3720/Welcome Back, Simon

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Welcome Back, Simon
Date of Scene: 23 January 2018
Location: Avengers Mansion
Synopsis: Simon returns to the Avengers, welcomed by Tony.
Cast of Characters: Iron Man, Wonder Man




Iron Man has posed:
It is midday, close to 3pm: which means it is also close to the time Tony requested Simon to meet with him at the Avengers mansion. Why? Just to 'check in about things', was the vague message relayed by the assistant that made the call. If asked, the assistant could only say that Mr. Stark was extremely busy with business items.

But, it is now 3pm, and Tony has made his arrival. He is dressed in his usual immaculate way, like he walked out of a high powered meeting, sharply attired, though if he had a tie, he's stripped it off on the way into the building. He's talking to somebody, clearly on the phone, as he strides in through the doors and pulls off his sunglasses, slipping them neatly into a pocket on the inside of his sleek navy blue suit jacket. "Nah; we'll go along with it; dodge them a bit then agree," Tony instructs as he enters.

Wonder Man has posed:
    There is a noise outside, like a heavy, full sound as a weight settles down outside. Tony breezed in on the phone, the doors burst open just a few seconds after Tony walked in. He stalks in like he owns the place, with poise and confidence. The bulky fellow carries an impossible energy and a palpable vitality to him. His smile appears on his face as Simon pulls off his glasses.

His bags are full. He's tall. He's wearing sunglasses. It's dark. Two big duffels are thrown over his left shoulder, bulging with clothing and toiletry items. A large garment bag is over the other shoulder. A messenger bag is slung over his left shoulder, the strap straining across his heavy torso. The bag  bulges with several items, clearly a laptop, a tablet, and all the little things. He doesn't com in like a wrecking ball, like the song, but he doesn't breeze in either.  As he folds his glasses and hangs them on his collar, his solid red eyes blaze once with light. "As I live and breath, Tony Stark." The tone is amiable, direct, and tinged with both camaraderie and respect. His handshake is firm, but the strength restrained there is like a thrum.  He might physically no longer be human, or even an animal per se, but Simon certainly acts human. His smile is brilliant white, it all but glints in the light, but as faux as that might appear on other men, in Simon's case it is utterly genuine. He is truly happy to be here.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony is an entirely different style of showy than the large inhuman Simon; he makes up for much of it in personality and flair. Something, though, drags with Tony, and someone like Simon that hasn't seen the subtle change every day may notice it more than others. Tony doesn't seem as healthy as last time. Sure, he's cloaking, but it'll show just at the edges. It's not age, it's something else.

"All day, every day," Tony agrees with a sleek grin, accepting the handshake and adding a companionable sideways slap to arm, other hand gesturing to come inside. He's relaxed, though Tony's true moods are usually fuzzy, since they are often covered in playful bullshit. "You don't need a tour, right? Hasn't been /that/ long. I mean, I'd understand if you still wanted one, but my tours are no Jungle Cruise," Tony says, checking a noise his phone-like tech device makes but slipping it away immediately, full attention back on Simon.

Wonder Man has posed:
    The playful smack might as well been hitting steel. There isn't a lot of give to SImon Williams. One of the rare beings who can actually take what he can dish out, he's just about indestructible. It's like swatting s flexed body builder, and he is not flexed. It's just on the human side of the uncanny valley still, but not entirely human. In addition to the grip, there are no pupils to his eyes. It limits his ability to emote a little, and has cost him acting jobs. The rest of his face though, it shows immediate concern as the little things catch up. Maybe a little more gray? Maybe a little slower? The shoulders a little less square? Simon is smart, but no detective, he cannot put a finger on it, but something nags at him, and it shows.

    "How about a cup of coffee instead, and a chance to talk? I mean, no Banner, not Whitman? You must need someone who can follow a little of your science around, huh? If I wasn't working the TV gig too, well, I'd be taking a class or something."

    He still carries his baggage, and leans in closer to ask the hard questions.  "What is going on around here. No Hulk. N THor. You're⦠not you." He doesn't let Tony dodge that. "Red eyes don't lie." He says it warmly, but there is an intensity there. "Maybe I can help out?"
    The big man will let Tony steer, but concern is there. KNowing you are almost impossible to kill, and then knowing you might have to face forever makes one very aware of the fate of friends. "Or I can just keep a secret, and be a good friend, Tony. Whatever you need."

Iron Man has posed:
"...Happy that you're wasting no time to get caught up, less happy it's aimed at me, though - but I'm glad you see why I'm rebuilding the ranks," Tony teases. "One stop tour to kitchen and coffee, it is," Tony decides, with some apparent dismay from being worried about that doesn't quite stay out of the laugh. Tony dodges, of course: he talks. Tony fills the air with words, as usual. So at least that's still certainly the same. "I have no idea what room you had, but four's open, I think, if you want to make camp. I'll be in the kitchen. Some late lunch is in order."

Wonder Man has posed:
    "I'll just let the stuff about you go. You're not going to say, and I am not your mother." Simon announces. He follows after Stark, not deviating. "Let's just get the coffee. I'll let it go. If it gets bad though, you just promise to talk to me, okay?" He gives Stark a pointed look. "And keep said promise, okay? Your business is your business."

    He's not going to pull teeth. That being said, he does go straight to the kitchen, shedding his luggage outside the door in a pile, only pausing to place the garment bag on top a little more carefully; do not want to wrinkle the suits.

    "Now. Is Vision here? How about Wanda?" As ever a little too careful when he says that name. There is a reason that the Android based on Wanda adores her. Not that Simon would ever admit it. "Or Janet? You already said Steve is about." He admits, his deep voice almost boyish in inflection. "Kind of like coming back to school, and seeing which of our friends came back after break." Free of luggage, he stuffs his hands in his pockets. Tony can feel those red eyes lingering on him. "Barton?"

Iron Man has posed:
"Barton and Natasha are about, but they've been buried in the avalanche that is SHIELD. Even I've been dragged in, which should tell you a bit about that drama. But a few good business deals are coming through on their Helicarriers and security systems, so don't take this as me complaining," Tony points out, brushing fingers over the pad of the high-tech coffee maker he had installed, that definitely has way too much power to just be doing coffee, but hey, it was a fun build.

"I'm herding cats lately around here. I did SEE Thor last month, he's fine, but not available to us for now. Wanda is back, yep: in that she's off in Genosha dealing with daddy issues. Vision is around fairly often. Steve has been quiet, which means he has some issue up his ass, I'd expect. Hasn't shared with me, at any rate. That's normal, he's probably fine."

Tony grins but continues. "Carol's here. Tigra and Logan seem to be more the 'on call' list. Who else... ah. We have a new recruit Barton found, too, goes by 'Rogue'. Mutant. Nice kid. She badly needs a mentor, and while I'm a great influence, if you're up for guiding her to be more of a front line for us, that'd be better balance overall, since she has potential to be a great heavyweight."

Tony pulls mugs out, leans back on the edge of the counter, hands relaxed on either side of it at hip level. Serious face from Tony for a moment, suddenly. Which means he is still smiling, but the sarcastic edge tones back. "I'm not in the combat roster right now, until I deal with a minor chest surgery. Just for now." Tony shrugs some, brushing it off as no big deal: which is probably a method for him to cope with it. Because chest surgery is definitely not minor.

Wonder Man has posed:
    The bigger man's attention is divided. He is mostly paying attention to Tony, but also looking at the coffee maker as Tony uses it. The snark is deadpan, and purely in reaction to the revelation Tony is going in for what Simon assumes is heart surgery. "Compensating?" His eyes and brows indicate the coffee maker. It is his way of trying to be reassuring.
     "Well. Shit." Simon eloquently puts it. His frown shows. "That is a little thin on the heavy hitters. I mean, basically Vision and a part time Wanda." Simon doesn't reach for the coffee pot for a cup, but leans next to it. "So, basically? Duck mode? Look cool, calm, and collected above the water, but underneath, legs need to be working over time?" His head bob is slow and confident. "I'll teach her to take a hit. I'll also take some of the heat off of folks on monitor duty on the overnights. Filming is getting slow, as we are almost done on the season, unless the network options another 11 episodes. If so⦠expect to have me calling you in for kid-friendly experiments."
    He simply pushes off from the cabinet. "We got this." He tells the other man quietly. "Been in worse spots."

Iron Man has posed:
"Compensate? Never. It's symbolic," Tony answers cleanly, patting the coffeemaker and shrugging a little. "Well, our duck has been okay just floating. The world hasn't been imploding with alien death rays. But I don't want to be caught unprepared either." He'll handle the coffee, pouring it out into both of the cups, relaxed. Tony doesn't sweat the small stuff.

"Besides, you missed me, I can tell," Tony says, cheeky.

Wonder Man has posed:
    "Just a dead president, a possible mutant issue, and lord alone knows what Alpha Flight and the Justice League are doing in space." His left brow tilts upwards. "In other words, situation normal." The deadpan is real. He accepts the coffee. He doesn't blow on it but takes a long, appreciative swallow. "You do make good coffee, Stark." He allows. "Even if the machine looks like a part of a Formula One engine."

    After another, smaller swallow. "I did miss you. Just a little. Not too much, but a little. It's ⦠nice not to the smartest person in the room when you walk into it, even though everyone looks at you and sees just a lunkhead failed actor." He lifts his mug in a little toast to his host. "Not that you would know about that at all." He allows.

Iron Man has posed:
"Well, we can definitely use you here, and the only wrong assumptions I make about you are only in good fun, I assure you," Tony says, with a lift of coffee and smile. "I'll leave inspirational speeches to Steve when he realizes you're already here," Tony adds, amused, drinking his coffee which makes him quiet for a long moment. He coughs and lets go of the counter.

"Yes, same shit as usual: some hackers attempted -and failed- to rip open the tower's defenses last night, so I have shit to clean up. But if you need anything else, let me know," Tony reminds.

Wonder Man has posed:
    His red eyes show some concern. "If you die, I am totally stealing your girl. You better save her from a fate worse than death." Again with the deadpan. He leans against the counter. He makes a face about the hackers. "One would think that they would know better by now. But yes. I'll squat here. Steve will handle stuff, but I'm reliable help. I'll behave, and I will teach, and I'll thm whatever needs thumped. Aggressively." Simon asserts it quietly and confidently.

    "I would like to stay on, even if Thor and  Banner come back. At least for a couple of years. I⦠frankly? I need to keep socking money away." Forever is a very, very long time. "So. Thanks, Tony. I appreciate it. I'll not let you down." He offers the billionaire his hand for a hearty shake. "You can count on me."

Iron Man has posed:
"If I die, yeah, somebody better steal her," Tony concurs, though there's some guilt or dismay in it. Tony actually cares, it appears. It wears well on him, really: that brief reality under the shower of sarcastic bullshit!

"Well, first thing's first, getting Rogue back here. You should have all the information we know on that one," Tony says, as if that were totally a normal thing to say. "Great. Consider yourself counted," Tony says, with a wave, as he is called away.