in_extremis: (Default)
Tony Stark ([personal profile] in_extremis) wrote in [community profile] revivalproject2024-03-04 11:09 pm

Loiter

WHO: Tony, Donnie, Captain Steve, Leo, Jon
WHERE: NG-102
WHAT: Sugar daddy shit
WHEN: Don't think about it too hard.
WARNINGS: None yet
NOTES: Hit me up here if you want me to start something, or just tag in and surprise me.


a. military surplus [for donnie]
The music sounded like grinding chainsaws set to an incessantly thumping pile driver. A jar just over the proprietor's head rattled with every beat, shifting inexorably closer to the edge of the shelf, exactly 6989 deep bass bumps from dropping over the ledge entirely and pouring the tacks inside across the counter. Tony watched it and counted while he wasn't trying to read the alien's lips. When it did fall, it was going to be an impossible cleanup job; the shop was densely heaped, shelves packed so full that there must have been items in the deep corners of them that could give Tony a full archaeological overview of the technological development of this place over the last half century, at least. If Tony could see what he was doing in the blacklight.

It was undeniably the best place to find parts, chips, cases and bolts in the quadrant, though no one had mentioned the sound when they had suggested Tony try there for what he was looking for. "They don't make them like this anymore," the proprietor had said when Tony had asked about picking up an analog signal, and led Tony with uncanny confidence toward a shelf that he thought had been mostly for glue. Now he had what looked like a CRT monitor and what else he thought he needed to pick up a difficult signal sitting on the counter, and the process of actually making a purchase had ground to a stop when in the midst of Tony's ceaseless chatter, the alien had interrupted, "No, no. 'Parent' and 'child' are opposites."

That, by necessity, they could not be working in opposition in a code was not the argument that the alien wanted to hear, and instead had Tony trapped in some kind of test to figure out what other opposites they disagreed on. The proprietor was unreadable as they simply continued with each answer Tony gave; past, future, proton, electron, acid, base, until the alien said, "Human." Then, Tony hesitated, not sure if he had heard correctly over the music, or translated correctly across the language gap.

"Human?" he echoed, with a tap to his chest to confirm the context. "What's the opposite of human?"

b. tailor [for steve]
It was no wonder there was no one stuck on Agra-10 that wanted anything to do with Tony. Now that he had generous access to the kind of products and treatments that kept his image welded together back home, all of his imperfections were so strikingly obvious; he couldn't write them off as just being too busy, not getting enough sleep last night. The wardrobe and the skin care just acted as an unforgiving contrast. He glared at his reflection in his sunglasses for the sixth time in ten minutes, at how pale he was, the narrowness of his shoulders, the dullness of his hair. Was that grey? His hand snapped up to his hairline, pushing it back at the temple, and his disappointing shoulders only incrementally relaxed when he had tried several angles to make sure that had just been a poor reflection and trick of the light. He shoved the glasses back on with a snarl of frustration at himself, for not better anticipating what a pathetic sight he would make alongside some perfectly primped news anchor. Maybe he could make something back in the lab on the ship that would help. Like a mask.

What he could anticipate, occasionally effective and erstwhile-beautiful futurist that he was, was running into someone familiar while stalking his way back toward the docks. "Oh, good," he could still sigh, because it wasn't just someone, but someone who would be unflinchingly honest about how disappointing he was. 'Honest' was one of those things that Steve believed in without metre, like 'freedom' and 'standing your ground', and that was occasionally not annoying. "What do you think?" Tony greeted him, looking impatient already like Steve should have known what he was going to ask, and spreading his arms to present the full, meagre picture. A proper shave and a haircut had been the first stop, and led him naturally into several other technicians that all promised to leave him feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and sometimes refrangible. The new suit was supposed to bring it together for him, crisp, sleek and black. He should have felt like a new Porsche on the showroom floor. He should have felt like Steve looked. God, now it was worse. Abruptly, he dropped his arms and redirected, "Do you want to give an interview?"

c. homegoods [for leo]
"Hey," Tony had called, not a sharp sound that cut through the meandering shoppers but accompanied with a lift of his hand to get the turtle's attention. He must have been confident that he got it fast, because he was already instructing, "Watch this." His raised hand tipped so vaguely into a small throng that had gathered in front of a glittering window, where the group watched a robot demonstrate a very shiny pan by setting it on fire, then stabbing it chaotically. It wasn't the pan that Tony was indicating, though, and he had hung back from the gathering, lounging against the wall of a facing establishment where several cigarette butts were already crushed underfoot, and he had smiled his way into a cigarette of his own to justify his lingering. He had only looked away from his appointed post when he saw the flash of a familiar green out of the corner of his eye, and had to do a double-take, not seeing the distinct teen he had been expecting. There was no doubt who this one was, though. So, Tony still indicated, then he waited, eyes narrowed and head tilting expectantly until he said, "That. Did you see that?" While the pan withstood a chainsaw, someone in the crowd had moved unexpectedly, a strange swipe of a rubbery arm straight through the group.

d. shuttle service [for jon]
What had started as an offhand comment about the balance effecting the speed, the big shift making them lurch as they came to a stop, something that had been a strange quirk of the ships that the regulars had gotten used to and smirked behind their hands as Tony watched the approach back into the station with wide, anxious eyes, the comment had become an argument, then a challenge, then a revolt. When the day had started, J.U.M.P. shuttles had been the fastest way between someone's church and their favourite dumpling shop. By the end, Tony was standing with his shirtsleeves rolled up to the elbow, fabric and knuckles stained and expensive shoes scuffed, still holding a wrench and twirling a sprocket around a finger while he apologized, "Sorry, out of service," for the thousandth time. PR management was rapidly becoming a priority, right after he actually finished fixing the shuttles. The previous owner had never worried about that kind of thing, expecting, quite reasonably, that if a traveller had a better option, they wouldn't be on this meteor-bait station in the first place. "What's the status on that sign...?" Tony grumbled impatiently at the kid who had elected to stay on with him, happy to do one last thing to stick it to his old boss, and was assured with a frantic waving of glitter and sequin covered hands. Any minute now. Through a mask of reassuring, disarming smiles and placating waves to the small crowd crushed up against the ticket booth that definitely were not getting them home any faster, Tony warned, "If I come back to find out you've gone on another craft store run, it's coming out of your paycheque. How much are you getting paid?"

"Fifty million. An hour."

The garage had been much safer. From there, right at the edge of the station, Tony could see out to the vastness of space while he worked, mapping all of those unfamiliar stars, considering just how far out he could push one of these shuttles before it was a death sentence. He pursed his lips at the kid, who grinned back to show that several sequins had gotten stuck in his green gums, before making his retreat back to his machines. It wasn't even a big fix, that was all that he had been trying to explain to the previous owner. He would have it done by the next day. Until then, a very angry group of tired mall lackeys was forming at the unexpectedly closed gates.
faceguy: (can't let this go)

homegoods

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-06 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
Now, Leo's dad never actually told him to avoid random adults smoking cigarettes and beckoning him to look at something. That's because his dad told Leo not to talk to humans at all, but he feels like there's a lot of extenuating circumstances to the Stranger Danger rulebook anyway, especially when he's trillions of miles away from home and quite possibly in a different time altogether.

So when Tony tells Leo to watch, he does... looking distinctly unimpressed at first, because a pan? Really?

But then something else happens - someone moves, and there's a swipe, and...

Leo's eye ridges to up in surprise. He doesn't draw eyebrows on like Donnie, but with his mask it's enough to get the expression across, anyway.

"Uh, what was that?"
faceguy: (them other boys)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-09 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
Leo has gotten there. He nods along at Tony’s explanation, eyes wandering back to the person in the crowd. They’re doing a great job of not looking suspicious, but…

“Oooh, picking pockets, huh? Well I don’t have any pockets to be picked!”

So saying, he’s going to start making his way toward them. Yep, he’s involving himself in this.
faceguy: (with the plan)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-10 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
This is the Mad Dogs way: act first, ask questions never.

The long-limbed windowshopper is still as Leo draws closer, which is perfect for his brilliant plan.

Which consists entirely of bumping into them and saying, “Oops!”
faceguy: (first in command)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-11 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh no you don't!" Leo yells, and then he's after her, jumping and spinning around startled aliens to give chase.

He's basically completely forgotten about Tony. Hope he's fast!
faceguy: (when you're headed home)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-11 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
Leo's quick himself, the fastest of his brothers (when Donnie isn't cheating with one of his battleshells). He also is not particularly gifted at subtlety, despite having lived his whole life trying to avoid humans, and even less so in a place where he doesn't have to worry about sticking out. So Leo ducks and weaves around other shoppers and residents, jumping over overturned trash cans without skipping a beat.

He'll catch up to their girl just before she can escape into the thickest parts of the crowd.

"Ah ha! Gotcha!"

So said as he reaches out to grab her...!
faceguy: (when it comes to friday)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-12 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, Cigarette Guy. Leo hadn't expected him to follow.

Leo looks back over his shoulder and grins, holding up her noodley arm.

"Look who I caught?" he calls, clearly proud of himself. He seems unphased by the confused and concerned looks from the bystanders around them or the wobbling of the apprehended alien. "The thief! No need for cheers and applause, although I wouldn't say no to it."
faceguy: (turn it up turn it up rock city)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-12 03:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Leo’s smile drops as he watches the guy bend down to chat with the alien. Oh what, so now he’s on her side?

“What were you doing running your arm through the crowd, then?” He gives said stringy arm a shake, watching as it flops around. “And why’d you run?”

The evidence is irrefutable, as far as Leo is concerned.
faceguy: (trust us you just fell of the bus baby)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-12 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"I was only chasing you because you started running!" Leo retorts, giving an irritated shake of her stringy arm. "That's suspicious behavior!"

Never mind his own very suspicious behavior, which Cigarette Man now remarks on. The name catches him up short - da Vinci?? - and he looks up to say something, but then he notices the security guards pointed out to him.

Crap. Why is it always him the cops are after?

"Heh heh, hey, fellas." He finally drops the alien's arm, backing away a few steps. "You know, I think I left the stove on... bye!"

And then he turns and runs off into the crowd again, weaving through the crowd of onlookers. He's on the watch for a dark corner he can duck into.
faceguy: (show some skin and would be catch it)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-12 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Tony’s intervention gives Leo a small head start, but he doesn’t know the layout of the spaceport the way its security does, and without his sword to portal he has no hope of escape, even with his speed. Soon enough he’s being grabbed by the arms and hauled back to the group.

He tries to chuckle as he’s dragged along, putting on his best smile given the circumstances.

“Ooohhh, it was me you wanted! Ahaha, my bad.”

They do not seem amused by him.
faceguy: (remember what it's like)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-16 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Leo ran his mouth the whole way back, completely ignoring any right to remain silent he may or may not have, but of course it got him nowhere to plead his case. Soon enough he’s being pushed into the cell alongside Tony, and with the bench taken he goes to squat down against the wall, his shell making a soft clinging noise where it connects with the bars.

“Man, this sucks,” he huffs, letting his head fall back. “My captain already hates me…”

And this is hardly going to improve his impression, Leo is sure.
faceguy: (your weapon of choice)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-17 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
Leo watches as Cigarette Guy messes with the door, then takes a look at the vent. What, he thinks he's going to fit through that? Then again, Leo's gotten his own shell through vents a few times, so maybe it's not totally crazy.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm an old pro at getting arrested by now."

Which is probably not an encouraging thing for a fifteen-year-old to say, and it's also a bit of an exaggeration - he's only been arrested once! (And captured in a cage a few times more than that, and handcuffed at least one other time, but let's not split too many hairs here.)

"...Why'd you call me Da Vinci before?"
faceguy: (just remember how it)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-17 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
Intimidating bad boy performance? Uh no, that’s the other middle child - Leo is a suave face man, there’s a difference.

Leo listens to this ramble, which illuminates nothing, before finally groaning and letting his head fall back again. “Oh, you’re high. Man, I should have just ignored you from the beginning.”

Stranger Danger…
faceguy: (for a first effort this)

[personal profile] faceguy 2024-03-17 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
Sure, everyone else is weird and this guy is normal.

Leo watches him. Does he actually have an idea for how to bust out? Is busting out even worth it in a closed port like this?

…Oh who is he kidding, of course busting out is worth it. And the last thing he wants is to deal with Hargrove…

He gets to his feet and starts looking around himself. Some way out of here…