tushanshu | 03 § video

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03 § video

[When the video feed comes on, Tony is selling the image of being personable. Nice suit, nice hair, and a smile that is inviting someone to start telling jokes.]

Current events seem kind of hairy lately. At least these come in a small package. After some of the other issues we've had, these guys are pretty manageable.

That's not what I wanted to talk about. Anyone else notice that we've got a problem with that? Talking. I mean, it makes sense. We're from different places, some of us are newer than others, and it's a lot to take in. I know some people have already been getting people together, so I figured it's time I stepped up too.

So, hi. My name's Tony Stark. Some of you know me. A lot of you probably know of the other Stark, but for those of you who managed by amazing misfortune to miss both of us, I'm an engineer. Used to run a company. I'm good at building machines. Also one of the guys with a second name and a few extra perks, but that's not important. The point is, we all have different talents to offer and we'll get a lot further if we work together. Just to be clear: I'm not recruiting for anything. If you're interested, we can talk. If not, there's no pressure.

[And with that he ends the transmission.]

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I'd say it falls squarely into the 'persistent' category. [Hell yes it does.] Sure they do. Or, you know, they try to do that. But you should never give up! There is not to do or die, but try... I'm pretty sure that's not the right quote.

Can I not see it go crazy but give it some time, or is that a definite sort of deal?

I'm pretty sure you're right, but I get the idea. [He's entertained, which counts for a lot.] You're pretty much guaranteed to see crazy. I think that's part of their customs.

By the way, what do you do? Other than call people until they beg for mercy, I mean. If that worked with the people I know I'd use it all the time. After awhile the messages start bouncing back. It's almost like they don't want to talk.

This is the first time I'm really hearing about their customs from someone else! Beyond that they like tribble meat, and they sell a lot of stuff at yard sales.

That's when you sit on their stoop and wait for them to come home. [He laughs.] Do you mean what do I do back home, or do you mean what do I do here? Because I just got here, so I currently do... nothing.

Well, they have a lot of strange ideas, I will say that. Although it's hard to tell what it custom and what is a result of us being here.

So you stalk them. [That is said with a teasing humor, because Tony would probably let himself in if it were his friends.] What did you do? What can you do? Let's start there.

Too much bleed-over, huh? That's kind of sad, on the one hand, you can't help it, but on the other, you want to try to preserve whatever was natural to them. Sounds like history back home.

[He grins, shaking his head.] No, stalking would mean following them around. I just stake them out. [Heh heh did you get that no okay that's fine neither did he.]

My last job back home was working at a gym as an acrobatics instructor for the 12 to 18 year olds. [There have been other jobs. Many other jobs.] So... I can do that kind of stuff, too. I grew up in a circus for awhile, never lost it, though. I can also make a mean old-fashioned.

They can't help it. We get used to what we know, even if we're in places that we've never seen before.

[Or what they think they know. Maybe that's all wrong, but they really can't afford to worry about it now. They're doing what they can. The rest will just work itself out as they learn more.]

Stake them out. Uh-huh.

[He'll let it go, but not without making a comment. Because Tony can't give up teasing no matter what happens.]

Acrobatics, huh? We do have some kids around. Not a lot of young ones, but it still might appeal to people if you like teaching.

There are a bunch of companies here that I wouldn't expect to just... well, be on the back of a turtle. Any chance we're actually helping out in this place, in any kind of way besides the "mystical" things we're told about when we first show up? I mean, if not...

[He shrugs. Just a question.]

Stake them out. [Nods.] I was thinking about it? I mean, someone talked about a school, maybe they need a gym instructor. Or I might be working at that bar, whenever it gets put up. No one would mind me pulling double jobs, right?

Oh, those. Yeah. They were here when I arrived, but I guess human nature and creature comforts prevail. I happen to do some work for one of them.

[He says that absently, because honestly since he doesn't have a business he doesn't invest that much into them being there. Maybe he should be trying to build, but everything he's encountered since he arrived just made him put that off. Still.]

We're helping. There are people here who care deeply about the welfare of Tu Vishan and are doing what they can to keep everyone alive. Maybe not everyone, but enough to count.

[He got flippant about the turtle's well being and got chewed out for it. Lesson learned. There's something in the way Dick says that which gets a smile out of Tony.]

I think they'd love the help. In both cases. It's hard to get enough support here.

Good enough, right? It's not home, and no matter how long anyone is on here for, it's not going to be home for everyone. But hey. I can work with good enough for being here, and maybe better for helping out with Tu Vishan.

[Yeah, he's getting the sense that if you're not careful, you're going to get in a lot of trouble for being so blase about the whole thing.

So, he gets to be a little of both.]

So, no pow-wows? I mean, if we're all in this together... doesn't sound like we're all in this together. [He has to make a face, because even he knows it sounds corny.]

[Tony shrugs on his end.]

We are but we aren't. Different worlds and different perspectives. We're in this together because we all want to keep going--at least, that's my assumption--but as far as being on the same page? Well, that's been kind of hit or miss.

And we've lost a few here and there, so it's hard for everyone.

[He's more somber about that part. They still don't know what happens when people disappear.]

That's life whenever something important comes along. It's always hit or miss. More miss then hit, usually, too.

[He grows just as somber.] I've heard. Apparently people who are here have also been here before, but don't remember it? It has to be hard, losing someone important to you and not knowing what happens.

No kidding. It seems like we've been missing a lot lately.

[Ah, that's a hard topic. He hesitates, but then decides to gently ease into the subject.]

People are taken from all kinds of universes. Sometimes we get parallels. And there's no guarantee the ones who do come back are really the same as the ones that left.

[Well, it's a topic that eventually needs to be addressed. And if someone is willing to give it a shot...]

So, if say, there's someone here that was brought here during an event that you remember happening, you're just further along the timeline, is there a chance that it's not really the 'them' that you know?

[Tony maintains a mild expression for the most part, but the question does make him grow more serious. It's hard to tell exactly, but an observant eye can pick up the shift in his attitude.]

It's possible. We're not sure how they're bringing us here to begin with. It's possible that even the people you know aren't really from your version of the world you know. It might all be recreated for convenience.

[He stops, then goes on.]

We could be clones.

But don't worry about that too much.

[For all of the information he got from... well, everyone, actually, most of them forgot to add in the cloning issue. Which should have been added. Let him digest the information in the way that he always does; thinks it over with terrible jokes.]

Oh, well, you know. Clones. Not like that's not anything new. That's a joke that just went both ways without me even trying.

[He pauses.] Well! So long as we don't get harvested for organs, I can't see being a clone being that bad, here. Would explain some of the doubles, actually, that clears that whole mess up in one fell swoop.

[But it's very serious, and Dick won't be forgetting this. There really is a lot to take in with this place.] What about bodies and minds created solely based on someone else's knowledge of a person?

[Tony knows it's a hard thing to digest, but he's going to find out sooner or later. In his mind, telling Dick now is saving him some trouble. Everyone else tends to skirt the harder topics and he likes to just dive right in.

Maybe he could have led into it better, but it's too late for technique now.]

So far, it looks like we're here to be here. Apparently the end goal is more like a militia than raw resources, but that's if you believe the Emperor. We don't have too much to go on.

[He speaks casually, but he's careful about what he says. Jokes are all well and good, but he is trying to get some information across.]

It's not a perfect process. There are discrepancies, and if they were basing their bodies off of memories from someone else, I'm willing to bet you could tell. Unless it was your memory.

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