sixthiterationlogs | [ MINGLE ] FORGE AFTER HOURS

WHO: Tony Stark
WHERE: South Village Forge
WHEN: January 8th
OPEN TO: Smitherns (Thor, Brigitte, Annie Cresta, Siefer), Plus Ones, Passers by, and Friends! Anyone, really, come on down.
WARNINGS: Language, discussion of canon typical violence probably, drinking?

THE HEARTH

With the bulk of the work and chores done for the day, the heart's banked down to a tolerable level rather than steel meltingly hot, positively cozy. Tables are cleared of metal filings and shavings, the floor is swept, extra chairs and seating or overturned crates serve as places to kick back and enjoy the warmth. A large kettle of tea is kept brewing all night, another of coffee, and a jug of cool water for those thirsty with no real requirement RE flavor. There's a rack for coats and scarves when people don't need to be quite so bundled up, and space cleared enough for milling about, tossing ideas back and forth, or simply relaxing. Arguments happen at The Debate Wall, not by the fire.

THE FOOD

It's an eclectic spread- a pot of stew, some crusty bread, frittatas, a few large, simple cheese pizzas, bottles of wine, and whatever other food the Smitherns or their Plus Ones chose to bring. It's a bit of a potluck, food spread out on one table for perusal, plates waiting and a bin for dirty dishes. Tony will scrub up at the end of the night. By the fire there's a waffle iron and as many toppings as they could find for waffles- jams, zalpaca butter, dried fruit, preserved peaches. Serve yourself or sit and sample!

THE CHILL OUT CORNER

For the more introspective or anyone taking a break from The Debate Wall, there's a comfortable chair tucked in the far corner where the light isn't as bright, the sound not quite so loud- and in this chair sits a young Peacat, a smaller pot for tea, and a few books. Elton's a friendly sort and will chirrup to lean for pets or simply sit on a lap and purr, offering calming, quiet company.

THE DEBATE WALL

Scrubbed clean for the night, the wall opposite Tony's Scrawled projects, equations, rules and definitions- currently marked only with a few notes RE proper charcoal use 'It's for the wall, not your hands, not anyone's clothes', the large space cleared for marking out or drawing out- well. Games, hangman, tic-tac-toe, sketches, or debate points. The only other rule listed is 'If you're going to pick a hill to die on, cite your references'.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Connor had inspected what passed for manufacturing facilities. Had a... revealing chat with the proprietor. He'd even managed to acquire some confirmation of human's claims. While more recent work and traffic muddied the trail too much to properly reconstruct the scene, there was plenty of evaporated thirium throughout the premises.

No biocomponents, but if Stark was making use of his predecessor's parts, he doubts they would be out on display. He'd acquired the evidence he needed, and even a few possibilities to investigate next. Really, Connor meant to be long gone.

But there was something... pressing at his processors. A sense of lightness. A strange warmth, biasing his calculations towards the favorable, regardless of the numerous concerns. He'd run no less than seven diagnostics since he first noticed the malfunction, and not a one gave any indication of its source. Did Stark do something to him? Even that suspicion is... difficult to focus on. To consider with the proper weight.

Fingers curl just slightly at the android's side as he stares ahead—apparently, at a blank section of workbench. Thirium stains aren't visible to a human eye. Still, even a human could detect the upward twitch of Connor's lips. It's followed immediately by a frown—which in turn smothers under a perfectly expressionless facade. Only the steady spinning of his blue LED reveals any sign of agitation.

He's working perfectly.

[I FULLY understand if this is too late for you to want to mess with and you'd like to handwave instead]

Loki isn't sure what Stark expects. Backhanded compliments and the offer to see what he can do to dismantle a particularly intriguing puzzle aside, Loki's investment in the situation at hand ebbs and flows directly proportional to his interest at any given moment. Stark knows that they owe each other nothing, certainly not enough for Loki to put any great effort into throwing himself before a situation that has a nonzero rate of injury unto himself for virtually no gain, but--

But it is a puzzle all the same and Loki has been dreadfully bored.

At a distance the machine would be easy to mistake as human if not for the unnatural stillness it stands with. People, as a general rule no matter what shape they take, are a study in movement, of habitual ticks and fidgeting tells, and there isn't any machine in the universe, no matter how impressive the replica, that can convincingly play to the lie that it could possibly be truly alive.

Though, Loki will concede as he moves closer, rounding a group of people he doesn't recognize in favor of lazily drifting near as if this thing before him isn't his target, that it appears remarkably less sinister than Stark had attempted to lead on.

"I see I'm not the only one bored to madness." His tone amicable, undercut by a thread of playful empathy as if this machine could possibly be in on any joke Loki had to tell, and he brings his glass of wine up towards his mouth. "One would think that that a little effort would be extended to bother advertising a party in the first place, but I suppose there's only so much to be expected with Stark involved."

[ MINGLE ] FORGE AFTER HOURS

Closed thread: Connor-60 and Loki

90000000000000000000000000000000 years late I am SO sorry