What am I doing.

[steady_hands]

I'm not sure I can answer that question for you, mundane. After all, I was quite content with my family before you dragged me back into this place, whatever it may be.

But you say Stark may be here - well. It would be nice to see him. I hope he is doing well.

Comments

[manofiron]

Would it really be that nice?

[steady_hands]

[A small smile.]

Maybe. I can take it back if you like, Mr. Stark.

[manofiron]

Tony. Mr. Stark's my dad.

[ The corner of his mouth twitches, almost but not quite a smile. ]

How's your family?

[therealgenius]

[ew stark]

He's Tony Stark; he's always doing well.

[hasthekeys]

Are you a friend of Mister Stark's, sir?

i couldn't help it

[growstrangelydim]

Your mun is doing the Lord's work, that's what.

[steady_hands]

Just Stark, then.

[Don't make him start calling you Anthony, Tony. Tony is just too informal.]

As well as they can be, under the circumstances. And yours, Stark?

[steady_hands]

[That's what he'd like everyone to think.]

Of course, of course.

[steady_hands]

A friend? No, no. Just an old assistant of his. And you, sir?

[therealgenius]

[Justin Hammer's not everyone, thank you very much.]

So...you're—a former employee?

[Justin has heard about Afghanistan. Not about Yinsen, though.]

[manofiron]

[ No Anthony, thanks. He's had enough of that to last a lifetime. He'll settle for Stark. ]

I think that depends on how you classify "family."

[ A beat. ]

You know, there's half a dozen things I've been wanting to say to you over the years, but right now, all I can really think to say is that it's good to see you. And it is. I mean it.

[hasthekeys]

[Assistant? But he has Dummy and U and Butterfingers for that...Happy is suspicious.

Not that it matters; he's just...]

I'm his driver...and I double as a bodyguard. When he's not in the suit, of course.

[steady_hands]

[Sure you're not. Who are you kidding, Hammer?]

Just an assistant, sir. Nothing more.

[therealgenius]

[Hey! He's Tony Stark's rival, thank you, he's at a whole different level than the rest of the populous!]

I've always seen his assistants to be of the...less organic nature.

[steady_hands]

[Good, because Yinsen is stubborn too you know.]

I think you know by now, sir.

[His eyes light in a small smile. He can smile for the both of them.]

Good to see you too, Stark. You look good. You cut your hair.

[bloodredridinghood]

You were looking for my uncle? Well the tough break is that there seems to be alot of him around here these days.

[steady_hands]

[Be suspicious all you like, you have every right to be. Not many can say they are close to Tony Stark.]

Ah, I see. He has a new suit, then? Keeping him busy these days?

[manofiron]

[ He knows. Believe him, he knows. ]

Well, it was starting to get a little long, you know? Kind of shaggy.

[ It's possible that he could talk about menial hair-related things for hours, but he'll spare Yinsen the babble. ]

They're good. They're--Well, most of them are robots. But the human ones? They're good, too.

[steady_hands]

[Yes, Yinsen sees that. With those... bright orange spray tanned hands of yours.]

Are they? Heh, I'm not surprised. He's quite the genius.

[Sorry, man.]

lol

[steady_hands]

Some may say that.

[hasthekeys]

[Happy is! One of the oldest employees of Stark Industries, this guy.

...or whatever clean energy is being called these days. The company name seems to change up between Enterprises and Industries. What is continuity, right?]

He has several suits, actually, for all different purposes. They're all Iron Man suits, but some are portable and, you know—the boss is always working on improvement. I think being an Avenger is going to have him in the workshop more than usual.

[therealgenius]

[No! That was just in Monaco! And...look okay, it was a mistake. He made a mistake!

...and maybe about nine hundred other ones in the same week. He's only human!]

One of the greatest minds of the age, yes.

[growstrangelydim]

["Yinsen feels" is one of few acceptable situations where "feels" isn't actually so abominably stupefying.]

No verdict on what it means to you?

[steady_hands]

Hehe, yes, we can't have that now can we.

[He wouldn't mind, honest. You know him. Willing listener and all.]

Just good? You look a little better than just good. And - ah - I see your reactor has... changed, since we last met. New design?

[steady_hands]

[Must be rough being a villain.]

How do you know him, if I might ask. You don't sound quite so pleased.