16th Command; video

[aggravating]

[The video clicks on to Tony looking harried and, well, sleep deprived in the lab he's been given access to. He should probably be sleeping, considering he should really be off his leg still and it's like, ass o'clock, but who's keeping track, right?

Also, he might just be waving at the camera with the skeleton of what seems to be a robotic arm.]

So, I have things. And I've kind of forgotten who they're for. Well, okay, no. This- [Have some robotic skeleton fingers wiggling] -is the only one I'm still not sure on, so if you're missing an arm and looking to gain one of the metal, not-so-organic kind, hi. Tony Stark. I'll be your creepy prosthetic tailor for the duration of your stay here. Tips appreciated.

That said, anyone want anything robotic improved, I'm looking for projects that hopefully won't end up in a miniature robot invasion this time around. So if you want an alarm clock that doubles as a taser, toaster, microwave, and guard dog, you're listening to the right broadcast.

[Thaaaaat being said, he has a few private call-outs to make, so. Bye, barge.]

[Private to Dean]
I have a present for you. [And no, unfortunately, it isn't an automatic toilet cleaner.]

[Private to Natasha]
I have a few things. Also, you owe me Russian lessons. [And if his tone is a little less asshole-ish than the rest of his broadcast it's completely just part of her imagination.]

[Private to Duo]
So, that robot pet thing. I have it. Pretty much bulletproof and self-repairing. To a point. Sophisticated, kinda independent AI with basic protocols and a developing personality. Also to a point. Consider it a less annoying, more advanced Furby. Probably going to be a work in progress until I can get it to just the right specs, so expect some upgrades and tweaks to be needed.

[Private to Charles]

[This message is... well, it's a little harder to get going. There's a long moment of silence as Tony just sits in the lab Charles has let him run "wild" in, turning a piece of metal over and over in his hands. Finally, he lets out a breath of air and looks square at the camera]

I'm an alcoholic. And I might need some help handling it.

Comments

[ Private : Video ]

[surfaceshine]

[Have a wary hunter, Tony. Justifiably, we feel.]

For me? You shouldn't have. Or maybe you should've, I dunno. Is it bigger than a breadbox?

[ Private : Video ]

[aggravating]

[It's almost like you don't trust him C:]

Much. [He shifts a bit, pointing the camera at a work bench and- yup. Nothing fancy. Just a modest, black mini-fridge.] Figured I owed you something for ditching out of maintenance lately.

[Which... has basically been all the time since he got thrown in Zero considering the fun chain of events]

[ Private : Video ]

[surfaceshine]

[And now, he's outright suspicious. Tony doesn't apologize or make amends on his own, and no one gives Dean gifts. The hunter squints through the communicators at the fridge, trying to decide if he recognizes it or not, though he's still smirking.]

Yeah, you do, but I never expected to see it. What's wrong with it?

[ Private ]

[lastincident]

You know I really ought to drop by and see your lab. [ and you know be your pal because you sound like you need it, T-Man. ]

[ Private ]

[aggravating]

[Oh, hey bro. He's not even looking up as he shrugs a shoulder and goes for one of those mini blowtorches lying around]

Not actually mine. [Which, judging from his tone, he's still kind of butthurt about.] Just been camping in here to get some orders done.

[megamind]

[ And now, high pitched alien outrage. ]

What did it take for you to get a lab?

[ This is one incredibly irritated alien. ]

[aggravating]

[... snerk]

It's called being the best inventing genius on board. And one of the ones who isn't actually gunning for world domination or whatever the hell most of the inmates are here for. [ C: he is the best and you will never prove otherwise, Megamind. Never.]

[thestarspangledman]

An alarm clock that doubles as a taser sounds a little ....dangerous. What if you were half asleep and accidentally tased yourself?

[aggravating]

I have a strict 'no idiots' useage policy but come on, Cap. Really? You think I wouldn't program something to keep that from happening?

[Or, alternatively, it does sound like a good way to fully wake up. Little electric shock as you head towards the snooze button...]

[Video//Private]

[silvestris]

I'm going to bet you're a whiz with welding.

[Video//Private]

[aggravating]

I have some practice. [g r i n hi there, darling]

[Private]

[notiaraincluded]

Actually, I've got a project in mind that might be right up your alley. And it'll probably be a lot bigger than an alarm clock.

[Private]

[aggravating]

If it means I get to play ruler of the lab for another week, I'll take it. [No, seriously. Charles will probably be happy with the progress and let Tony actually stay in his element] What were you thinking?

[private. because sometimes Ladd has Good Ideas]

[thestarishere]

[Ladd's peering at you with no small amount of interest, Tony. Peering and leaning in towards the screen, one eye screwed up as he thinks and looks around the room on the other end, and then he retreats and grins widely. The shark who's suddenly hit upon a very, very good idea.

...for sharks, anyway.]

What about if you've already got a metal arm an' might be in the market for an upgrade?

[private. THESE ARE NOT GOOD IDEAS, LADD]

[aggravating]

[Oh, hi. He likes this interest. He doesn't like the shark grin, though. He kind of associates those with his arc reactor getting ripped out, by now. Thanks, Erik Lensherr.]

Are you an inmate? [Because, you know, he's pretty sure you were the asshole going around and killing people at some point] Because if so, you need a signed permission slip from mom.

[Or Tony needs to like you]

[private]

[deadliestviper]

[Tony, you ass. How dare you be so obnoxious and yet so talented. Now she's going to have to talk to you.]

A regular taser couldn't take you long. What would it take?

[private]

[aggravating]

[Such is the curse of being Tony Stark C:]

I could make it from stuff here. [He's kind of been redesigning Natasha's widow's bite which is, pretty much, a glorified taser. BUT.]

If I give you a taser, how long until I end up on the floor twitching?

[It's a legitimate concern, okay.]

[Private]

[wedonot]

[That was honestly not what he'd been expecting to hear when his communicator had let him know he had a message from Tony waiting, and while he knows Tony well enough by now to know that whatever was following was going to be something serious and not his usual asshole attention seeking self that... still wasn't it.

So Charles looks a little surprised and takes a moment himself to figure out what to say to that.]

Alright. Where would you like to start?

[Private]

[aggravating]

[Honestly, it's not what he'd been expecting to say. He'd meant to admit that yeah, maybe he did have a problem. Maybe he wasn't as in control as he'd thought.

But then, he'd remembered Bruce knocking a child out by slamming her against a wall, he remembered the wariness the young Charles had when talking to him, the bite of a knife digging into his leg. More than that, really, he remembered the fogginess in his mind during all of that. The way he'd been distanced, retreated into himself. Watching himself run his mouth and say things that just made everything so much fucking worse.

And he remembers when it hit home that he'd broken into his friend's room. Taken advantage of the fact that even if Steve was in there, he was just a skinny, asthmatic ten-year-old kid. He'd stolen from him, and gotten drunk.

There has to come a point where enough is enough. Where the damage starts getting out of control, past a point Tony ever wanted to see it go. He has a feeling, if he went home, without anyone to really regulate him, keep him locked away from alcohol, he'd be on a street corner somewhere, huddled in a parka in the middle of winter, warming himself up with a bottle clutched desperately in hand, fueling this addiction with money built from blood and war and sick profiteering. But he's not back home, he doesn't have the benefit of losing himself all day every day. He's on the barge, he's forcibly sober, and he's been forced to stare a problem right in the eye with no room to back down, to escape.]

I have no idea. [That, at least, gets his lips quirking up, has a huff of tense laughter escaping] You actually expect me to know when it's taken me how long to even admit to it?

[secretasshole]

[Hi Tony, you're gonna talk about robots? You're gonna get the attention of this guy. B)]

Miniature robot invasion?

[aggravating]

[................ Dude you look like a blonde Erik Lensherr.

Tony is so sorry that is your lot in life.]

I'm guessing you're new here. [Tony. Tony, no. That explains nothing.]

[Private]

[persuadeyou]

[Wow it sure dose take her a long time to reply to this, doesn't it. But she is just pretending like nothing is out of the norm, so don't you dare pity her.]

What things?

[Private]

[aggravating]

[Like Tony Stark ever pities anyone, Tasha.]

Let's just say I might have hacked into SHIELD when I was back home and took a look at the sad excuse for technology they had strapped to your wrists.

[Private]

[doctor_j_crane]

I hope you'll appreciate that the lab staff, engine room technicians and infirmary staff will want to examine any of your creations before they're attached to people.

[Private]

[aggravating]

See. Inmate isn't actually synonymous with psychotic supervillain. But hey, you think you can figure out my work enough to find snags? Knock yourself out.