12721/The Rocket Boots' Red Glare

The Rocket Boots' Red Glare
Date of Scene:	09 February 2021
Location:	Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn
Synopsis:	Yoga! Galaga! Possible Chili Mac!
Cast of Characters:	Pixie, Iron Man, Cannonball, Nightingale

---

Pixie has posed:
It's a sunny but cold day today. That hasn't stopped the growing line of people from forming outside the Starlight clinic, where Dr. Brightman has offered an antidote to the potentially fatal mutant 'Cure'.

Which could be a good thing or a bad thing..Firstly, there's the biting cold, which isn't much fun to wait for hours in. Secondly, there are the death threats that were already made on Brightman's life, not only by angry mutants who lost their powers, but by members of DAMT and their spies, many of who still lurk in the shadows.

Unfortunately Captain Marvel couldn't make it today to watch over things..Hopefully another superhero star can step up..

Iron Man has posed:
"Oh my god, it's HIM!"

"What a ham."

"It's probably not really him. I heard he sends his robots out to public events like friggin' Andy Warhol..."

"Oh great, it's Captain Capitalism here to remind us all how poor we are."

There are many opinions murmured amongst the populace gathered in the smallish Bushwick neighborhood known as Mutant Town. Virtually all of them have something to do with the Armored Avenger, which might seem like a statistical impossibility aside from the fact that he is currently descending from several hundred meters in the air.

And making lots of noise in the process.

As he clunks solidly on the ground in a heroic three-point stance, the impact is audible but the property damage seems to be minimal to nonexistent. Truly, a textbook landing.

Outside the clinic where so many protests and riots have been held the past few months, Iron Man lands in the dead center of a hastily-drawn landing zone that was put there more as a warning for innocent pedestrians than as a target for the man himself. Fortunately, nobody wandered into the center of the bullseye before his heavy landing...

After giving juuuust enough dramatic pause, the armored figure raises itself up into a standing position, and the gauntleted hands are placed on either side of his bullet casing helmet. As it pulls of with some loud clicks, and an audible hiss of escaping hair, it's clear that it is, in fact, the geniune article.

"Still might not be him. The mustache doesn't look right..."

Blessed are the skeptics, for they shall inherit the Reddit boards.

Pixie has posed:
"AAAH! It's Iron Man!!" a lot of kids are squealing excitedly as they start to swarm him. At least it makes the cold a bit more bearable. It makes people feel a heck of a lot safer too, y'know, seeing as many of them have no powers at all anymore.

They're already swarming him, autograph books out at the ready, although some want him to sign their faces and...Stuff. "Hey! Iron Man! Are you REALLY the real deal? Can I have an autograph? Can you sing for us? Can I hae a photo too?"

Yeaah, they're pretty excited. Oh hey, there's Megan there too. She's come back for another checkup. Her hair is totally pink now, and those wings are rapidly starting to grow in, still a bit small but definitely growing. She beams and waves at him. She also has an autograph book.

Iron Man has posed:
It's a bit ironic that despite the billions of dollars spent on packing his suits with superweapons, the tool Tony tends to get the most use out of is actually a Sharpie that costs less than a buck. Or .0000003960 Bitcoins.

Faces are signed, chests are signed, one guy asks for a kiss. Tony seems to be in an obliging mood, drawing the line only at any actual physical contact between his flesh and that of any other human. Which is sort of his thing, as a notorious germaphobe with little interest in his fellow humans outside of a very nebulous principle of 'good will toward all', or whatever his philosophy is this year.

"Did you want me to sign both of them, because I might run out of ink... I'll have to come back with a paint roller for those things, don't tell me that's your mutant power!?"

As he wades through the crowd, generally being a ham and exchanging pleasantries, Tony eventually comes across someone that he recognizes. Vaguely, at first, he meets a lot of people, and she looks slightly different from the last time he saw her. But then it comes back suddenly.

"Oh snap! It's the Butterfly Girl! Haven't seen you since... Fin Fang Foom, right?"

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn beams and giggles as she hovers around the edges, slowly creeping closer. Is it really Tony? Or just a robot? She smirks at some of the attempts, geez some people are crazy.

She gets only a brief little glimpse and has to jump and wave. "Heey, Mr. Stark! Is Dr Strange with you? Could I get an autograph too?" she pulls out her book, hoping he sees her too. she pouts a bit though, "Heey, I'm Pixie, not 'butterfly girl.' she makes a face.

Iron Man has posed:
"Oh right, right. Pixie. Much better name than Butterfly Girl, though, gotta say, little surprised that it wasn't, you know... already taken. I'm also a little confused because... and I'm not the expert here, but I've been around and... pretty sure that what you have going on with your hair isn't a Pixie Cut?"

Gradually, the sea parts and Tony is able to get enough things signed to make his way close enough to sign... whatever it is that Pixie's trying to hock on eBay later tonight.

"Did you ever think of doing any modeling, by the way? I'm thinking of doing a whole, like, 'diversity' thing for the Stark Expo this year and you'd be a smash."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie comes walking up towards the area. Sam is wearing jeans and a club evolution t-shirt on. He has a backpack over one shoulder, and carrying another. He is headed towards people who are waiting to bee seen in the clinic giving out sandwiches and waters, and occasional apple or orange. He looks over spotting the throng of people arounf Tony and Pixie, he waves over towards them as he walks over that way.

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn smiles and nods. "Yes, yes, I'm the one and only Pixie! That's me!" she beams, but her wings arent quite long enough to flutter yet..She pauses at the modelling speech. "Oh, oh really? You think soo?" she giggles, blushing some more and posing. "Ooh, no I havent but..Uh..." her phone rings suddenly and she squeaks. "Gah I gotta go..Thanks for the autograph!" she practically swoons before rushing off.

Iron Man has posed:
It's not always wise to take everything Tony says seriously, but who knows? Maybe there will be a Stark Expo this year. He tends to only hold them when he thinks he's about to die though, or when he needs more attention than usual.

As the mysterious young woman suddenly rushes off, Tony barely has time to arc a curious, if slightly graying, eyebrow before yet another person is trying to get him to sign...

"What? Yeah... sure, I can sign your baby, ma'am. Just don't let the little bastard do drugs or get tattoos. Who's a little nuisance? You are! You are! Can you say 'Iron Man's my hero?' No? Well... give it a few years."

Sam is walking up just as Pixie is leaving, which means he has no defense from Tony's Furiously Slashing One Dollar Sharpie. He'll have to use his wits to get out of this without some semi-permanent souvenirs and/or emotional scars.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie stays at a reasonable distance, so that may help. He will look over and says "You care for a bottle of water Mr. Stark?" He holds a bottle out towards the other man bottom first. Sam seems relaxed here and while respectful, maybe not as awe struck as most.

Iron Man has posed:
"Oh, thanks man, much appreciated, but... I don't like to be handed things. But it's such an honor to just be here today, doing my part to support... mutant... stuff..."

There might have been a moment of eloquence there, but it slipped away into the ether, like the bitcoins that Pepper used to purchase the latest shipment of Autograph Sharpies.

"Also, have you ever considered doing any modeling? I'm thinking of doing this whole like... diversity thing for this year's Stark Expo, and I'm thinking... who says the Starkettes all have to be women? Stark Industries is all about inclusion, and saving the polar ice caps."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie chuckles a bit and will offer the water to someone else around them, and says "Na, Ah aint a model, but if you are looking to truly diversify the expo, Ah could probably find you a few people and a band or two. I run Club Evolution and try to help those in the neighborhood here. Sam Guthrie." He offers in introduction. If Tony has any info running on him, will see Sam has a clean record, has been seen with a rock star on TMZ a few years back. The Club is owned by Roberto DeCosta.

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn returns after taking a phone call, still giggling excitedly into the receiver. When she returns, she shivers a bit and quickens her pace to retrace her footsteps.

The line outside the clinic has thinned out a bit, and people have dispersed for a while, some still swarming Tony although that is calming down a little too as people have appointments to keep afterall.

Iron Man has posed:
"Oh... right! Sam Guthrie! Cap's mutant buddy! Boy, look at me, knowing twenty percent of the mutants in Mutant Town. Guess I'm more of a man of the people than Vox wants to admit."

The crowd is a respectable size for an impromptu gathering, but it's quickly beginning to lose steam. After all, Tony isn't here to sign autographs, despite all evidence to the contrary. He's here to provide a public show of support, a reassuring presence, and a warning to anyone who'd want to... oh... lay seige to the medical clinic again.

"Alright folks, think that's it for the signing things, but the Avengers are going to be providing a presence here for the foreseeable future."

Some in the crowd cheer, some of the cheering even sounds genuine.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie shrugs a bit and says "Ah don't know if he would consider me a buddy, but yea Ah am the guy let him ride my bike for the race." He comments about his friendship with Cap. "It is good to see some support for the people here in the area, they need more folks to realize we all are just folks, powers, no powers, suits of armor or just t-shirt and jeans. We all folks.

Nightingale has posed:
     "You can say that again, big bro."

     Shannon comes out of Evolution to what seems an utter, complete madhouse--one with a very recognizeable, red-and-gold epicenter. Shaking her head, she just chuckles softly, flicking her somewhat smaller, and still slightly ragged wings out behind her. She rests her arm across Sam's shoulder, pulling him in for a hug, and smiling. "Figured I'd come by and see if any help was needed."

     Peering over towards Mr. Stark, she chuckles softly, extending one slightly smaller than usual wing in his direction in something akin to a wave. "Hey there, Mr. Stark. How's the New Year been treating you?" She pauses, and just grins, a sly, knowing little grin. But for once, she says nothing.

     Yet.

Iron Man has posed:
"Oh look, another familiar face. Man, maybe I should join the X-Men, I feel like I'm already part of the whole... mutant community. Not so much a relative, per se, but maybe like a sort of rakish, rich uncle, who's aged really well and shows up every now and then with interesting stories."

Tony looks healthier than he has in a while, and not much more full of himself than usual. Clearly, whatever he's started doing in the New Year is working for him. But what exactly IS his secret?

"The New Year... I don't know, I'm kind of already planning for ten years from now, so I've barely noticed it. But I've started doing a lot of yoga this year."

"Well, a lot of yoga INSTRUCTORS, anyway."

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn smiles and waves towards Sam and Shannon. "Heeey! Shan, your wings are coming back! So are mine but they're sooo wimpy. Can't wait to fly again.." she giggles, "But isn't it great?"

She blushes and smiles at Tony as he returns and nudges and whispers to Shannon, "Hey says I look like a model! Me!"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hmms and says "Or you could invite those hero types to the mansion. He tries to play off as they are not x-men, even if Sam does not wear a mask, they are still sorta secret identities. "I am sure the girls." And he stresses the word girls a bit more than he has to perhaps "Don't really need to hear about your yoga escapades. " He will give Shannon a hug and to both her and Pixie he will add "Can take ya both for a spin or two before the wings are back right if ya want."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon just grins and nudges Megan, whispering back. "See? I tried to tell you, you've got more going for you than you thought. Just think outside the box once in a while. And you can always do a solo music career if you want. You're just that good."

     There's that sly smile back at Tony, and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Mhm. Yoga's good for you. Heard you've been brushing up on your Galaga skills lately, too?"

     She peers back at Sam and laughs, nudging his shoulders. "But yoga's good for you, isn't it? And yeah, that'd be great. Still got a couple more days till my wings are back in fighting trim. They're -almost- there. Just glad to be past the pinfeathers stage. Those ITCH."

     Smiling at all of them, she settles back to listen, her brows lofting at talk of a possible visit to the mansion. "How's Cap been doing lately? Haven't heard from him in a while."

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn seems to have developed a fangirl crush on Tony as she continues to swoon. "Oooooh you teach yoga? so cool! I always wanted to learn and..Uh.." she arches a brow at Shannon, "Galaga? what's that even?" she makes a face, "Can you teach me too? sounds fun!" she grins at Sam and nods, "Yea you should drop by some time, it'll be fun!"

Iron Man has posed:
"Unfortunately, ladies, I can't confirm or deny any Galaga-related rumors you may have heard. The Avengers' recreational habits are top secret information and I made them all sign NDA's."

It's a dodge, but the smile beneath Tony's mustache makes it pretty clear that he's aware of the rumors that are circulating about an alleged Galaga loss, though he'll go to his grave denying it.

"I'd love to stay and chat, boys and girls, but it's time for me to do another perimeter sweep."

Picking up the heavy-looking helmet, and setting it back on his head with a loud Ka-SHUNK!, Tony runs the system through a quick preflight diagnostic, which... mostly just looks like he's standing still for a second.

"Give me a few feet here, huh? And don't do drugs!"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smirks, and will step back, and says " Make sure you head over west of the chinese place, there is a spot hidden by a couple billboards you can only see if you get the angle from there. " He resists the urge to make comments on Tony's flying.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon chuckles and nods. "No worries, Mr. Stark. But let us know if you want to brush up on the game before you go for a rematch." Alas, though, duty calls, and she nods, stepping back a bit. "Give everyone our regards and our thanks, please? Seriously, the help here means more than you realize to a lot of folks."

     Aside, to Megan, she just shakes her head, chuckling softly. "I ummmm.. don't quite think he meant he teaches yoga. Ix-nay on the yoga lessons..." Oh, my.

     She takes a quick look around the impromptu landing zone, to make sure the area's clear, her wings spread out to their full (and increasing) span to help guide bystanders out of range. Damn, it felt good to be back to normal.

Iron Man has posed:
Metal-clad fingers tap against the helmet's plating in a sort of jaunty salute. Recognizable as such, but Captain America would undoubtedly scoff at Tony's salute-giving technique. But there are a few cheers and waves from the remainder of the crowd as Iron Man's back stiffens up, his head lifts toward the sky, and then the thrusters on his Rocket Boots kick in, propelling him rapidly up into the atmosphere.

A rush of wind, a flash of heat, the noise of the repulsor roar, and Iron Man is streaking toward the sky. It's loud, it's flashy, almost obnoxiously so, but maybe having a highly visible presence in the area is entirely the point of his little daytrip?

As the gleaming red and gold shape gets smaller and smaller, it looks as if he might be planning to simply fly out into space. But all sight of him is suddenly lost, and quickly forgotten, when some small rockets are fired from the back of his armor, back down toward the earth.

Dozens of tiny rockets streak toward earth with a peculiar whine, before detonating several hundred feet up in the air above the crowd.

Flashes of red, gold, and many other colors beside, as a sudden fireworks display fills the air long enough for Iron Man to disappear off to whatever caper he has lined up next.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon grins as she watches the takeoff, the dive, and the... fireworks? "Really? FIreworks?" A short whuff of laughter escapes her and she shakes her head, crossing her arms and settling her wings in behind her. Figures. Only Tony Stark would run around in a who-knows-how-many billions of dollars suit of armor, with /fireworks/ on board.

     "Showoff."