1964-05-14 - This Stark they're all talking about
Summary: The Avengers go to meet with Tony Stark
Related: If there are no related logs, put 'None', — please don't leave blank!
Theme Song: None
lamont kai carnelian steve tony 


*

Night has fallen, and the weekend is pretty much gone. The evening still has a chill, so the central fireplace of a thoroughly modern-looking large penthouse has been put to work. The large glass panes that open up the far side of the high-rise shows a view of the city that very few people are afforded. There is a center part of the Penthouse that is recessed, leather couches with coffee table are set there, and upon one of the couches is the owner and resident, Tony Stark. He's dressed in t-shirt, a pair of sweat pants, and bunny slippers are on his feet. Music is piped in through the walls; the strange sound of electric guitar breezing through by some new-comer on the scene, Jimi Hendrix. On the table in front of him, his ever present glass of scotch, and set upon his lap, a thick notebook with scrawls, scratches and notations.

*

Steve looks at the others who have joined him for this meeting with Tony Stark. In truth, he doesn't know what to expect from the eccentric. "Everyone mind your manners. Regardless of what we see in there." Strippers. Drugs. Wallabies. It's really not clear when you're talking about Stark. Steve knew his dad. His dad was a good man, but what he read from the press his kid has turned everything that was questionable about the man and turned it up to eleven. He takes a breath and opens the door.

*

Lamont is his usual bundle of cheer and good nature. In that….he isn't, at all. He's dressed in his usual very conservative suit of dark gray, white shirt, dark shoes. He looks like he's here more as Steve's lawyer than an actual Avenger. But then, Steve doesn't yet know about his night-time hobbies: two for the price of one, the moneybags and another crazed assassin. Because Steve did just lose the one. Lamont inclines his head to Steve in assent, and offers no opinion.

*

This mansion thing? It does not sit well with Carnelian— aka, Carlos. His day job is a mechanic: he's a very good mechanic but he's not a very high paid mechanic. Being anywhere near a mansioin makes him weird. But, he tags along and follows Steve, trying not to look especially conspicuous. He's wearing a pair of jeans and a black muscle shirt, that and a belt. The kid looks like he thinks he might have fallen into the deep end with cement in his feet.

*

Kai perks up when he's told to mind his manners regardless of what he sees. Well, now he wants to see it. Notably. he promises nothing. He's dressed like his usual beatnik self, down to the black beret, shades, and a kitschy cigarette holder, currently holding an unlit cigarette. He might bust out poetry at any moment. He's got a sort of airy way about him at the moment. Is he high? Maybe. He's left the little dog at home today.

*

Before Steve opens the door, of course, there is the disembodied voice that sounds just outside the door, off the elevators, "Mr. Stark is expecting you. He wishes you to simply enter." It's obviously synthesized speech, still in the beginning stages, though there is no mistaking what would be a crisp English accent, though if one was to pay particular attention, there is a hint of tinniness to it.

When the door opens, Tony raises a hand from his spot on the couch in something of an 'over here' gesture. The music is still piped through the walls, coming from everywhere. As they approach, he calls from his spot, "Make yourself at home. Bar's there.. kitchen's on the other side." Even as Tony speaks, the music is turned down a little, which brings his head up and a slight scowl crosses his face before it breaks and he chuckles. "You didn't have to do that, Jarvis."

*

Steve nods and bypasses the bar as he heads over towards Tony. "Mr. Stark, I was good friends with your father. My name is Steve Rogers, and these are some of my friends and…coworkers. We understand you have come to discuss the Avengers."

*

Carlos pauses, considering this whole bar concept, but he decides against it, and instead steps up beside Steve and … awkwards there. "I'm Carlos Serrato. My friends call me Chance." After a moment of thought, he decides to cross his arms over his chest and look serious.

*

Lamont trails after Steve. Carnelian may be uncomfortable in the presence of wealth. Lamont has no such scruples. As Steve introduces them, he says, mildly, "Lamont Cranston. I believe I've had the honor of meeting your father, Mr. Stark. During the war, as I recall."

*

Kai on the other hand looks like he could get used to this in a heartbeat. "Kai," he says. Then he goes to the bar. Let's see, what ungodly concoction can he make? He sets to work on something complicated and very alcoholic. "Who wants something while I'm up?" he asks.

*

Tony looks up from his papers and sets his pen down with something of a sigh. Interrupting? Absolutely, but necessary. Brows rise until finally he stands up from his spot and extends his hand first to Steve, "Really. I didn't know he actually had friends. Other than Peggy, and that could be forgiven. War time, desperation.." If Tony didn't wave dismissively in the air, it was most definitely in his tones. "And it's just 'Tony'. 'Mr. Stark' are for those people I don't like and the help." At least he has the courtesy to separate those two?

Next, to Chance, once the hand is either taken or ignored and he retrieves it, he extends it again to the man. "Tony Stark."

It's Lamont, however, that gets a long look before he shrugs, and his own hand extended again. "You must be thinking of someone else. 'Honored' isn't the word that usually comes to mind with my father. But, yeah.. wartime. I get that."

Finally, with Kai playing bartender, Tony calls back, "Hey, careful there tiger. That's a serious chemistry set you're playing with."

Finally, Tony gestures towards the furniture, "Take a seat gentleman. And, just so you know, this is actually the first time I've actually heard the name of this little group. Did Miss Crystalia tell any of you about our conversation?"

*

Steve shakes Tony's hand, but seems to be taken aback at the negative talk about the senior Stark. In truth, Howard had been there in a lot of ways for Steve and to see his son bash him is a bit disconcerting. Still, is it so odd to believe that Howard might have had a poor family life? Come on, it's Howard. "Well, it's not little. And Crystal said you'd met but thought the details should come from you."

*

Carlos does shake the hand: his grip is firm without it getting into some sort of squeeze eachothers hand off competition. He glances back at Kai for a moment, "I'll have whatever you're having. Thanks." And then he moves to take a seat, "I admit I'm not entirely clear what it is we're avenging, but since I've been doing the solo-hero thing for several years now…" he looks to be in his early twenties, at most "…I figure its time to be on a team. And how do you say no to Captain America? It'd be downright unpatriotic."

*

Monty has an idea, by the look he gives Steve. Whatever the original meaning…..could be a change. Tony's reply just has him inclining his head amiably, as he shakes the offered hand. Might be agreement, might be just a lack of will to argue with Howard's wunderkind. To Kai, he says, "Soda water, plain, please."

*

"I'm a serious chemist," Kai tells Tony. His accent is English, from London if one can tell those sorts of things. He makes two concoctions that are basically different kinds of whiskey, neat, and too much. He then pours a soda water and says, "You're no fun, Mr. Cranston." He brings the three glasses out, doling out two and keeping the third for himself. "Hi," he says to Tony with a grin.

*

"Details should come from me," Tony replies, and he settles back down again, and as he does, the music gets even lower in the background and changes tempo to something a little jazzier, something big-band-ish. "Jarvis, knock it off." It's an easy statement, and no sooner does he say it, the music changes back to something a little more 'modern' and 'screeching'. "Thank you." He looks around to the others, "Sorry about that. He's still learning."

Rolling his shoulders to loosen up some muscles, Tony leans forward to take hold of his scotch once again. "Avengers, huh? She'd said that Act-F was disbanded, and that something new was coming down the pike. That you, of all people, Captain Rogers, wanted no government interference. Big words about an even bigger person." Tony's gaze is on Steve, watching him as he speaks, "What I told her is that I want a return for my investment. If I'm going to be underwriting it, I'm going to need to see the whole spreadsheet, from mission statement down to what agency is going to be responsible for hunting us down if they think that the Avengers is some sort of rogue agency. I'm all for Interpol, as I said. Go big or go home." The last statement brings a theatric lightening to his features, and he looks around again.

"Team, huh? Nothin' wrong with working by yourself. What'd they promise you, Carlos?"
Kai's greeting gains a wave from Tony, and bringing the glass up to his lips, he takes a swallow enough to empty half the glass.

*

"Last time we did this the President disbanded us. Unilaterally. And without warning. I was asked to start up again by President Johnson. I told him there would be no governmental involvement. He agreed. And used some four letter words to do it. Who would come after us and hunt us? Depends on what we did. But that's no different than any one else, any one of us, on our own. We run that risk every time we put on the suit." Steve's gaze is calm and matter of fact. "Our goal is to make the world a safer place. And we start by figuring out how to avoid nuclear war between our country and the Soviets."

*

Nodding his head in thanks, and with a grin for Kai, Carlos takes his drink and sips. He listens to Tony for a moment, and considers his question, "The chance to accomplish more then I can accomplish myself: to take my Carnelian gig and up it to the next level. To be able to trust someone has my back in the time of need. There's not many people who will give a chance like that to some poor beaner mechanic, even if he has useful skills." He sips at his drink some more, giving Kai an impressed look.

*

Lamont cocks a sharp gray eye at Tony. There's something almost birdlike in the gesture. There are clearly questions….but he intends to ask them later, apparently. Once Steve and Tony have finished the initial verbal fencing match.

*

Kai looks around surreptitiously for this 'Jarvis' person as he nurses his glass of whiskey and more whiskey. "Is this going to be more reading?" he says, giving Steve a doleful look. "I mean I'll do it, for you if no one else, but I'd like to know." Spreadsheets? His eyes glaze over a little.

*

"And if 'our country' doesn't like our methods? I gotta say, it'd be a pain in the ass to move the Tower to Belgium, or Switzerland. I don't speak French, or.. whatever else." Tony returns his attention to Steve, and there his gaze remains. "You know we're not gonna be popular on either side when it comes down to it. And when that happens, and notice I say when, it'll be like we're playing two ends to the middle. And then who pulls our butts out? Peggy?" He shakes his head, "Oh.. and not only would I be putting cash in, Miss Amaquelin promised me a look into her technology in exchange for production. That right there almost made it worth it, but I really am trying to work out how we're going to decide who's right and wrong in this little wrestling match between us and the Ruskies." He leans forward, elbows on legs, and cradles what's left of his scotch in both hands.

Tony does acknowledge Carlos by leaning back and pointing at the man to underscore in gesture, "Exactly. And it's his job," the finger points to Steve, "to make sure you don't get the proverbial shaft. Or, it's up to everyone on the team not to lead you into somewhere you can't get out of easily." Still, he's not saying 'no'.

Lamont is quiet, and it hasn't escaped Tony's notice. Brown eyes rest upon the man for a long moment before Kai's comment comes through. "Reading? Reading what?"

*

The blonde man nods towards Carnelian as the younger man explains his reason for joining. Couldn't have put it better, himself. There's also a notice of Lamont's peculiar looks and he makes a mental note of coming back and asking his old friend about it. Steve chuckles at Kai, "All of the homework is done until we get back from Madripoor." And then to Tony.

"Popularity has never been my goal. If we do the right things, we'll be alright. When things go wrong, we'll handle it as it comes."

*

"I don't have much in the way of an education— but it seems to me when things start looking nuclear, there's a lot of wrong to spread around and precious little right, so I'm not sure right verses wrong is really the question." Carlos wrinkles his nose slightly, giving a shrug, and sipping his drink some more. "Anything that makes it less likely I start glowing green instead of my usual carnelian is good. As for this whole… Government thing." He shrugs, "I don't know. Not being government sponsored might close some doors but it might open some too. They can make 'vigilante' noises and then quietly be happy we tuned their engine."

*

Lamont has got that nearly flawless deadpan on. Like a really good pokerplayer…or an experienced undertaker. Still listening, between sips of his soda water, standing comfortably hipshot near the bar.

*

Kai nods to Steve with notable relief. To Lamont, he says, "We had to do a lot of research to figure out where we should start. Don't get me wrong, I love to read. Ginsberg, Kerouac, you dig me? But homework, man. I never even went to school." He takes a drink, putting the booze away awfully fast for such a little guy. "But for this sort of thing, I'll read ten encyclopedias. I just know better how to punch things."

*

"Yeah.." A shrug lifts his shoulders as Tony looks around at those gathered. "Avengers, huh?" There's a long moment of silence before he inclines his head, and cants his head sideways to look at Steve. "Okay. I'll start moving forward for a production facility for this 'new tech' I'm being promised, after I tear it apart and put it back together." He pauses before, "You got a place where everyone meets up?"

He rises from his spot now and moves towards the bar; maybe now his bunny slippers are a little more noticable, as is the light blue glowing… light in the center of his chest. "Send me the papers and I'll have legal take a look at them and we'll do this up right."

*

"Our headquarters is the building at 890 on fifth ave. We're in the process of renovations," Steve says but then realizes that Tony is ready to sign. "Papers?" Steve does not have a legal team. "Well, one thing I wanted to talk to you about, before we get into…" He's about to say bed as he looks at Tony's slippers, "…business…with each other. It's the rumors about you. If you believe the press they'd say you're in it for yourself. That you're not dependable. That you're a drunk. You look me in the eye and tell me they're wrong?"

*

Settling into quiet, Carlos just looks around at them. Steve's question makes him blink a moment.

*

Apparently Steve's gone right to the root of Lamont's unvoiced questions. Something shifts in the gray eyes, and now he's watching Tony's face, as if to gauge his response.

*

Kai perks up as Steve asks the questions he does, and suddenly he's paying keen attention, just as bright-eyed and alert as when he came in. The youth can hold his liquor. He looks to Tony for his answer.

*

"If the media finds out that you're not working for Uncle Sam and are planning on playing nice with the Ruskies, they're gonna call you 'not dependable' and worse. 'Traitor' comes to mind. 'Commie lover' is another."

Tony stops at the bar and reaches up for his favorite crystal decanter and pours himself four fingers into his tumbler once the little stopper is pulled. He looks between the drink and Steve, one and then the other before he ceases pouring and stoppers it up again. "Am I 'in it' for myself? Not gonna lie, the idea of new tech is intriguing. Assuming, of course, that it's something I haven't thought of myself, or something Howard hasn't written down in a book somewhere."

Tony's smile is only half-present, and he shrugs. It's his words, however, that sound low and serious. "I pulled a weapons contract out because I was tired of being lumped into the war machine. I lost millions of dollars in defense contracts, and had to look to make it up in domestic areas. Does that sound like a man who is 'in it' for himself?" He straightens and pushes the decanter slightly away from himself and lifts the glass in a salute. "It all depends on what you want to believe and your point of view. But, I sure as hell am not going to allow a little group pull down Stark Industries. I have more than just myself to protect, here. So, I have a hell of a lot more to lose." Quirking his head, Tony's brows rise in prelude to his question, "That what you were looking for?"

*

Steve leans back, looking at Tony seriously. His gaze never falters. "If I believed the press, I wouldn't have shown up," he says simply. With a look to Lamont, and then the others, "If you could do us a favor and have your lawyers draw up the papers. If I do it it'll take a while," he says with a grin. He stands. "Tony, it was good meeting you. Looking forward to working with you. Now, if you'll excuse us, I better get some food into these guys. We've got a lot of carpet to lay tonight."

*

Carlos rises, giving a nod to Tony, "Good to meet you, Tony." He steps forward to offer another handshake and a nod, then finishes his drink— with a bit of a wince— "I look forward to some team training sessions."

*

The Shadow sets aside his drink, without hesitation. He doesn't look like a man about to get involved in some home improvement. There's a glint of dry humor in the pale eyes. "I look forward to working with you," he says, mildly.

*

Kai finishes off his drink and sets the glass aside. And he's still sober as a stone. "We should hang out sometime, man," he tells Tony. "Get to know each other if we're going to be working together." He looks around the place. Yes, coming over here again will do nicely.

"It'll get done. Fine print and all. Will even have a team hired up for the new group. And PR." And… and… the list can honestly go on, particularly if Tony's behind it. There is a vast 'machine' with anything he's involved in. "Good to meet a friend of Howard's." And in that statement, he does include Lamont. "I personally don't think I'm anything like him, but I'm sure the jury is still out."

With drink in his left hand, Tony does extend it for 'proper' farewells. "Yeah.. hang out. Work out. Sounds good. Sounds like a plan." No, he doesn't sound like he genuinely means it; the man is something of a recluse with his time. It's only his staff that truly gets him out and about, being in the public eye- but when he is, there is no mistaking him. "I'll be in touch."

Once the room is empty once more, Tony takes a swallow of the scotch, "Turn up the volume, Jarvis. I've got work to do."

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