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marvel (mcu): tony stark

[closed] a little less action

who: Tony Stark (MCU) and Rogue
what: Getting each other's measure. And drinking. Mostly drinking.
when: Early April
where: A bar
warnings: None

[Tony's still not quite sure what to make of Rogue, but when a beautiful woman invites him out of a few drinks, that's not something he's going to turn down. Especially not when said woman can keep up with him in the air. And knows him. Or some version of him.

Every time he thinks he's getting a hand of this alternate universe stuff, it catches him by surprise all over again. But at least she seems to be cool with whatever version of him she actually knows, so he's got that going for him.

So he's not exactly sure what to expect here, but he's not feeling too worried. Maybe she just wants to talk flight technique, who knows. If nothing else, he'll get a drink or two out of it and that's probably worth it.]

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[Alternate universes were strange, but having been flung to alien universes and met alternate, past, and future versions of people she knew had almost desensitized her to a degree. Almost, but not entirely. It's key to remember that each person remains their own, unique self, even if they're an alternate version of themselves. Luckily, she hasn't had the mind boggling experience of meeting a different version of herself. She'd personally like to keep it that way.

Rogue steps smoothly into the bar, her hair tussled from the wind and barely contained by the sorry excuse for a bun, but it's the only part of her that's not put together. She hadn't worn her hero uniform out, instead wearing a pair of snug, black pants tucked into knee high boots, and a green t-shirt with a pair of long, black gloves.

When she spots Tony, she smiles and steps over, leaning a hip against the bar and making herself comfortable almost immediately. The Tony she knows back home has helped her and mutant kind significantly during the recent Terrigan mist poisonings, so he's definitely on her good side. This Tony hasn't given her any reason to want to punch him yet, which could be taken as a positive sign.]

Feel better after a good fly Tony?

Usually.

[The smile he turns on her manages to be some combination of wry, knowing and searching all at once. You'd think he'd be used to people knowing him without actually knowing him by now -- that kind of things happens when you have a Wikipedia page -- but people who treat him like a friend is just slightly odder. Still, he can roll with it.]

What can I get you?

[There's a dry chuckle at that, an understanding nod her answer. It's something to get used to, that's for certain. Especially since he doesn't know her from his home, a fact that has her anxious for her own reasons.]

Whiskey neat please.

[She doesn't have to tell Tony not to order her low shelf hooch.]

What sorts of projects have you got goin' on here?

[He lifts an eyebrow slightly as he puts the drink order in, but it's a fair question when it comes to Tony. Interesting that she'd go for it first, but one he doesn't mind answering.]

Long term is getting the Abandoned City up and running. Been doing some work on the power plants out there and I'm starting to run ideas about fixing the walls. Otherwise a couple of things for specific people. And some vague concepts still on the back burner.

[When does he ever have anything less than a dozen things in some state of being worked on? It keeps him out of trouble.]

Not to mention taking the armor out every so often. When needed.

[Look Tony, she figures it was better to start with a more neutral, hopefully positive subject rather than just slam right into the discussion of her possibly knowing far too much about him as a person due to the nature of alternate dimensions. Must feel invasive enough.]

Sounds like a good start. Ah've only done some aerial recon, but ah reckon if we get the walls sorted, the next step would be clearin' these beasties ah keep hearin' 'bout?

[It's certainly something she's thought about, what sort of monsters populate the Abandoned City. That and why it was Abandoned in the first place.

Rogue pauses and watches him for a moment, trying to read him more now that they're face to face and he's not in the suit.]

Want me to tell you a bit about myself first? Somethin' that only folks from my universe know? Ah know it don't make up for personal things ah might know, but might balance the scales.

[He's been nodding absently along as he reaches for the drinks as they're set down in front of him, but something about that last bit make Tony just go completely still. And then huff out a laugh as he continues the moment to grab her glass and slide it over to her.]

Honestly, I think I'm getting used to it. There are two of me here, you know. There used to be three. [Speaking of people who know too much about you, it's hard to top yourself.]

We're not exactly the same, if it helps. Whatever your version of me is like. There are always at least a few variations.

[Okay, he doesn't have the biggest sample size to make that assumption, but it stands to reason. He shrugs a little as he sips at his drink.]

You knowing personal things about me isn't one of my bigger concerns.

[Her eyebrows lift at the mention of three Tony Stark's all living in the Quarantine, and then there's the mental image of all three of them in the same room together. Only mildly terrifying.] So ah was told. You're the only one ah've met so far.

[She gladly takes her drink and sips it, enjoying the flavor with a hum as she listens to him, nodding in agreement.]

Ah've met alternate versions of people back home. Kinda puts the nature versus nurture theories to the test. Ah'm sure there are other versions of me, but ah ain't had the pleasure yet. [Cue taking another healthy drink at that thought.] Anywho, same genetics give or take, varyin' degrees of overlappin' experiences.

[Like deaths of key friends and family members, global genocides, and other fun and influential details. She might need a few more drinks before the night is over.]

What's your bigger concern then?

[Tony lets out a long breath as he considers the question. Or more, considers how to answer it. There are a lot of possible things he could say, and they'd all be true, but something is tempting him to give her the real one. Maybe it's the fact that she looks at him like a friend despite the fact that they barely know each other. Maybe he just wants to see how she'll react.]

People don't always have the best opinion of me from my earth, I'm not going to guess at what the general consensus is on others.

[It's surprisingly not an issue he's run into much of here. It doesn't stop him from waiting for the other shoe to drop.]

[Rogue doesn't rush him, taking another sip from her whiskey. She knows the complications and mind trips that alternate universes creates, and even if she hasn't met another variation of herself, she can empathize more than he probably would like to know.

When he finally speaks, the mutant remains quiet for several moments, mostly because she's expecting him to say more.]

We've all made mistakes, myself included. [She's not going to mention the several times she's fought the Avengers in her lifetime for now.] Don't get me wrong, the Stark ah know has made plenty, but he's also done good. Saved my life recently enough.

[That might help explain the friendly nature, but she's a woman who believes in redemption for the most part. She shrugs a shoulder.]

We've been on opposite sides in the past, but that's the past and he's earned my trust.

[Well that's telling, but it just makes Tony nod once as he gives her a considering look. It's a good starting place, if nothing else.]

If we're lucky, maybe I'll get there too. [He flashes her a quick grin before he takes a healthy drink. A large part of him is so glad they decided to do this over alcohol.]

But wait, you've actually run into this kind of thing at home? That's...interesting.

[And does explain why she's so chill about the whole thing, probably.]

Likewise. Ah'd much rather have you as a friend. [It's a genuine statement for many reasons, and the fact that he's putting forth the effort to even gain a relative stranger's trust meant a great deal to Rogue. She watches him take his drink, and she's also glad they decided to talk over drinks.

His question catches her off guard, as though it's really weird that he hasn't run into something like this back home.]

Ah ain't never met myself from another universe, but people movin' through time and space in an instant ain't exactly startlin'. [Okay, so maybe it sounds crazy if mutants either don't exist or are hidden in his universe.] Ah take it you've never teleported either?

Uh, no. Can't say that I have.

[Teleportation, really? Why does it seem like every other world he's heard about is so much freer with the laws of physics?]

I mean, there's however Thor gets around. And then Strange's general weirdness. But I don't think any of that really counts as teleportation in the exact definition.

It's a doozy that's for sure. Mah brother's a teleporter and it takes some acclimatin', especially as a passenger.

[She takes a drink at the mention of her brother, and it's evident that she cares a great deal for him. Tony bringing up Thor and Strange earns a chuckle, but Rogue remains serious in this discussion.]

The Thors ah've known have all flown one way or another. [Yep, plural.] Dr. Strange uses magic to move through realities ah believe? [Rogue shrugs and leans against the bar a little more.] Don't quote me on that though, ah ain't too good at magic when ah pick it up.

[The plural gets him to cock an eyebrow, but considering the current number of Starks running around, he can't bring himself to be too surprised. Apparently that's just a thing that happens sometimes, weirdly enough.]

From the sounds of things, it seems like there's a lot more people who can do all sorts of interesting things where you come from. [Herself included, sine Tony's pretty sure he would remember someone like her.] And you're talking to the wrongest person if you're hoping to have magic explained.

[Should she tell him that one was a female Thor? Probably not. She doesn't want to break his brain anymore than she already has managed.]

If you ain't got mutants or positive relationships with alien races, then ah ain't surprised. [And he hasn't even seen what she can do yet, but to be fair her power's one that's not exactly good to show and tell, much less with squishy humans.

Rogue laughs at the comment about magic.] Ah'll go to Strange if ah want to be put to sleep like that.

We do okay with Thor, for what that's worth.

[Whether he counts as an alien or not. Jury's out.]

Only the one real alien contact so far, and that one didn't go great. I mean, we still won.

[But the damage from that little escapade has rippled out farther than even Tony expected. It's a fun thought.

One side of his mouth twists up wryly before he covers it by taking another long drink.]

Anyway. We've got plenty of home-grown weirdness.

Thor's definitely an Avenger through and through. Ah've met your Thor.

[At she looks a bit self satisfied, smug even, as she finishes her drink. Though it slips away to something more surprised and envious at the mention of 'only one alien attack.'

And she's ordering them another round.]

Ain't nothin' quite the same after those attacks. Ah just wished they weren't so frequent and exhaustin' you know?

[He huffs out a breath that's almost a laugh.]

Nothing's the same. Yeah, you could say that.

[And since she's ordering another round, Tony just knocks back the entire rest of his glass.]

I can believe it. Even just the few things we've had to deal with have been. A lot.

Ah hope things ain't gonna escalate further for y'all, but ah'd prepare for the worst.

[She's clearly a realist and possibly a reformed pessimist trying to be more of an optimist.]

Never a dull moment. Ah'm waitin' for the other shoe to drop here since this is almost like a normal life. Almost.

[Tony can't help but snort at that.]

It's always going to escalate. That's just the way things work.

[Something is coming. There's nothing he can do about it from here, so he tries not to think about it.]

There's plenty of shoes here, believe me. Weird magic things and monsters coming out of nowhere. You never really know what to expect.

Look here mister. [And she points her index finger in his general direction as she gives him a look that meant mostly business.]
Ah'm tryin' to be positive. It ain't always my forte.

[Though despite her dry sarcasm and playfulness, Rogue gives him an empathetic look. She gets it Tony.

Good thing those drinks appear when monsters and magic are dropped in a negative light. She'll take a sip of hers.]

Oh ain't that peachy keen. What's happened so far?

[He gives her pointing finger a dry look, but Tony's ready enough to let that drop as the drinks come. Instead he grimaces a little before he covers the expression with a long drink.]

You want the full list? There's a lot of crazy stuff that happens. Bubbles that make you kiss people and giant mobile beetles.

[Well it just sounds weird when he puts it that way.]

Like I said. Never really know what to expect around here.

[Well that stops her cold.]

They make you touch others willy nilly? Like, skin on skin? [It may sound as though she's a prude, but the level of genuine concern in her voice seems much higher than necessary, even for a someone extremely offended by touching for whatever personal reason.

The beetles doesn't even receive a comment.]

[He shakes his head a little, though he can't help but give her a curious look at the vehemence of the question.]

Not like a forced thing. It was like...there were these bubbles, and to get out you either had to kiss the other person or wait an hour for the thing to go away. Somebody clearly thought it was funny.

[And then she looks visibly relieved at that, settling back into her heels and taking another drink while glancing over at him. She doesn't miss that look either.]

Part of me keeps forgettin' people don't know me an' my abilities here. [Sighing, she shrugs a shoulder while watching him.] There's a reason ah tend to wear gloves Tony.

[His eyebrows lift a little as he glances over at her hands. Honestly, it hadn't even registered. Tony is not a guy to comment about anyone else's eccentricities.]

Yeah? What are we talking?

[He's a little curious to see if she'll answer. Tony might know one too many deeply defensive people.]

[She wiggles her gloved fingers at him for good measure.]

Ah pull life energy from others through skin on skin contact, and ah ain't got control of it. Ah'd show you, but ah don't want to put you in a coma, or worse.

[The only telepath who had helped her previously was dead.]

It's a pretty public fact back home, but ah'm not advertisin' it here.

[Tony blinks and glances at her hand again.]

Yeah let's...not do that, thanks. But I can see why you wouldn't want to put up neon signs about it.

[Is it better or worse to have people know? To not have to worry about accidents but to figure people might avoid you? She'd know better than he would, probably. And she clearly knows how to handle herself, so he's not all that worried.]

But I wouldn't worry about being forced into anything like that. It hasn't happened so far that I've seen.

[She obliges his reaction with another drink of the whiskey.]

People get weird enough about super powers, but mine's a special sort of terrifyin'... A special sort of dangerous, too.

[That's the part she's trying to figure out by not advertising it here. Plus there's a lack of trust for strangers and those who run the joint.

Truth be told it's nice to have a blank slate with her powers.]

If ah am, it won't end well.

Yeah, I know. But I bet we can manage.

[She has, after all. Tony can roll with it.

And because he's trying to lighten the mood a little, he tosses her a flicker of a smile.]

Anything else I should know about?

So far, so good.

[Rogue considers his question for a brief moment, weighing whether she should answer seriously or move towards that lighter tone he's tossing her way, a rope of sorts.

So, she levels him a sultry gaze, smirking as she slowly sips the brown liquid.]

Just that you couldn't handle me sugah, even if proper touchin' were on the table.

[Have an incredibly smug and terrible wink Mr. Stark.]

[He arched a sardonic eyebrow at her for a second before it blooms into a wider grin. Tony always does appreciate the people who know their way around a good verbal spar or two.]

Oh, I don't doubt that. You seem like a lady who knows what you're doing.

[He receives a confident wink right back as she casually leans against the bar, cool as a cucumber.]

Is that... Humility ah hear beneath that absolutely correct compliment?

Hardly. I just know when I'm beat.

[Which also isn't true, but it does sound good.]

Which doesn't mean I'm not up for a race or two.

Flattery won't get you everywhere Tony, but it ain't gonna hurt.

[Because she really doesn't think he can handle her in that arena. Not many can.]

Ah'm always down for a fly 'round. Clears my mind. Same with a good spar.

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