Stark Industries, Friday

[midichlorianfail]

Theron was planning on giving the picnic a miss. After all, no guests meant no reason to go.

Not that he was upset about that, or anything, he just didn't see the point.

He picked up the murder-roomba. "How do you feel about an arc welder?"

Uh, Theron, maybe this wasn't the best way to work out your complete lack of negative feelings?

[Open! Details of Satele and Tony's thread (including names) very much NFB]

Comments

[midichlorianwin]

After Theron had left the store, the robed figure who'd been watching from atop the roof across the street dropped lightly to the ground and with a wave of her fingers unlocked the door and slipped inside the building.

The murder-roomba whirred into life, sparking its new welder at her. The figure crouched down to examine it. "Greetings, little one."

[imafuturist]

JARVIS had alerted Tony the moment there was a break in, but considering what weekend it was...

Okay. He was still pocketing an experimental part of the armor just in case. Because of what weekend it was.

"Business hours have ended for the day."

[midichlorianwin]

The murder-roomba spun in place. It'd caught her!...then let her make friends with it.

With one final pat to top of the murder-roomba, Satele rose to her feet, her hand casually dropping to her hip where her robes covered her lightsaber.

"My apologies," she said calmly, while not offering any explanation for her presence.

[imafuturist]

Tony shot the murderous lil' guy a fond look before going back to being slightly on edge. Because wonky tech always had a soft spot in his heart.

"Uh huh," he replied with a practiced ease. "I'm Tony, the owner of this place. I don't think I know who you are, though."

[midichlorianwin]

"No-one important," Satele lied through her teeth, but didn't imbue her words with the Force. It would be unethical to attempt to influence his mind merely because she'd let herself get distracted.

[imafuturist]

And rude! Tony was not a fan of telepaths trying to get into his brain, thank you very much.

"Nice to meet you, No-one Important," he replied cheerfully. "Lovely weather we're having."

[midichlorianwin]

"I'm sure the pleasure is mine," Satele said, because she was polite not just on the trying to avoid Mind-Tricking people front. "I'll take your word on the weather."

Since she didn't know what the weather was like here normally.

[imafuturist]

Tony sighed, leaning against the door frame as he watched her. "I'm relatively sure you're not here for me. And you look... familiar."

He could manage subtle about things.

[midichlorianwin]

Subtle was good. Subtle meant Satele didn't straighten, or go tense, but her fingers twitched towards her hip. Just once.

"Do I now?"

[imafuturist]

Tony hummed in agreement. "Is this going to be an issue? Because I care about my employees and students."

[midichlorianwin]

Luckily Satele didn't come from a canon that ran on well-intentioned misunderstandings leading to multi-page brawls.

"I have no desire for my son's wellbeing to become an issue." That would end...poorly.

[imafuturist]

But... but... massive crossover events!

Tony sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "And the B&E?"

[midichlorianwin]

Were easily avoided with some sensible thinking...well, relatively sensible.

"I was curious about how he was spending his time," Satele admitted. "And gave in to a selfish impulse."

[imafuturist]

"You'll want to bribe or threaten the squirrels if this is meant to stay a secret," Tony replied, sounding like he didn't approve, but couldn't honestly lecture anyone on parenting skills. "He's a good kid. Smart."

[midichlorianwin]

"I would appreciate him not finding out about this," she said. "I have no desire to cause him pain."

Tony could disapprove all he liked, Satele had made a choice and she had to live with the consequences.

A small wistful smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "He looks to be growing into a fine young man."

[imafuturist]

"Pain?" Don't make him feel guilty over the disapproval. It wasn't fair.

[midichlorianwin]

"I haven't seen Theron since he was born," Satele said, letting herself say his name. "For his own safety, and other reasons. I doubt he'd be happy to discover I'd been here."

That he'd have been trained to deal with his emotions like a Jedi didn't mean he wouldn't feel them to begin with.

[imafuturist]

Oh, so the way that never ended in evil empires or people killing younglings?

"But you wanted to check on him anyway," Tony replied.

[midichlorianwin]

In Theron's case it was mostly going to involve repression or picking fights with his parents. Practically well adjusted!

"Yes." When you got invitations no one should have known to send you, and you found out your mentor who should have been raising your son hadn't been doing so for nearly a year without telling you, it was concerning.

[imafuturist]

It honestly was! Real measure was whether or not he'd end up missing a limb.

Tony sighed again, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Well, like I said, he's a good kid. It's a place that sort of specializes in the unusual cases."

[midichlorianwin]

Did getting cybernetic implants count?

"I trust you're not speaking euphemistically."

Just checking.

[imafuturist]

We're they untested? Asking for a friend.

"Not really," he replied, shaking his head. "Some version of me went to school here apparently."

[midichlorianwin]

A number of them were going to be SIS issued, so she'd certainly hope they were thoroughly tested.

"That makes no sense."

Just go with it, Satele.

[imafuturist]

"Yep," Tony completely agreed with a quick grin. "It's a weird school. But he does well in my classes at least."

[midichlorianwin]

"Which are?" It was unwise to to let herself get too involved, even at a remove, that didn't stop Satele from wanting to know.

[imafuturist]

"Last few were civics and physical education." A very healthy mix!