[ 013 ] ✪ [ Video ] / [ Action ]

[latenightfondue]

[ Apartment in the background, Howard appears on the screen dressed as if he's preparing to head out, and as the device moves around with him there's a half-empty bottle of something on the coffee table with a slip of paper beside it - a small, simple note he found on Father's Day that he may or may not have spent some time staring down at. ]

Looks as if Tony ain't here no more.

[ A door slams behind him, the image shaky as he works his way through the building, and for once he doesn't look into the machine, even worryingly shying away from it, because Howard is Howard and showing emotions healthily isn't what he does. ]

But life goes on, don't it? Got full access to everything in the lab as a parting gift. Gonna be at the club if anyone wants to join me for a good time in celebrating.

[ And as he enters the cool evening air, the feed cuts off and he heads towards his destination if anyone happens to come across him along the way. ]

Comments

audio:

[charring]

[Guess who heard how upset he was and is now very concerned?]

Hey, Howard? You wanna come to the stables for a bit?

audio:

[latenightfondue]

[ Not that she can see, but he manages a smile at hearing her voice. ]

Y'there already?

audio:

[charring]

Yep. [So hurry up, dude. She wants to give you a hug.]

audio --> action

[latenightfondue]

Be right there, sweetheart.

[ The feed cuts off, and within twenty minutes he makes an appearance, searching around because he's never been here before. ]

Lena?

action

[charring]

Over here. [She's standing with her horse, brushing his mane and watching for Howard. When she spots him, the brush gets set down and she heads over.]

Don't lie to me, Howard. Are you okay?

» audio

[thenormalsquint]

You knew him too? [She never managed to put two and two together.]

» audio

[latenightfondue]

Y'could say that, sweetheart.

» audio

[thenormalsquint]

[Her list of friends that just keep going poof soon after saying hello grows longer.]

I would say sorry about him leaving but... I know that doesn't help much.

» audio

[latenightfondue]

[ Curses come in other forms and they need to stop. ]

Known a few other pals'a mine who've come and gone, but the world don't stop turning. [ But, no, it doesn't help, not the ones left behind. ] Guess it happens, huh?

» audio

[thenormalsquint]

It gets to be too many after a while, too many all at once.

[It's easy to brush it off in the beginning, but then it wears on you.]

I have the store opening right now, but let me buy you dinner. A drink, if you do.

[punchedhitler]

I saw.

Wonder if he's coming back this time.

[latenightfondue]

It ain't something to rule out.

[ But he doubts the chances of it happening twice are high. ]

[punchedhitler]

Are you living alone, Howard?

[latenightfondue]

Sure am, Cap. Why d'you ask?

[conesoldstober]

Friend of yours, Howard?

[latenightfondue]

Sure, y'could call him that.

[conesoldstober]

Looking for some company?

[latenightfondue]

Wouldn't turn it down, buddy, not if y'offering.

voice

[threeolives]

Celebrating.

voice

[latenightfondue]

That's one way'a looking at it, doll.

[ The other is drowning his sorrows; he'll never get the chance to know who his son becomes and here was his one shot at it. ]

super late! we can drop if you want

[threeolives]

[ He can still know, if he asks. He can know what his friends and contemporaries think of him, how much he means to them. It's still a little late to show interest, but it counts. ]

You'll forgive me if I don't look at it the same way.

video

[godoftricks]

Celebrating, indeed. You must have known him well.

video

[latenightfondue]

Y'could say that, pal.

[ He doesn't know you, does he? No, even he would remember that voice. ]

New in town, huh?

video

[godoftricks]

Somewhat.

I'm an associate of Mr Stark's, from his own world. It would appear he left just as I arrived.

video

[latenightfondue]

Y'know Tony? You should'a said. Shame you missed him.