revivalproject | carriage

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carriage

WHO: Tony and open!
WHERE: Around Temba (hangar, fountain, ???)
WHAT: Doing some personal cleanup since the storm, and running into a floral distraction
WHEN: End of November/beginning of December
WARNINGS: It's a Tony post, we all should have expected it would get horny. It did.

a.The city had felt imposingly massive since the storm. Then, it was because of its depths and shadows, harbouring fears that only gave way to complex secrets as the clouds cleared, but today it was purely a problem of traversal. The hangar, looking slightly battered from the weather itself but not nearly as poorly treated as the ships finally returned inside, most of them still caked with mud and brought limping to roost, was approximately eight lightyears from the forge.

At least it was a fairly straight shot, but Tony felt half crazy by the time he came shuffling into the echoing space, the wheels of his cart dragged through the cracked roads rattling with a cohort of pebbles caught in their works, and abandoned the thing which felt like it had grown steadily heavier on this trek with a drop of his good arm and heave of a sigh. Gathering his energy again, he straightened to hug is arm cradled under the other, still wrapped and immobile against his chest, leaving his sleeve hanging empty, and headed for the Bloodsport to collect what remained of his onboard from their journey. There were tools there that had been sorely missed at the forge, and a variety of acquisitions from the Agrii cargo bay under Sundance's guidance, and a silky quilt that had Tony sitting in the doorway of the ship with it pulled up over his head, eyes closed and legs kicking idly, looking bruised and exhausted and trying not to look at the cart for just a minute while he meditated on his next move and definitely wasn't just stalling.

b. Most of the D.A.T.A. points had gone dark some time during their venture out to space, or, more likely, the storm that had seeped into all of their works. With the forge back to working order, it was time for Tony to address this problem, which it turned out he had made a rather large one for himself. The closest camera was installed near the fountain, though, and might have been the most important, to alert Tony to any new arrivals, so that would have to be his first stop to see what damage was done. They were all going to have to be upgraded; Tony wasn't going to be able to spread himself across the city to repair every one of them every time one of those storms hit. With his cartload of tools from the hangar, he would have to investigate the generator, surely flooded from the rain, and likely dismantle the watchful orb to find out what exactly had been burnt out in the overload from the storm's energy.

c. It definitely wasn't only the storm that had changed the charge of the city, though. As the skies cleared, it became obvious that the air had grown colder and crisper, and in the days that followed, the chill seemed to settle and harden the ground. Tony would have said it felt like autumn, but the alien plants didn't quite change the way they would have on Earth, growing brittle in the cold but without the warm oranges and yellows of a fall in New York. Instead, new plantlife seemed to have sprung up for him to notice on his long haul with his cart, giving him the good excuse to abandon it occasionally to crouch carefully at the side of the road, stiff in his bandages, and pluck up the young, frosty cyan buds that had started growing there. A few had flowered already, their petals petite but vibrantly blue, and smelling sharply spicy like cloves. He kept stopping to collect another, telling himself to deliver them to someone like Tommy to confirm that the smell didn't mean they were poisonous, maybe they were edible, and maybe this new growth meant that feeling that creep of ice on the air wasn't as much to worry about as Tony was starting to think. A winter couldn't be too harsh if these flowers were flourishing here.

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Something that Obi-Wan might relate with in some way. Though the circumstances might be a bit different. The Jedi’s brows raising again in a bit of amusement as he takes the offered hand, shaking it in greeting. Oddly enough this has perhaps been the most normal encounter he’s had with anyone here yet.

“And you may call me Ben. Though as far as a place, seeing as I don’t have one, it will have to be yours.”

Oh, okay, they were shaking, that was probably what Tony should have done in the first place, but between not wanting to crush the gift he was offering and the tenderness of his ribs, his grip was ginger and brief and, god, what a terrible impression to make. He tried to make up for it by dismissively tossing the flower on top of his collection of the rest with a frown at it like it was clearly getting in the way, and braced his arm under the bandaged one. "Ben. It's a date. What have you been doing this whole time?," he asked as though it wasn't obvious this guy had been here for approximately ten minutes. "It's a buyers market out there, you've got the options, sky's the limit. No, actually, you're right, this is a good call, we'll be out of here in no time, don't worry about it, I've got it under control." That was obviously working out for Tony so far.

Don't worry Tony, your impression isn't nearly as bad as some of the others here. You didn't scream in his face or ask him who the fuck he was. So there are some points for that. As the man rambles on though, the Jedi patiently looks on in a vaguely amused way. Though the ginger way in which he shook his hand also didn't escape his notice.

"How about one thing at a time, Tony. First of all, can I help you here? It looks as if you've been injured."

Edited (typos) 2020-12-07 20:43 (UTC)

"Ah--yeah, no, this is just a look I'm trying. It's not working for you?" Tony replied, giving a twist to show off his empty-sleeved outfit from the side so Ben could get the full impression of this new trend hitting the city, at least knowing better than to try to play it off like it wasn't there at all when it was this hard to miss. He was still obligated to say, "I'm fine," wiggling the fingers of his free hand to wave it off, "I don't have much farther to go, it's got wheels, under control. Unless you did want to come back to my place, which, listen, impeccable taste, Benji, but I don't know if I'm at a place where I'm ready to move in together yet, I haven't even met your parents."

This man needs to slow down and shut up. Really. Here he thought Anakin and Ahsoka were cheeky. This one is worse then both of them put together, even when they've had too much caf. Benji? He's not even going to ask.

"I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm afraid you would never get the chance to meet them anyway. So shall we skip a few steps in that case? You did promise me a date. Didn't we already agree on your place?"

You kind of already set yourself up there Tony.

"Anyway as fine as I'm sure you are, I could make it better. That is unless you prefer to stay like that for the next few weeks. Your choice of course."

More people would have said the 'shut up' part a little louder, and all Tony was hearing from Ben was encouragement, making him grin slowly with his tongue between his teeth as though he had to stop himself from arguing and wasn't very happy to nod and concede, he did promise. The rest of it wasn't as easy to process, forcing Tony to switch gears after assuming Ben had meant to offer help with Tony's haul, and not that he took some issue with what was slowing him down in the first place. Tony could answer cumulatively, "All of that," with a wave of his free hand to encompass both the flirting and whatever this offer was, "was a little threatening, I felt threatened. Is it weird that I'm a little turned on? Weird for you. I can work that out for me."

Unlike some, Obi-Wan actually was accustomed to some friendly banter. Which is why he is entertaining Tony at all. Anakin wasn't much better than the man standing before him, and it almost felt... normal. And a bit of normalcy was welcome in this case. The Jedi gives Tony a dubious look, because he highly doubts that this man actually felt threatened. Does he really look all that threatening?

"Yes, it is a bit weird," he says, then holds out his hand. "Let me see your arm." Classic avoidance and changing of the subject. Obi-Wan would not be fooled.

The distraction was Tony's strongest tactic, and he wasn't sure he entirely appreciated it being so easily dismissed, making him pout and glance away as though he might start sulking for being caught out. That would mean keeping his mouth shut, though, which clearly wasn't about to happen. "The doctor here, at the hospital--if you can call him that, he's, like, thirteen, but--he didn't do that bad," he felt like he had to defend. It wasn't clear if Ben's posture meant Tony was supposed to actually hand him something somehow, and in the absence he did give in enough to pull at the collar of his shirt to show the tight wrap of the bandage bracing his arm against his chest, and the purple bruise that used to be his collarbone. "If you're, like, an actual medical doctor, listen, the kid did his best, he's working with what he's got, we're lucky to have him and you should probably head over there and let him know what you're capable of, because that would really help him out. This, is just, it's broken, you know, it'll get better. I've been hit by a truck before, it's not the worst thing in the world."

Ah, the continual dodging. He has to wonder what this man's hang up was. Most would be appreciative of the idea of someone willing to help heal their wounds, but its likely he simply didn't understand what Obi-Wan was offering. Thus with a soft sigh, he lowered his hand for the moment and folded his arms across his chest. A slight wince flashing across his features when he saw the bruise.

"I'm sure he did a wonderful job, but I'm not exactly a doctor. Not in that way. But I do have the ability to heal, and I will certainly offer my services to anyone in need. Such as yourself."

If it was that Tony simply didn't understand before, now he was actively suspicious, narrowing his eyes slightly at the distinction 'ability to heal'. Billy had the 'ability to heal', too, but Tony's arm was still in a sling, like it was probably supposed to be. "That's, uh, generous of you, but if you're about to come at me with some laying hands, voodoo shit, I mean, if that's your thing, by all means, get your rocks off, but I'm not in a position to invest at this time." Whatever the selection process was for pulling people into this situation was really tipping irritatingly magical.

The suspicion isn't entirely surprising, and Obi-Wan meets it with a straight, calm face. "I'm not really sure what you mean, but I'm able to use the Force. That is, I can manipulate the energy inside of you, the energy that is part of all life. By doing so I can make your body heal faster. It's quite safe, in fact, my life has been saved on more than one occasion by such healing methods." Granted, much more advanced healing methods than he had, but the method was still pretty much the same. He only had basic training in such techniques.

The Force was a thing Tony knew about, so he brightened briefly in recognition, pointing a finger to put a button on that, but was back to looking suspicious as Ben explained further, frowning and worrying his lip like he had to keep himself from interrupting. "I'm not about to turn down having my insides manipulated, that sounds like a good time, but I've seen some Force works and it was not...that. I'm not calling this stranger who approached me in the middle of the road promising to change my life a liar, not if that's going to break bad for me because I've only got one arm to work with here and that would be really embarrassing for you, but I wouldn't say he's telling the truth." What Tony did know about the Force was, admittedly, minimal and localized, but Cal's 'echoes' didn't sound like they could be applied to any form of healing, and Tony had seen that at work.

"The Force can be used in many ways," Obi-Wan says patiently. "Particularly if one has a mastery of it. Though admittedly I don't know what you've seen."

The Jedi doesn't look insulted at the very least, letting Tony's skepticism roll off of him. He decides to let it go, for there's no reason to argue about it. One can lead an Eopie to water, but not make him drink. It was the same sort of thing here.

"Like I said, it's your choice. You wouldn't be the first to turn down my offers of help." Something that was a bit of a sore spot, but he let those feelings go.

That was an awkward enough note to end on that Tony complained, "Aw, don't do that now," because now he felt bad for letting Ben down somehow. "You just gotta work on your pitch, sweetheart. You can't let it all ride on that cute face of yours. Now, if I were approaching someone with the intention of getting involved with their body, I'd probably lead with a compliment on their fashion choices. Trust me, I'm an expert," he smirked, and very well could have meant his expertise was on selling a concept, or more physical propositions. "Come on, we'll have you helping people in no time," he said, taking up his cart again to start into town, leading them toward the hospital and perhaps someone better at determining the veracity of Ben's claims before Tony broke and agreed to leap into human trials. There had to be someone else familiar with the Force nearby, right?

He has a way with that. Was it working? Tony’s complaining and “advice” was met with a chuckle.

“No? Well I don’t think you would want my opinion on fashion choices, considering the obvious.” He motions at himself and the brown robes that he wore. Not exactly fashionable in any society really, but traditional among the Jedi.

As Tony moves on, Ben follows after him, walking with the quiet calm and grace of his people. Hands folding inside his wide sleeves as he goes. “I will hold you to that. On the condition that you will be among them as well.”

The impression of the monk apparating on the road was rapidly back, making Tony chuckle with a sidelong look at the perfected posture in the modest robes. That did align fairly well with what Tony knew about Cal's upbringing and self-critical strictness alongside an easy charm. It was looking unlikely that this guy was some kind of grifter putting in the work just for one struggling invalid he found in the middle of nowhere. "You're a Jedi, aren't you?" Tony asked, which maybe was supposed to be a given, with the Force thing, but it wasn't Tony's field. There had been other Force users here that definitely were not Jedi. Tony tipped his head from side to side without any hands to gesture with, to try to explain, "There's another one here, but...we're from really different places, all of us. Where I'm from, we'd probably call you a mutant or...a sorcerer?" It didn't map on perfectly, not with what Tony actually knew yet, but he knew at least that he hadn't encountered a Jedi until he met someone from a different dimension.

That question caused Ben to visibly falter for just the briefest moment. Yes he had admitted to using the Force, but now he realizes he may have been a bit reckless in doing so. Apparently having revealed himself to someone who knew more than he had initially thought. It took him a bit longer to answer than it should have.

“I was. Once.”

That’s all the details he’s willing to divulge about that at the moment. It hadn’t really been all that long ago. Maybe a month now. Though it felt like a lifetime.

“Jedi have been called wizards and the like even where I’m from. Only by those who are ignorant of such things. The Force is not magic. Most simply don’t understand it and don’t have the ability to connect with it.”

The past tense was not expected. It hadn't sounded to Tony like something one just stopped doing, like he couldn't just stop being human, as much as he tried to push the definition. Even with those attempts, the advanced healing he had still left him in this sling for Ben to find.

"But you do," should have also been a given, but the ex-Jedi thing tangled the wires. The rest of it, Tony realized, could have sounded like a martial art, like the Iron Fist controlling his chi, but the Immortal Weapon title wasn't necessarily permanent. "They kicked you out of the club," Tony inferred, shooting Ben a sidelong look again, eyebrow raised this time, for what he might have done to deserve that. "For laying hands on strange men."

“No,” Ben replies quickly, but with a tenseness that hadn’t been there before. His calm, soft voice having a bit of an edge to it. Not because of anything Tony said really, but instead the truth this man doesn’t seem to know. Even though he somehow knows about the Jedi.

“The ‘club’ doesn’t exist anymore. It is gone. And most of its members with it.”

Tony is right though. No matter what Obi-Wan says, no matter what he even may think, one doesn’t just stop being a Jedi. He will try, certainly, but it would be a struggle for many years to come. Being forced to hide, not only himself, but who he is.

The tension in Ben's voice tugged at the corner of Tony's mouth, making him tilt his head with a fangy, curious smirk like a predator that had just scented blood. It had been looking like Ben was going to be difficult to rile, and that tension was just enough of an opening for Tony to wrench into, but he very quickly was glancing away again, much less interested in making him sad. Tony knew a bit about being part of a club like that.

For all appearances, it was with a very unearned confidence that Tony casually assured Ben, "It'll be back," then was gesturing for him to look up because apparently that was all that needed to be said. "That's the hotel," Tony was continuing instead. They were close enough to the core of the city to see the building looming up over the cracked streets as they headed deeper in. "If you're in the market for a bed, that's probably your safest bet. You'll have some neighbours there that can help you out, there's already a place to sleep and a bathroom, it's not bad."

Tony managed to find the one thing that would most easily get an emotional response out of Ben. Good job. Use this power wisely! It may or may not be a good thing, depending on what the goal is.

Though the tenseness was there, it was quickly gone again. The Jedi saying nothing in response to the other man’s opinion. He couldn’t possibly know if the order would be restored, but it would be if Ben had anything to say about it. One day. Possibly not even in his life time, but he had hope nonetheless.

When the hotel is pointed out, Ben lifts his gaze to give it a look over. Acting as if the previously exchanged words hadn’t happened at all. “I certainly am in the market. Thank you. Though I don’t exactly have anything to offer in exchange for my stay.”

"We're getting there," Tony assured him with another smirk that suggested Ben should start considering what demeaning lows he was willing to commit himself to for a comfortable bed as they made their way toward the fountain. "That's the diner," he could point to as they entered the square, "if you're having trouble feeding yourself. No shame in that, some of us aren't, uh, foragers. The kid that runs the place, Tommy, he can be a real asshole, but he'll take care of your gluten allergy or whatever." Being the tour guide was, honestly, the last job Tony would willingly sign up for in this place, but he was having a difficult time finding a groove after stumbling into that sad energy he wanted even less to do with, in case Ben was a crier. He soldiered on: "That big place there," he indicated across the splashing water toward the library, "is haunted, don't worry about it."

He led them along the square next to the towering, glass greenhouse, where the shine of the datapoint inside could have been a reflection of the one hovering near the fountain. This way would lead them close to another datapoint in the tower that Tony was most familiar with, and most directly to a fourth at the hospital, so Tony finally explained, "There's no real currency here or anything, think of it more like a hippy commune; take what you need and put in what you can. There's more of those data dumps all over the place that, I think, were supposed to help us understand better what we're working with here, so we didn't immediately all starve and die before we could put on a good show. So, you think, you're a healer, maybe I can help out by doing some healing, and then you walk into this hospital up here and realize, shit, all of this is alien shit, I don't know what to do with that, not a problem. There's a data point that I think should help you out."

Appreciative of the tour, Ben followed and paid keen attention to everything that was pointed out. Which seemed to be places to meet ones basic needs. Though he regarded the apparently haunted building with some interest. Clearly Tony must not ascribe to the notion that telling someone not to do something will make them want to go even more. Unless that was the entire point.

He didn’t comment as they moved on, nodding in understanding as to the way the little society works. Though he wasn’t familiar with the word ‘hippie’, he got the idea well enough. “I see. That will be no issue for me,” he said as they went on. After all, the Jedi had no need of wealth and only used what they absolutely needed while contributing to society in their way. It was not an idea he was unfamiliar with. As he considered the hospital though he hummed thoughtfully.

“You mean with drugs and equipment. I already explained I’m not that sort of healer. Though it wouldn’t hurt to have such knowledge even if I’m not so inclined. Have you used the data point?”

Tony gave a pout that suggested Ben should keep his options open, because some patients he knew could be particular about their treatment, tilting his head slightly toward his shoulder. "I don't know if the Doc's around to meet, but...He's not that sort of healer, either. He's one of those mutant-sorcerers I was talking about. Actually. 'Wizard's not, uh, derogatory. To most people." That wasn't super useful information, so Tony considered for a moment before he offered, "His name's Billy. You'll like him. He works for it."

As for the data point, Tony snorted and shook his head, then nodded back the way they had come to the tower standing between them and the agricultural building. "Biology is a burden that I'm working on distancing myself from. I used another one, up there. It's, uh...tech support." There wasn't a great way for Tony to try to explain what that datapoint had told him, not without potentially giving away that he could watch any of Ben's network activity. Including that the Agrii didn't think he was called 'Ben'.

And Tony gets a look, suggesting that Tony isn't being any more open minded than he is. He's not falling for that, sir. "I see, well I look forward to meeting him, one way or another."

His attention then turns to the indicated tower, a brow raising slightly. "Tech support? So then are you a mechanic? Or something else?" He couldn't see anything worth really working with here as far as programming. From what he's seen, most things hardly work if at all. It probably is best that Tony not mention that he can spy on him. Obi-Wan is already uncertain of this device that he found himself with and hasn't seen fit to use it yet.

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