Hughesiana Characters: Tony, Wanda, Jess?, Wicked? Setting: In and around Las Vegas, Nevada. Friday through Sunday, I guess. Content: Intrigue, adventure and aliens. Oh, and Tony's sexy birthday. Summary: Instead of moping in New York for the weekend, Tony heads to the desert where nothing could possibly go wrong.
When he had texted Wanda, Tony hadn't been entirely serious about the offer. Since then, nothing had suggested he not be serious about it. The girl in accounting with the skirt far too short for 'professional work attire' had suggested he 'take a vacation' yesterday, and while Tony was sure she had meant with her, somewhere down-under, that was a little too far for him to go right then. Vegas, on the other hand, was a short hop that he could make again if anything came up, and overdue for a visit since his last check-in at the hotel had been over six months ago. Besides, there was a mystery lingering in his workshop. It was a few minutes after he had shaken off the accountant that he messaged Wanda, intent on asking her if she had met up again with the mysterious collector of watches she had met before Christmas and remembered instead that she had made a promise Tony had yet to take advantage of this time last year. He might as well make it enjoyable for both of them. It was his birthday, he was allowed a weekend. Pepper and Happy deserved a weekend.
Later, he told Wanda to check in when she was ready, the hotel knew to expect her, and he would be there in time to make dinner plans. It was supposed to be quiet and lowkey to keep anyone he didn't want to see from finding out where he was and wishing him a happy birthday, but before he even left the penthouse Tony had run into Jessica at the door and spun her around to head back outside with him. What else was she going to do all weekend? Tony was offering to pamper her and her girlfriend for absolutely nothing in return except the pair of them keeping each other entertained when he needed to slip away, and perhaps reminding each other that sleeping with him was a terrible idea. He definitely had a hard time remembering. That would keep them all out of hot water. Oh, he had to buy Jess a bathing suit to get her into the hot tub.
The dry heat of the desert was a welcome change from the slushy almost-winter New York had been experiencing for what felt like an eternity. Even if Tony didn't get to the bottom of this watch thing, he was sure this was a great idea. He left Jess at the door to her room, explaining where to find Wanda or himself and what number to call when she figured out what she needed after being whisked away without the opportunity to pack a bag. Make it quick, though, he had advised, because he was starving, and he still had to get her and Wanda into the kind of dresses he liked to see on his casino floor before dinner. Thus, he had been in the hotel all of two hours when one of the employees approached them in the lobby, apologizing and handing him an envelope from 'A guest, who insisted it was an urgent matter'. Tony pursed his lips, looking like he was ready to toss the thing before he had opened it, but the guy lingered like he was expecting an immediate response.
The envelope contained two documents. The first, hand-written under the Stark Hotel letterhead, read:
Mr. Stark,
Firstly, I apologize for taking your time and I thank you deeply for giving it to me, but this is time-sensitive and I am out of options. I heard you were something of a Howard Hughes academic (is that who the restaurant upstairs is named after?) and I hoped you might be able to authenticate the enclosed communication.
Saige Kaufman
The second was a photocopy of what Tony understood as a cell diagram, only drafted as if it had electronic components. Tony hadn't said anything since opening the envelope and stared at this page intently for a long time, as if he had forgotten his company and the waiting messenger entirely. The theory wasn't unlike Extremis, only the document was signed 'Howard R. Hughes, 05/56'.
"Did she say what room she was in?" Tony murmured, still staring at the page, not certain there was any reason to believe its authenticity until he saw the original. There were far too many coincidences.
"714, Mr. Stark, shall I--"
"Thanks," Tony turned away from him, smiling easily at the Avengers and inviting them to each take an arm. They were already late for dinner.