InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Don't worry, be happy!"

i_amsoaring (i_amsoaring) wrote in we_coexist,
@ 2013-03-09 17:07:00

Entry tags:

hoban washburne, tony stark

Crash Test Dummy Pt. 1 (Tony)
It was 1am. Wash woke up to a sound, some high pitched sort of chiming sound. With much concentration and rubbing of eyes he verbalized his discontent at being waken at such a terrifyingly inappropriate hour with chimes.

"Mrph."

That being said, he turned over with a groan to find out where the chimes had come from. He had a suspicion. He opened a drawer on the leaning night stand (jimmy rigged to not fall over after his rumble with the thing) and brought out the thin phone Tony had given him.

With a resounding sniff to clear his sinuses he blinked his eyes and checked his messages. Tony wanted him in the lab. He was testing something. It was a brief message that left little room for argument.

Wash thumbed in a reply that read:
IOK 'm no my wqay Predictor text, be damned.

Thirty minutes later the phone's gps took him to a ridiculously tall building. He looked up, far up, at the gleaming letters.

"Oh! STAR-K," he exclaimed. He'd always thought it'd said STAR.

A genial voice that introduced itself as the seemingly omnipresent Jarvis met him at the gate. It traveled with him as he stepped into what must have been the presidential suite of elevators. He swallowed as pressure built in his ears from being lifted so high so quickly.

Then, Jarvis' voice led him down to where he saw Tony.

"I think you need dampers on those elevators, Tony" he quipped once he made it into the lab, making a show of putting a finger in his ear, though he'd already popped the pressure with swallowing.

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i_amsoaring
2013-03-29 08:47 pm UTC (link)

"Huh?" Wash replied, first, about normalizing. Then. "Oh. Gosh, that's an antiquated term! Yeah, no, that's great that some guy are attracted to guys. I just have--bad memories of--male doctors and their cold hands--lingering cold hands. It's like they put them in a vat of ice and say, look how small I can get this man's penis! And then-then there's inadequacy and...coughing and...probably ruined me for the same sex all together, actually. I went to this one planet that was completely heterophobic. Only contact they ever really had with the opposite gender was to exchange sexual fluids or learn about anatomy. And when they wanted more diversity, I was the guy who delivered the...goods. A self-esteem plummeting experience to be snubbed by so many women at one time," Wash explained with a wince. "On the other hand, I was a real hit with the fellows! Liked my eyes." He nodded emphatically.

"Ow!" he had said as Tony finally pinched his hand, rather harshly. Then he smoothly completed his story, very wary then to stillness of whatever Tony had been touching.

He stood up and looked at himself.

"This is--no--this is good. I feel very..." he paused in thought, wiggling his armored fingers, "uh...can I customize this?"

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i_shoottothrill
2013-03-30 04:31 am UTC (link)

Tony's look, which had mostly been teasingly superior (as it always was), harded just a fraction when Wash mentioned customizing. "Make sure you record whatever you do with Jarvis. And don'e be surprised if I change it back," he shrugged. "But if what you're looking for is finger dexterity, good luck. Keeping the hands plated well enough tends to make them near immobile."

He attached the last piece over Wash's right flank and nodded. "You're most of the way there. Just chest and helmet. Just as a warning the helmet can make anybody claustrophobic, but there are filters and self cleaning mechanics inside in case you puke or wet yourself."

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i_amsoaring
2013-03-30 07:33 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, no. I mean, the fingers are...expected. Finger dexterity isn't exactly helpful in ship design. That's why they aren't made with hands. More surface area, less wind shield. I was just thinking about, I dunno, sprucing it up! Little splash of color, maybe a design. Top fin. I'll run it by Jarvis. We're like..." he held his hand up and tried to cross his fingers. It ended up just looking like he was holding his hand up, fingers unresponsive to his desires in the armor.

"Just assume I'm crossing my fingers..."

He looked down at his newly installed crotch and thigh plates and nodded, glad he had gone to the bathroom beforehand. Not that he didn't trust the filtration system or anything.

"Yeah, the puking the the urinating thing. I'm gonna try real hard to not let that happen," he said.

He took a moment to examine the palm of his hand for a moment, poking the circular device inside the plating.

"Ooh..." he said boyishly.

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i_shoottothrill
2013-03-31 02:18 am UTC (link)

Tony couldn't help but grin at that. Knowing in front of him was a capable, adaptable pilot was one thing. The man being style-consciencous was a whole new level of compatability.

"You demonstrate the abilitly to use this armor properly, you'll get your aesthetic pick," he promised. On one level it was another test, to see if the man had any sense of visual style. But from what Tony had heard and knew of the man, he had all the faith of this strange world that he wouldn't be turned off by the choises Wash made to color or design. Wash might not be a technological genius, but he had a natural aptitude that nobody could deny, and which attracted a tech-minded indivudal like Tony Stark.

When Wash noticed the ARC reactor in the breast plate Tony straightened up. The core was worthy of taking a moment.

"This is what powers the entire suit. It's the source of the strength, dexterity, and survival of your armor," he said. His own implated ARC reactor was barely visibly through the thin cloth of his shirt, but it was the only thing in the world Tony always took seriously. "If something breaks this you won't get the chance to return fire or adapt. It would probably take out a good chunk of the City, and you wouldn't be recordable in any way. It's not fragile, or delicate, but it's not the thing to thrust out if you want to save your own skin."

He took a few steps back, picking up the helmet and staring at it for a moment. His reactor connected him to the armor as well as protecting his heart from immenent failure. He wondered if a pilot without the life or death dependency could comprehend how important it was. "Treat it like it's your actual heart and you'll be fine," he finally said, a mite sharper than he might have wanted to come off in most situations. If the armor was going to be his backup, and if Wash was going to be the bearer of the armor for now, the importance couldn't be stressed enough.

He turned back to Wash, disconecting the helmet and putting the back of it against the back of Wash's skull. "It had the umph to power a small city, and it's what charges your weapons and flight ability. It's not something I build when I'm drunk, usually."

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So sorry it took so long to get back to this!!!

i_amsoaring
2013-04-06 11:07 pm UTC (link)

Wash grinned and made a happy sound at the promise of customization after he proved his armor prowess. It was more motivation on his part to get this thing down. Preferably without killing himself...too badly.

"Like a soul!" Wash whispered dramatically, before becoming serious once again and listening to Tony.

"Right. No hurty the circle," he said, making note. Then he widened his eyes and muttered. "I get to fire things!" To say Wash was gleeful was an understatement.

At the words 'treat it like your actual heart' he winced.

"Let's amend that. Treat it better than my last heart. That didn't end so hot," he said, and nodded, seriousness in his joke.

Wash settled into the back shell of the helmet, still listening intently. 'Usually,' he lip synced with a curious look to Tony. Then his eyebrows raised again.

"This weapons thing...it actually has weapons? That shoot things? Pew pew?" he asked.

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Lol, ditto.

i_shoottothrill
2013-04-14 05:20 pm UTC (link)

"Alright, better than the last one," Tony said. Hell, the same could be said about his own heart. He didn't answer the raised eyebrows. Tony Stark stometimes had moments of genius when he was obliterated, and woke up with projects that he wasn't quite sure when he'd started. Still, Jarvis generally provided all of the safety measures needed so he didn't blow up any cities by mistake.

"The entire suit is a weapon. It's battle armor, as good at destroying things as it is protecting you," he said, finishing the chin piece. Then he paused, pulling up one of his gauntlets and turning it over to show him the palm, tapping the disc. "These repulsors aren't just for flying. Utilized properly they're also your main weapons, though I wouldn't suggest using the ones on your boots. That tends to throw you off as much as it does fire at the bad guys."

He then let go of the gauntlet and picked up the faceplate, pausing just before putting it into place. "Just remember to breathe normally," he said, then put the plate on. The helmet gave a fair amount of space for the face inside, but it could still feel weird being completely encapsulated in metal if you weren't used to it.

He attached the faceplate, probably the easiest of all the pieces, then stepped back to admire his handiwork. He nodded. "Alright. The suit should power up fully in a second, and your HUD will flash on. Try not to go crosseyed, you can take a good long look while I clean up the workspace."

It was always something to suddenly view the entire world with computerized vision, constantly analyzing and reporting on surroundings. There were several displays, too, reporting on everything from IDs of present humans to the condition of the suit, and notes on anything of interest in the area, especially technology. "When you want, move about, and let me know if anything pinches."

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Look! Only 3 days this time!

i_amsoaring
2013-04-17 09:23 pm UTC (link)

And Wash didn't follow up on Tony's grazing of alcoholism. He'd already marked himself as completely sacrificial in this job. (This is, of course, before he becomes any important parental figure in any little girl's life.)

While Wash wasn't really a gun guy, there was some micron of comfort given by the words 'battle armor'. Granted, he didn't know that this was the lighter less protecting version.

"Huh," he replied eloquently as he studied the circle on his palm. He traced it with his other armored fingers. "So no giving enthusiastic high-fives, then."

Wash heard the clicks echo in his ears as the world was suddenly dark. He took a breath during the moment of dark, stuffiness. Then there was a whir in his ear as a slight breeze blew on his face, circulating oxygen throughout the suit.

His eyes shot open at the disorienting visuals. Numbers, Wash could do. He was good at numbers. This...was a lot of numbers. He swayed a little as he looked to where Tony's voice had come from. He caught himself and put his hand in view of the display.

He turned it over looking at the propulsion devise on his palm with new eyes and information. Then he turned it away with a flinch. It would be like him to accidentally shoot himself in the face.

"Yeesh," he whispered with that thought.

He wiggled his body to get a feel for the extra weight it carried. Though that weight was now definitely buffered by the powered up suit. He heard the tell-tale sound of hydraulics as he moved his arms and legs. He felt the extra boost that allowed his movements some help in being smoother and less of a struggle.

His first step was shaky. He started by overcompensating then under compensating, flailing his arms wildly to seek balance.

"Wah! Yi dwei da buen chuo roh!*" he chastised himself as he sought control.

He then took another breath and assumed the same calm he forced himself in when flying. With extreme patience he took several steps without falling down. Acclimating easily after that, he laughed in the success of such a seemingly small feat.

"Good news!" he announced. "I haven't thrown up...yet!" He grinned. He still limited his head movements to prevent that likelihood increasing.

(*Wah! Big stupid pile of stinking meat!)

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Re: Look! Only 3 days this time!

i_shoottothrill
2013-04-17 10:33 pm UTC (link)

Tony smirked, watching the man inside and wondering how he was dealing with the sudden influx of information. He watched for a moment, noting the nervousness with the repulsor, and shook his head. "It won't go off without specific instruction, and Jarvis has it powered down for now."

It was a bit counterproductive, since the suit was built to be completely independent from the AI, but it seemed like a prudent measure since unlike Tony, Wash hadn't designed the suit and was getting used to it one bit at a time.

He nodded, happy the man had neither puked nor tripped.

"Looking good. Alright, let's go. We'll hit the testing floor where there's less breakable stuff, and it'll give you more room to test it out. Follow me."

He walked over to the elevator, which Jarvis had ready for them. Then he held the door open, waiting to see how Wash made it over to a specific place.

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i_amsoaring
2013-04-17 10:49 pm UTC (link)

When Tony spoke Wash looked up from his inspection. He blinked hard. This...was going to take a little bit.

"Huh?" Wash then said to the request. "Oh! Yeah! Sure!"

He said this a little too enthusiastically. He walked stiffly behind him, trying desperately to focus on the shorter man as information kept distracting him.

Oop! Chair!

Oop! Table!

"I'm good!" he clarified needlessly and much too loudly.

In front of the elevator he leaned forward precariously clutching the door frame. And with sincere concentration he stretched one foot over the threshold, straddling it ungracefully, and then the other.

Finally he settled beside Tony with a nod and a huff.

"Okay! This should be fun!" he said with faked confidence.

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i_shoottothrill
2013-04-18 06:26 am UTC (link)

Tony watched, unable and unwilling to hide the large smirk that quickly plastered his face. When the newest Iron Man cautiously and gracelessly achieved elevator occupancy Jarvis closed the door and sent them down to the garage level.

"The tech follows your eye movements, more or less. It'll identify anything you should know about, but all the extra frivilous information comes from you concentrating on the object," he said. "The displays on the left side of the screen are armor related, your current power levels, system functionality, weapons inventory and a readout on the outter environment. The suit can go underwater or into space, but it'll usually lock under those conditions so it can't come off and... well, kill you."

Tony spoke quickly and clearly, but without much hesitation. He threw all his chips in, it was his personality, and believed in teaching in the same manner.

When the elevator doors opened he stepped out and into the cavernous concrete area, which featured a tempered workshop area with the basics, and....

"Dummy, who the hell invited you to the party?" Tony asked, sighing heavily as the robotic arm sat waiting patiently, fire extinguisher gripped in its hand. It cocked it's hand part quizically, then turned and motored off to the side where it waited, seeming to follow the new Iron Suit with a curious gaze. Or as curious as a wheel-mounted robotic arm could manage, not actually having a face.

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i_amsoaring
2013-04-18 07:17 pm UTC (link)

Wash listened intently, seeing the information lessen when he concentrated on Tony. His eyes flicked over to the left studying his readouts.

"That's nice to know," he said blandly to the suit refusing to come off in dangerous situations.

Tony's swift, succinct speech reminded him of Mal, if not for the accent.

"Huh?" Wash replied as they exited the lift, thinking with Tony's brashness that he was talking to Wash and not the small armature he suddenly spotted as he swiveled his head lower. "Oh."

The suit's readouts gave him more information than he needed to know about the small AI as he considered it as curiously as Dummy considered him.

He walked backwards as the mechanical creature followed him eagerly, almost tripping but recovering himself for the umpteenth time with wildly circling arms.

When he recovered and refocused on following Tony he said, "It...doesn't really seem to have much faith in me."

He thumbed back toward Dummy in indication. Walking was getting easier. Wash had little shame in making mistakes, so learning by trail and error was happening swifter than someone with confidence issues.

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i_shoottothrill
2013-04-18 10:07 pm UTC (link)

"Nah. It just likes to use the extinguisher," Tony said, remembering the man times where he'd crashed or tripped and gotten blasted with the fire supprescent.

"Alright, move around, get a feel for it. When you want to try flying I'll have Jarvis unlock the thrusters, but you should make sure you can move comfortably on the ground before you try anything drastic."

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i_amsoaring
2013-04-19 12:09 am UTC (link)

"Oh!" Wash said with a nod. He gave Dummy a little wave. "Nice little arm."

It came closer and he flinched.

"Sure! Moving! I can do that. I've flown more than a hundred types of space and air crafts in my lifetime. Walking in a suit shouldn't be a problem!" he said, a little cockily.

The Universe repaid the flourish of ego with an abrupt face plant. Wash didn't even think he moved!

"No! That's good! Educational!" Wash yelled, the suit having buffered him quite well. He made to get up when he heard a strong air sound and was informed by the display that Dummy had taken to show Wash his love for fire extinguisher.

He planted the AI in his vision and cocked his head.

"Thank you!" he said, sternly.

"Seriously," he whispered loudly as he finally got up on his feet to Tony's height. "That guy has a problem."

From this point he took a more methodical track to his getting used to the suit. He started by simply pacing the perimeter of the room. Then he crossed it. His paces got faster until he was confident enough to run.

He was unstable at first but as the minutes ticked by he got more and more efficient. He jumped and leaped.

He fell. A lot. If someone were to have somehow edited all of those trips and slips and falls and skids together they would have quite the prat fall playlist.

It was when he was able to run at full speed and stop right before the wall and run and stop again at the other side that he thought he was ready.

But not before goofing off a little. He spent a good 10 minutes dancing. Despite the suit's user friendliness, he was sweating. He felt an additional cool air cycle as his body temperature rose.

"Woo!" he exclaimed. "You might have to refit me, Tony! I can feel myself trimming up in here!"

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i_shoottothrill
2013-04-19 08:47 am UTC (link)

Tony hopped up onto the workbench and watched, wishing he had popcorn when he saw the man trip and Dummy quickly douse him thoroughly with the extinguisher. He smirked, for once able to appreciate the humor of the situation since he wasn't the one being humiliated further after an already embarassing failing.

"Yeah, well, careful. There's a miniature one running around somewhere that's just as likely to get you," he said.

The falls might be embarassing, but they were normal. Tony hadn't been graceful in the armor when he'd been inventing the damn thing, there was no reason to think anybody could just take to it without a few hiccups.

Not that every trip wasn't being recorded by Jarvis for the official instruction manual.

He smirked at the dancing, then got up. "Yeah yeah. We'll make the adjustments we need when you legitimately need them," he said, getting to his feet. "Alright. You look ready. Here, follow my movements," he said, extending his arms. The second newest armor, retrieved by Jarvis, flew out of panels in the walls and attached itself to Tony's arms and legs, though he only wore the gauntlets and knee-high boot platings. He jangled them selightly to be sure of their fit, then activated them, rising up off the floor.

"J will start you out at half a percent of power. It'll be a short burst, enough to get you into the air a few feet. Trust me, you'll want to practice landing before anything else."

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i_amsoaring
2013-04-26 12:38 am UTC (link)

Wash looked up at Tony rising with immediate jealousy. He wasn't quite sure how to activate the armor though. He wasn't sure if just the posture Tony had was the key or if it was something like a thought similar to the visuals through the suit. If he focused on it, it would happen.

He wanted to make sure before he tried, so he wasn't startled.

"Okay," he began conversationally as he pointed to Tony's levitation. "What are you doing exactly to make that happen? Is there a switch or a thought...?"

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