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

Entry tags:

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

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's pretty odd. By 'everyone' I guess you mean his friends? Natasha, Mr. Rogers, etcetera? [Yeah, he picked up those names from listening to the crew lists a few times. There's a couple Avengers here, besides that one kid.]

Those would be the ones. [ a beat then softly: ] It's Captain Rogers.

My mistake. Captain Rogers. [Matt folds his hands on his desk, tilting his head toward Howard.] I don't mind telling you what I know. It's all just public knowledge, anyway; nothing that I can imagine would make them cagey, but they obviously know things that I don't.

You're sure you want to hear it? Wouldn't want you getting into hot water with the Captain and the others.

[ it's a meaningless distinction, maybe. steve is all done with his service, but it's still significant to him. he appreciates matt appeasing him either way. ]

If it's all public record, what could possibly be the harm? [ curiosity killed the cat, howard. and in this case the cat is literally you. ]

Point. [Lifts his hands like 'what can you do' and leans back in his chair again.]

Well...I know the tabloids called him a playboy pretty often. From what I've heard he's an insufferable show-off but a nearly peerless engineering genius. Spent a lot of time running a company that could basically run itself, at that point.

Some time back he was kidnapped by a terrorist group in Afghanistan during a weapons demonstration. Made it back fine, but when he came back he announced end of Stark Industries weapons' manufacturing and turned the company onto clean energy, some other things I'm sure as well.

There was a big knockdown fight with some powered suits of armor in California, one of them being Tony's, which I hear he owned up to with all the smugness one could expect.

Any of this sound familiar yet?

Edited 2017-10-05 20:19 (UTC)

[ oh this is good. good job matt, he's going 2 keep you. howard sits up and leans forward, his ears fully perked. he needs to get himself a notebook here for moments such as these.

at first, it's all normal. very similar to how he got his start really. but then-- it takes a turn. kidnapped. by terrorists. his heart races, fear burning a pit in his stomach. matt says tony is fine, but it's no wonder he had a change of heart. that too is very similar to howard's origins. or well, his now. when faced with his legacy 70 years down the line it's hard not to think of his own present as merely a blip. ]

This is all news to me, pal. What else have you got? [ with some effort he keeps his voice steady, but he's going to need some time to process all of this. ]

[Are you sure there my dude? Because your heart could win the Kentucky Derby right now] There was a Senate hearing. Demanded he turn over the Iron Man suit for military application, since he's a civilian. They didn't make much headway.

There was an incident during the Monaco Grand Prix... I'm not clear on the details. Then the re-opened Stark Expo was attacked; military drones gone haywire, though I remember my friend mentioning evidence of tampering.

...they really didn't tell you any of this?

Edited 2017-10-05 20:56 (UTC)

[ howard does that same absorbing info thing then slowly shakes his head - catches himself & vocalizes ] No. Really not.

[ which... why not? all of this information seems pretty harmless to his ears. for all it's making him feel... conflicty feelings. ]

Seems like my boy has a target on his back almost as big as mine.

[Maybe he should keep the 'he flew a nuke through a wormhole' and the 'his house was bombed and everybody thought he was dead for a while' stories to himself for now. Howard seems a little rattled.]

...is he born yet? For you. Though I imagine it'd be difficult to hear regardless.

[ that gets a smile and another headshake, he's realizing how much of his own communication is nonverbal right now. best not get caught up in self-analysis or he'll forget to answer altogether. ]

Won't be for... twenty-some-odd years.

Must be strange. Hearing about all these things he's done.

...It is. [ though he hates admitting being thrown by anything, here they are. ] Kind of neat, too.

Think maybe his friends were trying to spare your feelings? [Matt doubts it though.]

My feelings? [ he's positive such a thought never factored into their consideration. howard snorts humorlessly at the suggestion. not that he can blame them, really. ] I would say it was for Tony's if not... [ that they all use the past tense for being friendly with him. this is getting too thick to wade through at this point. ]

The way they all talk about him disturbs me. [ there. plain. matt doesn't know tony personally and tony isn't here anymore so... probably no harm done. ]

Really. How so? [Last he heard, the Avengers were, if not tight, then still amicable.]

[ he looks at a total loss for a second. he's kind of aware that he looks like a mess too, so how convenient that matt can't see him. ugh. ] They say they were friends or they were teammates. Never are. I've been led to believe some time in the future the Avengers... dissolve somehow. But it's more than that, like somehow they blame him.

...huh. That is concerning. [Doubly so for Matt if they let their interpersonal squabbles spill into the streets of his city.] I can see why that'd disturb you.

[ FINALLY. some validation. wtf matt where have you been all his life. ] I take it that hasn't happened yet when you're from. [ or it's an alternate storyline, but he likes to keep those musings mostly to himself. ]

If something has, I haven't heard about it. [Last he heard, New York loved Tony Stark. Saving them from a nuclear bombing does that. And though Matt's got his own reservations regarding the Avengers, nobody can deny that all of them put their lives on the line to save New York, Iron Man most of all. He can't think of anything that would make them call him their ex-friend.]

Have you come right out and asked any of them about it? Maybe Captain Rogers; you know him personally, don't you?

[ he actually flinches at matt's question, glancing away altogether. ] So I thought. [ it's impossible to keep the hurt from his tone. steve and barnes had been avoiding him, which is annoying considering they're the only ones he knows in the future of their timeline. ] He seems to be... avoiding me for some reason.

Hm. [So it sounds like Tony's responsible for whatever breakup happened to the Avengers, or that's what it sounds like. And individuals who had previously been friendly with his father are all of a sudden ignoring him.]

...want me to do a little digging? I'll be discreet.

[ oh, hm, there's an idea. ] I'm sure you can be more discreet than me. If you're up to the task.

I'm a little practiced. [a lot practiced] If I hear anything, I'll be sure to let you know. [Another pro bono case.......oh well, it's about a father worried for his son. Matt's pretty weak to that.]

[ oh look, someone here is actually helpful. ] Thanks. [ it's dull, but full of actual gratitude. ] I think we're going to get along, you and me.

[Yeah, Matt's sure there will be plenty of chances for Howard to repay the favor. Not that Matt's keeping track or anything, but if the Avengers feel like tossing out a friend like that, Matt doesn't have a problem with helping the poor guy out.] Looking forward to it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

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