Stark Industries, Wednesday

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

By the time Tony arrived at the shop, he was mostly running on fumes and more caffeine than strictly healthy so soon after heart surgery. But, really, least of his poor choices. Everything could do had been done, so it was only waiting time until his new buddy resurfaced to sell his information.

Which left Tony in limbo as he looked around the shop.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Stark," a voice said after a long moment of silence.

"...hey." Tony eyed one of the speakers hidden in the corner of the room for a moment. Maybe he didn't need to design that AI system after all.

[[Open shop is open!]]

Comments

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade walked in to case the place to hide his hungover self from the sun for none of your damn business, that's what, and blinked blearily at Tony.

"I met you, right?"

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"You met me," Tony assured him once he'd looked away from a panel that had been neatly sunk into the wall.

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Good," Cade said, looking around. "This where you work or something?"

Because if two people were casing the place, that would be awkward.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Or something," Tony decided on. "My name's on the place at least."

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"So you own it," Cade said. "My uncle has a shop like this. He makes ships and weapons and stuff."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

Oh, Cade. You make all other Skywalkers seem put together.

"Nix the weapons and you've got the place pegged. Cade, right?"

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Right," Cade said, nodding. "So people come in here and buy things?"

Yes, Cade, that's what a shop's for.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Or bring things here to get fixed," Tony replied. "You looking for a job?"

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade blinked. "Sure," he said.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Just don't burn the place down." Tony Stark: best boss ever.

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"I'll do my best," Cade said with a slightly familiar grin.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

Tony stared for a moment before shaking his head. "Where are you from?"

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Coruscant," Cade replied warily. "Along with half the island or something."

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"So I walk into a place named Stark's and I find Tony Stark. Weird how that happens," Jessica said after walking inside and taking a look around. "Hi."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

Tony was, metaphorically, shoulder deep in JARVIS' code now. And he might end up attempting to make out with it. It was just so pretty. "Funny how that is, right?"

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"It definitely threw me for a loop," Jessica said. "Working on anything exciting and world-changing? Or just something that's pretty cool? I don't want to interrupt if you're just about to cure cancer with electronics or create the first commercial jetpack."

Not that doing that seemed likely.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Jetpacks suck. It's all about jetboots," Tony shot back. "No, I'm just... checking the place out."

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"What's the verdict after casing the joint? Does it need more science?" Jessica asked.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"That's a possibility. Some other me owned this place before," he said. "It's Stark International back home."

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"It's Industries for me," Jessica said. "International just sounds like it's showing off. I mean, no offense. I understand the appeal of showing off. Internationally."

"I may have gotten off-point somewhere back there."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Hey, we have contracts in different countries. It's totally just accurate naming."

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"I'll take you at your word, but only because you don't have a show-off-y goatee," Jessica said.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Give me a few days, I can probably grow one," Tony replied. Wait. This was a business. And someone was here.

"Did you need something repaired?"

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"Just my bank account. Which is why I'm here," Jessica said. "You wouldn't happen to be taking on any staff, would you?"

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Uh... how about Wednesdays?" Since no one was here today, it should be open.

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"... That's it?" Jessica said. Even her SHIELD job interview was tougher than that. "I mean... I have some kind of weird science gym class second period, but otherwise, my day's free."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"You and me both there," Tony muttered. "Uh, don't burn the place down? I've never hired anyone before."

A beat.

"Rhodey keeps turning me down when I offer him a job."

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"I'll do my best to keep the building from falling over one way or another," Jessica said. "Also, to help people and repair stuff. And joke around with them if they're the friendly sort. But mostly the first couple things."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Well, you're on your way to employee of the month."

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"And it's not even my first day on the job yet," Jessica said proudly. Then, less proudly, "It isn't, right? I assumed you meant next week."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Next week," he confirmed. "I've got to finish here with..."

"JARVIS, sir."

"Jarvis," Tony said, smiling at the creepy disembodied voice.

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"Okay, what was that?" Jessica asked, looking around at least for some speakers.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Isn't it cool?" Tony said. Because he'd found more coffee in the back. "He's from the other me."

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"So basically all day Wednesday I'll be listening to disembodied voices?" Jessica asked. "I'm not complaining. I just want to make sure I know what all of them sound like so I know to be worried if any unexpected voices pop into my head."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"He's British." That made him okay.

Really.

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"And not as creepy as the one in class, I assume," Jessica said. She was making assumptions based on two words. But if a Tony Stark made it, how bad could it be?

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

DAMN RIGHT.

"He hasn't tried to kill me yet," Tony said. "Jarvis, are you going to go crazy and kill us all?"

"Of course, sir."

Yeah, that AI was just making fun of you, Tony. Deal with it.

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"Aww, it sounds charming when he vows to murder us," Jessica said. "Damn that accent."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"I just can't stay mad at him," Tony added with a sigh.