revivalproject | delivery

Entry tags:

delivery

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.]

[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.]

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.]

[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.

WE're supposed to be helping the Agri. It's going to be about more than the storms I think. And if we can power and repair the city... we might find how they're bringing us to this place and use it to get home.

[Yes, he didn't believe ALL he was told. Though he does smile at Tony's question. The other one.]

No. A touch closer. I've set up an office, and turned a room of it into my space. So I don't have to go so far for my bed. And, of course, it's where the coffee is, so I'll show you the way.

Or maybe repairing the city is how they're keeping us distracted from figuring that out.

[He doesn't say this to totally dismiss Reeve's hope, it's not a terrible theory and Tony isn't about the stop the repairs anyway-- making sure Sansa can keep her baby warm and fed is just as important as getting any of them off this rock. He is glad Reeve isn't entirely naive anymore.]

An office, how professional. Do we have a name yet?

At the moment, I'm just referring to the location as Temba Restoration Coordination. But... I have considered that. This, however, is what I know. It keeps me busy. Distracted.

[As little else does. But he also... had a lot to think about, after what Vincent had said to him. Did they cease to exist when they left here? Should they try and find contentment? He hated the idea.]

I'm set up just south of the hotel, though. So it's about the same walk distance from here.

That's a mouthful.

[Now Tony's a little worried Reeve is just as clumsy with setting up his office, and is reaching to take Mini himself so Reeve can lead the way while Tony makes up for his dark betrayal. He could use the assistance.]

What about Damage Control?

I'm good with those.

[Reeve looks a touch confused but when Tony reaches, he does hand Mini over. And guess what? Tony's getting the same face patting while Mini explores his own shave.]

Except for my table, which is quite cluttered, and the walls of the main office where I've nailed some things up, it's tidy. My personal space more so. I see no reason for clutter.

Hey, you have no problem with computers, right?

[Obviously. That isn't a guarantee around here, though, so it's safer to make the confirmation. Jon owned a laptop, too, but he was still weird about it.

Tony stoically accepts the patting, then kisses at Mini's paws with a laugh and glad to properly greet him finally.]

I can set you up with D.A.T.A.. Have you met yet? You'll love him. I'll have to make you a monitor, that might be a minute.

No, I am pleased to work with computers when I can. CAD is my life, clearly.

[Mini pauses, like literally freezes, at the kisses to his paws. Clearly this is an unfamiliar treatment for him. At least from someone beyond his master. And, after a moment, he bops Tony's lips in response. There you go. Returned.]

Data? I'm sorry, the name means nothing to me. But I'm happy to meet anyone you know.

Development And Teaching Assistant. D.A.T.A., for the mouthful problem. I'm trying to reverse engineer the data points, and so far it's...not that, but he has his uses.

Jon wanted a better way to communicate with the Agrii, maybe teach them how to talk to us better, and I figured using something they were familiar with would be the best tool. It's like a contact point that connects directly to the neurons, though, maybe you could solve the puzzle for me because it might be beyond me. Hell, it's a biology problem, not an engineering one.

I'm not familiar with biology. So... it's a computer that connects to the brain directly?

[That sounds... disturbing to him. But his world has nothing like that.]

That's what the data points are, aren't they? A direct download on contact. Fucking mystery. D.A.T.A.'s just a hefty processor with some touch interfacing, that's my limit.

[Having a computer in his brain is a little different, Tony figures, but it would be helpful to have someone like Maya around to make those sort of computer-brain determinations.]

The alternative is that we've been adapted somehow to receive the information.

[More disturbing.]

In the other place I was, we were adapted. There as this vending machine, that if you had credits, you could get things from. Powers. Not that you knew why you got credits. But I think I'd much rather a computer I can see and interact with than have more fiddling in my brain.

...Powers?

[A lot of that left Tony with questions, but this one comes out first.]

Yes. Things like pyrokinesis and I even saw one man who could transform into a bird.

None of it made sense to me, but it enabled me to do something to protect myself.

You took some?

[This is not a judgement; Tony looks stunned, surprised that Reeve would let some alien body-snatcher do whatever they wanted to him. He thought they had resolved the naive thing.]

Only after seeing people who had been there far longer using it without complications. I am a very cautious man, Tony. And, after some of the attacks on the village and the absolute refusal of the Tony Stark there to allow his forge to be used for any form of weapon, it became needful to make some means of self protection.

[Because there were things that were just too dangerous to face otherwise.]

Yes, I know, it was dangerous and foolish. But there were people I cared for there that I wished to protect. Though I imagine the girls were far better at protecting themselves than I ever would have been. And given the long treks that had to be made to the south to get to the farms where I was building barns and lodging houses, it was needful to have a means to protect myself.

[Both not expecting his own name to come up, and to be confronted by a version of him that managed to stick to a definable moral framework that fiercely when Tony found himself slipping through every possible loophole--they are too far from the mirror for Tony to be confronting this feeling--he is quiet for a thoughtful hug around Mini. Maybe he is the most detestable version of himself.]

Not even some arrows?

[This is not what they're talking about. He clears his throat.]

What did you...can you still do it?

[Oh, he's really not the most detestable version of himself. The Tony there had been... superior and certain that his decisions were the only ones that mattered when it came to what was and wasn't worth working on in his forge. Apparently even the village guard even had problems getting things as simple as spears from the man. Reeve had much preferred smith and inventor. The man had delighted in challenges.]

Not even arrows. If one desired weapons, you had to speak to da Vinci. And be willing to walk the miles to the other village.

[But the other question is far more important, and Reeve has no idea that the name might mean something to Tony's world. Instead he held out his arm and pushed his sleeve back.]

When I was there we had this bands around our wrists. They were color coded and were our means of communication. They could not be removed. Each color meant that a person had a specific power inherent to them, though I don't know if Dr. Banner ever determined if there was a reason that specific colors were assigned to specific people. And whatever you could do, you could only do because it seemed to be unlocked through the bracelets. One man lost his once, lost both any powers he could have acquired from the vending machine, as well as the inherent ones. And, frankly, I would like the navy blue powers back.

[There was undeniable value to the analytical vision he had been granted. Being able to slip into it and always see what the best course of action, best route, or best decision to make was had been... Good. Better than good. He could avoid danger because the sight would steer him around it, keeping him safe.]

[He doesn't get long to wallow in the despair of knowing he shouldn't be making bullets if the don't even have that many direct threats, because Reeve has some names for him now.]

da Vinci? [A weaponsmith, that was either exactly who it sounded like, or a deliberate nom de guerre.] Leonardo? Wait-- Dr. Bruce Banner? [This also has to be a long shot, but Reeve also knew another Tony Stark.]

I feel like every new thing I learn about you has about fifty layers to it, you're a field of study, it's like every time I have a question for you I'm being punished.

[Listen, he wasn't very fond of THAT Tony. And if pressed, he'd have to admit that.]

It seems you're familiar with some names. Yes, Leonardo da Vinci. He was dating a young gentleman friend of mine.

[Which was the last time he had an experience of being the number two choice of someone he was interested in. But he had supported his friends with the full of his kindness and warmth. Both of them seemed so nervous about being openly themselves.]

And it seems you're familiar with Dr. Banner as well. He was quite the impressive intellectual. He might do better here on that biological front you mentioned earlier, with that DATA system. It's a shame he isn't present.

[Punished? Reeve comes to a stop, frowning at Tony, before reaching out to touch his arm.]

Come now, need I remind you, Tony? I'm an old-timer, with a bit more experience at being kidnapped to worlds like this than you are. I can say now that the Tony I met was not quite like you. Which doesn't surprise me. I met those young men there too, Billy and Tommy. Though they don't seem to remember me at all. But I don't wish to punish you. If you'd prefer, I could leave off on allusions to the Iteration Village. Then again, if you'd rather I talk and you pursue a specialist degree in Reeve Tuesti, then by all means. Though I warn you, I don't grade on a curve and homework is due on my desk by sundown.

[If the last two sentences have a touch more teasing, perhaps even flirtatious edges to them, Reeve won't mention it if Tony doesn't.]

[At the very least, this da Vinci had to be from Earth to have the reference point. If it was actually the da Vinci, though, Tony suspected he would be trying to get a date, too. He doesn't mind a long beard.

The confirmation of Bruce is much easier to pin down, making Tony immediately excited.]

He's incredible, he'd know exactly what we were looking at, I went to a lecture of his when I was still in school and almost took another degree--

[Any more about their relationship beyond that is dangerous territory, and Tony is glad that Reeve has an interruption for him.

It's a little worrying that Billy and Tommy don't remember, but trying to untangle alternate dimensions and timelines from deliberate alien memory interference could be a lost cause. Rather, it is slightly reassuring that Reeve does remember his time in this other place, if that could be used to gauge how they left this experience, as overwhelming as learning his history has turned out to be. Tony prefers to think he would have a hard time forgetting that serious frown of Reeve's.]

Oh, he's a strict professor. I don't know if this is going to work out, I have a real problem with authority. Tell me, what's the extension policy if you're already bent over--?

[Hey there, Mini, that's awkward, not exactly the kind of audience Tony enjoyed embarrassing Reeve in front of.]

Hard at work?

[From Earth indeed, though the beard was less long when he was younger, as Reeve had known him. And oh how excitable Leonardo had been. Quite the sort of man that would get on with Tony.]

It is not so worrying as you'd think. From my understanding of things here, there are a variety of instances of us. Vincent... Vincent thinks that by being here we exist as alternate forms of ourselves.

[Ones that would cease to be by the very act of departing. Then again, his friend had a reason to fear returning home. A fate he would not wish to see. And Vincent wondered at Reeve wanting to go home, to forget his experiences. Vincent didn't understand though. Couldn't.]

Truly? He seemed so young. I suppose I met him when he was younger then. But brilliant in ways I respected. He would probably be a good teacher. As for me...

[He chuckles at the idea of extension policies there. And that is far more interesting than talking about Dr. Banner.]

I suppose I could make quite a bit of allowance for time then, seeing as you'd be hard at work. Very hard at work.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject