resckue

[resckue]

yall ever just sit in your car and cry

[resckue]

small starter call?

[resckue]

Rachel McAdams in THE FAMILY STONE (2006) dir. Thomas Bezucha

[resckue]

it's interesting to see him in what pepper could only describe in his natural state. he looked . . . strangely at home covered in grease and tinkering - a far, far cry from the man she'd met at AIM's soiree months earlier. as she watches antonio approach, her eyes also wander at the workers seemingly clearing out the space.

"you're giving them more than five minutes right? employee morale is going to be either your biggest ally or your biggest downfall." she hums, setting the box on the small table tucked away before leaning her hip against it, one arm tucking under the other while she sips her coffee.

"not really much shop to talk . . . i mean, uh - AIM was sort of paying for my apartment..." her voice is suddenly soft and sheepish and she shrugs. "you don't have to pay for anything like that i mean, i'm sure you've got spare rooms in this place, don't you?"

"i'm surprised you didn't pull my file from AIM's servers. seems like something the great antonio stark would do before making a job offer." she tried not to let that go to her head. "actually, i'd really like to look at whatever it is that AIM was after. the thing is the ideas they're running with are mine; if they're after something of yours, i want to know why."

"wow, i wouldn't believe you any more if you took an hour to say that!" it's playful, a small jest to ease the tension. his coffee order - or lackthereof, causes her to pause and bit her lower lip to hide the silly grin. she'd have to slam some boundaries in place for herself if this would continue. after all, pepper knew this job would come with scrutiny, a public eye and likely paparazzi. if she stayed ahead of it . . .

she politely dismisses herself and heads down to the garage, quietly slipping into the backseat of one of the several black cars waiting to take them where she needed to be. conversation is minimal as pepper gives her address and they drive off. when she enters her apartment, a sense of dread fills her. her life was effectively over as she knew it. this place, while not really ever home to her, would be missed.

it takes her about an hour to shower and change. she packs a small bag and changes into a pencil skirt and blouse, her hair pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck. she gives herself one last look in the mirror before slinging the bag over her shoulder and closing the apartment behind her.

pepper has the driver pick up both coffee and a pizza, sort of a strange peace offering. entering his workshop would always be a sight, her heels click on the tile as she lets herself in, pizza box balanced on one hand with the coffee precariously perched on top. she has to raise her voice slightly over the sounds of progress. "i wasn't sure if you had eaten either - if you're not hungry i can take this back up to the kitchen."

[resckue]

"wow, i wouldn't believe you any more if you took an hour to say that!" it's playful, a small jest to ease the tension. his coffee order - or lackthereof, causes her to pause and bit her lower lip to hide the silly grin. she'd have to slam some boundaries in place for herself if this would continue. after all, pepper knew this job would come with scrutiny, a public eye and likely paparazzi. if she stayed ahead of it . . .

she politely dismisses herself and heads down to the garage, quietly slipping into the backseat of one of the several black cars waiting to take them where she needed to be. conversation is minimal as pepper gives her address and they drive off. when she enters her apartment, a sense of dread fills her. her life was effectively over as she knew it. this place, while not really ever home to her, would be missed.

it takes her about an hour to shower and change. she packs a small bag and changes into a pencil skirt and blouse, her hair pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck. she gives herself one last look in the mirror before slinging the bag over her shoulder and closing the apartment behind her.

pepper has the driver pick up both coffee and a pizza, sort of a strange peace offering. entering his workshop would always be a sight, her heels click on the tile as she lets herself in, pizza box balanced on one hand with the coffee precariously perched on top. she has to raise her voice slightly over the sounds of progress. "i wasn't sure if you had eaten either - if you're not hungry i can take this back up to the kitchen."

"No!" It comes out far too quickly, a faint laugh, and his hands come up again in his own personal defense. "I honestly didn't think you'd be there, but after I saw you, leaving you behind didn't even come close to an option in my mind." Leaving her behind in a potentially collapsing facility-- They'd only met the once, but he felt some sort of spiritual connection if he believed in that sort of thing. Call it naivety, but someone with a track record like hers couldn't have been party to that mess.

"The ride's no trouble at all, Pep. Honestly the least I can do after the last hour." There was that charming smile all over again, arms crossed as he leans against the railing behind him. "Something sweet and fru-fru, hate the flavor of actual black coffee. I'll have my driver take the company card too-- Pick yourself up something to eat too if you're hungry--"

That was really all she wrote for the moment, his head was kind of all abuzz after hitting back at AIM and Tarleton. When she gets back, she's going to find him in a very normal situation he'd be in on a normal workday. Sport coat tossed aside on whatever chair it laid on, sleeves rolled up, goggles on, head buried in some piece of technology. Helping the cadre of other workers put things back together, he's sharing loud shouted back and forths with everyone in the room.

Already he's covered in machine grease in the short time frame she was away. The suit, being used as a remotely controlled power lifter, currently holding a large metal pipe into place while other workers rivet and weld it back into place.

[resckue]

Do you need me to say it?

[resckue]

Red Eye (2005)

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"you didn't . . . blow up my office just so i'd take a job working for you, did you?" even if he had, that was his business. a bit dramatic and slightly desperate, but ... sweet? in an odd way. if he really was serious about saving the world, about putting things right ... could she go back to work for AIM? all thoughts she needed to let rattle around in the shower.

pepper couldn't recall if she'd ever spent this much time with him one on one and now even under the lighting how he seemed less . . . uptight? more human. as if there were an actual person underneath all the flash and flair of the playboy.

"i'll take that ride if it isn't too much trouble." her smile shifts into one of an odd softness and acceptance, as if she were realizing that her life would never be the same. "and your coffee order for the trip back."

The workshop is indeed full of its own sort of splendor, like a professional garage but with more massive and inane scientific devices. Some were currently active, like the photon solar reactor he had constructed to power the place. Massive, glowing, and converting the photons from the suns rays into far more condensed and usable energy than standard solar panels. The single reactor could probably power the whole state if they'd let him. Yet for the most part, other than that, it's half finished or half broken projects from the invasion they'd endured not too long ago from Tarleton's mercs. Teams of various ages and levels of experience are slowly working on cleaning the place further, and getting more things back online.

"I know life is hard for people not practically born on the throne like me. Just saying if you still had your wants, I'd get it--" After all, even as the great son of Howard Stark, did anyone ever think he wanted to work for or with the man? Yeah, most people probably did.

Onto the railing and platform, when she speaks again, the look of realization pops into his mind-- Oh, yeah, you know what? That was totally fair. She had gone through about 30 layers of concrete, maybe a bug or two on the way here--

"Yeah! Yeah of course, sorry-- I'm not like, forcing you to stay here or anything, you can take my car if you want-- Or I could have someone drive you."

[resckue]

in the chaos, pepper still notices the concern on his face. sure, he could have accidentally killed her, but she wasn't really sure if she would be a loss on tony stark's radar. she follows the suit with her eyes until it disappears from view. "how did you do this?" the question is posed quietly as she hurriedly follows him across the roof top.

once they're in the in the elevator, pepper steps herself out of her heels, dropping considerably and exhaling as her feet are now flat on the floor. "i don't want to work for anybody who's killing people." idle hands fiddle with the heels clasped within. or anybody who would try to kill you.

"i mean, a girl's got a reputation to uphold. especially since it's my work he's already stolen." the elevator dings and antonio graciously holds his arm out for her to depart before him. pepper steps into the space and marvels at the decor he'd chosen before turning on her heel to look at him.

"i think um - if you don't mind, can i go home and shower first? i sort of had a building explode with me in it..."

He regrets getting her involved.

Not that she had found out, but the way she had. That look of concern is worn so plainly on his features, heart always on his sleeve. A motion of his hand, and the suit responds in kind. Sealing itself up, it very robotically walks to a small lift system on the far side of the roof's center. Descending down into the workshop below.

"Follow me, workshop's downstairs, or if you prefer, the offices are below that. Either way, we'll get you sat down and a water if you need." If anyone didn't deserve to be dragged into this colossal mess with AIM and Tarleton, it was her. Someone with a resume so long, and evidence far and above proving she had only ever wanted the best for the world--

"I know you didn't, or at least, I had a feeling. Tarleton has a habit for dragging people down into whatever mess he happens to be working on--" Never so dastardly as what had happened very recently, but there was always a breaking point. Taking a fair amount of strides to the opposite side of the roof as where the staff elevator was. Press of a button, and a short wait, and they're on, slowly descending in the quiet presence of muzak.

"I don't judge you if you wanna go back. You've got a lot of good you can still do with their funding and Tarleton's equipment." As if he hadn't had his and his life threatened by them, but there was an understanding that sometimes, to make a living, there were choices to be made--

[resckue]

pepper exhales, blowing out the breath she’d been holding as the suit shifts. eyes are still wide in disbelief when antonio steps out of the suit and toward her, his hands up outwardly as if the suit was the only thing out of place. “okay — okay.”

the reasoning behind it was admittedly admirable, which was an entire contrast to the playboy persona she’d known through her professional acquaintance with him.

for a moment, pepper looks at him, sweeping her gaze over him. had he been hurt? how many times had tarleton gone after him? her anxiety started to fester; coiling around her neck. “i’d really really like to not be on the roof anymore. not that you know, this hasn’t been an exciting trip …” there’s thinly veiled fear in her eyes as she looks to him, her entire world shattered.

had she been so blinded by it all that she didn’t see AIM’s true intentions? “i’m sorry he tried to kill you. i didn’t know.”

pepper might have been holding her breath the whole time. her eyes were squeezed tightly shut, clutching onto him as tightly as she could. this was insane. as the air whooshed by her, pepper could only think about how tony had made this. so many buzzing questions within her and the unfortunate inappropriate timing. she’s sure that he’ll allow her the time to ask. patience.

finally, they’re on the ground and pepper drops to her knees, trying to suppress the erratic breaths that came. “it’s absolutely insane! you’re insane!”

pepper breathes in and levels herself. “okay. — okay, jesus, are you okay? where even are we?” she brushes the hair out of her face, as if that was the only piece of it in disarray. “is it even safe to be here?”

[resckue]

pepper might have been holding her breath the whole time. her eyes were squeezed tightly shut, clutching onto him as tightly as she could. this was insane. as the air whooshed by her, pepper could only think about how tony had made this. so many buzzing questions within her and the unfortunate inappropriate timing. she’s sure that he’ll allow her the time to ask. patience.

finally, they’re on the ground and pepper drops to her knees, trying to suppress the erratic breaths that came. “it’s absolutely insane! you’re insane!”

pepper breathes in and levels herself. “okay. — okay, jesus, are you okay? where even are we?” she brushes the hair out of her face, as if that was the only piece of it in disarray. “is it even safe to be here?”

through the flurry of the chaos around them, pepper sees the hesitation and turns her head slightly to look at him. "jesus christ, tony -" how was he so calm about all of this? another thought for another time. when the accusation flies, she gasps outwardly.

"he what? why would he do that? what do you mean?" it was no secret that stark was a rival. a competitor. but attempted murder? pepper thought that was a little much.

"you're out of your mind." the rebuff is near immediate, punctuated with the shake of her head. "i swear to god, if you drop me, i'm going to haunt you. i'll make sure you never sleep again." well, she wanted change. very unsteadily, her hand reaches out for him and her body closes the distance quickly, ready to get out of there.

[resckue]

through the flurry of the chaos around them, pepper sees the hesitation and turns her head slightly to look at him. "jesus christ, tony -" how was he so calm about all of this? another thought for another time. when the accusation flies, she gasps outwardly.

"he what? why would he do that? what do you mean?" it was no secret that stark was a rival. a competitor. but attempted murder? pepper thought that was a little much.

"you're out of your mind." the rebuff is near immediate, punctuated with the shake of her head. "i swear to god, if you drop me, i'm going to haunt you. i'll make sure you never sleep again." well, she wanted change. very unsteadily, her hand reaches out for him and her body closes the distance quickly, ready to get out of there.

"Well, I wasn't doing-- This--" He motions to the general surrounding of the base, all its beginnings of billowing smoke, the alarms starting to sound and-- Sprinklers probably gonna trigger any minute now. This was very quickly becoming a thing. Heavy concern when she just about smacks her head against the wall. Immediate reaction is almost to grab her to keep her from collapsing.

He's got to stop himself, not yet having fully familiarized himself with the strength of this thing-- Knowing he could have even hurt her if he wasn't careful. "To clarify, the flight was just a flight. I'm only here because your boss tried to have me killed--" No-- No she's absolutely right to have almost had a mental breakdown.

Alright, discussion for safer places. Job offer could wait. Plenty of time, when they were out of here. "Think you could hold on tight?" Eyes cast up to the ceiling, probably a dumb idea, but he's done the mental calculations. If he goes up at a certain angle? The suit would take the brunt of it.

[resckue]

"the prototype is a suit? oh god . . . is that what you meant that night by flying? you were doing this?" this was it. that breakdown that pepper knew had been coming for a long time. she's lost her mind of course, why else would tony be here? she steps backward, tripping over he heel and hitting the wall with a soft thump. "i - i - i - well i mean, i'm not - i don't work on it. i mean, it's my work it's just they said that -" why was she even explaining this to him? the clean energy was hers, though she had no idea to anything else she was accidentally accomplice to. in truth, pepper had no idea just how dark AIM's shadows went.

she blinks at him upwardly, mouth still slightly slacked. "when i said that i absolutely did not mean this..." pepper gestures to him wildly, looking past him through the doorway. "okay i'm really really trying not to freak out right now."

her cheeks pull upward as she squints her eyes at him. "wow you know, i've heard you have a flair for the dramatic but this seems a little much, don't you think?" she pushes herself up and steps over the debris. "right now, i'd like to focus on getting out of here in one piece, yeah?"

"The prototype."

He said, as if expecting her to remember even a minute detail of their little conversation like he had. Each step is more fluid than this lumbering machine has any right to be. Tarleton was a bad guy, he always had been. Taking people like Pepper, twisting their work and them toward his unsavory vision of the future. It never stopped, an endless cycle of colleagues he watched vanish into the machine that was AIM--

"That clean energy project downstairs. Unstable stolen Stark tech, think they wanted to steal more a few days ago." Seeing the best in her, even now, he assumes she has nothing to do with the hit squad sent to kill him and all his workers. Take whatever tech they could carry, blah blah blah-- The standard fair for cartoon bad guys, which AIM was starting to become.

The suit's monitoring her condition, sending off some level of alarm to Tony's HUD.

A question sits at the edges of his mind, looking at her now, in this place. Suppose there, at the moment, was not many more dangerous places to be just standing around talking than right here right now. "You still wanna save the world?"

[resckue]

Hey fellas.

There's a blog named @/fucktrpc that's putting posts of dead animals in tags used for rpc. I'd recommend blocking that blog asap as they seem to be a troll blog looking to get some sick kicks.

Please feel free to reblog this to spread awareness.

[resckue]

life had become humdrum. she'd gone back to coordinating aim's leap forward into the future, putting all thoughts of tony stark out of her head. it was easy to get lost in this work, sometimes wondering if it would be easier to transition to a job that entailed wrangling cats. it might have been better than what she was doing now.

the building shakes beneath her feet and another low groan is given. what the hell were they doing down there? she pushes out from behind the desk, heels clicking softly on the tile floor as she makes her way toward the sound.

the loud clank of metal causes her to nearly flatten herself against the wall, panic etched on her face. "tony?" what in the hell was he even doing here? what was he wearing? "what do you mean what's going on the basement? what's going on in the basement?" the anxiety grips her, quickening her heart rate and blowing her pupils wide.

"what are you wearing?"

@resckue

all the while thoughts of tony's offer dancing within her head.

The little gala wasn't all that long ago. Tony made a brief but shellshocking appearance that seemed to have annoyed Tarleton if the way the man had been questioning his capabilities and designs-- And the armed militia of guys that they had attacked the new MetLife headquarters.

Thankfully, no loss of life.

In part? That may have had something to do with that project he had been testing out. The one that stood now at that staggering six and a half feet tall, having just shaken off bullets and rocket launcher fire. Tony would never be so forward as to show up on the doorstep of AIM without reason. The lab and their armed guards were not quite the kind that could have been prepared for the IM mk. 12.

"Oh- Hello again, Pepper." Towering, stomping through the doorway, his faceplate lifting to expose Tony's face beneath.

"Fancy seeing you here. I'm guessing you don't have anything to do with what was going on in the basement."

[resckue]

✱˚｡⋆ ↪ 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐄.    (  an updated collection of  lyric + action prompts originating from the works of grandson.  mature themes present: politics, violence, drug use, etc. feel free to adjust as desired.  )

money isn't always what it seems.

i love you, i'm trying.

it's more fun to be unaware.

one false move, you're a kennedy.

my ego follows me wherever i go.

aren't you fed up yet?

it isn't that much, but it's a good start.

i spent my last dollar on a motherfucking cab.

they lie about some greater good.

the drugs don't work anymore.

there's a cold wind blowing... i'm just warning & preparing you.

i've got a secret i need you to keep.

my heart keeps fucking up the motherfucking plan.

nobody really cared, so it never really mattered.

i wanna feel something, 'cause all that i got is nothing.

get down on the ground, don't even make a sound.

tell me what you're trying to hide.

i was try'na feel like a rockstar.

now presenting: a horror story or a happy ending.

i'm still trying to find my identity.

you don't have to hurt anymore, didn't you hear? the war's over.

i thought it would all be great when i got older.

how do you get in the mind-state to kill?

try to wash my hands, i'm never gonna get them clean.

i was living in the moment, searching for a little serotonin.

do you have enough love in your heart to get your hands dirty?

i became a version of myself i don't like.

you have been forewarned.

we are not alone ... can you keep a secret?

i just wanna fuck my hand up through the wall.

i trust my feelings & then i still get burned.

do you love your neighbor? is it in your nature?

i've been living on the run, now.

you don't wanna get that much closer.

guess that i'm stuck with this shit.

we might not make it 'til the morning.

they made up a reason behind closed doors.

is this what you wanted?

i'm just trying to get used to these changes.

i've got nothing to say.

if i speak too loud, then my voice might crack.

don't know how i'm gonna take much more.

how the hell is everybody on autopilot? they make it look so easy.

everybody knows somebody with something to hide.

look at how we've all grown up fast.

i never get to sleep at night.

i just wanna be optimistic.

beg me for forgiveness.

i never thought it'd come to this.

this isn't as fun as they claimed it'd be.

i got my bags packed & i'm ready to go.

i'm done playing games, so i'm going down in flames.

we made this bed, i guess that we lie in it.

everything's exhausting.

i'm pathetic, i know.

we both know i'm lying.

what's the point in fighting for a happy ever after?

self-sabotage is the only way to find clarity.

tell me, what's your life worth?

is there anybody out there that's paying attention?

i'll be back with the setting sun.

don't even hiccup, or i'm emptying a round.

it never really mattered, so it never really happened.

i gotta get out of this town somehow.

it's too late for me, i should've learned earlier.

just color in the lines, & you'll get it like they promised.

maybe someday all this will make sense.

if i could switch on a count of three, i would do it. but i'm stuck here with me.

took the shit to numb the pain, but it came with side effects.

step one, gotta find a way to get the fuck out of bed.

the bad's been slowly getting worse.

the people aren't happy.

i'm homesick, & i miss my mama.

i was getting high in the bathroom.

i'm watching everybody i grew up with move on.

how many last chances will i get?

shout into the void, & the void shouts back.

tried medication & therapy, it only seems to help temporarily.

i wish there was someone else i could be.

i think it's time for a change.

i'm sick of being underrated.

idle hands are the devil's best friend.

thinking about it, i get whiplash.

tell me, what's the point in living in a world so unforgiving?

i never meant to hurt nobody.

i'm sick of this pretend alternative.

if i had only one call, would you pick up?

what's a dead end to a dead man walking?

every day, every night, i would trade it in a heartbeat.

look me in my eyes, tell me everything's not fine.

everybody's fake & they won't quit talking.

i know i should face it, but i'm running.

i'm isolated & overstimulated at the same time.

i need a savior, but if not me, who?

the hole in my soul keeps wracking up debt.

my life's falling apart, but i love it.

maybe just ignore it, it'll go away.

i'm done playing games.

the day the youth might listen is the day the youth grows old.

speak now or hold your breath.

on the day that i lie still, i'll still have taxes & i'll still have bills.

tell me one damn thing i don't already know.

nobody from back in the day can get ahold of me now.

what's the point of living without you?

i don't like who i'm becoming.

beg me for mercy, admit you were toxic.

how much can i ask for before you walk out that door?

these thrills feel hollow. i'm so obsessed with success.

i think about it, & i get whiplash.

better step back from that open door.

i want it so bad, it takes all control of me.

i made a best friend out of the skeleton in the closet.

i don't know how to heal myself. shit, i don't even know if i'm still myself.

when you're gone i'm back to blue.

i don't know why i'm running away.

will this ever be enough?

the shot was loud & the flash so bright.

i just wanna be a rockstar with a million people following.

i always end up back up at the start.

give me a reason to believe you.

give me one reason i shouldn't go & end your life.

guess i gotta die to get my celebration.

i couldn't do nothing, i never saw it coming.

SCENARIOS / ACTIONS.

in a sudden outburst of anger, sender draws a weapon on receiver.

sender & receiver, strapped for cash, decide to commit a robbery.

during a struggle over a weapon, one muse is gravely injured.

our muses have an emotional fight stemming from jealousy.

sender shows up at receiver's house unannounced, looking haggard.

our muses slip away from a gathering to smoke a joint.

sender approaches a bedrotting receiver, begging them to get up.

sender comes back to enact revenge upon receiver.

our muses speed down the highway with flashing lights in the rearview mirror.

sender finds receiver dangerously wasted at a party.

sender is discovered by receiver in a state of extreme agitation.

sender intends to assassinate receiver, & enacts their plan.

receiver finds sender sitting at a rainy bus stop, alone.

one muse owes the other money, & they come to collect.

[resckue]

i'll remember that for next time. pepper manages to hide the chuckle behind the glass. "you know this isn't my first rodeo, right?" of course, he knew that. pepper knew that as well. why did she even say that? thankfully, the drink in her hand would be excuse enough.

pepper exhales at his insistence that she doesn't have to entertain the washouts. god, how she wished he was right. she taps the toe of her heel against the rung of the chair, pondering the weight of the card in her clutch, as well as the whirlwind that was tony stark.

perhaps another life. she's about to try and slide out of the event when a firm finger is tapped on her shoulder. well, time to earn that grant, she thinks and silently accepts the request to dance with tarleton, all the while thoughts of tony's offer dancing within her head.

Antonio didn't make a habit of going out of his way remembering names that he figured wouldn't matter anyway. A lot of people at these sort of little gatherings got the old fashioned 'hey you' or waiting until they reintroduced themselves for what was probably the tenth time. But?

Soft red hair, freckles peppered about those features? The talent alone was enough to make her worth a thousand of the entire rooms worth of guys away from the bar.

"Pepper." Pointedly, he repeats it. Wearing that same grin as he slowly takes a step or two away from her. "I'll remember that for next time." Because so sure of himself that there would be one, he commits her name, her face, to the talent of the person he'd only ever read about.

"Just be careful out there, I've known Tarleton a long time. Don't let him drag you down." Back is turned as he spins on his heel, waving at her over his head. "If you don't wanna be here, don't feel forced to entertain these boring old washouts."