04 [Central: Stark Tower - Open to Anything] A first class diva for all your Stark needs.

[starknaked]

Building and presenting the wind tunnel had actually made Tony happy. It was a scary thing to be happy with giving, and he blamed his time with the Avengers for such emotions. Whatever it was, he had thing to do in and about the Tower. If he was stuck here for the duration, then there was a lot that needed to be done.

Plans for the rooftop suit robotics were in place. He'd gotten things up and running on Taxon's electricity since the device he'd used for sustainable energy before hadn't proven compatible to this place. At least not yet. That left some of the little things.

Stepping into the lab, he heard movement. His first thought was Selina, though a mental image of Sherlock flashed through his mind as well. It turned out to be neither of them as the cylindrical head lifted, slowly tilting to one side quizzically.

His breath caught in his lungs. An award winning robot built when Tony was just seventeen and for all his issues with the thing, with it's lack of judgment in so many things, Tony suddenly felt a little less cut off from his life to see Dummy there.

For a long time he was silent before stepping into the room and crossing to stand before the robot.

"You've been slacking," he said, waggling a finger at the robot. Dummy's head tilted the other way. "Don't give me that. We've got work to do."

Pausing, he clunk his brow against that cylindrical "head" before turning away. "Right. Work. Come on."

An hour later he was on a ladder, mounting one of a series of cameras to the outside of the building. This one over the main door, pointing at the spot before a buzzer. He looked up into the camera.

"Link the locks with the camera and link it into the facial recognition hardware," he said to the robot inside, his tablet blinking through the entire moment as he'd found Dummy and building the cameras as it broadcasted. He really didn't pay it any attention.

Climbing down from the later, he pulled a flat, engraved panel from his back pocket. Using a drill and masonry bit, he mounted the plaque beside the buzzer.

STARK TOWER
Ring buzzer for admittance
Smile for the camera and the facial recognition software

If you're Sherlock, the US government, or somehow Fury...
Make an appointment for two weeks from never

Comments

[location]

[aintnoconvict]

...no but seriously how long can he not pay attention to the giant freaking tower in the middle of town?

Glitch pushes the buzzer and casts about with a benign smile, not entirely sure where the camera is. Good luck with this, Tony.

[location]

[starknaked]

In truth, Tony wasn't sure he expected anyone to use the buzzer. Raziel scaled the place. Selina came and went on her own. Now though there was someone there, pushing the buzzer.

Tony stared at the monitor for a long moment, considering. Finally he took the stairs two at a time, moving to open the door from the inside.

"Stark Towers, Tony Stark," he said, offering his hand. "You are?"

[location] aaand then Keri remembered A Thing

[aintnoconvict]

Glitch is a polite rule-follower like that. Also scared of heights and lacking in superpowers.

He grins and nods when the door opens and he raises his hand in return-- then freezes. Tony Stark. Tony, who'd been and gone nearly two annuals ago and this one is so different, healthier looking than the one he sort-of remembers.

So it's like Buffy again: the same but not, and he has to start at the beginning. The smile resumes.

"Name's Glitch," he replies with what could be described as a politician's handshake if not for the workman's calluses. "The one mentioend in Mayland's welcome guide thingy. Figured it was time I paid a social call."

[location] Oh. Well. Oops?

[starknaked]

"Glitch? Oh right. Gotcha. Well then, come on in," he said, stepping back and gesturing for him to come in. "I have to say, it's impressive someone actually used it. Got a few visitors who don't believe in doorbells."

And usually not in doors either. He wondered what some of them would do if that gaping hole hadn't existed in the side of the tower.

"Glad to have you come by. I actually might want to pick..." He stopped himself, glancing at the zipper. "Well, my understanding is you know a bit about creating things."

[location]

[aintnoconvict]

Glitch nods and follows along, then snorts at the assessment of the citizenry. "Yeah, lots of folks need to brush up on their manners.

He takes in the details and gives Tony a little eyebrow arch at the glance and abrupt shift in what he'd been saying. Nice to know his reputation preceds him.

"Your understanding's correct," he replies with a nod. Should he abuse his knowledge of the prior Tony? Sure, just a little, can't hurt. "And I understand you're of the inventy persuation as well?"

[location]

[starknaked]

“I suspect a few of them…” Or one in particular. “Doesn’t have any at all. Some of the others though, not so bad. Raziel, for one.” He thought about the being he thought of as a boy to him, who just wanted to fly.

He’s trying to show his own manners, even if it isn’t quite happening.

“I am. If you want, you can see the lab. Not a lot going on in it, though there’s quite a bit I’m working on currently.”

[location]

[aintnoconvict]

A lab you say?

"It takes a while to get up and running, Especially considering..." Yeah, the tower'd been kind of a wreck. "But yes, thank you, I'd love to see it. Lead the way."

Glitch wants to ask what Tony's working no, but remembers that whole manners thing. Professional courtesy, he'll find out in good time.

[location]

[starknaked]

"Especially with half the building missing," he said, stating what he wasn't sure others might. Unless they were the kind that didn't care what he thought. Which, he was learning, was half the town.

"It's back up and running by electricity. That's a start. Now to get the suit back online, and hopefully Jarvis," he said, leading the way down the hallway. "Do you do a lot of work here," he asked. "I saw the shop in the guide."

[location]

[aintnoconvict]

"That does pose some unique problems, yeah."

And now he has to resist suggesting a tailor for suit-related problem and inquiring about who and/or what Jarvis is.

"I do, sort of," Glitch replies with a shrug. "Mostly tinkering busywork but if folks come to me with a project I'm more than happy to help out. Kinda more of an inventor-by-commission these days."

DING DONG (so impatient)

[buffy_slayer]

*bzzzzzzzzzzzzt*

*bzzzzzzzzzzzzt*

*bzzzzzzzzzzzzt*

[starknaked]

Tony wasn't entirely awake when the bell started ringing.

And ringing.

And ringing.

"What the hell," he muttered, rolling out of bed in his boxers. Not bothering with the camera, he padded down to the main door and peered out through the glass.

Well that made things interesting.

Without worrying about the fact he wasn't dressed, he opened the door.

"What can I help you with, Buffy."

[buffy_slayer]

A glance down, and very quickly looking back at his face. Just the face. Not looking at the bare chest with the large circular glowing thing in it.

There's suddenly a large basket thrust at him, rustling with clear plastic wrap. If he looks closely, there's a summer sausage, some blocks of white and orange cheese, crackers...

Even a small cheese board and a knife.

It's your usual Deluxe Version basket from Hickory Farms, and it's currently covering most of Buffy.

"I came to apologize."

[starknaked]

Well, he hadn't expected this. Not the visit, and not the gift. Of course, it was kind of the cutest thing he'd seen in a long time. Grinning, he carefully took the basket and lifted it from her arms.

"I have t admit, I'm not sure what you're apologizing for but please, come in. I rarely turn down adorable blondes with gifts," he said, stepping aside so she could come in.

"And then you may have to excuse me so I can actually put on clothes," he added, not seeming the least bit bothered by how he was dressed. Or in this case, wasn't dressed.

[buffy_slayer]

"I don't want to put you out..." Her voice trails off and she's obviously not aware of what she's saying. Mostly because she's gazing up and around at the lobby of Stark Tower.

It was a beauty, all glass and marble and soaring ceilings. Buffy's left gawking like a tourist.

[starknaked]

"You're not putting me out," he argued, moving for the elevators with a nod for her to follow. "Not at all. Trust me that..."

He realized then she wasn't following.

"Uhmmm, Buffy?" He watched the way she was looking around, chuckling. "Yeah, it's... a bit much. Or so I've been told. You should see the view from the big gaping hole."

[buffy_slayer]

Gathering herself, she hurries after him, heels clicking across the marble floor.

"Sorry, it just caught me off guard, that's all. I'll try and be unimpressed from here on out, though I'm curious to see what kind of view that giant gaping hole actually has."

[starknaked]

Tony laughed, finding that more than amusing. She was charming, that was for sure.

"Well, you're more than welcome to see it, though I note a god made it and not me. Do you want to walk or try the elevators? No Muzak anymore."

[genequeen]

Madelyne looks at the sign and then laughs softly before pushing the button. She could just fly up to the top of the tower and not bother with this but, well, she knows what needing some privacy and security is like. The camera is given a small smile as she waits.

[starknaked]

Tony heard the buzzer, once more shocked someone pinged it. Well, people could learn. Glancing at the monitor, he grinned and immediately hit the door open button and the intercom.

"On the twenty-seventh. Elevators are working for the time being."

[genequeen]

When she arrives on the 27th, she looks around, not having done a lot of that when she was here last time. She calls out, not seeing Tony right away, "Thanks for the elevator. It is nice not to have to do it myself."

[starknaked]

Half hidden beyond the uniform device he had been working on, he popped up to see Maddy.

"Welcome to my mad scientist lab. Try and not touch much, since it will very likely touch back," he teased. "Or blow up," he said with a laugh. "Sorry I didn't meet you at the door. Just trying to get this to where Summers and I can move it into place and see what it does."

[genequeen]

"Oh, so is that what he's doing with his spare time?"

The quotation marks around the word 'spare' are audible enough that she doesn't bother actually making. "I'm not entirely fond of mad scientists. Or labs. But I think I can make an exception."

[starknaked]

"I admit, I've stolen as much of his assistance as I can for this. He's quite knowledgeable and willing to help. And he's training me so I have to be nice to him before he kicks me in the teeth," he said with a laugh, not believing in the least that it would happen.

He glanced at her. "I'm not mad. Not in that sense. I rarely even cackle."

[genequeen]

"He's always been a good teacher," she says. There is something in her voice but she's keeping most of it internal, so it is hard to pinpoint, exactly, what that tone is really.

"Well, that's good. Otherwise we might have a problem." She's joking.

Mostly.

[starknaked]

Tony laughed. "I'm sure he is for someone that has a need to learn. Me, I know what I'm doing, just used to having more assistance with the bigger projects. He just saves me having to teach someone myself."

He arched a brow. "You came to my lab, not the other way around."