[At some point the worker bees at the Tower will stop being surprised to see less than normal people coming by for a visit. With the proclivity that Tony has shown in recent years for- well... collecting isn't quite the right word, but- harboring maybe? People with all manner of strange and unusual backgrounds. With time it might be a normal thing, who knows. They might just all assume anyone who looks weird to them is there on Avengers business.
But so long as they don't interrupt the people Tony's welcomed to his inner-circle, everything will be fine. He definitely doesn't need people asking questions.
FRIDAY locks to Sae on her approach and opens the lab doors for her. She has a code for the lab but while Tony's around there's no reason to force her to punch it in, especially when she's expected. He looks up from his spot at his workbench, the mid piece of his Iron Man armor sitting atop the table, half-hoisted by a winch. The back panels are all open and he's got tools scattered just about everywhere. It's a process.]
Hey, kid.
[A kind and casual greeting as he watches her briefly before going back to work. With the manner of enhanced people- and sadly, yes, kids, rising more and more every day it seems, it's not so unusual a sight for him that he needs to stare. And wasn't, when they first met, either, or when she started letting him know more about her. If she wants to talk about it, she will, he assumes, on her own time. He knows how it is. He doesn't exactly rush to tell people about his experiences in Afghanistan either, or the exact specifics of why he has a self-made machine in his chest. It just is what it is.]
Around here somewhere. [He answers her, looking up briefly to actually glance around the room. Immediately there's a sequence of chirps from the furthest corner of the room and then the sound of treads moving as DUM-E wheels himself over, claw opening and closing as if in greeting.] Eventually I'm just gonna let you put a leash on him and take him home. Seems to like you more than me most days.
[She dares to inch just a bit close enough to peek at what he was doing, taking in the famous iron man outfit with a low warble of amazement. It’s amazing that Tony created something like this, if she could ignore the discomfort of knowing he was technically a scientist as well.]
..Oh! [Her eyes light up when DUM-E wheels himself over and she’s quick to make her way closer.] Tempting as that is I think he would be too big to fit at my place. [Sae gives the robot a small pat on its side, smiling at the robotic chirps that she gets in response. Her phone is tucked away momentarily before she raises her hands up. DUM-E seems to know just what she wants as he gently lowers it’s claw hand for her to grip firmly. It begins to lift her up off the ground, prompting Sae to let out a squeal of laughter.
DUM-E happily wheels itself around for a moment as if showing off before spinning in a slow circle with the tiny woman holding on to him. Her wings spread out behind her as far as they could go, appendages giving small flaps. It’s the sensation of being up in the sky that has her giggling. This was as close to flying as she would ever get.] DUM-E is the best! [Despite the hoarseness of her soft voice, she coos this out. The robot lets out a series of sounds as it shuffles back and forth in a happy dance, pleased by her words. She laughs, swinging her feet in the air playfully.]
Better than Tony- [Sae is joking here as she says this. The robot gently spins her around and her wings begin to flap almost instinctively.]
[While she and his little lovable idiot bot are playing, he positions himself sideways working on his piece of armor. It's not that he distrusts DUM-E but... the robot isn't always the quickest to react if something goes wrong. And despite him being one of the first things Tony ever built when he was a kid, DUM-E is still maintained well enough that he's not specifically worried about him falling apart or having something snap- maybe just DUM-E himself falling over.
But they seem like they're alright. It's good enrichment, anyway. And keeps DUM-E from sitting in the corner with nothing to do, which Tony knows logically isn't something he even has the capability to mind, but even he at this point has fallen into the trap of anthropomorphizing tech. Some of his tech deserves that. FRIDAY definitely has a personality and a mind of her own sometimes, it seems, but DUM-E's is a lot less sophisticated than her. Or anything else he's built since. That doesn't stop Tony from giving him menial tasks so that he's not just collecting dust.
Throwing Sae gently around the room? That's fine. As long as she doesn't get hurt.]
I'll try not to take offense. He's only good at one thing but, gotta give it to him, he's really good at it. [While watching them, watching Sae, and the little bursts of her wings moving, he wonders idly if she wants more. More than what she's capable of. He's never really asked her about the way she is, is more than content to just leave her be and give her a space to comfortably exist.
But at the same time. He's Tony, and his mind wanders.]
Hey. No pressure or anything. And feel free to ignore me. [He sounds extremely casual, not even looking at her as he speaks, seemingly focused on working on the armor.] -I could look into some enhancements, maybe some lightweight attachments. Not to overstep DUM-E's boundaries. But if you ever wanted a little less anchored flight, we could work on that for you.
[Her laughter quiets down when she hears Tony speaking, red eyes widening at his offer. No way! Did he.. Her thoughts trail off, expression uncertain. She wiggles for a moment and DUM-E seems to understand what she wants because it gently lowers her back to the floor. Sae gives the robot a small pat on its side, prompting it to chirp happily.] ..Attachments? Does that mean you'd create something that could make me able to fly? [Sae looks curiously hopefully but skeptical at the same time. Her wings while pretty, were not functional when it came to flight due to their abnormally small size. Sae was a little apprehensive of the idea of putting anything on her feathers but it wasn't like she wasn't curious. She makes her way closer to Tony, giving him enough space so that she wouldn't get in the way. DUM-E wheels after her like an excitable puppy, claw hand prodding at her wings. She tolerates the robot's curious touches, feathers fluffing up in response.]
That sounds really cool, actually. I'm pretty sure my wings were supposed to get bigger but uh.. I left THAT place when I was a kid so- [Sae gives a sheepish shrug, tucking some hair behind her ears. A small tug of her feathers has her wincing and Sae turns to wag her finger at DUM-E in a scolding motion, eyebrows furrowing. He pulls his claw hand away, churring out an apologetic sound. Sae heaves out a sigh and pats the robot again, attention turning back to Tony.]
..If it won't take up much of your time, then I would be honored to get something made. I've always had that instinctual urge to fly. Sometimes it gets so bad that I've gotten injured in the past by jumping off high perches. [She smiles sheepishly as she admits this. In a similar manner that a baby bird would jump off a nest, Sae has done the same thing. Only her efforts always ended up in failure.]
Couldn't hurt to try, if that's what you want. [Answering when she asks her first question. In his mind it really shouldn't be that difficult a thing to nail down. If she's light enough for DUM-E to toss her around, that's already starting off at a better advantage than say when he has to get enough propulsion to get himself off the ground. But he's perfected his Iron Man armor several times over, and flight was one of the first things he got down.
When DUM-E can't seem to leave her alone, he puts a hand out at the same time she's patting the bot.] Relax, would you? You can go back to playing in another ten minutes. [The utter ridiculousness that he has to say this to a machine has long since escaped his notice. He talks to them all like they're either children or coworkers.
With his full attention on her now, he grins almost a little helplessly and yet somehow understanding at the same time.] Sometimes there's just no quitting the urge. I know what you mean. [When he'd got it in his head that that's what he wanted his suit to do, there had been no stopping him. And there's still footage in his old archives of exactly the kind of chaos that had inspired.]
I think we could go low tech and less invasive. Maybe some type of back harness that sits underneath your wings so you can use both. You know. Just in case you need to work the real ones out. [If there's a chance she'll grow into them, or them into her, maybe it would be good for her to keep using them.] I'm working on a miniature miniaturized Arc Reactor, for field use. [Making them smaller and smaller is the way to go, and he pulls up some holographic schematics for a wrist watch that he has plans to implement them into.] Might be able to rig something for you like bracelets, so you'd have stabilization on command, if you needed it.
[Because the watch is meant to house an Iron Man gauntlet which will have much the same effect. But now it's clear he's in his own world because there's tech to be made so he tries to slow himself down.] Would you mind if FRIDAY got a scan of you? Can't promise a completion date on a prototype but I think I could get it going fairly soon.
..I only understood about half of what you just said, but I'm in total agreement. [All that she knows is Tony was going to make her something that would help her achieve her dream of being able to fly and she was all for it. Her lips twitch into a smile of amusement as she shuffles closer, wings perking up.] Take all the time in the world. I'm in no rush! It's cool that I get the chance to be able to finally fly in the first place.
Uuu.. [A pause as she warily lets her red eyes flicker around, hands shifting to fiddle with the button on her blouse. Sae was a little nervous but she knew Tony would never harm her, not like those other scientists did.] A scan? Sure that's fine I guess..
[Whenever FRIDAY finishes the scan, (and if it had the ability to do so) the results that Tony would get back would be odd, to say the least. Her bone density was much lighter than a regular human would be. It clearly had the characteristics of a bird's- hollow on the inside but not all the way. Her DNA was also incredibly in disarray; There was just no way around it. She was clearly still human and yet the other half showed signs of being avian in nature. It was an amalgamation of both due to human experimentation from an early age.
There was a reason why DUM-E was able to pick her up even though she was clearly the size of an adult woman.] Did you find anything interesting? [Hey you couldn't blame her for being curious. She's not really bothered to look much into her own files on what the White Coats did to her over the years. It made her break out into a cold sweat just thinking about it. FRIDAY was AI technology that could probably delve deeper than just what basic information on paper could read. Sae allows for DUM-E to pick her up off the ground and Sae enjoys the flightless feeling of it, wings giving soft flaps. If Tony wanted to ask her questions, then she figures it would be okay to answer truthfully.]
[From what he does know about her, he's definitely not out to make her feel uncomfortable. Which is why he asks first. But when she agrees he tees FRIDAY up for a quick scan. It's nothing invasive, and for Sae it's just some lights passing over and through her. He's also not looking for extremely detailed and likewise invasive information about her physical or genetic makeup.
He really just wants her measurements and weight, more than anything. Easier to build a slim rig for her with that information, to know how much punch in power he'd need to give her for her to be able to sustain flight. The slightly hollow bones are incredibly interesting, much like the rest of her, but that'll at least make for a bit of an easier time building her something.
It's not like she'll need a full suit of armor, like him, although he did sustain mild hovering when it was just his version two Arc, some boots and some repulsors. This will also, presumably, be a little more sophisticated than that had been. He's come a long way.
Once the results start coming in though, he's focused in at his computer, standing at the work desk and the raised monitor, one arm crossed around his middle while he swipes and sorts and types.]
Interesting is one way of putting it. But. I think I can get some designs going for you before we go to build phase. Maybe by end of next week? [His attention turns back to her briefly.] Might also help if you let me know what kind of thing you think of when I say I can make something for you to help you fly. [Because that's the most rudimentary part of it, so he's hoping it sparks some imagination. Something she might see in her mind's eye that he can then build upon for her.] You're also welcome to take home the data, if you want to. [It her uniquely hers, after all.]
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no subject
But so long as they don't interrupt the people Tony's welcomed to his inner-circle, everything will be fine. He definitely doesn't need people asking questions.
FRIDAY locks to Sae on her approach and opens the lab doors for her. She has a code for the lab but while Tony's around there's no reason to force her to punch it in, especially when she's expected. He looks up from his spot at his workbench, the mid piece of his Iron Man armor sitting atop the table, half-hoisted by a winch. The back panels are all open and he's got tools scattered just about everywhere. It's a process.]
Hey, kid.
[A kind and casual greeting as he watches her briefly before going back to work. With the manner of enhanced people- and sadly, yes, kids, rising more and more every day it seems, it's not so unusual a sight for him that he needs to stare. And wasn't, when they first met, either, or when she started letting him know more about her. If she wants to talk about it, she will, he assumes, on her own time. He knows how it is. He doesn't exactly rush to tell people about his experiences in Afghanistan either, or the exact specifics of why he has a self-made machine in his chest. It just is what it is.]
Around here somewhere. [He answers her, looking up briefly to actually glance around the room. Immediately there's a sequence of chirps from the furthest corner of the room and then the sound of treads moving as DUM-E wheels himself over, claw opening and closing as if in greeting.] Eventually I'm just gonna let you put a leash on him and take him home. Seems to like you more than me most days.
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..Oh! [Her eyes light up when DUM-E wheels himself over and she’s quick to make her way closer.] Tempting as that is I think he would be too big to fit at my place. [Sae gives the robot a small pat on its side, smiling at the robotic chirps that she gets in response. Her phone is tucked away momentarily before she raises her hands up. DUM-E seems to know just what she wants as he gently lowers it’s claw hand for her to grip firmly. It begins to lift her up off the ground, prompting Sae to let out a squeal of laughter.
DUM-E happily wheels itself around for a moment as if showing off before spinning in a slow circle with the tiny woman holding on to him. Her wings spread out behind her as far as they could go, appendages giving small flaps. It’s the sensation of being up in the sky that has her giggling. This was as close to flying as she would ever get.] DUM-E is the best! [Despite the hoarseness of her soft voice, she coos this out. The robot lets out a series of sounds as it shuffles back and forth in a happy dance, pleased by her words. She laughs, swinging her feet in the air playfully.]
Better than Tony- [Sae is joking here as she says this. The robot gently spins her around and her wings begin to flap almost instinctively.]
no subject
But they seem like they're alright. It's good enrichment, anyway. And keeps DUM-E from sitting in the corner with nothing to do, which Tony knows logically isn't something he even has the capability to mind, but even he at this point has fallen into the trap of anthropomorphizing tech. Some of his tech deserves that. FRIDAY definitely has a personality and a mind of her own sometimes, it seems, but DUM-E's is a lot less sophisticated than her. Or anything else he's built since. That doesn't stop Tony from giving him menial tasks so that he's not just collecting dust.
Throwing Sae gently around the room? That's fine. As long as she doesn't get hurt.]
I'll try not to take offense. He's only good at one thing but, gotta give it to him, he's really good at it. [While watching them, watching Sae, and the little bursts of her wings moving, he wonders idly if she wants more. More than what she's capable of. He's never really asked her about the way she is, is more than content to just leave her be and give her a space to comfortably exist.
But at the same time. He's Tony, and his mind wanders.]
Hey. No pressure or anything. And feel free to ignore me. [He sounds extremely casual, not even looking at her as he speaks, seemingly focused on working on the armor.] -I could look into some enhancements, maybe some lightweight attachments. Not to overstep DUM-E's boundaries. But if you ever wanted a little less anchored flight, we could work on that for you.
no subject
That sounds really cool, actually. I'm pretty sure my wings were supposed to get bigger but uh.. I left THAT place when I was a kid so- [Sae gives a sheepish shrug, tucking some hair behind her ears. A small tug of her feathers has her wincing and Sae turns to wag her finger at DUM-E in a scolding motion, eyebrows furrowing. He pulls his claw hand away, churring out an apologetic sound. Sae heaves out a sigh and pats the robot again, attention turning back to Tony.]
..If it won't take up much of your time, then I would be honored to get something made. I've always had that instinctual urge to fly. Sometimes it gets so bad that I've gotten injured in the past by jumping off high perches. [She smiles sheepishly as she admits this. In a similar manner that a baby bird would jump off a nest, Sae has done the same thing. Only her efforts always ended up in failure.]
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When DUM-E can't seem to leave her alone, he puts a hand out at the same time she's patting the bot.] Relax, would you? You can go back to playing in another ten minutes. [The utter ridiculousness that he has to say this to a machine has long since escaped his notice. He talks to them all like they're either children or coworkers.
With his full attention on her now, he grins almost a little helplessly and yet somehow understanding at the same time.] Sometimes there's just no quitting the urge. I know what you mean. [When he'd got it in his head that that's what he wanted his suit to do, there had been no stopping him. And there's still footage in his old archives of exactly the kind of chaos that had inspired.]
I think we could go low tech and less invasive. Maybe some type of back harness that sits underneath your wings so you can use both. You know. Just in case you need to work the real ones out. [If there's a chance she'll grow into them, or them into her, maybe it would be good for her to keep using them.] I'm working on a miniature miniaturized Arc Reactor, for field use. [Making them smaller and smaller is the way to go, and he pulls up some holographic schematics for a wrist watch that he has plans to implement them into.] Might be able to rig something for you like bracelets, so you'd have stabilization on command, if you needed it.
[Because the watch is meant to house an Iron Man gauntlet which will have much the same effect. But now it's clear he's in his own world because there's tech to be made so he tries to slow himself down.] Would you mind if FRIDAY got a scan of you? Can't promise a completion date on a prototype but I think I could get it going fairly soon.
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Uuu.. [A pause as she warily lets her red eyes flicker around, hands shifting to fiddle with the button on her blouse. Sae was a little nervous but she knew Tony would never harm her, not like those other scientists did.] A scan? Sure that's fine I guess..
[Whenever FRIDAY finishes the scan, (and if it had the ability to do so) the results that Tony would get back would be odd, to say the least. Her bone density was much lighter than a regular human would be. It clearly had the characteristics of a bird's- hollow on the inside but not all the way. Her DNA was also incredibly in disarray; There was just no way around it. She was clearly still human and yet the other half showed signs of being avian in nature. It was an amalgamation of both due to human experimentation from an early age.
There was a reason why DUM-E was able to pick her up even though she was clearly the size of an adult woman.] Did you find anything interesting? [Hey you couldn't blame her for being curious. She's not really bothered to look much into her own files on what the White Coats did to her over the years. It made her break out into a cold sweat just thinking about it. FRIDAY was AI technology that could probably delve deeper than just what basic information on paper could read. Sae allows for DUM-E to pick her up off the ground and Sae enjoys the flightless feeling of it, wings giving soft flaps. If Tony wanted to ask her questions, then she figures it would be okay to answer truthfully.]
no subject
He really just wants her measurements and weight, more than anything. Easier to build a slim rig for her with that information, to know how much punch in power he'd need to give her for her to be able to sustain flight. The slightly hollow bones are incredibly interesting, much like the rest of her, but that'll at least make for a bit of an easier time building her something.
It's not like she'll need a full suit of armor, like him, although he did sustain mild hovering when it was just his version two Arc, some boots and some repulsors. This will also, presumably, be a little more sophisticated than that had been. He's come a long way.
Once the results start coming in though, he's focused in at his computer, standing at the work desk and the raised monitor, one arm crossed around his middle while he swipes and sorts and types.]
Interesting is one way of putting it. But. I think I can get some designs going for you before we go to build phase. Maybe by end of next week? [His attention turns back to her briefly.] Might also help if you let me know what kind of thing you think of when I say I can make something for you to help you fly. [Because that's the most rudimentary part of it, so he's hoping it sparks some imagination. Something she might see in her mind's eye that he can then build upon for her.] You're also welcome to take home the data, if you want to. [It her uniquely hers, after all.]