in_extremis: (Default)
Tony Stark ([personal profile] in_extremis) wrote in [community profile] revivalproject2020-03-22 05:38 pm

Stranger in a Strange Land

WHO: Tony, Steve and Bucky? And everyone else!
WHERE: Some network nonsense, and skulking around the resort
WHAT: Tony's playing catch up, and doesn't have a good lead yet. This is also Tony's TDM thread, relocated to make more sense on Risa, so if you want to properly canon that meeting, here we are!
WHEN: Risa: After Hours
WARNINGS: Nothing scandalous yet!


The Resort
The amount of information that Tony had now was not helpful, and neither the tablet he had been carefully tucked into his new bed with nor the computers spread throughout the resort were properly calibrated to help Tony map this ever sprawling conundrum. He had no way to connect the mysterious '31' to apocalyptic storms on a planet he had never heard of to all of the information telling him he was currently in an episode of Star Trek. What he did have was: an already rockstar-trashed room, a new wardrobe, and a creeping sensation of truly disgusting self-pity eating away in the pit of his stomach that he was going to have to overcome very rapidly before it grew any more powerful. To do that, he needed answers. He needed Cap. No, he could do this.

If he was going to solve the problem, he had to be in control of how at the very least. So far, the market had offered Tony plenty of fun and fashion, but not anything particularly useful, and it was about time he experienced a childhood fantasy: the replicators. One of the staff members had helpfully directed him in a way that felt so reminiscent of suggesting the ice machine back on familiar ground, that when Tony was actually standing in front of the thing, his first impulse was 'computer: ice'. And the replicator just made it, just like that; and not even just ice, this thing was advanced enough to interpret this failure of a human communication, vague and directionless, and delivered the beautiful, mouthwateringly glistening ice chips in a delicate glass, a useful container for his bumbling desires. Tony could smell how crunchy they were. He stared at this gift for too long in wonder, before remembering that he was still in public and gave a glance up and down the hall, regrouping, trying to focus. It was late so the halls felt deserted, but anyone could be coming back from the clubs at any hour in this place. Current problem: Kidnapping situation. Problem for another time: solving world hunger. He collected his glass of ice, then tried again, asking for a set of precision tools and a soldering iron. Then, after holding all of this cradled in a hammock of his shirt pulled away from his stomach, asked for superglue (this did not work, Tony had to get more specific and got what he hoped he was looking for with 'Cyanoacrylate?'), then, duh, bandages. He should have brought a bag. "Oh. Computer, one more thing, sweetheart. Do you have a bag?" A Ferengi rounded the corner, looking festive in a Margaritaville shirt (would he get the reference?) but staring very seriously at Tony, clearly suspicious and unwilling to share this space with him at this hour. Tony wasn't eager to find out if the species was really as they were portrayed, and instead gave a courteous nod of acknowledgement as he slung his cleverly resort-branded cloth bag of goods over his shoulder and slid away, glass in hand, to find another station to test the limits of. It couldn't hurt to test out his new tools on one, just a little bit. He could solve two problems at once.

It was late, and the breeze flowed easily through the open-air halls of the resort, keeping the still-warm, tropical air from feeling oppressively hot and carrying the sweet smell of alien, fruiting flowers with it. It was the perfect time to case the joint.

[Video]
[A video message posted to the network of a man frowning down into the camera, chin propped up in one hand and looking equal parts bored and skeptical, but occasionally glancing up, just past the camera, possibly betraying his alert tension.
Tony is in his room, sitting with his back against the bed where he has clearly thoroughly tossed the blankets, a single pillow left in the middle of the mattress among the mess. He knows from Billy that this is the best way to get in touch with anyone who might be able to relate to his situation. It doesn't make him feel any less vulnerable.]

I'm used to having some, you know, guidelines-- hard to read the room here, hard to read the audience. Um-- Tony. [He quickly touches his chest, that's me, before holding his chin again.] Looking for: just some fun, nothing serious. Likes: long walks on the beach, particle physics, black coffee. Dislikes: The smell of bookstores. I know, you'll try to convince me, and it will be a very good date, because I've never had a bad one, but I still won't like the smell. What else goes on these things...? [He's looking past the camera again, like he's waiting for the response to come from out there. If this doesn't produce solid results, Tony's ready to take this thing apart and make it more useful to him.]
beholding_archivist: (Beholding)

[personal profile] beholding_archivist 2020-03-23 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[ At this, Jon's glare turns cold and a flicker of static disruption distorts the video feed for a moment and he speaks slowly, his voice dropped low. ]

These are not a choice of aesthetics. They are hardly a choice at all.

[ He narrows his eyes further, glare intensifying and causing some further disruptions. ]

Without a choice.

You use.

What works.

[ Jon blinks his glare away and lets out a soft exhale to relax somewhat. The flickering ceases immediately and his tone returns to normal. ]

And don't call me that.
beholding_archivist: (Could you just not?)

[personal profile] beholding_archivist 2020-03-23 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Unfortunately it's a lot less impressive than a giant, green monstrosity. Beholding isn't quite as showy as other Dread Powers.

Jon simply huffs in renewed disapproval at that new nickname, fingers curling slightly around one of his tapes. ]


I'm an archivist. And you can spare me your commentary on that.

[ Yeah, probably better to try and turn this around. ]

So what makes you so certain you can fix an entire alien city lying in ruins all by yourself?
beholding_archivist: (Could you just not?)

[personal profile] beholding_archivist 2020-03-23 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's true enough that Jon doesn't even have the necessary qualifications for an archivist position, but it has never been about that when he has been given the job, has it? Though maybe. Maybe... When they know one another better and Jon has decided to trust Tony, then maybe he will tell him about the tapes. About the statements that just can't be recorded digitally and what lies within these. How they tie together into something dreadful...

Something he doesn't necessarily wish to impose on anyone.

Right now, however, Jon is pretty certain he will simply loathe this man. And the rather eloquent scowl on his face conveys precisely that. ]


Those are some big claims. Especially considering we might be back on Agra 10 just as suddenly as we were brought here. Though then again, time may not even be the issue. You're simply being ridiculous.
beholding_archivist: (Impending rant)

[personal profile] beholding_archivist 2020-03-24 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ See, Tony, there’s a good reasons he’s already turning grey - And you may end up adding more grey hairs to that at this pace. Though until then just enjoy the sight of Jon’s eyes going wide and his face turning at least one shade of red. ]

W-would you stop that! I’m not- I won’t...! No!

[ He doesn’t even know where to start protesting. Though to be fair, he might need a drink after this conversation. ]

At least try being serious!? This isn’t some game. We were kidnapped by aliens and being... being-

[ He gestures vaguely at the screen. ]

-being that isn’t going to help anyone!
beholding_archivist: (Why is this happening?)

[personal profile] beholding_archivist 2020-03-24 07:10 am (UTC)(link)
Wha-.... F-f-... f.....

[ Why, Tony. You think it has been bad before? You have no idea just yet.

The mere idea of being flirted with of all things doesn’t only result in excessive stuttering, but entirely new shades of red on Jon’s face as he verbally scrambles for purchase. The disturbances in the video also return with slight flickering static.

He tries to mouth a few words, but mostly succeeds at looking like a fish out of water as he just keeps muttering and stuttering wordlessly. He may even forget to breathe for a moment or two.

The video then shows Jon dropping his head while bringing up a heavily scarred hand to meet his face. His other hand moves to cover his phone and it’s camera, the distortion in the video increasing rapidly as he does just that. And for a few moments there is only static.

Then, with a soft crack, the feed suddenly cuts off. ]