selfhelp | [Voice/Action]

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[Okay, so. Post-draft, he's given himself a few days of seclusion and bed-rest (apparently being infected with a zombie virus is exhausting), and even Billy can freely admit to himself that he's been pretty depressed lately, a fact for which he feels no shame considering that depression was well and truly earned. One can only spend so much time fretting, moping, and dwelling on one's own misery for so long, however, and today? He's decided that enough is enough. Billy will be going out today, limping around the village and visiting the people who were on the draft whose fate he's still uncertain of. The ones he can't find or has no reason to actually visit, he'll check with a light location spell, and he'll spend a few hours at Seventh Heaven people-watching out the window while he doodles in a book that Teddy had given him containing a series of patterns (much like this) that resemble inkblogs, and bit by bit Billy's turning them into something like this instead. It's been a tiring week, though, so you could always catch him napping on the table, instead.

At some point he'll attempt to find Peter, and when both a location spell and a teleport fails, he tries to teleport to the apartment he'd been staying at instead, finding it almost completely emptied. All he manages to dig up is a small cartridge that, after a moment of scrutiny, he identifies as a web fluid cartridge. His fanboyish glee at the discovery is tempered by the fact that the empty apartment means one more piece of bad news.

After his visits and window-watching is done, he'll return home to make the announcement, along with one more message-]

Hey out there... just wanted to let his friends know that Peter Parker went home. So... sorry. Yeah.

[Locked to Loki]

...We still on for tomorrow, or do you want to take a break? Because... you know. [Draft. Awfulness all around. He wouldn't blame Loki if he wanted to take a week off.

Later on in the evening he'll be over at Ben's barbeque, if anyone wants to bother him while he's there.]

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[Billy is surprised to see Pepper at the door, though the moment passes as his surprise transforms into relief. Oh god, he's so glad they're okay.]

Well... I was thinking about it on the way over, but now that I'm here I think I really need to sit down. So probably not.

[At least not yet. He might get fussy in a bit, but for now it's just a visit.]

[Billy isn't the only one glad for it. Each familiar face she'd seen, either over the journals or in person, made Pepper feel a little better in the aftermath of the draft. Although there are still moments of concern in the mix, like when she notices Billy's limp, or when he says he just needs to sit.]

Sure. You can join me on the couch. [There's a blanket there Pepper's been draping over her legs, but that she'll give up if Billy's cold from being outside.]

I'm not sure how much there'd be for you to do, anyway. Tony's been fantastic about taking care of things since we got back. [Which he earns a smile for; Pepper can't ask for a better caretaker.]

[In his new-found role as Pepper's post-infection caretaker, he also feels the urge to make sure Billy takes care of himself, too - and that's why it's a relief when he agrees not to work. He expects everyone back in pitch-perfect health before things get back to normal.

Even if, sure, the situation was reversed, Tony would absolutely not let healing and rest get in the way of what he needed to do. NOT IMPORTANT.]

Well - credit taken where it's given. [No, he'll never shy away from credit given. He shoots a small smile meant only for Pepper in her direction.]

Teddy didn't give you too much grief about leaving?

[Billy limps his way over, plopping down on the couch with Pepper, though he waves off the blanket. He bundled up well enough before he left, he just needs to warm up his hands a bit and rest his legs. Ahhh, feels good to be sitting again.]

No grief at all, actually. I think if I'd spent much more time lying around in bed he'd have rolled me out of it.

[In this case that credit has definitely been well-earned. Pepper settles back onto the couch, taking advantage of the blanket since Billy’s refused it. The comment about Teddy rolling him out of bed gets a laugh as Pepper pictures it in her mind.]

Not to mention that there’s only so long anyone can stand to be in bed, I think. I know I’m definitely ready to be able to do things again.

[To have her life get back to normal, or whatever passes for it in Luceti.]

[Tony finds a seat in the armchair, watching the other two closely. He's all for being up and at 'em when they're ready, but don't even think about overdoing it. 8|]

The wheels on the Luceti train keep moving, don't they. [Pause.] New cycle's starting, too.

Yeah, I saw. Business as usual, even after everything...

[He can't decide if it's a good or a bad thing, truth be told. Life returning to normal is great and all, but it's not so easy to go back in the aftermath.]

Any familiar faces yet?

[So mandates the pot to the kettles.  And don’t think Pepper doesn’t see the way you’re watching, Tony.]

Which reminds me; I need to get in touch with the Welcome Center.  I might still be able to do some of the paperwork from here, if they give me housing updates.

[She says it more to herself, although Pepper somehow doubts Tony will be pleased to hear the news.]

None yet.  [Even if it’s not easy, it’s better than what they went through.  Pepper may be a little too eager to jump back in, and keep her mind occupied with something other than the memories.]  What about for you?

[He can understand why Pepper would want to get involved again as soon as possible. It was so easy to dwell on memories here - and neither of them needed to do that.

He hasn't seen anyone he recognizes yet either, and considering some of the less pleasant surprises that have shown up in recent cycles? He is okay with that. So he just waits for Billy's answer. Any more Young Avengers popping up?]

[Ahaha... ha...]

...Well. You know what they say- no news is good news.

[In short? No Young Avengers to be found, or anyone else for that matter. And after the last draft, much as he misses them, he's glad of it.]

[Tony doesn't say anything, and Pepper hopes it's a good sign. He's been so worried, devoting all of his time to taking care of her. It's wonderful, but Pepper knows it can't go on too long.]

It's only just starting though. [For better or for worse. It's still entirely possible for more people from their worlds to arrive.]

[Tony can sympathize with Billy's words - the less people dragged here, ones they knew? The better. Especially consider what they all just had the special privilege of being a part of.]

Can't count our chickens before they hatch, now, can we?

I'm just glad we made it back here. I never thought I'd be happy to see the place again, or... that I'd call it home.

[But he's said it a few times already, this week in particular- to flop down into bed and cuddle up with Teddy, to eat a decent, freshly-cooked meal instead of rations, to wake up in his bedroom instead of a dingy barracks in three-day-old clothes.

You can't fake relief like that.]

[Clichés become clichés for a reason, and Pepper briefly meets Tony’s eyes.  Even without the draft they’d all just endured, the arrival of one particular individual had been a weight all its own:  Loki.  Looking back on it all, it’s hard for her to say that only two months have gone by.  There are other people she can think of too, maybe not as powerful, but who could be as devastating to their lives all the same.

What Billy says next isn’t an unfamiliar thought, although it’s one Pepper hasn’t spoken.  She’s felt much the same since they got back, but it’s hard not to see that emotion as a defeat somehow.  When Tony and Jane both are going to work so hard on a way to escape, when people are already being tortured for it—isn’t it wrong to think of the place they’re trying to flee from as home?]

I didn’t either.  [Pepper looks at the ground when she says it, quietly.  Like a confession.]

[Tony meets Pepper's glance, and he knows she is thinking the same thing as him. He always knew dangerous individuals from their world showing up could be a possibility. But it hadn't been a reality until Loki showed up. Who could be next?

Then he watches her look down after her quiet admission, and he can't help but feel utterly conflicted at that notion: home. This wasn't home. Far from it. But it had felt like it since he was able to bring Pepper back here, somewhere safe where she could recover comfortably.]

Funny how perspectives change like that.

[He'd have to be blind to miss that exchange, and with it comes an intense feeling that he's missed something very important here. He glances from one to the other, then back again, brows furrowing.

Maybe he shouldn't stay too long; it's sort of like he's invading whatever's changed here.]

Um... right. I'm glad you guys are okay, though. [He pauses, then adds warily,] You are, right? Okay?

[And he means more than just physically; something's definitely weird. Or at least different.]

[Does Tony feel it too? Pepper has to wonder, and she reaches over to touch his hand. But it isn't just them, and when Billy speaks up, asks if they're okay, she offers him a smile.]

We're getting there. I'm still on bedrest until tomorrow. Or couchrest, as the case may be.

[Physically is easy to answer; she's got a doctor's words for that. The rest--Pepper really doesn't know where to begin when it comes to everything else. But maybe the way that she curls her fingers around Tony's might be a clue.]

[The warmth and curl of her fingers bring reassurance, even if he knows exactly what Pepper is trying to say with her gesture. It's not all about her physical state. There was other damage that had to scab and scar, too.]

So - nothing to get your spandex tights in a twist over. [Said with a teasing curb, but it's well meaning. He doesn't want Billy to worry more than he already is. Damn kid had his own issues to deal with.]

Spandex doesn't twist, it bunches.

[It's honestly the only response he can think up on the spot to that one. His eyes are on their hands, and it finally clicks, what exactly is different. They'd been together before. They'd been dating.

This isn't dating.

Huh.]

Um... congratulations. [A pause, and then, as his eyes lift to focus on the ceiling instead.] On, you know. Getting back safe.

[Riiiiight.]

...The perils of being a modern day superhero.

[Pepper laughs, despite the heavy conversation they'd been having. The way Billy informs them of the difference leaves her with no doubt he's had to deal with that particular problem.

She's a little surprised when he offers congratulations, and when he stares up at the ceiling. She follows his gaze upward, then looks back down at him. Somehow she doesn't think that's what he's saying it because they're safe.

But it is true that something very good did happen during that draft.]

Thank you. And you too.

[That obvious, huh? Not that he minds, somehow, that Billy has gotten a glimpse into something that was so personal to them. He gives Pepper's hand a gentle squeeze - he knew what was in her thoughts.]

Right. And you'll be back at work - when? [There, an appropriate shift on conversation.]

And so soon after I was outright banned from even trying to work! I'm shocked.

[He glances around, relaxed and kind of relieved to have a different topic to focus on. He'll need time for the sudden fluff in the room to sink in.]

The house doesn't seem to be falling apart without me, anyway. Maybe I should retire.

[She's tempted to give Billy a little hint of that moment as she meets Tony's eyes, feels his fingers tightening around hers. But a meaningful look and silent certainty will do, especially since both eager to change the topic of conversation.]

Me too. Tony held out a good five minutes longer than I thought he would. [Pepper grins mischievously, at least until Billy threatens retirement.]

Oh please don't. I don't know how long his housekeeping phase will last.

[He manages an easy grin.] It was probably doomed before it started, to be honest. It's not exactly my thing - and I will happily concede that.

[Cherish this moment. It is not often that Tony admits he isn't perfect at something.]

Mm... alright, I'm convinced. Maybe next week- I think most of the village will be back and feeling normal again by then, so I should be good to go.

[Unless Teddy demands less work and more recovery, but he doubts that. It's just a leg bite, not the end of the world.]

[action] kyaaa be gentle

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