12035/A Stark Difference

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A Stark Difference
Date of Scene: 19 August 2020
Location: Operations, The Triskelion
Synopsis: Tony flies into SHIELD with an 80 billion dollar idea. Or maybe it's just a drive of too many memories from days gone by.
Cast of Characters: Iron Man, Peggy Carter, Winter Soldier, Quake




Iron Man has posed:
"Oh great. He's here."

The flat, emotionless tone of the SHIELD communications officer perfectly expresses the complete lack of enthusiasm that he has for his job. Not so much the whole 'being a communications officer' thing, we assume he enjoys that. Rather, he seems to have some pent up animosity toward the 'he' whose arrival it's his unfortunate job to have to announce.

But though the communications officer looks unimpressed, a general buzz begins to build up to palpable levels. All throughout the Control Room the word quickly spreads, and the word begins radiating outward throughout the building. Hardened SHIELD agents start to gossip with each other. A few of them even exchange giggles.

After all, it's always an event when Iron Man drops by.

The telltale sound of rocket engines can be heard as Iron Man does the 'dropping' part quite literally. A red and gold streak flashes past as many of the Triskelion's windows as possible on its way to the ground, leaving Rocket Boot-shaped scorch marks on the lawn when he finally lands.

A blonde woman with glasses peers out of one of the windows, craning her neck to see him land. "Oooooh! He's wearing one of the Classic Armors! How vintage..."

Sure enough, when the Armored Avenger enters the Triskelion's foyer he's wearing one of his first attempts at an armor, complete with the old 'Bullethead' shaped helmet.

And the Rocket Boots.

The new armor must be in the shop.

Peggy Carter has posed:
While Peggy didn't have any command level duties -- either communications or operations nowadays -- it's really hard to miss the fact that half the tower has come alive in discussions of his imminent arrival. While she wasn't exactly putting off going to see him, had even reread his file a few times and couldn't help but realize how much he looked like Howard, she didn't run for the visit either. Just too many emotions and too many thoughts.

But now, he is here. He deserves a proper greeting and someone a bit more official than a fan girl swooning secretary to greet him. Therefore, Peggy swallowed her worries and made her way up to the deck where he's touching down. She's in her own preferred business clothes, so looking rather vintage herself. A set of high waisted, slightly too wide legged 1940s slacks and a matching double breasted jacket, both in neatly matched charcoal plaid with wide lapels of the yesteryears. Her soft curls rest around her features in an elegant, classic frame, and her usual red is on both nails and lips. That is to say, she looks like she's walked out of a SHIELD text book about the founding days.

She stands neatly at the edge of the foyer as he comes in, a polite, respectful smile on her face even as there is a slight tightness in the back of her throat at just seeing him. The vintage armor didn't help. "...Mr. Stark... I don't think anyone was expecting you today. The classic suit does you well." Her voice is even the same as old recordings, that clipped and warm British accent.

Iron Man has posed:
By the time that Peggy arrives, the source of the excitement has already removed hid helmet, and has it tucked under one of his arms. He looks relatively well. A few bags under his bloodshot eyes maybe, but nobody seems to pay much attention.

Running his gauntlet-clad fingers through his hair in order to help get rid of the dreaded Helmet Head, Tony politely smiles at the fanboys and fangirls, and manages to look genuinely pleased to see each and every person that he comes across.

And maybe he is? After all, you never know when one of these low-level agents will end up running the whole operation.

But his smile seems a bit more genuine when he recognizes the face of the agent who helped him out the last time there was a 3F Warning, and he holds out his free hand.

"Well well well... if it isn't the brave agent who took control so beautifully to protect New York from a dragon... Carter, wasn't it?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
A gentle tilt of her head comes, respectful without being shy or submissive in any way. She offers her hand in his direction, smile warmly in place as she studies him now quite a bit closer than she was able when it was all chaos in the field and a lot of people in danger. "Indeed. It's good to finally meet you in person, Mr. Stark. I... I knew your father quite well." She admits, a touch more softly than before.

Then it might hit. There were photos of her all over the house. With a much younger Howard, but it's the same face in front of him now. The black and whites from the founding of SHIELD. News articles from the 60s. Several galas before his mother was around. She's been a ghost that haunted his childhood home and now, somehow, stands there in flesh and blood.

"I don't suspect you came to catch up about 3Fs or old times, though. Is there something I can help you with? If not, I can show you to one of the more comfortable rooms while I get someone else who has... a bit more of a handle on modern SHIELD issues." Peggy admits with a half smile, not too scared to admit she's still playing a lot of catch up.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    The lawn has been scorched. That's where he plays catch with Lili. No to mention, someone just flew rings around the Triskelion. It was inevitable that a certain face was going to be showing itself, attached to a head that's perched atop a body that's currently dressed in SHIELD issue combat ops gear... with a leather jacket slung over top. Some weather to be wearing gloves...

    An eyebrow raises as Bucky finally gets a good view of the visitor, and there's an almost imperceptible shake of his head. "Should have known. Afternoon, Mister Stark. Going classic today?"

Iron Man has posed:
With his tousled hair, and his mustache styled very thin like a Silent Film star, Tony might also look a bit like a blast from the past. It must be a bit perplexing to meet someone's 'kid' who's already well into his forties.

Some recognition does seem to dawn behind Tony's sleep-deprived eyes as he shakes her hand in a way that's both far more gentle than his armored gauntlet should allow for, and far more professional than his reputation would suggest.

"You know, this is going to sound strange, but have you ever done any time travelling? Because I could have sworn that I used to have a pinup of you over my bed when I was a teenager."

Okay, so at least his handshakes are professional, I guess.

As he lets go of the hand, he looks a bit surprised to see The Winter Soldier here. After all, it's been a while.

"Oh snap! I didn't know you worked here! Finally decided to get a job and stop traipsing around the globe committing felonies, eh?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
A sideways smile is given to Bucky and a brief flash of brown eyes that holds something a bit more. It's the first time she's seeing Tony and, for just a moment, she gives Bucky that questioning look -- Is he as like Howard as she feels like he is? Is she wrong in that? But she doesn't linger long with it, her neutral smile returning to Tony smoothly. Even if she's clearing her throat a moment later with a slightly deeper smirk. A look she gave Howard often.

"...I don't know if your father has a very strange sense of humor and yes, it was...Or you're mistaking me for someone else. But, it turns out, I have done a touch of time traveling thanks to Stark Senior and only...recently recovered myself from being stuck in a piece of his technology for about fifty years. I'm just sorry I wasn't here to know you when you were younger. I'm Margaret Carter... It seems you already know James Buchanan."

She shakes his hand warmly and without fear, even if the gauntlet might look intimidating, the too-young looking woman takes it all in stride.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "Something like that." Nope. Not a hint of a smile. Not even a twitch along the corners of the mouth, no sudden mirth in the eyes. Just... the Winter Soldier. Being Wintery. Although, at length, he does extend a hand towards Tony, a gesture of good will. "Figured I could commit felonies around the world for a better reason."

    The glare is real.

    Then he inclines his head towards Peggy and gives that tiny nod, that small gesture that was sometimes shared when they didn't want anyone else to overhear a decision being made, or a conclusion being reached. It seems Bucky agrees... very much his father's son.

Quake has posed:
Skye slipped in quietly, and stood there watching. Eventually someone would notice her. Besides, Tony was there. Until then, she was gloating.

Iron Man has posed:
The handshaking is wrapped up without any further incident or any inappropriate remarks from Tony. Aside from this one, that is:

Ha! That's one way to get rid of an ex! That Howard... amirite? Actually... I'll have to write that one down."

But other than that one, there are no further inappropriate remarks.

"And look! It's Agent Cloud! Boy, this really is a great day for renewing old acquaintances, isn't it?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
After that brief look is shared with Bucky, Peggy looks back to Tony and simply arches a very dry brow at the commentary about getting rid of an ex. "...Your father and I weren't like... *That*." She states with a slightly deeper clearing of her throat. She might be blushing just a bit. One would think she was use to such implications after thirty some years of them, but she wasn't expecting it from his son.

Dark eyes flicker back to Skye and she dips her head in a more respectful bit of acknowledgement to the senior agent. She steps back, making room in the conversational circle for the other woman, but also moving a bit instinctively closer to Bucky. There's nothing they should need to fight right now, but out of habit she's forming a line should they *need* to. Old habits die hard.

"Mr. Stark, we're happy to stand around and play catch up with all your old friends but... I still haven't quite heard what SHIELD can do for you today? Unless you enjoy making small talk, standing around a foyer." She slightly teases, her red painted smile going a bit sardonic. Peggy is in 'Greeting diplomats' mode. A little chatty, a little respectful, a little too calm, meant to set everyone at ease. It's a mode she played for many years.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    There shouldn't be any reason to form what is essentially a defensive line, but when you've campaigned with someone for years, and they happen to be around, it's the most natural thing in the world to fall back into old habits. And the habit in this case is mutual protection. Not that Bucky expects there to be trouble ahead more than Peggy does, but when an old comrade in arms steps closer, you reciprocate.

    And so he stands, with his hands clasped behind his back in the most open posture that martial bearing will allow. "And who wouldn't? It's a nice foyer. I could stand here all day and just enjoy the view."

Quake has posed:
Shaking her head, Skye joins them. "Hey, Tony. Who did you want to bother today? Be nice, Agent Carter is nasty." She winks. "Besides, Winter Soldier seems out of sorts. I'm presuming you're responsible for that burnt grass out there?"

Nobody messes with Lilly. Nobody.

Iron Man has posed:
"Oh, it seems like half my life is spent standing around in foyers and making small talk. It beats getting a hobby."

Tony seems to be picking up on a vibe from the group, but is too accustomed to working a room to mirror their defensive energy. Instead, he seems to get slightly more effusive and friendly, despite looking a bit bleary-eyed.

"But you're right, I actually had a reason for dropping by."

"So what happened was, there I was, in the shower. You know, just listening to some Motorhead and cleaning the gunk out of the hole in my chest." Tony touches the spot on his armor's chestpiece where an Arc Reactor would normally be. Instead, there's some sort of dull gunmetal gray battery pack jammed into the hole. A temporary measure, surely.

"When all of a sudden... BAM! I get an idea! So I got bolted into the old Mark III and flew straight here before I forgot."

Looking from Skye, to Bucky, to Peggy, a warm smile still plastered on beneath his pencil mustache, Tony seems to think that explains everything.

"So I'll need about 80 billion dollars."

Peggy Carter has posed:
It's not until Tony is mentioning the hole in his chest that Peggy's eyes drop to where the arc reactor SHOULD be and is not. She's read enough of his file that any casual teasing or smile quickly drops off of her face and her dark eyes go a bit wider with concern. "...Mr. Stark, what... What happened to your reactor, and shouldn't you be in a *hospital*?" She's read enough of his file to know that it's been rather vital to keeping him alive and every over protective instinct is now kicking in.

She looks between Skye and Bucky, considering that she's the only one who seems overly concerned about this, but she's used to pulling Starks out of life threatening situations. Then she's staring back at him to catch onto the last thing he said and she chokes on a bit of a laugh, a sound of pure shock.

80 billion dollars is a whole lot of inflation that her brain simply can't wrap itself around. "... I... I'm not certain 80 billion is in SHIELD's budget even *nowadays*?" She clips out, still half aghast at the number. "...What in bloody hell could cost 80 *billion* dollars??"

Winter Soldier has posed:
    Okay. Now an eyebrow does go up. First and foremost because it's getting clearer to Bucky that Tony is here in the old suit out of necessity rather than choice, and secondly because even now it doesn't seem like he can be entirely serious.

    That burnt patch of grass still hasn't been forgiven.

    And so he tilts his head again, towards Peggy. "With respect, Agent Carter, I think this one needs to go to the Director." He glances over to Skye, for confirmation on his assessment. After all, he's a bit of an anachronism here.

Quake has posed:
"Oooh Tony." Skye lets her brain catch up. "You're kidding, right? How the hell.. never mind. It's you. Yeah, should go through Fury." She's all concerned now. "Eighty* million?"

Iron Man has posed:
"Hey, I'm really loving the idea, Jimmy. But on second thought... maybe we shouldn't go 'straight' to the Director with this. I think Fury's still mad that I beat him so soundly last time that we played golf. But it's like I told him afterwards: 'Dude, it's not my fault you lost. Why would you challenge me to golf when you have no depth perception anyway?'"

Still smiling his best About To Unveil The New Starkphone smile, Tony cranes his neck juuuust a little, in order to see around the trio of naysayers assembled before him and trying to keep his dreams from coming true.

"I was thinking more like, what if we just went to the bean counters ourselves, I'll give them the short version of my proposal, and you three will get a commendation, or whatever it is they give to SHIELD agents instead of a raise."

The smile falters only for a moment, just long enough for Tony to correct the math.

"Er... That's BILLION, Agent Sunshine. I wouldn't even clean the gunk out of the hole in my chest for 80 million."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Peggy was no longer a director of any sorts, but she knows well what the SHIELD rumor mill is like, and that Tony hasn't even told them his idea yet but the edges of the room have gone quiet around them. She tilts her head in agreement to Bucky about the fact this SHOULD go to the director, but Tony's going on about why they shouldn't. A wry look flashes in Skye's direction and Peggy finally motions to the long hallway through the operations center.

"...While I agree that this is the director's call, we don't even know what you want pitched to the bean counters. So, before too many ears get curious, why don't we all sit and talk. I swear even these modern chairs are more comfortable than standing in the middle of the foyer."

And with that, unless someone immediately disagrees, Peggy turns on the ball of her T-strap heel clad foot and clicks her way down along the hall, just expecting to be followed. If no one follows, then she won't hear the pitch! But she wants to get the whole group away from too-curious eyes, and the conference room isn't that far away.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "I get to hear a Stark proposal." Bucky manages to keep his tone level, as he takes one step back, half turns to the conference room that Peggy is making for, and indicate the direction to Tony with a sweeping gesture of his left hand. "What joy. After you, Mister Stark."

Quake has posed:
*cough*

"If you can excuse me, someone should tell him." Skye 'put her hand up' and volunteered to tell him.

Eighty. BILLION. Yeah, someone should let him know gently.

Iron Man has posed:
"Oh right right right... gotta keep it schtum. Because spies." Following along, Tony's very retro Rocket Boots clomp very noisily on the hard surface of the floors in the Triskelion. Not only is the old armor clunkier, affecting the way that Tony moves, but it's also much heavier, and it looks as if it's actually putting some physical strain on him to operate it. Not all of the bugs were worked out back then.

But it still looks cool as hell.

"So where we headed to guys? Did you ever install that giant Cone of Silence that Fury wanted? Because if he got another contractor to build it, I'm going to have hurt feelings."

Peggy Carter has posed:
A gentle look of half sympathy, half 'You're getting the easy part' is shared in Skye's direction as the woman volunteers to go tell the big man about this potential proposal. "Good luck finding him. You know where to find us..." She echoes with a smile. But then the trio is continuing their way down to the first debriefing room Peggy can find that is out of the way.

Of course, curious eyes are following them. A few younger agents trying to listen in and get a glimpse of Tony Stark's next brilliant project. Someone else mutters something about the 'retirement home on a fieldtrip', which gets them a hard, levelled look from Peggy and the rookie is quickly scampering off down the hall. But, soon enough, they're in a quiet, modern conference room with holoprojectors that run on Stark technology and overstuffed black leather chairs.

"This should do. And I... believe that we advanced beyond the cone of silence. There are transponders now, but I suspect we'll be fine tucked in here. More worried about curious rookies and the rumor mill than spies."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    'Thank you.' Bucky subvocalises to Skye, following Tony towards the briefing room. Not that he needs to keep an eye on the man, but with all that clanking about, giving him an escort is probably not a bad idea. SHIELD agents were only human, and just as liable to be star struck as anyone else.

    His hearing is also pretty good, so he catches the comment over the thumping of the rocket boots on what used to be the perfectly smooth and even surface of the floor. That rookie earns himself a glare. And more than a glare, it seems, because after letting Tony into the room, he gives Peggy a meaningful look and starts after the unfortunate agent.

    "You. I need a word with you, c'mhere..."

Iron Man has posed:
As the Armored Avenger clanks into the plush conference room, and the other SHIELDies begin to filter out, Tony looks around the room with something very similar to suspicion.

Or as if he's checking to make sure the coast is clear.

When the doors shut behind the last exiting agent, Tony turns slowly, clunkily, and sets his helmet down on the conference table with a heavy thud.

A slightly sinister smile turns up one corner of his immaculately-trimmed mustache.

"There. Finally alone..."

It's a creepy thing to say, but the tone of his voice is more relieved than anything else.

"I know who you are, obviously. Apparently Howard Stark was the world's biggest fan of Agent Peggy Carter, judging by the sheer volume of manila folders full of crap that he kept in storage."

Fiddling with his helmet for a moment, Tony pulls out an old-school USB drive from somewhere within the hunk of metal.

USB, and here Peggy thought that SHE was a fossil...

"I had his files digitized. Actually, I built a robot that digitized his files. Either way, it's a record of all the Secret Squirrel stuff he got up to back when Sean Connery was still driving a bulletproof Aston Martin."

He sets the USB drive down on the table, very close to the center, and looks up at Peggy from his slightly hunched position, for extra ominous effect.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The prospect of an 80 billion dollar invention, or headache, was apparently a brilliant enough cover to drive most everyone else away so Tony and Peggy could actually get a chance to talk alone. When he starts on about knowing who she is, her smile softens a bit, almost apologetic but also a bit relieved? A part of her wondered if she simply didn't matter.

She's doing her very best to keep her emotions off her face as he speaks about all the things Howard kept around. She's too British to simply break down right there, but that familiar tightness returns to the back of her throat. She stares at him in quiet, sentimental shock for a handful of heartbeats, not quite daring to even take the files yet. As if she touched them, they'd no longer be real.

She's not a coward long, though. She crosses the last few feet between herself and the younger Stark, scooping up the little USB drive between neatly squared, red nails. She looks it over with a quiet blink, pushing away a bit of glassiness threatening at the edges of her dark eyes. "Oh... Anthony. This is... It's incredibly sweet. I know I was long gone when he... died..." Was killed? Drank himself to death? Did she really even know, "And you're his legacy. But... this means the world." Dark eyes move from the drive back to the handsome man in front of her. "...I don't know how it was between you and your father. I know he had his... problems. More than I can name. But he was my best friend and we built this..." She motions to the halls behind her, "Together. I don't know how to thank you for this."

Iron Man has posed:
"Yeah, 'had his problems', that's as nice a way as any to say he was the World's Wealthiest Doomsday Prepper. I'm still trying to find a fourth warehouse for all the weird stuff he left behind. Notorious slob, that guy. But this stuff, the time he spent with you, I mean, he had it all organized. In its own special room. In the East Wing of Avengers Mansion."

People forget that before it was called 'Avengers Mansion' it was just called 'Howard Stark's Bigass House Full of Weirdass Stuff.'

Unlike Peggy, Tony doesn't seem to get especially misty-eyed about the memory of the Great Howard Stark. But then, Tony doesn't seem to remember a version of Howard that wasn't already in the throes of senility and extremely poor health. Which makes sense, given that Howard must have been like ninety when Tony was born.

Or maybe he's just bitter? Poor little rich kid.

With his armored hands propped against the table, Tony remains slightly bent over, looking from the USB drive back up to Peggy.

"I really don't think you should thank me. Not sure I did the right thing, bringing you all this stuff. Seems like you're starting over, and here I am bringing you a truckload of Howard's baggage."

He breathes in deeply, and lets out a resigned sigh.

"But when you see the message he left you, maybe you'll understand why I couldn't just burn it all."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Finally, she brings herself the rest of the way over to sit near him. Neatly folded down into one of the too-modern chairs, she looks almost painfully out of time in the modern conference room with the old fashion cut of her suit and hair. She crosses her legs smoothly, sitting straight as a pin and formal as if they were in deep business negotiations. Chances are she's one of those people that fights back against emotions by getting more business like. It was simply easier.

"I... appreciate the baggage, Anthony. And... the message. I didn't realize he left a message. Would you rather I play it alone?" She clearly doesn't know how comfortable or not he is with his father, but she's not assuming they are close. And yet, there's concern in her eyes. Concern for him, as she looks him over now that she's settled nearer.

"I can... look things over later. I'm more worried about *you*. Without the reactor... How... How are you holding up? I know you are brilliant. Probably more brilliant than your father. But SHIELD... we have doctors, a team of scientists. We can make certain you're...okay... while you're building another one..."

Then there is something she sees in his face. The smallest reaction, but maybe she's gone too far. A stiff, quiet smile crosses her features. "...Sorry. It's not my business." She stands up neatly as she sat. "If you need us, you know where SHIELD is. I... I think I might start going through a few of these things. It was nice properly meeting you, Anthony. Please, if you ever need anything... Find me. Anything at all." With that quiet promise, Peggy turns and steps from the room, leaving him alone with thoughts and the faint smell of old fashion Chanel perfume.