Welcome to Spaceo Kart!

[geonomy]

Who: All aboard the SS Vanquish!
Broadcast: Neh (Maybe)
Action: All over the ship! Maybe beyond!
When: The last half of August.

[Racing, racing, racing! It seems like the nearly the entire crew is into this racing business, whether that means winning or losing some of these races. Clearly, they all have competitive streaks deep inside.

It's the middle of the week, so they're not expecting someone new to show up. But wouldn't you know it? Someone does. Time to break out the confetti and chocolate pudding ready, and welcome to the newest member of the Vanquish crew!]

Comments

[alloys]

[ a devious glint appears in his eye at the mention of fan letters and ratings. ]

Not like my entire life hasn't been played out like a television drama before. [ remember how everyone watched a terrorist blow up his house on TV? GOOD TIMES. ] And if it's ratings they're looking for, I'll be the fan favorite in no time.

[ he does a half-turn and waves to a would-be camera in the corner of the room. ] I accept gifts of all kinds and sizes, though let's be honest - bigger is generally better.

[touchofrogue]

[...this was going to be a nightmare in a tin can, wasn't it.

Rogue raised one hand to her forehead, but the fact that he was here meant that she couldn't quite erase her smile.]

Don't talk ta the evil overlords in the wall, Tony.

[alloys]

[ he glances at her nonchalantly, like what he had just done was perfectly normal and to-be-expected. ]

What? this could benefit you, too, you know. Maybe instead of a whole bunch of visors, I'll get a whole bunch of gourmet coffee and I'll feel like sharing.

[touchofrogue]

[...]

Point.

[She saunters in further to have a seat on top of his desk.]

So... not sure where ta even start, Tony.

[alloys]

[ tony semi-flops into the reclining chair, sticking his feet up on the corner of the desk. well, if this is his office, he might as well get comfortable. ]

...Yeah. [ neither did he. ] I mean...what are the odds? Of all the alternate universes that kidnap people, in all the dimensions, in all the world, I had to walk into yours.

[ with all their memories in tact, too. it's remarkable. ]

[touchofrogue]

[ Rogue shifts around so she's facing him.

And if he's going to quote one of the movies they watched during their 'date nights,' then so is she.

A small smile:] Never tell me the odds.

[...but yeah, it's pretty weird. Her expression sobers.] ...think that means more'll come? From Luceti, I mean?

[Loki had been long gone before Tony had showed up the final time, but the ache in Rogue's heart still definitely, desperately longed for hope. She had a feeling Tony would feel the same way, if about some entirely different.]

[alloys]

[ her quotation sparks a fondness that feels both very close and very distant at the same time. it's so strange - realistically, it could have only have been a few hours since he was in luceti, tops. and yet, it felt like it had been years ago that he had been there.

...all this inter-dimensional time travel better not be making him older than he actually is.

he presses a finger against his lips, answering carefully. he doesn't want to give her false hope - and he doesn't want to give it to himself, either. ]

Are you hoping for a big old reunion in space? [ it's said flippantly, but the thought made his chest tight. the real shock of not having pepper here hasn't quite settled in yet. but how long before it did, and suffocated him? and there were others he wouldn't say no to seeing again. god. when had he gotten so sentimental? ]

[touchofrogue]

Not... hopin', exactly. [She looks at him and glances away.] Just... wouldn't mind it, is all.

[She glances back at him.] It's just - this place hasn't been so bad, so far. Food ain't so great, but... could be a lot worse.

[alloys]

[ a moment, and then: ] - Yeah, I wouldn't mind it either.

[ he stretches out his fingers, splaying then on the armrest of the recliner. it could be a lot worse.

it could be luceti. ]

But - god, just when we thought we had everything figured out? Here we are, shipped off to the next rodeo. It's - kind of wearying. I bet you're going to tell me this place doesn't have a decent burger joint, either.

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue made a face.]

The food's all synthesized protein. We've purchased a kitchen upgrade, an' we get the cook upgrade so there's some... rice flakey stuff an' other flavors, but it's mostly some kinda paste we just hafta manipulate into flavor.

[Pause a beat.] It's like Beast Boy's havin' his revenge for all the times I mocked his tofu burgers.

[alloys]

[ a legitimately pained expression settles on his features as he processes this. ]

Okay, so this is some kind of Survivor show, right? Because there's no way in hell they actually expect us to survive on flakes and paste. That's up there with Chinese water torture.

[ he will go forage on an alien planet for an in-and-out, hand to god. ]

[touchofrogue]

Well, we got rice - synthetic rice - an' potato flakes. Upgrade ta the protein machine, too. It gives meaty flavors now, an' strawberry... plus, there's the cook augment, which lets us know just how ta mix things so they're eatable. Some of it ain't bad.

[She speaks with some wryness and some pride.]

[alloys]

[ tony, however, remains unimpressed. ]

Please tell me there's some redemption in the beverage department. [ there has got to be a silver lining here. even luceti had gourmet cooks! the war and experiments are almost worth the better food prospects.

almost. ]

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue made another face.]

Gotta wait until update 3 ta get coffee. No alcohol, unless we get it planet side. I have some from the last trip.

[So obviously this expresses a willingness to share. Without actually expressing a willingness to share.]

...an' I'm gettin' pretty good at makin' the food taste like food. I will say that. It ain't great, but it's, well. It's better than it could be.

[Go on, Tony. Guess what her augment is. Guess.]

[alloys]

[ oh god. this news just keeps getting BETTER AND BETTER.

he runs a hand over his face. luceti's war and experiments and liquor and seventh heaven are sounding better and better. ]

I suppose you're the cook, then, since you seem to know so much about how terrible the food is.

[ he vaguely wonders if she's tried to make a gel mud pie yet. the thought makes him shudder. ]

[touchofrogue]

[Nooo, you don't mean that, Tony.]

Yeah.

[One hand goes up to rub at her augment.]

It's weird. Was thinkin' of switchin', since we've already got a cook, but...

[alloys]

But you're enjoying it more than you thought. [ not to mention, it could be a nice change of pace to play a different role than she's had to in other lives. he could sort of grasp that himself, even though counselor is much too far removed form his usual course to have even a slight appeal.

him? he'd rather get back to basics and work in the guts of the ship if he could. no heroing, no suiting, no avenging. just some wires and bolts and tools. ]

[touchofrogue]

Yeah. [A flicker of a smile.

It was... it was really nice to be doing something to give life instead of take it away.]

Doesn't seem ta be much call ta immediately need to switch, anyway. An' it makes for good trade between the ships.

[alloys]

You have a bake sale? I can see it now - trading pies for supplies. Pies for Supplies could even be the name of your inevitable bakery.

[ because if she really enjoyed it, he certainly isn't about to dissuade her from her post. ]

[touchofrogue]

[A quiet, brief laugh.]

That's not a bad name, Tony, I'll give ya that.

[...and he was here. He was really here. She couldn't help smiling.]

Wouldn't make pie with this stuff, though. It's all... protein paste. Flavored, but... bleck.

[Pause a beat.] ...been thinkin' of changin' it, though.

[alloys]

[ he couldn't help but smile back - both because of her approval at his naming skills (still got it), but also because it's just good to see her smiling.

it's rare, for them, to be able to just be happy without the shadow of something dark immediately over the horizon. maybe there was, and he just didn't know it yet. but in this case? perhaps ignorance really was bliss. ]

Changing? Changing how? [ if it meant better food, he would help in any way possible, hand to god. ]

[touchofrogue]

Like... switchin'. From cook to something else. Lab support, security, pilot, engineer... they're all options.

[Guess which one she left out and which one she really wants to be? Hint: They're two separate jobs.

And oh hey, guess which jobs she's actually considering? Neither of the two above? Oh no...]

[alloys]

Now, that's more like it. [ he would be more than happy to take on any of the jobs she's listed than the one he currently has. a mental note to look into these roles a bit further.

but, for now: ]

But what one do you want to do? [ because as far as he is concerned, she should be doing whatever the hell she wants. ]

[touchofrogue]

[Tonyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy she knew you would say that, STAHP, because what she wants to do isn't as important as what needs to be done, always, so...

...she... can't... help tell him, though.]

Pilot, I think. But the ship doesn't need a pilot. So... I'm still makin' up my mind.

[alloys]

[ tony stark wants you to have what you want, rogue. since 2011 (c). YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH IT. ]

Every ship needs a pilot. [ and this is coming from a guy who has an AI butler. ] Who's gonna land it in an emergency when the power goes out?