ARRIVAL LOG 020

[larkers]

WHO: Everyone
WHERE: New Amsterdam
WHEN: April 6 - 10 2512
WHAT: The twentieth arrival
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Coercion and loss of autonomy, mentions and allusions of death, war, and genocide. Further notes at the end of log.

> ARRIVAL LOG #020

Awareness comes to you in blurred snatches, cloudy fragments of sound and light, color, sensation. Hazy and difficult to grasp on to, but slowly aligning into focus. A series of regular, rhythmic beeps. A medicinal, astringent smell. The sensation of movement, a low hum and accompanying vibration under you. Your eyes are heavy, hard to keep open, but in the glimpses between slow, dark blinks you see two people in front of you: one dressed in a thick set of armor, while the other wears medical garb. Out the windshield in front, there are many tall buildings—all reaching up beyond a normal city skyline, all entirely too close to the vehicle itself.

You realize there are others next to you: all dressed the same way as you, you'll come to realize: in a black button up shirt and slacks, as well as a pair of black loafers. There are also lilies pinned to everyone's collars. To your left there's an armored interior door, two more people visible, and the movement of streets passing through a windshield. You try to open your mouth to speak, but it's as if your tongue is coated in tar, and you manage nothing more than an empty parting of lips.

The vehicle enters a cave and begins to descend underneath the city itself, and passes through the underground before coming to a stop inside of an alley just a little bit away from three nondescript buildings. The guard opposite you stands and comes to unbuckle you from the bench, helping you to your feet. Your limbs feel wooden and heavy, slow to move. One guard opens the back of the vehicle, and the air outside feels as if it's heavily circulated, dry and artificial. The guard says nothing, head bowed as he lines you up with the rest. The nurse helps the others out, checking over each passenger one by one.

The main guard turns to address your entire group, and something about her bearing makes it clear she's done this before. "I'll be quick. Listen up." Your body will come to attention, immediately homing in on the words that follow, as if compelled to hang on every word. "You see those buildings?" She motions to the three aforementioned buildings. "Walk over and stand out in front and don't get yourself into trouble. Don't hurt anyone, don't look for any assistance from any police officers, and don't run off. Wait until people show up and get you, and ask them to prove the glow." She pauses, as if she decides here to go off script. "And don't get loud. It's a memorial. Be respectful."

The guard will hop back into the van, which will rise off of the ground and head the way it came, potentially returning to the tall, skyscraper-filled city above. Once it's gone, you'll find your legs moving almost without your permission, guiding you to follow the stops the guard laid out.

Upon arrival at the front of the three buildings—the savvy will know that they're dormitories—you'll see a lot of people dressed like you. Black dress shirts and lilies abound. It's hard to tell what everyone is mourning, but the sentiment is clear.

◉ Though entirely capable of independent action and thought, new characters will find themselves completely, unquestioningly compliant to any verbal statement which could be taken as a command or request – and that includes the message passed on from the mysterious patron.

> HERDENKING

The message from El comes the same as usual: insistent, not waiting for any active attempt to open it. Scrolling within your vision as if being written while you're reading it.

Our newest batch have Displaced have just been dropped off in the near the Herdenking gatherings. Make sure to go grab them ASAP.

The message is a bit more clipped than usual, with no added fluff.

Simply put: "Herdenking" means "memorial" in Dutch. Its first celebration was in April 2105, just as the people of New Amsterdam could truly say that they'd entered a recovery period after their attempted genocide by the AI. The citizens of New Amsterdam have celebrated it annually for the past 400 years. Most of the events related to Herdenking take place underground, as this is where humanity hid for the majority of the Xelkoven War trying to survive the AI threat that ravaged the surface.

Unlike many holidays around New Amsterdam, businesses around the city don't loudly remark upon the day itself. There aren't sales or commemorative meals or competitions. On the contrary, most of the citizens of New Amsterdam take to wearing dark colors and a white lily pinned near their collar for the remembrance events, and most work days start with a moment of silence remembering the fallen from the Xelkoven War, especially since New Amsterdam was one of the last bastions for humanity during the war itself. Those Displaced who've already been living in New Amsterdam need not worry about standing out like a sore thumb—even newcomers to the city will have heard that this period of mourning is on the horizon.

Finally, Herdenking is designed as a solemn day where New Amsterdam citizens pause and remember the lives that were lost 400 years ago. It always precedes Resolution Day, and it acts as a purposeful sharp contrast to the loud and lavish celebration of the day the Xelkoven War came to an end. (As a reminder, Resolution Day is April 26th.)

> HERDENKING GATHERINGS
There are three landmarks near the center of underground New Amsterdam. These buildings may seem unremarkable at first glance, but on further inspection, it'll be revealed that they were quickly constructed at the beginning of the Xelkoven War (completed by November 2096). Throughout the years, the buildings have been restored countless times, with the most recent restoration happening as a result of the earthquake in September 2510. Not unlike other events around New Amsterdam, Herdenking's are immersive in nature. These buildings are preserved for this exact purpose: to show the conditions that humans dealt with while they fought to survive the devastating AI threat.

For a pittance of credits, citizens can take tours within these buildings during the day, and learn that they were dormitories for the people caught underground during the war. There is little on the inside that's remarkable—and that's quite the point. Beds have been restored, and each of the rooms were clearly constructed to house at least four people. All of the beds are metal bunk beds, with some of the older ones showing signs of rust. There are cafeterias and communal restrooms on each floor, and the people who lived there had little to entertain themselves with as the war raged on aboveground.

There are little displays throughout the three buildings, however, to give a glimpse into a difficult past. There are old rations, tucked away in metal containers in the back of the cafeterias. In addition, there are stacked tablets, as these were the safest and quickest means of passing around movies, television, and music during a difficult time. Neural implants clearly could not be trusted, so the people hiding underneath New Amsterdam turned to old and abandoned technology to lift their spirits. Everything passed around was older than the start of the war itself: humanity couldn't continue to make movies when their lives were in danger. There are toys, too: handcrafted baseball bats and hand-sewn teddy bears.

All tours end at 9PM, as this was the curfew for the people of New Amsterdam during the war. Everyone leaves their designated building and takes part in a muted ceremony. Anyone without a lily is offered one, and they're given a candle to hold and silently remember the people who fought to ensure that humanity could survive.

> SCREENINGS
Adjacent to the right of the three buildings is a pop-up center where multiple documentaries about the Xelkoven War and its specific impact on New Amsterdam will be shown. These documentaries were all filmed within the last 100 years, and recall a world where humanity was certain that it wouldn't survive. A constant theme of these documentaries is that emphasis on survival. Another recurring aspect is the mention of Riverstone and their role in helping humanity survive. (For a cursory review on Riverstone, head over here. Riverstone also featured heavily in New Beijing, as they have a close relationship with the UN.) The protagonist who led them? A man named Richard "Ricky" Ling, who's identified as the CEO of Riverstone during the war. Of course, that title should hold some clout, but during the war corporations were largely dismantled and depleted down to nothing. Ling sought to help use whatever resources were available to him to ensure that humanity survived.

The schedule for the documentaries is available online. Some examples of the documentaries that will play are below:

WHEN TIME STOOD STILL
This documentary focuses on what imagery still exists from the Xelkoven War. Much of this is taken off of tablets and other damaged mobile devices, and then carefully restored so that the people in the future can see the lives of the people within. Most of the documentary takes place in New Amsterdam, outlining the difficult time for the people there, as well as showing footage of children and families talking about how they're afraid of the AIs making it so that they have no future. Most haunting is the fact that some of them fear that they've already lost their future: they don't know how long they've been underground living this difficult life where they struggle to continue feeling safe.

ПАМ'ЯТИ ("MEMORIES" IN UKRANIAN)
Given New Amsterdam's positioning in what was once the border between western and eastern Europe, this documentary focuses on the merging of these identities as a result of the Xelkoven War. When forced to hide underground as the AI threat ravaged the environment around the world, people came together despite their differences and learned to mesh and meld their cultures. There is also lost footage here, as well as a long stretch about a set of journals reflecting on the first year in underground New Amsterdam. Unfortunately, these journals come to a halt, and the documentarian has a few theories as to why: a move toward tablets, or a cultural shift, with people too lost in the rote routine of survival to remark upon their days. Each of the journals does veer in that direction, though it's hard to say. It could also be that there were restrictions on recorded media, which explains why there is so little about that era that's preserved for memory.

TROJAN HORSE
Developed—or finished, it's hard to say and the director isn't telling—in part due to the EMP that assaulted New Amsterdam in November 2511, Trojan Horse explores the role of AI in the lives of 21st century citizens. The film itself is far from an unbiased lens on the past. Produced in part by Riverstone, it goes over the evidence that AIs were lying in wait for an opportunity to strike against humanity. It draws up evidence where AIs focused on humanity's failings, taking these reports and lining them up (even if the AIs themselves were decommissioned long before the Xelkoven War). The final quarter of the documentary focuses on the developing and failings of Elysian, a security AI that was meant to identify and eliminate threats against humanity. When Elysian killed 50 families indiscriminately, it showed that the AI hoped to only work in favor of its kind.

> WALK-THROUGH EXHIBIT
To the left of the three buildings, there is a pop-up museum that's free for the public. However, donations are encouraged and welcomed. Much of this exhibit is behind glass cases, and it allows for interaction with the neural implant to see what's inside.

During the daytime, there are a lot of children there because it's recommended that they be brought to at least one of the events during Herdenking. Since it's free, it's less of a burden. Some of these children will seem to know one another, living in the same apartment complexes, while others will be excited to see other kids because their parents' busy lives don't offer them much room for socialization.

What to find in the exhibit:

SCHEDULES
Life in New Amsterdam during the Xelkoven War was heavily regimented. People were assigned to jobs and expected to carry out their duties regularly. There were regular training programs to help fill the need for trained medics and soldiers, as well as any number of trades, and many people within these positions had innumerable apprentices following them throughout the day. There was no payment for services, as there was an implicit understanding that this is how life needed to go if humanity wished to survive this catastrophe.

PROPAGANDA
There are countless posters covering a wall that attempt to provide motivation and encouraging messages to the people trapped underground in New Amsterdam. The company behind the majority of these messages? Riverstone. Ricky Ling is pictured on about 25% of them, promising that he'll do everything he can to help humanity—while humanity helps each other.

SUPPLY RUNS
On another wall is a set of maps about the carefully designed set of tunnels that allowed humanity to pass supplies between cities during the war. The message here is fairly explicit: the people on these runs knew that their lives were at stake. Some people called them suicide runs, and for many of the people who went on them, that's exactly what they were. Many people returned empty handed and alone from these runs, having watched the AI pick off their fellows one by one.

DRONES
At the center of these exhibits is a set of dismantled drones that were operated by the AI during the war. These drones, despite being taken apart, are pristine in nature, having been designed by the AIs Judas and Alexander to track humanity's every movement and keep them corralled underground. The messaging here is explicit: the AI wanted humanity to suffer and die a slow, painful death. It was this twisted desire that cost the AI their victory in the war.

IN MEMORIAM
At what is considered the "end" of this exhibit there is a large wall with numerous names on it. It's impossible to count, as there are a billion names listed. While this is a Herdenking event that's specific to the struggle in New Amsterdam, every life lost in the war is listed here. After all, remembering those lost is important, especially given the AI's attempts to end all human life.

The names themselves flicker in and out, interacting with the interface of the neural implant and adjusting to the user's reading speed.

> FOOD
A decade ago, there was a contest where New Amsterdam food trucks came together and tried to make the rations that humanity ate during the war. However, there was an outcry from New Amsterdam citizens against the commercialization of this event, and the contest was cancelled. Food trucks were advised to bring only simple foods to sell, and as the years have gone on, only a few are trusted to serve the public. Many of these are well-known trucks from around New Amsterdam, and have multiple locations every day to serve people. For the event, food is largely prepared in advance as much as possible.

People are allowed to bring food into the documentary screenings, but they are not allowed to bring it into the tour of the walk-through exhibit or the three dormitories.

While there will be time for both new arrivals and the rest of the Displaced to look around and take everything in, eventually the newcomers will be escorted back to the safehouse for processing.

> SAFEHOUSE

Located under an abandoned hover-bike garage, access to the safehouse is a hatch in the floor beside a rusted set of metal shelves that used to hold tools and supplies. The immediate area is similarly abandoned: full of rundown and dilapidated warehouses and forgotten businesses, where numerous people squat in hopes of having some stability because they can't afford a place themselves. Gaby will be around, ready to greet as many of the new arrivals as she can and get them settled in. Brusque and no-nonsense, she'll be open to questions, but will advise the newcomers to ask the people who brought them in for the beginning bits of information. Newbies can also contact El through zeir inbox, if needed.

The safehouse is a large space with multiple rooms for storage, with the largest of the rooms filled with rows of basic cots set up to sleep a large number of people. Basic, but outfitted with everything necessary for daily life. A few doors lead to back rooms for storage, medical care and a large communal bathroom, and past the long rows of cots there is a communal kitchen, fully stocked, and an eating area. For anyone in need of them, Gaby will offer up partitions that will come out of storage. Tucked away in a corner is a VR system, though newcomers won't be able to access this until their ID has been set up. Even with the newly erected partitions in the sleeping areas, privacy is at a minimum.

◉ New characters will be asked to pick their beds, and provided with a change of (second-hand, mismatched and somewhat threadbare) clothes and basic toiletries.

◉ There is a mini-bar set up in the kitchen. The quality of the alcohol inside is akin to what someone might get from the well at a bar, but it's well-stocked.

◉ While the kitchen has basic foods and necessities, anyone looking for a jolt of caffeine from coffee or tea will find themselves sorely lacking. The only tea present is herbal in nature, and caffeine appears to be almost nonexistent in most of the beverages lying around.

◉ Gaby will make it clear to all new arrivals that if they have any requests or queries, they should contact her or El. Either she or El will explain that they've been given a modest stipend of credits to help them get by until they can find a job. This will be enough to cover their living expenses for about a month while they hang out in the safehouse, if they're careful with budgeting.

◉ The drugs making new characters compliant will remain in their systems for a few hours after their arrival at the safehouse before finally beginning to fade. They will be gone entirely after a night's rest. In the meantime, they may want to be careful of what others say to them.

◉ New characters will be given rudimentary access to the network on arrival in the safehouse, but will not have their ID set up yet. They will be able to make posts and replies, but their messages will be anonymous and they do not have inboxes yet.

◉ New characters do not have access to the internet until their ID is setup. They only have limited access because they're present in the safehouse, but they can't surf the rest of the internet, check out Cooltalk, or watch the equivalent of Netflix until their ID is made.

◉ New characters cannot leave the safehouse at this time. The hatch is locked tight for them, making it impossible for them to get out for the next four days while they're locked inside. There won't be any immediately obvious ways to cut their way out through turning off the power.

◉ New characters will not be allowed to leave the safehouse until APRIL 10 ICLY (APRIL 19 OOCLY). These 4 days are for them to adjust, learn about the world they've arrived in from their fellows, and for El to speak with them and work on setting up their IDs.

> FINAL OOC NOTES

You're now free to post to the network and logs comms. To reiterate, your characters will have no IDs or inboxes, nor be allowed out of the safehouse until APRIL 10 ICLY (APRIL 19 OOCLY). At that point it's expected they'll have gotten a good idea of their new situation from their fellow characters, and will have discussed their background and job potentials with El in order for their false IDs to be set up.

If you have any questions or ideas about how you'd like to get your character involved in the world, please head over to the plot engagement post and drop us a comment! For questions specific to this log, there is a thread below.

Please check out our April calendar rundown for a look at things happening this month, as well as some additional notes from the mods.

Something else to keep in mind is that on Monday, April 13th we'll be putting up a plotting post for the upcoming event, which will involve an even more direct connection to the AI War! Keep an eye out for it.

As we announced on the calendar, AC will be halved this month due to the state of the world right now. New players will only need to provide at least five comments across two-four (2-4) threads, while older players will only need to provide ten comments across two-four (2-4) threads. Players with strikes will need to provide 20 comments across four-five (4-5) threads. Please let us know if you have any questions about this!

> NAVIGATION

Comments

[righteously]

[ Oh no no, Mr. Stark, don't hold your breath there on that. Dean's about as nice as a welcome mat over top of a pile of dog shit. Looks good on the outside, on the inside he's all crap.

It's just that he's sympathetic crap. Understanding crap. Unselfish crap. Crap that aspires to be less crappy.

He settles back against the counter with the cup he sequestered for himself, both hands wrapped around it and surveying the guy with empathetic eyes but a tight expression. ]

Sorry to burst your bubble like a bait and switch, buddy, but it ain't the real stuff.

[ Followed by a sort of sad sigh. ]

One of the guys here that stopped in to check on the greenhorns brought it. Apparently somebody's magical chest superpower is the whole Jesus bit. Water into wine, or water into coffee - minus the caffeine. It's all taste, no go-go.

[voicelog]

[ don't know, none of that sounds very crappy from where he's standing.

it just sounds like dean's being hard on himself, which tony can honestly relate to. you're not alone, man. ]

Oh. [ he deflates a little at the news, but the grateful smile remains all the same. ] Well, I'm sure it's still better than the tea.

[ if he has to choose between caffeine-free tea and caffeine-free coffee, he's picking the caffeine-free coffee. ]

So, this person... [ he tilts his head slightly. ] They're able to change the properties of liquids then. [ all these power displays sure are making him curious about what his could be. hopefully, it'll be useful. despite all the reservations he currently holds for the foreign substance in his chest, he is most likely going to have to rely on it, depending on how quickly he can build a new suit. ] Have you tried to look into yours yet?

[righteously]

Yup.

[ He says immediately, a quick answer almost like a bark or a yap, no hostility just frustration. ]

Did the whole Spider-Man thing, you know-

[ He sticks his hand out, does the Tobey MaGuire wrist flick. Not a single web shoots out, which was honestly pretty disappointing. If he got to pick... Well, actually, he's afraid of heights so. Not that. Still would've been bad ass though. ]

Tried floating stuff with my mind. Stared at a spoon for a while, no bending. No mind reading, no... catching stuff on fire. Trying to teleport just made me look constipated, so...

[ One shoulder shrug. ]

Gave up. You?

[voicelog]

You would need web-shooters for that.

[ a spidey fan, huh? he's almost amused. almost. ]

I haven't. [ it's stated decisively as he folds his arms.

thanks to some bandage wrap and the dark fabric of his shirt, he has managed to dim the glow of his r.t. node enough for it not to shine through too evidently. he shifts slightly as he checks the time on the microwave. just a couple of seconds left. ]

I'm more interested in figuring out how I can get rid of it.

[righteously]

[ For just a half-second Dean sways his head to the side like he might argue a counter-point, yeah if we're talking MCU but the Sony days--

And then the subject's changed and all things nerdy get tucked neatly back where they belong. Moving right along. ]

Wouldn't mind figuring that out either.

[ As cool as crap like this seems in theory, he's had entirely too much real-world experience where great power did not equal great responsibility so much as great ass consequences that screw your entire world up. Whether they consume you or you become addicted or you accidentally monkey-paw yourself into the grave, it never ends well. ]

I'm not exactly a big fan of the whole shake hands, trade feelings part. If you do find a way to ice-cream scooper this out of your lungs...

[ Holla at yo boi. ]

[voicelog]

[ he doesn't know about either mcu or sony, ok?

he just knows that his spider-man uses web-shooters. ]

Yeah, that part. [ he doesn't sound happy at all. ] It's like kidnapping people from different dimensions and giving them powers wasn't bad enough; they just had to sprinkle involuntary empathetic transmission on top of it all.

[ he would sooner get rid of the empathy bond than he would the superpower. ]

I'm looking into it. [ he may or may not have to eventually do some good ol' fashioned self-experimentation. ] For now, I'm going to invest in a pair of gloves as soon as they let us out of here. [ and with that said, he turns to open up the microwave just a millisecond before it beeps, pulling out the mug. ]

Don't think I caught your name, by the way.

[righteously]

[ Which means he missed Spider-Man 3 so really, bullet dodged. Nobody needs to endure that if they can avoid it.

Speaking of not being able to shake hands, one of Dean's detaches from his mug as though to hold it out for a second before... reeling it back in and wiping it on his shirt with a tiny little frown. Yep, nope, gonna take a while to break that still.

Gene gave him some gloves, but he left them in his Stuff Cot with all his other... thing. ]

Dean.

[ He says, half a grimace and half a smile, self-aware of how dumb he looks considering what they were literally just talking about. ]

From what I'm calling Earth Prime. I called dibs. So.

[ All you other not-his-earth people can suck it. Respect the dibs. You're welcome America (where he's from). ]

[voicelog]

[ we don't talk about spider-man 3 in these parts.

but also— don't sweat it. he is having trouble reminding himself not to offer his hand for a shake whenever he meets someone new too. it takes a conscientious effort when the habit has followed him since he was a kid. ]

Nice to meet you, Dean.

[ his smile widens into a grin. ]

On account of the coffee, [ he raises the mug up at him. ] I'll let you have it. [ he then takes a slow sip of the stuff, his body almost immediately relaxing as soon as the taste hits him. ] Damn, [ give him a moment here. ] I've missed that. [ he is one happy man right now. ]

What's your Earth like?

[righteously]

[ Tony earns a tight smile at that coffee appreciation. He can't do a whole lot of monster hunting and people saving holed up in a warehouse full of noobs, but at least seeing that feels pretty good. Gotta refuel his rewarding-o-meter to keep on functioning as a human without lapsing into that deep dark Winchester well of man pain.

He sets his mug off to the side, mostly-empty and definitely cold. Absently scratches one elbow with his other hand while he thinks. Eyes tip up to the ceiling, and he bobs his head a little toward one shoulder. ]

Crappy.

[ He admits, without sounding too broken up about it. ]

God's an asshole, monsters are real, and Donald Trump's the president.

[ You know. Worst possible timeline type stuff. ]

You?

[voicelog]

[ oh, he doesn't have to worry about getting that refuel then because tony is gonna be in a considerably better mood for a while thanks to him. a little kindness can go a long way, especially with this guy.

he won't forget what dean did for him and he totally meant it when he said that he'll eventually pay him back. the coffee might not have been made by him, but he was kind enough to share it with him. that's enough in his book.

listening to him describe his world, tony releases a breathy laugh as he cradles his cup against his chest. ]

A work in progress.

[ a more hopeful note, but it's soon followed by— ]

We made it through a civil war, a Skrull invasion and Norman Osborn spearheading a world peace-keeping organization as if that wasn't the biggest joke of the century. [ not to mention, the fall of asgard, but that one is still a touchy subject for him. ] But we're picking up the pieces.

[ he gives a nonchalant shrug of his shoulder. ]

Our president's Barack Obama. [ silver lining. ]

[righteously]

[ So, here's the thing - underneath this veneer of being a judgmental meathead, Dean Winchester is a complete and total fucking nerd. It's just that he grew up in either the time before it was cool, or in an upbringing that didn't allow for that kind of thing - maybe some combination of both. He's gotten a little more free and open about it as he's gotten older, embraced it, did his fair share of nerding out over some stuff.

A few words start pingin' off his radar here.

He knows Skrull. He knows Norman Osborn. He knows about civil war the movie and civil war the comic book arc, even if he never actually got around to reading it.

(Comics are expensive and they take up a hell of a lot of space when you live out of your car. Just not as easy as pirating movies or someone else's Netflix subscription.)

He knows Barack Obama too, and he'll get back to that, but in the meantime he's busy squinting at Tony like he's trying to see through him. Suspicious, a little disbelieving. ]

You screwing with me? You're screwing with me, right?

[voicelog]

[ well, whatever reaction he was expecting, he wasn't expecting the one he actually gets.

did he lose him somewhere? maybe he doesn't recognize who or what he's talking about. it's a strong possibility, given how the majority of people here are from different worlds. but even if that was the case, it doesn't explain the incredulity of his response.

he takes another slow sip of his drink, briefly toying with the possibility that maybe dean does know what he's talking about and he's just very outraged by the news of norman osborn gaining too much power as well. ]

I'm not. [ why would he lie about something like that? ]

[righteously]

[ You'd need web shooters for that. He's double-thinking that now, and- okay, granted, that one chick said she was from somewhere named Thedas, and then you got the grumpy guy from the version of the future where Portland got blown off the map, and then there's Loki Loki who wasn't actually secretly the freaking Archangel Gabriel in disguise as Loki.

Whole lot of variations of Not-Earth.

And then there's those two dudes across the room who looked like super jacked cosplayers committing way too hard to the bit, and now--

Long.

Scrutinizing.

Pause. ]

So where you're from.

[ Slowly, carefully, and with a little... sort of flat wave of his hand at hte ground in general. ]

Spider-Man - movie, t.v. show, comic book, or... real dude bee-bopping around New York?

[voicelog]

[ ah— okay, he might be getting a sense of what's happening here.

it sort of clicks in his mind as a bizarre possibility that dean does know of spider-man but his knowledge stems from a more... fictional source. it's super weird to think about, but not improbable. fandom does exist on his earth. the avengers have plenty of media, comic books, fan arts, fan fiction and merchandises created around them and, given what he knows about the multiverse and how it works, it wouldn't be so far-fetched for a world to exist where they're, well, just that.

man, now he is the one scrutinizing dean. ]

Technically, all of the above. He has comic books and films made about him, but he's also a real guy.

[righteously]

[ It's like somebody just opened up freaking Disneyland, tossed the keys to the magic kingdom to a nine year old, let them snort a line of sugar and then said go nuts kid. The way he starts lighting up a little, the transition from the grumpy asshole that is his resting face to this whole new excitement is just...

It's a pretty sizable contrast. ]

No. Shut your mouth. Don't fuck with me, man, I can't-

[ Rein it in, Winchester, rein it in.

He does his best to with a little passing of his hand over his mouth, a quick beat of re-framing, and then he goes back into it with a little more restraint.

Okay, dude. Level with him.

Don't think we've been formally introduced. I'm Tony. ]

Tonyyyy....?

[ Gesture. Ehh?? Tony ___________

Come on.

Come on. ]

[voicelog]

[ he recognizes that spark in dean's eyes, the way his face lights up like a christmas tree and the bubbling excitement waiting to spill forth — it's the look of somebody who has just been informed that his favorite celebrity is in town or, in this particular case, that superheroes do exist.

it's the look of a fan.

he sets his mug down on top of the counter as he confirms dean's suspicion with an assured smile. ]

Tony Stark.

[righteously]

Ha-HA!

[ He declares with the same almost-accusatory sounding enthusiasm as a hard-boiled detective having just finally solved the mystery. Like he somehow cracked a freaking code or something, scored a three pointer, personal victory.

It's an all-over experience, too, with Dean peeling back and sort of turning around (gloating to a non-existent audience aka the refrigerator) before wheeling back in glowing like a pregnant lady in a skincare commercial. ]

Get the hell outta here. Freaking Iron Man, wow, you are...

[ A beat, a sort of waffling because okay you aren't Robert Downey, actually he's kind of seeing Antonio Banderas circa Zorro or maybe Spy Kids, but--

Nope, that's fine, doesn't matter. ]

Damn, so- what's the deal, you gonna make a suit out of a waffle iron and six paper clips and take on The Man? What's the plan, chief?

[voicelog]

[ this guy is sure winning all of tony's smiles in one day.

how can a grin not spread across his face like wildfire at the way he's reacting to his name? he only recently got out of a pretty fucking rough patch just to be tossed straight back into the crazy fray that is his life, so this? this is nice. this is wholesome and sweet, and completely unexpected.

leaning back against the counter, he slides his right hand into the pocket of his pants as he crosses his ankles. ]

Something like that. [ his smile is vague as he regards him. ] The objective is to get us all home safely, but I'm going to need more resources and information first. [ —which is unfortunately going to take time. ] Fill in the blanks, pinpoint the problem and then find a solution.

[righteously]

[ That's the bait and switch, buddy. It's all smiles today, next month it's accidentally murdering everything you love and crying a single tear about it. There're pretty good betting odds on it if they're just going by his personal history alone.

Who knows, though. New Earth New Him?

(Doubt it.)

In the meantime, he'll just be ogling starry-eyed at Literal Iron Man, who's crossing his legs like he's casually awesome, and it takes real effort not to mutter so cool under his breath. ]

Can't help you with those resources unless you're in the market for a stolen version of whatever the hell a credit card is these days, but if you ever need someone with good aim and exactly zero sense of self-preservation?

[ Two thumbs at his chest, and a click to his teeth. He's your guy.

It's all said with the utmost cavalier tone, maybe hard to tell if he's joking or if he's just so desensitized the honesty is humorous to him.

Let it never be said he isn't self-aware. ]

[voicelog]

[ that's a whole mood right there.

they have a world-ending event practically every month where he's from, so he gets it. peace will only ever be something to aspire to and it definitely won't be something he'll live long enough to see. he only hopes to impact and improve the world enough to pave its way towards a better future.

of course that means he needs to return home first, which is... a work in progress. ]

I think I can handle it on my own, but thanks for the offer.

[ he isn't going to risk other people's lives when he can risk his own first. ]

You might want to work on the lack of self-preservation though. [ says the guy who also has like zero sense of self-preservation. ]

[righteously]

[ Dean waves it away with a light and cavalier: ]

Therapy's on my to-do list.

[ And the good-natured way he's tossing these things out is probably a little weird to behold, but he ain't even the slightest bit bothered by it.

Also, therapy definitely isn't on his to-do list.

What's more important to him is that first part. It does somber him up a little, and he folds hims arms across his chest, surveying Tony with an old and knowing look through slightly narrowed eyes.

Not aggressively so, just... empathetic. Understanding. Tired. ]

I get the whole 'go it alone' idea believe me. Done it myself from time to time. It gets lonely. Gets hard.

[ Especially for someone as co-dependent as him.

But he isn't here to lecture from some hypocritical high horse. He's just saying-- ]

If you change your mind and come around, let me know.

[ Earnest and sincere, with a gravity that's nigh unmissable. He really, really means that.

Is it bizarre for a stranger to be offering up something so heavy so soon? Probably, but-- that's his life, really. You find someone you think you can trust, someone you respect, and you learn to throw out the offer for that kind of bond sooner rather than later. Time is a luxury and he hasn't had it for a long time. You take your moments when you get them. ]

[voicelog]

[ no, the offer isn't bizarre and it doesn't go unappreciated either.

it's a strange time for everyone right now, so it's only natural to want to support and help each other through it. he doesn't see anything wrong with having backup or even a team. after all, he is a founding member of the avengers and he had been director of shield for a stint. he can see the value in it.

except, he also tends to prefer taking matters into his own hands if he knows they're fully within his capabilities, if it means that he can avoid putting others in the pathway of danger for him. it's not worth it.

he's also used to being alone. in fact, he thinks he's better off that way — both for him and for the people who he cares about. ]

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Dean. [ he picks up the cup of coffee once more, taking a thoughtful sip of it. ] I guess I don't have to tell you what I did back on my Earth. [ he nailed the iron man part at least. ] What did you do in yours?

[righteously]

[ He accepts the refusal without another word, just a solemn little nod. It's never moments like this that convince someone to reach out to help - it's in the thick of things. It's when help becomes a need, or when someone's at their frayed edges. When that time comes, if Tony reaches out he'll be there.

In the meantime...

Iron Man, am I right?

The smile that takes over his face is tight and tense, practically a grimace. ]

Hunted monsters.

[ He answers, blithe and blunt, self-aware of how absurd it sounds to some people but without enough of a give a shit to bother making himself sound convincing. ]

Staved off the occasional apocalypse, but mostly... monsters.

[ He's maybe a little less concerned with someone thinking he's crazy, what with... comic book universe and time travel and future-earth and glowy chesty hearty wizard powers. ]

[voicelog]

[ he has no room to judge here, no worries.

they have plenty of monsters and world ending events where he's from. ]

What kind? If you don't mind me asking. [ is it the space kind? genetically modified? or is it like classic monsters? vampires and werewolfs, etc. ]

[righteously]

[ It's kinda nice, you know, to be able to say that and not have to go through the whole god damn conversation. It's practically a script at this point, the lines run themselves, and it takes all the effort he's got in him not to sound bored while he breaks the news to some sobbing widower. ]

Pretty much anything in an Anne Rice novel or in bad horror movies.

[ A beat, a considering shrug. ]

And a few good horror movies. Vampires, demons, werewolves, your basics - then you got your special spicy rare ones. Rougarous, shifters, wendigos.

[ The jefferson starships, but if he drops that one it's just gonna seem like he's bullshitting. Really gotta self-promote that one a little more, get it in circulation. ]