Karla Sofen (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sofentheblow) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
maskormenacelogs2014-04-28 10:09 pm
sofentheblow) wrote in maskormenacelogs2014-04-28 10:09 pm
Entry tags:
out for all that i can get
WHO: KARLA SOFEN and TONY STARK
WHERE: in the SKY
WHEN: backdated to april 22
WHAT: aerial tour of heropa?? yes. accidental crimefighting?? WHO KNOWS (but yes)
WARNINGS: mild violence? heavier contemplated violence.
[ Funny thing about flying -- herself, that is, this fantastic defiance of the natural human limit that, except for her own insistence, way back when, on reaching out and taking these abilities that shouldn’t be hers --
-- No, they should, how could anyone be more deserving than Karla Sofen, who was willing to take them from another, to do whatever was required to make them hers?
-- Anyway, about flying: Karla’s never especially enjoyed it. As a tactic she appreciates it, obviously -- as she does basically any advantage over enemies and allies -- but if the phenomenon that is essentially swimming through air, in its own right, holds any wonder, she can’t remember ever feeling it.
If she did, she might tonight -- a rare, cooler Florida spring evening; a thunderstorm’s passed, leaving clear skies and virtually no winds to struggle against at two thousand feet.
Instead, hovering unimpinged by the usual winds aloft, she’s occupied herself chewing over yesterday’s conversation with Tony Stark. It was downright comfortable, really; not that she’d put the search for an angle on pause, but there’s a degree of guardedness she’d been able to turn down. It’d certainly been more convivial than it had any right to be, given their limited interactions in the past.
Who knew that team was getting in her way so much?
Well, she always felt it did, matter of fact, but what’s the use in rehashing that now?
Then, in her peripherals, a distinctive glow, a familiar flash of red metal. Ah.
Her approach is reasonably stealthy -- at low speeds, hers is a soft flight, rather than heavy, rocketed propulsion -- though that’s not taking whatever monitoring systems Tony has in there into account. She flies up beside him, matching his speed. ]
My tour guide. You made it.
WHERE: in the SKY
WHEN: backdated to april 22
WHAT: aerial tour of heropa?? yes. accidental crimefighting?? WHO KNOWS (but yes)
WARNINGS: mild violence? heavier contemplated violence.
[ Funny thing about flying -- herself, that is, this fantastic defiance of the natural human limit that, except for her own insistence, way back when, on reaching out and taking these abilities that shouldn’t be hers --
-- No, they should, how could anyone be more deserving than Karla Sofen, who was willing to take them from another, to do whatever was required to make them hers?
-- Anyway, about flying: Karla’s never especially enjoyed it. As a tactic she appreciates it, obviously -- as she does basically any advantage over enemies and allies -- but if the phenomenon that is essentially swimming through air, in its own right, holds any wonder, she can’t remember ever feeling it.
If she did, she might tonight -- a rare, cooler Florida spring evening; a thunderstorm’s passed, leaving clear skies and virtually no winds to struggle against at two thousand feet.
Instead, hovering unimpinged by the usual winds aloft, she’s occupied herself chewing over yesterday’s conversation with Tony Stark. It was downright comfortable, really; not that she’d put the search for an angle on pause, but there’s a degree of guardedness she’d been able to turn down. It’d certainly been more convivial than it had any right to be, given their limited interactions in the past.
Who knew that team was getting in her way so much?
Well, she always felt it did, matter of fact, but what’s the use in rehashing that now?
Then, in her peripherals, a distinctive glow, a familiar flash of red metal. Ah.
Her approach is reasonably stealthy -- at low speeds, hers is a soft flight, rather than heavy, rocketed propulsion -- though that’s not taking whatever monitoring systems Tony has in there into account. She flies up beside him, matching his speed. ]
My tour guide. You made it.
no subject
Science over serendipity.
The metal head tilted, before she spoke, an eerie sign, that he knew she'd been on the approach. If Karla had thought that she could sneak up on Tony Stark, she was mistaken. But then again, maybe she hadn't.
The wind was high, wasn't it? ]
Evening, Doctor. Nice night for a flight, isn't it?
no subject
Among other things.
[ It's awfully blatant, but it's a test of the waters more than anything else. It was likely a case of the confluence of two people accustomed to leading with the same foot, yesterday's abrupt escalation in... friendliness. Still, Karla's finding it impossible not to contemplate the advantages inherent in, well, escalating some more. He seems amenable. He'd certainly seemed more than amenable over the comms yesterday.
Be glad she doesn't know you're thinking about Carol Danvers right now, basically, Tony. ]
no subject
It wasn't like he hadn't slept with, hell, even fallen in love, with supervillainesses before. Madame Masque came to mind, of course. His history with Whitney was complicated -- beyond complicated.
He didn't change course, but he did slow down, just slightly, enough that the plates of his helmet could slide off, hovering over his head in that eerie way his armor seemed to do. Somehow staying in place. ]
Isn't it, though? Anything in particular you'd like me to show you?
[ The smile he had for her said it all. ]
no subject
She slows, too, still floating backwards; the hand she rests on his metal shoulder's ostensibly for stability. Thermals have this way of interrupting conversation, you know? ]
Lots of particulars, I'm sure.
[ God, but she's pleased with herself.
And she pulls herself in closer, so she's able to speak softly, even floating as they are, her cheek almost brushing his. ]
You should start with the town.
[ And she dives, abruptly, the prompt to follow her implicit. ]
no subject
That, I can do.
[ He spoke up, before he swooped in closer, metal head tipping to catch the sunlight. ]
You have any in-ear communicators on you? This might be easier than shouting over the wind.
[ He said it, but even so, he was slowing, to hover a distance from the military base. ]
Best not fly over the base, by the way. We should turn this way. [ He indicated a path around the base to the town. It wasn't that they couldn't, but instead, that Iron Man didn't trust them any more than the rest of the imports did. The difference, of course, was that he was willing to speak with his mouth, and do something else behind his back. Not willing to screw them over so readily, and so easily. ]
no subject
Her voice raised, in that pleasant shouting-through-wind way: ]
No, you know where I can get one?
[ The beach -- visible from their initial altitude -- vanishes as they descend. She wastes no time following him down around the base, to the town, to one of Heropa's main streets. They're low enough now that it's almost necessary to slow down, if nothing else than to give the pedestrians who've whipped out their cameras a nice photo op. ]
gently prioritizes tony and karla
Maybe next time I'll make sure to bring you one. Then we won't have to speak over the wind.
[ The implication, of course, was that Karla would have a way to communicate with him as well, and that he'd have a direct line to her ear.
Tony Stark was, after all, not above using technology to his sexual advantage. When they slowed, he made a slight wave down at them, making sure to give them plenty of himself and Karla. ]
They're generally pretty happy to see us. It's a nice change from the place we were at last, I'll tell you that.
gently prioritizes tony and karla OVER MY REAL LIFE i will hate the world tomorrow
[ How often does Karla miss implications?
She rests a hand on his shoulder again, waving with the other. The acceptable midair poses in full-body spandex are well and truly drummed into her memory, thank you, tenure on the knockoff Avengers. ]
I suppose for now I'll just have to make do. Stay close.
[ ...The last place. The content is of interest, here, if not quite as much as the... format. Tilting her head toward his, through a smile that's still aimed at the crowd: ]
Yes, I'd meant to ask you about that. How was it... there? Not as favorable to... out-of-towners?
CRIES NO I AM SO HONORED
[ Somehow, he manages to tip his helmet in just the right way that instead of the usual intimidating glare most people get, the onlookers are greeted with a half-friendly cant of the mouth and eyes, giving the impression of being less intimidating than he usually was.
It was easy, to play this game. He shouldn't be surprised that Karla can play it well. Not that he minds, a metal arm resting against the middle of her back, his jets adjusting elsewhere to make sure that he neither burned her, nor lost altitude. ]
Let's just say that they weren't too happy, near the end. There was a group trying to put an end to all of us, and they weren't above taking themselves down to do it, either.
The enemy willing to destroy themselves is the kind of enemy that can easily take us down. They've got nothing to lose.
so important no regrets
And you think there's a connection?
[ Between the last place and here? The "they" of the City and the people below them, waving and snapping photos, or at least the government here, pushing them to sign over their allegiance?
Not that she takes issue with signing and not... meaning it on principle. But it is good to know these things, particularly in light of what she'd heard about the place's darker history with imPorts from Kate Bishop yesterday.
Still smiling, waving, leaning in again: ]
There'll be no arguments here if you feel like moving the tour somewhere less crowded.
[ Conspiratorial, and a nudge toward more intimate settings. She's an excellent multitasker. ]
tony and karla sex life priorities
I think I could oblige. I don't know about you, but there's only so much exhibitionism I can handle in one day.
[ He led the direction this time, a touch higher, catching an updraft, and off closer toward the darker parts of town. Not necessarily a seedy place, but there were less crowds, and he returned to their earlier thread of conversation, even while they passed over building after building -- most of them marked. ]
Honestly, I'm sure there's a connection between where we were, and where we are. How much of a connection remains to be seen. It could be small, and it could be large, but I don't think it's a coincidence that we were all brought here.
here we are at unreasonable times on my coast again (hello darkness my old friend)
Did anyone come here straight from home? Or, you know, their home worlds? [ It's a stretch, but of course she hadn't, nor had she had the presence of mind to connect those dots in time to ask anyone else.
Her focus is pulled almost entirely between this conversation and trying to remember details from earlier ones; it's practically a miracle when a commotion below catches her attention.
She almost wishes she hadn't heard it. A glance down confirms that, yes, that is a mugging underway. They're not so high that she can't pick out the two guys pointing guns at another man in the vacant lot they just passed, regretfully. It crosses her mind not to point it out, not to interrupt Tony -- would he even notice, maybe not if she's kept him as distracted as she hopes.
That's not really an option, though, is it? Dragging her feet internally though she does, Karla halts midair, interrupting: ]
Hold that thought.
[ She gestures down and back at the offending parties, then drops toward the scene. ]
it's always unreasonable on est tbh
Odd, he hadn't expected her to notice something like that. Tony hadn't, of course, he couldn't see everything, be everywhere, and when he wasn't looking for trouble, it often slipped right underneath his nose.
He followed her, a quick burst of his jets to catch up, before they closed in, her arriving right before he did, and he could only hover, a touch behind. He was almost curious to see how she'd handle it.
It was a little disingenuous, he knew but he was pretty sure the guy in the suit of armor was going to tell the would-be muggers that it was probably best if they didn't do anything foolish. ]
Well, well, what do you think?
no subject
I think -- [ Karla's calm, here -- insultingly so, if you're the muggers -- with the sort of smile on her face you'd have if you were proposing something else entirely. A vehicular detour through a route that was more scenic anyway, maybe.
Smug as hell, basically. ] -- that you two are going to hand over your weapons to this gentleman here, -- [ indicating Tony ] and you're going to come with us to the police station and turn yourselves in. And then you're going to apologize to me for ruining my evening.
[ She holds her hand out -- abruptly, with an air of being put upon. Evidently one of the muggers startles easy; hand on the trigger, no warning, he fires off a half a dozen shots, roughly in Tony and Karla's direction. ]
no subject
Like he couldn't believe he was that stupid. ]
I can't believe this.
[ He looked back at Karla, his eyes nearly visible behind the plating that protected them. ]
Can you believe this?
[ He almost shrugged, reaching out to snatch the gun from the guy, not even bothering to ask, before he grabbed the other one. ]
What about a man in armor says "shooting him is a good idea"?
no subject
Her thoughts head straight for retaliation -- no blasts, nothing too overt, but the work of phasing out is already done, she could reach into their would-be assailant's chest, let her hand go solid, nick his heart with a fingernail or something. No evidence, or none of the sort anyone would be looking for, and he opened fire on them, that's not unreasonable, she could --
Except now Tony's talking. It's enough to snap the tone in a different direction. That's not happening here, is it? A wave of familiar, comfortable heaviness sweeps her body as she phases back in. ]
Only barely. [ It strikes her that she's not at all clear on the protocol for handling these things; he presumably is, though. To Tony, a smile creeping back on to her face: ]
It's too much to hope for you to have handcuffs somewhere in there, isn't it?
apparently i lost formatting there somehow
You know, I don't.
[ He paused, looking back at the two of them. ]
Luckily, they aren't exactly about to get a one-time opportunity flying with the lovely Moonstone here.
[ Instead, his head tilted, like he was listening to something. Two blocks away, the police blotter said. The tip transferred to the station, an alien -- unknown -- voice in the police radios, telling them there was a 245 in progress. All units be advised. This location.
It didn't take long, for the sirens to screech in the distance, and then moments later, the cops were out, and Iron Man handed them their weapons. ]
But they do.
no subject
[ Threat neutralized, the two guys may as well not even be there, for the purposes of conversation. The whole process -- muggers crammed in the back of a cop car, paperwork, all of it -- goes considerably more quickly than she'd expected. She could do something to hide her relief, but why would she? ]
What if we left before the cameras got here, this time?
[ This is the sort of thing that would be nice to have show up in the newspapers. Obviously. But she's reasonably confident these kinds of events spread by word of mouth in the imPort community -- better if it's hearsay. Doesn't look so much like she involved herself for the cameras that way.
And she would like to get out of there, with Tony -- that part's sincere. ]
no subject
[ He asked, but he nodded, the metal head transcribing the motion clearly so she could see it. His motions were often exaggerated, for the people around them, so everyone could see what he was doing for them.
There were sacrifices men like him had to make, to make sure they were clearly understood.
It was with a burst of his jets that took him up into the air, where he waited, before they took off in another direction again, and he let the question slip. ]
Anywhere else in particular you want to see?
[ He had something in mind that he wanted to show her, after all. ]
no subject
Sure, if that's the story we're going with.
[ She doesn't so much kick off the ground as step gently up into the air; she overtakes him quickly enough.
Deadpanning, her expression far enough into mock-innocent that there's no insult to his intelligence, there, only the game they've been casually playing: ]
I leave myself in your very capable hands.
no subject
[ He takes off ahead of her, but turns in the air, so he's still looking at her. It's not meant to be a boast, of course, but it's certainly a sign that he didn't fear where he was going.
Then again, he's awfully perceptive for a guy in a metal suit. ]
Why don't I show you my place?
no subject
Just for a moment. ]
There's an idea.
no subject
[ He said, but the implicit question isn't really a question, it's very obviously a statement. He laughed, and took off, his speed picking up.
He suspected they could take the long way, get a nice flight in, but he never broke the sound barrier, never even hit Mach 1. There was no need to go that fast, after all. ]
no subject
So she allows herself to sail forward in companionable silence, if a forced one.
Heropa's relatively tiny size means it's also a short one; the flight back to the imPort housing area is shorter than she'd remembered. ]
no subject
Sadly, the grass had started to dip -- right in that particular area. Right where his feet landed every time. He was a creature of habit, after all.
With no wind, and once Karla had landed, he made a slight gesture. ]
Temporary home sweet home. It's not much, but who am I to say no to a good thing for the moment? [ That was a lot more money in his pocket for investments. ]
no subject
There's a distinct glow that travels down her body as she lands; by the time she takes her first steps onto the sidewalk her costume's been replaced with a wrap dress in a red that almost precisely matches the shade of his armor.
Not yet adjusted to local style, apparently. ]
Well, it's only nearly identical to ours.
[ Practically a guarantee there's fewer animals in this one, though. ]
no subject
After all, she could match very well, couldn't she? ]
I'd hope there'd be some differences, at least in the company.
[ He looked down at his armor, a half-hearted grimace on his face. ]
Shall we?
[ He held out his arm, he'd take it off inside. No need to give the neighbors a very intimate view of his delicates. The underarmor left very little to the imagination, after all. ]