Harrow

[in_extremis]

WHO: Tony and Celty, feat. Cayde, Echo, Jon, Dustin, Gladio
WHERE: Wherever you can be found!
WHAT: This is another delivery post. Some characters are getting gifts! If you want them instead of whoever's name is on the tag, you can try to intercept. Celty's delivering now, though, so you better be clever.
WHEN: As the plants calm down.
WARNINGS: None.


The forge wasn't in such a terrible state. It wasn't all the way out here, at the edge of the city, where Tony was stupid enough to have encourage mutant plants to take over the whole place. In fact, it seemed like some of the work had already been done for him when Tony started his pruning, and what was left was easily fed into the kiln or the furnace as he got them roaring again. It was only natural then to get distracted by what was uncovered as he swept out tangles of brambles and withered flowers. There was a lot more cleanup for him to do than just the housekeeping.

By the time he sent a message to Celty (offer still stand?), there was a pile of packages already gathered by the heavy, metal door of the forge, looking disappointingly small in the reddening light of the sunset to Tony's critical gaze. Back to work, then.

...to Cayde
Bundled in a waxy banana-type leaf, tied with its own stems, is a neat stack of long, slim bullets that look like they belong in a rifle. There's no way that diamond shape debossed into their pointed tips is functional. Right? With them is a tube that looks like it has some rifling in it, that the bullets fit into. Maybe there's a way for Cayde (or a curious thief) to find out.

...to Echo
While this is folded up tightly like a fist inside of a clay box, it's not a hand exactly. There's way too many silver fingers, and a plate of flat glass for a palm. It does look like Echo's scomp link will fit into it.

...to Jon
Tony must be really confused about hands, because this glove doesn't have enough fingers. It could be an archery glove. Is the right name on this silky net of petals? It's not leather, but a very fine, gold mesh that knits denser together along the underside of it.

...to Dustin
In a small, paper box is what might be the worst deck of cards. There aren't very many of them, and they are all made of brass, slim enough that it seems like they might fracture. Their backs are all imprinted with NO FUN, and only one of them appears to have anything on the other side. It looks a lot like braille. As soon as the package is opened, they all vibrate.

...to Gladio
This is a flat package, folded in papery leaves. It's a slim, silver frame with filigreed edges along the pane seated in the centre, where Tony appears to have given Gladio...a picture of himself? Wait a second, and it turns out to be two. Three. He's visibly holding his communication device in all of them, so he must have used a mirror. Maybe it's a suggestion.

Comments

[in_extremis]

I will always encourage your pleasurable excursions.

I sent it so you could interface with the lab, though.

A keyboard's not going to cut it, and the next time you use the Iron Man won't be such a struggle. By the time we finish your gauntlet, I'll have a whole database, you won't even notice the input lag.

[beholding_archivist]

[ Pauuuuuse. ]

I-interface with the lab? This? How?! It's just--

[ Insert protesting mothcat noises and the flapping of moth wings about here while Jon retrieves the cat toy. ]

...Christ, why am I even surprised anymore...

[in_extremis]

The cats can keep it, if you want. Plenty to learn about them, too, I'm sure. I'm not parsing the data, though, you're taking it.

[beholding_archivist]

Data...

What exactly does this thing do?

[in_extremis]

I thought it was going to track your gestures. I can see where it is, what shape it's in. You could interact with the lab in whatever way felt most natural, I'd adapt to you.

[beholding_archivist]

Huh. So it's more than just a glove. It's... A device.

[ To track gestures. Tony, how are you simply making these things? ]

I- ah... I will go try it, then. Anything I should know? To- To avoid damaging it?

[in_extremis]

Just that I can fix it if you do.

Did you think I just gave you a fashion accessory?

[beholding_archivist]

W-well, I asked, didn't I.

[in_extremis]

I mean, if that's what you want, I might have a few ideas. You don't have anything pierced, do you?

[beholding_archivist]

If I had any piercings, I want to assume you would know by now.

[ This might be different had he had the money for these things when he was younger. ]

[in_extremis]

Wouldn't hurt to do a thorough check. So I never forget again.

[beholding_archivist]

Well. For now you will have to believe me. Besides, I have been wondering why you haven't returned to the library yet.

[in_extremis]

Why? Do you miss me?

I have some stuff to make. You're incredible, don't get me wrong, but I don't think you're hot enough yet to melt iron. The piercings might get you there.

[beholding_archivist]

I'm not letting you put any piercings in me, Tony. I'm not sixteen anymore. I was merely wondering. There is plenty of cleaning to do here...

[in_extremis]

Leave that. I'll do it. My fault, the stupid maze.

I'll be there before you can count the cats.

[beholding_archivist]

That's not what I'm saying. It would have been overgrown regardless. But I do require some help with some of the vines.

[ And he already knows the exact number of mothcats. ]

[in_extremis]

It wouldn't. Not like that. I should have seen it, the way the whole thing grew in the first place. I'll fix it.

[beholding_archivist]

Tony, neither you nor me can see into the future. No one could predict this sudden growth spurt so please stop trying to blame yourself for it. I will still ask that you help me clean our living space. We can cut the maze back into shape once we're done with the main building.

[in_extremis]

You want to put it back?

Maybe I can't see the future, but I can see a future, and there is a nonzero chance of this happening again. I'm not going to mess up your house again like that.

[beholding_archivist]

There's also a nonzero chance that the sky will split open again and stare down at us, Tony.

[in_extremis]

[Where his replies had been lightning quick before, they suddenly stop there. As promised, though, it wasn't long before there was noise in the library, and Tony's murmuring between the heavy thud of his boots as he tried to discourage the enthusiasm of the mothcats that had been lounging there when they caught sight of the Iron Man. Tony was supposed to be doing an important job here, and they were the opposite of helpful as they got underfoot and chased the glints of light that he reflected around the room, and he really didn't need a lot of encouragement to not clean already...]

[beholding_archivist]

[ It's that noise that brings Jon back out of the basement. After learning what the glove actually does, he just had to try it, naturally. He even is still wearing it when he enters the scene, looking equally parts fond as amused by the scene. ]

Seems they're also glad to finally see you return home.

[ He tips his head and raises a brow. ]

You won't need that much armor, though.

[in_extremis]

[There wasn't much he could do once he had been caught cradling one of the animals in his arm and decidedly not dealing with the snarl of vines hanging through the window, but at least Tony had his mask to hide his awkward flush and the way he tracked Jon now that he'd announced himself.]

Oh, you missed me. How embarrassing. I'm embarrassed for you.

[The mothcat didn't seem troubled by this, only by Iron Man setting him down in the mess of dried leaves, which he quickly scampered away from and scattered in his wake. There were plenty more, though, who were ready to pounce when Tony nodded and pulled his helmet off, only to bounce off of him ecstatically when they couldn't get a good grip on his back or shoulders.]

I know you're not climbing up there to fix the windows, so, listen, maybe we keep some of it, just in case.

[beholding_archivist]

Well, I did.

[ A very matter-of-factly statement. ]

And I see nothing to be embarrassed by about admitting it.

[ And yet Tony has earned himself a tiny pout along with that confident frown. A frown that still comes with a small chuckle and a smirk at the sight of Tony being assaulted by several mothcats pouncing at and on him only to bounce away once again with fluttering wings. ]

[in_extremis]

[It was supposed to be the mothcat that Tony was teasing, and he was unprepared for Jon to make his (what should have been humiliating) confession, making his own grin take him by surprise. Jon's pout was like a magnet, and Tony couldn't help but return the sentiment, finally sauntering closer to greet him properly with his free hand gentle on Jon's cheek to coax him up as Tony had to bow in the height of the suit to meet him for a kiss. His hand dropped from there like he might scoop Jon up next, and he lingered to make sure Jon heard him.]

The eye, that--storm--, it wasn't your fault.

[He didn't yet have a much better argument about how blame was supposed to be distributed, but they had to agree on that much.]