cape_kore | 004 | Tony Stark

[ Although he’s not exactly smiling, Tony’s expression is blandly neutral, relaxed, and his voice is friendly. ]

Normally I’d have my assistant – I guess technically she’s my CEO now - handle the whole public relations thing, but she’s not here so I guess that leaves me doing it myself. Unless I have a volunteer from the audience? No? Didn’t think so.

[ He glances away from the camera for a second, almost like he’s looking at a list. ]

Stiles, I got your bow and arrows here. Any time you want me to stop by and get them, feel free. Alternatively, I can be persuaded to play delivery guy.

Sharon. You wanted some new toys? I got a couple for you.

Party Poison. Not to be confused with the lovely Poison Ivy. We have a bet, right?

[ Twisting his wrist, the video blurs and comes into focus on a large sabertooth tiger reclining on the living room floor like he owns the place. At the attention, he lifts his head, flattens his ears, and lazily bares his teeth. The video blurs again, coming to rest on Tony’s face, who’s utterly unfazed by being threatened by hundreds of pounds of formerly extinct cat. ]

Meet Stanley. And start the countdown.

[ Flashing a smile, he starts to lower his wrist, then pauses and lifts it back. ]

Oh, right. And one more thing before I forget.

[ Anyone who knows Tony might know better here. Might realize that he wasn’t going to forget and has in fact been building up to this the entire time he’s been talking. ]

“Hot Hands.” [ He even makes the air quotes with his free hand as he smiles, like everything’s all friendly like. Much like Stanley, though, it’s really a baring of his teeth. ] Listen. If you touch Bruce again, I’ll break them. And then my big green friend won’t have to show up to beat your ass into the ground. Capiche?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's almost like talking to JARVIS. A politer, non-naggy JARVIS. ]

He is. He's not—The Hulk can't really get hurt. Not physically. He was upset when I found him, but I got him calmed down. Might even go so far as to say that when he clocked out, he went happy.

You want to meet him on a non-angry day, I'll try to set something up. It just, after this, it might take a while.

I detected something when we - ah - spoke? I believe there is something far beyond what I could see. A consciousness underneath all that anger. [ He hums thoughtfully. ] I'd very much like to talk to him, but as you say it might take a while. Thankfully I'm very patient.

Now do I ask about the tiger?

You could talk to Bruce in the meantime? I mean, it's not the same as talking to the Hulk directly, but you'll probably never meet anyone who knows him as well as Bruce does.

[ It's only because it isn't a secret that Tony even mentions Bruce; he still isn't comfortable directly saying that they're the same person to someone he doesn't know. ]

The tiger's a bet. Sort of. Weapons are limited and we've got a murderer/abductor who likes to come in and stir things up. I thought maybe having a night guard might help. Like a watchdog. I just don't know if they're trainable. So I thought I'd give it a try.

Ah. [ He's going to just assume that maybe Bruce is someone who has studied the Hulk moreso than he'll think they are the same. Having his telepathy cut off through the application of devices. ] Does he have a second name? I'll have to look him up at some point in the near future.

[ He pauses at Tony's explanation. ] I can't decide if that's ingenious or simply mad. How are you sure the thing won't just eat you?

Bruce Banner. He's a doctor, he works at the clinic. And lives here, if you want to drop in and say hi. You just, you know. [ He jerks a finger toward the edge of the camera's field. ] Stanley. He's here too.

[ A normal person might take issue with being called mad. Tony just grins. ]

Jury's still out. On both counts, actually. I have no idea.

I'm not sure I want to battle a tiger merely to sate my curiosity. [ Though he is, in fact, a curious creature. ] But if you could pass on my interest and regards that would be very good, thank you.

[ A delighted laugh. ] Well, at least you're aware of it.

Yeah, that I can definitely do.

[ More people who want to talk to Bruce, and who care whether or not the Hulk's all right, are fine in Tony's book. ]

There a name I can give him?

Oh I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Charles Xavier. And you are?

Tony Stark. [ He winks. ] Resident public relations manager for the Hulk.

Does he ... often go about the place like that? [ With all the building destruction. ]

Actually, no. He doesn't. That was... extenuating circumstances about which I know very little. [ And does that ever bother him, though he'll never admit it or let it show on his face. ] Unless there's something attacking him, he's usually pretty personable.

I did attempt to reach him and find out what was wrong, but I'm afraid it had little impact.

[ And doesn't that just fascinate Charles. ]

He doesn't usually open up to people he doesn't know. Hell, even I had a hard time getting him to open up at the beginning.

I'll bear that in mind, thank you.

No problem.

I've actually heard your name a few times from various different people. You seem to be the one people refer to when discussing the nature of this place.

I'm going to pretend those references are more complimentary than they probably are. Unless they are actually complimentary, in which case I'll just accept them gracefully.

I didn't see anything wrong with them.

[ But then again he has all of the faith in everybody. ]

Great!

[ He's not stupid. He knows what people think of him. ]

There's a few people here from my world. A few people from another one that has another me. That's probably what you're hearing. Unless I'm more popular than I thought, which is... possible. Maybe.

Ah, so I'm not the only one who has an unfortunate duplicate? How interesting.

You too? Maybe we should start a club. Doppelgangers Anonymous.

[ He just grins. ] Yes well, mine seems to be bald and rather aging so I'd rather dissuade people of the notion.

Mine's evidently a dick. More of a dick. I didn't think it was possible, but there it is.

Well, I can safely say I'd rather not turn out the way mine has gone. So we'll have to stick to it.

Well, here's to us, then. Making sure we never turn out to be our worst halves.

(no subject)

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