[While crowds rush out to the Lunatia Archives event, Tony sits back on his apartment balcony and flips through notes.
His notes, to be exact, which are pretty much the only worthwhile ones. You'd think he'd be at the front of the line to see whatever red tape that the Lunatian officials have torn down, but what he's more interested in is declassified items not on display. For example: Records obliquely mentioned in other texts, but which curators haven't given him access to. In a couple days, once the crowds (and intensified security) have died down, he'll venture over there, but now is prep time for--
His wrist beeps and he taps it. Bruce. He catches the first few cryptic words in the notif, but doesn't think much of it. After all, he and Bruce have now spent hours in their lab trying to figure out how this place ticks, so it'd make sense that he'd find--
[Where Tony had ignored the earlier cryptic text, he does a double-take on this one. That is -- the part of his brain does a double-take that isn't preoccupied with spinning in circles, and leaning him back in his chair, and generally making him feel like a jet in a tailspin.
He rubs his eyes.]
okay. got it. give me a second to process my new reality.
[The centrifuge spin in Tony's head screeches to a halt.
Young?
Young.
The wrinkled, white-haired image of his dad morphs into a black-and-white photograph, dapper, grinning. Tony remembers Aunt Peggy back at the Firalia party, remembers remembering. You don't realize what your brain retains until you get the sensory input to trigger it, little buried synapses that scurry out like bugs from under a rock. And his brain is an exceptional brain, a giant brain, full of canyons of folded tissue. Lots of rocks.]
thought this place couldn't get any weirder, glad it can prove me wrong
good for Steve I guess
[And there it is. The next ice-cold realization. Or, like, a set of them. All oblique, and unsettling, and weird.
Gross, even.
He swallows.]
how long has he been here?? does he know about me?
[Young. Bruce only recognized him because he's seen the older version enough times by now and he's seen old reels and photos from the super-soldier project days. His instinct was to warn Tony as soon as possible.]
I'm not sure. I was going to give him my booklet but didn't want to until I checked in with you. You're all over it obviously. I'm sure Ms. Carter or Steve will tell him.
[Right. The booklet. For once Tony regrets his and Bruce's inclination to be, y'know, helpful to their teammates. Worldmates. Whatever.
He sinks back into his chair.]
i mean, he's gonna find out sooner or later
[Implication being that Bruce's encounter has forced Tony's hand into the sooner end of the spectrum. He sighs.]
look, as far as I'm concerned, I'd prefer he read a booklet than me having to go up to him and pull a reverse darth vader. just... get his contact info if you can. I'd rather be the one to track him down than the other way around.
[They've been very helpful, but it was going to bite them sooner or later, but at least it was a source they could control. He considers for a bit before responding.]
I don't have to right now. There's no rush on this. It's more likely Steve or Peggy will tell him, and they'd be the better options anyway.
[his friends. Bruce spilled everything to Peggy right away, but he's been tight-lipped otherwise.]
[Yeah, it's a lot. Waves of "a lot," in fact, spanning his father's different faces, and his own grudges borne of regrets. He can think of another face he came across during Firalia, who he tried to end, once, when the grief of a bereft kid took him over. He'd just been starting to find some closure, here in Lunatia -- with Steve, and Jersey, and maybe... maybe even Barnes, but now...
He'd built a simulation to say goodbye to Mom and Dad. But this Howard... he doesn't even know who Tony is.]
do whatever makes sense, I know you'll make the right call.
[He stands and walks to the kitchen, phone in hand. Whereas a second ago he felt lightheaded, now there's a weird weight to his steps.]
[Bruce understands complicated relationships with parents. His father was a monster and there is some simplicity in knowing that, in really not having any kind of good relationship with him. He would say he has far more baggage when it comes to Ross, his once-father surrogate. But he knows Tony very well.]
Hey. I'm here for you. If you want to talk or need anyone I'm always available.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
industries) wrote2019-05-15 09:19 pm
whelp, text
Tony. Literally have no idea how to prep you for this so I'm just going to rip the band-aid off. Howard's here.
1/3
His notes, to be exact, which are pretty much the only worthwhile ones. You'd think he'd be at the front of the line to see whatever red tape that the Lunatian officials have torn down, but what he's more interested in is declassified items not on display. For example: Records obliquely mentioned in other texts, but which curators haven't given him access to. In a couple days, once the crowds (and intensified security) have died down, he'll venture over there, but now is prep time for--
His wrist beeps and he taps it. Bruce. He catches the first few cryptic words in the notif, but doesn't think much of it. After all, he and Bruce have now spent hours in their lab trying to figure out how this place ticks, so it'd make sense that he'd find--
Uh--
...Uh.]
what
2/3
i'm assuming not howard stern or
i can't think of any other famous howards
3/3
it's not like this is a worst-case-scenario upon which i've predicated multiple contingency plans or anything so
that's a plus
1/3
2/3
3/3
1/3
He rubs his eyes.]
okay. got it. give me a second to process my new reality.
2/3
3/3
1) what year is he from? 1991?
2) please don't bang my father
no subject
I say this seriously and with great emphasis and meaning: Gross.
no subject
Young?
Young.
The wrinkled, white-haired image of his dad morphs into a black-and-white photograph, dapper, grinning. Tony remembers Aunt Peggy back at the Firalia party, remembers remembering. You don't realize what your brain retains until you get the sensory input to trigger it, little buried synapses that scurry out like bugs from under a rock. And his brain is an exceptional brain, a giant brain, full of canyons of folded tissue. Lots of rocks.]
thought this place couldn't get any weirder, glad it can prove me wrong
good for Steve I guess
[And there it is. The next ice-cold realization. Or, like, a set of them. All oblique, and unsettling, and weird.
Gross, even.
He swallows.]
how long has he been here?? does he know about me?
no subject
I'm not sure. I was going to give him my booklet but didn't want to until I checked in with you. You're all over it obviously. I'm sure Ms. Carter or Steve will tell him.
no subject
He sinks back into his chair.]
i mean, he's gonna find out sooner or later
[Implication being that Bruce's encounter has forced Tony's hand into the sooner end of the spectrum. He sighs.]
look, as far as I'm concerned, I'd prefer he read a booklet than me having to go up to him and pull a reverse darth vader. just... get his contact info if you can. I'd rather be the one to track him down than the other way around.
[Beat.]
thanks
no subject
I don't have to right now. There's no rush on this. It's more likely Steve or Peggy will tell him, and they'd be the better options anyway.
[his friends. Bruce spilled everything to Peggy right away, but he's been tight-lipped otherwise.]
Take a beat. I know this is a lot.
no subject
He'd built a simulation to say goodbye to Mom and Dad. But this Howard... he doesn't even know who Tony is.]
do whatever makes sense, I know you'll make the right call.
[He stands and walks to the kitchen, phone in hand. Whereas a second ago he felt lightheaded, now there's a weird weight to his steps.]
just let me know what happens
no subject
Hey. I'm here for you. If you want to talk or need anyone I'm always available.