( video & action )

[warmachine]

[ The video zooms in to one James Rhodes, wearing his dress blues and sitting at the bar -- yes, again -- with one elbow propped up and his head in his hand, the other cradling a beer.

He doesn't look happy.

There's a voice comming from off-screen: ] This fine specimen of man is Col. James Rhodes and he has good reason to be in the bar today. Guess what? His best friend, Tony Stark, has left the City and he's drowning his sorrows in alcohol. Healthy coping mechanisms.

[ Rhodey's mouth twists, something angry and bitter in his expression, but his voice is still mostly even when he speaks. ]

I seriously don't need the running commentary, man.


[ ooc; So. Tony's gone and Rhodey is getting drunk. Italics are some NPC commentator. Come buy him a drink and cheer him up or join him in his misery. ]

Comments

audio:

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

If you want someone to punch the camera guy, I'm all for it. They're at my birthday and it's weird.

audio:

[warmachine]

Nah. I just want him to leave me alone.

[ A beat. ] Happy birthday.

Re: audio:

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

Give it till midnight. If they're still here after that, my offer still stands.

[She hasn't beaten anyone up in a while.] And I'm sorry about your friend. This place is bullshit.

audio:

[warmachine]

Thanks, kid. [ Why is a little girl offering to beat people up for him, nothing about today makes sense. ]

Yeah. But hey, try to enjoy your birthday? How old are you?

action;

[metaman]

[Abed sighs and shakes his head before tapping the NPC on the shoulder.]

Your technique is awful. What kind of reality show are you running here - daytime tv?

action;

[warmachine]

[ The NPC splutters and mutters something about senior project and learning and this is fun, isn't it?

Rhodes, meanwhile, is just taking a long sip of his drink and thinking about walking out. ]

action;

[metaman]

Is this a dating show or an intervention program? They're two entirely different genres; you can't narrate them the same way.

» action

[thenormalsquint]

[Why she's in the bar is her own reason, but she knows Rhodey and knows Tony is gone, so she heads for him, stopping between him and the unwelcome commentator who's about to see a side of Angela that he might not want to.]

Go away before you don't walk for a week.

» action

[warmachine]

[ At least people are talking to the guy filming rather than Rhodey. He doesn't want company. Or maybe he does, he isn't even sure.

But he's still listening in, because he picked this bar since it was quiet. He doesn't want there to be a barfight. That would defeat the purpose.

So when the commentator makes no move to leave, he shakes his head and pushes away from the bar. ] Angela, hey. Buy you a drink?

[ He honestly doesn't care about the guy. Much. ]

» action

[thenormalsquint]

[If the guy wants to fight, so be it. Angela can spit and she has a ton of crap in her purse today. He can bring it.]

You need it more than I do right now. [She's covering his tab today. Turning back to the other guy:] Have some respect. Leave.

[studmuffin]

[ Stumbling into the bar because yes, he's run all this way and yes, he practically collapses against the counter but dear fucking lord, it's War Machine.

To the commentator. ] Hey, dude, I saw Paris Hilton down the street. Her skirt's blown off.

[warmachine]

[ Well, that gets the commentator going. Rhodey raises an eyebrow. ] Good thinking.

[studmuffin]

[ Grinning, because okay, he's a fanboy, he can't help it, and he's just helped James Rhodes out and he said good thinking and Stiles is just like, maybe a little bit crazy from his run. ]

I'm your biggest fan. [ Oops. Blurted. Because okay, sidekick love, Stiles is the sidekick. He owns it. ] Um.

[latenightfondue]

[ Howard sweeps over and joins him whether he likes it or not. He looks rough, smells like alcohol, and it's questionable as to whether he even made it home last night or reemerged today.

But, hey, a drunk Howard isn't that much different to a sober one. ] Y'got a fan club there, Rhodes?

[warmachine]

Not much of a fan, that guy.

[ Wow, Howard. You look rough. Rhodey feels a tug of sympathy, for all that he's pretty torn over Tony's leaving as well. ]

[latenightfondue]

[ It's okay, their wallowing can happen together. ]

Can't please everyone, buddy. [ He's heard harsher things. ] Guess y'heard.

Permavideo

[doeswhathewants]

Do they follow you everywhere? Even in the bathroom? That must be as awkward as the narration of it.

[warmachine]

They don't. It's just that one, and he just left.

[doeswhathewants]

What a terrible reality show if your cameraman has already abandoned you.

Perhaps you should put the suit on and fly around.

voice

[godoftricks]

What a shame. I was so hoping to renew our acquaintance.

voice

[warmachine]

Renew your acquaintance? [ He knows of Loki, but not enough to recognise the voice. ]

voice

[godoftricks]

[ Oh, good. This one doesn't seem to know him yet. ]

Yes, indeed. I was so hoping to find him again here. There was much still between us. Perhaps he shall return.

[mortemscintilla]

Everything all right?

[warmachine]

Fine.

[ The commentator's said it all already, hasn't he. But then, the guy's all right so maybe he regrets the clipped tone almost as soon as it's left his mouth. ] Not really, but it's all right.

[mortemscintilla]

People just come and go without warning here, huh?

...I'm sorry...