Captain Steve Royama Isn't Moving (stillamerican) wrote in angellogs, @ 2019-11-07 02:26:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, emmett frye, steve royama (captain america), tony stark (iron man) |
Who: Tony Stark, Emmett Frye, Steve Royama
When: Current
Where: Tony's apartment above the store
What: Emmett's stressed out, and Tony suggests they cook. Tony's not sure how Thanksgiving should go, on a home cooked front of things, and he thinks cooking up a test meal will help him have actual opinions about things. Emmett's mostly stressed about his father, Desmond, and Iomhar.
Rating/Warnings:
Status: Complete
Tony's got turkey, and a recipe for how to cook it. The plan is a pie like thing (he's got a few options, since Emmett wanted to join in,) and baked potatoes, since they'd not require last minute mashing. The veggies were green beans, because the internet says they're typical and well - easy enough to prep. He also got a few yams, since someone at the co-op said there was a cool recipe where you basically microwaved them for a while and then baked them. Seems good, and leftovers could be lunch.
Steve found a version for the beans involving cream of mushroom soup that apparently happens all the time now, but he couldn’t find the fried onions that are supposed to go with that at the smaller grocery store, so he’s saving bringing that recipe out until later. He IS hanging around in case either of them needs help though.
Emmett’s heading through with a couple of things too. He’s got a few tins and a couple of measured out things of batter and such. Sure, he probably COULD have just mentioned stuff to make, but this feels more polite.
Tony grins. "Hey there. What've you got? It looks like you already did some work. Steve's here, kind of relaxing."
“Makings for Yorkshire puddings.” Emmett grins. “Not exactly traditional in anyone’s case, but they’re meant to go with gravy, and since you’re doing one of THOSE.” He gives Steve a little wave. “Hey, Steve. It’s been...I think I’ve only ever seen you in passing at group things, actually. Aunt Evie’s been drinking a lot of the ginger tea you mixed for her. She says it helps.”
“Good to hear.” Steve smiles. “I’ll mostly be out of the way, promise.”
“You’re fine.” Emmett says. “You’re not the person I want to avoid right now.”
"Well, do you want to talk about that, or lose yourself in cooking? What's the timing on the pudding?" Tony's pouring some cups of tea for himself and Emmett and leaning on the counter. "Aprons are over on the hook."
“Oh they’re a type of roll, sort of thing.” Emmett says. “They’re sort of custardy inside and the theory is you pour gravy down the middles, where they’re soft. It should need about...thirty for various sitting around once its mixed things, and then bakes for twenty so I can get them started. And I’m fine to talk, really. Honestly at the moment, I’m just eager to avoid Iomhar. No real reason other than if he’s around and my father is, becomes a little hard to get anything in edgewise. I don’t mind that he’s happy, but it’s hard enough to catch his eye, and lest you add the boyfriend to the mix…” He shakes his head.
“He’s NICE enough, and they’ll work out the balance, I’m sure, but until they do...well, it feels impossible. Meghan’s said about the same, so it’s the pair of them. And that’s not getting into my father either, but...I don’t see that one changing so might as well get used to not talking with him much. I thought I was used to it, but it’s harder than I thought now that I...well. With Jack out of the picture, and Harry moving on from being in training, I’d thought he might want me. That’s been set since I was old enough to know what it was he DID. Or so I’d thought. I’d also hoped when Desmond practically fell through, that it was still possible and got proven that hoping in things involving my father’s a really stupid thing to do.”
He shakes his head, measuring out his ingredients. “I don’t hate them, I don’t think that’s POSSIBLE, but I’m not opening myself up to things like that without a LOT of time to arm myself first.”
If he doesn’t let them make him feel things, he’s still won.
"Huh. Sounds like it's weird, having him being really busy. I think your dad said he was having some nightmares lately so I could see that adding to why they're hooked up on each other, but it doesn't change what it's like for you. And turkey will be about two hours, yams and potatoes are forty minutes, so we can start the pudding then. Do you have issues with green beans? I was debating between almonds or onions and bacon, if we wanted to make them a little fancier." Tony's sliding a mug toward Emmett.
“They WERE worse, when he got here, but I think with Aunt Evie moving out a couple weeks ago, that’s not helping.” Emmett says. He refused to train him before THAT was a thing, but still. There was obviously a build up for that, wasn’t there?
“It’s...he’s entitled to being happy, no questions about that. I just...don’t know that the new normal has any room for me at all.” Emmett says, shaking his head briefly. “It’s like the old normal, only now it’s someone he’s dating. And green beans are fine. I’d opt for the almonds sooner. I’d say.”
"Then there's something we can do while we wait on the turkey. Want to watch the almonds until they color a little in butter?" Tony's moving to scrub potatoes. "And I could see that being pretty stressful. No wonder you kind of wanted to know if I wanted you, or just someone alive. Tell me about things in your life? I'm all ears. Or do you want to hear about mine?"
“I’m good for a turn at listening to you if that’s better.” Emmett says. “There’s not much with me, at the moment. I organized my last team dinner since I won’t be coming back and we had our end of season awards and voting on a captain and such. Unless this apprenticeship thing DOES fall through, The bright spot is they’d have me back to play.” He smiles.
“But other than that, and the rest there’s nothing actually happening in my life. It’s...not easy leaving it behind, but I’m willing if someone actually wants do this training me thing. You have to prioritize what you want most, right? AND I’m not exactly anyone’s favorite on the team as is.. They don’t hate me but it’s been cooler, downright baltic actually, since the mass arrest.”
He shakes his head. “There’s allegations I’m ignoring since they can’t be proved. About how I handled that and why. BUT enough about that. It doesn’t matter now.”
"Sounds pretty rough. From what you said, that was largely people making bad choices, and you certainly were worried about it, from what I heard." Tony hms. "We're talking about bringing in a cat? Maybe two? Kittens from Steve's job."
“It’s going around that I could, and should, have done more to get a few others out and that it’s my fault we lost several games because I got someone sent for a stint at a local secure centre.” Emmett shakes his head. “Nothing I could have DONE about that, but no one wants to believe that, so I did my best to get through it.”
It was a mess and there was no one to share THAT part with. It didn’t feel right bringing it to Noah or Desmond or anything. And it was super slow moving at first too.
“Yeah?” He grins. “Scout’s off getting groomed and having a check up right now, or she’d be here with me, but they needed someone who could actually sign the paperwork if anything happened, so Ezio was going to drop her off and is sending me text updates. Kittens are great too. Fluffy?”
"Kind of?" Tony sets the yams to get their pre-cooking. "We were talking about getting one, but I've got room and permission for two, so - let them stick together."
“That sounds like a good idea to me.” Emmett says. “I mean, if I had had siblings, it would have been a good thing, keeping them together. I know my father and aunt were happier that way. And they say animals are more like us than we realize.”
He assumes that a real sibling, not a crazy kid in need of more help than his century could give him, would have been different. Sure, he’d have been fighting for attention, but…
“I mean, that’s a good point.” Steve says. “I had Bucky, well, not this Bucky, but...as a kid and that was good for me. And especially, you want more than one of your species around, right? Or is that weird?”
“I mean…” Emmett digs up his phone. “Scout and Bertie are good friends and good for each other. And T’Challa and Shuri get into more trouble together and it’s adorable cat trouble. Bayek pretends it’s annoying, but…”
But he has a photo of them curled up on Bayek’s shoulders that clearly show anything but.
"Aww. I think cats are loners, but I bet they'd like being with someone who knows how they like to be alone and when they don't want to be alone." Tony snags a potholder to agitate the sweet potatoes. "Right - these go in the pan with the potatoes. Let's make sure your tins fit in the oven -"
That takes a bit of moving around, but they're good. "Want a cookie with tea while we wait?" Tony snags a stool for him to sit on. "What else is afoot. Balthier said he's kind of bored in the afternoons, since he's sort of - being adult handy if Courfeyrac needs him, but also can't be in on the stage stuff all the time. He was saying he might be up late, due to - apparently he gets insomnia stuff when it gets cold sometimes."
“I think that’s true of some of them.” Steve says. “Some are friendlier than others, or want more attention. I’m sorta excited. I never could have a pet when I was a kid. Too allergic and we didn’t have stuff like the shots that would have made it safer then. And I think they’ve also got pills you can give the dog or cat to help with the dander they produce. It’s something to do with their saliva or something?”
“That would be nice.” Emmett says. “And aww yeah. Courfeyrac’s also, well. It’s Enjolras. It’s a dynamic part, but it’s not exactly an onstage at every moment one. From what I’ve seen of the clips, it’s a lot of physicality and belting out songs and being...scarier than the actual version. Not that Enjolras isn’t really terrifying at times, but the show’s version is different to ours. With ours, you get the feeling that here’s a man who’ll see injustices righted and that he’s willing to play a very long game to see it done. And that he would calmly and quietly end anyone who harms another person, or the cause of righteousness and never think twice about it because he was right to do so. Nerves of steel, that one.” He says, and he does sound admiring about it, but…
“I don’t want to be like it, though. I think he’s missed too much of the world itself. It works for him and Tadgh’s...they’re teaching each other there are actual worlds beyond the barricades and balaclavas, but I still don’t like to think what they would do if, for instance, an apple of eden showed up in their grasp.” And he pauses trying to explain.
“They allow the user to manipulate another’s thoughts. Des has used one. And Ezio’s handled one.”
Still, he can’t help being jealous that they have that connection he wants so much. And Thea and Sherr, Arno and Aedan. He’s not sure he and Desmond CAN get it back, and less sure he’ll have it with his father. Sure, you take the good you can get, but it hurts all the same.
"Balthier's thing is apparently there's some simulated gunshots and that kind of thing. Which I could see that being a bit much, even in the context of practice stuff." Tony passes over a cookie to him and steals one for himself before sliding the box toward Steve. "I kind of don't want to pester Tadgh until they get the intensive part of the training done, but - it's not like I'll die for waiting."
“Oh a TON of them.” Emmett nods. “Full on war in the second act FOR most of the second act. I’d read it at home, to practice french, and we’re doing parts of the translation in my English class. Cabbage….Dr. Cabbot, actually,” he grins, “ He really, really likes his Victorian literature.” he selects a cookie. “Anyway, we also saw some clips from the film version of the musical. Beautiful Cosette and Eponine actresses. I’m looking forward to the whole thing. Courfeyrac’s a good friend. If Balthier can’t show up because it’s too hard, I’ll definitely be around, probably with various people. And..” He’s raising an eyebrow. “You realize it’s all fairly intense training? It’s okay to step in, so they can have a life outside it too.”
"Yeah, but -" Tony waves a hand. "I don't know the rules for knowing too much about it, so I'm kind of trying to figure out what's a good time. And I've got my own stuff going on. We got a mess of pretty neat tables in, but they all need refinishing. Little stuff that was used in a bed and breakfast hotel thing."
"I guess it's . . . I'm used to having no time, so everything had to be decided yesterday. Even taking time off had to be kind of - carved out of other stuff, and sort of - coming up for air to see what was on fire up there before you'd go back down again." Which yeah, water metaphors. Not great. "Not Tadgh's problem to deal with. So I'm kind of awkwardly working on figuring out how things go with me too."
“That’s…” Emmett nods. “I can see where it might go that way. Aunt Evie’s a bit more tightly scheduled that way. She was spending even a lot of time here working, and just coming back at night when she could, to stay with Father. I think it’s odd for her, not having that. By the time I was born, she’d adjusted to her own life well enough, and I do have cousins and such, at home, but it’s weird, I suppose, not having to rush around a lot.”
Still.
“I’d probably say make it clear you still do want to schedule things, as advice from someone who lives in the same place as those two. They’re liable to get too caught up in other things elsewise. It can be difficult not to, I think.”
"If it's good for them though, I kind of - I don't know. There's no good postcard that says thinking of you while also stealthy, is there?" Tony's smiling as he nibbles a cookie.
Emmett laughs. “That’s what the internet’s for, isn’t it? You could run one up on one of those card making sites, I’m sure. I did a father’s day one this summer.”
Tony grimaces trying to picture it. Would it be like those Spy against Spy cartoons and a goofy Valentine style slogan? "I'm picturing - like a Dick Tracy cartoon and some Comic Sans. I mean, for my card."
“Ooh I like it.” Steve snorts. “You could TOTALLY do that. “And Dick Tracy was always FUN. I like the color usage.”
"Were they racist? I remember reading them in the paper as a kid, but never the plots." Tony's frowning. "Jarvis kind of checked the comics first to see if it'd be a more violent one. I remember being frustrated that sometimes I didn't get the see the end of a plot line."
“There’s a minstrel show performer scene.” Steve winces. “Drawn just like you’d expect. And aww that’s all sorts of sweet.” It’s nice to think of Tony having someone who cared that much in his life. He deserves to have had more, but still.
“Ouch.,” Emmett winces. He knows just enough about American race relations that he knows that’s bad. Really, REALLY bad. “At the stuff, not at the having your comics checked. Jarvis sounds like my Uncle Freddie in a way. He’d try to do that kind of thing, where he could.” He smiles fondly. “I miss him the most, of people from home. It’s probably not right to wish people here, but...I’d like to get to see him again. I haven’t since the day Father left me in Crowley.”
"I can imagine." Tony trails off. "Maybe there's discount Dick Tracy style stuff? Film noire without the nope? It was . . . there's a reason why when I built my first AI that I gave him Jarvis' voice. I knew I wouldn't be afraid."
Emmett smiles at that. “That sounds really nice, actually. It was incredibly hard, I know I’ve said this before, but...when he got rid of me and dumped me off, being alone like that. Something like a familiar voice does sound really helpful and kind of nice.” He looks at Steve. “I know you had to ah...go places you didn’t want as well. Would that have helped?”
“Definitely.” Steve says. “It wasn’t...well there would have been no tech for it, for either one of us but hearing a familiar voice in Topaz might have been more pleasant. A few of my neighbors got sent there with me, so I got to know them better than I had at home, similar sort of idea.”
"And I never had anything like that as a kid. Just - more mundane stuff." Well, as mundane as rich families and absent minded alcoholism with a dash of old war drama can be. Tony leans to check the timer. "I think we can get the potatoes in. Do your tins need to pre-heat?"
“Should be set to go.” Emmett says. “And that sounds good in that case. Your stuff sounds less mundane and more depressing, for the record, Tony.” And he pauses. “It’s...thank you for caring even though you have yours to deal with. You really shouldn’t have to solve my problems too. I know I should be far more self sufficient by now, but...thank you.”
"Remember when I said I wanted company?" Tony nudges his arm a little. "You don't have to be self sufficient."
Emmett grins at that, sort of relaxing a little with the nudge. “Well hey. Thank you for that. I don’t know what it is you’re really getting from me, but...thank you for for being here for ME.”
"That sounds kind of weird? You did cooking stuff before, and you cooked pilfered winkles or whatever they were in Wales for us. It was pleasant, and I'm - not having a tizzy about making gravy." Which Tony is working on, admittedly. "I don't really know if I'd be doing any better, you know? You've survived a lot of chaos."
Emmett laughs. “Cockles. Like in the song. And would you really have done with the gravy?” Actually he’s not sure he wouldn’t himself. “I guess it IS sometimes difficult, isn’t it, trying out new things. We’re slightly known as a kitchen disaster, collectively. Shaun banned the three of us from being in a kitchen together last year after an incident involving eggs and microwaves.”
"As I said. Never did this kind of thing. Pretty sure I'm not doing it right for the uh - you know - tv cook standard dinner either, but we're just aiming for food, not keeping up appearances." Tony slides in the green beans to microwave in their steamer pouch (look, they were on sale, and he seriously didn't want another pot on the stove.) "I'm going to be glued to this for a bit whisking. I guess if - you feel kind of like you've got no time with people, do you think you could check in with your dad and some other folks nearish your age about just doing homework here? I can do stuff that isn't refinishing tables and be semi helpful. And maybe next time we can meet up, you can see how I'm doing for making a postcard thing for Tadgh?"
Should he push? "Could always ask Desmond to join in as an adult on scene, and talk a bit with him about the apprenticey stuff?"
“I think if people really pushed for the TV standard of food, nobody would actually eat.” Steve points out. “Just, thinking about all the time everyone would be worried about that sort of thing.”
He’s considered that a little.
“And that wouldn’t be bad. I appreciate the offer. I’ll be glad when I’m finished A-levels. I don’t remember what possessed me to prepare to sit as many as I am, but it’ll be worth it eventually.” Emmett smiles. “AND, well, I’ve got the time now, but...somewhere else to hang out is a good idea.”
It’s nice to think about being around people like Tony. “I’ll admit there’s times the maths go over my head a bit, when it gets into the really technical stuff.” He’s still GOOD, but he can admit to feeling stupid over things like school subjects, sometimes.
And that’s… He snorts.
“You know, I can ask. Or you could ask, or both of us could ask and see what he says. I can’t think he will, but I’m not opposed.”
After all, Yvette’s the one with the valid claim on Desmond’s attention and affection and presence now. He doesn’t want to put up a fuss about that either. She’s NICE, after all. She deserves it more.
"So, I never told you the story." Tony dips a spoon in the gravy to offer it to Emmett. "Try this for salt. It can't hurt to ask, no. Just tell me how you want to handle it, and I can help out or I can ask around. The - I kind of was sure for a while there that Steve really was kind of lonely before he told me that there was also a crush involved."
Emmett takes a second, lets it cool just a little before he tries it. “Maybe a TINY bit more? Like half a teaspoon, I’d say. And that’s true. It’s probably worth at least letting him remember I’m around and want to spend time with him.” he shrugs a little.
“And the story is...what exactly, that Steve thing? Because I don’t know that it applies to this case, but I”m glad you guys got that sorted.” He looks a little sad for a second. “Sadly. I’ve struck out the one time I thought I’d met someone. I think it was better when I hadn’t met her, when I thought I just wasn’t interested.” He laughs a little, because it IS funny, now, more than anything. “BUt we’re friends and I’m not wrecking that.”
"Well, I don't think either of us had good luck with dates. And I was - a mess. But I just mean - Steve asked, and I finally realized that he meant that he liked me and he liked me." Tony stirs a little more salt in a passes a test spoon to Steve before leaning to start pulling stuff out. "Well, how does it look?"
“So, asking again might trigger something.” Emmett nods. “Reasonable thing to consider I think.” He won’t get his hopes up. He doesn’t do THAT anymore, but it WOULD be nice. “If I don’t, I guess there’s no way to know, right? The worst that can happen is he says no.” Well, the worst is that he looks totally distracted and disgusted by the thought WHILE saying no, there’s nice ways Desmond could do it that’d feel better, but relatively speaking.
“Looks good to me. Sort of like you see on the programs about American holidays. Well, the ones where people have made it themselves and that’s the point of it.” Emmett adds. “Sort of the homespun feel.”
"And if it goes badly, you can come over and destress, or something. It's handleable. Like me and making a letter for Tadgh. We've got ice cream, or we could dessert." Tony hms. "Who wants to be brave and attack the bird? Recipe says it can sit for a half hour if we need to set the table."
It's a cozy looking meal. Toaster oven's worth of potatoes and yams (because super soldier appetites and leftovers,) turkey, the green beans tossed with sliced almonds, gravy dutifully poured in one of the thrift shop gravy boats, and some tins of puffy Yorkshire pudding.
“That’s reasonable. I doubt it will go that badly with Desmond.” Emmett says, honestly. “I’m ANNOYED with him, but he’s not the type to turn things into a fight. He’s more the sort to forget things later on and it’s stressful but I understand it.
And GOOD question. I think we have to give that to Steve, considering.”
"And I meant badly with you. But - if you're okay, you're okay." Tony tilts his head. "Want to do the honors? I'm honestly going to steal bits of crispy skin and mostly go for potatoes and gravy if I'm left to my own devices."
Well, he wouldn't be that bad, but - it's okay to admit things like that? Don't want Emmett to feel like Tony's claiming to be perfect.
“I’m…” Emmett shrugs. “Used to it with Desmond. And it helps that he really doesn’t mean it and has excuses. But, true.” he glances at Steve. “That okay?”
“Go for it.” Steve gives him a grin. “I mean, not with one of YOUR secret dagger things, but…”
“I DO have one in my boot.” Emmett smirks. “Not exactly hygienic, so…” He’s stepping around. “Okay, how do I…” he’s settling it in and moving the fork a little.
Tony produces some pictures on his tablet. "They recommend the leg here, because you can make sure it's done under it?"
And well - it's - kind of fun figuring out how it should go.