( 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

[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.

[warmachine]

Excuse me?

[studmuffin]

You -. [ Heavy breathing. ] You're War Machine, you're like, the best.

[ And then visibly pulling himself together. ] Sorry, um. I'm sorry? About Iron Man going. That must be a bummer.

[warmachine]

How do you know me? [ He's not the War Machine, though he has thought about calling his suit that, Tony's throw-away comment running in his brain, and it's weird that there's some kid knowing about that.

Shoulders slumping. ] Yeah.

[studmuffin]

Can I buy you a drink?

[ Not that he has ID. Or money. Or. It's War Machine. ]

[warmachine]

Aren't you a little young to be here?

[ Sighing. Maybe a distraction would do him good? So he jerks his chin to the stool next to him. ] Sit down. Drink a soda and tell me how you know about me.

[ Yeah, that's an order. ]

[studmuffin]

[ He nods, because he's not going to lie to Rhodey, of course not. He just sits down on the stool, grins again. ]

You're just kinda famous where I'm from.

[warmachine]

I'm famous? [ Tony, he gets. Himself, not so much. ] Where are you from?

[studmuffin]

[ A long pause. ]

Beacon Hills?

[warmachine]

[ He just sighs. ]

Right.

[studmuffin]

You're still my favourite though.

[ Drumming nervously on the bartop, because even if he's excited, he's still Stiles which means he's literally a ball of energy. ] So hi, sorry I'm weird, I'm new.

[warmachine]

That's nice. [ That's great. How does everyone know him, today.

But he takes a deep breath and gives the kid a bit of a smile. Just because he's feeling shitty doesn't mean he has to let it out on him, right? ]

Welcome to the City.

[studmuffin]

Thanks, I totally got here yesterday and so far it's been super cool. I mean I know people don't like it, but everyone is here, I might swoon. Maybe a little. [ Pause. ]

Sorry, I talk. Nervous tic. [ Tapping the bartop some more. ]

[warmachine]

I couldn't tell. [ A beat. ] What do you mean, everyone?

[studmuffin]

[ Slowly, because oops, he has to watch his mouth. ]

Everyone that I - uh - totally admire?

[warmachine]

All right, are you from a universe where I actually exist? [ He might not be as smart as Tony, but he can figure out a thing or two, and this kid is edgy. ]

[studmuffin]

Um. Yes. [ Not really, but okay, he'll just pretend he does. Instead of saying you're totally a comic-book-movie-character of epic proportions. ]

[warmachine]

And I'm famous? Not Tony? [ Yeah, no, that makes no sense. ]

[studmuffin]

Well, yeah, he is too. [ And totally cool. ]

But you're my favourite.

[warmachine]

That's— nice. [ Weird. Maybe nice. He doesn't know. Doesn't really care that much, right now, either, he's too broken up about Tony leaving.

Again. ]