sometimes my mind plays tricks on me ★

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ tony can always be found scavenging for parts and anything unclaimed by the new arrivals that may have gathered in the wreckage. occasionally, he helps people out of the ship, though mostly that seems to be handled by others decently well. his face is dirty, clothes torn, but he seems absolutely the opposite of broken up about it. he's in problem-solving mode 100% and getting too close to the newbies tends to make these weird psychic powers he's developed go off the rails. why couldn't he get cool powers like wanda?

still, he has to stay close, hawking each person as they stumble up from the hull. if cap or bucky is back, he'll be the first to know. natasha too would be a welcome sight, he knows she's been here before. but nothing in this world could prepare him for the familiar bob of orange hair as pepper potts climbs up to the surface. his heart stops in his chest, digby is barking. tony's like a deer in headlights at first, but then he's running, sprinting until he actually bodily collides with her. that was too rough, he knows it, but soon his arms are winding around her, fingers digging in wherever they can. an uncontrollable upwelling of fear, anger, relief and love permeates the hug, knowing she'll be able to feel what he feels. she'll probably even get vague inklings of what's happened previous to her arrival, like deja vu or a dream that was vivid until you woke up from it. ]

Pepper. [ digby keeps his distance, but he's watching her carefully, head canted as he sits down nearby. ] Give me like ten to twelve seconds and I'll let you breathe again.

Comments

[efficacy]

[ There have only been a few instances in Pepper's life when she's felt this terrified and shaken up. It's like some trippy Matrix nightmare come to life, for no dream she's ever had had felt this realistic, this tangible. Her ears are still ringing from the blaring alarm, fear driving her forward as she forces her uncooperative limbs to work in the dim wreckage; she needs something to wear and she needs to get the hell out of here, that much she knows. Heart pounding, she manages to pull one of those terrible jumpsuits on with shaking hands, acutely aware of the disgusting gelatinous sludge still covering her skin and hair.

There's only one way to go; up. Breathing a rare expletive that gets lost in the chaos around her, Pepper tackles the climb a bit clumsily at first, adrenaline flooding her veins. She's coughing and drawing in wheezing breaths once she makes it to the surface, grateful to be out of the wreck. She's barely found her feet when someone rams into her, grasping and gripping; Pepper cries out in surprise and fright, her first instinct is to fight back, push them away. And then she realizes a second later... ]

Tony? [ How can he be here when he was just elsewhere? Is any of this even real? She covers her mouth with one palm and coughs, throat sore from the breathing tube, even as she clings to Tony with her free hand, trembling all over now from the sensory overload-- everything is overwhelming, all these feelings and sensations crashing into her. ] How...? What--?

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ slowly, shaking himself, tony peels himself back, pulling her bodily away from the crash site to make room for the chaos going on behind them. there are sunglasses holding back his hair -- already much longer than when he came. his beard however is well groomed, save for the little bit of scruff below his chin. he too is dressed in a hideous crew issue jumpsuit and big standard boots. he smells like dirt and metal, like when he's holed up in the workshop for days and weeks, but he's clearly washed himself recently too. they've only just had clean water for that and he'd taken advantage immediately. ]

I know, and I'll get to that. First I need to know the last thing you remember. [ he wipes at her face with the back of his sleeve, knowing how unpleasant the bio-gel is firsthand. he'll have to come back to scavenge later -- pepper has to take precedence now, even over survival. he laces their fingers and drags her towards camp without another word, the big yellow dog trailing behind somewhat cautiously. ] That's Digby. [ he says, pointing to the creature by way of introduction as they go. ]

[efficacy]

[ She notices these outward changes in him once they're face to face properly, complete bewilderment still prevalent on her face. She squints at him in confusion at the question, closing her eyes when he wipes at her face but doing nothing to deter him. ]

What do you mean, what's the last thing I remember? I was at work, it was getting late and I was in a hurry-- it was date night and I'd promised you we'd watch some awful movie or another. [ She squeezes his fingers with hers reflexively, letting him drag her along even as she talks -- he'd have to be more specific than that. ] ...Hi.

[ That was for the dog. She realizes she just said hi to a dog. She must be going crazy, nothing makes sense. And wait.... ] Why is there a-- who trusted you with a dog?

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ he can't help but smile at her reaction to digby, but the rest frustrates him. this seems like old hat to him, but he has to remind himself pepper is as he was when he got here -- confused as fuq. there are tents and lean-tos as they come into camp proper, one declaring an area for medical treatment. everything seems temporary, and tony waves to some people with his free hand. they all understand, someone from home is here. introductions can happen later. tony's nose immediately starts bleeding, a fine trickle down his face that goes ignored. normal. it's all routine. ]

I mean, what day was it. What year? This is important, honey. I know it makes no sense. [ he's sympathetic to that fact, of course, even as they pass the meager camp and past a wall clearly made for keeping something out rather than in. it's busted up in spots and not repaired. there's a cluster of treehouses ahead -- five. the construction is flawless, she might immediately recognize it as tony's work. all of them are close, like a neighborhood in the east village. you could climb into your neighbor's window with minimal effort. ]

Bucket time, Dig. [ the dog howls at tony, but does as he's told, hopping into the bucket attached to a pulley system on the side of the treehouse in the center. his, naturally. he gives her a look, pain, more love, and something else. something lingering. he brushes a kiss across her hand, a drop of blood staining her pale skin. he curses and wipes it clean, muttering an apology. he goes up the ladder first, dabbing at his nose as he climbs. ] He was abandoned. People come and go all the time.

[efficacy]

[ She only grows more confused as they wade further into the camp proper, stuck in the middle of jungle. These other people... Tony knows them, they know him. This place looks more like a refuge, cobbled together from spare parts and salvage-- and the wall. It's likely purpose doesn't escape her notice. Where did these people come from and how long have they been here? How long has Tony? But she just spoke to him on the phone back home not even an hour ago.

No, nothing makes sense. She feels vaguely dizzy, like she might be sick. The treehouses look more... polished, almost, in comparison to the rest of the camp. Considering Tony is leading her toward them, she guesses he's had something to do with their construction. Only further indicating he's been here a while now. But how? ]

2015. It's 2015. [ She issues quietly, long at last, after Digby takes himself away to the bucket. Slightly alarmed, fusses quietly, ignoring the apology, ] Tony, you're bleeding...

[ But he seems unconcerned about it, tackling the ladder. Pepper gives a faint look of despair at it. More climbing. She really hates climbing. She hates the slime still caking her hair and skin under the jumpsuit, she hates that she feels so lost. She hates that she isn't waking up from this nightmarish dream. With a wobbly exhale, she begins the climb with stiff, shaky limbs, her process slower than Tony's. ] How is that possible?

[letmetakeaselfie]

Okay. That's a start. [ he has no guarantee that it's the same point in 2015, but it's a good solid lead. it's much easier when everyone is on the same page. tony climbs with practiced resolution, reaching the top and immediately turning around to help her up, starting to pull her close again before he hears a whine from the dog still down below. he pulls away once he's sure she's steady on her feet, the darkened living (and working) space illuminated slightly by the moons. tony sets his gun and sunglasses down on a tree stump, clearly being employed as a stool. his house had become a meeting place of sorts, a couple others clustered around it in cahoots. ]

I'm coming, D, I'm coming. [ he sighs, looking down to make sure digby is still in the bucket before pulling the rope slowly up the side of the tree house. once it reaches the deck the bucket turns over and spills the dog onto it, who then takes it upon himself to hop through the window. tony nods and pets him. good beast. there's scrap metal and various raw wood curing along the back wall, though there's a bigger scrap heap down below pepper will see in the morning. he takes the more valuable stuff up so it doesn't get stolen. also slightly hidden are a few pieces of his suit: just one leg and arm, as well as a jumble of various clothing and food he'd been hoarding. he's glad he put wanda to work on mattresses now, his meager little bedroll made of feather-stuffed canvas looks downright cozy just now.

he takes another second to touch the filiment by the window, attached to a copper wire that entered the treehouse behind them out of sight. the light turns on, flickering in no doubt some type of code. it merely is alerting leo that he's home, if the synth is even around. he may have his own people challenges still by the ship, tony will have to catch up later. pasting on a brave face, he turns back to pepper, taking her hand and leading her to the bed, gently setting her down on its surprisingly soft surface before reaching into his stash for a bottle of water. he perches next to her and takes a sip before handing it over.

the light goes out as tony is fitting their sides together, hungry for any type of contact at all. he doesn't even know where to begin. ]

[efficacy]

[ Pepper accepts the help gratefully, a tiniest hint of a wan smile flickering across her lips briefly for the first time. While Tony tends to Digby, she stands about uncharacteristically timidly, almost, eyeing the gun with some apprehension before letting her gaze roam about the rest of the space to take in everything she can in the dimness. It's eclectic to say the least, but cozy too; evidently lived in. It makes her wonder all over again how long this has been Tony's normal, staggered by the thought.

She's momentarily concerned about the dog up in the treehouse, worried he might fall, but the animal seems to be as used to living like this as Tony does. Watching him fiddle with the lamp, Pepper wonders idly what the purpose of it is, but she doesn't ask. It's the least of her concerns right now, to be honest. This all seems like some kind of surreal dream and she just wants to wake up from -- but simultaneously it feels too real to be a figment of her imagination.

She murmurs her thanks after they've sat down and Tony's handed over the water, taking a sip mechanically. She still feels like she might be sick if she pushes it, so she drinks sparingly, just a few sips. She glances toward the lamp when it goes dark again, exhaling a quiet sigh. She doesn't shun his closeness; that's actually the one thing she's grateful of, if nothing else. ]

Tony, what is this place? Explain, please. How is this even happening? I don't... [ She trails off with another sigh and a shake of her head, helplessly. ]

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ it's a loaded question, and parts of it he can't answer. but he's just going to try his best, pretty sure pepper will explode if he doesn't. he reaches over, lacing the fingers of their free hands and trying to form something for her that will make some semblance of sense. ]

We're on an alien planet. Unknown galaxy, unknown origin. The people here have been pulled through wormholes of time and space. There is no discernible pattern. The ship you woke up in used to fly, but it crashed to this planet some months ago, before I arrived. [ he shrugs one shoulder, helplessly. ] As for the how, I don't know.

[ digby sighs as he lays on the floor and watches them, seeming to assess this new houseguest from afar. ]

[efficacy]

Alien planet. [ She echoes it flatly, but that's not actually so outrageous anymore after Thor and everything. Wormholes were also a documented phenomena back home. But for Tony to admit he didn't know how... that lodges an uncomfortable lump in her throat and she swallows thickly in effort to be rid of it. She forgets everything else for a moment, needing to ask the one question she dreads the answer to in a small voice, ] ...How do we get back home?

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ he nods minutely, but her question has more of that pain dropping into their empathic link. he doesn't even know how to begin explaining that one. he squeezes her hand and shakes his head. ]

We don't. At least, not on purpose.

[efficacy]

[ The confirmation is like a stone being dropped to the bottom of her stomach, sitting there heavily. Her throat goes dry and she feels lightheaded and pained, caught up in this tangle of dissatisfaction and ill feelings she can't entirely categorize. She rails against it instantly -- and perhaps futilely -- her distress mounting by the second. She shakes her head, breath shortening and the pitch of her tone going up indicatively, her voice turning thinner in burgeoning panic and anger. ]

No. No. Are you saying we're stuck on some creepy jungle planet indefinitely? No, I won't-- We have things-- [ Her eyes flash fire, probably pouring her upset heavily outward without even realizing it. It's not aimed at Tony, of course, he just happens to be the only one around to rant at. ] I'm wearing a jumpsuit and I'm covered head to toe in this disgusting sludge and you live in a treehouse with a dog, and now you're saying there's no way to get back home?

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ oh god, he can't deal with her rants. not now. if she disappears now he won't know what to do with himself, and he turns her gently, encouraging her to hang on as he pulls her into his arms. ]

The river is clean, we fixed it. I'll make you a bath and everything... [ will be fine? this is his version of fine, not hers. he sighs and rubs her back, nuzzling against her face for no care how much of the goo transfers to him. ] Wanda can make you clothes, you can help us with the grid...

[ he's not helping and he knows it, trying instead to clear his mind. force a little peace into their link she doesn't know they're sharing yet. vague impressions of his friends: rikku, clarke, rey, leo, david... and others. people who need him now. they'll find a way home together, eventually. if whatever is out in that forest doesn't kill them first. ]

Look. It's not ideal, but for now just try to think of it like... a vacation.

[efficacy]

[ She goes easily, gripping onto him wherever she can even if she keeps shaking her head slightly, issuing a small noise of hopeless dismay. He keeps talking like this is okay, like this is... normal and fine, when it is definitely not either one of those things. Still, she manages to calm herself down some, unbeknownst to her influenced by the link between them. ]

A vacation? [ Her tone is watery now as opposed to anxious, a slightly incredulous resignation replacing her earlier upset. Sniffing, she goes on wearily, ] Do you even remember what a vacation looks like? Because it doesn't look like this.

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ he nods. honestly it's been a while since he's gotten out in any scenario that wasn't a kidnapping or a robot/alien invasion so -- this seems about par for his course. but not hers. he never wanted to get her involved here, even for how much his heart has ached every day to be apart. tony pushes some hair behind her ear, leaning his forehead against hers. for a moment he simply closes his eyes and allows her to feel his love. he needs to explain this part before it gets away from him. ]

I'm working with the people here to get out, you know me. I'll do it. But we have to survive in the mean time. I'm so sorry, Pepper... [ that she's here. he feels like he's roped her into yet another crazy thing and he feels terrible. ] But, listen-- I haven't even told you the most unbelievable part.

[efficacy]

[ Pepper shuts her eyes too at the comfortingly familiar gesture, allowing the welling of love to permeate and warm her to the core, lifting one hand to his cheek gently. She pulls back just enough to meet his eyes when he speaks up again, offering a small hint of a smile. She does know him -- she hadn't expected him to rest on his laurels at any point. Pepper knows what he's capable of; if there exists a way out, Tony would eventually find it. She doesn't doubt that.

The apology garners a small shake of her head and a slightly fuller smile that's colored with sympathy and exasperation in equal measures, knowing instantly what he means with it. ]

It's not your fault, Tony. [ But he isn't done yet, and her tone pitches toward wry when she questions, ] There's more?

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ oh right, it's not his fault this time. it still feels like it is tbh so he ends up simply shrugging a shoulder. after ultron... everything feels like his fault. though at least he and wanda have been able to move past that here. he doesn't have as much hope for that back home and it makes the whole thing bittersweet. ]

Yeah, there's more. The ship-- it's creepy, obviously. It connects with all of us, psychically. I don't know how it does it, but... You may start noticing, changes. And nosebleeds, especially during the jumps. Uh. Times when new people arrive -- that only happens once a month or so and it's about the only way to tell time here.

[ he's suddenly nervous to tell her how it's affected him exactly. ]

[efficacy]

Changes... wait, what sort of changes? [ She's instantly on guard, pulling back and tensing up slightly. She's sure anyone would consider that creepy, but Pepper is especially sensitive to non-permitted tampering like that after Killian. Her immediate concern, however, is targeted on Tony. ] But are you okay?

[letmetakeaselfie]

Yeah, honey, I'm fine. [ it's instant, and she knows he'd say that whether he was or he wasn't. ] Everyone develops... abilities. It seems random, like everything else about this place. Maybe you hear thoughts or see memories or you start to move things with your mind-- It gets stronger the longer we're here.

[ tony swallows, squeezing her arm reflexively. ] I can connect with people -- emotionally. I can feel exactly what you feel and share with you what I feel. [ it's taken him a while to figure it out, but there it is. he's a fucking empath. shoot him now. ]

[efficacy]

[ Her lips tighten and she gives him a look of vague disapproval, knowing his response is knee-jerk at best, lie at worst. But it doesn't merit further argument currently, not when he goes on and explains. Extra abilities? She feels like she already has enough to contend with. These are evidently more psychic in nature, though; maybe from being connected to the ship in those pods... but she doesn't want to imagine the ship being sentient in even some small way, that's a little too creepy.

She pushes those thoughts aside in favor of staring at Tony a little incredulously for a long moment. ] What, like you're... an empath?

[ The words come out slowly, hesitantly almost, but something flickers behind her eyes, lips trembling so very faintly. It's unwitting but undeniable amusement. ]

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ and this is exactly why he didn't want to tell her god!!!! he lets out a little groan of dismay, shaking his head. there's really not another word or explanation he can combat it with though. ] Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. T Stark has a heart and blah, blah, blah.

[ he rolls his eyes even as his lips twitch up too. ]

[efficacy]

[ She can't help but snort a brief laugh finally, unable to hold it back any longer. But just as quickly her amusement turns into something softer, lifting a hand and stroking her thumb across his cheek with a fond little smile. ] I already knew that one.

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ he helps pepper get washed up and gets her tucked into bed. and just like home... he tinkers. his mind wanders. he can't help but feel as though pepper coming here to him has some grander design and yet-- the world has to be truly random, doesn't it? to thrust them into a situation like this.

he hears her stirring, it's still early. ] Go back to sleep. I'll bring you breakfast in bed. [ he gets up to fetch his netting for catching ~ lizard things ~ using the method rikku had taught him. digby hears breakfast and is up in seconds too. ]

[efficacy]

[ Tony's words penetrate her fugue slowly, still caught up in hazy dreams of landing on some terrible jungle planet and... oh. Right. Sighing heavily through her nose, she comments in a sleepy voice as Tony rifles around, ] I'm a little hesitant to see what counts as breakfast around here...

[ But she doesn't fight him on this, letting her head drop back into the bedding and closing her eyes, dozing lightly; letting herself dream they aren't really stuck in this place with no discernible way to return home. She's unaware how long she snoozes, but eventually she can no longer procrastinate, stretching and sitting up slowly, remaining where she is as she takes in the interior with better lighting -- unsure what else to do.

She thinks she hears Tony returning. ]

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ digby bursts over to greet her by licking her face. wake up wake up. tony shrugs helplessly as he drops the bag on the ground. it smells like smoked meat. ] Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty.

[ he approaches the bedroll, dropping a chaste kiss against her lips and helping her to sit up a little. ]

[efficacy]

[ Pepper makes a slight noise caught between resignation and amusement, trying to push the dog gently out of her face even as she gives him a few pats and scritches on the side of his neck. Wiping her cheek briefly with one hand when Digby relents and pads further away, Pepper gives a wan smile but tips her head up into the kiss, eyes closing briefly. ]

Didn't you sleep at all? [ Tired resignation in her tone; this is an old point of contention between them by now. ]

[letmetakeaselfie]

Sure I did. [ he lies, moving to sit on the floor and open their package. tony likes this time of morning in the camp. things are as peaceful as they ever are and everyone seems cohesive enough for the group of miscreants that they are. ]

These things are way better than they look, okay? [ another assurance as he hands a charred lizard-looking thing upwards to the bed over his shoulder. ] Anything you don't want, the dog will.

[ tony already took the eyes out and the worst of the spines. ]

[efficacy]

[ Pepper gives a short, pointed hum, very much doubting his word, but doesn't have it in her to reproach him further now. The smell of charred meat permeates the air more strongly when Tony opens the package, and Pepper has to choke back a prickling of vague nausea as she gingerly accepts her breakfast from him. She sighs longingly, missing a cup of coffee and a bagel with fierce passion. ]

Bon appétit, I guess. [ She tries not to think about what it is that she's actually eating. Tries really hard, but it's not entirely successful. She doesn't want to slight Tony's efforts, though, so she pushes through the grossness and gets a few more bites down. ]

It's not... entirely awful. [ She can't help the slight despair that wells up within her. Is this what she's supposed to get used to from now on? Roasted lizards for breakfast? She wants to rail against it childishly -- she doesn't want to get used to that. Not any of this. But what else can she do? Sighing, she hands the rest of the lizard to Digby who digs in with a hearty appetite. ]

So... now what? [ What does one do here all day? ]

[letmetakeaselfie]

[ tony has gotten used to it. picking little bones out of his mouth as he goes, unphased by the meat's origin. neither of them are country mice but he'd been a few situations that made it far easier for him to adapt, something he keeps forgetting with each step. he lets digby have the head and liver of his first lizard before he starts on another, head leaning idly against pepper's leg as he finishes up. he's pretty content if completely enraged that she's here to begin with. but...

what do they do? ] I have... a lot of projects going right now. Leo and I have the grid to focus on. Rey is building a ship I'll check on her in the afternoon. I have to... keep Princess-- Wanda. Occupied.

Then I have a treehouse to finish before we turn in tonight. Given something catastrophic doesn't happen before then. [ he smiles, hugging her calf as he gives digby the head of #2 too, watching him to make sure he doesn't choke. ]

[efficacy]

Oh. [ She falls silent, mulling all that over as her hand settles absently on top of Tony's head, stroking her fingers distractedly through his hair. He's made a life here, actively contributes to the community. And why not? Tony has a lot of skills that are useful in conditions such as these. She's not sure she can say the same. All her best skills are employed in a corporate world light-years away from this jungle. But being idle isn't something she's good at, either. ]

Wanda's here? [ She'd of course paid attention when he said so last night, but she'd been too frazzled for further detail. The pet name catches her a bit off guard, though, tipping her head curiously. ] Princess Wanda?