5/14 Instance: Rally Ride

Instance transcripts for the new, expanded world of ScrawlerEarth live here!
Post Reply
Slarti
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 5846
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 2:25 pm
Title: Damn Not Given
Nightscrawlearth Character: :icey :phoenix

5/14 Instance: Rally Ride

Post by Slarti »

Timelined after Bugsy's Girl, before Touch of Genius.

Tony: Tony looked out the window of the limo, but his view was obscured by a Chicago police officer, riding alongside the limo on his motorcycle as they wound their way through the concrete canyons of downtown. "Security seems... extra tight," he said, sucking at his teeth as he turned to his companions and cocked his head. "We really think that's necessary?"

Rogue: Rogue arched an eyebrow. "Y' want me as girlfriend'r body guard? That changes th' amount o' security." She glanced over at Rhodey, "Y' doin' okay?"

Rhodey: He frowned, glancing out at the officers before returning his attention to Rogue and Tony, "Sure, as much as I hate public speaking."

Tony: "Aren't you sort of a two-for-one package, sweetheart?" He gave her a sweet grin, then looked at Rhodey. "You'll do great. You're solid, you've got a good platform, and you've got me."

Rhodey: "That's what I'm worried about - you're a tough act to follow, Tony."

Tony: "Me?" He made a dismissive noise. "Well, I suppose, but look at it this way. I set you up with the perfect pitch, then you just have to knock it out of the park. No pressure."

Rogue: "Y' don't gotta worry 'bout followin' him, Rhodey. You do y' own thing and people'll love y' for it." She curled her feet up in the seat and leaned against Tony. "An' Ah'm sure if y' need any entertainment, Tony'll be happy t' provide."

Rhodey: He gave a wary chuckle and held up his hands, "I think I'm good, thanks..."

Tony: "Nah, this bum can't afford my stand-up fee." He grinned at Rhodes and slid his arm around Anna Marie's shoulders. "I'm not saying they won't love you. Just not as much as they love me."

Rogue: "Don't listen t' him. They'll love y' th' same. Just different." She gave Tony a look. "Baby, he's nervous. Play nice or Ah'll feed y' t' mah robot."

Rhodey: "Well, in case they weren't sure, I decided to remind them at the start of my speech that I'm not Tony Stark... but I'll take a robot. Where's my robot?"

Tony: "It's not a robot," he corrected. "Did I tell you he has a name now? I have a name, I suppose," he said, looking down at his girlfriend. "My own code name, thanks to this one."

Rhodey: "Just as long as you save the need for any code name til after you're out of office..."

Rogue: "Y're really gonna use that?" She flushed in pride and also happiness, stretching up to kiss him. "Although, Ah meant th' arm in y' workshop."

Tony: "I am," he said, happily returning the kiss and ignoring the fact his best friend was in the limo with them.

Rhodey: Now Rhodey was both confused and wanting to look anywhere else so he looked out of the window at their escort cops again.

Rogue: Rogue smiled into his mouth and let the kiss continue for just another couple of seconds before pulling away. "This ain't our car, Tony."

Tony: "Well technically, it is. That's why this is Limo One. Any vehicle I'm riding in is mine." He gave them both a winning smile and leaned to get Rhodey's attention. "You should heckle the protesters. They love that."

Rhodey: "I'll bear that in mind..." But he probably wouldn't do that. "I'm really more of a 'stick to the talking points' kind of speaker..."

Tony: Tony made a rude noise. "What's the fun in that?"

Rhodey: "Not looking like a dumbass on TV later?"

Rogue: Rogue lightly smacked Tony's chest. "What works f'r you won't work f'r everybody, sugah." She turned to look back at Rhodey. "Y' gonna do great. What are y' talkin' points?"

Tony: "Dumbass is all in the delivery," he said, pretending to be wounded from her smack.

Rhodey: "A lot of them are about reassuring everyone that I'll keep up with Tony's good work... and reminding everyone what a mess Osborn's rallies look like..."

Tony: "Damn right you will," he agreed with a nod.

Rogue: Rogue winced at the mention of an Osborn rally. "Yeah, Ah think that's good. Any idea how t' calm those particular masses or sway 'em over?"

Tony: "The reports that I actually did read this morning say Cameron Hodge is leading the protesters today, so there are plenty of masses here to sway."

Rogue: "Seriously? That guy needs a hobby." She frowned, "Other than bein' an asshole t' people Ah love an' care about."

Rhodey: "The problem with these kinds of people is that they're too entrenched in their views to listen to reason... best thing we can do is to not engage and make sure the people that are listening listen to the right stuff."

Rogue: "Ah hate politics," she shook her head. "Why cain't people just be honest an' kind?"

Rhodey: "Because no one trusts anyone else not to take advantage of that honest and kind person. That's the world we live in."

Tony: "What he said," Tony agreed with a nod, tapping his nose with a finger. "People like an illusion, so give them one, then try to do the right thing when nobody is looking."

Rogue: "An illusion? Is that all we are, then," she smirked. "An illusion f'r th' people t' fawn over?"

Tony: "It's the same tactics Osborn uses, just to different ends." He extended both arms and waved one hand. "While the attention is here, you work on something entirely different over here," he wriggled the fingers of his other hand.

Rhodey: Rhodey wondered when Rogue's question would percolate through the part of Tony's brain that was actually a circus ringleader. He could wait. But to give it a nudge, he raised his eyebrows and gave a pointed nod of his head toward Rogue.

Rogue: Rogue tilted her head and crossed her arms as she watched Tony. Interesting.

Tony: "What?" He shook his head at Rhodey's sudden tic. "What's this?" He mimicked it, eyebrows up and a nod toward... oh. "Babe. I meant 'us' as in politicians, not us us." He reached over and put his hand on her knee.

Rogue: "Oh yeah?" She didn't move. "Ah'm happy t' keep up th' illusion if y' need, but once Rhodey's elected, we're gonna hafta remove th' curtain."

Rhodey: Aaaaand now he wanted to be in a different car. Preferably also in another city.

Tony: "There's no curtain between me and you. Not anymore, if there ever was. Of all people, you should know that. You've called me on my bullshit plenty of times," he said, giving Rhodey a quick glance. The man looked like he was dissociating so hard he might project himself out the window.

Rogue: "Ah meant let th' public know it's fake." She followed his eyes to Rhodey and shook herself. "Ah'm sorry, sugah. Let's talk 'bout th' rally. Anybody else gonna come speak that th' people will be surprised by?"

Rhodey: Rhodey shook his head, "Not for this rally... got some options for future stuff though but trying to nail everyone down to commitment is a headache."

Tony: "But it's not fake," he blurted, shaking his head, and looking between the two. "It's not fake." He rubbed both hands over his face and sighed. "You need some pocket senators, like Osborn managed to pick up."

Rhodey: He shook his head, "Nooo I don't. I don't want to be beholden to anyone. That's how you get in trouble."

Tony: "I don't know, it's working out pretty well for Osborn. That Stephanie Shaffran chick. She's like a little attack dog."

Rogue: Rogue felt a chill go down her spine and looked out the window. "She's somethin' alright."

Rhodey: "I don't need an attack dog... I have your steamroller to ride in on," Rhodey pointed out.

Tony: Tony looked over at Anna again and reached for her hand. "Yeah, Rhodey, what do we have on her anyway? Other than her apparent devotion to Norman Osborn? She gave Rogue the heebie jeebies, and not just because she hits on me every chance she gets."

Rhodey: "That fact alone should give anyone the heebie jeebies...."

Rogue: Rogue relaxed at his touch and leaned into him again, searching silently for comfort. "Ah resent that!"

Tony: "Fun fact - attractiveness is great for the female demographic, particularly eighteen to forty-five, and some of the male demographic too," he winked. "I can recommend a great personal stylist for you."

Rhodey: "I'm good, thanks..." he shook his head, "But with regards to Senator Shaffran, no one's found anything on her yet. And we're really looking... so everyone's extra suspicious."

Rogue: "Somethin's off 'bout that woman. Ah just cain't quite put mah finger on it."

Tony: "Something is definitely off, she couldn't be further up Osborn's ass if she was an enema." He glanced at Anna, sliding his arm back around her. "I trust her senses, so if she's wary, I'm wary."

Rhodey: "Neither of your team's telepaths picked up on anything off of her?" Rhodey looked at Rogue.

Rogue: "Ah, um... Wasn't exactly welcome, so Ah've not talked t' them about it." She looked down in her lap and smoothed her pencil skirt, wishing she had just worn her uniform.

Tony: Tony gave her a squeeze. He knew she and Carol weren't on great terms, because of Drake and drunken nonsense, but the idea she was on the outs with the whole team worried him. "The after action report said both telepaths were afraid to go too deep into her head. Something about darkness of the soul and sharp corners of thought." He made a face showing how much sense that made to him.

Rogue: "It did?" She looked back at Tony, surprised. "That's kind of what I felt, but... Lite. Maybe Ah should reach out t' Jean..."

Rhodey: "Well, if you can talk either of them into trying a little harder, maybe together, that might get us somewhere... You can bet Osborn, for all his talk, is using mutants on the back end of his own campaign."

Tony: "It did," he nodded to her with a smile. "Maybe you should then. Have some girls time." Tony turned back to Rhodes. "Yeah, you know he is. All his talk of human superiority is a bunch of marlarky. He wouldn't still belong to the Hellfire Club if he wasn't dealing with mutants."

Rogue: "Y' know, Ah hadn't thought 'bout that. Ah didn't feel that at th' club when we met her. Y' think they're usin' some sort o' inhibitor barrier?" She made a face. "Does that sound weird? Yeah, that sounds weird. It wouldn't've just been me. She just gives me th' creeps."

Rhodey: "Maybe the atmosphere at the rally played into how you perceived her there?" Rhodey suggested, "Osborn's supporters can be kind of... unruly."

Tony: "Unruly!" He laughed. "Did you see the blow-up doll? I followed the Instagram account."

Rogue: "Could be," she shrugged one shoulder. "There's lots o' factors, Ah'm sure. But f'r now, we're goin' t' a place where people like us an' love you."

Rhodey: He laughed at Tony's question, "Yeah, I've seen the blow up doll. I think he's got more online presence than you right now."

Tony: "Love me, or love him?" He pointed between he and Rhodes, a shit-eating grin on his face. "Oh, you're just jealous you don't have your own blow-up doll."

Rhodey: "If I get a blow up doll, I'm doing something very wrong...." he shook his head.

Rogue: "Him, o' course." She laughed at the blow-up doll banter. "If y' get a blow-up doll, Ah'll save it from Beth."

Tony: "Of course, they already love me," he said with a nod.

Rhodey: Rhodey shook his head with a laugh, "Thanks for your offer to save my possible future inflatable self, I guess? But don't give it to Tony either..."

Rogue: "We ain't here f'r them t' love you, Tony. We're here t' show them why they should love th' man b'side us." She stifled a laugh at the thought of what Tony would do with an inflatable James Rhodes doll. "Scout's honor."

Tony: "This woman was never a scout," he said, pointing a finger at Anna with a laugh. "Love is overstating it. Respect might be too..." He pretended to look Rhodey over. "Tolerate."

Rogue: "Rat fink," she muttered with a laugh.

Rhodey: Rhodey considered that, looking his friend over in the same manner, "Yeah. Tolerate's about right."

Tony: Tony giggled. "Okay, okay. You're gonna do great, and people will love you... in their own way."

Rogue: Rogue pressed the button over her head, "Happy, how much longer until we're there?" "Fifteen minutes, ma'am, give or take." She grinned, "Thanks, sugah!" With that bit of knowledge, she leaned forward and pulled a bottle of champagne from the mini fridge, then some glasses from the cabinet beside it. "Ah think we should toast t' you, Rhodey. Whether'r not they love you, we do."

Rhodey: "I don't think that was as reassuring as you hoped it would be but, thanks..." he gave a small laugh and shook his head.

Tony: "They'll love you, and yes, we love you, too, or at least tolerate you." Tony gave Rhodey a bright smile. "Oh, hey, did I show you my upgraded toys?" Tony flicked his wrist and his repulsor slid into his palm, the motion was smoother and the design changed slightly. "I injected myself with nanotech and now they're tied into my nervous system."

Rhodey: Rhodey's eyebrows went up, "Are you sure that's safe?"

Rogue: "That's what Ah said. Thank you!" Rogue passed him a glass of champagne.

Tony: "What's science without a bit of risk?" He gave them both a winning grin.

Rhodey: "Not getting arrested for accidental homicide?" Rhodey offered, taking the offered glass from Rogue.

Rogue: "He made me stick 'im with th' ones in his right arm. Made him do a recordin' sayin' Ah wasn't gonna be responsible f'r his death." She poured one for Tony and passed it over. "Y're a certifiable nut, y' know."

Tony: "Homicide? These are strictly for personal protection, and so far I think I have a proven track record of not shooting anyone." He accepted his flute with a grin of thanks. "I've never been diagnosed, so I'm actually not."

Rhodey: "That was before they were integrated into your nervous system. What if you get startled?"

Rogue: Rogue took a pull straight from the bottle at the thought of Tony murdering someone. Accidentally or on purpose. But Bobby couldn't die. Right?

Tony: The repulsor seemed to fold in on itself and retracted back into his sleeve. "I don't get startled. I have nerves of pure adamantium." He spotted Anna from the corner of his eye and turned to look at her. He blinked.

Rhodey: "Uh-huh, sure," he took a sip from his glass, "I guess we'll see..."

Tony: "It's just a countermeasure in case someone gets past Heather, which I doubt will happen." He reached for Anna Marie and set his hand on her knee. "Not to mention the first girlfriend here."

Rogue: She smiled at Tony and pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "If there's gonna be any homicide, it better not be either o' y'all doin' it. Leave it t' th' professionals, okay?"

Rhodey: "I'd rather murder was off the table altogether, accidental or otherwise..."

Rogue: "Sadly, that ain't always th' case in th' profession o' safety."

Tony: "But aren't you excited you're getting your very own super-powered bodyguard?" Tony put his arm back around Anna Marie and grinned. "I'm sure you'll be as happy with him as I am with mine."

Rogue: "Ah'd sure hope not, since Bobby definitely only likes girls." She knew that first hand.

Rhodey: "That and it's totally unprofessional, Tony," Rhodey reminded him. "Not that anyone expects any less of you."

Rogue: "That a backhanded comment 'bout me, too?" Rogue sat up a little straighter and stared a challenge at Rhodey.

Rhodey: "I don't blame you. His ridiculousness infects everyone."

Rogue: "Except Ah'm th' one who started it."

Rhodey: "That's what he wants you to think. It absolves him of all blame that way."

Tony: "We were both consenting adults, I don't see what the problem is. I made her the inhibitor bracelet as a gift to a friend, not as her boss, or her... guardee."

Rogue: "An' Ah got so excited that Ah kinda took advantage o' th' moment." Rogue made a face, still somewhat embarrassed about her behavior back then.

Rhodey: Rhodey shook his head, it was way too far into everything to be having this conversation.

Tony: "You hear that? She took advantage of me," he told Rhodey, laughing as his friend shook his head.

Rogue: "Hey, you brought it up," she made a face at Rhodey's head shake and finished off her flute.

Rhodey: "Tony brought it up," Rhodey corrected, "He got bored because he wasn't the center of attention."

Rogue: "But then y' insulted me when y' were tryin' t' insult him. So this is on you, pal."

Tony: "You're right, buddy, this is all about you. You're the center of attention now. How's it feel?"

Rhodey: "I don't like it. You know that," he sighed, "I didn't mean to insult anyone... I can't be the only person that's said that, surely?"

Rogue: "If y' don't like it, why are y' runnin'?" Rogue made a face. "Nobody Ah care 'bout sayin' it."

Rhodey: "Because no one else was gonna run on Tony's platform and do it right," he shrugged a shoulder, "Would you rather we let some career politician screw it all up now?"

Rogue: Rogue shrugged, "Ah'm not one f'r politics."

Tony: Tony sobered, giving Rhodey a nod. "And there's nobody else I'd trust at the top of our party. I might be the face of the office, but Rhodey here is its heart, and the steady hand, and I think the voters will see that."

Rhodey: Rhodey responded with a genuine smile, "Thanks, Tony."

Tony: "You're welcome," he said, a sincere smile on his face as he held out his flute for a toast. "You know I mean it, buddy."

Rogue: Rogue smiled at Tony, too. "Ah think y' should use that when y' introduce him. No theatrics. Just that."

Rhodey: Rhodey joined the toast but had to laugh at Rogue's suggestion, "No one's gonna think he's being honest."

Rogue: "Ah think people might surprise y'. An' they might like that side o' Tony. Nobody gets t' see that but us."

Tony: "Maybe I was practicing my speech on you two right now," he said with a wink, taking a sip.

Rhodey: "No one believes that either," Rhodey informed him.

Rogue: Rogue poured herself another glass and nodded in agreement with Rhodes. "He's right, sugah."

Tony: "Whose side are you on?" He shook his head and laughed at them both.

Rogue: "Rhodey's when it comes t' who's gonna be th' next President. Yours when it comes t' whose bed Ah'm sleepin' in." She took a sip and smirked at him over the rim of the flute. "That answer y' question t' y' satisfaction?"

Tony: "Wow, that's explicitly clarified," he said, but gave her a squeeze anyway.

Rogue: "Have y' ever known me t' be subtle, darlin'?"

Tony: "As a heart attack," he said, laying a dramatic hand against his chest. "I wouldn't have you any other way."

Rhodey: "I would have you both not in the same vehicle as me when I don't have the means to escape..."

Tony: "Well, starting next week, you can ride with your bodyguard boyfriend."

Rogue: Rogue laughed at both of them and shook her head. "Y' have plenty o' means to escape. Y' just shouldn't take 'em as they could cause bodily harm."

Rhodey: Rhodey rolled his eyes, "It'd make a change to get some sane conversation."

Rogue: "We're plenty sane! Y' just don't converse on our level." She looked him up and down, scrutinizing him for a moment, then turned to Tony. "Should we let him int' our level, baby? Or should this stay a twosome?"

Rhodey: "Please god, let it stay a two-some."

Tony: "I don't think Rhodey is adventurous enough for that, sweetheart," he laughed, finishing off his champagne and setting the glass aside.

Rogue: Both of Rogue's eyebrows went up, "An' you are?" That made her wonder if he would share her. She hadn't taken him for that kind of man.

Tony: "I was," he corrected, cocking his head to blink at her, all innocence.

Rhodey: Rhodey groaned internally and emptied his glass, reaching up to press the useful button, "Happy, are we there yet?"
Post Reply