delivery

[in_extremis]

WHO: Tony Stark, Cloud Strife, technically open if you want to hang
WHERE: The forge? I don't know the structure of this post eludes me, it might be just network, I might just be setting up a bunch of interactions for Cloud to have with everyone else like a benevolent god
WHAT: Tony's been making things and has packages for Reeve, Tommy, Sansa and Jon, and he's not doing all of that walking himself.
WARNINGS: It is genuinely not my fault that all of Tony's posts are horny and you should just expect it now.

a text to Cloud

hey

where are you?

you want a job, right?

Come to the forge.

Outside of the forge, sitting in front of the closed door very pointedly, were five lumpy bundles, the wrapping of these clearly not Tony's strong suit. One of them seemed to be just in a big leaf. They were all labled with thin tags of impressed aluminum tied or just placed on top for Cloud to figure out where they were supposed to go with just a name-- the rest, like who any of these people were and where to find them, was Cloud's job to figure out, apparently.

At least one of them should have been pretty easy.

C L O U D
It was...a chocobo? Or how Tony remembered a chocobo looking from the glance at it in Reeve's memory. Small, grey and surprisingly heavy, it wound up to go bouncing away on weirdly articulated legs. Did Tony think he was paying Cloud?

R E E V E
It's a head.
This might be what Tony thought a cat skull looked like. It wasn't much like the design he had left for Mini-C's skeletal structure in Reeve's sketchbook, he obviously had some time, and the obsessive insomnia turned to 11 after the sleep glut and nowhere to pour his creative energy, to take a more detailed turn, and he would have used the energy to make more of the structure but they were still tight on materials. What he did make was a few servos, dangling from the skull shape like a disembodied nerve system, and a prototype pair of hands tucked safely into the dome, too delicate to be very useful to Mini, but responding to their programming housed in the skull. The systems were done, was the point.

T O M M Y
Was this what he meant by hydroponics? It wasn't like Tony had managed to miss that bit of drama on the network. It wasn't assembled, a bunch of disparate pieces that didn't come with instructions, but a note that only read 'you need a tube'.

S A N S A
This bundle had a pair of brass combs in it, stamped, much like the labels on the packages, with roses. If Sansa hadn't figured out how to keep her hair from being a mess, maybe this would be a reminder.

J O N
A very tiny little knot of a rag, about as big as the label that sat under it, and felt light enough to be empty.
It seemed to only contain a gold chain.

Comments

[in_extremis]

[Tony doesn't have any advice for that particular problem; he wouldn't listen to anyone telling him to step down for the good of the project, either, just because he was the one engendering the hostility. They had their jobs to do, the targets on their backs weren't really drawn there by anyone but themselves.

He's at least kind enough not to prompt Reeve to explain anymore as he coaxes his chin up to expose his neck. Tony continues to hum instead, focused on not making a bloody mess, not even really aware of what song is in his head until he's muttering a chorus.]

The only game she's played...now, turn the other way...Hey-- have you gotten something stuck in your head yet here? It's infuriating. I was singing Hot Stuff for three weeks after the night the power was out, and where was Donna? Nowhere.

[plate_builder]

I'm working very hard to not get something from Loveless in my head. Though yes, I have had an ear worm. I don't think it would mean anything to you.

[Which is sad. Reeve knows he doesn't have a voice good enough to inspire listeners.]

[in_extremis]

[Tony is still very focused on keeping steady, so he gives the most dramatic gasp possible without moving around too much, making it very sarcastic sounding. He has no idea what Loveless could mean, that's fantastic.

He has to finish what he's doing first and set the razor aside to soak his towel again and start patting Reeve clean.]

We have different music, of course we do. That's a tragedy. Try me, I bet it's incredible.

[Look, Reeve has the cloth held over his face again, he doesn't even have to be embarrassed about trying to sing.]

[plate_builder]

[Really? Reeve chuckles as he leans forward into those hands once more. Already he feels so much better, because he can feel cleaner already.]

It's an unfinished play that was oft-quoted by one of Sephiroth's compatriots around my office. And the musical was a horrible bomb. But it had some catchy tunes. Mostly, though, I have this old jingle for Banora White Juice in my head. Which is silly, that hasn't been on the air in, what, five or more years? Longer. I can't even remember how long ago that was.

[in_extremis]

[That Reeve's first two musical references are a play and a jingle makes Tony snicker; that did seem appropriate, he doesn't know what he expected.]

You're a dweeb.

[He tosses the rag back into the sink, keeping his hold on Reeve's jaw with one hand to smooth his whiskers down and test the shear of his cheek with his thumb, and draws Reeve down to nuzzle his own bristled cheek against the other with a smile and a kiss. Not bad.]

Do you want to do a second pass?

[plate_builder]

I am. I'm not even suggesting I'm anything that excludes that pronunciation.

[Of course now there is a equally silly man rubbing up against his cheek and he likes it. For a moment his eyes close and he sighs contentedly at the gesture.]

I suppose you'll have to let me move enough to look in a mirror before I come to a conclusion there.

[in_extremis]

[Hands up and leaning back, Reeve can move all he wants, Tony's not going to stop him; the 'mirror' he uses is a plate of polished aluminum wedged behind the sink, not super effective but a fairly good stand in for someone who could use an excuse not to look himself in the eye.]

That'll be fifty bucks, virgin discount. You show up here again, it's going to be triple.

[plate_builder]

[It's more than good enough for Reeve to get a look, tilting his head this way and that until he's certain he looks good.]

Virgin discount? I think we both know I'm not that. But I suppose I can find a way to repay you. Perhaps services rendered? And I'll likely be back. You're good with the razor. Few men use them back home these days.

[in_extremis]

High roller,

[Tony does look pleased to expect the business, leaning his head against the wall as he watches Reeve study his work with a smile.]

I don't think they're very popular where I'm from, either, but there's a right tool for a job, and I know what my most important asset is, I've got to keep it impeccable. What've you got for me? It's gotta be at least as good as cucumber pus, that stuff is going to change things around here, it's a goldmine.

[plate_builder]

[A goldmine. Reeve chuckles, shaking his head as he turns to regard Tony, and, after a moment of thought, moves a bit more toward the door. The space really is cramped. He doesn't want to make either of them uncomfortable.]

The highest, but only when I have dice in hand. It's a lost art, though, and I'm glad to see you maintain it, to keep yourself well groomed.

[What does he have for Tony. Better than the goldmine. Reeve is thoughtful for a moment before shrugging.]

I have coffee.

[in_extremis]

What?

[He looks furious for a second, like Reeve just told him he had been keeping his first born from him.]

What the fuck are we doing here?

[plate_builder]

Getting a shave that I'm paying for from my limited supply of coffee.

[Reeve smiles and backs out of the door. That had been a good read then. Tony was the same addict Reeve was. Granted their first meeting had been, more or less, over coffee.]

I may have used my first two replicator usages for coffee and a press brewer.

[in_extremis]

[Tony could deal with the mess of the bathroom later; he's following Reeve out like he has the coffee on him only to realize once they're back in the workshop that Mini must have been entertaining himself out here this whole time.]

Hey, gatito, what kind of trouble are you getting into? Don't touch my stuff. A press? Incorrect. You can be forgiven. We all make mistakes.

[plate_builder]

[Entertaining himself? Only in that the doll had found the stairs and flopped down on one like it was a seat. With the two men coming out he bounces to his feet and waves at Tony. Innocent. He's truly innocent. He toddles forward to Reeve, who scoops the doll up and finds himself laughing with the doll's arms stroke his cheeks.]

I think he likes how smooth it is too. And it wasn't like I was in the mood to find and convert a drip machine when I was only going to be making a single cup at a time. Unfortunately I didn't get any sugar, so unless you have that, you'll be forced to take it black.

[in_extremis]

We can do him next, waddya say?

[Tony has a charming smile as though he is not totally aware that this is a direct threat to Mini's dignity.]

You know I'll take it any way I can get it. [He means coffee, obviously.] I admire your restraint, a single cup? I thought you were working hard over there, now I hear you're slacking, absolutely devastating.

[plate_builder]

[Mini looks slowly toward Tony. Can an expressionless stuffed animal look betrayed? That is the next question on the price is right.]

A single cup at a time. Which means I make maybe three a day. I've had to bring down my consumption with the replicator not working. I only make one bulk order of grinds a month. The stuff has to last.

[Which of course meant he went through quite a bit in a normal month, but that's just him. He walks out and smiles.]

I'm working hard, I've had to find other ways to stay awake.

[in_extremis]

He doesn't even grind it himself. My god, he's a heathen. I take back the forgiveness. Are you about to tell me about your cocaine habit?

[plate_builder]

I don't have a grinder, so I didn't ask for beans. If I had one, I would have.

[Come on, Tony, give him credit. He's an addict.]

What's cocaine?

[in_extremis]

That's--honestly, I don't know how to handle that. You don't have cocaine? It's, ah...a stimulant. You snort it and make terrible decisions, like having more. Do you have pot? [That's not going to translate, try again.] Cannabis? [Great, now he sounds like a narc.] Not related, not the same thing, just, you have a very different economy, I think.

[plate_builder]

Oh, we have drugs. And yes, We have weed... I tried it in college. Not the greatest fan.

[They have drugs, just... different ones.]

My drugs of choice are caffeine and the rare alcohol. And I suppose sleep deprivation.

[in_extremis]

And having good, clean fun, I bet. So what's keeping you awake?

[They'll talk about that college experience. Some day.]

[plate_builder]

At this point? Mini to a degree. He doesn't sleep you see.

[And thus the little one can wake him if Reeve really wants it.]

[in_extremis]

[That...makes sense. Fluff doesn't need sleep.]

And what are you staying awake for? It's not just the power thing, come on. We've been fine so far, you don't have to be killing yourself over it. Are you trying to make me feel bad for not coming to make sure you're taking care of yourself?

[Are they there again? Tony doesn't know. It could be a very innocent question.]

[plate_builder]

If... this place is restored, people will get sent home. That's my hope. So I dedicate myself to it. Though if I were to be distracted, it would not be remiss. What city planner would be worth his salt if he didn't have an open door policy?

[Yes, they're there again. Or the offer is. But it's still a serious reason for why he does it.]

[in_extremis]

[Tony can't be completely distracted by the reassurance of the open door policy, because he's not sure Reeve is right about what is going to get them home, but he does allow himself a small smile.]

Are you still at the hotel?

[For the coffee, of course.]

How'd you get there, 'if this place is restored'? If we're making it any better, it's for our comfort while we're stuck here, not because the Agrii are going to thank us for it. The only thing they've asked of us is to deal with the storms, and the next one that rips through here could ruin all of our hard work. And even if we do figure out how to control the weather, I wouldn't hang my hat on the idea that's going to mean we get anything for it.