In theory, his armor is supposed to protect him from any serious injury. It’s surprising how often it fails. Of course, it seems to be directly related to how often he gets blown up. Maybe that’s what should be surprising, or maybe not considering the mission he’s given himself: world peace.

Injury is the reason he’s running late, or being blow up is. Either way, he lands on the roof of his house with a less than graceful thud. He stumbles, scraping the knee of the suit against the concrete.

“Mr. Stark, shall I inform you guest that you’ve arrived?”

“Unless she’s gone deaf, she’s aware. Apologize for me and let her know I’m going to dress for dinner and be right with her.”

What he really meant was that he was going to clean up, bandage what needed bandaging, self-medicate with scotch then join her for dinner. Whether he’d be dressed appropriately or not was still up for debate.

Getting out of the suit had been a breeze; it was all automated. Getting out of the shower was going to be a problem simply because Tony loved his shower, particularly when he felt like he’d been dragged across miles of concrete. Oh. Wait. He had.

“JARVIS, have dummy bring me a scotch and assure the pretty girl that is hopefully still waiting for me that I do plan on keeping our date.”

She would forgive him, or at least he hoped she would. He actually liked this one enough to have more than one date. He liked her enough that he was concerned about pissing her off, enough that despite the fact he hurt enough to have scotch in the shower, he didn’t want to break the date.

It was, quite possibly, a first for Tony Stark.

[we all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with—Nicky Thompson (Boardwalk Empire)]

“Sir, there’s been another video uploaded to youtube.”

“Show me.”

The screen flickered and the video started. Tony was unsurprised to see his bare ass Imax sized on the screen. He executed an impressive swan dive, considering how much scotch he’d had at that point in the evening, from the roof of Stark Tower. He was thankfully wearing the watch that activated the mobile suit. The phone camera responsible for the video panned down capturing the mobile suit as it caught up to him and surrounded his body long before the swan dive ever became a suicide. The camera continued to video his antics as he landed on the roof of the building once more. That was when the real party had started, although if he was very honest, he didn’t remember much about the evening after that. He’d consumed an astounding amount of scotch in a very short amount of time. He was paying a clean up crew an equally astounding amount of money to clean up said party on the roof top right now.

Privatizing world peace, working alone in the wake of the New York incident and atoning for past indiscretions had been more difficult than Tony had ever imagined. He’d urged Bruce to deal with ‘the other guy’ but Tony was having difficulty dealing with his own monsters. Nothing had gone as it he’d thought it would. He was supposed to do good things and be rewarded with some sort of redemption, a sense of peace and completion that had alluded him thus far. He’d discovered that karma was, indeed, a bitch and she was determined to have her way with his peace of mind. As Natasha would say, his ledger was full of red and it refused to be sated simply because Tony had done a few things to put it in the black. It turned out, saving the world once or twice didn’t account for as much black as he had thought it would. There was always so much more to make up for.

“Play it again.”

“Sir…”

“Play it again, Jarvis. In fact, put the damn thing on a loop. Let’s see if we can get my ass on the front page of youtube by five.”

“Of course, Sir.”

Some sins were easier to live with than others.

Tony has actually sort of cleared out his lab. Okay, so he shoved everything behind a fire proof door in a 'closet' and called it clearing up. He's wearing his suit and Dummy is on stand by with an extinguisher. AC/DC is playing at a volume just low enough to be heard over. He hasn't actually had a chance to test the fire proofing on the building at excessively high temperatures. That's part of what this afternoon is about. It's also about testing Charlie's abilities. She's been here long enough and seems to have settled in well enough. It's a good time for it.

"Okay, let's start with a lower setting and work up. Hit me with your best shot, Baby."

[Tourists in the City mean Tony is out in front of City Solutions. He's wearing the suit, of course and shooting some targets he's set up. Showing off? Of course. He is Tony Stark]

Yes I will sign autographs and yes you can have your picture taken with Iron Man.

[ooc: It's still fourth wall! Really!]

[The video pans across a table. Parts, bits and pieces of the monkeys from yesterday are scattered all over the table. ]

Efficient if the goal is annoy us to distraction. We could at least have something interesting to annoy us next time.

There was an explosion earlier today, blue light. Some of you may have noticed it. Indirectly I suppose I was to blame but thankfully there was no damage to property. As for damage to people...I haven't heard. If anyone was hurt in the explosion I'll be happy to pay for damages.

[Filtered to the police]

My property has been recovered. I suppose you can close the case. I still don't know who took the suit or what the circumstances that allowed them to do so were. I'll continue to investigate it.

[/end filter]

[ooc: Refers to this No one was hurt by the explosion. Tony is trying to ferret out who set the suit off/stole it/messed with it. Feel free to mention that you saw it/felt it. The suit let off a massive arc reactor burst from the rooftop of Building 12]

[Locked to the Police]

I'd like to report a theft. My suit has been stolen and my security systems all bypassed. This should be impossible and yet...

Trust me when I say it is in everyone's best interest that this suit is returned. It's dangerous in incompetent hands. We won't even discuss what 'the bad guys' could do with it.

I want my property back now and I want the asshole who stole it caught.

[Open to the City]

Has anyone experienced any theft of any sort in the City? Recently I mean. Or perhaps seen some explosions. Particularly of a light blue variety?

[Someone is rummaging around in a cabinet, his head stuck inside it. There's the tinkling of glass hitting lightly against more glass. The person emerges to reveal Tony Stark.]

I know there was at least three more bottles. Miss Rushman ordered a case....

[He moves over to the cabinetry in the kitchen, picking the device up and taking it with him but not yet noticing it's recording. He rummages in some of these cabinets as before. He picks the device up again and carries it upstairs.]

JARVIS, have there been any unauthorized entries into the house?

⌈No, Sir. Only yourself, Miss Tyler and Miss Rushman..⌋

[This revelation illicites a grumble of inarticulate words from Tony as he sets the device on top of the liquor cabinet in his room. After some more rummaging he bites off a curse. He finally realizes the device is recording, sighs and addresses it directly.]

I seem to have drunk a great deal more Scotch than I had thought last month.

I'm going to The Lux.

[Private to Miss Rushman]

Order two cases of Scotch this month.

[Private to Miss Tyler]

Rose, did you drink three bottles of Scotch without telling me? I understand if you did considering what you've been going through but I'm missing a couple of very old bottles. I'd like to account for them.

JARVIS --ak- su-- ---s Ty-l-- and Miss Ru---an are sa--. Obviously I'm -- th- tra---.

Th---gs aren't g----g so well he--. Stay of- the ---in if yo--e not go--en on.


[Action for those on the train]

[Tony is in compartment Nine pacing back and forth with a glass of Scotch. He keeps poking at the device trying to increase the reception or contact JARVIS. Thus far he's not entirely sure he's getting through but he is certain that JARVIS can't get through to him.]

[Tony is sitting up in bed. He hasn't got a shirt on and the sheets are pooled at his waist. One wrist is handcuffed to a sleeping blonde. There's a bot delivering a pot of coffee and one of tea.]

Do try not to spill it, Dummy.

[Then he looks to the device]

I've had worse mornings.

[The device opens with this:]



[It fades to this live image:]



[The helmet slides back to show that is indeed Tony Stark in the suit]

There's been a great deal of talk about pride today. Now you can have something to really be proud of. The Spartan. A fully functional, luxury sports car that runs on arc reactor technology; no fuel. Nothing to plug in. You put the key in and go.

[He presses a button and the Iron Man suit he's wearing folds down into a brief case. He's wearing a tailored suit. He picks up the briefcase and walks over to the driver's side. He puts the briefcase inside.]

Contact Stark Industries at City Solutions for your custom Spartan today.

[He gets inside and starts the car, hitting the accelerator. The car peels out smoothly leaving a trail of rubber on the asphalt]

[ooc: Mod approved. Yes you can buy a custom car from Tony Stark. Yes they're expensive. It'll take about a month to produce. Regardless of orders, cars will start rolling out at about 1 per month. Other models are in the works]

[The device shows a small white slip of paper amid the shards of a broken fortune cookie. The paper says:]

Yes, go ahead with confidence, as long as your insurance is paid up

It always is.

[And the video clicks off]

[Tony looks rather worse for the wear. In fact he looks a lot worse for the wear. His hair is standing on end, his clothes are rumpled and he has stubble along his jaw where he is usually incredibly close shaven at all times of the day.]

⌈Sir, surely she's merely a--⌋

[Tony cuts JARVIS off in midsentence]

So help me God, JARVIS if you tell me she's merely a child and I should be able to deal with her one more time I will have Hardison turn a virus lose in your system that will eat you up until you are a palsied, demntia ridden old man of an AI.
⌈
Of course, Sir. How can I help?⌋

Keep the door locked. Go through the security system and make sure the windows are locked. Make the check every 120 seconds. She may be just a little girl but this is still Na--Miss Rushman we're discussing.

[Then he turns to look at the camera]

Anyone out there have any tips for deal with a rather precouis, demanding child?

[Tony is sitting at a table in his personal lab lit only by computer screens. There are mechanical parts, computer parts and bits scattered all around him. He looks rumpled and even without the half full bottle of scotch next to him it would be obvious he's beyond drunk. When he speaks, his words are slurred]

We invent things. We create things and we chase after an immortality that we can't ever catch.

[He grabs up the scotch bottle, sweeps his arm over the table top and sends all the bits, parts and a nearly empty rocks glass flying. There's a crash and it just seems to make Tony more angry. He stands up, shoving the table away from him. The device crashes to the floor with everything else but it doesn't shut off. Instead it shows Tony's feet as he crushes the remains of whatever project he was working on beneath them.]

And it's all worthless bullshit.

[He reaches down and grabs the device, looking closely at it. He takes a long swig of scotch, doesn't wince at the burn and stares the device down again.]

You know what they'll remember? This.

[And he throws the device hard enough that the screen is filled with static and then goes black when it hits the wall]

[Tony is leaning against the bleachers outside the football field. He has sunglasses on and a stack of books next to him. The books appear to be untouched.]

I've got some unexpected free time in my schedule. I'm taking offers from the various clubs. If you'd like to have me join, come tell me what you can do for me.

[ooc:Tony is the kid at Westerberg everyone wants to hate. He's good at athletics and does well in school. He also, naturally, thinks quite highly of himself.]

iamironman

Whiskey. Put that on the grocery list. No I don't care that it's not food
less than 10 seconds ago from Network/Echodevice/Citydeck. As transcribed by Miss Rushman

Arc reactor powered vehicles. Any interest?
about 2 hours ago from Network/Echodevice/Citydeck. As transcribed by Miss Rushman

I think we're going to need more fire extinguishers
about 3 hours ago from Network/Echodevice/Citydeck. As transcribed by Miss Rushman

@mrsstark would you like to have dinner?He means you Reinette--added by Natalie
about 4 hours ago from Network/Echodevice/Citydeck. As transcribed by Miss Rushman

Next project. Giant trampoline...with rocket boosters
about 5 hours ago from Network/Echodevice/Citydeck. As transcribed by Miss Rushman

[ooc: No Reinette's twitter to my knowledge is not mrsstark. Yes he did make Natasha tweet for him. Yes he is contemplating a trampoline and rocket boosters]

[The video comes up on Tony in a suit. He's leaning back in his chair. He has sunglasses on and it looks very much like he's prepared for an interview or doing a press conference bit trying to make up for something he did.

Well...that's sort of exactly what he's doing.]

Residents of the City. I'd like to apologize to any of you who had to deal with me in my cursed state. As you can see, I'm back to my devastatingly handsome self and no one had to fall in love with me.

A good thing really as I'm sure the former Mrs. Stark can tell you.

[He leans forward, gives the camera a peace sign and then switches it off]

[There's a blur of motion in the darkness accompanied with a real growl, the kind that human throats can't make. There is the sound of something crashing paired with sparks then a roar.]

⌈Oh Dear...Mr. Stark would you like--⌋

[Another blur of motion and a crash silences JARVIS whether by his own judgment that it would be for the better or by being disabled is unclear. A light comes onto the screen and if one peers closely enough it can see that the light is actually a work lantern that seems to not only be running but actually be alive. It has a voice that sounds very vaguely like the secretary that sits in front of Tony's office. His assistant to his assistant so to speak]

Mr. Stark...if you'd just--you can't--

[A clawed hand swipes at the work lantern, causing it to scuttle out of the way and leave the scene shown much darker than it was a moment before. Only the shine of light from electronics that haven't been smashed yet keeps the room from being thrown into pitch black. There is another roar that sounds very like someone saying with great difficulty...]

GET OUT

[ooc: Tony is affected by the ugly on the outside curse. He is a beast very much like the one in Beauty & the Beast. All responses will be from a curse journal hsatofallinlove]