Transference

[in_extremis]

WHO: Tony, Wesker?, OTA
WHERE: Around Temba, and the hospital
WHAT: Tony's doing his silly little task
WHEN: The week after this
WARNINGS: Tony continues to be miserable.


a. days 1-6
The first problem with Wesker's request was convincing a whole bunch of different people to reliably carry around some new thing on the off chance that they were caught off guard, far from help or shelter. Including children. Most people didn't even have a jack in their car. Building this mechanism into something they already carried, like their communications devices, would have been the best case scenario. The second problem with Wesker's request was that all electronic systems, including the communication devices and the network itself, were not reliable in these disaster scenarios. So much for small and portable.

Tony was going to do neither of those things. What Tony was going to do, was try not to be seen trundling around the city, sometimes dragging his wheeled cart behind him full of broken consoles, glass and steel. He looked terrible. A longer day did not make a week long enough to solve this fundamentally social problem, but if he didn't sleep and kept a careful balance of coffee and red fruit juice, he could buy himself a few more hours. It didn't really take that long, in the grand scheme of things, to erect a radio tower, after all.

These started to appear in a slow circle around the perimeters of the city first, wherever Tony could get the highest, even if that meant doing his best Spider-man (Link?) impression and scaling a building with long metal beams strapped to his back. The one that was hardest to ignore crowned the Whale Comb Sent Her, unavoidably in the middle of the city, assembled on site and bolted to the roof and trying vainly to stretch as tall as the structures around it. Inside, among some debris from some necessary remodelling work, a line of tiny bells hung along the wall, each with quickly scrawled co-ordinates and distances under them, directly onto the plaster.

The most difficult part, really, was the materials. This wasn't new technology, a crystal radio was something the Greeks had, Tony was pretty sure. It was never going to be a strong signal, but he could make that work in his favour--the closer the transmitting tower, the more bells it could ring. While he was scavenging for enough beams to erect his towers, he could be looking for something that would satisfy Wesker's request more closely.

b. day 7
He had one day left when he startled awake, not realizing he had been asleep, jerking up quickly enough that his back protested with a sharp pain where it had been contorted over the workbench. A day was plenty of time, he thought, when he found he still had a mouthful left of coffee in a nearby mug. He didn't even get up out of the seat, just found his loupe among the tools and went back to work.

It was hours later that he started to tell himself that maybe he had been counting wrong, and when Wesker had said a week, he meant starting from the next day, not from when he made his request. That would have been the fair thing.

It was when it was hard to see through the pain in his head, and the red-stained bottle was empty, that Tony thought Wesker might have been right, and he had never done any of this altruistically, and if he really wanted people safe and not just relying on him for safety he could have figured that out any time in the last 30 years. Hell, he'd had a whole week to dedicate to one, little problem. He'd had a few more than that to figure out how to make one rocket stable enough to break the atmosphere. He didn't even need a rocket, he could do what he had always done best; make a gun. Nothing had really stopped him from making one of those before, except now he had the perfect opportunity to use that natural impulse to help people. All of that explosive inspiration suddenly failed him.

It was when all of his scattered eyes around the city alerted that the sun had set that he was left staring down at a frustratingly small scrap, and had to accept that it wasn't getting finished. He pushed away from the workbench finally, every joint creaking in protest, struggling to straighten his back and blink through the pain behind his eyes as he stumbled away to the sink. While he washed his face, D.A.T.A. helpfully rallied to pack his meagre offering into his waiting jacket pocket. The water didn't really improve his face. Despite the hour, he slipped on his sunglasses after carefully fixing his hair in their reflection, and accepted the silk jacket from the robot with a muttered, "Thanks." He could have given a half-way convincing press conference, if the lighting was forgiving. He really only had one person to convince as he made his way to the hospital.

Comments

a

[deal_me_in]

It didn't take long for Tony to draw attention. Given that the Hunter spent a lot of his time high up whenever he wasn't at the bar, it was pretty easy to spot someone unusual poking about rooftops. Maybe not too unusual, but Cayde knew about several people regularly made use of the 'high roads' and Tony Stark wasn't one of them, unless ziplining was involved.

He watched out of curiosity, wondering what sort of project the man was wrapped up in now. But Cayde wasn't one to sit and watch for long, and so by the second or third tower, Tony was going to find himself with a shadow and perhaps a chicken attached.

It'd be too easy to quip about how awful his friend looked or nag him about whether he'd gotten any rest or not. Those were the expected things that no one wanted to answer, just as much as possibly asking what Tony was even doing or hoping to accomplish. So Cayde left the words out unless they were asked of him, but he'd happily take up hauling the cart while Colonel hitched a ride atop the parts it held or helped pass up some hunk of metal or pull it onto a roof.

[in_extremis]

Cayde was usually much more talkative. He hadn't exactly snuck up, but it didn't take long before Tony was watching him warily. Tony was rightly not eager to explain, either himself or what he was doing, and was becoming increasingly aware that he might have owed Cayde some explanation for not having his back and not knowing what might have happened to him to leave him so quiet. Tony's lungs still burned from the poison that he had been breathing in that other place every time he hauled a particularly heavy or unwieldy part up onto the roof that they had begun their next construction on, and he hadn't been wondering where Cayde was while those beasts were chewing on him in the dark.

Unfortunately, that regret came out as an abrupt, "Why are you helping me?" as he leaned over the ledge for the next piece, hands planted and not reaching down expectantly.

[deal_me_in]

Even Caydes could be quiet. He was a Hunter, after all. Chatter was good for diversion, but you didn't want to scare away your quarry. He took for granted how people might be more used to him being chatty. Sometimes he didn't mind the quiet all that much, although it left him alone with his thoughts a lot of the time, and sometimes those got annoying.

When Tony finally decided to break the silence, the Exo almost laughed at the question, adjusting the load he'd been about to pass up. It wasn't exactly heavy, but it was on the long side, making it awkward to hold.

"You're barely asking me now?" he asked back with a crooked grin. "If you didn't want it you could've told me to buzz off along while ago."

[in_extremis]

It wasn't exactly that Tony didn't want it, and just Cayde's grin was enough to soften his combative frown, gaze darting away apologetically. That didn't stop him from making an impatient gesture as he reached down again, like Cayde had been the one holding up the process. The problem was that he didn't deserve it, most importantly, "How do you know I'm not building some death machine?" Whether intentionally or not, Tony's ventures did tend to bring destruction, and being involved could just be putting a target on Cayde's back.

[deal_me_in]

That was all the encouragement needed for Cayde to resume hefting up the piece within Tony's reach.

"Pretty sure you're adverse to death-anythings but when have I ever said no to lending you a hand with anything? Anyway, you really wanna talk about death machines with Exos? I mean, I think that was the overall scheme of things for us before everything imploded."

Being a target was never something he shied away from. If anything, it usually meant he was doing something right, which in such cases meant getting on someone's nerve.

b

[sunglassesincluded]

At the hospital Wesker has been keeping a somewhat more reasonable work schedule. Certain processes and experiments simply require time to produce results and Wesker has long learned how to arrange his various projects most efficiently without burning himself out. So when Tony reaches the hospital, he encounters Wesker ready to leave, with his black coat replacing the white labcoat he prefers to wear in the lab.

Dark glasses are met with dark glasses and Wesker's expression settles for neutral bemusement as he acknowledges the other man's presence. "And here I was beginning to assume you had forgotten."

[in_extremis]

Tony wasn't entirely convinced that one of his options was to forget they had talked, so Wesker's expression was met with a skeptical brow arched over Tony's glasses. He only lingered there for a moment, before he was giving a sniff with his chin raised and replying, "Don't sell yourself short," as he went brushing past Wesker. "You can be very memorable if you try, Alan." If he was on his way out, then he would have to be content with the way Tony's eyes roved over the lab curiously, hands in his pockets yet but clearly searching for the right opportunity. Ideally, the one where he spotted that bottle that Wesker had liberated from him, because his were all empty and the bar was shockingly barren. Then he would get to work deconstructing Wesker's processes.

[sunglassesincluded]

The laboratory is kept in a pristine state as one might expect from the man working here. Everything he has been working with has been cleaned and put away neatly and the cabinet holding his smaller samples and projects is safely locked. As is the office Wesker has made his current personal space.

Naturally he doesn't let Tony out of his eyes as the other man opts to inspect the lab, though that doesn't mean he won't intervene if Tony tries to touch anything he shouldn't be touching.

"You finished your task then." He prompts.

[in_extremis]

This would have been easier if Wesker didn't insist on reminding them that Tony was here because he was doing what he was told. He earned himself cutting sidelong look, the very casual droop of Tony's shoulders tightening and forcing him to start touching what he wasn't supposed to, to cover it. He leaned over a table first, where it looked like Wesker would be spending most of his time, and where he would be storing anything he needed regularly in the cabinet above that Tony opened. "I've had some ideas," he answered as he did. "You know, how to fundamentally change how this place works, what if we weren't stuck here in the first place, that would solve the problem, wouldn't it?" He'd had a lot of ideas about that one. "But then I wouldn't have this trapped population that adores me so much. So that's out."

a

[newmemorywhodis]

Tony might be trying to avoid attention - but the man was probably always going to attract the attention of one of the resident climbers he was imitating. And Link was curious, of course. All the odd metal structures, made from metal beams. They reminded him of the Sheikah towers, just a bit. Would they do something similar?

So as Tony makes him way up one building, he's going to find Link already up on the roof, crouched down and peering over the edge at Tony.

"...Hi," he says. And then holds out a hand, to help pull Tony up.

[in_extremis]

It was a good thing Link made the offer, because Tony was not prepared to encounter anyone at the top of a building, and his natural instinct was to yelp and jump, like the hard man he was. He flailed out to grab at Link's hand, and with some scrabbling was left holding himself just over the ledge of certain death with an accusatory glare for Link's reliably incalculable greeting. "I didn't realize this one was taken," he grumbled as he dragged himself the last few inches onto the roof where he could collapse and let his heart find a normal rhythm again.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link just blinks, and looks at Tony, head titled quizzically to one side. He hasn't taken the building. There's plenty of room up here - they can both fit.

Then he glances at those beams, strapped to Tony's back.

"You're building a tower here?" he asks.

[in_extremis]

At first, Tony only gave a nod while he was still in recovery, then was wiggling out of the straps to free himself of the burden and properly assess what he was up against. When he was up on his knees, he said, "If no one else is going to," as though it was inevitable that someone would be building up there eventually. "What were you thinking? Dance floor? Particle accelerator? No, don't tell me--pigeon coop."

a

[winsomelosesome]

"What are we building?" Jan asked, flitting up to join him, a vaguely concerned expression on her face that she couldn't entirely mask. Tony was clearly struggling. Usually a project was a good way to help him work things out, but she wasn't so sure it was that simple this time.

"Brought you a coffee," she added with a small smirk, "You got time for a break?"

[in_extremis]

The last resource Tony had right now was time, which he betrayed in his hesitation with a glance up his half-assembled tower, the building marked with crumbling holes around his feet. Quickly, though, he produced an inviting smile as he said, "For you, always." He had to disengage, dropping his toolbelt where he stood, and find somewhere more appropriate to entertain Jan, without going too far where he might forget what he was supposed to be doing. It seemed like he was good at that. With a flick of a hand, he explained, "Radio tower," a slight pinch of his mouth and shake of his head to admit it wasn't that exciting, and probably should have been done a long time ago.

[winsomelosesome]

"Ooh, gonna start playing some classics?" she asked hopefully, passing off a cup of coffee glancing up at the tower. Unless it was going to be talk radio, ugh, that stuff put her to sleep.

"That's still how you take it?" she asked, nodding to cup. "I know our wires are a bit crossed timing wise, but pretty sure you haven't changed all that much."

[in_extremis]

"You'll have to let me take you to the Deep End for the classics," Tony replied, grateful to wrap his hands around the cup despite his schedule anxiety and happy to go straight to scalding his tongue if Jan didn't say something so weird. He froze with the coffee just under his chin, where the wisp of its rising heat made his study of her waver. She made it sound like he was the one from some future, a distinction from the way Tommy and Billy would talk to him like he was a lumbering artifact sometimes. He should have recognized Jan's haircut, if that was the case. How he argued was, "What? I change all of the time. I tried out underwear again, little while back, I can see the appeal, some days are underwear days, I'm a whole new man."

b

[pursuitofcappiness]

Steve shows up to the lab, unannounced, with a bag containing what he would maybe have somewhat called a grilled cheese, and a cup of coffee from the diner. He hasn't seen Tony in a little over a week now, and he's starting to worry about him, so he knocks on the door, and then he gets impatient.

"It's Steve," he says, only to be prompted for a passcode. "Captain America," he tries, hoping that the system accepts that he, as Captain America, doesn't know the passcode. Denied. Great. "March 29th, 1970." Denied. Yes, of course, because Tony doesn't remember his own birthday. Why would that be it? "Iron Man is the greatest Avenger," he tries. And then, with an exceedingly unamused tone: "Tony Stark is the smartest man alive."

[in_extremis]

People did not show up at the lab. It was Tony's, a small shell of defence that was not to be breached, when it wasn't a tainted mirror of itself and already desecrated. The knock made him freeze, glaring in the direction it had come from, like if he was still enough it would go away, and he only melted incrementally at the muffled voice that followed. Not sure yet if he wanted to open the door and interrupt his work, he carefully crept closer, trying not to make a sound as he approached so he could lean against the frame and better hear what Steve was doing. The quiet got harder through Steve's attempts at guessing his way in, making Tony bring a hand up to stifle a laugh, unwinding the tension that had drawn him so tight.

The display next to the door that had been patiently reading DENIED, not even flickering through Steve's successive attempts, suddenly went dark before alerting, 'Lack of sincerity detected. Emergency destruction imminent.'

[pursuitofcappiness]

"Whoa, whoa whoa," he says, trying to keep the lab from imploding. And he's about to open his mouth and give out a string of compliments when he realizes. If it destructs, then Tony must not be in. And if Tony's not in, it would be ridiculous to code that into a password protector.

"Tony," he tries, tapping his foot. "I've got coffee and a grilled cheese and if you don't open up, they're both gonna go cold." He hasn't seen Tony in too long. There's gotta be something he's working on. But at least, hearing him - what Steve assumes to be a message he just wrote - is good. It's comforting.

[in_extremis]

Through the door and with his eyes closed, temple resting on the frame to try to keep the dull ache in his head from distracting him, that tick of impatience in the sound of his name made it vividly easy for Tony to picture the annoying knot of Steve's jaw and the flash of his sidelong glance. It wouldn't be exactly right when Tony did open the door, a cold tint of grey in his eyes and a fractional smoothing of that jawline, so Tony hesitated a beat longer, just enough to rebuild his smile on a slant. The door cracked open, only enough for Tony to block any passage, hand braced over his head as he greeted, "You should have led with that. Where'd you get a grilled cheese? I didn't appreciate them properly on Earth, but they really are a triumph of modern technology, there's nothing better. What happened in March?"

A.

[reneggadetinkerer]

Eggman still wasn't entirely used to wandering around without any sort of transport. Having to do all of the scavenging himself rather than delegating a small platoon of 'bots to the job was seriously setting back his time tables. But there was a fun challenge to it. By doing it himself, he can properly assess the materials rather than waste time sorting through whatever his minions brought back. He could get new ideas; inspiration could strike on the fly. It would be exhilarating if it wasn't so damned exhausting.

He really should bump a new Eggmobile up on his priority list.

He'd noticed the rudimentary towers popping up. He'd chalked it up to another abductee being proactive which...he can't necessarily fault. It was better than the alternative.

But when he sees Tony hauling some of the same materials and components, he puts two and two together.

"So, you're the one who's been so industrious as of late. I'm amazed no one's thought of this sooner."

[in_extremis]

Justifying what had taken him so long to get anything useful done in this place was one of the conversations that Tony was hoping to avoid, making him wince as he was approached and have to quickly school his features with a casual push of his sunglasses up his nose and brush through his hair, aiming to make it artfully dishevelled, only to have a strand fall back annoyingly into his eyes. Hopefully his practiced smile was still reliably disarming as he looked up from his trudging with his cart dragging behind him and replied, "Thought's easy, had thirty of them just now and 15% of those might have even been good, it's the logistics of this place that keeps them from flying any higher." That wasn't even untrue, so if Tony put a lot of space between them and any further excuses, he might get away with it. "15% might have been generous, honestly, I've been thinking about this night in a hot tub I had with a Kenyan supermodel for about three days now, keeps going around in my head, I think it's the weather. It was a ski trip. I don't think she could ski."

[reneggadetinkerer]

Once Tony starts talking about supermodels, Eggman's face quite literally glazes over into passive annoyance. Oh good. He's enterprising but has that annoying penchant for mindless, useless chatter. I'll have to file this one under 'exhausting.'

"Yes, I've come to appreciate the logistical nightmare that this world seems to present to those of us who follow engineering and scientific pursuits."

Eggman steps around to examine the cart as he brings a gloved hand up to his chin.

"I do not believe we've met. You may call me Dr. Ivo Robotnik. You seem to be setting up some sort of communications array. Looking to utilize radio waves instead of electronic signal I take it?"

[in_extremis]

The cart itself was simple, some wheels and a bed that Tony could pull; something that had survived the cataclysms thrown at them for years by virtue of complete unremarkability. If it was feasible, that would have been Tony's design approach to any critical system. It was laden now with the remains of a few broken datapoints, arcade cabinets and metal fencing; garbage. Tony invited the perusal with a wave of his hand, like he was offering anything for the taking, not worried about being able to replace it with more garbage should he need it, and settled in to watching this man in return with a hand on his cocked hip and head tilted curiously. His smirk stretched with a private joke as he returned that mouthful of an introduction with a simple, "Tony."

With a glance up and around at the peaks of the towers that had already been erected that he could spot, he nodded and said, "That's the plan. Every time some new bullshit happens, the few guarantees we have is that its going to knock out the power grid and the network, and every attempt so far to build this kind of infrastructure independently has led us back to depending on these systems. This one won't depend on electricity, I'm hoping it goes undetected."