hesthirteen-blog

[hesthirteen-blog]

Maya nods once, knowing the difference a couple of hours with Extremis can make, never mind years. Aldrich is the poster boy, without a doubt. Brilliant mind, second to (almost) none, but he'd been a physical wreck when they'd first met.

"It's a... well, essentially, it 'hacks' the regeneration cells in the body," Maya answers, finger drumming absently against her thigh. "Allows healing, regrowth... except it's not quite stabilised yet."

Nodding in agreement, Maya nevertheless sighs at the continued suspicion. It’s to be expected, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating. 

“You saw him before we started working together,” she explains, taking in the disbelief in Pepper’s expression. “He’s…” She draws out her phone, a quick google search giving her what she needs. Handing the device to Pepper, she’s displaying Aldrich’s TIME cover - the tagline might as well read debonair, loaded and gorgeous - with a resigned expression. “That. That’s what we’re talking about. What Extremis - my project - can do. That is why he’s dangerous.”

[hesthirteen-blog]

[Maya smiles, offering her hand again at the dismissal.] A pleasure, Doctor Banner. If you ever feel like a collaboration... well, I suppose you get a lot of offers like that. [She hands her card to the doctor, brushing her hair back absently.] But if you get a free moment, I'd love to speak to you. As you well know, research like yours never quite goes out of date.

+ hesthirteen

Still the same, minus a couple of other side projects. I live in hope though - although I suppose we all have to in this game. [Raising an eyebrow at Bruce, the hint of a smile crosses her face.] I can’t believe you remember my research. Your work on anti-electron collisions is… incredible. Brought the field forward about ten years - not that it’s my specialty of course. Just an interested amateur.

[hesthirteen-blog]

Maya's buzzed from downstairs, and it takes a great effort to close her programme before answering even the video call. "I need that parcel," she tells security, looking at the delivery notice. Some accelerant she's been waiting on. "Send him up."

hesthirteen is not what you expected to find

He’s undercover, which is odd, because usually this is Natasha’s racket. Then again, he’s only a bike messenger right now, with plain orders to confirm the presence of someone somewhere. A woman, who’s picture he has memorized and a message for scrawled on the paper in his hand. A woman he needs to just confirm is here, for whatever reason, and he would if only he could get around the damn front desk.

“Sorry, I just need her signature, you know? Come on, man, she’s gotta have an office…”

[hesthirteen-blog]

"Yeah, you really sounded like you hated every minute."

+

“More naive than you’re used to, I’d hazard. Oh, come on. I was barely in my twenties. I didn’t know what good sex was.”

[hesthirteen-blog]

Maya frowns slightly at the assumption, shaking her head. "No. I think Tony was trying to protect you, but you're still the primary focus. I'm a target because I'm in the same position." Yes, it might hurt her ego a little to be compared to Pepper, but she's used to it now.

She comes over, looking over Pepper's shoulder as she searches the man. "I think he's after you. Whatever it takes. He wants to impress you, and he knew I'd come here. He's an expert hacker - that's why I needed us somewhere with no cameras. He could hack in otherwise, and I'm not ready to die."

Maya was expecting this. She nods, wandering over to the empty screen. “He came to us after he was fired from Stark Industries,” she explains. “Graduated top of his class a year early, internships at prestigious firms, and then two years R&D with you - we welcomed him with open arms. References were… neglected. My boss is a little overenthusiastic when it comes to hiring the best.” 

She leans heavily against the desktop, closing her eyes for a moment. “It all started a couple of months ago. Messages left for me at home, things going missing from my office… so I looked him up. Apparently you reported thefts and silent phonecalls just a month before he was fired - and Tony was personally involved in firing him.”

[hesthirteen-blog]

"You ruined enough in your time," Maya acknowledges, fingers drumming against the table. "I think I can do it, given time - but I'm running short on that at the moment." She looks over Natasha, drumming her fingers on the table absently. "Yes. That's why I'm here, for my sins."

+ 6

“He should rot in jail for more than that,” Maya answers under her breath, before looking back up at Natasha. “He’s interested in Extremis. As a super-soldier weapon. My boss is thinking of selling the patent out to him, and it’s not… I still can’t stabilise it.”

[hesthirteen-blog]

"He should rot in jail for more than that," Maya answers under her breath, before looking back up at Natasha. "He's interested in Extremis. As a super-soldier weapon. My boss is thinking of selling the patent out to him, and it's not... I still can't stabilise it."

+ 6

“Happy? The guy that rescued you from the explosion that never was? If it was simply him who was after me, I might rest easy.” She sits back, considering it. “Justin Hammer was always portrayed as being a friend of yours at least.”

[hesthirteen-blog]

"More naive than you're used to, I'd hazard. Oh, come on. I was barely in my twenties. I didn't know what good sex was."

+

“I was young, naive… your party hat took ten years off you.”

[hesthirteen-blog]

"Happy? The guy that rescued you from the explosion that never was? If it was simply him who was after me, I might rest easy." She sits back, considering it. "Justin Hammer was always portrayed as being a friend of yours at least."

+ 6

Maya flashes a quick, insincere smile, running her hand through hair hair absently. “Sure. Blowing up plants. Well, in the process of blowing up plants I appear to have made a couple of enemies. Friends of yours, in fact. Well, if you have friends rather than an entourage these days.”

[hesthirteen-blog]

Nodding in agreement, Maya nevertheless sighs at the continued suspicion. It's to be expected, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. 

"You saw him before we started working together," she explains, taking in the disbelief in Pepper's expression. "He's..." She draws out her phone, a quick google search giving her what she needs. Handing the device to Pepper, she's displaying Aldrich's TIME cover - the tagline might as well read debonair, loaded and gorgeous - with a resigned expression. "That. That's what we're talking about. What Extremis - my project - can do. That is why he's dangerous."

Maya sighs, looking up at the ceiling as she tries to keep her patience. This woman doesn’t have any reason to trust her, she reminds herself - no matter how infuriating it is to be thought of as just another Tony Stark groupie. She takes a deep breath, looking back at Pepper. “I haven’t given Tony Stark a bit of thought in years - not until he started threatening dangerous people on my TV screen.”

She sighs, rubbing her face tiredly with her hand; it’s been a long day. “I know that because he told me. I’m currently working alongside him, and that is also why I know that this meeting isn’t a good idea. How long has it been since you’ve seen him?”

[hesthirteen-blog]

Wow you're a good rp blog

[Okay, I don’t know if it’s just the internet making me suspicious, but I’m choosing to take this sincerely anyway. Thank you, lovely anon :) I hope to get better every time I play.

[hesthirteen-blog]

"I was young, naive... your party hat took ten years off you."

+

“And I was expecting you to be taller.”

[hesthirteen-blog]

Maya was expecting this. She nods, wandering over to the empty screen. "He came to us after he was fired from Stark Industries," she explains. "Graduated top of his class a year early, internships at prestigious firms, and then two years R&D with you - we welcomed him with open arms. References were... neglected. My boss is a little overenthusiastic when it comes to hiring the best." 

She leans heavily against the desktop, closing her eyes for a moment. "It all started a couple of months ago. Messages left for me at home, things going missing from my office... so I looked him up. Apparently you reported thefts and silent phonecalls just a month before he was fired - and Tony was personally involved in firing him."

Maya inclines her head in acknowledgement, making her rounds of the room. If only she knew what Alex would try, she might be able to plan better. Nothing’s impregnable, she knows that more than most. She can only hope this room will buy them time.

“Okay. Cards on the table. Alex Norton. How much do you remember about him?”

[hesthirteen-blog]

Maya flashes a quick, insincere smile, running her hand through hair hair absently. "Sure. Blowing up plants. Well, in the process of blowing up plants I appear to have made a couple of enemies. Friends of yours, in fact. Well, if you have friends rather than an entourage these days."

+ 6

“Yeah, yeah,” Maya answers, corner of her mouth quirking just a little as she rolls her eyes. “I read the papers too you know.” Taking a seat, she looks directly at Natasha. “Do you remember Extremis? I don’t expect you to, before you say anything. Call it… professional curiosity.”

[hesthirteen-blog]

"And I was expecting you to be taller."

+

“Were you expecting someone else, or is it the ghost of one night stands that’s turned you pale?”

[hesthirteen-blog]

"Were you expecting someone else, or is it the ghost of one night stands that's turned you pale?"

+

“Looks like it too. Have they changed the dictionary definition of busy while I’ve been away?”

[hesthirteen-blog]

Maya inclines her head in acknowledgement, making her rounds of the room. If only she knew what Alex would try, she might be able to plan better. Nothing's impregnable, she knows that more than most. She can only hope this room will buy them time.

"Okay. Cards on the table. Alex Norton. How much do you remember about him?"

Maya doesn’t remark upon the way Pepper stops - if their positions were reversed, she wouldn’t be more than a few feet from the stranger claiming a life or death situation either. Following the other woman into the room, she glances around, eyeing the computer screen in the corner with a little suspicion. Of course there’d be technology in here; although she might be able to use it to demonstrate her argument. “And does it work?”