[ Opening Mingle ]

[randomly_modding]

[Everyone will wake up suddenly, as if having drifted off -- while sitting upright in an uncomfortable office chair. In one hand they're holding the communicator, and in their lap is propped a clipboard with a job application (standard, looking something like this; it requests up to ten years of job history, ) and a pen. The waiting room is also fairly standard, except for being empty.]

[The communicator's lock screen reads, Complete the job application. Time limit, twenty-four hours.]

[There are magazines, fake plants, and computers. There's a staff lounge with food -- tupperware that might have belonged to some of these nonexistent workers, popcorn and cocoa packets, vending machines -- and restrooms. There are exits, but characters will be unable to use them... or make their own, or escape in any way.]

[So the characters are stuck here, until tomorrow morning. Set up a comment telling everyone what your character is doing, and thinking, whether they're obeying the task or not, at any time during the day. Then tag other people! Be sure to check back later in the week, when people are encouraged make threads for the evening as well as the day! Characters that have been claimed are also welcome at this point to join the community, and will be able to make their own posts, which can be tagged by anyone taking part in the event.]

Comments

[onehotpepper]

Have to keep busy somehow. [She shrugs, very nonchalant, but it's a better day now that she knows he's here. He can think up a way out, and she can kick down any doors. No sweat.

[God, she hopes it's that simple.]

So. Update me. [otherwise, she'll start to overthink, and she does not want to lose control over a job application. no matter how mysterious.]

dw rp is the best. editable comments, icon keyword renaming... sjfldksj

[cleanedslate]

[ tiny smile. he takes a single breath through his nose, and then he's off! ]

About two hours ago, I woke up here. So far there's no way out. Windows don't open, or break, or even really react to physical force. Doors don't go anywhere except into more office building.

[ brighter ] But there's plenty of food, and the time limit suggests we're being watched. As do these. [ he pulls out his communicator, and shows it to her ]

[ she looks good. calm. comfortable. good. all good. they've got time. no equipment, but he can fix that, eventually. and he's even got help working the formula. it'll be okay. ]

agreeeeed

[onehotpepper]

[being watched isn't good. Being watched suggests experiments, needles, serums that change your very genes--]

Food? How can you think about food?

[that means the situation isn't quite so dire, though. He's in good spirits, so maybe he's figuring it out. Maybe he already has and is just not telling her because he thinks it's funny. As annoying as that can be, it helps her relax a bit.

[looking at her communicator] Well, we've got most of the day to go. Did you fill out your paperwork, or were you waiting for me to hold your hand through it?

<3

[cleanedslate]

[ just what he hoped the comment would do. he smiles at her a little more, his version of reassuring. ]

I think the last time I filled out a job application was when I was fourteen. [ once. as part of an experiment.

so yeah, he could use your help. ]

[onehotpepper]

[Figures. She's still convinced he couldn't tie his shoes without her.

But he has saved her life a time or two, so it balances out, she supposes. Debits and credits, right? Accounting 101. She'd let him know otherwise.

Rolling her eyes, she holds out her hand for his clipboard.]

[cleanedslate]

[ because he probably couldn't ]

[ but clearly all that helplessness is completely worthwhile, because now she's going to do his job application for him! awesome. be warned, his half-assed attempts to fill it out have left some of the job history with answers like "being me" and "saving the world on an hourly basis" ]

I knew I could count on you.

[onehotpepper]

[Yeah, yeah, Tony. Old habits die hard.

[Including, clearly, his particular brand of humor.]

Really? [putting pen to paper, shaking her head] You forgot "saving the President on Christmas."

[small smile, very sincere, has I got you written all over it]

[cleanedslate]

It was my gift to America. [ perfectly straight-faced.

but maybe watching you a little closely. he doesn't want to ask. she's probably very tired of him asking. but he likes looking at her and not seeing the glow. it's... reassuring. ]

[onehotpepper]

Always thinking of the children, aren't you. Maybe we can put that down as volunteering experience. [honestly, the woman kept his life together for years. she could fill this thing out in her sleep.]

[he's quiet for a little too long, so she looks up. does not look away. does not let that slight intensity to his gaze freak her out. there's no immediate danger, so she can stay calm. and so can he.]

[that's why she smiles. it's a bit wobbly around the edges, because really, what else has to happen to them before things settle down? jesus. but hey, he pretty much came back from the dead once. and so did she.]

[cleanedslate]

[ yours was more dramatic ]

I -- try. [ actually feels like he's been unusually good with kids lately. what's up with that. ] Do I get a tax write-off for that?

[ it'll be fine. ]

[onehotpepper]

[we don't like to remember it. falling was scary. missing your hand was scary. coming back to life amid fire and twisted metal--]

This is a job application, Tony, not a tax return. Think PR.

[cleanedslate]

[ two people, SO MUCH PTSD ]

I've been thinking PR, actually. There's a kid here, kind of freaky-looking, named Allen Walker. He wants to be my professional blame-taker.

[ he has such a straight face ]

[onehotpepper]

[buckets of fucking sunshine!]

Someone to relieve me of my duties in that arena? Sounds good.

[oh my god, you're serious.]

...you're serious.

1/2

[cleanedslate]

Well. [ he gestures at the job application ] Everyone was already filling them out. Some people very seriously!

So I took a couple of them. [ not literally, of course. he wasn't going to read ten years of job history. ]

It's not a big deal.

[cleanedslate]

By the way, how much do you think it would cost to put a New York kid and his aunt up in Stanford for a couple of years? Room, board, tuition. That last one just for the kid.

Just hypothetically. I'm asking for a friend.

two-in-one response, what

[onehotpepper]

Uh, yeah, it kind of is a big deal, actually. Because hiring isn't just something you do by cherry-picking a--

Wait, what-- Did you promise someone that kind of accomodation? Without asking me first?

[moment over, huh? well, at least it lasted a bit, she'll give you that]

[cleanedslate]

You weren't here to ask. [ so really, isn't this one on you?? ]

And "promise" is a strong word. I actually had to fight the kid tooth and nail to get him to even understand what I was offering.

Is what that friend told me.

[ he liked the moment! but isn't it better that he tell you right away? hypothetically?? ]

[onehotpepper]

[NO EXCUSES, there are communicators around, USE THEM]

So you made a verbal agreement with him as to the extent of what your offer entails. And you hired a new PR person. Remember the part where you made me CEO? I get to weigh in on decisions like that. Especially if we're going to start offering scholarships! God, now I have to talk to the board about this, and worry about stock prices--

[okay but this is all textbook stuff, right? no need to be so upset. this is even normal Tony behavior, so really... could be worse!]

...I need to talk to our tax accountants, too. Maybe we can get a tax write-off for that.

[yes. think of the positives. and the fact that this is what Tony is getting up to and not, you know, getting himself kidnapped in far-off countries, or getting shot at with death rays or anything like that.]

[she's starting to wonder if the moment ever actually happened.]

[cleanedslate]

[ he reaches out, settling his hands gently on her shoulders ]

That's the spirit. [ just breathe, baby. ] It's investing back in the business, anyway. We could use some bright, motivated kids.

[onehotpepper]

[yes. breathe. no reason to get so upset. this can be fixed. it's okay.]

Internships we can do a lot more easily. The board will go for that. Maybe if we start this kid off as an intern--

But I want to meet him before you go promising him anything else, all right?

[cleanedslate]

[ it's allll gonna be okay. he grins ] The PR kid, or the scholarship kid? [ or both ]

[onehotpepper]

Both of them. All of them. How many jobs did you hand out, by the way?

[she may be starting to get a headache. she can handle a headache. there's medicine for that.]

[cleanedslate]

Technically just the one. I'm in negotiations. [ plus, alternate realities! Peter and Chuck know who he is, but come on, what are the odds he really hired Allen in any meaningful way? ]

[ but he sees the headache, and he adds ] I'll introduce you. Promise.

[ he might be being very slightly gentler with you than usual, but. you know. you're not fixed yet. ]

[onehotpepper]

[it sucks to have a virus constantly trying to run the show, keeping them both slightly on edge until it's all fixed and sorted out, but you know, the extra dose of kindness is nice. after enduring so much, after all the hard work and the nearly losing him several times and having people tell her to just quit and find another job, it's just... nice.]

[she always knew you had a heart.]

That's all I ask. [sighs. some of the tension goes with it. you'll fix Extremis, she knows you will.]

[cleanedslate]

[ yeah, well. maybe some of it will stick. ]

I know. You have phenomenally low standards. Which is lucky for me, since that's about all I can meet.

[ he flicks his eyes up at her on that last part. really, really lucky. ]