Tour of the Tower

October 24, 2014:

One Friday each month, Stark Tower hosts tours for the public. This Friday's tour is a little different.

Stark Tower

Characters

NPCs: JARVIS

Mentions:

Mood Music: [* None.]


Fade In…

Fridays are usually 'break the routine' kind of days. Building tours almost always happen on Fridays, and this week is apparently no exception. However, this particular tour group isn't the usual gaggle of school age students and Pepper very much recognizes this. And, as such, she has taken time out of her typically busy Friday schedule to join the tour group in the lobby before they start.

"Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Stark Tower. Have you all been given Visitor's badges yet?" She glances over toward the front desk, where the usual guards/receptionists and Lucky are conferring.

-

Babs Gordon is very much looking forward to the building tower. Dressed in a smart business suit, her hair is loose and flows down her back. Sitting in her chair, bag neatly on her lap, she touches the visitors pass she has just been handed. "I have my pass, thank you Ms Potts".

-

The enigmatic man known as Rowan who lives down near the harbor and works for a couple of oceanographic research firms had been recommended mostly because one of the scientists he works for thought it'd be nice treat for him to see what real cutting edge stuff looks like. He turns out to be a muddy haired young man in crisp, clean, business casual. Or he is when he walks in the door. Before that he'd been wearing jeans. Adaptive clothing for the win.

"Babs?" He seems surprised but pleased to see her.

-

"And you made sure?" Jason asks in a rather quiet tone of voice that heavy gravely backing to it that just makes him sound like he's done a bit too many hard drugs, drinking, and smoking at the same time. The man he's talking to at the receptionists desk offers a reassuring nod for the third time, showing him a small bit of paper, paper of all things in the midst of a digital age.

-

Hm. Jason seems engrossed in something there. Well, no stress. It's Friday. She'll ask about it if it becomes a problem. Pepper smiles and steps forward to offer her hand to Babs and then to Mr. Rowan. "Glad you could both be here. And since it looks like we're going to remain a small group, I might dispense with some of the formalities. I hope you won't mind." She seems to visually study Rowan for a moment, then states the obvious. "You don't have a visitor's badge yet. Let's get that taken care of really quickly."

-

As Rowan speaks, Babs turns in her chair. A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. "Rowan! I didn't know you knew the Stark Industries folk." Waving him off to go and sort out his pass, she sits patiently taking in the lobby and its sights.

-

"I don't. But Deep Thought Inc arranged for the tour to thank me for my work for them." Rowan says with a smile before bowing to Pepper. "You must be Miss Potts. I need a… badge? Sure. What do I do with it?" He's smiling, polite, but clearly a slightly more than metaphorical fish out of water. Lucky gets a rather… curious look.

-

The horrifically scarred man with the deep gravely voice turns from the desk, moving over to the small group, with a series of small cards, and little sample sticks. The other guard by the receptionists desk doesn't look like he exactly supports the method, but Jason speaks up once more to say, "Just need a blood sample".

-

Pepper Potts looks rather … surprised by Jason. "I'm sorry, what? Jason, no, we don't need blood samples from visiting guests." She steps around Babs and Rowan to get a visitor's badge from Dmitri for the young man, and also so she doesn't start a scene scolding Jason for being overzealous.

-

Babs has a small grin on her face as she assesses the situation "Perhaps there is a misunderstanding. Mr Lucky looks a little distracted, Ms Potts." Now that Rowan has a pass, Babs directs her smile at him "Well, it seems we will have the pleasure of each others company again." Turning a patient gaze to Pepper, Babs adds "If everything is now in order, Ms Potts?"

-

Rowan, after a moment's puzzlement, clips the badge on his front pocket. He's also puzzled by his front pocket: What on earth could you put in there?. But that's for another time. "After you, Miss Potts." The Blue is clearly curious about all this cutting edge technical powerhouse stuff he's been hearing the oceanographers go on and on about. And no wonder! Last month they commissioned some DSRV designs and the results were kind of out of this world.

-

Placing them back into his pocket Jason falls silent again. He's not about to call his boss on things but with robots disguising themselves as people he wasn't about to be careless. With a full smile on his face he just looks back to pepper and calmly replies "Alright ma'am", making sure to pass out the rest of the cards to their rightful owners just keeping on that smile, as he moves along in toe.

-

Nodding her thanks to Lucky when he relents, she looks at Babs and Rowan again and gestures toward the elevators. "Shall we begin, then? Last I checked, R&D was working on the transparent circuits today. I personally love the thought of not having to have a big, bulky TV set taking up space in my house. If the tests pan out, within probably the next two or three years, consumer level displays will no longer need to have opaque frames to conceal their control circuitry."

As Pepper approaches the elevators, the closest set of doors open seemingly of their own accord.

-

"Are you able to explain that in a little more detail Ms Potts" Babs asks as the elevator doors open of their accord. "It sounds like your talking flat panel and then some." Babs waits for Pepper to indicate it is safe to enter.

-

Rowan is a bit lost about… oh wait! Television. The image-casters. He'd seen those in some of the cities he'd fought through. Similar to auto-scry crystals. Surfacers here probably use them for entertainment. As Babs has told him before, they use a lot of things for entertainment. The displaced solider sticks near Babs and Pepper as he listens.

-

Enter Tony Stark.

As the elevator doors slide open, the infamous billionaire is standing inside with what probably looks like a Star Trek age datapad. The transparent screen clutched in his hand seems empty from the back, but he's very clearly looking at something digitally represented on the facing surface.

In his ears he's wearing earbuds, but the music is loud enough that anyone immediately around him can hear it just as clearly: 'I wanna be sedated' by the Ramones. He's wearing an AC/DC shirt, ratty blue jeans, and a pair of sandals, his hair is a rats nest, but his beard is perfectly shaven and styled.

He's also paying exactly zero attention to the tour in progress.

-

Keeping his hands held down inside of his pockets Jason also keeps the smile on his face, right up until he see's Stark replacing that phony smile with his more genuine smirk. For all of the trouble that Stark is supposed to be there's something about just seeing the man that makes him feel a bit more comfortable with things.

-

Entering the elevator, Babs notes the presence of Tony Stark. Moving her chair into the elevator and positions herself so companions can comfortably join her. "Where are we going first Ms Potts?" Glancing at Rowan, she frowns slightly and murmurs "Would you like some translation?" Tony is ignored.

-

That might be helpful." Rowan nods to Tony. He's got nooooooooo idea who he is or why he's special. He's not been on the surface long enough and doesn't have the right interests to really be up on celebrities. "This is technology that you all find useful, yes? Often?"

-

Jason's not really one for speaking often at all, but he offers a nod of acknowledgment at the comment of things coming in handy taking an open spot near the back of the lift. There's no way to tell really what Stark might be thinking, but he can keep his mind busy trying to guess.

-

Pepper Potts can choose to either be annoyed or amused by Tony's appearance in the elevator, and it's just easier all around to choose to be amused, so that's what she does. "Actually, the tablet right here," she indicates the device in its inventor's hands, "is a small scale version of what I was just describing. Though, I'll be honest with you, Ms. Gordon, I have no idea how the screens do what they do. But they would indeed by very useful." She then reaches to pluck one of Tony's earbuds out of his ear. "Say hello, Tony."

-

So then there's all these people piling into the elevator with him and Tony is forced, by nature of enclosed spaces, to acknowledge their existence. What this ultimately amounts to is glancing up at them, flicking his eyes from face to face over the glow of his datapad, and taking a step to the side to make room for everyone plus wheelchair.

"What?" To Pepper, since she was sort of smiling at him with that annoyed look she gets when he's being rude. Then she plucks his earbud out and it all makes sense, "Oh. Hello kids. Uh.. What high school are y'all from?" Just sort of figuring they're from a field trip or something.

-

Babs smiles at Tony with a faintly amused gleam in her eye as she holds out her hand "No high school, Mr Stark. I'm Babs Gordon, IT Security Specialist. Ms Potts has offered us the 'grande tour'" Tony all but forgotten for the handshake, Babs fishes out her own tablet and explains to Rowan "See how my tablet has this hardware frame around it? Now look at Mr Starks, see how it has no frame. That in itself is extremely interesting and dare I say, an exciting development for our age."

-

Rowan looks from one to the other, leaning against the sensors on the Elevator's side. "Huh. It's a lot harder to see his. A lot less intrusive. I guess, assuming less intrusive is good, this'd be quite handy. You could certainly fit them more places." Glancing up to Stark, the aquatic soldier grins. "Hi. I'm Rowan. Nice to meet you."

-

It's mere seconds after Rowan leans against the elevator wall that JARVIS speaks up in the enclosed space. "Miss Potts, Sir, I fear that I must inform you of some unusual readings." The image on Tony's tablet changes, though likely only so that he can interpret it. And it indicates that one of the people currently in the elevator has a VERY unnaturally low body temperature.

Pepper looks around in brief confusion. Everyone looks okay… "What do you mean, JARVIS?"

-

Tony takes Babs hand and offers her a pressed into service charming smile that is whole heartedly ignored and completely accepted as par for the course. He's staying on his best behavior, at least, by looking back at whatever he was working on on the screen until JARVIS changes the image.

Tony lifts his pad up and points at the various people, presumably centering on Rowan when JARVIS translates the biometric readings onto the screen for him. "Hey, did we get the franchise nod for the starbucks?" Glancing at Pepper, thumbing towards their aquatic warrior pal, "He needs some cocoa."

-

"Rowan," Babs asks with utter calm, "What is your normal body temperature?" Waving at the other two, she looks to Rowan to explain. "Your physiology has set off the Stark monitors, please explain Rowan."

-

"About seventy degrees." Rowan replies, unsure why all of the attention is suddenly focused upon him. Cocoa sounds… interesting. That's a bean right? Kind of a hard fruit from the tropics way to the south? Tasty, starchy. Not really much else.

"Is… uh… have I done something wrong?"

-

Pepper Potts looks from Tony to Babs to Rowan. "If I may, Rowan?" She lifts a hand and reaches toward the younger man as if to touch his face. She knows that her own hands are often cold, but… seventy degrees? That seems almost exothermic in range.

-

The read out confirms what Rowan himself just stated and Tony up nods slowly, "You must hate the summer months." The tablet, for lack of a better term, is lowered down to his side and the inventor glances between them all, "He's fine JARVIS, don't alert the medical teams just yet…"

Eyeing Rowan a little closer, a bit more playfully skeptical, "I installed biometric scanners in all of the major traffic areas of the Tower. JARVIS is programmed to alert myself, Pepper, and Jason to any readings that are outside a set parameter… I'm always on the defensive against the Abominable Snowman, you see." Flicking his tablet like most would their hand.

-

The mention of and addressing of JARVIS, has Babs eyebrows raising. "Am I permitted to ask who, or what, JARVIS is?" Babs asks both Tony and Pepper. Casting her eyes sidewards, she casts Rowan a slightly amused smile.

-

Rowan is actually fairly cold to the touch. "Er, sorry. I get like that sometimes if I've done certain things recently." Babs may know what he's talking about. If he's been cold blooded recently it takes him a fairly long while to recover. And he uses his abilities fairly casually so… he's often cool to frigid by human standards. Of course seventy degrees is downright balmy when you're in the North Atlantic, so there is that.

-

Pepper Potts blinks in surprise. "Wow. You really do need some cocoa. Maybe I'll make that the end of the tour. Cocoa or hot tea, whichever you prefer. At Babs' question about JARVIS, she glances at Tony before replying in a clearly joking manner, "You're always permitted to ask." She isn't offering up an answer, though. That's for Tony to decide. And, maybe, when they're not all packed like sardines into an elevator. Speaking of…

*ding*

-

"Best damn bowler on the team," Jason mentions while being one of the first to step out of the elevator, a small smirk on his face as he talks right to the camera. "Not a bad friend either," coming out as well. It's a rather hearty recommendation of whoever or whatever JARVIS is, but the computer's one of the few people Jason really truly trusts.

-

Tony has tried not to look like he's uncomfortable around so many people crammed in the elevator, but he is. He doesn't like being touched or handed things and he really doesn't like being packed in so closely with them either. Not that the company isn't absolutely amazing, seriously, he's absolutely certain they're all really great people with wonderful motives.

He's just really glad the doors open.

And really quick to exit.

This would make for a wonderfully timed excuse not to answer the question about JARVIS, as well, but then he's turning and walking backwards. "JARVIS: Just A Rather very intelligent system." The datapad is slipped into the oversized back pocket of his jeans so that he can point at the walls. "He also bowls, apparently." Pointing gun fingers at Jason. "More than that, he controls everything in the tower. Go ahead, ask him a question." In case he's not being obvious enough, "JARVIS, tell us a joke."

From everywhere and nowhere in particular, the rather British sounding drawl of a synthesized voice answers, "Sir, you are ever modest. It is genuinely a pleasure to watch you congratulate yourself."

Tony glances around, pointing to the ceiling, grinning like a cat whose just caught a mouse.

-

Babs smiles delightedly as JARVIS speaks. She may be fangirling, if Babs actually did that. Eyeing Tony carefully, she says "That's a pretty impressive system and has an awesome sense of humour. How long has it taken to get him this far?" Babs knows better than to ask searching questions about security protocol, no matter how interested she is. A small look to Rowan, and reassuring smile and she follows Tony and Pepper out of the elevator, waiting for an indication on the direction they will head.

-

Rowan blinks. Body temperature interrogations are a thing. Okay. Well, all's well that ends well. He wonders why they were so worried. "An AI Construct? Psi net had those. They never had a sense of humor though. Well done… oh, you made it? And you are?"

-

Jason offers a silent nod towards Tony and his finger pistols, stepping off to the side so he can wait for everyone else to get out, with hands held behind his back. He looks like he's just waiting patiently for the moment, never really getting used to these tours on a good day, and he's even more on edge with the recent events, not that he really lets it show.

-

Pepper Potts simply smiles amusedly at Tony's explanation and Barbara's obvious enchantment with JARVIS. The AI kind of has that effect on people. She takes advantage of the distraction to step ahead of the others and make sure the R&D team they had planned to visit are ready for them to do so. Yup. Though she DOES glance back at Rowan briefly when he openly admits to not knowing who Tony is. She really hopes her boss doesn't take the hit to his ego too badly.

-

Tony was in grand showman form like some sort of evangelistic preacher until Rowan steps up to the plate and knocks his ego right out of the park. The effect is not terribly unlike someone being slapped and Stark's brow bundles up between his eyes for a second as if trying to decide whether he's the butt of some elaborate and cruel joke.

Finding nothing but honesty, he sighs quietly and shrugs. "Tony Stark. My name is sort of on the building." Hum drum about it, really.

That said, he glances to Pepper and shrugs, "Anyways, you all enjoy the rest of the tour huh? I was just going down to the starbucks to pick up a coffee… I need to get back to work." Pointing up, "Bills don't pay themselves."

-

Babs smirks, just a little, but hides it quickly. After all, she deals with the Batlings on nearly a daily basis. "Please don't take it to heart, Mr Stark, Rowan isn't from our timeline and his Earth is… a little different." Smiling brightly at Tony, she continues "I was so enjoying listening to you talk about JARVIS and your systems." but lifts one shoulder and adds "I can certainly understand how busy you must be though, I have similar issues myself," and moves to follow Pepper on the next leg of their tour.

-

"Oh. Well thank you for your time then, Mister Stark." Rowan is nothing if not polite. Well, actually he's nothing if not not human, but he's also polite. Usually. "So where to next, Miss Potts." The Blue glances at Lucky and Babs, wondering if something he said made Tony leave.

-

Jason turns on his heel, not wanting too much to say something that might hurt the mans ego even further. He's got to try and get back into tour mode, get this over with so that he can back to talking security with the boys. He does enjoy talking security with the boys, it's like working on cars to Tony, or stabbing people in the eye to Midnighter, it just calms the mind.

-

Pepper Potts smiles and nods to Tony. "Let Cricket or me know if you need anything, all right?" She then looks to Babs and Rowan and Lucky. "The R&D team for the screens like Tony's Digi-glass tablet are waiting for us." She gestures toward the door, then opens it for everyone to step through.

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