Network | Video

[plate_builder]

[From the first moment the video is on, it's clear Reeve hasn't had NEARLY enough sleep. But isn't that just his way? Still, he looks positively exhausted today, and the video includes Mini-C pushing a cup of something steaming to Reeve's hand. The man doesn't even seem to notice as he lifts it and takes a hearty sip before starting.]

Good afternoon all. I would like to let everyone know that through the diligent work of several individuals here, power has been restored to a larger portion of the city. Please extend your thanks to Tony, Echo, and Cal for all their hard work.

[Reeve himself does not wish thanks. He just wishes to keep working.]

There have been some issues, of course. There are, as always, issues with breaks in the power supply network. Therefore we ask for your help and feedback. If there are buildings you are finding have issues with power supply, please advise me, or drop a physical message at the Restoration Committee building, just south east of the fountain. There are likely areas we still need to work on power lines to, and it will take time for us to survey to figure out where they are.

Also, I would like to offer myself as assistance to anyone whose ship currently lacks an engineer. I've been trying to do what I can for the damage in our crash landing, however I've only been able to deal with external issues on the ships I cannot access.

[Another long sip of his water.]

Of course, with water and power in a better place now than it was when we arrived, my question becomes what projects of comfort we might turn to here in Temba. Yes, I know our greater goal of returning home, but I find myself in need of projects.

Comments

[in_extremis]

As far as Tony knew, sleeping wasn't really the goal as much as overcoming the nightmare part, but that left him only tilting his head dubiously, not sure how to express the difference in goals and, really, ultimately the effect was the same, and he didn't want to get into that argument when it sounded like Reeve would win it. Instead, he pointed out, "You could have just asked," before slipping gingerly away, hands on Reeve's sides until Tony could be sure Reeve was sufficiently comforted, or whatever. Every signal Reeve had been giving Tony was for Tony to keep his distance, after all.

"The violence thing," he didn't think he'd have to explain, rolling his eyes to try to knit the words back together instead of making the leap he clearly had. "You said you learned violence got us nowhere, like you had started here ready to throw down, which I haven't seen nearly enough of, honestly, that would be a way easier solution, if I could just deck the whole concept of this place."

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"No, not here. I am hardly equipped for force here. It's more... a life lesson," Reeve admits. Something he brought with him from home, where sometimes force was needed. But use of force only begot more use of force.

It was with kindness and open arms that the world was truly changed.

[in_extremis]

Avoiding a direct assault was regularly a luxury that even Tony couldn't afford, but he would much rather he was the one shouldering that burden than Reeve, whose face Tony cradled in both hands to respond with a kiss of encouragement to his forehead. Not that working through the nightmare sweats by wrestling with Tony was nearly the same as ending wars, but Tony appreciated Reeve's lofty principles and wasn't about to argue him down into the mud with himself just to explain his intentions. "What else do you have to teach me, Mr. Tuesti?" he asked with a wry smile, since he was learning so much about problem solving and comfort.

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"Taking care of yourself. But I'm a horrible teacher and I expect you do not wish to learn it," Reeve offers. He pulls away from those hands, from that kiss. Better not to think about it.

"I believe I shall go see myself to a walk, hopefully that will help me rest."

[in_extremis]

"I can take care of myself. I even know how to do laundry," Tony protested, though was prepared to dazzle his way out of the pursuit of any normal, household chores he may or may not have had the first grasp on. The retreat and obvious dismissal had Tony tucking his hands into his pockets instead of doing any dazzling however, tipping his head toward his shrugging shoulder in casual acceptance, not sure if he had served his purpose or proven to Reeve that asking him over was a mistake. "Don't push yourself too hard," he suggested, as though saying it any other way had been the least bit effective so far, and waved Reeve on to escort him to the door while plucking up the jacket once more to offer as they went.

[plate_builder]

"Emotionally, Tony, you don't seem to," Reeve counters.

He smiled happily at Tony. It was more help than the man realized. Reeve lets Tony walk him to the door, his expression soft.

"You are a very good friend, Tony. I think the people who know you back home are very lucky. And I am glad for Jon. Someone like you, so sweet and giving, are good for him."

[in_extremis]

That wasn't the meanest thing anyone had said to Tony with a smile, but Tony did find it difficult to smile back at to conceal the frown of concern for whatever he had done to deserve it now. He was supposed to be here taking care of Reeve, he hadn't come prepared for the scrutiny. Not that Tony found Reeve's generous kindness any easier to handle, glad to have the distraction of the coat to help Reeve into so he wasn't cold in the chill outside.

"Thanks. That means a lot, from you," he tried, as sincerely as he could manage while up against the itching awareness that he wasn't at all that good for any of them, and the best he had to offer Jon was the confidence to find himself someone who was capable of understanding him. But it was hard not to believe Reeve at least a little bit, when he smiled like that.

[plate_builder]

Reeve wasn't wrong, and surely Tony had to know that. Tony didn't love himself, this was a concern Reeve had raised before. But he had no obligation to take Reeve's opinion at all.

"From me? Tony, I can't see how my opinion should matter at all. But I thank you for finding some value in it. And I continue to wish you well. Both of you. Both of you seem to be such..."

What is the word he would use here? Honestly, he thinks Tony might be offended at the comparison he would make, which was to Cloud in many ways.

"Driven men," he decides at last. He knows how unsatisfying it can be to be a driven man.

[in_extremis]

Mostly, Tony didn't appreciate how ineffective any of his egotistical posturing had been on Reeve if he still managed to come to this conclusion, making him wary of what Reeve was going to say as he gathered his thoughts and incrementally drawing stiffly back until he was snorting a laugh of surprise for what Reeve came up with. Not that Tony would say this was a necessarily wrong assessment, either, but it did give him the opportunity to sing childishly, "Takes one to know one." It wasn't like Tony had come over here because Reeve just wasn't motivated enough.

[plate_builder]

What? Reeve finds himself laughing.

"I may be driven, but in a whole different way."

He makes sure his coat is tight around him before seeping outside and gesturing for the other to follow him.

"Allow me to guide you to where you are going for the night. Home, or to Jon, or your ship."

[in_extremis]

"How's that?" Tony challenged, looking skeptical that Reeve would even try to answer the question because it seemed to Tony whatever difference there might have been, must have been as difficult to distinguish as helping Reeve sleep from managing his nightmares. Tony was glad to follow along, though, with a lopsided smile and another laugh in his eyes for the offer, chivalrous enough that he felt compelled to offer an arm for Reeve to take on their walk. "If those are my only options, I'll take Jon every time," he welcomed, instantly regretting the vulnerability it exposed and clearing his throat to continue rapidly, "He thinks you owe him an apology, did you know that? I'm not really sure what for, you're not the only person I've slept with since we--met or whatever, I don't know, but if I'm allowed to tell him that you delivered me, maybe he'll soften up a bit."

[plate_builder]

The offered arm is absolutely taken, and Reeve chuckles at it. Chivalry. Who knew?

"I will walk you to his building," he agrees quite readily. "But I owe him nothing. I've given him an apology three times over. And you may tell him if you wish."

That said, he hardly thinks Jon will find that as a positive. He would foresee other questions, like why Tony was alone with Reeve again

[in_extremis]

Tony's dismissive gesture of irritation with his free hand was smaller than it might have been if it didn't immediately twinge in his healing shoulder, making him tuck his hand securely into his pocket. "He's stubborn, but..." he started to rationalize, but even as he tried to brush it off, he couldn't come up with a good reason; Jon had insisted he forgave Tony's far worse transgressions, so Tony felt like he was missing some piece of this puzzle. "You know..." he started again thoughtfully, head tilted to watch the alien sky, "he got angry enough with me a couple of times to...to do that thing he does, what he did to you, um..." Not sure how much of it that Reeve understood, Tony didn't want to be the one to voice it and reveal more than he needed to. "But both times, I stayed with him, after. I think maybe...it makes him uncomfortable, too."

Not exactly a good excuse, but an explanation Tony could believe. "I've done that enough times," he admitted. "Cut people off because I'm angry with myself. Most times. Honestly, I've got to know the most patient people on Earth."

[plate_builder]

"He insisted I leave after," Reeve counters, his voice... Level. Perfectly level. Which is a damn good way to show that he's annoyed.

"Please stop trying to convince me he is a good man. I do not find that hard to believe. Even good men hold grudges."

[in_extremis]

"No, I'm not trying to..." Tony was ready to protest, but wasn't sure himself if that might have been what he was doing. What he thought he was doing was working out how to mend this rift, and knowing the cause of it would certainly help. Getting defensive about Jon didn't sound that outlandish, though. "Sorry," he muttered instead. Then, "I wouldn't know what to do with a grudge, my hands are full enough."

[plate_builder]

"ANd you can't juggle?" Reeve teases. He'd rather have something lighter here.

[in_extremis]

Reeve's change in tone was enough to ease Tony's tension even before he was laughing and admitting, "I don't think I've ever tried." Releasing Reeve to scoop a pair of stones up from the path as they were walking was probably not the best time to test for this hidden talent, but Tony had certainly done more complex math while hurtling toward the ground than the concentration it took to try his hand at juggling while strolling through the dead quiet city. He didn't immediately drop the rocks, either, but did have to stop fairly quickly with another laugh that echoed off of cold stone, shaking out his tingling hand and wrapping it over his shoulder again. "Not bad," we assessed, offering the stones to Reeve before he did any lasting damage to his healing arm.

[plate_builder]

He takes the rocks, which go right into his pockets. Why? Reeve can't say. But he'll keep them. Paperweights are always good.

"Perhaps you should try again when your shoulder is fully better, Tony. Earlier than that and you can strain yourself."

[in_extremis]

Tony tipped his head inquisitively at Reeve just keeping the rocks, brow raised with a sardonic challenge for Reeve not even attempting to juggle with them, but mostly feeling pretty sure Reeve would keep anything that Tony handed to him very politely. That made the reaction to the scale much less gratifying. The dismissive gesture that he made with his good hand was far more animated, and that could have had a little to do with the defence of his vitality as Tony insisted, "It's fine, I'm fine," which was incredibly boring. "I don't think I'm going to go out of my way to make juggling my new thing, that would tip me over the edge, I'm already dangerously irresistible. Can you imagine, all of this and he juggles? I can't think of anything sexier."

[plate_builder]

Oh, Reeve knew he couldn't juggle. Why try when he'd only embarrass himself? And probably hurt himself.

"I could think of a lot of things sexier than juggling, Tony," Reeve counters with a smirk. "Like a man who can cook."

[in_extremis]

Prepared for Reeve to come up with something goofier than juggling to be impressed by, Tony let out a chuckle anyway when he was surprised by a more genuine counter that he really should have anticipated better, coming from Reeve. He clutched his hand to his heart then, considering this talent very seriously, and pretty sure he hadn't had many people cook for him as a seduction technique so he wasn't sure how impressed he would be by it. "Or..." he offered instead, as long as they were describing their dream date, "someone who can sing." He closed his eyes dreamily, then jabbed a finger in the air to conjure, "Maybe while they're cooking breakfast, that's dangerous, all of those people are already married, first person who got that treatment locked them down."

[plate_builder]

Why be goofy? Reeve knows what he finds hot, and he's confident in saying that.

"A breakfast of crepes and fruit. Maybe add in some fresh cut fruit, and high class coffee," Reeve suggests, smiling to himself. Yes, he can agree with this opinion.

[in_extremis]

Crepes were fine, but it was the coffee that had Tony touching his heart with a grin again, definitely on board with being treated to an excellent cup at this point. This place was really doing something to his standards which were, admittedly, pretty intractable to start with. Following up on that with his sole coffee dealer who made it very clear he found Tony too irritating to seduce, though, sounded dangerous, so Tony pointed out, "Do you really have time for all of that, though? I'd rather fuck again before I have to go to work, grab a breakfast sandwich on the way. Maybe a cook isn't for me, I've got places to be."

[plate_builder]

Reeve was an addict to caffeine, he absolutely could not imagine a romance back home where his partner didn't ensure he was in coffee.

As for seduction, Tony really needed to understand that Reeve would never try and seduce Tony, not while Jon was around. He liked living, thank you very much. And while Reeve was content with casual lovers, Jon was possessive. Understandably.

"I would make time for a lover, Tony. Maybe not for myself, but for someone I cared for? Always."

Hell, he was quite fond of Tony, which explained a lot. The friend line had been drawn. That didn't change the fact that he'd make himself available for his friend.

[in_extremis]

For what it was worth, Jon had evidently taken a bullet for Reeve because Tony tipped his head only briefly as he considered maybe not admitting, "I've never been very good at that." And it wasn't that he didn't know very well that it was frustrating, so he shot a small, apologetic smile Reeve's way for managing to be disappointing in concept before he continued, "The first time I got engaged, I was young, I was head over heels, but my parents had just died so I was suddenly in charge of this whole company, and then I--the Avengers happened, and I was so involved with them, between those two things I didn't really have a life of my own. So, she ended it, not in anger or anything, it's just that she understood...I was never going to be that, for her. You'd think I'd figure it out after that, huh?" He twirled a finger by his ear, obviously not, rolling his eyes and letting Reeve guess how many times he'd proposed since that first try, and still hadn't shown up here with a ring on his finger.