[Video] (Backdated: End of January)

[narcissistictendencies]

[Hello Moira crew, did you miss him? Probably not. Hell, he doesn't even recognise half the names on the roster anymore, so most of you probably didn't even know he was here. But he's back, not so much in black, and he's getting reacquainted. He's been out of cryo for a bit, but he's been trying to make sense of everything going on until that nifty little warning he saw on the network. A+ everyone. You managed to tick some new race off without the help of a Stark. Which, he seems to be the sole Stark onboard now. That's depressing.]

Okay, can anyone fill me in on who we pissed off this time, since I've been a little out of the loop as of late? Well, actually, until semi-recently, I've been an ice cube. Cap--saw your name on the roster; welcome back buddy--next Cap-cicle joke I make, you're allowed to deck me. I think I have freezer burn, I swear. Is that even a thing I can have? Medical gives me a clean bill of health, but I think I want a second opinion.

What was I saying? Oh, right. A recap would be nice. Stark out. [He waves at the camera and cuts the feed.]

Comments

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[hyperkinesia]

Surprisingly? We pissed off no one. We just found ourselves stuck between a planet-wide government institution guised as a dating service and some kind of rebellious group trying to take down the whole thing. Not really sure where things are headed from this point onwards, but as you can imagine... probably somewhere downhill.

[ Bruce manages a smile, though. He is genuinely happy to see his friend around again - even if he wouldn't want him to be stuck here, along with the rest of them. ]

Nice to see the ice didn't freeze your tongue.

[narcissistictendencies]

Damn. And here I was hoping things didn't roll smoothly while I was gone. Guess that's too much to ask--not that I was wishing for a catastrophe. IF anything catastrophic happens, it's NOT because I'm back. Since, I technically never left. That's all I'm saying.

[He's mostly babbling to hear himself talk, you know how it is, Brucie. But he does smirk hearing the quip.]

Oh, you could only be so lucky. Fortunately, you're still blessed with my rambling dialogue. No adverse effects in that department. It's good to see a friendly face, though. How's space life been treating you?

[hyperkinesia]

Well, in terms of catastrophe it's a little difficult topping up destroying an entire planet. [ And that hadn't been Tony's fault to begin with, so. Have a cookie for that. ]

We did have a monster roaming the ship last month. Killed a captain and a crew member, and it marked a number of us. [ He tugs down the collar of his uniform just enough to show the vein-like black marks poking out, going along the side of his neck. ] We got it locked up, though, then arrived at this planet. Things were actually more or less quiet for a while, then about ten days ago there were some kind of planetside terrorist attacks, and now... we're waiting, I guess.

[ Which is even worse-- Bruce knows something is going to happen eventually, he's sure the whole crew does, and they're all on edge because of it. ]

Guess I should count myself lucky I usually don't mind hearing you talk. [ Well, only about half the times, but that's still a step up from the 'just shut up Tony' consensus. ] I'm doing... fine, I guess. Things could be better, but considering everything, I can't really complain.

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[keelahselai]

I don't think we've annoyed anybody...lately. You can fix that, if you like?

[Please don't...]

[narcissistictendencies]

I'm sure I will. Alas, it's my curse.

[Oh, he probably will.]

How's things, gorgeous?

[keelahselai]

That's what I'm afraid of. [So dry it's practically arid.

That last word gets him a snort for his trouble.] I've been doing all your work in engineering, how do you think things are?

[Please, she'd probably have been down there anyway.]

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[abide]

[ Really, Tony? Now isn't the time for jokes, especially when they've had their hands full dealing with a lot of... well, a lot. So, he's just going to ignore literally everything he's said and ask the questions instead. ]

A few things have changed since you've been out. [ Gone? He had mentioned cryo. ] What's the last thing you remember?

[narcissistictendencies]

[Leave it to Steve to be a buzzkill. Sheesh.

He frowns, thinking back. It really wasn't all that long ago to him.]

That planet with the drugged air. Uh, Exuo, I think the other me called it? We were rescuing our people. You, me, and the kid, Eggsy. After that, you vanished and I took a really long nap.

[abide]

[ So... all of that was before he showed up. Good to know. ]

It's been about a month for me. You were out longer than that. [ So probably two? Steve's unsure of the time gap. ] What about back home? You remember anything different?

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[commontype]

Tony?

Uh, you've missed a lot, bruv. We blew up one planet and got matched up with our 'soulmates' on this one.

[narcissistictendencies]

In the flesh, Eggs Benedict.

Back up. How the hell did we blow up a planet? Better yet, WHY did we blow up a planet? I think I just won a bet somewhere. I'm sure someone was taking bets that I'd be the cause of planetary implosions.

So, who's your soulmate, kiddo?

[vengeance_driven]

Ah...

So there is another dude they gave your bed to, Man.

Sorry about that.

I am glad you're not dead.

[narcissistictendencies]

Yeah, they stuck me with a kid. Eh... I'll live.

Thank you. I'm glad I'm not dead, too. Was that--was that in question?

And hey, good to see another familiar face.

[video]

[soldiergenes]

[ From the sound of it, this guy already has plenty of connections. That means there's probably a few people who have jumped to fill him in, which leaves Snake to focus on the portion of the broadcast he finds of particular interest.

He sends back a video clip. He's in the cargo bay, but it doesn't look like he's got much to do. Hence sending this message. ]

You were in one of those cryo units? Do you remember anything before you ended up there? Or during.

[narcissistictendencies]

Ehh, last thing I remember, we were helping rescue people from the psycho natives of a drugged planet. The sun vanished and the natives went all Jekyll and Hyde on us. I had a massive hangover from whatever was in the air, and dammit, my suit should've picked it up. Anyway, a good friend of mine disappeared after we helped some lost crewmen... Let's see... we had a shipment of masks? Aaaand nothing.

[Tony shrugged a shoulder lightly, as if it didn't bother him. It kinda did, though. He'd been worried when Cap vanished without a trace, but things didn't last long for him after that...]

During? Nah. Nothing until I woke up. It was like... a really frigid sleep? Yet another hangover-like feeling, but that wore off pretty quickly. Like, as soon as they got me out of the infirmary, I think my head was pretty clear and the chills were gone.

Mind telling me who I'm spilling my trippy horror story to? It's only fair. [A light smirk. He could read the name on his MID, but that was no replacement for good, old fashioned introductions.] I'm Tony Stark.

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[accidentalqueen]

[ It's unfortunate that she doesn't have the leeway to roll her eyes. ]

I am sure it is only a matter of time before someone becomes annoyed, Iron Man. Experience suggest it's inevitable.

[ Not her, mind you. She would never give him the satisfaction of knowing he could get under her skin. Any Stark, even ones that aren't technically the ones she knows. ]

[narcissistictendencies]

Truer words haven't been spoken in a long time. I'm just relieved it wasn't my fault this go around.

[Behind the nonchalance, he's both intrigued and slightly wary of Medusa's recognition. Thus far, it hasn't proven to be a good thing when someone on this ship knows him so well.]

Sorry, Rapunzel, have we met? I'd remember such a pretty face.

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[handing]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all myself.

[The video doesn't start until Pepper says that, doesn't show how long she's spent staring at the feed, scarcely able to believe it's him. Bruce had told her at the very start that while Tony once resided on this ship, he'd vanished from it, presumably gone home just as Steve had. Yet here he is, with all the attitude and annoyance she'd expect to see given their circumstances.

For the record? She has missed him, dearly.

But on top of everything that's happened, there's also a lot that Tony implies. Ice cube, freezer burn, and Bruce had mentioned working in cryogenics, right? The purely logical portion of her mind can put it together easily enough, but it's still got to fight against the part that's getting used to all of this, even after spending nearly a month here.

And the budding realization that Tony's been here, captive and helpless, the entire time. She sucks in a breath, unable to keep her voice steady any longer. He's been here the whole time.]

...Being frozen isn't a good excuse for being late.

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[narcissistictendencies]

[He knows that voice better than he'd recognise anything else in his entire life. He'd checked the comm for people he knew had been here before but he hadn't looked that far. He never expected her to be here. He was both relieved and further worried now. He'd said before that his only hesitation enjoying his involuntary flight in space was leaving Pepper behind, but with her here she was in danger.

Damn the lopsided grin that tugged at his lips, though.]

Technically, from my point of view, you're the one that's late. I'll accept your apology if you join me for dinner in the mess hall at 1900. I promise I'll actually be mostly on time.

Where are you, Pepp? How long have you been here?

[He's looking her over as best he can through the video to make sure she isn't injured.]

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[a_shadow]

So I'm not the only one who's been brought back for a second run here.

[narcissistictendencies]

Nope, sorry to say. You wake up in cryo, too?

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[diamondslap]

There's cyro tech aboard this thing? Interesting.

[maybe aurelia can SUPER CHARGE HER DIADEM AND FREEZE EVERYONE. oh, if only.]

Darling, it's a tale as old as time. Space travellers land on creepy utopia world, space travellers accidentally get involved planet's tumultuous affairs, utopian government gets all heated and tries to kill everyone. Space travellers have a wonderful time trying to... what's the phrase, get out of dodge? Run the hell away while shooting things, basically. It's been quite fun.

[narcissistictendencies]

That there is. It's not something I'm used to, but that's not really up my alley.

[AKA: it doesn't blow up, so it's no fun.]

Well, that's always a hoot. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Business one-oh-one. I'm just guessing here, but creepy utopian planet's being pretty persistent in the whole not letting us get away thing, aren't they? See, situations like that really make me wish I had access to my bank account. Or my workshop. I'd settle with either.

[It's so much easier to just pay assholes like that off. And when all else fails, he could just help everyone fight their way out.]

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[sidecars]

[ Get a good look at this face, Tony. It is the face of suspicion! ]

Stark, as in Stark Enterprises?

[ Yeah, he's backdated your company a little, don't mind this forties boy. ]

[narcissistictendencies]

[Pleasure to meet you, suspicion. As if he hasn't seen that look a thousand times for a thousand different reasons.]

As in Stark Industries.

[It's okay, old timer. No harm.]

Tony Stark. And the kid with a chip on his shoulder is...?