[ 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

[cleanedslate]

[ it's not the waking-up-at-work that bothers him, and definitely not the waking-up-in-a-sitting-position either. one of his first commercial prototypes was a keyboard you can sleep on comfortably, without getting a crick in your neck or waking up with keyboard face; unfortunately it was too impractical (heavy if produced cheaply, too expensive if made to his preferred specs), so it was never actually put on the market. he still used it himself through high school, though.

so yeah, he finds a lot of the elements of this set up familiar: suddenly waking up in his chair, at work.

but for Tony Stark, "at work" doesn't mean office building. it definitely doesn't mean "incredibly generic office building, circa 1997".

and there are things in his hands, which means someone has been handing him things while he was asleep and defenseless. not cool. they have now been dropped unceremoniously.

standing up, and projecting his voice around the room for anyone remotely interested! ]

Attention, fellow kidnapees! I know it's a rough economy out there, so if anyone is really this desperate for a job, Stark Industries is now hiring. We offer a very competitive benefits package, and I think I can virtually guarantee no chloroform. Unless you're into that sort of thing.

[everwalking]

What kind of salary.

[you have the attention of... this weird-looking kid]

[cleanedslate]

Depends on experience. [ cheerfully. what could a banana cost, michael? ten dollars? ]

[everwalking]

[he sighs, leaning on one hand. he just doesn't have the haggling spirit in him today] Plenty of experience. But I guess someone in debt up to their eyeballs can't afford to turn down an offer anyway... [morosely]

[he flings the pen straight up into the air, and catches it again] What's Stark Industries? [this weird-looking kid looks like a waif from some Dickensian novel today, so try to contain your shock at this question]

[cleanedslate]

[ the hair could be dye, the scar could be a really weird -- something, maybe a creepy cult "tattoo" -- but the hand is decisively, decisively not-from-around-here.

keep it together, Tony! you've dealt with worse. ]

...Ha. Haha. I don't actually get that question a lot, so give me a second.

What did you say your name was? [ you didn't, but let's fix that. ]

[everwalking]

[he turns his head to look at Tony again. look at these big gray eyes, Tony. look how innocent. is this the face of a kid who dyes his hair? and is up to his eyeballs in debt?]

Allen Walker.

[cleanedslate]

[ yeeeeah, definitely giving you the side eye. giant puppy dog eyes don't really have the desired effect on him, though. ]

Great to meet you. So, if I hire you, is someone gonna come by and break my kneecaps?

[buymorelifer]

[ His jaw.






Is on the floor. ]

Yes please Mr. Stark or agent of Mr. Stark please hire me. Chloroform is fine if you want I don't mind.

[cleanedslate]

[ oh awesome it's one of these! it's cool, maintain eye contact, don't stop smiling. ]

The chloroform thing was a joke. I actually prefer not exposing anyone to any hazardous chemicals. Two feet firmly on the wagon these days!

[ he extends a hand, super smooth ]

I'm gonna assume I'd be more recognizable with the sunglasses and a supermodel on each arm, but I'm trying to cut back on that, too. [ if he actually knew you, he'd make a joke about the ole ball and chain, but he doesn't, and everything here is incredibly suspect, so he keeps Pepper out of it ]

[buymorelifer]

[ Shakes his hand! Very enthusiastically. ]

I just, um, sorry, ahaha. I couldn't be sure and didn't want to presume. [ Because as far as he knew, you, um, weren't real.

HE IS SO GLAD YOU ARE. ]

Um, I'm a computer tech--programmer. A programmer and I have some hacking experience. S, so if you need someone like that, count me in. Ah, please. Please count me in.

[cleanedslate]

[ little quirked eyebrow ] If you can't actually do any of those things, it's fine. We've got positions all over. And health insurance for everyone.

[ because, you know, he can't tell what kind of nerves these are. he lets Chuck keep his hand for a minute ]

[buymorelifer]

[ He will treasure this hand-- realizes he's clinging and lets Mr. Stark go now. ]

Well, I also have a really good memory-- [ Understatement of at least the last five or six years. ] And I learn fast. I know kung fu, too. [ Ehehehe. ]

[cleanedslate]

[ you amuse him, fanboy. ]

Good memory and learning fast go pretty hand in hand. What style of kung fu?

[promisebreaker]

[Oh. Tony got Peter's attention right away. Not only did he recognize him, he recognized the company name as well.]

Only if you'll take 'setting the table' as job experience ten years ago.

[cleanedslate]

We're hiring all kinds, today. Besides, that's better than me at your age. [ Tony Stark has filled out exactly one job application in his entire life. for McDonald's. as part of a social experiment. so... ]

What's your name, kid?

[promisebreaker]

Yeah. I--my aunt is pretty strict. [he rubs his hand across the back of his neck and up into his hair. This is the first job application he's (half) filled out. Mae and Ben wanted him to concentrate on school.

He's also, currently, attempting not to geek out because he's talking to Tony Stark aka The Tony Stark aka Iron Man. Though if he's very honest with himself, he finds Tony Stark more interesting.]

P-Peter Parker. I--I go to Midway Science High School. I'm second in my class.

my heart, peter. my heart.

[cleanedslate]

[ second in your class is... good, right? probably good. depends on what you're competing against, obviously. doesn't have a lot of experience with being second at anything where's a Reed Richards when you need one? ]

Well, it's nice to meet you, P. Peter Parker. [ sorry, he's pretty amused. ducking his head just a little to facilitate eye contact, because it's okay, you're allowed to make eye contact. ] What does your aunt want you to be when you grow up?

[ also foreign: strict, involved parental units ]

[promisebreaker]

[ second to a very pretty girl who's also his ex (maybe) girlfriend. he'll live with it.

the tips of his ears go red, but he does look up and make eye contact.]

Oh. Uh...whatever I want to be, which is a molecular biologist slash biochemist specializing in genetics.

[ yeah, he had pretty great parental units.]

[cleanedslate]

[ well, when you put it like that ]

[ and now you can have a flicker of real interest. he straightens back up, thoughtful ] What's the draw?

/slides in here; I couldn't wait any longer

[emends]

[ Lucina will reach down and pick up the communicator and clipboard he tossed to the floor, and hold them both back out to him. ]

Pardon me, my lord. I believe you dropped these.

[ She's not actually being an obnoxious job application monitor, she just wants to help. Also, he used a lot of words and she understands very few of them. ]

/come on in, the water's fine!

[cleanedslate]

[ paaaaaaause ] --Yeah, I did.

[ not really taking them, now, either. more just eyeing her ]

I'm also not actually a lord in -- like -- any sense of the word.

Except that, like God, I'm pretty great.

[emends]

[ She was just being polite, that sort of etiquette instilled in her from a young age. His sacrilege, on the other hand? That causes her neutral expression to become a bit more stern. ]

...I see.

[ She has no idea what to say to that. ]

[cleanedslate]

So, new to sarcasm, or just really not into it?

[ still not taking his things. he doesn't like being handed stuff, and there's no one here to take it for him! ]

[emends]

[ Her hands drop to her sides. ]

I have known a few men who have referred to themselves as gods, [ she says in an even tone. ] It rarely goes well for them.

[cleanedslate]

If it helps any, karma's already been a bitch. I think I'm actually owed one or two.