Video;

[manofiron]

[ The video begins with a dark-haired man centered in the middle of the frame. He’s got dark eyes, a precisely cut goatee, and hair that’s a little too styled to be naturally that neat. There isn’t a lot to see beyond his chin, he’s sitting too close to the camera, but what can be seen looks vaguely like a shirt of shiny red metal.

His brow knits almost immediately after the feed starts recording, his expression edging toward disbelief as his lips twist into a mild frown. ]

Look. I get it. In a time of crisis, rationing’s necessary to keep resources moving in the right direction. Perfectly understandable. You guys needed to save your turtle. What responsible citizen wouldn’t do their part for that noble cause?

[ There’s a slight hint f sarcasm creeping into his voice, as though he’s heard the whole turtle spiel already and not only hasn’t been impressed, but also doesn’t really buy it either. Not even after having spent half a day scouring the network for information about what’s really going on here before making this video. ]

But really? Twenty bucks?

[ The low, indistinct murmur of another voice can be heard, though what it’s saying and who it belongs to is anyone’s guess. Whatever it says, it’s enough to make the man roll his eyes. ]

Juulan. Whatever. Doesn’t matter. The point — [ Whether he’s talking to the camera or the unidentified voice is unclear. ] — is that it isn’t enough for a day, let alone the entire bogus adventure.

[ It isn’t so much the way he looks at the camera – his eyes have never left it – but the change of his tone, less querulous and more curious, that indicates that he’s talking to whoever’s on the other end of the console. ]

So really. Turtle propaganda aside. What’s a guy gotta do to get some decent money around here? Sell his organs? Hit the street corners? Scrub barnacles off the bottom of the turtle? What?

Comments

[backwordscompatible]

Maybe. Let's find out.

Og retsaf!

[...in hindsight, maybe not the most elegant spell she'd ever cast. But it did the trick; within seconds, she was pulling out and ahead of Tony, just as the finishing line came within sight.]

[manofiron]

Cheating. That's totally cheating.

[ But there's an undercurrent of amusement in his voice as he says it and he doesn't kick it up to supersonic. This time, at least, he's content to come in last. Though he isn't all that far away when he does. ]

[backwordscompatible]

Not cheating!

[With that last cry over her shoulder, she pushed until they crossed the 'finish line', her ahead of him by a few inches. Grinning, she twirled once in the air before coming to a graceful land back on the rooftop. Hands on hips. Victorious.]

I'm impressed. That suit of yours really packs a punch.

[manofiron]

I race fighter jets in my spare time. I had to make it good.

[ Heading back to the roof, beaten yet still in good spirits, Tony cuts the juice to his boots and drops down onto it beside her. He opens the faceplate of his helmet and grins. ]

So. Saying the words backwards? That's how it works?

[backwordscompatible]

[It wasn't much of a secret, but she was still surprised he managed to decipher her spells so easily.]

That's some ear you've got there, Mr. Stark.

You're right. Family style. My dad taught me.

[manofiron]

Well, ear and... [ He taps a finger against the side of his helmet, grin turning a little sheepish. ] A little cheating.

It doesn't work for just anyone, does it? It's in the blood, so to speak? Also, Tony. Anything else makes me sound like I'm ninety. And I know, old man, but not that old.

[backwordscompatible]

Ah. So that was the sound of hypocrisy i heard earlier.

[Mr. Complains About a Magic Girl Using Magic In a Race Meant to Show Off Her Magic. Oh, sorry. Tony.]

You can try it, if you like. Maybe you're a secret homo magi in shining armour.

[manofiron]

I doubt it. Some days I don't even qualify as homo sapien.

[ That's a joke. Probably. It depends on he feels on a given day. But he smiles and shrugs, and hey, what the hell. ]

Dnah ym ni regrubeseehc a gnidloh ma I.. [ A slight pause, like he's waiting for something to happen. ] Nope. No such luck. Oh well, back to my day job.

[backwordscompatible]

Close. You only say the individual words backwards, though. Not the whole sentence.

Still, A for effort.

[manofiron]

There. You see? Too complicated. I'll just stick to creating new elements. That seems easier.

[backwordscompatible]

If you say so, Tony.

[She might've been biased, but learning how to talk backwards still seemed easier to her.]

[manofiron]

Technological genius.

[ He points to himself, then to her. ]

Magical linguist. Makes perfect sense.

[backwordscompatible]

And so modest, too.

[The both of them.]

[manofiron]

That's me to a T.

[ Maybe in some bizarro world where he actually has some modesty. ]

Next time, we're making the race harder. FYI.

[backwordscompatible]

How? Flaming hoops?

[manofiron]

We can start there. Suit's flame retardant. Can your magic do something similar for you?

[backwordscompatible]

[To her credit, she almost manages not to wince. Thinking back to the fires she and Jack had to forge through to rescue those trapped inside...and needing medical attention from smoke inhalation and burns after.]

I haven't quite made it to the fireproofing part of my training yet, no.

[manofiron]

[ He can relate to not being fireproof. Outside the suit, he's as flammable as a bale of hay. ]

You want to? Maybe I could help you out with that.

[backwordscompatible]

How?

[And then, before he has a chance to answer back:]

And don't just say "science". I prefer to know what I'm volunteering myself for before people start setting me on fire.

[manofiron]

[ Okay, she has him there. Switching tracks, he tries a more informative approach. ]

Special clothes. Fire-proof fabric. Specifically made not just to resist fire, but to not catch. The tech here's crap and it'll take me a lot longer to manufacture, but I can figure it out without the bells and whistles.

[backwordscompatible]

[Much better]

Okay, yeah, I could go along with that.

Maybe you could ask Mr. Wayne for help, if you need? I'm not sure how into science he is, but he's probably the best person to ask about resources around here.

[manofiron]

[ He shakes his head. ]

Relying on others isn't really my thing. I'm kind of a do it myself kinda guy.

[backwordscompatible]

Unless you need a guinea pig to set on fire, right?

[manofiron]

Technically, I'd try it on myself first.

[backwordscompatible]

...somehow, that sounds even less safe.