Lead

[in_extremis]

WHO: Tony, Richie, open in theory*
WHERE: Coruscant. A bar.
WHAT: A pair of addictive personalities walk into a bar.
WHEN: Mid-field trip?
WARNINGS: I don't know how dark this will actually get, but they're definitely going to talk about addiction a lot, and Tony is more self-destructive than usual.
*: I know I haven't had a normal open post in a wHile, so sorry about this one targeted prompt. I know no one ever takes the wildcard option, but really, now is the time, hit me up, I'm just floundering a bit in this event.


Jon did help. He did. Jon could also sense Tony's anxiety like a soft, marshmallow filling, and if Jon was going to continue to be so helpful, it was probably in Tony's best interest if he didn't know how profoundly pathetic Tony was. He was used to doing this on his own, anyway. The code was in the framework.

Isolating himself on the ship hadn't exactly worked out, but Tony thought he could maybe apply the same theory to a stale, narrow bar buried a few feet under the hotel. A whole planet to explore, and not a lot of time to do it, who would be sticking so close at this point? Tony knew he wouldn't be, if he didn't feel like his wings had been clipped. Steve was gone. It was going to get worse from here.

The bartender left a slimy trail in their wake as they moved up and down their space, like a snail making its way along the counter, ignoring Tony by now and leaving him to watch blindly as they swept by, then the discharge oozed incrementally toward where Tony had propped his elbows, then was mopped up by the tendril they used to carry a stained rag trailing behind themself. It splattered with a reliable regularity into a bucket at either end of the counter. It was revolting, but Tony was starting to find some peace in it, measuring the consistency of the slime in the way it pooled and was gathered in the sweep of the cloth. It was a very different kind of peace than the one Tony had slammed his head against by watching the way the liquid in the bottle of 'strongest you have', whatever that was, caught the low light and flashes of neon that filtered their way into the bar. He wasn't sure how long ago he had ordered it, but there were already two cigarette butts wilting in the melting ice of the glass that it had come with, and the third he had largely forgotten about burnt close to his knuckles.

The bartender also didn't speak any structured language, though it seemed to understand just fine. It was the snarling grunt that they hurled at another man that knocked Tony out of his reverie, blinking slowly at the guy raising his hands in surrender with a nervous laugh and insisting he was definitely going to pay, just slipped his mind, is all. It was dark enough in here that Tony knew it was a blanket invitation to get away with plenty that wouldn't be welcome closer to the surface, but even the snail-guy had their limits. They were still grouching in a low growl as the came sweeping in front of Tony again, not even slowing down as Tony tried to ask, "Got any more of these?" with the last of the cigarette brandished. They would probably be back, Tony thought, as he watched them go. Maybe.

Comments

[heypartner]

"The galaxy's still got slavery. I don't think anyone's overly concerned with droids being more human," he said dryly. Now, he was also from a backwater planet on the Outer Rim where most droids were a few models behind. He couldn't say for the Core worlds but didn't really care to know either.

He looked up from the part he's examining. It was meant to spin the engine up on start so it could hit the right rotations per second to keep a speeder hovering. Pretty standard piece of equipment. It didn't have much value but it was familiar and in good condition.

"A human can say no. Will say no if somethin' wrong or they don't want to do somethin'. Droids don't really have that." The droids he'd met never said no. And well, he supposed that was true of slaves too but he just couldn't muster up the same sympathy for metal and circuits. "I'm gonna guess you like 'em, droids."

[in_extremis]

Tony wasn't entirely sure what Cobb was trying to tell him, eyebrow raised inquisitively before he ventured, "And that hasn't changed in a thousand years?" He had already figured out that the droids were not so much an effective advancement in automation as they were a tool to further divide and suppress a working class in this galaxy, but the galactic awareness of that must have been dire if there was still actual slavery working alongside the robots. Even on the microcosm of Earth, slavery had proven a difficult problem to solve, a virulent code embedded in the planet's algorithm, but Earth hadn't effectively solved the whole problem of labour with droids.

Tony glanced at BB-8 to offer him a smile at Cobb's assessment, so it was to the droid that he said, "Sure, a little," and got a sarcastic beep in response. "We don't have anything quite like them on Earth. We have more basic AI, programmed for their tasks, just computers, and we have a few advanced synthetic lifeforms, with unique consciousnesses, recognizable will and distinct personalities. These guys are...somewhere in between."

[heypartner]

"It hasn't in my time and I'm one of the more recent folks from this galaxy." And, as far as he could tell, the only former slave. Everyone else seemed to be blessed Jedi and fancy senators. Only person who might understand was Echo but Cobb hadn't told him about his past yet.

Might not say it ever. He didn't want these folks to know.

Cobb finished with the part and offered it back to Tony. "You put that in the engine of your homemade speeder and it should help the start up so it'll be fast and steady."

That was a safer topic to cover, wasn't it? "Yeah, they've got their uses. I'll give 'em that." He studied the little orange droid. It was a different shape than the astromechs he was used to but still had that general look. "You said this boys from the future so you didn't buy it here. But your world doesn't have droids. Why's this one with you?"

[in_extremis]

The part was accepted with a curious twist in Tony's hands then a quick lift in thanks, though the startup hadn't been the part of the equation that had fallen apart. "You should come by and take a look at it," he suggested, and cocked his head with his gaze rolling to the ceiling to promise, "It's less deadly when it's off. I still haven't figured out the problem with the hardware." Pieces had gone missing in the crash, Tony thought, but he still had the molds to machine them again, it wasn't like he had forgotten some key bolts.

"I told you, he's being punished," he explained the droid, making BB-8 wobble with an indignant beep while Tony shot him a smirk. "His dad," he started, because he didn't have a better word for the relationship, not sounding much more serious than before, "had a hot date, couldn't have this guy around cramping his style. They knew I didn't have any plans tonight. What's your excuse?" This wasn't the most glamorous place on Coruscant to be spending the evening, after all.

[heypartner]

"Sure, I'll take a look. Built mine from scavenged parts. Might be able to help figure yours out." Cobb liked mechanical work. It was simple. Familiar. Even though he'd done it most of his life with no choice he still enjoyed it. He looked around at all the stuff Tony had gathered. "Should be enough here to fix it up. If you're bringing all this back."

Dad was an interesting choice of words. Cobb thought 'owner' might be a better way to phrase that but it was clear Tony was very sympathetic to driods humanizing them more than most would.

"I'm bored with the city." Cobb shrugged. He had gambled. He had explored a little. He found the city crowded, loud, and dirty. He would much rather be home but well, this was what he got. "Figured I'd hang around here tonight and see how folks are doing."

And Din was at the Temple with Grogu so his preferred company wasn't available.

[in_extremis]

"Most of it. Haven't decided," Tony admitted as he looked around at his accumulation of parts and pieces that he hadn't been terribly efficient thus far at sorting through. Not nearly as efficient as he had been at accumulating it, anyway. It was all going to be in some way useful for holding together what comfort and sanity they could scrape up in Temba, but it wasn't all going to make it back with them. Tony muttered, "There's a couple of bodies on my ship I could probably throw overboard."

Bored was not how Tony expected anyone to feel about the myriad sights and smells of Coruscant, especially after Temba's rundown emptiness, so he raised an eyebrow skeptically at this proclamation. "Hoping to run into someone?" he guessed at the truth. "Sorry, just us here tonight." With a tip of his head, Tony tried his most disarming smile before Cobb tried to turn the question back on him, adding, "For your pleasure."

[heypartner]

"You want help pickin' out what'll work for a speeder?" Since there wasn't anything else exciting going on tonight. At least not here. Somewhere in the city there was a party going on. Cobb just didn't care of it. He'd rather look through junk, honestly. "That way you get a good stuff and not anythin' unnecessary."

There's a lot of good to be said for Coruscant. Cobb has had fun but none of it feels right. It's not a planet where he belongs for a long stretch of time. The empty wastes of Temba are much more comfortable for him.

"There's a few people." He's not going to admit to anything. Tony can assume whatever he wanted in that response. But yeah, he would've liked to chat with Din. Tony was growing more tolerable by the minute though.

"Not the worst company I've ever had." He smirked slightly. "Not the best either."

[in_extremis]

The offer was shockingly kind to Tony, still not entirely believing Cobb didn't have literally any place better to be in this rare chance at civilization they had to luxuriate it, and very much not used to volunteer help in general. It made him squint with suspicion after a moment, going, "Uh..." as he tried to work out what payment Cobb could have been expecting from their brief interaction, because it certainly wouldn't be that armor that he wasn't impressed by.

The completely unnecessary reminder not to get too comfortable with Cobb was more reassuringly familiar, making Tony chuckle with an impish delight as he popped up out of his seat again, like Cobb was going to one day regret saying so much. Tony could be much worse. "The good stuff, sure, put it over there," was how he accepted the offer to pass their tedious evening, gesturing to a less cluttered area near the Bloodsport's door, "And anything else you think would help us staple that place back together, throw it in, too." That could mean anything, but at least Tony had a sounding board now. They could work that part out while their hands were busy; more importantly, Tony continued seamlessly, "Usually, when there's someone I want to see, and I'm not saying there is, but I give them a call and maybe send a picture if I'm feeling frisky. If you already tried that, I'm out of ideas, you're stuck here, sorry, Marshal."

[heypartner]

There was no ulterior motives here. Cobb genuinely liked junk and he liked scavenging. He had done a lot in his life with spare parts and bits of wire to hold everything together. It was something he knew, something he was comfortable with, unlike the city beyond the hangar.

Tony could try his worst. Cobb was made of tougher stuff.

"You know saying that makes it sound like you do wanna see someone," Cobb pointed out as he crouched down to start searching through the smaller pieces of junk. The electronics for a speeder were real important. "You hopin' someone else comes to visit while you're babysittin'?"

Two could play this game. Cobb was well versed at not talking about himself.

[in_extremis]

Tony took that as though it was a scandalous accusation, hand alighting delicately on his chest with a gasp before he insisted, "Why, I have all the good company a guy could ask for right here." BB-8, swivelling his head in a clear indication that he fully understood that this impassioned defence was in his honour, gave a low whistle then trundled away to presumably set something else on fire, not at all indulging in Tony's game. Tony pursed his lips and frowned after the droid, hand dropping limply to his hip. The implication had clearly been an effective distraction, anyway, from how unlikely it was that Tony was doing any such cold-calling or photo-sending, despite the fangy grin he turned back on Cobb like he might just turn this encounter into a date.

"Would you come if I called?" he teased, heated under Tony's intense scrutiny and wicked curl of his smirk, only to release the pressure suddenly by giving a spin where he stood, hands open for the assessment. "Don't hold back, I can take it and I will not respect your opinion if it is wrong," he encouraged with that impish glimmer again.

[heypartner]

Cobb laughed softly as he picked up a few things. The look he gave Tony was amused and skeptical. "You're just full of bullshit, ain't ya?"

That wasn't meant as an insult. There's a showmanship to Tony that Cobb can respect. A little flash kept people from looking too closely. He was very familiar with the tactic.

"Of course. I've got one of these helpful personalities." He straightened up with his first collection of useful parts, mostly small things, and put them aside for safe keeping. He'd need a box of some kind to keep them safe. "Already takin' the time out of my evening to keep you amused. It's... it's like community service."

If Tony's going to spout bullshit, so will Cobb. They'll have a pleasant evening.

[in_extremis]

The accusation was accepted with a grin of pride, like Tony was offering only the most luxurious and sophisticated bullshit Cobb could hope for. Clearly, they had an understanding. Tony swept closer as he rose with his collection, following to gather a few of the components into the helmet he still carried as though it was a glorified basket for his treasures now.

"And you'll be a better person for it," he shot back. "It's never too late to turn your life around. You'll do your time and be an upstanding citizen again eventually."

It would feel a little like trading dry barbs with Steve as they picked through the salvage, which definitely didn't lessen the homesick feeling that Tony was nursing and had sent him retreating into the isolation of the hangar and out of the noise of the city. But Tony found it was a welcome familiarity, and made the time and tedious job pass easier, especially with someone familiar with the materials to manage the excess.

[heypartner]

"Are you accusing me of being a corrupt Marshal?" Cobb raised an eyebrow and looked Tony over like he was deeply offended. Then he chuckled. "Yeah, well, you might be right. No recognized government gave me the position. Just the townsfolk I protect."

Which was an amusing little fact that Cobb never got tired of. He was proud to be the Marshal of Mos Pelgo and double proud that no government decided that position. He was the only true, honest Marshal on Tatooine.

"I'm actually doing my job right now. Watching a troublemaker and makin' sure he keeps his nose clean." Instead of giving Tony a pointed look he looked at the droid who had a lighter. So far, the little round guy seemed more dangerous than Tony.