Tony Stark (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
industries) wrote2022-04-08 05:48 pm
industries) wrote2022-04-08 05:48 pm
inbox | abraxas
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text | action | mail | etc.
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[when the caravans arrive from their travels to drop off supplies from not-so-far-off lands, certain parcels get pulled away and taken to go through customs. they are not for businesses nor for sale, but for individuals. the fact that they are for summoned individuals raise an eyebrow.
and so, through customs it goes, opened, inspected, and then—when none of the items are deemed as questionable—they are repackaged and sent to their designated recipients.
tony will receive two items: one, a single chapstick, and two, a pouch filled with components and tools to build... well, whatever the hell he wants. he's the genius, isn't he?
one piece, however, won't fit anywhere. it refuses to, annoyingly, no matter how much tony tries to include it in his plannings. should he stop to study it for a moment, he will realize that it very much matches the web shooters that one peter parker had designed at some point—and is perhaps the one piece peter is missing from his own parcel.
there will be no sender, and no letter explaining the parcel's content.]
and so, through customs it goes, opened, inspected, and then—when none of the items are deemed as questionable—they are repackaged and sent to their designated recipients.
tony will receive two items: one, a single chapstick, and two, a pouch filled with components and tools to build... well, whatever the hell he wants. he's the genius, isn't he?
one piece, however, won't fit anywhere. it refuses to, annoyingly, no matter how much tony tries to include it in his plannings. should he stop to study it for a moment, he will realize that it very much matches the web shooters that one peter parker had designed at some point—and is perhaps the one piece peter is missing from his own parcel.
there will be no sender, and no letter explaining the parcel's content.]
[Things Viktor is not going to address:
1. the apparent fight he had with Jayce and
2. his subsequent disappearance from Cadens and
3. his mysterious return to Cadens, almost three weeks later and
4. the fact that Jayce seems even more down horrendous than usual and
5. the general state of his horizon domain
Things Viktor is going to address:]
I met another one of your strange friends.
1. the apparent fight he had with Jayce and
2. his subsequent disappearance from Cadens and
3. his mysterious return to Cadens, almost three weeks later and
4. the fact that Jayce seems even more down horrendous than usual and
5. the general state of his horizon domain
Things Viktor is going to address:]
I met another one of your strange friends.
I am sure you are glad we are not in the same factions.
Beats having to lock me up in my room yourself, doesn't it?
[okay, maybe she's a little salty still. she was hopeful that, perhaps, seeing how they had interacted in some very vague sense a couple of times while in the horizon, that tony stark would man up and maybe reach out?
maybe peter's positive experiences with the man made her overestimate him. how underwhelming, regardless.]
I don't think I will ever be able to truly forgive you. But it's been almost a year for me. Since we defeated Thanos.
[since you died, she doesn't say, but implies.]
I've always ever been angry at you. Especially because you always seem to look for reasons to ignore me.
Peter talks about you. I've seen memories of his with you.
I think that.
—maybe.
That it would have been nice. If I wasn't always so angry, so scared. So upset with you. Anymore, anyway. You did the world a service, and yet I still. Feel like Pietro and I meant nothing to you.
You do not have to talk to me, Stark. But you could at least acknowledge me.
[she sends this message across the mind-connection they have, thinking, realizing, that this is the first time she's ever said these many things to this man. there's a lot she needs to get off her chest though, before she can even mention vision.]
Edited 2022-07-02 23:22 (UTC)
[ Tony turns to squint at the glowing scrawl on the brick wall beside him, which at one point would've taken him a second to parse through – not so much anymore. He frowns, looks away again as he rolls out sketched blueprints over the soot-stained table. He thinks, briefly, about asking Viktor where the hell, but then remembers the tense silence between him and Jayce the last time they were all in the same room together. Yeah, gonna let that sit on the other end of a ten foot pole for now. ]
OK, buddy, you're gonna have to get way more specific than that.
OK, buddy, you're gonna have to get way more specific than that.
The large blonde one who is also a government experiment?
[again. who SAYS that]
[again. who SAYS that]
Oh. Yeah. That one.
[ Tony traces a finger across the sketched edges of his diagrams and then taps it on the paper, agitated. He scrunches his face, turns back to the fading message on the wall. ]
What about him?
[ Tony traces a finger across the sketched edges of his diagrams and then taps it on the paper, agitated. He scrunches his face, turns back to the fading message on the wall. ]
What about him?
It seemed like a very odd thing to tell a total stranger.
He's sort of a national treasure where we come from, guess he's trying to make sure the legend continues. [ Is that mean? It's probably mean. ] Did he say anything else, or just announce he was Captain America and then leave to cut the ribbon at a mattress store?
[yeah Viktor is sensing some Unspoken Issues here but whatever. Not his business.]
He actually said he wanted preempting your telling me about it. I see the value in that.
He actually said he wanted preempting your telling me about it. I see the value in that.
[ Tony's half-paid-attention to the whole exchange as he attempts to fasten a bracket to the nearby wall for some shelving – easy-peasy with power tools, but a little more challenging when you're dealing with solid brick, a hand drill, custom anchors you had to solder in the shop, and – interpersonal demons, he guesses. He turns the crank once, twice, with increasing force, as his grit teeth hold the next screw. ] Oh, good, glad to know our latest trust exercise involves him letting me fall on the floor.
[ He leans back from the bracket, glances at the one he put up fifteen minutes ago, realizes they're uneven from each other. Slightly, by like, a couple milimeters. He drags a hand down his face. ] Also, like, presumptuous? Assuming I'd be tripping over myself wanting to dish? About him? Why would I ever want to talk about him, honestly. We've got bigger fish to fry.
[ A couple seconds. Then– ]
Like, what did he say I'd want to talk – say. About him. Anyway.
[ He leans back from the bracket, glances at the one he put up fifteen minutes ago, realizes they're uneven from each other. Slightly, by like, a couple milimeters. He drags a hand down his face. ] Also, like, presumptuous? Assuming I'd be tripping over myself wanting to dish? About him? Why would I ever want to talk about him, honestly. We've got bigger fish to fry.
[ A couple seconds. Then– ]
Like, what did he say I'd want to talk – say. About him. Anyway.
[okay, Viktor is increasingly feeling like he stepped in it. The good news is that Steve and Tony, generally speaking, are not his problem.
That said.]
I asked him why he'd offer potentially compromising information to a stranger, but it seemed my familiarity with you was enough for him to feel comfortable sharing. All he mentioned was that you'd probably inform me anyway, given our current arrangement. That was all.
[He should leave this alone. He should. Not. Ask any more questions.]
You were colleagues?
That said.]
I asked him why he'd offer potentially compromising information to a stranger, but it seemed my familiarity with you was enough for him to feel comfortable sharing. All he mentioned was that you'd probably inform me anyway, given our current arrangement. That was all.
[He should leave this alone. He should. Not. Ask any more questions.]
You were colleagues?
Edited 2022-07-04 21:59 (UTC)
[ Oh.
Tony's shoulders deflate. He drops his hands from his face and lets them hang at his side. Shuts his eyes for a couple of seconds, tries to let the anger drain.
It's – tough, navigating all this. Hearing that things turn out some kind of okay, but still feeling like – he can't forgive everything until he sees it. Feels it. Ugh. Tony grabs a nearby rag and wipes his hands on it. Why's Tim asking about all this, again?
He pauses. No – seriously. Why is Viktor asking? ]
It's complicated. I mean, you probably guessed it was complicated. Kind of like how you guessed you'd get by my radar if, after, like, a week of radio silence, you suddenly broke the ice by asking me about a "colleague" instead of "that guy who science famously turned into the übermensch" – so like. What's on your mind, buddy?
Tony's shoulders deflate. He drops his hands from his face and lets them hang at his side. Shuts his eyes for a couple of seconds, tries to let the anger drain.
It's – tough, navigating all this. Hearing that things turn out some kind of okay, but still feeling like – he can't forgive everything until he sees it. Feels it. Ugh. Tony grabs a nearby rag and wipes his hands on it. Why's Tim asking about all this, again?
He pauses. No – seriously. Why is Viktor asking? ]
It's complicated. I mean, you probably guessed it was complicated. Kind of like how you guessed you'd get by my radar if, after, like, a week of radio silence, you suddenly broke the ice by asking me about a "colleague" instead of "that guy who science famously turned into the übermensch" – so like. What's on your mind, buddy?
[Hm. Yes. Complicated.]
Curiosity. [A tacit admission that Tony does not actually have to answer anything, if he doesn't really want to, but Viktor gets the sense that Tony likes to explain himself.] It seems like I'm meeting a lot of your colleagues, and they all have different things to say about the military outfit you were part of. My understanding is that it is, at least in part, dissolved?
If you have an actual question for me, you should ask it.
Curiosity. [A tacit admission that Tony does not actually have to answer anything, if he doesn't really want to, but Viktor gets the sense that Tony likes to explain himself.] It seems like I'm meeting a lot of your colleagues, and they all have different things to say about the military outfit you were part of. My understanding is that it is, at least in part, dissolved?
If you have an actual question for me, you should ask it.
Haven't seen much of you lately. Consider this me checking in.
-Inej
-Inej
[ It's a few minutes before a reply comes back. ]
I just assumed you'd prefer not to hear from me.
So here I am. I'm listening. What do you need?
[ The message is devoid of his usual sarcastic quality, even through the filter of glowing monospaced text. Wanda's familiar enough with Tony Stark and the the many shades of his armor that she might notice the use of the word "need" – like it's significant, somehow. Like his own ingenuity – the promise of tangible things, created things – is all he can offer, because the past is gone and done. Because at the end of the day, a "sorry" isn't worth much at all. ]
I just assumed you'd prefer not to hear from me.
So here I am. I'm listening. What do you need?
[ The message is devoid of his usual sarcastic quality, even through the filter of glowing monospaced text. Wanda's familiar enough with Tony Stark and the the many shades of his armor that she might notice the use of the word "need" – like it's significant, somehow. Like his own ingenuity – the promise of tangible things, created things – is all he can offer, because the past is gone and done. Because at the end of the day, a "sorry" isn't worth much at all. ]
[ Oh! It's... that one girl. Who apparently knew him, even though he doesn't know her. (Lot of that going around, lately.) ]
Consider this me telling you everything's A-OK.
Hey – weird question. You know anyone who needs a mechanic around here?
Trying to get something off the ground. I'm told "networking" is a thing people do when they're not already famous. Sounds fake, but worth a shot.
Consider this me telling you everything's A-OK.
Hey – weird question. You know anyone who needs a mechanic around here?
Trying to get something off the ground. I'm told "networking" is a thing people do when they're not already famous. Sounds fake, but worth a shot.
Curiosity. Uh-huh.
The Avengers. Not military, though that's... kind of complicated. Even more complicated than usual, seeing as most of my "colleagues" are from five years in the future, so they probably have a better idea of whether or not our band-getting-back-together arc ends in unmitigated disaster. Or like – I mean, I know we save the universe, so. Guess we didn't do too bad.
[ Aside from him dying. Hm. Right, time to move on– ]
Anyway. I could give you more gory details, but I do have an actual question: If you've already met "a lot" of my colleagues, then why are you only now dropping a line. To ask about Rogers. Specifically.
The Avengers. Not military, though that's... kind of complicated. Even more complicated than usual, seeing as most of my "colleagues" are from five years in the future, so they probably have a better idea of whether or not our band-getting-back-together arc ends in unmitigated disaster. Or like – I mean, I know we save the universe, so. Guess we didn't do too bad.
[ Aside from him dying. Hm. Right, time to move on– ]
Anyway. I could give you more gory details, but I do have an actual question: If you've already met "a lot" of my colleagues, then why are you only now dropping a line. To ask about Rogers. Specifically.
Good, glad to hear it.
No...? But I don't really know what a mechanic...does?
What are you trying to get off the ground, exactly? I might know a guy who can help with that networking thing...
No...? But I don't really know what a mechanic...does?
What are you trying to get off the ground, exactly? I might know a guy who can help with that networking thing...
[Sorry, Tony. Remember, she's from like- pre-automobile times.]
You shouldn't always assume things about me.
[because she hates the idea that someone so pivotal in her life (regardless of it being in a negative way) would be so seemingly disinterested. however, wanda appreciates the candor, and the fact that she got a reply at all.]
I wanted to talk to you about Vision.
You don't know what a mechanic–
I mean. Okay, neither do most people who show up at an auto shop, so – fair.
What guy, and is he over the legal drinking age?
I mean. Okay, neither do most people who show up at an auto shop, so – fair.
What guy, and is he over the legal drinking age?
No, sorry.
Consider: Other-you had to explain the concept of electricity to me before. For reference.
Jesper. He knows at least a third of the city, if you need people to know something, he can get the word out quite easily. What does drinking have to do with it?
Consider: Other-you had to explain the concept of electricity to me before. For reference.
Jesper. He knows at least a third of the city, if you need people to know something, he can get the word out quite easily. What does drinking have to do with it?
I'm a scientist. It's my job to ask questions.
[Viktor. That's not.]
He was easily the strangest one so far. That's why.
[Viktor. That's not.]
He was easily the strangest one so far. That's why.
[ This reply comes back quicker. ]
I heard what happened. I'm sorry.
[ "Heard about" is inaccurate. "Knew he was gone, the second it ended" would be more honest, but probably not very pleasant to hear for either of them. ]
You probably knew more about him than anyone, but. Sure.
I heard what happened. I'm sorry.
[ "Heard about" is inaccurate. "Knew he was gone, the second it ended" would be more honest, but probably not very pleasant to hear for either of them. ]
You probably knew more about him than anyone, but. Sure.
[heard. it's not the same as having been there, and wanda needs tony to know what happened to him.]
[someone needs to honor vision, even if it's nothing but words shared across this magical mind connection.]
He was already injured when Thanos came to Earth with all stones but the Mind Stone.
We tried to protect him. To stop Thanos.
Vision knew that the only way to keep Thanos from reaching his goal was to destroy the stone before he got it. He asked me to do it. He never hesitated, Stark. Not for a second.
He didn't beg for more time. He just knew what he needed to do.
[someone needs to honor vision, even if it's nothing but words shared across this magical mind connection.]
He was terrified when Thanos brought him back with the Time Stone.
He died twice, and his sacrifice meant nothing in the end.
In those five years, did you ever look for his body? Did Banner?
Or did it not matter anymore?
Edited 2022-07-10 01:41 (UTC)
[ Tony narrows his eyes at the glowing text on the wall, from the spot at his table where he's cracked open a bottle of whatever the locals call beer. Takes a swig. Ugh. Yeasty. ]
Just wait 'till you meet the guy in Solvunn.
[ Does he press the question? He taps his fingers on the tabletop. ]
Speaking of colleagues, you wanna tell me what's been going on between you and Tom Brainy?
Just wait 'till you meet the guy in Solvunn.
[ Does he press the question? He taps his fingers on the tabletop. ]
Speaking of colleagues, you wanna tell me what's been going on between you and Tom Brainy?
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