Audio

[ethology]

Now that everyone's had a chance to settle it, it's as good a time as any to announce assignments. I won't do this every time, but occasionally I'll be the one making announcements on behalf of the governors.

[A beat.]

I should probably introduce myself.

My name is Sarah Harding. I've been here about six months. Until recently, I taught Wilderness Survival, but I've been reassigned, myself. We have a surplus of Fatemarked and not enough Sentinels to go around, so every hand's on deck.

I encourage all of you to introduce yourselves if you haven't yet, particularly to the people to whom you've been assigned. Here goes nothing:

Cissie King-Jones, I'm assigned to you. Let me know, we can meet up and talk.

Tony Stark, you're with Gene Khan.

Jack Metcalfe, Daniel Kinney.

Martha Jones, looks like you were specifically requested by Severus Snape.

Chase Collins, you're with Alex Marsters.

Malcolm Ducasse is with Brigid Finn.

[She falters over the next name.]

Ru- [...] Rumpelstiltskin - Really? - you're with O'danyu Mitnu. Did I say that right?

...Right.

Lastly, Tim Drake and Seraphina Mirandir.

I think that's everyone. If you have any questions about the assignments or the Facility, I can try to answer them.

Comments

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[allthesame2me]

[Alex's brows draw together at the first and then rise sharply at the last.]

That you protect people from? [A beat... then.] What the hell did he do? [There isn't doubt in his voice, only a search for some sort of explanation; for a reaction like Tony's to have been so visceral meant there was serious bad blood between the two.]

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[highprofilerichkid]

[Tony gives Alex a humorless smile.] How long do you have? [He's keeping an itemized list. The most recent addition to which is "he kneed me in the nuts."

But then Tony shakes his head.] I don't want to talk about it. [He glares suspiciously at the computer on which he is recording this and adds,] And I shouldn't say anything over the network.

[Locked or not, he has no doubt that the Governors can see their conversations - and he has a lot less trust in this organization now that Gene's here. They're either incompetent, stupid, or somehow in league with him, and none of those options inspires a lot of faith in Tony.]

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[allthesame2me]

[Alex looks clearly unhappy with the thought of someone dangerous because he's not a Mankiller once a month, lol living within the Double-F, but he also doubts Gene is the only one here on the complex considered dangerous. Still, it's clear that this whole thing makes Tony ridiculously mad, and he doesn't want to upset his first friend here.]

And I don't want to make you if you don't want to, so it's cool. [At the network remark, Alex's lips quirk slightly and he inclines his head.] I get that... secure really is only so secure on a network you didn't design yourself.

[He exhales sharply.] Count on me to help however I can, okay?

[You know... Like mauling him or something.]

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[highprofilerichkid]

[Get him alone and ask him some leading questions and he won't shut up about it, probably. Mostly he's just being grumpy for grump's sake.

But there is a little bit of caution in there, too: he doesn't know how much the Governors really know about their recruits' pasts and abilities. With this new development (the one named Gene), Tony trusts the Governors less than ever. Explaining Gene requires explaining Iron Man, and Tony's not willing to spill that all over the network just yet.

At Alex's offer, Tony manages a halfhearted smile.] Do wereleopards have any secret magical headache remedies? [He's had a headache all morning. With Extremis, he shouldn't get headaches anymore, so it's probably psychosomatic. Courtesy of having to deal with the figurative headache that is Gene.]

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[allthesame2me]

[In the future you bet that he's going to question Tony about what was between he and Gene, but he doesn't push for what Tony's not quite ready to offer. Doing so would only succeed in getting Alex pushed further away and told nothing, possibly ever.

However, as the subject changes, Alex offers his friend a grin.]

Alcohol; but I'm not too sure that's a big secret... or, regrettably, if it's even something available to us down here.

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[highprofilerichkid]

Alcohol doesn't do much for me, anyway, [Tony says ruefully. His Extremis metabolism makes getting drunk a significant effort.] Thanks anyway, though.