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The obvious answer is take it out if that's even possible at this point, but she pointed out that's the only reason we likely weren't lost in the Void and that tracks since she also claims to be connected to it. Having her with us is likely keeping us alive when she sends us off places. Might even be true here for all we know.

There's also the problem of what that means exactly; to have a part of someone existing in you. I have my beliefs, but we need someone who really understands magic and what people are made of. None of this will matter if we destroy ourselves trying to get away from this.

Right. Magic experts. I might know a few I'll ask around discreetly

If she put her horcrux or w/e inside all of us that means she can take it out. We need leverage.

I don't know what a horcrux is. But, I think that's what Nat would say. Nat is usually right about these things.

Harry Potter? Creepy snake villain? Whatever

Yeah I'm channeling her hard for this one. It's out of my wheelhouse and yours.

I haven't seen the movies yet.

I do agree with that. Thor and Natasha are the people we need for this job.

Oh. The books were better anyway.

Yeah but I've met a few people who know about this stuff. We're going to do it and hopefully they don't get dragged into this too. Even if it would be kind of helpful rn.

I'll add those to my list.

Good. I don't want them involved, especially Nat. She's still figuring stuff out.

Now I just feel out of the loop. You call her "Nat" now????? God. They grow up so fast.

Being used and betrayed by the same people is a great bonding experience. Who knew?

I could start listing people but that seems counterproductive. Apparently being kidnapped by a witch did wonders for us in that arena too.

Yeah. Kind of weird the alien invasion and fighting Nazis didn't make a dent, but this did.

Take it from an expert: kidnappings are a whole different thingy.

You would know, huh?

Sometimes I'm a real idiot. Sorry.

It seems to be people who hate me's go to???? So yeah, this feels personal.

A prettier cage is still a cage. I'll be back in the room soon. Conversation is pretty much done and honestly? Kind of nervous about what I've got out of this.

I'm not going anywhere.

[There's no big preamble or small talk. Steve shows up ten minutes later, looking rightfully stressed by the conversation. He takes a seat on his and simply offers his wrist. He wish he could take it off, but go figure that will keep it from working. God he hates this place sometimes.] Read and tell me what you think.

[He's worried he didn't ask or do enough as always.]

[ he leans in and takes steve's wrist, seeming to have exactly 0 qualms about effectively holding his hand for the time it takes him to read back the conversation. ]

I think... we're fucked. [ but that's not productive, is it? he groans when he gets to astoria's last message and shoves the other man's arm away so he can lean over his knees and pinch the bridge of his nose. it doesn't really help, but nothing does these days. ] She really is playing with our lives 'cause she's too arrogant to think she can lose.

[ maybe once upon a time, steve thought the same about tony. he hopes he doesn't anymore, but the thunder suddenly crashing overhead is clue enough that all he's thinking about is murdering astoria violently rn. ]

[Steve can only rest a giant hand on his back to reassure him in some way. He knows what that thunder crash means. He's honestly not up for placating Tony or reminding him that they've got a touchy group on their hands here. He knows already. He's definitely earned the right to be upset.

Steve, on the other hand, is numb. Maybe feeling a little more violated than he did before. He had been upset having his body altered without his consent. How does he feel about what he would perceive to be his soul mixed in with someone else's? It makes him want to throw up. The worst part is? He still isn't sure her intentions are bad because everything is colored by her arrogance.] I don't think you're wrong.

[He sounds the way he feels: helpless. What is he supposed to do with this?]

[ he drops steve's hand but doesn't move away at all, trying to take a deep breath so he doesn't start raining lightning down on the whole circle. ]

You weren't... around for this, but Pepper and I had a villain like this. He thought he could alter humans in his image, but the solution was extremely volatile. I don't know how much was publicized about "The Mandarin Incident" but... I know Rhodey kept a lot of it locked up. Mostly because he kidnapped the president too? It was a mess.

[ tony pushes a hand back through his hair. this is giving him déjà vu in the worst way, and he's not sure he has the energy to do it all over again. ]

The point is, I think we have to kill her. I don't see another way out. [ it might kill them, but he can't be another evil sock puppet. he won't. ]

[He bites down on his lip to keep from interrupting. It isn't that Steve doesn't know about the incident in question. His knowledge begins and ends with it is a thing that happened that no one seemed willing to give a straight answer on. Finally getting a frank answer on it is a bitter pill to swallow especially when he knows he can't fall in line with Tony for this.

He can't know what destroying her would do to them. Steve sucks in a tense breath as he decides he needs to state as much.] Maybe if it were just us I could back that. We both know I'm willing to die to end a threat. I can't kill the others to stop her. I don't think you can either.

[ a loud thunder crack overhead announces tony's upset better than he could at the other man's flippant dismissal of his own life. it's only a second later that he catches up and realizes he'd done the same exact thing. he shakes his head as the weather backs off and he looks down into his lap. ]

So now what? We just keep toeing the line?

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