lucetilogs | Can We Build It? Yes We Can! ...Hopefully.

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Can We Build It? Yes We Can! ...Hopefully.

Who: Pepper Potts and her Super Secret Boyband AKA Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Billy Kaplan, and Teddy Altman. Also anyone who wanders by and wants to comment?
What: Building an art gallery
When: August 11 thru whenever they finish. No later than the 16th.
Where: The open space to the left of CH 4/across from House 39
Summary: So Pepper suckered some people into manual labor. These are the results.
Rating: PG-13, maybe, if someone hits their thumb with a hammer and says bad things.

[She can't hide it; Pepper is ecstatic to take this major step in the art gallery project. The construction marks the point where the idea shifts into reality, and this time? She's responsible for much more than 12% of the baby.

Of course, the good cheer will probably turn into frustration as the building goes on, but what can she do? Other than try to supervise. And yes, Tony, that is Pepper's job, so no attempting to use it as an excuse to slack off. Also part of Pepper's job is providing drinks and food for everyone involved, and making sure there are no major injuries, so expect refreshments and first aid kits on site. And when she's not tending to anyone else's needs or watching Steve and Tony at work for reasons, Pepper might even jump into the fray, attempting a bit of building herself--success remaining to be seen.]

[ooc: tag around, do whatever. :Db]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So, I should take it as a compliment that you decided to talk to me? [He grins.]

It means I find you less infuriating than Stark. Then again I find most people less infuriating than him. [She manages a half smile in turn, though it is somewhat tired.]

Oh, well...I'll still take it. [Sometimes he thinks that Tony practices irritating people in the mirror, but then again there's a good chance it's just a natural talent of his.]

You can stick around and watch if you like. There's a bench set up over there if you want to sit down. [He motions over in its direction.]

I do find your company pleasant Steve.

[She was teasing. Really. The first she's attempted to do so since Rick left and...everything. It was a small step, but it was a step none the less.]

Watch men hammer away at a wooden structure? I think I would enjoy that, honestly.

[He smiles at that.] I enjoy your company as well. Very much.

Really? Well, the bench is in the shade in case you get too hot. I think it's expected to heat up more before it cools down.

Only because you do not know me terribly well.

[She's about to turn to walk to the bench. Something simple. Straight forward. Thoughtless. Normally there was some sort of warning before one of these flares. Episodes. Visions. Things. She's never known what to call them. There's a tightening in the nape of her neck, usually. The skin around her eyes goes cold. It's hard to hear, something that's a reminder of Apep's meddling.

This time, though.

Nothing.

Just a half step and then she's not there anymore. Steve's standing to her left for a moment but then he's covered in blood and crawling- bone poking through skin at his shoulder and his arm's all wrong. Trying to claw his way past and not screaming, he wouldn't, can't, but someone's holding him down and cutting and cutting and cutting

The second step has her back to the present, eyes snapping back into focus on the bench. She'd gone tense, locked up entirely for that pleasant little adventure. Even now that she's back to herself she's dimly aware of her exposed wings trembling. The rest of her is still.

Merde.]

Well, no, I don't. But I doubt getting to know you better would change my mind.

[He's about to go back to work when he notices she's stopped moving. Like she's suddenly frozen in place. At first he doesn't speak, just watches, waiting to see what-if anything-will happen.

When nothing did he carefully steps up to her and lays a hand on her shoulder.] Adele?

[She gives a full body shudder at the contact, jerks away half a step and whirls to stare at-

Steve.

Just Steve.]

...Yes?

[There is no way in hell to play this off as nonchalant but damn if she won't try.]

[He pulls his hand away, eyes wide in surprise from her reaction. Something is definitely wrong.]

Are you...okay?

I have been better. I have also been worse. [She shrugs and rubs her face with a hand.]

Wait...what was that just now? You seemed really...out of it. Spooked even.

[There's no way for her to spin this and not sound insane. There's no way to pare down to the barest details of what Steve would need to know to understand.

So she takes a page from the book of Lupin and Remy.

When in doubt? Lie.]

I forgot where I was for a moment. It happens if I have not been sleeping very well.

[Honest enough. More or less.]

[His brows furrow, expression set with hints of confusion and concern. And a little bit of disbelief.]

That's all?

That I am comfortable enough to discuss publicly- yes.

[That's a no. But Steve won't push any farther. He doesn't want to make her uncomfortable.]

Alright. Do you need me to take you home? If you haven't gotten enough sleep then you should be in bed.

I will be fine Captain. It's just a short spell. They never last long.

[She lifts a shoulder and shakes her head. Home wouldn't help. Sleep wouldn't help, not with this, at least not right now.]

...Alright. Maybe you should sit down then? [That's what seemed to set the whole thing off in the first place though.]

That sounds like an excellent idea.

[She's tense for a moment as she turns to walk back to the bench- and nothing happens.

Honestly she is learning to hate her own mind at this rate. She gives a soft mirthless laugh at herself before she finishes the very short trip and settles on the bench. Shaded, restful, plenty of movement and noise.]

[Steve watches her carefully, waiting to see if it-whatever it was-will happen again. When she's made it to the bench without any trouble, he relaxes a little.]

Can I get you anything? Water. maybe?

Water would be lovely, thank you.

[It was quite hot today- which meant it'd only get worse as the week wore on. Or it might become cool. Adele doesn't hold out much hope, though.]

[He nods and heads towards the cooler, taking out a bottle of water for her. Handing it over, he takes a seat next her on the bench.]

Are you sure you're okay?

[Adele accepts the bottle with a nod and cracks it open, the cool cut of plastic against her palm a pleasant reminder of where she was in truth. After a sip she lifts a shoulder and looks over.]

No. But then, here, who is certain of anything?

You have a point there.

...Are you ever going to tell me what that was? When we're not out in public?

...It may only frustrate you Steve. There's nothing that can be done for it, were there a way to treat this I would have done so already.

Yeah, but, I'd still like to know. Does something trigger it?

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