the morning after meme (expanded)

[bottecellie]

the morning after ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ a meme → COMMENT WITH YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME, FANDOM, AND PREFERENCE. → PICK A CHARACTER YOU WANT TO TAG AND HIT UP RNG (01-10), OR CHOOSE A SCENE OF YOUR OWN. → PLAY NICE; NO WANK, FLAMES, OR GENERAL HUMBUGGERY. ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ the scenarios ① BREAKFAST IN BED: YOUR PARTNER'S UP AND ABOUT -- MAYBE DRESSED, MAYBE NOT -- AND IN THE KITCHEN. WHAT ARE THEY MAKING YOU? COULD IT BE... GRILLED CHEESE? ② HIT ME BABY: THEY'RE SUCH A PEACEFUL SLEEPER. A PEACEFUL, SEXY SLEEPER. ACTUALLY THERE'S TOO MUCH OF THAT SLEEPING HAPPENING. WHY DON'T YOU WAKE THEM UP, WORLD'S KINDEST ALARM? ③ ESCAPE FROM AZKABED: YOU WAKE UP TO FIND THEY'RE RUMMAGING ABOUT FOR THEIR CLOTHES, ABOUT TO LEAVE. WHY THE RUSH, AND CAN YOU CONVINCE THEM TO STAY? ④ THE AFTERNOON AFTER: AND THE EVENING, MAYBE EVEN THE MORNING AFTER AFTER... HOURS HAVE PASSED BUT YOU JUST CAN'T LEAVE EACH OTHER! OR MAYBE ONE OF YOU JUST WON'T... ⑤ HANGOVER FROM HELL: THERE'S A TIGER IN THE CLOSET, A BABY IN THE BATHROOM, AND A TOTAL STRANGER CURLED UP BESIDE YOU. WHO IS THIS PERSON BESIDE YOU SMELLING OF TEQUILA AND REGRET? DO THEY KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT WHAT, OR WHO, WENT DOWN THAN YOU DO? ⑥ WET AND WILD: DON'T FEEL TOO LONELY WAKING UP BY YOURSELF -- THE SHOWER'S ON AND THE SOUND OF WATER FALLING IS MIGHTY INVITING. WHY DON'T YOU GET CLEANED UP -- OR DOWN AND DIRTY ALL OVER AGAIN? ⑦ I'LL SLEEP WHEN I DIE: SLEEP? WHAT IS THIS SLEEP THING YOU SPEAK OF? DAWN'S BREAKING AND NEITHER OF YOU HAVE GOTTEN A WINK, OR WANT ONE. WHO'S READY FOR ROUND asjldkjl? ⑧ A BITTER PILL: TURNS OUT THE REASON YOU SCORED WASN'T YOUR SPARKLING WIT AND MAGNETIC CONFIDENCE. YOUR PARTNER HAD AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE -- THEY ALREADY KNEW IT, AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO. RECON? REVENGE? REBOUND? TAG AND FIND OUT, IF YOU CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH! ⑨ THIS ISN'T MINE: THAT SLEEPY PERSON IN YOUR LIVING ROOM HAD A GREAT NIGHT -- WITH YOUR ROOMMATE. WELL, MIGHT AS WELL GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER WHILE YOU'RE BOTH THERE, RIGHT? ... RIGHT? ⑩ WILD CARD: ROLL MORE THAN ONCE AND COMBINE SCENARIOS, CHOOSE YOUR FAVOURITE, OR MAKE UP YOUR OWN! Stolen from here.

Comments

[manofiron]

You sure you're not going to have a heart attack on me here?

[ He's grinning as he says it, turning without waiting for a reply. ]

C'mon. It's this way.

[ Instead of taking him down the long way, Tony heads straight for the elevator. ]

[therealgenius]

[That brings up another thing he doesn't understand: arc reactor technology. Especially that small. He doesn't even try to hide that he's looking at his chest, even standing in the elevator as they are.

But he doesn't ask. Yet.]

How many stories is your house anyway?

[manofiron]

This house? Four or five, depending on which part you're standing in.

[ He sees that scrutiny, but he ignores it for the most part. At least until the elevator stops and the doors open. Then Tony shoots him a look. ]

I'm not in a zoo, Hammer. Go ahead. Ask your question. It's practically asking itself anyway.

[therealgenius]

[He does, at least, have the dignity to look ashamed, even if it's only for a moment. It's scientific curiosity! But this is also the thing keeping the man alive, so it's a bit more personal.

Actually, it's completely personal.]

I just...you made arc reactor technology that could fit in your chest, and I'm assuming now that's what fuels your suit so much? If they could have used that instead, they wouldn't have needed Hammer tech or any weapons, right?

[manofiron]

If they had the arc reactor, they wouldn't need anything else ever again.

[ And the world would suffer for it. The arc reactor was never meant to be a weapon and as long as he lives, it never will be. ]

And then we'd probably all be dead. Which is why they're never getting it. And no one's ever duplicating the tech and selling it to them.

[therealgenius]

[Okay, okay, he'll look ashamed again. And feel it this time.]

So it's kind of the end all be all of clean energy, then? That's...that's really impressive, Tony. That's way more impressive than anything I've ever heard of, actually.

[He'll drop the subject, since there's not much more to it from him than unadulterated flattery.]

You know, your suit always gets really damaged. Do you do the paint jobs yourself?

[manofiron]

Yeah?

[ Tony gives him a tiny sort of sly smile. He doesn't know what to do with actual compliments, he's too accustomed to the mindless sort that are really attempts at getting money or invitations into his bed out of him. ]

So telling you I created a new element would be pretty tame, huh?

[ He shakes his head. ]

Nope. That's all JARVIS. These days, most of it's JARVIS. I just design it. JARVIS does the leg-work.

[therealgenius]

[His eyes widen and mouth goes slightly slack at the sudden surge of overwhelming curiosity and awe brought on by how blithely he drops that, hey, he created a new element. Had he not informed the scientific community yet, or had he somehow missed that?]

O-Oh, well...I missed that memo. Really? That's...that's...I don't know what to say to that other than wow.

[And then, as an afterthought:]

JARVIS sounds like a really good friend, not like just another AI.

[manofiron]

It's a side-project. Not many people know about it.

[ He accompanies that with a shrug. As if hey, there's this big secret thing I did and I'm telling you about it is a perfectly ordinary thing for them.

The comment about JARVIS actually gets a glance out of Tony; a long, considering glance. And maybe he feels a little better about showing his former corporate rival his toy box. ]

He's all right. Here. [ Stepping forward to key open the door, Tony pushes it open and waves Justin through. ] Welcome to my workshop. You break it, you bought it.

[therealgenius]

[Justin is seriously honored to get that information, and no, he won't do anything with it. He doesn't even know the name of the element to hand it over, for one, and he doesn't know what it's for. For all he knows, Tony could have invented a stand-in for butter that's ten times healthier or something equally minute.

But he has a big feeling it has something to do with that piece of technology in his chest.]

No, no, don't worry; I won't break anything.

[He does take a good moment to look around, and he spots Dummy whirring about...and knocking something over in the process.]

Malfunction?

[manofiron]

[ He actually believes that. Hammer tech might not always work as promised, but he knows that Justin at least knows how to handle it. It's weird, this sort of camaraderie, but kind of interesting. Fun, even.

But he still sighs in resigned aggravation as he catches sight of Dummy's antics. ]

No, that's just Dummy. Living up to his name. Hey! Butterfingers! Remember what I told you about community college?

[ He waves a hand at the room, giving Justin permission to explore. ]

Go ahead. Look around. I need to go clean that up.

[therealgenius]

[Tony cleaning something up instead of a robot? No way!

He doesn't notice the suits just yet, instead wondering why the hell a vintage car is sitting in the middle of the place, which he goes to check out. He even puts some pressure on the tires out of curiosity, and it isn't til he turns around and spots the suits on the other side of the room that he's gone from a grown businessman to a kid in a candy shop.

His approach is quicker than he realizes, and he holds a hand out, fingers stopping just short of the red chest plate, eyes surveying from mask to boot. It's so much stranger, on its own, no glowing behind those eyes, just waiting to be put on.

Finally, he takes the plunge, his hand feeling the metal, and he can't stop a little Oooooh from escaping. He's no longer aware of where he is or who's in the room as much as the miraculous metal suit he's finally getting a good look at.]

[manofiron]

[ It isn't strictly necessary that he play clean-up crew to Dummy's mess, but it gives him an excuse to get out of Justin's way. He watches him though, furtively as he puts the workspace back into order, as Justin checks out the car, waiting until he moves toward the suits. And when he does, Tony isn't disappointed.

This is a fellow engineer. Someone who can really appreciate the work that's gone into the suit's construction. He almost reminds Tony of a kid in a candy shop, and having been that kid in his father's workshop many times before, he knows there's only one place to go from here. ]

JARVIS. [ Under his breath, too quiet to be heard on the other side of the room. ] Run a diagnostic on number five, power it up, and get it ready to go. Prep mine too.

[ This has got to be, well, not the dumbest thing he's ever done, but it certainly isn't the brightest. Still, what the hell. ]

Hey. Hammer. Ever been to Maui?

[therealgenius]

[He starts the moment two of the suits seem to suddenly come to life, completely having had his ears shut out to whatever it was Tony was doing with his poor little robot. So when they do start, he's afraid he did something terrible, even though he's another engineer and just touching something like that doesn't make sense to starting it.]

I didn't do—the Hawaiian island? Not in a good long time, no. Why, are you visiting or something?

[Do you need him to watch the house? He can do that. He could get along with JARVIS just fine, too.]

[manofiron]

No. I'm going to race you there.

[ Snapping a pair of bracelets onto his wrists, Tony moves out into he middle of the floor. ]

I need you to come stand here, where I am. There are little markers on the floor. Stand on them, hold out your arms, and don't move.

[ Stepping out of the way, he moves back a few paces and waits expectantly for his instructions to be followed. He could explain it, but Justin's not stupid. He'll figure it out eventually. ]

[therealgenius]

[He can't mean...he can't...

Justin hadn't wanted to get in one of the suits himself, but this is an opportunity that certainly does not come across him everyday. Or anyone but Tony Stark, for that manner. It feels a little silly, mimicking his body, arms out as they are, but by God is going to do whatever it takes.

There's a moment before he asks:]

Your suits really have features for dealing with piss?

[manofiron]

You piss in my suit, I will personally drop you in the ocean. JARVIS! Let's go. We're not getting any younger here.

[ A quick scan of Justin's body and JARVIS activates the program that reassembles the suit onto him. For his part, Tony hits a button on a bracelet and stands there, letting his suit attach itself. ]

All right, look. The suit's tuned to your vitals and your movement. Flex your hand, you activate the repulsor on you palm. Twitch your foot, same thing.

[ As he's talking, he initializes his own suit, hovering half a foot off the ground. ]

Treat it like an extension of yourself, not like a suit and you'll be fine. JARVIS will help you out when you need it. One percent thrust capacity to head out. You put a hole in my ceiling, I'm going to get angry.

[therealgenius]

[Justin's not going to say why he asked; he's pretty sure he's going to piss his pants in pure and unbridled awe and joy, but he'll hide it underneath the guise of simple curiosity. The idea that one could filter urine through a suit to purified water is an impressive one, after all.

And he is so excited. If he was a kid in candy shop before, he is a fat kid in the Wonka Factory now. It's an odd feeling, like another layer of skin is creeping up and over him, and he can't stop the stupid, doofy grin that takes over his face.

He didn't expect an intercom to work between the suits, but Tony Stark rarely did things that were expected. It takes him a moment to get used to being engulfed by metal powered by clean energy, and he doesn't mind hold his hands out, just getting used to look, not to blast Dummy or the car or anything. Just curious.]

I think I got it, yeah, I can work with this.

[Not quite, as he only manages one thruster to begin with, stumbling to the side before he manages them both. Better not wet his suit, because he's sure it would be noted later on and he'd get an angry e-mail or something similar.]

Lead the way, then.

[manofiron]

JARVIS, you're on bathroom break patrol.

[ It's true. There is a filtration system in the suit that deals with any and all bodily fluids that may find their way outside of the body they're supposed to be in. He just likes giving everyone a hard time, and JARVIS knows it, if the resigned "you're too kind, sir" is any indication. ]

All right, let's go.

[ Tony flies like he was born in the sky, and hits the thrusters a lot harder than he's just cautioned Justin against doing, shooting out of the workshop via the hangar-esque door he'd long ago installed at the end of his underground driveway. Five hundred feet above the house, he waits for Justin to catch up. ]

JARVIS, give us a map to Maui and track for planes, Rhodey, Thor, Fury's magical mystery ship, and anything else that might be out there in the way.

Hammer, how's it going?

[therealgenius]

[Justin is cautious, and it takes him quite a bit to get out of the garage, if only because he really does not want to put a hole in the ceiling...not because it would piss off Tony, but because he's pretty sure it would hurt like hell.

But the moment he's out of the garage, all hesitation is gone. There's a lot more wide open space, that goes without saying. There's also no fireworks to run into, so Justin's pretty sure he can figure it out a lot easier as far away from land and homes as possible.]

This is amazing.

[There's no bullshit there, it's pretty much one of the more awesome things he could have imagined come to life. Eyes survey the inner system, narrowing on the mark for Maui. Not so far away, and if he gets the head start...

Not just yet, he manages to get up to Tony's level, still obviously new at it but with potential to get good. He will get good if he's going all the way to Maui.]

If it's a magical mystery ship, shouldn't you be unable to track it? Or is JARVIS just that smart?

[manofiron]

I'm just that good.

[ No bravado, just plain fact. Tony is good and he knows it. ]

I hacked S.H.I.E.L.D.'s systems forever ago. Knowing where Big Brother's got his squinty eye trained is just good policy.

[ And Tony trusts Fury about as far as he can throw him.

He waits a few more seconds, letting Justin get the hang of it. Then he lifts a hand, gives him a jaunty little wave, and shoots away. ]

When you get more comfortable with it, try out the supersonics. That's a rush. And don't think about flying off with it. JARVIS will shut it down before you get half a meter.

[therealgenius]

Seems like there's a lot of terms and conditions that go with putting on this thing. No pissing your pants, no—hey!

[Oh, that is just not fair at all. Justin is new and Tony is cheating. But still, a race was a race, wasn't it? And two can play that game, now can't they?

...not really, as he's quite certain if he asked JARVIS for any short-cuts, Tony would be able to hear it as well. Goddamn that man's brain.

He takes off after him, still unable to get over the fanboy delight that he is legitimately in an Iron Man suit. Seriously. There are a horde of boys who would die for the honor.]

See that Starbucks at 2 o'clock? That's mine.

[manofiron]

[ Is that laughter echoing back through the comm system? Sure sounds like it. ]

What'd I tell you about having fun? Fun is not going to Starbucks for a frappuccino or whatever the hell yuppy crap they're selling.

[ As Tony yammers on, a small readout appears on Justin's heads-up display. Tony's trajectory, possible flight paths, and a demonstration of how to make the suit go faster. What social difficulties Justin might have with humans, JARVIS likes him well enough to offer a few suggestions on keeping Tony on his toes. ]

You want a drink that badly, I'll get you one when we get to Maui. There's a nice little bar down on the beach where we're landing.

[therealgenius]

Oh, fine. See if I ever have them deliver when you're laid up with a cold.

[He takes a good look at the readouts provided, but doesn't do or say anything just yet. Oh no, he's going to continue on appearing to follow Tony exactly, if only a good few hundred feet away, until he says only:]

Thanks, JARVIS.

[What was he mentioning about supersonic now? Because Justin just hit it with way too much ease for someone new to the entire thing and veered pretty far away from the Iron Man himself.

It'd be different if he didn't engineer himself, of course, would probably make him stutter and stammer and ask what the fuck he was looking at, but hey. Tony picked the right guy to get on well with his technobabble.]

[manofiron]

Assuming I get sick.

[ He does. Much as he likes to pretend otherwise, he isn't indestructible and he gets sick just like everyone else. ]

I -- Hey!

[ There's a moment where he simply watches the other suit shoot out ahead of him, disappearing into the clouds with little more than a vapor trail and a flicker of light from the thrusters. Tony laughs once, a low chuckle, and hits supersonic himself, chasing after him. It doesn't take a genius to recognize JARVIS's invisible hand in this sudden burst of speed. ]

Now you're learning to have real fun!