askandanswer | (no subject)

(Unlike many of the others who've taken the stage so far, Howard glides across it like he was born to be on it. (That is until the microphone whines, and there's just the slightest twitch of a wince when it does. But he laughs it off, chuckling into it and murmuring something about how someone really needs to check the system out, this would never happen with Stark Tech, and if they want to talk to him, he can give them his card.

But he's supposed to ask a question, isn't he? He's had weirder crowds to talk to, including the masked folk, so it matters not to him.)

Greetings, all. My name is Howard Stark, proprietor of Stark Industries, though I'm sure you all know that. (pause for laughter, maybe some light applause.)

I have great dreams for the future. Some of the things I've already started to realise, my tireless car's almost ready to be available for public sale, once I get it approved, and I have a multitude of other projects in the work. Some call me a visionary, some call me delusional, personally, I just call myself brilliant.

(Another pause for laughter. No? Okay, clearing his throat. Awkward self-laugh.)

But enough about me, this is about you. What is your dream for the future? Technology wise. Don't worry, if I use the idea, I'll give you a cut of the profits. I'm fair like that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

More armor!

[ Blaze calls it up from the bench she's plonked on, because this feels like a show and about time, right? ]

...And a ship that'll get us out as far as Saturn.

(Very much about time. Who wants to do questions about feelings all the time? This should be fun.

Howard is going to turn his attention to her(?) and flash a dazzling smile.)

My kind of answer. (He'll strut over to the edge of the stage, closer to where she is, maybe even a little towards her. It was all about making each person in the crowd feel like they were the only ones in it.)

Space travel, huh? Now there's a race I want to be a part of. First man on the moon should have Stark Industries on their boot. Why Saturn, if you don't mind me asking?

Hey, you've got to start somewhere.

[ She shifts forward herself, resting her elbows on her padded knees as she explains. ]

Everyone's heading up to Luna these days. You get out to Jupiter or Saturn, that's uncharted territory. Who knows what's hiding out on all those little moons?

[ Something worth fighting, is what she'll bet. ]

You've gotten me intrigued. That's impressive.

(He considers the question thoughtfully for a moment, nodding, because well, she has a point. Who knows? He certainly does it, and while space has never been his main focus, flight has always been a personal passion of his.)

Been in space much?

[ The robotic face isn't as flexible as a human's, but there's enough shift for her to pull a discernible grin. ]

Sure. I do a lot of work out there. Mostly round our moon right now. You do much ship-building?

It's not gonna crash this time, is it? [Comes the not quite cat call from the familiar looking guy in the US Army dress uniform.

Just saying, the last time he saw it, there were a whole lot of sparks involved. Not exactly a product that looks like it's about to roll out onto normal highways.

Or skyways?]

Hey, I did say a few years, didn't I?

(Come on, Barnes. Don't cramp his style. Although the way he smiles at the familiar face probably betrays his whole king of cool act anyway. He catches himself quickly, however, bringing back to the cockiness to it, and shrugging his shoulders.)

And all cars can potentially crash, it's all in the man behind the wheel.

[Bucky's grin just gets wider, maybe a little bit like the cat who ate the canary. Howard's always been a fun guy to talk to, both because he's damn smart, and because he can keep up with him. He could really easily have been some rich SOB who hid behind friendly lines, but he's never treated Bucky like he's some lesser person because he grew up poor and doesn't have some bullshit title slapped on him.

Which means you're going to keep getting harassed, sorry buddy.

(Not sorry.)]

Yeah, I'm taking the bus next time you drive.

(Where would the fun be if he treated people with a snobbish attitude? Of course, there are some that Howard does treat that way, but those that get that cold shoulder, they've usually treated him in a similar manner. It was surprising how many people would write him off just because he had money (never mind the fact that he had built it for himself, only inheriting what got him started, but everything else is of his own doing), and he didn't have time for that. Barnes, on the other hand, he had never held back either, from snarked comments and the likes.

Howard liked it. And him.)

You're going to regret that when I zoom past you as the bus pulls over to pick up another dozen people, and you get squashed in the back since you've had to give up your seat. I'll make sure to wave at you. And then laugh.

[Yeah okay, this guy seems pretty cool. Wally doesn't recognise the name but he grins at the attitude all the same.]

You're already working on flying cars, huh? That'll be awesome to see, though personally I'll probably still stick to my own two feet. Faster that way.

But I guess after the flying cars and teleporters... something like a food replicator! Cooking takes way too long if you ask me.