from_hell:

This post takes place after the events of "Spirits of Vengeance".


The pain of the transformation still hasn't worn off by the time Austin Caine regains consciousness. He sits up and looks at his surroundings as the sunlight streams through the window across the room.

First thing he notices is that this is a motel room, so he at least had the good sense to not crash out on the road somewhere. The next thing he notices is that the coffee table a few feet away has a bottle of vodka and a bottle of tequila on it. Both are about half full. Just a few inches from that is his handgun. Again, he'd had the good sense to at least keep the shotgun under the bed.

"That explains why I want to puke so badly..." Austin says to no one in particular, trying to pull himself off the floor. As it does, it hits him all at once.

The screams, the hellfire, the burning...fighting the man with the black coat and staff...nearly killing him...the sons of bitches that murdered Sarah...

It all combines to send Austin scrambling for the bathroom, where he gets sick for a time.

nextgen_misc:

(This scene occurs shortly after this.)

"I'm goin' for the door on three. Once I get it open, you all need to get inside and get the welcome party ready for our guest of honor." said Brick, adjusting his Hell's Angels cut.  Brick, along with Nailz, Charlie Clips and young Half-Pint were sent by their boss, Ellis Clayton, to find Tommy Templeton. Or Austin Caine, as he liked to call himself these days. Somehow, the little bastard managed to kill two of their brothers, and they were going to make Caine and the Devil's Tribe MC pay for that mistake.

"One...two...three!" Brick whispers, then across the street to the door of the two-story condominium in Boston. He gets to the door and drops to a knee, his lockpicks already in hand. Less than ten seconds later, the front door of the condo clicks open and Brick steps inside.

Nailz, Clips, and Half-Pint make their run across the street under cover of night, taking care not to be seen by anyone on the street or in the surrounding condos.

Half-Pint is the last man to move and is a little sluggish because his ankle is still messed up from an accident earlier in the week. He hobbles as best he can, looking around because he's got a bad feeling about tonight.

He just doesn't know why.

nextgen_holiday:

"A father is a guy who has snapshots in his wallet where his money used to be." -- Unknown

anyastark:

Anya looked at the screen and smiled. The code for Austin's AI was done and she was now finished with the few big projects she had. She would have been done earlier, but she took time to head out to Kansas City to set up Force Works' headquarters. She didn't even have much time to see Toni while she was out there.

Though now that the AI was done she could take a few days off and actually get to see her husband. Even weekend visits had been difficult with all that was going on. Anya had spent the nights working while her husband slept so she could spend time with him during the days.

"This is done," she said to an empty room. "I better not have anything else on my plate for a few days."

"You have quite a bit on your plate," Goddard said.

"What?"

"This Friday, tomorrow, you have a meetings in Detroit with the CEO and other representatives from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. Next Monday you have a meeting in Tokyo with the members of the Japanese auto manufacturers and then you need to be in Germany on Wednesday and England on Friday."

"Is that all?" Anya snarked not liking this at all. She could send a few others from Renaissance Tech in her place, but she felt like she had to go. The company was just getting off the ground and Anya was determined to make it a success.

"There have also been requests for meetings from various government officials around the world. They are interested in the zero point energy technology for their countries. There have been requests from the United States government as well. Should I schedule meetings for when you are back from Japan and Europe?"

Anya sighed. So much for summer vacation, or any vacation for that matter. "Set one up with the US government officials for when we get back, but I want a few days off beforehand. Then schedule the ones with other governments and stagger them out as much as possible. I'd also like one with the Genoshan consulate here in the US. Coordinate all of these with Tony, Justin's AI and with Miss Potts. so the three of us are all there." She paused for a moment. "Also please contact R&D and tell them I'm sending over some schematics for an idea. I want to see what they think and if it's possible. Are the vehicles done?" There were three vehicles for each auto manufacturer that were being converted to run on zero point energy to demonstrate viability. The project to convert them had started a few weeks ago even before the announcement went out.

"They have been completed and already en route to their destinations."

"That will help a great deal. Do you have the latest diagnostics for my suit? I want to make sure nothing's wrong with it before I leave."

"The diagnostics are complete. The suit is functioning well within normal parameters."

"Great. Now, I'm going to deliver this AI and then head to New York for the evening. I'll also deliver Boo to Westchester while I'm down that way. Thank you Goddard."

"I live to serve."

"Like hell you do," Anya muttered under her breath. She grabbed the small device and left the lab.

lady_hood:

Melissa Frost-Robbins will be the first person to tell you she's not crazy. Okay, maybe not /completely/ crazy. She knows some screwed up things have happened to her in her life, and that those things have colored her ideas of right and wrong, appropriate and inappropriate, moral and immoral. She'll also tell you that she takes care of the people she loves, both friends and family. If Melissa is your friend, she will do anything she can to see you happy.

Even if said happiness rests on expensive food and first-degree kidnapping.

( Did she really go there? Yes, she did.  )

from_hell:

Austin hasn't seen Anya in months, so he caught a flight into Boston and called her when he was on the road to his apartment. When he got to his place, he pulled the dust covers off of everything and turned on the news. More news about the Royal Wedding, more news about the President, and there was a minor story about Austin himself and his co-star from his latest movie, Sudden Violence II, Sarah Donovan. It wasn't really like that, but the media was going to say what they wanted to, despite the facts.

After a little bit of relaxation, Austin gives Anya call.

nextgen_holiday:

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul

from_hell:

Austin Caine wakes up the morning after the Auction, his head full of rocks and his mouth feeling like cotton. He'd gone almost two years without a drunken bender of any kind and he couldn't, for the life of him, remember why he'd wanted to get drunk. He was better than this.

Getting wasted like that was something Tommy would do.

( Read more... )( Read more... )</div>

nextgen_parent:

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first annual Maria Stark Foundation Charity Auction. I'm Alison Blaire and your host for tonight's festivities. Prepare yourselves for a night of fun to help a worthy cause. In just a few minutes many very handsome men will be brought out one by one for your chance to win a date with one of them.

Before we begin I would like to bring out Her Imperial Highness Anya Stark. Miss Stark helped arranged tonight's event and will give you a little more information on the charity organization tonight's proceeds will help."

Anya walked out on stage and smiled. "Thank you, Ms. Blaire. All of the proceeds from tonight's event will go directly to Doctors Without Borders or Médecins Sans Frontières. This organization was created in 1971 in France to benefit the citizens of the world. The organization is committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation all across the globe. MSF operates independently of any political, military, or religious agendas.

I'm happy to announce on behalf of the Maria Stark Foundation, that all money collected here tonight will be matched dollar for dollar by the Maria Stark Foundation."

"Thank you Miss Stark and that is a very generous offer by the Maria Stark Foundation. Now it's time to begin. So open those wallets and let's bring out our first man." Anya left the stage and went to take her seat.

"First we have the son of Captain America Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff. James Romanov-Rogers is currently an Avenger and has recently moved to Seattle to lead the West Coast Avengers."

"Let's start the bidding at a hundred dollars."

anyastark:

Now that the craziness of the holidays were over and they had helped save a world, Anya had some time to catch up on personal business. When she wanted to find someone it was just a matter of a few minutes at a computer and she could find almost anyone on the planet. The object of her search was one Mr. Austin Cain.

Anya sent him a Christmas gift during the holidays, but she wanted to talk to him. She put her new suit on, it needed a test flight anyway, and took off. A short while later she landed not far from the location where his film was shooting. She found an out of way spot and removed her armor. Suitcase in hand she approached the set.

Getting on site wasn't a problem. She just had to say who she was and who she was here to see. She smiled as she watched them film the current scene. When they were done she would get a chance to talk to him.

nextgen_citizen:

The shoot for his latest movie, The J-Team, brought him back to Boston for the next two weeks and Austin Caine found himself excited at the prospect. He'd get to hang out with Anya again, if her schedule allowed, and they could go out for burgers again or just hang out and talk cars or motorcycles. She was a fun girl to be around and Austin liked when she'd call him up to chat or ask about things like going to the Stark Charity Ball.

Maybe he'd take the time out to get fitted for a new tuxedo today after filming wrapped.

Right now, he was on set working with Christian Bale, who played the leader of the J-Team, Julian Jameson. Austin played Jarrod Jennings, the technical support guy of the group.

"The good news is that I can have the zero-watt generator built in two days, J. The bad news is that it'll have to be stationary unless I can call a friend of mine to help with the work. She's tough to track down, but she's worth every penny in the brains department." Jarrod says, and Austin smiles inwardly at sneaking a shout out to Anya into the movie.

"Make the call, J." Julian says.

Less than thirty feet away, a catering truck explodes and everyone is thrown to the ground, knocked senseless from the blast.

Austin is pretty sure /that/ isn't part of the script.

anyastark:

Anya stood in Terminal B of Logan airport and stared at the screen of departures. She wasn't sure how exactly she ended up here, but she went for a drive and ended up at the airport. Her backpack with her laptop in it was over one shoulder and the only other things she carried was her small handheld which was computer and phone all in one. The only clothes she had were the clothes she wore.

She looked at the screen. Nothing stood out. There was no place she really wanted to go, but she knew she had to go somewhere. She didn't care where as long as she could get out of Boston for a few days and away from everything and everyone she knew.

The last two months were...they were the hardest of her life so far. She had been relatively okay as long as she kept busy, but not even she could fill every minute of every day. Downtime meant thinking about Steve and her heart would just hurt too much at the thought of him. She missed him so much and she had to wonder if he was ever coming back. She had to believe he was, but it was getting harder to keep the faith.

She went for a drive and ended up at the airport. Maybe getting away would do her some good. Her heart and head were no longer in school work or being a Thunderbolt and she wasn't interested in eating or sleeping. Alcohol didn't help keep the nightmares away anymore. She needed a break and needed to go to a place where she didn't know anyone and very few would recognize her.

Picking a place seemed to require too much thinking.

She stepped up to the counter of a random airline and looked at the woman behind the counter.

"Can I help you?" the woman asked.

For a second Anya thought about answering that with a line about only if the woman was a psychiatrist, but she didn't. "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?" Anya asked.

The woman seemed surprised by the question. It took her a moment to reply. "Someplace warm with a beach of white sand," she answered.

Anya thought about the woman's answer. There were so many places that fit the bill. Anya had done extensive traveling in her life so far. "That sounds like what I need. Please get me a ticket to anywhere that fits the bill," Anya said. "Preferably out of the country."

The woman smiled. "I know just the place."

Anya handed over her passport and a credit card.

A few moments later Anya had her boarding pass in her hand and was heading for the gate to fly to St. Barthelemy in the Caribbean. She sent a message to Goddard and had him get her a private villa for a week and to also hire a housekeeper/cook.

anyastark:

Anya gulped down the last of her champagne and put the empty glass on the tray of a passing waitress. Normally she would pace herself, but tonight she just didn't care. She grabbed a full glass from a passing waiter and took a drink. She wasn't drinking to become numb, just the opposite. She was drinking to be able to forget the numbness and emptiness inside of her.

A deep sigh escaped her and she looked around the room. It was a fundraiser for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Pepper had given her a heads up about the event if Anya wanted to go and Anya hadn't planned on going, but the Russian Embassy had asked her very politely to attend on behalf of the Embassy and the Royal Family. There was a collection of Russian art going on display and tonight was the opening night. Anya almost told them to go stick it, but they were making a effort to abide by her request not to be set up on play dates. She could do a formal party at a museum. She had done many before and could do this without much thought or effort.

She could put a smile on her face and make others think she was having a good time. It was easy enough. Or so she hoped. The dress she wore was new, a Van Dyne Original, as well as her shoes and jewelry. Some major retail therapy had been needed and Anya indulged. The amount she spent on that shopping trip had been obscene even by her standards.

Another drink and the glass was already half empty. Her head was already swimming. Maybe she should slow down, or better yet leave. She had made her appearance and had been seen by the people who needed to see her. The Embassy would have to be satisfied.

Anya took another drink and started to make another round of the room.