The Marvel Universe Roleplaying Community - Independence Day

From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 05:54 am (UTC) (Link)

"Ah. And this 'friend' then left you to deal with me?" Oh this is such a set-up. She's lucky he hasn't had a challenge like this since MIT.

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 06:00 am (UTC) (Link)

"Nyet. Unfortunately he was unable to attend, having urgent business to attend to elsewhere. I was not going to come, but who am I to pass up an opportunity to see how you Americans like to party."

She traced along the rim of her champagne flute with the tip of a finger. "I am so far quite disappointed. Tell me, are your parties always this boring?"

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 06:22 am (UTC) (Link)

He laughs. "It's the two-party system in America. Always go to the after-party."

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 06:28 am (UTC) (Link)

A slow smile stretched her mouth. "I see. I was unaware that most of the fun happened after the party."

"Natalia Romanova," she said as she extended a hand.

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 06:34 am (UTC) (Link)

Somehow he finds that hard to believe. "Stark. Tony Stark." He has this hunch this has something to do with his most recent hire, Professor Ivo. He mentioned having some leftover problems in Russia who were not exactly glastnost-minded.

"So...you want to see America?"

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 06:40 am (UTC) (Link)

She nodded and pulled back her hand. "Yes. This is my first time traveling outside of Russia and I am curious about other countries. Are there places you would recommend I see before I return home?"

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 06:56 am (UTC) (Link)

"Yup." He nods up. Moments later the pair are on the roof. "Ready?"

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 07:00 am (UTC) (Link)

She smiled. "Always. Where are we going, Mr. Stark?"

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 07:13 am (UTC) (Link)

He grabs hold of her. "Up." The retro rockets in his shoes - a milder version of the repulsors in his favorite suit - are activated and as the sun falls they have a 360 degree view of Manhattan and all the fireworks spectacular it has to offer, from kids with sparklers laughing on the ground to the large explosions around them which fill the air with the smell of gunpowder.

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 07:16 am (UTC) (Link)

She holds on to him tightly and acted as if she were a little afraid. "It is very beautiful," she said into his ear. "And exciting."

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 07:25 am (UTC) (Link)

They zoom over the Hudson down the Jersey Shore, dodging and weaving fireworks all the way down the coast until Atlantic City.

"Welcome to the home of Monopoly. We have landed on Boardwalk. Got $400?

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 07:32 am (UTC) (Link)

"Da, I do," she smiled. She had played Monopoly once or twice in her long life and knew what he meant. "The question, Mr. Stark, is it worth four hundred dollars?"

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 07:41 am (UTC) (Link)

"Worth," he says. "Is a flexible thing. It's all about what people are willing to pay. Someone thinks it's worth $400. Probably thinks it's worth millions." He leans against a shop wall. "I keep thinking about alternative revenue streams." A firework goes off above them. "What's a cheeseburger really worth if it's the last cheeseburger you may ever have?"

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 07:53 am (UTC) (Link)

"Perception alters everything," she said. "Value, worth, beauty, truth...."

A brow rose. "What kind of alternative revenue streams?"

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 08:12 am (UTC) (Link)

He smiles. "No real shock that I'm restructuring the company. You can get that out of the papers - and most of the papers are happy to call me crazy. But it's more then that. I'm looking to invest in something different. Not the usual businesses and charities just put you into more boring parties, so no. I just don't know what yet."

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 08:21 am (UTC) (Link)

"Something will present itself when you are not looking for it," she said. "Is it not the way things usually happen?"

"I find Fate to be an interesting mistress."

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 08:39 am (UTC) (Link)

"I still am a free will kind of guy. Fate smacks you when you aren't in charge of your own destiny." He walks down the Boardwalk. "Cotton candy?"

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 08:49 am (UTC) (Link)

Natasha fell into step next to him. "That sounds nice. It has been a long time since I have had any."

She got a weird feeling that Fate was now toying with her for some reason. He was a mission, but her gut was telling her something big was going to happen.

"I've always been one to think that things happen for a reason. It may not be initially clear, but it eventually becomes clear."

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 09:02 am (UTC) (Link)

"On that we agree." He also gets peanuts. "So why are you really here, Ms. Romanov? Do you even know?"

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 09:05 am (UTC) (Link)

"Thank you," she said as she accepted the cotton candy. "I told you Mr. Stark. I am here only to see more of your country. I am only a tourist."

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 09:18 am (UTC) (Link)

He sizes her up. "I don't buy it."

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 09:21 am (UTC) (Link)

"Why not? Do I look like the type who would lie about my intentions?"

She smiled a little. "Are you always so suspicious, Mr. Stark?"

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 09:31 am (UTC) (Link)

"Always, but that's not why you not being totally honest is coming through here." His eyes travel down her frame and he leans up against a post. "You walk like a ballerina who also takes probably two kinds of martial arts. Your heart rate wasn't spiking when we were up in the air, nor did you even blink at the idea of flying over the Atlantic at jet-like speeds. Plus, you still have yet to kiss me, which means if you're trying to seduce me we're a little behind schedule."

None of this is accusatory, though his ego and presence are very much living up to the legend. Oddly enough, it almost sounds like he's attempting to be kind.

"If I didn't think everyone generally wanted something out of me, I'd guess you do want something, but you're not sure what that is."

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From: black_widow Date: July 7th, 2009 09:41 am (UTC) (Link)

She smiled and closed the distance between them. "I think I should be a little disturbed you have learned so much about me in such a short time."

She pulled off a piece of cotton candy and popped it in her mouth. "Yes, I have studied ballet. I have danced with the Bolshoi Ballet Company." She wasn't going to confirm the martial arts part. A girl had to have some secrets. "I am not afraid of heights or flying at fast speeds. My late husband was a test pilot for Russia. He used to take me up in a jet with him."

She smiled. "As for the seducing you part, Mr. Stark, perhaps I was waiting for you to seduce me. You always have women chasing after you. Do you not enjoy doing the chasing once and awhile? Being the hunter can be as exciting as being the prey."

She popped another piece of cotton candy in her mouth and this time slowly licked the sticky substance off her fingertips.

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From: stark_inc Date: July 7th, 2009 09:57 am (UTC) (Link)

His grin grows as he moves hair slowly away from her face. No, normally he wouldn't give a good goddamn what she wanted. Women were another high or challenge, but that's it. He'd done his time in an ill-fated relationship back in school.

Something about her biography was itching at his mind, but - ah, screw it.

"Oh, I get chased, fetched, and then they roll over and play dead because I tell them that's what I want. What about you?"

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