Good morning

[runs_on_batteries]

Who: Tony Stark + OTA
Where: Dining Carriage/ Kitchen
When: Month Apple, Day 2
What: Come bug him while he's eating breakfast/ having coffee
Warnings: Language maybe?
Notes: I'll make a note on a tag if it contains Endgame spoilers, but I'll try to avoid them.


Oh god, it wasn't a dream.

Some habits died hard, like his internal clock that had him waking early to a dark cramped space that after some moments confused, he remembered to be his bunk on a train. Moving as quietly as he could, he gathered some toiletries and slips into the bathroom for a shower trying not to wake anyone. From there it's a change of clothes and then the hunt for the one thing that will keep him sane during this trek- coffee.

Wearing one of the red polo shirts he'd been given, Tony arrives at the dining car early. He leaves the wheelchair downstairs in the kitchen, finding for just the short journey upstairs he doesn't need it. While he was in the kitchen, he doesn't protest too hard when someone on kitchen duty fixes him an egg white omelet, toast, and coffee.

Upstairs, he finds a good spot where he could watch the door and settles in to enjoy his breakfast and ponder over the fact that this situation he was in might not actually be a hallucination after all. He sorely misses his tablet where he could check the world news like he usually did over breakfast, but these things happen when you're randomly kidnapped by a freaky train in middle of the void.

Comments

[knifewithnoname]

The girl had also woken up early, or rather she had barely slept. She could still count on one hand the number of nights she had slept alone and it's not getting any easier. Even the novelty of sleeping in an actual real bed had not been enough to quell the loneliness that had engulfed her the moment everyone around her went quiet.

But she's not thinking about that. There's plenty of other things to think about, this long-ship train, other worlds and planets, weird voices from no where, the ever shifting void outside the window.

Somehow she must have slept because it was dark and then it was light, or at least colourful and it was time to get up. She pulled on her clothes and made her way to the kitchen and dining room.

She smiles when she saw Tony. She liked him, he had let her choose what he called her, showed her how the laces on shoes worked and told her about planets. He hadn't acted like she was stupid for not knowing things. So she moved over to sit near him, not too near, but near enough to watch him.

The food is weird, she understands egg at least bur the scratchy 'bread' was just strange. She had been hungry, the only thing she's eaten in days was the honey and milk Kant had made her. But now she had food in front of her she just poked it, her appetite still hiding away.

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony looks up as he notices someone enter the dining car and smiles when he sees who it is. Without thinking about it, he moves some of the dishes on the table to give her ample room for hers. She didn't look completely comfortable with him yet, which he didn't take personally. That didn't mean he would ignore her though.

"Good morning, Buttercup. Did you sleep alright?" He'd picked up a little something for her and put it in one of the socks he'd been given since he couldn't find anything else to wrap it in. Chances were he'd find another use for the pairless other one in the next few weeks, so it was okay it didn't have its mate. "Would you like to join me at my table?"

[knifewithnoname]

"I did be being, mister Stark." A lie. But the truth would mean more questions and she's still trying to convince him she's not scared. She scooched down the bench when invited, sliding her plate along until she was opposite him.

"Did you be sleeping alright?" Junie had been trying to teach them better conversation skills the last few months. To prepare them for whatever Priestess Elena had planned for them next. The temple, she knew now. But she wasn't good at it, in any way. She poked at the egg again.

[runs_on_batteries]

He smiles even if he doubts her answer. He couldn't imagine what this might be like for her. She didn't even know what a train or shoes were. Everything here had to be confusing. At least he hadn't heard about her trying to stab toasters yesterday.

"It was alright," he answers, also lying. He watches her reaction to the egg for a moment. "Do you have eggs where you're from?"

[knifewithnoname]

"Of course we do be having them. Do you no be having them?" There were worlds that had no eggs? That was a strange thought, but she supposed there were places that had flying long-ships and places that had magic machines and places that had pokemon and a hundred other things she had seen in the last day. A place that didn't have eggs didn't seem too strange, when compared to all of that she supposed.

"Do you be feeling better? Did Priestess Lightning be healing you?"

She had heard his voice in the sky, calling for her. So they had clearly met.

[hashtagparkerluck]

Peter didn't wake up early-he rarely does and mostly because it had likely been close to four or five when he finally fell asleep. So, when Peter finally makes his way to the dining car for breakfast, he looks like he's still half asleep, his hair's still uncombed and he's still in his pajama pants with his gray 'NASA' shirt.

He yawns as he moves over to sit across from his mentor. "Good Morning, Mr Stark." He offers, still sounding like he's half asleep. "Feeling any better today?"

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony was on his second or third cup of coffee by now. He'd been meeting the most interesting of people since coming to the dining car, so he'd decided to just stay put and see who else might show up. Besides, there wasn't much else to do and the longer he was here, the less time he'd be seen in a wheelchair.

He chuckles the instant he sees Peter and shakes his head. "Good morning. Rough night?" If it was another context, he'd say Peter was hung over but he knew otherwise. The kid had likely been having fun with his new girlfriend. Hopefully.. not too much fun. "Much, thank you. You should try the coffee, whatever brand they're using is quite good." He nodded toward the t-shirt. "Wherever did you get a t-shirt?" He would rather be wearing one versus this polo shirt.

[hashtagparkerluck]

Peter offers another hefty yawn, his hand sliding into his lap and blinking blearily down at the table. He's not ready to be awake-after this he's thinking about just curling right back into bed. There's no Aunt May to see off to work-no burnt breakfast and no energy drinks. Why is he awake?

At Tony's question he just yawns again and lowers his head onto the table and nods. He doesn't know exactly when he fell asleep but it sure feels like it wasn't that long ago.

"It's part of my pajamas." He offers. "I also have my 'find x' shirt. I'll get dressed later." He mumbles. "They don't have any red bull-I look last night."

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony watches this trainwreck of a kid wobble about and put his head on the table before starting to laugh in earnest. This kid was too much for him!

"How late did you stay up with Gwen last night?" He asks, setting his coffee down before he laughs too hard and spills it. His expression changes immediately from amused to annoyed in a fraction of a second. "You don't need to be drinking that stuff anyway! You shouldn't really be drinking coffee either, but I'm not quite that big of a hypocrite." Yet. If he had a newspaper he'd roll it up and whack the kid with it.

[hashtagparkerluck]

Peter's breath catches in his chest, his cheeks immediately feeling warm Just what was Mr Stark insinuating? His head shoots up, his brown eyes wide and a look that's somehow a mix of embarrassed, shocked, indignant and just a hint of fear shows on his face.

"What? No! Mr Stark, it's not like that-I didn't-I was just-I just couldn't sleep, that's all." He states before bringing his arms up to rest on the table before burying his face in them.

"Can I put cream and sugar in it?" He asks, the question muffled through his arms.

[hibana_incursa]

Peter may have woken up late and wandered the train a sort of cute hot mess, but Gwen was used to helping her dad manage her two younger brothers. She was up early. She was showered and dressed before leaving the cabin. She had breakfast made for the train and she was just leaving the kitchen to waste time until she had to be back for lunch when she spots Mr. Stark. There was a mug of coffee in her hands that she planned to drink and then return and wash the cup later.

Now, it wasn't too weird to think of him as another version of Tony Stark. She'd met several versions of Peter, one of them a cartoon pig, so it stands to reason that there'd be several versions of Mr Stark.

Hell, in one universe, he might be a she. Or a Stork. Tony Stork. Hah. That's almost funny.

But anyway, spotting the guy that had helped her out the day before, the girl in the color-coded polo shirt and boots with the laces undone (there's a reason for it ok) heads over with a small smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Stark. So...I gotta say? The coffee they serve on the train is, I'm pretty sure, some Starkbucks variant. I think the Veranda blend." She's teasing.

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony was surprised how many seemed willing to follow along with these chore assignments handed out by whoever kidnapped them- or Charon driving this train across the Styx (however you look at it). He wasn't going to do it. He'd do his own laundry and no one else's thank you very much! That did feel a bit awkward when someone else had made his breakfast and would be cleaning his plate and mug. That was their choice though.

He was jotting some notes down in the journal he'd been giving when he felt a presence coming toward him. Looking up, he was surprised to see the girl who had Peter's powers in another universe. It was strange to think of anyone being Spider-Man (or woman in this case) besides his intern, but it wasn't the most outlandish thing he'd come across since arriving here.

From under the table, he pushes one of the chairs out for her with his foot and then gestures to it for her to join him. His eyebrows rise at her comment. "The what variant?" Had he heard that right? "I prefer a darker roast, but this isn't bad. It's coffee at least, even if I have to drink twice as much to get the same effect."

[hibana_incursa]

It wasn't so much she was willing to follow along as she was someone who needed a routine. Her routine used to be get herself up and showered and dressed and then wake up Simon and Phillip and get them ready for their day. This was as close to that as she could get.

Settling in the chair Tony offered her, she takes a sip of her coffee and kinda smiles at his confusion.

"Your counterpart in my universe owns a coffee chain called Starkbucks. I worked there for three months, but got let go for leaving in the middle of my shift and then a no-call-no-show. I wasn't being irresponsible, I promise. It's just...someone needed Spider-Woman and I'm incapable of refusing."

It's gotta be a spider-thing.

"You're still an inventor and you run Stark Industries. And there are rumors that the other you runs a private military group called The War Machine."

[runs_on_batteries]

He sits back in his chair, relaxed and a tad aloof, as she joins him. Don't let it fool you. He's interested in getting to know her, but he was a little wary of her too. Just who was she and was she aware of the affect she was having on Peter?

At the news he owned 'Starkbucks', he got an amused smirk on his face. Of all the insane things he'd been learning in the last day or so, that one was just plain funny. But really, why not? He certainly had the resources and it was a booming business. very lucrative. Hearing he'd also been responsible for firing her was also pretty amusing, though he was sure the Tony of her world didn't even know it had happened.

It only gets uncomfortable when she mentions a privately military group. He takes a few moments to think that through before replying. "Technically, I do have a private military group. It's called the Avengers. I don't personally own them but I'm apart of them as is War Machine, a fellow members code name when using a suit similar to what I wore earlier. At least.. he did until.. something happened and he was grounded." There was guilt and pain on his face for a moment before he was able to shove it aside. "And my family fortune came from the weapon industry, primarily for the military. It.. uh.. it's one of the reasons I have spent so much of my life and fortune working to better the planet. A bit of atonement, if you will. But it's also something I just want to do. It hasn't always worked out.. but I've tried to keep the world safe and better than it was."

[hibana_incursa]

Gwen listens to Mr. Stark, taking a bite of her food and wrinkling her nose just subtly. She was a crappy cook and was thankful there were other people here to make the food. No one in their right mind would let her in a kitchen, but here she was. Living her worst life.

On a train in the Void.

She mass apologies to anyone that eats the food Dread or Sarai didn't make.

"Peter mentioned them on the platform before we boarded. He said he'd been on his way to space with you and some guy named Doctor Strange." Pretty sure that's the name. She sets her fork down and drums her fingers on the table for a moment, the beat a practiced rhythm. The guilt and pain on his face...it had been a look he'd given Peter. She wants to ask about that, really and truly. But it's probably not all that appropriate.

"It's kinda neat how different things are, universe to universe."

[sweetnessandfight]

Sarai was one of those freaks of nature--a morning person. If he hadn't gotten his breakfast from Gwen, the other likely suspect was the Au Ra. Dread wasn't much of a morning person himself, after all--so she'd let grumpy sleep.

She may not be on cleanup duty, but that doesn't mean she's going to leave a mess for those who are. That means soaking! (And if she comes back later to find dirty dishes, well. She'll take it upon herself to clean up.)

Eventually, she does make it out to enjoy her own breakfast, making a beeline to Tony's table. "Is this seat taken? If not, do you mind if I take it?" Even early, she's pretty gross when it comes to cheer.

[runs_on_batteries]

There's a small mark on the far wall and a broom and dustpan with shattered pieces of a coffee mug in it nearby. Tony had a fresh cup in his hands, only this time with tea instead of coffee.

When he sees her approach, he smiles at her and it grows a bit when he sees how fast she comes to join him. She was strange, but she sure was friendly. And to Tony, strange wasn't a negative term.

"Of course." His smile turns into a smirk. "So long as your gigantic husband doesn't mind. I had the pleasure of meeting him yesterday."

[sweetnessandfight]

"Oh, you don't need to worry about him. Dread's not the jealous type." If only because he knew where her heart rested. Her eyes rested for a moment on the mark on the wall, but she decided not to comment on it.

"I'm glad you did meet him though! He tends to keep his own counsel for the most part, but he doesn't fit the big equals dumb thing, don't let his silences fool you." He just didn't run his mouth for the hells of it--which, to be honest, she did at times.

"Did you rest well, then?" She certainly hoped so...

[runs_on_batteries]

"He was nice," he agrees, appreciating that she doesn't make a thing of the minor damage he'd caused to the wall. If he had the material, he would fix it but he doubted paint and spackle were available.

He nods in agreement that Dread didn't seem to fall into that stereotype. He didn't seem the chatty type but hadn't been opposed to talk either. Tony was glad to haer the man wouldn't have issues with him being friends with his wife either, though his remark had mostly been a joke. "I won't."

Sighing, he waved his hand back and forth for 'so-so' about the rest. "I thought I had and then I had a full blown temper tantrum in front of Peter." He rolls his eyes at his own behavior.

It was curious that he found Sarai so easy to talk to that he'd confide in her like this. He couldn't really explain it other than her kindness reminded him of Pepper. Perhaps it also helped that he knew she had a husband and could understand the struggles that kind of relationship had. It could be something else too, but whatever it was, it was strange and unlike him.

[sweetnessandfight]

She just smiled at Tony's comment that Dread was nice. She knew that--even though it wasn't surprising that there were folk who were intimidated by the Roegadyn. He sort of had that effect on people, too. Though most people didn't need to worry about it. She doubted anyone would cross Dread, here.

Tilting her head, then, she considers Tony's words about throwing a tantrum in front of Peter. "Did you apologize? We've all been through a lot in the past day or so...I mean, if you'd done it in front of me, I wouldn't hold it against you."

If he'd expressed that wonder to her, Sarai would simply chalk it up to being a bard. She was supposed to be easy to talk to--it wouldn't do to have to force people to tell her their stories. Not when she wanted to keep them safe as history and turn them into song. Being approachable and empathetic was important!

[enthunder]

She'd stepped past the wheelchair on the way up to the dining car, and thus remembered that Tony was still recovering from near-death quickly enough to give him a subtle once-over before he looked up. He looked like shit, but relatively speaking he was much better. Well, he no longer made her reflexively shift into a healing stance so. Progress?

She slipped onto the bench diagonally across from him, and began cutting up whatever meal Dread had handed her.

"How're you feeling?"

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony had been jotting a few notes down on the journal he was given, but looks up at the sound of a somewhat familiar voice. He would naturally give a flippant or vague answer but when he sees who is asking, he actually put some thought into it.

"I'm no longer bleeding, thanks to you, but apparently you don't bounce right back from nearly dying as quickly as you did when you were young." Okay, so it as still a sort of flippant answer, but there's at least a fond tone behind it. He puts his pen in the center of his book and closes it, using the pen as a bookmark. He gives Lightning his attention and a small, tired smile. "How about you? Are you settling in alright?"

wow she cannot word

[enthunder]

"Not like we have anything to do but rest. I don't think I've had a day off for the past, uh, since I can remember." She worried at the thought like a wobbly tooth; being holed up in one place after what felt like years of constant travel was an odd feeling. Not quite grating, but like wearing a jacket that didn't fit any more.

But then she takes a bite of eggs, which is almost insultingly delicious for how long it took the guy, and shrugs. She could get used to it. Maybe.

"I probably needed it, but... You know what I mean?"

wording is overrated

[runs_on_batteries]

"It'd be easier to relax if Peter would quit getting into trouble. Kid might not go looking for problems, but they sure find him." He shakes his head. It was exhausting, if he was being quite honest. Even still, he wasn't going to stop rushing to the boy's aid whenever it was needed. "I'm glad we're not draining you too much with needing healing that you can still call this resting."

He watches her face as she eats the egg and grins. "For being forced to cook all of us breakfast, they're not doing such a bad job, are they?"

[enthunder]

"Peter's a natural disaster. And don't worry about it, I'm used to patching people up." She's polished off another mouthful before he finishes asking the question.

"It's almost bad that they're doing it first. We're gonna look terrible in comparison."

Unless he's a culinary genius in disguise, her lifted eyebrow attempts to say.