001 } Can't keep my eyes from circling skies.

[speedboat]

Who: Howard Stark & You
Broadcast: Network
Action: SS Bishop (cockpit)
When: Right meow!

( OPEN BROADCAST )

[ howard has been here a few days, enough to suss out that something has happened. it's caused a bit of disquiet among his crewmembers already since apparently their captain died or something?! whatever. he's finding it disturbingly easy to fall back into this role. peggy told him how long it's been and who else is among them, but in usual peggy fashion: not much else. it's left him bereft and even a bit listless which is very uncharacteristic indeed.

he sets his communicator on the control panel so he can record as he flies. as a result, the feed is much more low-key and features a cool, collected version of howard those who know him might not expect. howard nods his head once to show that he is in fact recording on purpose. ] I hope my Huntress is in good hands. Though I guess... she isn't mine anymore. Forgive me, I'm usually not so bittersweet when saying goodbye to a lady friend. [ something of a wan look shadows his gaze, but it's quick, just a glimmer really. ]

Howard Stark. Ace inventor, innovator, pilot, and now director. [ a bit of a lopsided grin begins to spread across his lips, his mustache twitching with the movement. ] I'm also usually pretty charming if you can believe it. I would say you all missed me, it's been so long, but the turnover in this place is something else.

[ he hesitates over this next part, but he needs the intel. he knows questions will follow, but right now he doesn't care. later he'll be annoyed with himself, naturally. ] And if any of you used to know a Tony Stark or are holding his research... get in touch. [ tightly: ] Please.

( ENCRYPTED TO EDWIN JARVIS )

Hi-de-ho, old pal. [ a warm smile is reserved for his closest friend, even if he doesn't always treat him that way. or most of the time. whoops. ]

( ACTION SHENANIGANS )

Howard has been more-or-less just going through the motions since being assigned to the Bishop. He was actually a bit releaved to be off the Marsiva and have something to occupy his time with, truthfully. But with their captain MIA and everything more than slightly hectic, he's thrown himself into the work full on. He can really only be found in the cockpit or in his quarters for maybe two hours a night/morning. Even trips to the galley are extremely short-lived and involve toting snacks to the pilot's seat. With that said, he will be outspoken when matters of the ship come up that the captain would usually handle. It's easy for him to become attached and though he doesn't know these people yet, he feels responsible for them.

He hates responsibility.

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

Both, actually. I don't have any of his work but might be able to help you track it down if there's anything left. Have to see.

[But mostly she's reaching out out of a general sense of responsibility considering how things had fallen with Tony before he left, when he learned the truth about his father's death, and a more immediate and pragmatic interest in running damage control on whatever Howard's arrival might stir up between Bucky, Peggy, Steve and Jarvis.]

Romanoff. Natasha Romanoff. I'm posted on the Vanquish.

[speedboat]

[ romanoff. RUSSIANS. grreeaaaatt. peggy had said something about this one, in her vague peggy way. ]

I would say delighted to meet you, though I suppose we haven't officially yet. Hopefully a friend of Tony's extends to dear dad.

[outstandingbalance]

Not just a friend of Tony's. Somehow, we seem to have a lot of people in common.

I'd say that earns you something. Whether that's friendship is up to you.

[speedboat]

Is that so surprising, baby?

I think you'll find I'm quite agreeable when it comes to earning.

[outstandingbalance]

I find that easy to believe.

Natasha. Remember?

[speedboat]

Right right. The women in this place were always so touchy about that. Natasha. Got it.

What's your history with Tony? Other than 'much.'

[outstandingbalance]

The short version is that we worked together. You know about that?

[speedboat]

Only in the way that you and everyone else keep saying it. Working on what?

[outstandingbalance]

[So Howard knows about Tony, knows he's been here, knows that he'd be working on something... but doesn't know the details of of what Tony does. All right.]

Not really a short answer to that one. I'd like to say saving the world, but.

[speedboat]

Not in a hurry, sweetheart.

[ he sent that one by accident before he could correct himself!!!! old habits die hard okok ] Natasha. I follow instructions, see? Good to know he was keeping up the family name. I only just got here. Plenty of time to chat.

[outstandingbalance]

You're not wrong about that.

[They all have plenty of time.]

Might be easier to talk in person. Mind meeting face to face?

[speedboat]

No I'm too busy flying this junker around in circles.

Where?

[outstandingbalance]

Iskaulit? Jarvis has a restaurant. I could use a snack.

[speedboat]

He has a restaurant? That's

[ wait what is that. is that why he hasn't heard from jarvis yet? he should be happy for his friend, and maybe he is on some level. just... surprised doesn't really begin to cover it. ]

I'll be there. Order me a coffee.

[outstandingbalance]

Noted. I'll see you there.

With coffee.

--> action

[speedboat]

I owe you one, sweet stuff.


[ oh lord okay how do you get ready for a probably russian spy with an unkown tie to your as yet unborn son??? this is a big moment and he so doesn't have the right outfit.

he does quick work of programming and setting the autopilot so the ship will continue in the... vague direction he'd started them down. whatever. this ship is nothing like the huntress, that's for sure.

howard doesn't have any of the things he'd managed to accrue on his first stay: snazzy suits, hair pomade. that sort of thing. he'll just have to make up for it with false confidence. that he has bundles of. he takes off for the iskaulit just in time to be a good 15 minutes late.

it doesn't take long to spot her, but he has to look around at this restaurant his butler built. it's just as impressive as he knew it would be, honestly. just as impeccable as anything jarvis accomplishes. in order to not keep her waiting any longer, howard slides into the booth opposite natasha and flashes her a bright smile. here goes nothin ]

What's shakin', bacon?

[outstandingbalance]

[Late is pretty much what Natasha expected. As a result, the coffee sitting untouched across from her is still hot. Natasha is good at details like that.

Her brow kicks up a little at his greeting. She can see some of Tony in him—or some of him in Tony—but the differences are... for lack of a better word... stark.

Tony knows better than to call her sweet stuff, for one.]

I was just starting to wonder if I'd been stood up.

[speedboat]

[ he knows better he just has shitty self preservation instincts in comparison!!!!!!!!!! ]

Stood up? Starks don't stand people up. [ unless they forgot or there's a super important something going on that only they know about?! yeah that. still he can look offended even while sliding that coffee closer to his person yes ty for coffee. ... as long as she didn't do something russiany to it!! ]

They may have a tendency to... delay gratification. But that's all a part of the total package, I assure you. [ yolo he's going in for a sip anyway. if it's poisoned at least people get revived here. like 85% of the time. rough figure. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[No poison. Nothing Russian in it at all. Not even any vodka.]

You came through this time at least. Which is probably for the best considering you're the one with questions. Easier to get answers if you show up for them.

[speedboat]

[ the vodka wouldn't have been unwelcome, but fair enough. he's too busy frowning at her implications to do much coffee drinking anyway. ]

This time. [ that isn't what he wants to ask her, but he can't help but repeat it. that seemed significant somehow. it seems like as good an invitation as any though, so he starts right in, leaning across the table a bit unconsciously while still clutching his mug with both hands. ] What were you and Tony working on together? Other than world-saving.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha's lips twitch, almost smiling.]

Really, it's just that one thing. [A pause as Natasha considers where to start. Telling Howard that she was sent to spy on Tony doesn't seem like the best foot.] We were Avengers together. It was a group intended to fight extraordinary threats. Him, Cap... a few others.

[speedboat]

Avengers. [ he'll stop doing that at some point. probably. ] You work with Steve? You both do? [ that's a bit more interesting than the rest, clearly. a bit of vulnerability creeps into his gaze, as it always does when captain america is the subject despite his best efforts. ]

[outstandingbalance]

We do. Both of us. [Even knowing what he does, that look is a surprise. Natasha knows the affect Steve has on people, and she's familiar with Howard from Peggy and Jarvis's memories. That doesn't mean she's prepared to face this kind of vulnerability.] For several years now.

[speedboat]

[ he puts it away quick, there's no room for his feelings now. and clearly steve doesn't want to talk to him or he would have come out of the woodwork already. it's just another thing in one long string of personal disappointments. ]

Avenging... whom?

[outstandingbalance]

The Avenger Initiative was the name of the original plan to bring together uniquely qualified individuals to create a team. The name comes from that. It's not specific to any one event.

[Not exactly, anyway.]

I wouldn't get too hung up on that.