Mark I - ||video||

[the_mechanic]

[There's a close-up view of a well-manicured goatee, though there's a bit of blood around the lips, and as he adjusts the camera, it's plain to see that the clearly-attractive man has definitely been in a fight recently. Put mildly. And also that he's wearing some kind of metal armor suit thing, with the face-mask open.

He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again. Twice. This is not a man accustomed to being at a loss for words.]

Please tell me there's someone in this sparkly-rainbow-nightmare than can get a full sentence out, with minimal KUPO, that can tell me what the hell is going on?

...please?

[The camera pans out just enough to show the komory bat perched on the top of the man's head, chittering away happily. Tony swipes at him half-heartedly, as if they've been through this a few times already, and the bat makes no motion to vacate his vantage point.

Tony looks pleadingly into the camera, and with a deep sigh, cuts the feed.]

Comments

[defrostedpride]

He might be attacked by Nightmares. It's been known to happen, oh, constantly.

[unrecovered]

You can't have it. I call dibs.

[earthshatter]

I believe he's still in the First District.

[defrostedpride]

How old are you, five? There are no 'dibs' in SCIENCE!!

[This is a lie. There are always dibs in science. Happily, disregarding others' dibs is also a long-standing scientific tradition.]

[unrecovered]

[Wash folds his arms casually. He's spent enough time with the Reds and Blues to know this one.]

Of course there are. It's the International Dibs Protocol. You didn't call dibs, so if he dies, I get his armor.

[defrostedpride]

Now you're just leading him to expect consistency, a swift road to bitter and violent disappointment.

[earthshatter]

As I am aware.

[defrostedpride]

Ah, but have you published?

What would you do with it, anyway? Redecorate?

[the_mechanic]

NOBODY GETS THE SUIT, THE SUIT IS NOT UP FOR DIBS, THE SUIT WILL FRY YOU IF IT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE YOU.

No. Touchy.

Jesus.

[unrecovered]

Yeah. [No.] If you don't believe me, look it up.

I had no idea you were into taxidermy. [Asshole.] And no. Ever heard of reverse engineering?

[unrecovered]

The suit's also beat to shit and out of power.

[He shrugs; he'd more been baiting Even than anything else.] Just don't die anytime soon, and you won't have to worry about any of it.

[the_mechanic]

[Tony grins as the electricity crackles through the suit and as the steam rises, the eyes light up, as does the chest piece.]

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

Princess, I am in your debt.

[sailorgenerous]

[Rarity watches Pinkie go - that could be a while - before turning back to Tony.]

That's not all. You should see her parties.

The potions are magic - they heal wounds. [And because there is no tactful way to say this:] You do look like you could use that right now. Here. [She magics a potion out of her saddlebags, the bottle hovering in front of Tony.] Drink that.

[Spike squeaks back at the bat. Hi! New friends are great!]

[defrostedpride]

I have, obviously. I didn't realize you had. [Or that you could reverse-engineer your way out of a paper bag. ...So mechanical engineering isn't Even's field either. So what.]

But you haven't published on this, which makes it fair game.

[defrostedpride]

Then drink your potion and the question will not arise!

...Recognize how, precisely?

[allfunandgamesuntil]

Guys, guys, you're ignoring an important point here: you can't call dibs until the original owners are dead or legally declared dead by a reputable government agency.

[raisethemoon]

'Tis no trouble. A few lightning bolts, for one such as myself, is foal's play. [Nope not preening at all.]

[the_mechanic]

[Tony just. He has no words. There aren't actually words for this. So. Yeah. He's gonna walk away now. He's cutting his part of the feed and ignoring the rest of this convo.

York, he still likes you.

You other two poaching vultures, the jury is out on.]

[earthshatter]

[It's at this point that Aeleus arrives. He doesn't bat an eye at the technicolor ponies, but then again, it's fairly clear that he's been around for a fair while and that probably has something to do with it.]

I would agree with Rarity.

[The panda behind him waves hello, although it's hard to tell if it's at Tony or at his new bat.]

[text]

[the_mechanic]

1. Got it.
2. Ugh.
3. Okay, that's new. Interesting.
4. Ugh.
5. Guess I should stop antagonizing them.

That's been pretty concise, I like it. Thanks.

[unrecovered]

That's what I said. If he dies, I call dibs.

Plus, you don't have a leg to stand on. You have dibs on my armor, remember?

[the_mechanic]

[And oh hey, it's muscles. Good.

Tony sighs, deeply, but it's clear he's finally resigned. God, what the hell. He snags the potion out of the air and uncorks it.]

Na zdorovye.

[And chugs.

And holy shit if that isn't the weirdest feeling ever.... but... he feels a lot better.]

...okay. That. ....I'm an idiot. I'll just drink the potion next time. [because with him, there's always a next time.]

[unrecovered]

[He cocks his head. Really?] I've spent the last decade in power armor. You really think I don't know how it works?

It'd be wasted on you and you know it.

[the_mechanic]

[Oh hey, another AI. Must be a thing wherever these guys are from. Interesting. He's really tempted to start talking tech, but he's still cautious.]

I had a feeling that was the case. I'll just have to make do. It takes a lot to damage this armor.

[He quirks a smile. It looks pretty damaged, but not everyone realizes he just survived missiles and house crashing down on him.]

[the_mechanic]

[Oh yeah, still grinning. Time to get back in the suit and see what the damage really is.]

Well, color me impressed, anyway.

It's been a pleasure, Princess. I'll be in touch; and seriously, if you find there's something I can do to repay you, just say the word.

[She basically just raised his baby from the dead, he's legitimately thankful, and serious about owing her.]