♤ [Video] Pretend this was posted earlier because I have no sense of time

[deal_me_in]

Uh, guys? Anyone seen Tony? I am getting some bad vibes about this. His place is a wreck and it wasn't my fault, he didn't even write, network was down during the storm so who knows what anyone was doing-

Also? I think someone's funnin' with us because there is like, nothing on the network referring to or from him. I am pretty sure if he was all a figment of a mass hallucination we must have all been on something pretty wild but I don't think there's anything out there that can produce a guy like Tony Stark so..!

Something weird's going on around here. Sound off if you find anything interesting.

Comments

[in_extremis]

[The whole experience turns out to be the worst of all worlds. The last minute burst of the repulsors does manage to slow their descent somewhat, but without Jon holding onto him, the impact sends Tony bouncing off with a sharp crack of his head against the armor as a parting gift. He hits the dirt with a short roll to land in a haze of dust thrown up by the thrusters and his tumble, where he would really like to remain very still and prone for a few minutes or hours. Except the Iron Man had landed awkwardly half on Cayde, and he really felt like he owed Biggs some kind of apology.]

I'm up--I'm good--

[He starts to scramble back toward the heap of metal.]

[alphabeticalplans]

[Sometimes it was nice to be merely human, and this was one of those times. He didn't make it to the crash site until everyone was down and the dust was swirling, but he did make for the one guy not wearing armor first.]

You sure about that, Tony? You hit your head pretty hard.

[He'd worry about processing this whole situation later.]

[beholding_archivist]

[ If Jon ever claims to not be minding pain, he will be a liar. He hates pain and his low tolerance for it. Especially now that he knows that his body will simply patch itself back together. In a slow and rather pointedly painful manner that makes it hard for him to hide any of it. He lets out a strained groan while turning his head slightly in the direction where an unfamiliar man is rushing towards Tony amidst a cacophony of alarms and warnings the armor is yelling at him from all directions. ]

Don't listen to Tony. Just- Please help him. I- hah- M-may not sound like it, but- I'll be fine. Sh-shortly. But Tony...

[ Yes, Tony hasn't even had any armor to protect him. And if Cayde got hurt in a way Sundance can't fix, Tony will very much be needed for that job.

But speaking of the Exo... ]

...C-Cayde...?

[deal_me_in]

[The Hunter's lying on his back, the position he'd been in when he'd skidded to a stop. His metal face is set in a scowl at the sky as though he's trying to work out some aerial calculations that would tell him how this had turned out so poorly.]

Guys...we needa work on the whole coordination thing.

[Well, at least he sounds okay, even when awkwardly pinned beneath the Iron Man's legs. Cayde lifts his head with a grunt, craning it over in Biggs and Tony's direction, glad to at least see movement there. To Biggs he'll even flash a thumbs-up.

Then he's looking down at the bright metal sprawled half-way across his torso before reaching out towards it. He pauses.]

You think you broke anything, Jon? Or can I start moving your rebar-encased legs? Seriously, how do you even move with these, Tony.

[in_extremis]

[Tony isn't moving very fast, but that doesn't mean he's going to make it easy for Biggs. Biggs is going to have to put up with being dragged along a little more yet as Tony grabs him to maybe, a little bit, keep himself upright as he makes his way back to the other two.]

I'm fine, don't worry about it. Good arm, by the way, cowboy.

[By then, he throws himself back down anxiously to--put his hands on the Iron Man helmet, not sure what else to do about getting Jon out of it, or off of Cayde.]

It's a whole--system--

[One he'd clearly be happy to talk about if Jon wasn't making those noises that were making him pat at the faceplate.]

You didn't bring any cigarettes, did you, boss? Could really use one about now.

[alphabeticalplans]

[Biggs could roll with changes, and he knew some stubborn people in his own life who would run on a broken ankle if it meant staying in the thick of things. Tony was ambulatory, which meant whatever injuries he did have were likely not life-threatening.]

I've had practice and Jon was a little bigger than a drone. You sure you're alright?

[beholding_archivist]

Plain movement is actually rather intuitive-

[ Jon answers Cayde's question, his words breaking off into a small choke as he feels his shoulder popping back into place. This at least allows him to raise that hand again and place it reassuringly on the back of Tony's closest shoulder while picking up on his answer towards Cayde. ]

A-almost healed. Armor helped with most of the impact, the rest is- ngh- F-fixing. Give me a moment and-- And I'll get up myself. But you can move me, y-yes.

[ Which he hopes won't hurt too much. At least this time he hasn't broken every bloody bone in his entire body. So his attention shifts to Tony again, whom Jon pats lightly on the back. ]

Please... Let him look you over. Even a small wound can get infected.

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde makes a face again. Not exactly a reassuring answer. He hesitates from touching the armored leg sprawled across him, then very carefully hefts it with his hands so he can at least sit up, and not without a groan. That metal suit probably dislocated his hip or something, but he'll worry about that later.

As Sundance drifts closer, he flashes her a pained grin, looking back down at the Iron Man to figure out the best way to get out from under him, and then deciding with a resigned sigh that he'll probably have to let Jon move the rest of himself given the awkward positioning.]

Yeah, also? You were in a hole for the past...how long, d'ya think? I think a check-up's well-warranted.

[in_extremis]

[Jon really isn't making it sound like Tony is the one they should be worried about, despite his insistence, but Tony doesn't find and backup in Cayde as he looks to the Exo, so he tries Biggs a little more desperately, eyes wide and one hand gesturing emphatically, do you hear this shit?]

I'm--it's fine, we can deal with it on the way, we have to get to Peter and Beck--Can you walk? Both of you.

[alphabeticalplans]

We will, Tony. [Not that he actually understood most of what was going on.] But you're not going to be any use to them if you're injured. Just sit down for five minutes. This won't take long.

[beholding_archivist]

We will check on them.

[ Jon assures with a little groan of exasperation, now raising a gauntleted hand to grasp and take hold of one of Tony's frantic hands in a gesture of reassurance. ]

They will be fine for another five minutes.

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde distractedly waves a hand at Tony, his attention turned towards this entanglement of metal as he's finally able to scoot himself out from beneath Jon's encased legs.]

Five minutes? Plenty of time.

[The Exo grimaces, failing to get up and instead flopping back down on the ground where he waves Sundance over. The Ghost hovers closer, her shell twitching as she inspects the unseen damage before it goes rapidly spinning about her, each point separating away from her core, rotating like planets in orbit of the sun before light flashes outwards. It envelopes Cayde briefly before Sundance's shell snaps back around her, and the Exo levels himself up just in time to catch her as she drops.]

[in_extremis]

[These were not particularly convincing arguments, but between Jon taking his hand, Cayde collapsing, then Sundance falling out of the air, Tony did suddenly feel distinctly lightheaded enough to sit heavily back on his heels in a way that he hoped just looked respectfully obedient, and not the potent cocktail of panic, bleeding head wound, and dehydration. He may have been willing to compromise.]

Two minutes.