide and cold as Tony's temper gets the better of him. At least for the moment.

He passes a hand over his eyes, rubs at his mouth, and takes a deep breath. ]

You look fine. JARVIS, scan him, would you? No, I don't care—For anything. Anything out of the ordinary. Just do it.

[ He waves a hand at Steve. ]

Carry on. He can scan you whether you're still or moving.

...Who are you talking to?

[ Okay, this is like beyond bizarre. And he wasn't even aware Tony got a lab, but he always just... well, it'd explain where he's been running off to these days, at least. Maybe he's carved himself out some space in the church or something. ]

JARVIS. Obviously.

[ The duh is heavily implied by his tone. ]

I thought I introduced you two already. Didn't I? He's my AI. Runs the—Yeah, okay, then introduce yourself. Jesus.

[ Tony rolls his eyes, then brightens after a moment, as though someone's just told him some good news. ]

There. See? You're fine.

...I don't think either of us are fine.

I can't hear JARVIS. And you...

[ He even sounds like Howard... this is bad. ]

I'm what? How can you not hear JARVIS? Are you going deaf?

[ Obviously the problem is Steve. ]

Rerun that diagnostic. I think Steve's hearing is being affected.

...What is he supposed to look like?

[ For the record, the letters A and I together for Steve don't really... mean anything. |: Thanks for remembering, Tony. ]

Who? JARVIS? He doesn't look like anything. He's pure AI.

[ Squinting, he peers curiously at him. ]

Why? Do you think he needs to look like something?

No...? I don't know what an AI is, but I guess it doesn't have a form. I just... I don't think I'm going deaf. But... I'm also seeing the wrong things, so I probably shouldn't be saying that.

Will you sit down, now?

Artificial intelligence. Like a computer program. Or a robot. Just in his case, without the robot.

[ Steve gets a sideways glance for that, but after a moment's hesitation, he sits down. ]

You still gonna make cracks about my old man?

I wasn't trying to make a crack about anything. Please.

[ He also sits down. ]

You put a computer program in... what, the cameras? Have you figured out a way to turn the feed off, then? Or override it?

What? No. I've got JARVIS in the computers. In the phones. Hell, even in my car.

[ But he does glance up at the aforementioned cameras with a frown. ]

Still haven't figured the cameras out yet. Either of us.

So... what is JARVIS attached to right now? We don't have computers, phones, or cars.

Of course we have computers. Jesus, can you imagine not having them? That would be hell.

...Tony... can you show me your computer?

[ He gives Steve an uncertain look, then points toward what looks to him to be an impressive array of equipment, much like that which he has at home. To Steve, it probably looks like the coffee table. ]

It's right there.

...I don't see anything there.

[ He goes over and slowly moves his hands around, like he might land on something solid and hidden. But he doesn't... ]

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