[Video]

[buildingitsir]

<sub>[The feed shows York with a dilapidated backdrop of a factory room where he's been staying. His brows are furrowed like he's angry but it's just a front. He's nervous. But this needs to be requested because if something bad happens...

Better to just be blunt and get it over with.]</sub>

I need parts made. Not just like, regular standard grade parts that you'd find in a computer or whatever fucking bullshit we want to compare this to. Like, delicate and small parts. Even better if we can make bio-component parts.

<sub>[He didn't even bother introducing himself because there's been enough mixups so far and he doesn't want more.

The feed goes chaotic for a long moment, showing blurs as it moves. There's soft whirring and hissing that can be heard before the camera focuses on a section of opened mechanics. There's fine metal and plastic of engineering on display, with inner workings moving together. Blue glows and moves through clear silicone tubing like veins.]</sub>

This shit is tough to ask for but I don't have the means to make them myself. But if something breaks, that's gonna be a bad time.

_{[The camera moves to blur the view again before York's face appears again.]}

Comments

at the factory

[quark_assassin]

It's maybe an hour or so after York posts his video when Dustin arrives. He's been wandering around the manufacturing area for a good portion of that time, glancing through windows to try and match them to what he saw in the footage. There's no way to be certain, since he hasn't been into most of these factories yet anyway, but even a brief check of each backdrop is a wealth of information. All of these places were made to produce something unique, once. Their internals, dilapidated as they are, still act like fingerprints. It's even more telling when Dustin finds one that appears to look slightly lived-in - not quite enough dust, desire paths through the rubble, organization where there should be chaos. This is probably the right place.

Has he said that he's going to be here? No. Does he think just inviting himself into a strange abandoned factory is the best possible course of action? Also no. Not only is he going into what might be a thinly-veiled honeypot trap, but also this is a request from a Stark. Tommy warned him about a Stark. Could have been Tony, though the language in the video and context clues suggests that Tommy was probably referring to this guy. Consequently, every nerve in his brain is screaming at him to use caution.

Don't announce yourself. Assess the real situation, determine if you can help, help or get the fuck out of there. Simple.

So now there's a little teenager peeking through all of the factory windows that he can reach and looking for open doors that he can sneak through, essentially casing the location. Eventually he finds an exterior entry that looks the least likely to squeak and slinks his way inside. Ducking from hiding spot to hiding spot, Dustin pauses frequently for a minute or so at a time to listen for footsteps or talking, sometimes with his ear pressed against interior doors - anything to help him build a better mental picture of what he might be blundering his way into right now.

[buildingitsir]

York would usually be in the office he had started a fire in at one point, but this time he had used a lower room for the network post. The light coming through the windows helped illuminate his open arm for the post at least. The room's door is open because he's not expecting anyone. Terrible idea after Viktor had fucking let himself in.

Luckily for Duncan (unluckily for York), the front door's lock hadn't caught.

The android closes up his arm and pulls up his hoodie to tie around his waist. "That's done," he murmurs to himself, flexing his fingers after the skin reappeared over his white shell. He's move out of the sunlight and the only light source from his area now is a teal glow that moves with him. He hears something in the factory and pauses with his teal eyes looking to the door frame.

Was it Viktor? Or someone else? He scowls hard before moving out into the larger area. "Who the fuck is in here? I'm starting to think someone hung a sign on the door to indicate there's a fucking party or something. Get out."

[quark_assassin]

From behind a stack of barrels starting to grow over with vines, Dustin freezes up. Shit. Was hoping for a little more time. He watches as a pale blue glow swings across the floor and illuminates the back wall next to his hiding spot, making him involuntarily hold his breath, but Dustin knows that this is too little too late.

Bargain. You're here for a reason, let him know what it is. Not worth getting the shit beaten out of you for it.

He lets out a shaky exhale and steels his nerves. "...Okay, okay," Dustin says loudly, though he doesn't make an effort to move. He's relying on the tall ceiling of the factory to echo his voice and conceal his position; it's inevitable that he'll get found, sure, but any extra time is extra security, and he needs that. "Don't get your titties in a twist. You're looking for repairs? I'm a repair guy."

[buildingitsir]

The voice projects around the room, though it comes off from the right. Damn, it must've been that door. He'd have to get it fixed at some point. Fuck. He doesn't move from where he stands, untying the hoodie to pull on. That, coupled with his black shirt, hides the glow of his LED.

There's no noise to indicate that the person is leaving. No noise meant that person wasn't moving at all.

"I'm not looking for repairs," he spits out, on alert. York focuses more of his programming on audio input to see if he can focus in on the intruder. "Apparently people can't fucking listen. I'm looking for parts which doesn't mean I'm looking for repairs. And I don't fucking know you, I wouldn't let you touch on anything, let alone work."

[quark_assassin]

The strange glow disappears. Dustin feels his heart sink, which does a nice job at tempering the bristle of annoyance that York's foul temper sparks in him. He's looking for you. Don't get careless.

"Which is why you put out an open appeal to every idiot and their mother on this fucking planet." Dustin can't stop himself from rolling his eyes. 'Careless' doesn't equate to 'snark,' apparently, which is to York's benefit as it keeps the teenager talking. "I know I wouldn't do that shit unless I felt like I had no other choice. If you don't need the parts for repairs yet, you're afraid you'll need them soon - and I can probably help you with both."

A beat of consideration.

"--Hell, I might be able to do repairs without the parts. But I--I'd need a closer look."

[ video ]

[owneroftheworstroom]

[ There you go. You have this confused old man appearing on your screen. ]

...uh... what?

[buildingitsir]

_{[He scowls, but tries... not to because this guy just looks confused.]}

I need replacement parts in case one of those I showed break.

[owneroftheworstroom]

And thaaaaat's...

[ He tilts his head, unsure about what to make of those images he has just seen. ]

Doesn't look like a kettle?

[buildingitsir]

Yeah, I can't consume food and beverage like you so not a kettle.

_{[He had heard of some androids having accessories to mimic being able to eat and drink, but a Stark build wouldn't have that. York wasn't going to go out of his way to ask for it, either.]}

They're just parts that I need. For me.

[owneroftheworstroom]

For... [ He sloooowly points at the camera. ] ...you.......

Video

[hashtagparkerluck]

Do you think there’s anyway to get like a book on Thirium from the replicator?

Maybe I could figure out how to make it or synthesize it or something?

[buildingitsir]

I think there's a listing of the chemical compound on one of the bags, but I'm not sure if their tech can replicate it. Which is... worrying a little bit.

_{[It's actually a lot worrying, but he doesn't want to let everyone on the network know that.]}

I don't know if you could, since the main component is thirium which is from my earth.

[hashtagparkerluck]

Well... maybe we could find a replacement or something? I'm sure how to go about testing it though.

[buildingitsir]

Testing would be the hard part and I’m not volunteering for it.

_{[He frowns, thinking for a long moment.]}

If we can make an exact replica of a biocomponent, we could probably rest with that. But I doubt those can be found here and I don’t know if the Agrii would understand what I’m asking for if I request one.

[hashtagparkerluck]

I wouldn't ask you to. That'd be asking way too much.

But we could maybe ask for books on Thirium and see what it comes up with? Worst case scenario they give us the wrong book.

[text]

[in_extremis]

Come to the library.

Action

[buildingitsir]

<sub>[He doesn't respond to that. York can see who that text is from, and his programming goes on the defense like he's in the factory with the android. It takes far long for him to actually make it out there: first debating with himself whether he should actually go or not, then having to walk.

Then he lingers outside of the door. Had Jon even lifted his ban from this place? Lips become a thin line as he mulls over going in or going home before finally just going in. At least this time he had been invited. Maybe that was the ban being removed.

Whatever.

The android heads inside, minding himself and immediately looking around for the glowing eyes like last time. He waits, waits for the pressure of the watching to come back.]</sub>

I'm here but I'm not leaving by the door.

_{[York shouts that out, shoving his hands into his hoodie pocket. Yes, he's wearing that for a sense of security, no matter how faux it may be.]}

[in_extremis]

[The longer he waited, the more sure Tony was that York wasn't going to respond at all. He considered trying again, being less blunt (we've talked about this), but every text he deleted came out similarly and eventually he was sucking his teeth in irritation and studying the video instead as he considered his workshop under development. Some facets would have to be moved forward in development if he was going to start engineering biocomponents here.

He's elbow deep in a distraction in the basement of the library when the distant voice has him freezing, and convincing himself it wasn't just in his head. It takes him some time, and he arrives looking less like a sterile engineer than a mechanic, sweating and irritable in stained sweatpants, and startling into movement glints of light from the shadowy corners of the entrance hall.]

Is that going to be the deal going forward? Because people usually offer to refinance their house for me, not make my job more difficult. We could always go to the hospital.

[buildingitsir]

<sub>[The longer he waits, the more nervous he was getting. Maybe this was some sort of trick Tony was doing. He probably knew York wasn't allowed in here and was going to use that against the android. His hand hits the door with the intention to leave when he hears footsteps and then Tony appears.

He frowns at the remarks, but his body stiffens at the mention of the hospital.]</sub>

No, I'd rather not go to a fucking hospital if possible.

_{[The ones he had seen reminded him too much of the workshop and what he had lost.]}

I was starting to think you were tricking me, telling me to come here. Jon banned me and I don't think he ever actually lifted the ban.

[in_extremis]

Yeah, I figured... [but the fact that York was willing to come all this way as long as it wasn't the hospital did suggest that he was either open to, or desperate enough for Tony to do the work he was asking for. Tony's not looking at him anymore, instead considering over his shoulder where exactly they could go then, because no one was getting an invite into the shop, least of all the Agrii Discord Agent. What York thought Tony got out of tricking him in this situation was beyond him.]

Tell you what, you send me a text, tell me you're not coming and that the library smells like cat piss.

[That effectively covered York's tracks well enough, Tony thinks, that it brooked no further discussion, and he waves York on to follow him as he heads away from the door, pointing ahead through the empty stacks to show him they weren't going so far that he couldn't see the exit anymore. That the library didn't actually smell like cat anything wasn't really a factor, and what mystical deal Jon had with the mothcats to achieve that was likewise none of Tony's business. One of the juvenile creatures fluttered down from their peering corner to follow at his heels as he made for the seat tucked into the shimmering window, a slice of sunlight cutting through the dust motes and echoing aisle of the library. Bright enough to work by.]

Video

[mrsklover]

[Richie responds as soon as he sees the video and is squinting suspiciously at the screen.]

You know I can't exactly help you with any of that shit but what's going on? Are you hurt or something?

And where the fuck are you, in a bomb shelter? One that's already been through a bombing or five? Shit, man. At least put up some wallpaper.

[buildingitsir]

No, not hurt. Just... planning ahead for a just in case situation.

Let me know where some wallpaper is, might use it to spruce up the place. I wonder if the Agrii can replicate that fucking pattern from your shirt.

_{[He smirks on screen.]}

Also not a bomb shelter, it's one of the factories down south in the city. Reminds me a bit of home so I've made myself comfortable.

[mrsklover]

[Richie grins ear to ear at the dig. God, he likes this kid.]

Well, if you ever want someplace that's a little less industrial, you're welcome to camp out at Chateau Tozier. It's the finest hotel room this side of Agra 10. We even have a working door!

[He sobers up a little.]

But back to the shit you're looking for. Is it in case something important gets broken and you go all X-Box Red Ring of Death?

[buildingitsir]

What's waiting in House Tozier? I'm gonna guess not balloons. Also my door works! Do the doors usually not work in these places? Man this place really is a shit show if that's the case.

_{[A bit of a scoffing noise that covers up a laugh.]}

Yeah. The biocomponents are the main things, really. Think of them like your vital organs for the most part. Like if my thirium pump breaks and, or the regulator within it? My body will shut down. The pieces that run my CPU, if that breaks, I go offline immediately. I'd like for that shit to not happen.

_{[Going offline is terrifying.]}

[mrsklover]

[Richie frowns, not liking the sound of that any more than York seemed to be thinking about it.]

Anything I can do to help you find that stuff? I mean, fuck you very much for the balloon shit, but you're still cool and I don't want you blue-screening because some dust got in the wrong wire. Or whatever. I don't do computers often....