[video]

[highprofilerichkid]

[A dark-haired kid who seems to be in his late teens appears on screen. He smiles, but it looks a bit forced.]

Hey. Tony Stark. [He gives a small wave.] I just... got here, I guess, and got the rundown on the whole scary death chaos monster situation. And all the giant magic turtle stuff. Sounds like a good time. [He laughs awkwardly, and rubs the back of his neck.] Better than centipede monster void dimensions, at least, [he mutters. This is not the first time he’s been suddenly yanked into a different dimension, evidently.]

Anyway, uh, if anyone needs some tech stuff or heavy lifting done, hit me up. I haven’t had a chance to take a close look at the tech here yet, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. [He seems to brighten a little at the prospect of new alien technology to play with.

He looks like he’s about to cut the feed, but then he hesitates. There’s a couple seconds of anxious silence, and he fidgets, his cheerful demeanor faltering even more.] And, um, just out of curiosity... When they send us back home, there’s... There is something to go back to, isn’t there? [He laughs, but it’s nervous, like he’s not sure he wants to know the answer.] Nobody would really give me a straight answer, but... They’re not going to send us back if we’re just about to... Well, you know, get blown up or something. Right? I mean, that would be pretty messed up.

Comments

[highprofilerichkid]

[Jeez. She's really polite, and now Tony feels bad for snapping at her.] No, forget it, I'm sorry, I was being a jerk.

Um... I don't know, is there anything you can tell me about the technology here? [Tony thinks it's a pretty safe bet that she's from somewhere fairly technologically advanced, so she might have a better handle on this stuff than most.] Mostly everything looks really low-tech, but then there's these consoles -- and whatever they're using to grab all of us, which has got to be some seriously impressive technology.

[The only technology he knows of that's capable of pulling off dimensional travel is Makluan, and the Makluans are millenia ahead of the human race. At least in his universe.]

[looksfine]

[It was not necessary, but Aya still nodded her acknowledgement and acceptance of the apology. His subsequent question regarding technology only further brightened her smile. Of course Tony Stark would ask of such a thing. And who better to ask than one of the most advanced pieces of technology that Keelai had ever seen?]

You are correct in your assumption of the local equipment.

However, I can assure you, those of us who continue to work at both Stark Industries as well as Wayne Enterprise have seen fit to bring our unique expertise to the field. We have been able to combine the different knowledges of our respective universes to produce adequate results.

You would be most welcome to come visit either of the laboratories, should you so desire.

[highprofilerichkid]

[Tony brightens considerably at Aya's suggestion.] Oh! Yeah, that'd be awesome!

It's still weird that Stark International-- sorry, Stark Industries, already exists here. There's not some sort of... hereditary leadership, is there? I'm not going to walk in there and have people start calling me "boss" just because my name is Tony Stark, right?

[That wouldn't be bad, it would just be, uh, abrupt. He'll do it if that's what's expected of him, though. He might not be the corporate shark that his father is, or have the experience of his previous versions, but he's sure he can handle this dimension's version of his family company competently, if he has to.]

[looksfine]

[She would not have objected, were that the case. However...]

I am unfamiliar with the local inheritance laws, and thus cannot guarantee one scenario or the other.

You are Tony Stark, yes, but you are not the same Tony Stark who built the company and initially hired me. While I would not hesitate to invite you into the company, without an exact certainty of your qualifications, it would not be logical to automatically place you at such a high-ranking position just yet.

[highprofilerichkid]

I've got to agree with you there. The corporate stuff was always more my dad's thing, anyway. I'd rather be taking on the bad guys face-to-face.

But it's... still sort of my company, in a weird way. I should at least check it out, see if they need me for anything. It never hurts to have an extra genius around, right?

[looksfine]

No. It would not.

I would be more than happy to give you a guided tour. Any time would be convenient, regardless of the hour.

[She wasn't so much a workaholic as she preferred to keep herself busy during the night, while everyone else was sleeping.]

[highprofilerichkid]

[Ah, another night owl! It's hard to keep geniuses on a regular schedule: there's so often something so much more interesting than sleep to be doing.]

Great! I'll give you call as soon as I've got myself sorted out. Thanks, uh... sorry, did you tell me your name? I don't think I got it.

[looksfine]

That is because I did not give it.

[The slightest of oversights on her part.]

You may call me Aya.

[highprofilerichkid]

Aya. Nice to meet you. And thanks for your help. I'll see you around soon, and you can give me the whole rundown on what Stark Industries has been up to in this dimension.

[looksfine]

I look forward to it, Tony Stark.