Action | Who needs a gosh dang drink??

[brooklyn_boy]

Who: Steve and everyone else who just needs to get drunk. One closed to existing CR
Broadcast: No
Action: The Iskaulit/Space Bar
When: Post Calibrations/Bombing the eff out of Marsiva


[OPEN]

Tony would probably be proud of Steve, if he were able to see him right now. He'd slap his back and welcome him back to the world of inebriation while ordering shots for everyone in the bar to commemorate the day. As it is, though, Tony isn't here and, without him, there's not a damn person who would feel proud in this entire bar. That's part of it's charm.

Steve sighs and swallows his fourth drink. It's strong and alien and somehow enough to give him a strong buzz but not enough to really get him drunk. Not yet, at least. But he's not a quitter, so bottom's up! He hisses a little at the burn of it and feels, not for the first time, like he was being a coward. He saw some stuff in those rooms, sure. But other people had it so much worse. Saw so much more. He should really be thankful, actually.

But he's not. And this is a 30's approved way of getting over trauma. There were worse ways of coping, he was sure. So for now he's just going to stay in his seat and keep ordering drinks until that elusive drunken state hits him once more.

Should only take another hour or three.


[CLOSED TO EXISTING CR]

No one could blame Steve for starting. He'd messaged his friends about fifteen minutes ago, telling them to meet him at the bar for some drinks. But just sitting here, waiting? It was done better with a drink in hand to look social, at least. And it's not like that one is going to be his last. No, after Calibrations he can imagine himself coming over here quite often. He can imagine all of them coming here quite often, in fact. But maybe tonight (today? Space was hard to judge) would help take some of the sting off. Or at least some of the awkwardness. 

But it wasn't as though they <i>chose</i> to share all of that. Loki, Steve is sure, would have preferred to keep his death to himself. And Thor? I am sure half of those memories were things he'd rather not have replayed over and over again. And <i>Hux</i>. God... That was just what Steve knew of. Who knew what other people had put his friends through? What they'd been through themselves? 

Steve preemptively orders another drink for whoever shows up first. Whoever it was, he's sure they won't say no. Not now. 

First round is on him.

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki pushes his hair back. ]

They could use the memory-wall I created.

[brooklyn_boy]

Memory-wall?

[Loki is overwhelming Steve at this point in the best way.]

What memory wall?

[dothelokimotion]

[ that's not his fault. loki's been here for a year now. he got bored. ]

I created a magical wall in this place. It will let you see memories of those who are gone.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve stares at Loki like he hung the moon. He's not even blinking.]

That's ... Loki. That's incredible. Where is it? I want to see it.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki merely looks baffled. then again, he's just unused to anyone thinking better of him. ]

It's not far from here.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve is up and moving before his brain catches up and realizes he needs Loki to lead him.]

Can you show me?

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki sighs, rising to his feet and lightly dusting his clothes. ]

Follow me.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Like a puppy dog.]

The idea of doing this... Loki, this has to mean so much to so many people.

You're a lot kinder than you like people to think.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki purses his lips as he leads the ways. ]

I've always been more than what people think of me.

[brooklyn_boy]

You're kinder than you think you are, then.

[Take that.]

[dothelokimotion]

No.

[ this much he does know. he's not kind. not in nature, not in truth. loki does what he wants, when he wants. it may seem like a kindness to others, but loki is well aware that he lacks that feeling. good people are kind by instinct. without thinking, without knowing.

loki is not kind. he never will be. best to make peace with such things. ]

Only more.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve frowns, almost feeling the inky blackness Loki catches himself on to come up with that answer. He remembers the void inside of Loki's room. Inside of Loki. ]

Why make the mural, then? Why not paint something just for yourself? Why share it?

[dothelokimotion]

I suggest you do not read too much into it, Captain. I do things simply because I want to. Sentiment has very little involvement.

[ finally, they arrive at the wall. it doesn't look particularly interesting. but loki lays his hand on it and it displays a man, walking with loki. ]

[brooklyn_boy]

[Too late. Steve already has theories.

At the wall, he watches the man and Loki walking together. He doesn't recognize him. He doesn't look like anyone he's seen around, but that doesn't mean much.]

Who's this?

[dothelokimotion]

His name is Clark Kent. He left this place long ago.

[ it's illogical to miss him. loki hadn't known him for very long after all. and yet, loki remembered him so clearly. out of the many people who have left this place, loki has held onto this one man. ]

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve watches a moment longer and looks at Loki.]

He was close with you? [He doesn't want to assume the nature of the relationship.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki huffs, a vague thread of bemusement laced in his voice. his hand leaves the wall, turning it white once more. ]

Of course not. Who would be fool enough to get close to Loki?

[brooklyn_boy]

Watch who you're calling a fool. [He smiles light, nudging Loki with his shoulder.]

He was important to you, though? You remember him here for some reason...

[dothelokimotion]

I rest my case.

[ he hums. ]

I suppose you could say that. I enjoyed his company. That does not happen very often.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve's not conceited enough to include himself in that group, yet.]

Seems like he liked you, too...

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki shrugs, looking away. ]

This is only my memory. You can't say that for sure.

[brooklyn_boy]

No. But if this is how you remember him then I think I can infer.

[Steve watches him closely, face gentle.]

You could have kept this to yourself. A private thing just for you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he could have. why had loki shown this to steve? is it because he was drawing comparisons between the two men, two people who absurdly had chosen to like him in some way? what was he doing? he rubs his palms together, nervous. ]

I . . . suppose I could have.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve reaches out and grips Loki's shoulder.]

You won't believe me, but you are kinder than you think you are. Maybe you don't wanna be. It'd be easier if you were carved out of ice; trust me. I know that feeling.

But you're not. And if you need a reminder, just come here.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki closes his eyes in pain. ]

Don't.