older daddy stark oh god

[abettertomorrow]

So you say he found it. Figured it out, did he? Good. Good on him! And what's he using it fo--clean energy? [ A slow nod, mouth pursing. ] ... Wha -- what d'ya mean, I could ask him myself! The boy's contented himself to hide!

You say there's more of them? Dear Lord, Maria and I will never manage!

Where are the nannies?

[ ooc: extremely new muse, be gentle! ]

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[thelivinglegend]

...Stark?

[abettertomorrow]

[ howard starts at first, but then a grin grows and he approaches steve with open arms, yanking him into a very manly hug and giving him the customary manly-two-hearty-claps-on-the-back that end up more like smacks. then, he pulls away and holds steve at arm's distance for observation, hands on each of steve's upper arms. ]

Look at you. Look at you! Not a goddamn day older!

[thelivinglegend]

[ Despite his surprise, he grins when Howard steps up. It's easy enough to squeeze back, his expression a little wry when the other finally gets a good look at him from arm's length distance. Howard's older, much older, but he can still see his friend in there. A little more gray and worn, but the sharpness in his eyes hasn't gone anywhere.

Strange that it reminds him of Tony now, instead of the other way around. ]

Guess that serum was good for more than just dodging bullets.

[ There's a teasing twitch at the corner of his mouth. ]

You look good for, what, sixty?

[abettertomorrow]

Ha! Don't remind me. You'll give me a complex.

[ you can let go at any time, howard, really.

really. you can. ]

[thelivinglegend]

[ Steve huffs, that smile edging wider. ]

It's good to see you.

[ Especially given that...well, by the time he wakes up, Howard's already been gone for years. ]

[abettertomorrow]

[ Taking a great deep breath in through his nose, Howard squeezes Steve's arms tighter once before he finally lets his hands drop. ]

Wish I could say I never gave up hope, Cap, but...

[ Mouth pursed, eyes unable to leave Steve's face, he shakes his head. All those years. All those years, and S.H.I.E.L.D. pulls it off decades after his time. Seems to be a running theme with his accomplishments, but how can he complain? His legacy's carried on. ]

[thelivinglegend]

I wasn't really expecting anyone to.

[ He doesn't blame him, how could he? ]

You had a life. A family, a business. Doesn't take a genius to figure out those are more important.

[abettertomorrow]

[ Eyes still locked (as usual, Howard Stark is not a shy or submissive man), he raises a finger. ]

You deserved better.

[ And he always believed that much, at least. ]

[thelivinglegend]

Maybe. But this is the way it is. For good or ill, it's not going to change. We have to make the best of what we've got.

[abettertomorrow]

[ He sighs. ] Don't I know it. [ Limited by his time, this one -- a boundless mind and the ache of discovery always at his fingertips, but just never quite enough oomph to the machines, the equipment, the supplies, the realm of physical possibility. But he did the best he could. Paved the road for the future generation to take. ]

[thelivinglegend]

[ It never seems like quite enough. Steve understands that, at least. If he hadn't gone down, maybe there was more he could have done. The war was won, but if one more life could be saved along the way... ]

So. I heard you're partially responsible for S.H.I.E.L.D. getting its start.

[abettertomorrow]

Aha, did Peggy tell you that? She headed the thing with me herself, you know. Personally requested her.

Damn good woman.

[thelivinglegend]

She is that.

[ And it seems like she's done good work. Lived a good life. That's...really all he can ask for. ]

[abettertomorrow]

So you seen her?

[ Expectant raised eyebrow go. ]

[thelivinglegend]

[ A quiet sigh. ]

Not exactly.

[abettertomorrow]

[ aaand hands on hips and that eyebrow raises higher.

judging you. j u d g i n g. ]

[thelivinglegend]

I didn't know if it'd be the right thing to do. She's had time to move on, to have a good life and...

Isn't it selfish? To want to see her bad enough that it seems worth revisiting all the could-haves and should-have-beens? I don't want to do that to her.

[abettertomorrow]

Son. [ and he raises a hand, and he gets to call you that, okay? he has seniority. ] If there's one thing I've learned about women in my time on God's green earth, it's that you don't decide jack for them.

[starkceo]

Did you really have any doubts I would? [Beat] Dad.

foever supplying the world with stark parents, i guess

[abettertomorrow]

With all your apparent future gallivanting?

[ sorry, tony. even though this howard comes from 1974, his mun hasn't really held back any info on your activities. he raises a finger and speaks with it, pointing, shaking it; like father, like son, these two speak with their hands as much as their mouths. he's pleased, though it's hard to tell with him, isn't it? ]

No wonder it took you so long!

I'm kind of sorry for this...

[like_a_gerbil]

[Steve has met versions of Howard that were from close to when he disappeared, but one that was old enough to have a son... He's not sure how to react to that.]

Mr. Stark, there's quite a few of them and most are too old to need nanny.

pretty sure i should be the one apologizing.

[abettertomorrow]

[ Luckily this Howard has already met one of the Steves here, and the mun hasn't really withheld much information on the state of things. So you just get Howard smirking and waggling his finger. ]

You tell that to his girl -- what's her name?

Ah! Potts.

[like_a_gerbil]

[The smirk is familiar enough from one Stark or another that it doesn't bother him.]

I believe that Ms. Potts would attack you with one of her high heels in ways that Agent Carter would have approved of if you called her a nanny. It's insulting to both her and to the Tonys here.

[abettertomorrow]

[ oh god peggy no.

his face falls into a considering blink and his finger droops. ]

Is there a new P.C. term for it? That's what they're calling it these days, right?

[ said like he genuinely wants to know.

howard i think you're missing the point. ]

[incrediblebanner]

- I don't think you're obligated to claim responsibility for every version of your son.

[abettertomorrow]

'Course I am! [ how dare you suggest otherwise, ma'am. ] They all come from the same tree, don't they?

[incrediblebanner]

Arguably.

[abettertomorrow]

I don't see any other suitable mes up for the job.

[peggy_carter]

..Howard?

[And she's just...dumbfounded is not strong enough a word. Gobsmacked perhaps?]

[abettertomorrow]

Peggy.

[ whatever, he's already wrapped his mind around the whole "mun" and different versions and weird timeline things here. he says her name simply and spreads out his hands. ]

You look radiant.

[peggy_carter]

And you look very dashing, are you still with SHIELD?

[abettertomorrow]

Now don't you sugarcoat it. I'm old, and by God I know it!

[peggy_carter]

Older perhaps, but you wear it well. [Yes she is straightening your tie and your just going to have to deal with it.]

[abettertomorrow]

[ He just lifts his head, totally used to that already. ] I've heard it all before. [ Still, he's smiling. ] And SHIELD's grown, so you know. I'm affiliated, all hush-hush, and you're still heading the thing. Wouldn't it what it is without ya.

[peggy_carter]

I am aware, I just got the call from you actually. Seems I'd been stored up as some sort of fragile ornament rather than being treated like the woman I am.

I appreciate being brought in on it, to be frank I was feeling a little purposeless until recently.

[abettertomorrow]

Now you know I had nothing to do with your prior placement, yeah? Wasn't my call to put you in that hole. Had my way you'd've been leading the ranks of C.I.A. and beyond, but dare I say S.H.I.E.L.D.'s a better deal.

[peggy_carter]

You know me too well to even dream of doing it, you know what I'd do to you. [Smirk of sort and her hands fold in front of her matter of factly.]

No, I rather think the powers that be assumed I was little more than the best girl of a fallen hero. I'm more than pleased to prove just how wrong they were.