entry_info={ .03 span:making_cake, engage:video }, username=stark.naked

[amelioraate]

[ when the feed clicks on, it looks as if Tony hasn't seen his actual skin in about thirty six hours (or a bed for that long, at that, but what else is new?). there is grease smeared more of less everywhere and his hair looks like it was styled using a fork and an electrical sock, but he is grinning and looks very pleased with life as he addresses the network.]

So, since the incident that happened a few months ago involving monsters and other bullshit, I have been trying to put together a defense system for the Quarantine that would act as a primary system to both alerting us about any predators that might get too close, as well as perhaps even as a system that can be used to stun said things for easier removal deeper into the forest. [ look, Loki, he is thinking this time.]

I have come up with a prototype, [ he moves slightly to gesture over his shoulder and, if you are looking close enough you might see a turret shape amidst all the chaos in his workshop, wearing a ridiculous red, blue, and white crown but whatever ] named it Cake so far, but-- well I know that I am not the only engineer here and I think that help would be greatly appreciated.

[ sure he is sure enough that he knows this will work, but it has taken him the better part of two months to get Cake here to the point where he was confident in its build and coding. and the Quarantine will need more than one for this to work.]

Basically, what I am asking for is anyone with any background in coding, or mechanical engineering to help out in the construction and streamlining of these defensive turrets; I have coding done, but more eyes the better. I have also managed to test it out a few time with the help of some friends, but-- I know you can never be too careful.

[ is he a little rueful there? maybe.]

Anyone that might be able to help, I would be very grateful. Swing by the perimeter defense office if you can to let me know.

[ he moves as if to turn the feed off before:]

Oh, and happy birthday Steve.

[ then, with a wink, the feed is shut off]

Comments

[krasnaya_vdova]

[She can catch that flicker of his eyes, but it just makes her lips quirk a little.]

The portal likes cake?

[Watch that reference go sailing clear over her head, sorry Tony. She's still figuring out pop culture.]

Makes sense, though. Most electronics aren't huge icing fans.

[She smiles, nods. Hey, this one doesn't immediately dislike her. It's a pointed improvement; she'll take it.]

Sure. I can head over now, if you like.

[amelioraate]

[ he isn't going to say anything until he has more information okay, just-- whatever. for all he knows you are from another parallel universe and-- yeah.

the attempt to make a connection between what Tony is saying and what he means makes him snort a laugh.] Uh, no? I mean, yes, but also not, it was a video game and.... you know what, you should probably just not worry about portal and cake unless you want to play the game. In which case, I can totally hook you up with that.

[ because of course when he isn't making things for Riverview he is making gaming consoles. ]

Mmm, they aren't at all sadly. [ there is another beat as he watches her, trying to figure everything out.] And now works, sure. I am in the office with the rest of the perimeter guard offices. Door is open, just watch for the roomba, he likes shoes.

[krasnaya_vdova]

Oh, I haven't really played video games. [There's a slightly sheepish shrug of her shoulders. She'd really only had access in the past year, some of the people in the Academy had them, but she'd been a little hyperfocused on trying to sort out... everything.

She nods, and there's a small twitch of a smile as he mentions the roomba.] I'll be careful, though my shoes are pretty durable. See you in ten.

[And true to her words it doesn't take her too long to make her way to the perimeter guard offices (the motorcycle helps). The door's open and she knocks as she steps inside, casual enough, though there's a SHIELD insignia on the sleeve of her tee-shirt if he's looking.]

Tony?

video >> action

[amelioraate]

[ you poor poor thing. if you don't try to murder him upon meeting him, he might just make you sit your ass down and play a few games instead of helping him. because what kind of life is a life without video games? you know, aside from one growing up in the Red Room or whatever. still.

Tony is still watching when she signs off, a small nod of his head before he goes back to work.

and by work, he means setting up another station with a smaller, less complete Cake programming in it because there are still way too many things that he doesn't know about her for him to feel comfortable about just letting her into the guts of his precious Cake. right now at least.

when she appears in the doorway a while later, Tony is back at his own station, face lit up with the glow of the monitor and he looks at her.

yeah, there is no way that she isn't some kind of baby spider. not with the way she moves.]

Come on in. Roomba's charging so he shouldn't bother you. You gonna tell me your relation to Natasha or am I gonna have to figure it out? Wait, am I supposed to know?

[krasnaya_vdova]

[To be honest, Tony would probably be one of her favorites if he played video games with her. She is very aware that her knowledge of pop culture is underwhelming at best. Blame it on the Red Room and all the other less than thrilling events of her life.

To people that know Nat, she's pretty obvious. It's in how she moves, even the way that she looks, with that same red hair and blue eyes. Honestly, there's something a little bit of a relief when he just asks. Not everyone does; sometimes it's just the slightly odd looks that she tries to pretend to not entirely notice. She steps in, heading closer to where he is with his face lit by the blue light.]

No terror like small housecleaning robots. [At the question she smiles softly, shakes her head.] I'll tell you. You're.. the Tony that James knows, right? Former-Director of SHIELD?

[She thought so, having met the other two, but it mattered. James had vouched for him, so it affected how much she'd tell him. And well, she had questions. She might have had an ulterior motive in offering. Though she could look over his code, too.]

[amelioraate]

[ well then, video games it might just be. fun ones, with no killing people as the objective. maybe you should just play pong or something.]

Cleaning robots or just people who clean in general really, I know better that to piss off anyone who knows how to clean, highly likely they will leave no evidence behind. [ ah yes, best joke, good job Tony.

he watches her, eyes sharp, as she wanders into the room. he is not one to play the game of talk around the issue, not when it is something like this is so clear. he learned his lesson a long time ago about the value of being upfront, especially with people like Natasha. which this Red widow certainly was akin to.]

Bucky? Yeah, I mean I am sure he knows the other two versions of me as well but-- pretty sure I am the only one here that has tried the Director of SHIELD thing. Which, by the way, don't recommend really. Fun for a moment, so many rules and phone calls to answer.

[ there is a rambling edge to his words, like he is still trying to figure this out. figure her out. ] And you, little spider, who are you?

[krasnaya_vdova]

[Bad joke or not, it still gets a huff of amusement out of her, a shake of her head. She'd always liked his sense of humor, the jokes. That probably says something about her, if we're being honest.

She hums thoughtfully as he confirms what she suspected. He was the one that she'd wanted to talk to. Three of them was still a bit to wrap her head around, but whatever. It's not like she had much room to talk on that point with the mess that was her story.]

I can imagine. The you I knew wasn't much fond of those early Monday morning meetings that SHIELD is so fond of.

[She nods in acknowledgement to the question.] Ava Anatalya Orlova. The short version of the story is that I came from the same place as she did. [She's always a little cagey about what she says about Nat, vague enough that she doesn't give away much that's not hers to tell. There's a pause, like she doesn't actually want to continue, but she does it anyway.]

Except they put me into an experimental science program and I ended up with her skills and a lot of her memories stuffed into my head. Everyone else that was part of the program got turned into puppet soldiers. The idea was they could use us to steal secrets from every organization in the world. Then I got powers when Nat and I blew it all to hell.

[She shrugs her shoulders a little sheepishly.] The name, though. That I came up with before.