A More Permanent Hell

Oh, yeah, Hawaii Five 0

2013-05-22T01:10:08Z

Not a subject I post much about, but I do watch and enjoy the show, and I've been meaning to post this bit of speculation for months. Last night's reminded me I never had (that I recall)

Anyone else think Wo Fat's mom is Doris? Or is that just me?

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4014306.html. Please comment here or there.

Three Things

2013-05-22T01:05:35Z

Seen all over:
I currently have 88 works posted on AO3. Choose a random number - no peeking! - between 1 and 88, and I will tell you three things I currently like about that story.

Obviously not all my fic, just newest and what I've gotten around to posting on AO3, but still, a selection :D

Let's see if this can kickstart more fannish type posting, since I can't even seem to work up enough enthusiasm to post about ST:Into Darkness.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4013889.html. Please comment here or there.

That's Settled

2013-05-18T23:44:17Z

Nin and I need to look into buying an old Jeep. Too many places around here we want to explore and need a high clearance of 4WD vehicle. We started down to here today, but it wasn't doable in a car. And it's not the first time we've been thwarted in our explorations! Our ultiame goal is to be able to do the Toroweap road which leads to this:

Somewhere along the way, Nin and I have become adventure girls. I blame Utah :D

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4013406.html. Please comment here or there.

'What's Rule Number One?' (01/01)

2013-05-13T23:23:47Z

Rating: PG
Notes: Gen friendship fic. One of these days, I hope to write a full story based around the events of IM III, but till then, I had to write this little epilogue to get the voices out of my head. Spoilery note at the end.
Character(s): Tony Stark, Original Character
Summary: Tony has a lot to be grateful for - even if he did forget rule number one.

=______________________=

What's Rule Number One?

"Happy is going to hit the roof when he wakes up!" Charlotte said, pointing a finger at Tony. "What's rule number one, Tony?" she demanded.

He crinkled his eyes, as if thinking. "Don't swim for an hour after eating?"

"Try again."

"Don't tick you off when you're holding the bail money?" A smile tugged at his lips.

"That's number three," she said dryly. Opening the first aid kit on the bench next to Tony, she sat down across from him. "No fraternizing with the ex-girlfriends!"

Chopping a finger in the air, he said, "Oh, right. That rule number one."

"Yeah, that one." She sighed. "Oh, Tony love, what am I going to do with you?"

"If you'd asked me that eleven years ago…" He managed a leer that was followed by a tired grin.

"Mmm-hmm. Hold still," Charlotte ordered, grasping Tony's chin as she attempted to clean the wound on his temple. Underneath her feet, the thrum of the chopper's engines vibrated across the deck.

He stilled obediently for a moment, before jerking his head out of her gentle hold, gesturing aft. "You're trying to distract me while Doc over there is examining Pepper."

She looked to where Methos sat with Pepper. "And not doing a very good job of it, apparently." Returning her attention to her friend, she kissed his grimy cheek. "Let Methos do his job, okay?"

"Okay." He winced a little as she wiped antiseptic across the gash. "Where are we going anyway, Birdie?"

"A SHIELD airfield, then the Stark jet to the Jackson Hole house."

"Why Jackson Hole?"

"It's off the beaten track, private, defensible, and has a satellite lab for you to start work on solving the Extremis problem. And no one will think it's odd that Tony Stark wanted to spend Christmas with his friends on a ski trip in the Tetons."

"You're really good at this," he said admiringly. "The cloak and dagger stuff," he elaborated at her questioning look.

"All part of the consultant package," she told him with a grin. "I'm what you get when the first string is otherwise engaged."

"I don't know, maybe Fury's right, maybe you should come back, you know, use your talents for the greater good. You could be my sidekick even." He winked at her, and then gasped as her war on his wounds with antiseptic hit a particularly sore spot. "Not nice!"

"Sorry," she said unrepentantly. "Tony, as tempting as that offer is, especially the absolute joy I'd feel being your sidekick, I have a job, several, in fact. So I'll have to pass, regretfully, of course."

"That was sarcasm, right?"

She just shook her head, beginning an examination of the rest of the damage that had been inflicted upon his body over the last seventy-two hours. Running a hand down his forearm, she asked, "What caused these punctures?"

"Me—subcutaneous micro-sensors for the prehensile suit trials. It's really awesome, Birdie, wait till you see how it works!"

"You? As in you injected yourself? All over your body?"

He didn't miss the icy undercurrent of her question. "Mostly? Umm, except the hard to reach spots; that was Dummy. Though he did inject like a dozen in one place, at the base of my spine, hurt like a son of a bitch, really unsteady pincers for a robot."

She grabbed his hand. "New rule one, Tony—no medical experimentation on yourself! Do you hear me? That path leads to Dr. Jekyll, or Aldrich Killian, if you need the reminder."

"Birdie—" he began.

"No! If you want to inject yourself with crap, you do it under professional medical supervision, or I'll make sure you need professional medical supervision!"

He raised his other hand in surrender. "Fine! If it'll keep you from hurting me, I will capitulate to your threats…errr, request," he hastily added.

"You better!"

"I will!"

She squeezed the hand she still held. "I love you, Tony, so just try and take care of yourself."

"Absolutely. You told me once that I was a man who could have everything. You were right." He looked towards Pepper, who was smiling at something Methos said. "I owe you, for believing in me, believing in the life I could have, even when I didn't."

"Just be happy, Tony. Love Pepper, and let her love you. That's all I need in the way of thanks."

"There's something else."

"Oh?"

He stroked her hair. "I have never been more grateful that you're not an ex-girlfriend, Birdie. You were right, all those years I tried to get you to change your mind, all the attempts I made." He laughed softly. "You can say 'I told you so' for the rest of my life, I swear."

She cocked her head, batting her eyelashes. "Oh, Mr. Stark, you do turn a girl's head."

He leaned in. "This doesn’t surprise me. Haven't you heard? I'm Iron Man."

End

Added bonus: My take on why Dummy was wearing the Dunce cap in the beginning of the movie.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4013019.html. Please comment here or there.

Marvel Timeline

2013-05-10T23:45:51Z

Saw in a tweet from Marvel today in answer to a question several of us have had about events in IM III and what was going on in the Marvel universe at the time.

Someone had asked where the heck SHIELD was during IM III, and the answer was that they were very busy,as we'll see over the course of the next two movies.

So that seems to bear out what a lot of seemed to think, that IM III is happening at the same tme as Thor II and Captain America II.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4012783.html. Please comment here or there.

'Equivocal Coalescence' (07/08)

2013-05-09T00:45:27Z

The moment I've been waiting for - Tony finds out Charlotte knew Howard. Of course, I didn't know she did, not till Captain America came out, with the inclusion of Howard, which ran smack into our already established WWII history for Charlotte and Ezra. So not really her fault, you know? We'll blame Nick Fury for this one :D Again, a much longer part than initially intended - hope you don't mind!

Fandoms: Iron Man/Marvel Movieverse, Highlander
Rating: PG15
Warnings/Notes: WIP, spoilers for Iron Man II as this is set during the events of the movie, gen friendship with background het.
Character(s): Tony Stark, Methos, Ezra Standish, Pepper Potts, Nick Fury, Phil Coulson, Natasha Romanoff/Natalie Rushman, James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, Jarvis, Joe Dawson, Justin Hammer, Original Characters.
Summary: Their whole world changed when Tony revealed he was Iron Man, but that wasn't nearly the end of it.

______________=______________

Chapter Seven

Charlotte had found a—relatively—quiet corner of the deck to compose herself. This area was off limits to party goers, not far from Tony's master suite. She leaned over the railing, looking down at the cliffs and ocean below, letting the pull of the surf mesmerize her.

"No jumping," Methos called from behind her.

"Just once?" she asked, looking over her shoulder, managing a weak smile.

"Yes, well, maybe just once," he said, stopping next to her and putting an arm around her waist.

"How'd you find me?"

"Pepper suggested you might be here. After Tony showed up and you didn't, we assumed it didn't go well."

"I'm getting predictable, I guess. I like this spot." She turned to lean against the railing, looking up at him. "I'm almost afraid to ask, but just how bad is Tony acting out?"

"He and Natalie blew things up with an arm from the suit, he was unforgivably rude to Pepper, and presumably, he and Natalie have gone in pursuit of more destruction."

Charlotte clenched her jaw, rubbing at her temple tiredly. "At least she's keeping him occupied."

Methos looked confused. "Excuse me, but you're actually glad Natalie Rushman is aiding and abetting Stark's outrageous behaviour? Am I missing something?"

"It's a long story, and I'll explain it all when we get home." She placed her palm against his chest. "I'm sorry, Methos, this wasn't what I had in mind when I asked you to come with me tonight. I know it's hard to believe, but Tony's parties are usually a lot of fun."

He took the hand, massaging the palm. "No apologies necessary, love. I've seen worse, and god only knows, behaved worse in my time. At least he hasn't taken to threatening to shoot his guests." At her questioning look, he elaborated, "When Byron got like Stark is tonight, he could be hazardous to be around."

"Mad, bad, and dangerous to know?"

"Exactly."

"Take me home?"

"Are you sure it's a good idea leaving Stark unattended?"

"My being here is only exacerbating the situation. Tony's being handled by professionals, and I have nothing left to give tonight."

"I'm sorry, Charlotte, for everything. I know how much he means to you, how this must be tearing you apart." At the gentleness in his voice, she almost lost it, brushing at her eyes.

"We only just got him back, Methos. Those months after he was taken were so horrible. Me, Pepper, Jim, Ezra, we were a family, we kept each other strong. And then, beyond hope, he was returned to us, and now I have to face losing him all over again? It's not fair!"

Methos had no words that could comfort her, drawing her into his arms and holding her till she had no tears left.

______________==============______________

"I'm not that late, am I?" Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes asked, climbing the steps to where Charlotte and Methos were waiting for their car to be brought around.

Charlotte's laugh held no warmth. "It's later than you think, Jim." Hugging him, she said, "It's good to see you."

"You've been crying."

"It's been that kind of night."

"What the hell did Tony do this time?"

"What hasn't he done, might be more the question," Methos offered dryly.

"Tony's sick, Jim, maybe dying." He dropped his eyes, looking uncomfortable. "But you knew that, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I found out last night. He collapsed, needed me to switch out the palladium core."

"So that was it," she said to herself. "I knew something had happened after I saw him yesterday morning," she explained. "Jim, it isn't good. I don't know what else to do. I just hope to God you can make him see reason." She reached up, kissing him on the cheek. "Please be careful, Tony's being…unpredictable."

Nodding, he squeezed her shoulder. "You go home. I'll deal with Tony, don't you worry."

______________==============______________

"And just how long do I have to wait to get you out of that dress?" Methos asked cheerfully as they walked out onto the deck of the Malibu house that Stark Industries provided Charlotte, a benefit of her position as head of SI's new charitable division.

"Patience is a virtue," she said primly. "You promised me wine and romance, remember?" She waved the bottle of wine and glasses she held in her hands at him.

"And you know that virtue is something I sorely lack," he said, grabbing her around the waist, pulling her to a halt and nuzzling her neck.

After leaving the party, they'd driven down One to Culver City for In-N-Out, then had grabbed some gelato at Grom in Malibu before heading back home. Considering the way the evening had started, she was in a ridiculously good mood. A good mood that was remarkably short lived.

"You can do the wine, but romance is off the schedule," Nick Fury's voice said from somewhere in front of them. "Unavoidable scheduling conflict."

"Damn it," she said under her breath, slumping in Methos' arms. She looked up at him apologetically. "I swear I'll make this up to you."

He kissed her. "I'll be waiting for you when you're done." He gave her one more kiss before he walked back towards the house.

______________==============______________

"And to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" she asked coolly.

"Who, not what," Nick corrected her. "You left the party—didn't anticipate that."

"Good to know I can still surprise you." She set the wine bottle and glasses she still held on a side table, before sitting on a cushioned chaise lounge, leaning against the back, and tucking her legs underneath her. "Tony was being supervised by the seemingly very competent Agent Natasha. I, on the other hand, had overstayed my welcome."

Nick sat on the side of the same chaise, one knee on the edge, turning towards her. "I'm surprised you didn't make her before now."

"Don't rub it in. Anyway, I've had other things on my mind, and as I told Natasha, I'm rusty."

"I need you get unrusty, and fast."

She shook her head. "You are unbelievable!" Straightening, she glared at him. "I don't work for you, nor do I intend to change that state of affairs anytime in the foreseeable future, so you can go to hell. Preferably after you've seen yourself out," she added pointedly.

He began to laugh, which just made her angrier. "And let the wine go to waste?" Picking up the bottle, he filled both glasses, handing one to Charlotte. "I belong to your wine club, you know."

"You do not!"

"Truth." He took a sip from his glass. "Now this is good—how come it hasn't been in any club shipments?"

"Because it's my private reserve, shared with only a select few."

"Bet Stark has more than a couple cases in his cellar."

"I am so not discussing Tony with you," she told him, jaw set stubbornly.

He looked at her with his one eye. "Oh, yes you are. You're my wildcard, Charlotte Sparrow, and I'm playing you now." He reached into the inner pocket of his black leather duster, pulling out a tablet, sliding a finger over the screen before handing it to her. "Want to reconsider?"

Her eyes widened as she watched a recording of Tony's mansion seemingly exploding. "Was anyone hurt?"

"No."

She nodded, playing it over, taking in the destruction that had occurred after she'd left. "What happened?"

"Colonel Rhodes happened; seems he took exception to Stark using the Iron Man armour as a party favour. He took one of the suits, told Stark to power it down, and when his best buddy refused, all hell broke loose."

"Jim took a suit? He told me he was going to take care of Tony, but I had no idea that's what he had in mind."

"You would have tried to stop him if you had."

She snorted. "I would have helped." Handing the tablet back to her old friend, she asked, "Where's Tony now?"

"Somewhere over the Pacific—but when he comes down to Earth, we're going to have a visit, your BFF and me."

"Why exactly are you here?"

"Me? To ask for your help," he said sincerely.

"Ask or order?" She cocked an eyebrow.

"Ask." At her look of doubt, he said, "Really." She nodded, indicating that he continue. "I'm going to read Stark in on Howard; what he doesn't know about his father."

"Have fun with that," she said dryly.

He leaned in. "I was wrong, Charlotte, when I wouldn't let you tell Stark about your past, the SSR, World War Two…us. I should have trusted your instincts."

"You want something," she accused.

"Charlotte—"

She held up a finger. "No, don't even try, Nicholas. You're trying to soften me up: flattery, that endearing charm that you turn on when it suits you."

"Endearing charm?" He tried not to look smug. "Is it working?"

"Nicholas!" she warned.

He took a swallow of his wine. "Fine, I made a dumb-ass decision, and now, I'm taking it back. You need to tell Stark everything."

"Now? After Tony and I had a fight, when he's least likely to ever forgive me for keeping more secrets, now is when you want me to tell him I knew Howard?" Outrage filled her voice. "No!"

He let out a heavy breath. "Listen to me, what I'm about to reveal to him? It's big, and may hold the key to saving Stark's life. You, you can make that connection with Stark, put a real face on the Howard that he never knew. I need him to be focused, to trust in what Howard left for him, to believe that his father wasn't the heartless bastard that Stark thinks he was."

"Wasn't he?"

"Come on, Charlotte, you know the man Howard was. And he had regrets, believe me. He was aware of his shortcomings, and his failures—but he never believed his son was one of them."

______________==============______________

Charlotte bent down, picking up Lego pirate Tony from the floor of the ruined great room. An arm was missing, and the body had a crack across it—a little too much symbolism for her taste at this particular moment. Clenching it in her hand, she took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come.

"Ma'am?" Agent Coulson repeated. This time, it actually registered. "If you'll follow me?"

"Of course," she murmured.

They walked out to the deck, where Tony sat slumped in a chair, staring down at a storage container.

"You have a visitor," Coulson told him.

Tony didn't look up. "I thought I was grounded, dad?"

Coulson glanced at Charlotte, then back to Tony. "This one has clearance."

"Isn't that special." Still, he stared at the gray foot locker at his feet.

"I'll leave you to it, ma'am," Coulson told her. "The Director would like a word when you're done."

"Thank you, Agent Coulson," she said. Coulson gave her an encouraging smile before walking away.

Tony's head had shot up at the sound of her voice. "I don't think they let you in here to bring me coffee," he said tightly as she approached, putting a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf cup on the table in front of him.

"No, but I don't think you'd turn down a triple espresso regardless," she replied, sitting down on a small sofa across from him.

He twisted his lips, studying her. Then he reached for the cup. "You think correctly." Taking a long swallow, his eyes never left hers.

She tossed the broken Lego figure onto his lap. "It was amazing, what you did with the pirate ship, even if it didn't survive long."

"Yeah, well, you know how it is with cheap mass produced crap."

"Tony, shut the hell up." She pointed a finger at him. "What's in that trunk, what Howard left for you, it's important, and you're going to study every word, every note, every drawing till you figure out what you need to save your God-damned life! You want to hate me, drive me away? Fine, go for it, but I'm not letting you be till I know you’re going to be okay!"

He sat ramrod straight, zeroing in on just one thing. "Howard," he said accusingly. "For a genius, I'm an idiot. Do I congratulate you on playing me for a fool all these years?"

"If you really believe that, Tony, then you really are a fool."

"Fine, then you look me in the eye and tell me you didn't know Dad. If you can't do that, then we're done here."

"We're done when I tell Agent Coulson we are, and not before. So deal with it."

He laughed bitterly. "All this time, you've been one of them—" he waved at two SHIELD agents who were guarding the perimeter "—and I never suspected, not once. Fury must be very proud."

"For the record, I'm not one of them. In fact, I hadn't seen Nick Fury for ten years, not until after you decided to play show and tell and reveal to the whole damn world you were Iron Man. I walked away from that life long before you were born, Tony, and I didn't want to go back. But thanks to you, I ended up back in their sites."

"So this is my fault? Anything else you'd like to blame me for? World hunger, climate change, Justin Bieber?"

"I'm not blaming you, Tony, I'm just correcting the many wild assumptions you seem to be making. Fury contacted me initially to see if I'd be willing to influence you, to nudge you into the fold." She clicked her tongue. "He'd forgotten just how stubborn I can be."

"Not sure how anyone could forget that", he sniped.

"If you care, I told him to go to hell."

He slipped down into his chair, fiddling with the tie of the robe he was wearing. "It hasn't escaped my notice that you still haven't denied knowing my father."

She shrugged. "I knew Howard, I knew a lot of people during the war, he happened to be one of them."

"Happened to be? I think that's a pretty big omission, Birdie, not telling me you knew my dad."

"Tony, I didn't plan this, any of it. Hell, I didn't even want to meet you at that party! I was furious with Ezra for trying to set me up, you know that. I thought you were a philandering egotistical entitled playboy." She stopped, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Well, you were, but I didn't know you had depth then."

"Nice."

"If it makes you feel better, I may have thought you'd be a jerk, but I did think you had very pretty eyes."

"Birdie!"

"Yes?"

"Are you going to tell me how you knew Howard, or what?"

"I don't know, Tony. Are you ready to listen to what I have to say and stop being a petulant SOB?"

He chopped his hand in the air. "Fine, truce…for now."

She sighed, rubbing her temple. It wasn't a given that Tony was going to forgive her, and it broke her heart. But she couldn't allow him to see what this was doing to her. She needed him focused on fighting for his life, and if anger at her helped fuel that, then so be it.

"First, the legal stuff: what I'm about to tell you is classified—even Matthew doesn't know all of it. Ezra and I wanted to tell you, but Nicholas, Director Fury," she corrected, "wouldn't allow us to, reminding us we were still bound by the oaths of secrecy we made during the war. He's decided since then that he screwed up in making that particular decision."

"Ez? He was a part of all this too?"

"He was. Ezra and I were agents in the SSR, the Strategic Scientific Reserve, along with Ezra's wife, Molly Tanner. Molly's brother, Kevin, had ties with the organization, and I was approached at a dinner party about a year and a half before Pearl Harbor. The SSR was a precursor to SHIELD."

It was apparent that Tony was interested despite himself. "Why you? On the face of it, you don't exactly seem the secret agent type."

She laughed lightly. "No, I don't suppose I do. But remember, the Tanners have been Ezra's Watchers since Vin Tanner took up the charge. Kevin, his grandson, was the current Tanner to hold the position. He knew what we were, the talents we had that might not be obvious to the casual observer."

"Okay, so Tanner knew, but what about the SSR?"

"It came as a great shock to me that Colonel Phillips knew exactly what I was. I will admit my first instinct was to run, to drop off the map. The idea that the government knew about Immortals filled me with dread. It was only my trust in Kevin that kept me in the house."

"And how did the government find out about you anyway?"

"From the Nazis; there were several Immortals who were highly placed in their scientific directorate, an organization called HYDRA."

"Fight fire with fire?"

"Pretty much."

"So you joined up, and…?"

"And that's when I met Howard. He kept a lot of Americans and Allied Forces alive with his weapons technology—including me."

"And just how well did you know him?" The question was half innuendo and half accusation.

"Oh, for God's sake, Tony, I never had sex with your father." She waited for just the right moment, as he took a drink of espresso, to add, "And neither did Ezra." She was rewarded with Tony having a choking fit.

Finally catching his breath, he glared at her. "That wasn't very nice."

"But it was satisfying," she replied serenely. Serious once more, she leaned forward. "I didn't really know your father that well, Tony. You have to remember, I was out with my team, behind enemy lines, a good deal of the time. Your Aunt Peggy was the one who knew him best."

He shook his head. "She wasn't some distant relative from England, was she?"

"No, she wasn't. In fact, that book about pirates you told me she gave you? It was a present from me when she came to visit after the war—small world." She smiled gently. "I'm glad she gave the book to you when you were a child, Tony; Jack would have liked you very much."

Tony seemed startled by that. "I guess—" he stopped, then started again "—I suppose that's a good thing, right?"

"A very good thing," she agreed.

She said a silent prayer, as Tony seemed to lose some of the anger, become more receptive to what she had to tell him.

"How does Fury figure into all this? He made it plain he knew Dad pretty well, but he looks too young for that to be possible. And the way you talk about him, it's familiar, not just the guy who's the current head of the top secret boy band that's dogging you."

She laughed outright of his estimation of Nicholas. "He isn't like me and Ez—Immortal. But his story isn't mine to tell. I can tell you that during the war, he was Sergeant Fury, he led our team, and I owe him my life." Unbidden, memories of her time as a prisoner of HYDRA came to the fore, and she shivered.

Tony reached out a hand across the small table, brushing hers. "You okay?" There was concern in those two words.

"Yeah, fine. Just sometimes, the bad memories sideswipe you. But you know that."

"You were a POW," he stated without a hint of doubt. Tony always had a knack for seeing past any walls she might throw up. "That's why you got it, after I came home, after Afghanistan."

"I was captured during a mission. Nicholas and Ezra, they came after me. If they hadn't rescued me…that would have been my last death." She gave herself a mental shake and continued her story. "After the war, the SSR was disbanded, but later, several of the former members—including your father—founded SHIELD."

"But not you."

"Not me. I walked away from that life, from Agent Charlotte Black, and had no desire to revisit the past, no matter how much Nicholas wanted to get the band back together."

Tony didn't respond, just sat there quietly with that look on his face that he reserved for either solving equations or picking what single malt he wanted to drink. All Charlotte wanted was to know she hadn't lost her best friend. Her heart clenched and she realized that a part of her was already grieving.

Closing her eyes, she took a breath, letting it out slowly. Then she opened her eyes, reaching out a hand to brush Tony's knee ever so briefly. "I don't know how it got so complicated, Tony, or maybe I do. I might be nearly three hundred years old, but that doesn't mean I don't lose my way, that I don't screw up my life spectacularly when the occasion arises. All I do know is that our friendship has been one of the most important relationships in my life. When we met, that night in Monte Carlo, I had no idea my life was about to change; I would have told you I liked my life just the way it was. What I didn't know? That you would remind me of the joy that could be had in living a life spontaneously. And that, Tony, is more precious than you can ever know." There, that was the truth of it; she could say no more that might sway him.

Tony stood up, his eyes searching hers. Then he walked around the table to sit next to her on the sofa. The question he asked, she hadn't expected. "You owe Fury your life?"

"I do."

He nodded. "But you chose me." He took her hand in his, twining their fingers together, and her heart soared.

Sighing, she shook her head. "What we shared during the war, that will always be a part of us. But, Tony, what Nicholas wanted from me was as director of SHIELD. I would lay down my life for him, never doubt that, but I would never compromise you, our friendship, to serve his agenda—or the Council's."

He bit at his lower lip. "You think the answer's in there, Birdie?" He kicked at the gray foot locker stenciled with Howard Stark's name.

"I do." She brushed back a strand of his hair. "Tony, Matthew told me after my first death that there were so many experiences awaiting me, that this life could be filled with wonder. It took me a long time to believe him, but he was right. The answer is out there, to save your life, and when you do, Tony love, what awaits you…you can't even imagine."

______________==============______________

][ PART ONE ][ PART TWO ][ PART THREE ][ PART FOUR ][ PART FIVE ][ PART SIX ][ PART SEVEN ][

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4012428.html. Please comment here or there.

Pleased

2013-05-07T23:34:19Z

As some of you know, I wrote a set of interconnected ficlets that are set just a few days before IM III, and hoo boy, I didn't get Jossed! I'm actually kinda pleased at how well they work with what I finally saw in the movie! It's nice when it works out.

I really want to write fic set during IM III now, but must finish current IM II story, and the one set during Avengers before I go crazy.

Speaking of IM II story - note to those waiting for the next part of Equivocal Coalescence, the current part is this close to being done, so hope to have it posted this week at some point. It just kept growing in length and has taken longer to finish than anticipated.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4012253.html. Please comment here or there.

How Much Did I Love It?

2013-05-07T03:50:24Z

Back from Vegas and pooped. More details on the trip at some point, but must squee. We ended up seeing Iron Man III three times, and...

This was everything IM II was not. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed IM II, it just didn't quite hit the mark in some ways for me - this did. I came out of the first viewing on cloud nine, and wanted to go right back in to see it again.

Just a few disjointed thoughts.

Tony was Tony - perfect. The PTSD, the anxiety attacks, dealing with ghosts form the past, all of it was so my head canon. Pepper continues to find her place and grow and Tony and Pepper, continue to grow together as a couple. Loved Happy in this, right down to the Downton scenes (though such current time pop culture references were a little odd for me). Oh, Yinsen at the Bern conference [weeps]. Due to research, I knew some about the Extremis thing, so very glad they didn't go there - the whole idea squicked me out. Tony having the Arc Reactor removed made me weepy, in a good way. Salvaging the robots! That scene where they slid off into the ocean.... :( I knew Pepper couldn't have died, because reaction to the movie, even without spoilers, wouldn't have been so positive the week leading up to the North American release. Tony and the kid. Now normally I'm not a fan of cute kid insertions, but this was pretty good. Ben Kingsley was brilliant - magnificent twist. The after the credits scene!!! PERFECT!! I like the fact the three movies are a complete story. Can't wait for the next book!

I'll deal with the nitpicky and questions later on. I'm in my happy place right now.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4011885.html. Please comment here or there.

Vegas, baby!

2013-05-02T20:26:31Z

We arrived safely yesterday morning, a really long day after we fetched all from airport over next 12 hours. It was about 1am when we got to bed.

Nin, Roberta and Casey are gambling currently, and since I don't gamble, I'm contributing to ensure vice quotient by sitting in the bar behind Nin's black jack table, drinking a Margari-tine at 1pm.

Iron Man III
in 8 hours!

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4011319.html. Please comment here or there.

Ugh

2013-04-29T05:23:18Z

If I'd ever had any sympathy for Regina, it's totally gone now.

More in depth later when I'm not so sleepy--maybe.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4011176.html. Please comment here or there.

Hoping For Squee

2013-04-25T00:46:12Z

Several people I know on Twitter and on LJ/DW are at the midnight premiere of Iron Man III in the UK, and I'm so hoping they come out with squee and not ho hum. Can't wait to see it next week!!! All the trailers I've seen lead me to hope it's going to be awesome, and I'M THIS EXCITED!!!! My hope is the after the credits scene will lead to Thor II, but I have a feeling it'll probably be for Guardians of the Galaxy, which I have no interest in. On the bright side, that means on the rewatches, I can head straight for the restroom and not have to wait till the credits end.

Oh, and Red Carpet from Hollywood is about to start, if you want to watch it live here.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4010935.html. Please comment here or there.

I have seen the Thor II Trailer...

2013-04-24T01:36:24Z

and as I said on Twitter, "I am burdened with glorious product." :D

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4010638.html. Please comment here or there.

'Equivocal Coalescence' (06/08)

2013-04-14T21:45:09Z

This chapter is a bit of a long one, but I hope it's worth it. I'm really pleased at how it turned out, and hope you enjoy reading it.

Fandoms: Iron Man/Marvel Movieverse, Highlander
Rating: PG15
Warnings/Notes: WIP, spoilers for Iron Man II as this is set during the events of the movie, gen friendship with background het.
Character(s): Tony Stark, Methos, Ezra Standish, Pepper Potts, Nick Fury, Phil Coulson, Natasha Romanoff/Natalie Rushman, James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, Jarvis, Joe Dawson, Justin Hammer, Original Characters.
Summary: Their whole world changed when Tony revealed he was Iron Man, but that wasn't nearly the end of it.

______________=______________

Chapter Six

As they neared the end of the long winding driveway, Charlotte checked her 'Jarvis-phone' one last time for messages. As she started to put it in her evening bag, the AI's voice issued from the car's stereo speakers. "Madam, Mr. Stark requests your presence in his suite."

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"Indeed not, madam," Jarvis replied. "He was quite insistent."

She shook her head at the facetious note in Jarvis' response—he seemed more real to her some days than actual flesh and blood people she knew. "Please tell Mr. Stark that I hear and obey."

"As do we all, madam," he said, sounding long-suffering. "I shall inform him, madam."

Giving her shiny new phone a look, she shoved it in her purse. "I think that'll have to go. I will not have Tony using his tech, not to mention a present, to issue orders!"

Methos glanced at her before returning his attention to the road. "Realistically, he could use Jarvis to hijack your old cellphone and do the exact same thing."

"You had to say that?" she demanded. "Really?"

He just grinned, shrugging, slowing the car to a stop in front of Tony's Malibu mansion on Point Dume. Valets quickly opened the doors, one helping her from the car as Methos handed the other the keys to the Aston Martin. The car had been a gift from Tony a few months before; a gift Charlotte was looking at now with fresh eyes, realizing the sign it may have been, if only she'd realized.

Methos came around the car, taking her hand. "You look stunning." The warmth of his voice made her heart flutter a little. He leaned closer, saying softly at her ear, "The way you look in that dress makes me regret ever leaving our bedroom."

"I'm glad you approve," she said huskily. Pepper had been the one to convince her to buy the Herve Leger foil-printed corset dress the last time they'd gone shopping in Manhattan. Tony's birthday party had seemed the perfect opportunity to wear something just a little racier than was her usual. "Maybe after my presentation at the Expo, we could go somewhere for a few days, and I promise we won't leave the room at all."

"Absolutely." His hands cupped her throat. "I'm going to hold you to that."

"I hope so." Regretfully, she sighed as he loosed his hold and stepped away. Looking around at the mayhem surrounding them, she said, "This is a madhouse, even for one of Tony's parties."

"Let's do this then," he said, once more taking her hand, joining the throng making their way up the walk and into the house.

From the open door, the sounds of music and hundreds of people talking blended with the crash of the surf rising up the cliffs, and the occasional gull managing to make itself heard over the din As they entered, the roar of sound assaulted them full force, an almost physical sensation. Charlotte led Methos around the perimeter of the great room, towards where Pepper stood by the open patio doors, taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter as she went.

"Is the entire population of Los Angeles here?" she asked Pepper, kissing her on the cheek in greeting.

Pepper scanned the room. "I'm beginning to think so. But you know Tony. I'm so glad you came, both of you." She smiled at Methos. "I really need the moral support.

"Happy to be here," Methos assured her.

"Do you think you could get me a real drink?" Charlotte asked him.

"Moral support?" Pepper asked with a rueful smile. "Make that two, if you don't mind, Matthew."

"Two martinis—make hers dirty and give her my olives," Charlotte instructed.

"You've done this before." The two women looked at each other and laughed. "I'll be right back."

Watching Methos leave, Pepper said, "You make him happy."

"Do you think so?"

"You doubt?" Pepper asked, surprised.

Suddenly, she felt unaccountably shy. "I guess…maybe sometimes I'm just not sure why he loves me."

"I so do not want to hear that sort of talk! He's damn lucky to have you, and if you have to, repeat that to yourself as often as it takes."

"Yes, ma'am." Charlotte put her arm around Pepper's waist. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Following suit, she put her arm around Charlotte. "Come on, I have something to show you."

_____==_____

Pepper drew her to a stop at a table to the side of the fireplace. "You made Tony's month with your birthday gift."

"Oh my god!" Charlotte had given Tony a Lego pirate ship for his birthday as something of an inside joke after his discovery of her immortality and her past as the wife of a pirate captain. It was a gift he seemed to have run with. "It's incredible and certainly not what was in the box."

"It's his pride and joy." Pepper had a genuine smile on her face, with none of the stress that had lined it only minutes before.

Charlotte leaned in closer, examining Tony's modifications; there was sound, lighting, and special effects. Laughing, she reached out a finger, touching a little Lego woman that had not come included, one that looked suspiciously like her, swinging from the rigging of the ship, a tiny sword in her hand. Looking up at Pepper, she said, "So that's what I look like in Lego."

"And there's Tony." Pepper pointed to the prow of the ship. Sure enough, there was little pirate Tony, complete with tiny Arc Reactor glowing in his chest.

"That is very cool." She straightened. "Just where is the birthday boy anyway?"

"Getting ready."

"Primping, you mean." She rolled her eyes, and Pepper giggled.

"Well you know how vain he is."

"Don't I!" With one last look at the Lego ship, she said, "I've been summoned to his side, so I suppose I'd best get on with it."

"Good luck with that."

"From your lips, Pepper, from your lips."

______________==============______________

In the hall leading to Tony's bedroom, Charlotte paused, hearing voices, his and a woman's. Throwing back what was left of her martini, and setting the empty glass on a side table, she edged a little closer to the entry, not wanting to be on the visual receiving end of one of Tony's hookups.

"If this was your last birthday party you were ever going to have, how would you celebrate it?" she heard Tony ask.

"I'd do whatever I wanted do to…with whoever I wanted to do it with," the woman's voice replied, a voice Charlotte recognized as Natalie Rushman's.

All the little things that had seemed off about Natalie, from that day at Stark Industries in legal, through to the attack in Monte Carlo, coalesced in Charlotte's mind. She'd been more off her game than she'd realized. Backing away again, she waited in the shadows. It was time she and Natalie had a little talk.

She didn't have long to wait. In fact, Natalie almost passed her by, before coming to a halt, snapping her body around to face Charlotte. That was the last bit of confirmation she needed. Those were the instincts of someone with training—and not the kind it took to become a paralegal. But it was the look in Natalie's eyes that was the clincher. It was what she had seen so briefly in Monaco--what Charlotte saw in her own mirror.

"Did I startle you…Natalie?"

She'd already composed herself, now once more Tony Stark's unthreatening PA. "A little, ma'am. Did you need something? I know Mr. Stark's been waiting for you. Shall I announce you?"

"Tony can wait. And why don't you call me Charlotte? After all, we seem to have so much in common."

"Ma'am?"

Charlotte didn't reply, waving a hand at Natalie, indicating she follow her to the adjacent study, which was empty.

"Close the door please."

"Ms. Sparrow—" Natalie said from behind her "—if I've done something to upset you, I'm sorry. I know Mr. Stark thinks the world of you and I really love my job—"

Turning to face Natalie, Charlotte shook her head sharply. "Stop! I know, Natalie, or whatever your name is. I should have realized weeks ago, but I'm rusty, off my game, and you…you're very good. One of the best I've seen." She held up her hands as Natalie began her rote protestation of innocence. "If you try to tell me you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm going to think less of you, honestly."

The silence that fell was heavy with all the possibilities of what might happen next. Natalie studied Charlotte, as if mentally weighing the options on some internal scale. Then her entire demeanor changed, like a rose going from bud to bloom before her eyes—or from Labrador puppy to wolf.

"The woman who took Ingo Mannus' head wasn't rusty."

Raising an eyebrow, Charlotte replied, "Saw that did you?"

Nodding, she crossed her arms over her chest, leaning against the corner of the glass topped desk. "It was breathtaking," she said with frank appreciation.

"And I'm certain you are pretty damn breathtaking yourself...?"

"Natasha." A small smile curled her lips. "You made me—my boss won't be too happy about that."

She snorted. "It takes one to know one, Natasha. Besides, your boss should have told me he had you in play. It would have made things a whole lot easier."
God damn Nicholas anyway. One day soon, she and her old compatriot needed to reach some sort of truce before someone got hit by friendly fire.

"He didn't want to burden you with more secrets to keep from your best friend."

"His concern is touching," she said coolly.

She straightened. "Will you tell Stark?"

"I'd say that depends."

"On what?"

"On whether or not I discover that SHIELD has been manipulating him." She took a step closer to Natasha, then another. "He's sick, isn't he?"

"Yes."

She clenched her fists. In a deceptively soft voice, she asked, "And is SHIELD doing anything about that? Or are you using it to control him; control Iron Man?"

Natasha looked her straight in the eye. "We're doing something about that, ma'am. We hope to have something soon, get him back to work so he can find a cure."

Taking a shaky breath, she nodded. "I hope to God you're telling me the truth, Natasha."

"I have no reason to lie, Charlotte."

She laughed outright at that. "Please! You have every reason to lie. So maybe I'm being a fool, but I choose to believe you, believe your boss; for now, at least. And for now, I'll keep your secret. It puts my mind at ease that you're watching over him."

______________==============______________

"Nice of you to make an appearance. Only took you, what, an hour to make it here." Tony was slumped in a brown leather chair at the end of the large room, by the wall of glass that looked out over the coast, already half drunk.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes, the concern with which she'd entered Tony's room quickly evaporating when faced with petulant superhero genius. "I'm sorry I didn't respond to your summons with enough alacrity," she said sarcastically. "I don't work for you, Tony, so I can show up when I damn well please!"

"You did...well, for a few months at least," he pointed out.

"Did what?"

"Work for me."

"I did not!"

"Yeah, you did," He leaned back in his chair. "Memory going in your old age, Birdie?"

"I never accepted a salary—" she pointed a finger at him "—so technically, I did not work for you!"

"Technically? So we're all about being technical now. Okay, so technically, it's my birthday, and you should be nicer to me for once!"

"For once! When am I not nice to you?" she demanded.

"Tahiti!" he shot back without even thinking about it.

"Tahiti?" she repeated incredulously. "You were drunk, naked and passed out on my bedroom floor! I fell over you when I got out of bed!"

"And you weren't very nice about it."

"I'm nice enough when I bail you out of foreign prisons after you insult the local potentate!"

"Hey, that only happened once!"

"Twice," she corrected smugly.

"Well if you're going to be technical about it," he groused, picking up his martini and draining it. "And where's Rushman with more of these?"

"I sent her away, and besides, haven't you had enough? You haven't even gone to your own party yet."

"It's my birthday, so I get to say when it's enough. And just why did you send my employee away?"

"There are several hundred people out there, Tony. It's her job to manage your party, not to dress you—you're a grownup, aren't you?" She paused. "Oh, wait, that was a stupid question, wasn't it?"

Tony narrowed his eyes. "What the hell is your problem?"

"My problem? I don’t know, Tony, would you like a list?"

"No, you know what? I don't care. What I do want is another drink, another several drinks!"

"Is that what you want, Tony? Fine!" She strode over to the end of the long bureau, sliding open a cupboard and pulling out a bottle of tequila and two glasses. She practically threw the bottle at him when she returned to his side. "Here!"

He pulled out the stopper, slopping the liquor into the glass she'd put on the table next to him. "Happy birthday to me," he said defiantly, taking a swallow.

"Give me that." She took the bottle from his hand, pouring her own glass. "Because I'm sure not continuing this with you sober."

"That's my Birdie, knew you'd get with the program."

She stilled, searching his face. "You did, didn't you? Was that the plan, Tony? Pick a fight, get me mad, distract me?"

He didn't look at her. "I don't know what's wrong with you tonight," he muttered.

"I'm right, aren't I?" She sat on the wide chair arm, facing him. "I let you push all my buttons, and you do it so effortlessly, I almost didn't realize what you were doing!" He tried to get up, but she put her hands against his chest, pushing him back. "Yesterday, when you came to see me, everything seemed fine. But something happened later to change that didn't it? Didn't it, Tony?"

He looked up at her. "You have no idea what you're talking about," he said angrily, pulling her into his lap. "So unless you plan to make this birthday really memorable—" he ran his hands up her thighs "—I have a party to get to."

Sucking in a breath, she shook her head. "Oh no, Tony, that's not going to work this time. You were a bastard to me in Monte Carlo, and I fell for it." Before he could stop her, she pulled his shirt open. "But now I know it was because you didn't want me to see this." She rested her palm against the tracks of the palladium poisoning that marked his chest. "Why didn't you tell me, Tony?"

He was gripping her wrists hard, and she wasn't sure if he was going to push her away, or let her in. Grimacing, he closed his eyes, and when he opened them, they were filled with the same torment she'd seen after he returned from his captivity in Afghanistan. "Because of this, Birdie, because I couldn't stand the thought of the pity, the grief, as you watched me die. Does that answer your question?" he asked bitterly.

"Yes, Tony, it does." She swallowed back her tears. "But this, all of this, we've wasted so much time fighting, you being a jerk. I don't want those to be my last memories, Tony."

"I don't either," he said, pulling her head down, kissing her with an intensity that took her by surprise.

Pulling away, she shook her head. "Tony, no, this isn't what you want. You're drunk, ill, and not thinking clearly."

"You're wrong, this is what I want, Birdie." He kissed her again, this time gently, his hands stroking her back.

"Tony, I can't do this, we can't do this. I'm with Matthew, I love him, you know that, know how long we were apart before we found one another again."

He looked at her intently, holding her face in his hands. "What's a few more months? You're Immortal, both of you. At the most, I have maybe six months, and then I'll be dust, while the two of you, you have centuries to be together." The quiet desperation in his voice broke her heart. "I don't want to be alone, Birdie."

"Stop it, please, just stop." This time, she managed to extricate herself from his grasp, getting to her feet. "I don't accept that there's no hope left, Tony. I refuse to treat you as if you're already dead!" Backing up, she curled her hands together, holding them up, pleading for his understanding. "I won't let you do something that I know in my heart you'll regret tomorrow."

He looked as if she'd slapped him. Hell, she may as well have in his present state of mind. Propelling himself out of the chair, he picked up the bottle of tequila, taking a long hard drink. Then he said, "If we're done here, there's a party with my name on it." He brushed past her.

"Tony, please—"

He looked over his shoulder as he walked away. "Don't worry, Charlotte, I won't be alone for long—I'm not picky."

______________==============______________

][ PART ONE ][ PART TWO ][ PART THREE ][ PART FOUR ][ PART FIVE ][ PART SIX ][ PART SEVEN ][

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4010468.html. Please comment here or there.

Writing Explosion

2013-04-14T17:45:56Z

Wow, brain! I either can't get it to string a few sentences together or it goes nitro. I wrote nearly 3000 words yesterday! I found my angsty emo Tony place and just couldn't stop. Even with having to make sure the part ended in the right emotional place to segue into the scene from the movie, at the birthday party, when Tony and Rhody blow up the mansion. I want to write more today, but I really need to remember I need to get some RL things accomplished today as well.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4009948.html. Please comment here or there.

Oh, timeline, how you vex me.

2013-04-13T18:40:31Z

Have realized I screwed up the timing in latest fic: I've made it weeks instead of months between Transformative Variations and Equivocal Coalescence, and considering I shot Happy in TV, he can't be running around as active as he is in IM II. Unless I pretend the Happy parts didn't happen in my universe, which I could go with since the two scenes with Natalie aren't used in my story. Or I go back and tweak everything I've already posted. Or or or, no one actually notices/remembers/cares.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4009727.html. Please comment here or there.

Let the countdown begin!

2013-04-12T22:17:24Z

In anticipation of Iron Man III's imminent arrival, I made two new default icons - one for DW, the other for LJ. It's getting close!!

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4009408.html. Please comment here or there.

'Equivocal Coalescence' (05/08)

2013-04-11T23:29:36Z

So this has grown by a chapter, in part due to an extra deleted scene included in the Phase One set for Iron Man II, and Joe Dawson walking in. If they'll all stop being so chatty, maybe this will be six chapters, but if the don't, I can see seven :D

Fandoms: Iron Man/Marvel Movieverse, Highlander
Rating: PG15
Warnings/Notes: WIP, spoilers for Iron Man II as this is set during the events of the movie, gen friendship with background het.
Character(s): Tony Stark, Methos, Ezra Standish, Pepper Potts, Nick Fury, Phil Coulson, Natasha Romanoff/Natalie Rushman, James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, Joe Dawson, Justin Hammer, Original Characters.
Summary: Their whole world changed when Tony revealed he was Iron Man, but that wasn't nearly the end of it.

______________=______________

Chapter Five

"Wasn't that something?" Joe Dawson jerked a thumb towards the flatscreen TV on the far wall of the saloon. The twenty-four hour news channel had just finished replaying, for what seemed like the hundredth time, Tony Stark's 'statement' last night from the deck of his Malibu home to the news helicopter hovering overhead.

Charlotte looked up briefly, the little lines of stress around her eyes fighting with the fatigue that weighted down her shoulders for dominance. "You could call it that." Shaking her head, she finished signing the checks that Joe had put in front of her.
"Thanks." Joe slid the checks towards him. "That'll take us through to the end of the month. He paused, before reaching out a hand, laying it on Charlotte's. "If you don't mind me saying, you look like you could use a vacation."

She flashed him a crooked smile. After their rocky start, she had become quite fond of Methos' good friend, despite him being a Watcher. Not to mention, he was the best manager the Standish & Black Saloon had ever had. "After Monte Carlo, I think I'm swearing off vacations for a while."

He squeezed her fingers, and then pulled his hand back, one finger tapping the table top. "Maybe you and Methos should take a break, go somewhere quiet."

She raised an eyebrow. "Do you now?"

"Hell, I'm an old softie underneath this suave and polished exterior." He chuckled. "There must be someplace special to you two."

Biting at her lower lip, she thought about it. "Do you know, Joe, Methos and I have never been away together; no long weekends, or romantic getaways." When she'd been married to Jack, Methos was a constant in their lives, sharing uncounted adventures with the pirate captain. Later, in New Mexico, they'd never had but a brief space of time together before Methos' past had caught up with him, and he'd left, just before their wedding. The realization made her surprisingly melancholy. "I'm actually not sure if it's his sort of thing. Is it?"

Joe looked startled, realizing it was a question directed at him, not a statement. "Well, I don't know—we don't have that sort of relationship—but I think the old man definitely has the capacity for a little romance. Maybe he just needs reminding."

"Maybe he does." Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "I shall take it under advisement."

"I hear the Poconos are real nice this time of year."

"The Poconos?" Chris Tanner asked as he walked up to the table.

"Joe is suggesting romantic getaways," Charlotte explained to her godson as he sat down next to her.

Chris grinned. "I think the Poconos are a bit of a step down when you own your island in the Caribbean."

Laughing, she said, "True." Leaning over, she kissed him on the cheek. "What a pleasant surprise, love. I wasn't expecting you this morning."

"I wasn't expecting me either," he agreed. "But some business has come up. I called Uncle Ezra, but he didn't answer." Chris Tanner in addition to being Ezra Standish's Watcher, was also an accomplished attorney, and handled all of Charlotte and Ezra's legal affairs.

"He left last night; Amanda is in some sort of predicament and needed his help." Joe just rolled his eyes at Charlotte's news, and she shot him a smile. She wasn't sure if Amanda was really in trouble, or just enjoyed the attention. "So, what business?" When Joe started to get up, she put a hand on his arm. "You don't need to go, Joe. Does he?" she asked Chris.

Shrugging, he replied, "No reason to." He pulled some folders out of his briefcase, laying them on the table. "You've become an even wealthier woman," he told his godmother." He pushed the folders to her. "Tony Stark has decided to give away more than his company."

Charlotte's good mood evaporated instantly. "What has he done?"

Chris picked up the top folder. "This is for Ezra. Tony's apparently bought up all the land around Four Corners, including the ghost town it is now, all the way to your old ranch, the old Larabee spread and the cemetery."

She stilled, the memory of gravestones, one in particular, darkening the morning light that poured into the saloon. "Aunt Lottie," Chris' soft, sympathetic query pulled her back.

She clenched her fist, forcing herself into the present. "What else?"

He picked up the second folder. "Several million dollars' worth of oil shale leases, the majority now the property of your charitable trust, the Black Foundation, the remainder deeded to you."

She stared at the folder in his hand, then at the table, realizing there were two more. Placing a hand on the one nearest her, she picked it up, opening it and scanning the contents. "Dalthorpe?" she whispered.

At Joe's questioning look, Chris explained, "Her father's estate in England, where she grew up. It's a Stark property, used mostly for social functions. Ezra finagled Tony into buying it not long after Tony met Charlotte. Of course, that was long before Tony knew about them being Immortal."

Charlotte threw the folder down, white as a sheet. "He's dying." Those two simple words held a full measure of grief. "All of it, making Pepper CEO, giving away fortunes to his friends, charity…the way he's been acting. How could I have been so blind?" The last was practically shouted.

"Aunt Lottie, you don't know that," Chris tried to sooth her.

"He seemed fine when he was here last week," Joe agreed. "Maybe he's just being an eccentric multi-billionaire."

Charlotte's head snapped up, her eyes tearing into Joe's. "Tony was here last week?" When it seemed as if he would backtrack, she said, "Tell me, Joseph!"

Wiping his face with a hand, he sighed. "He was here with Methos when you were in L.A.. Methos introduced us, seemed like a decent enough guy. He and Methos had lunch, a few beers, and that was it. I figured you knew."

"I had no idea.".

"Listen, I think you're borrowing trouble. I mean, after all, this isn't the first time he's given you an extravagant gift," Joe pointed out reasonably. "What happened in Monte Carlo, that had to shake Stark up. He's just reacting."

"Joe's got a point," Chris agreed. "And anyway, you're driving down this afternoon for the birthday party tonight, you can ask Tony yourself."

"I don't know." She shook her head, wanting to believe they were right, that she was overreacting, but Charlotte had learned long ago to trust her instincts, and she knew in her heart something was very wrong. "But you're right, Chris, I'll see Tony tonight, and one way or the other, I will get to the truth." Her hand hovered over the last folder. "I'm almost afraid to ask."

Chris grinned. "This one is for Methos. Tony has given 'Matthew' the endowment that owns and maintains the Stark Collection of Ancient and Rare Manuscripts at USC." Joe whistled lowly, and Chris nodded. "It's one of the preeminent collections in the world; apparently, Tony's father, Howard, was something of a collector."

Charlotte looked a million miles away. Distractedly, she said, "He was." Then, realizing what she'd said, she quickly added, "So I've heard."

But Joe wasn't buying it. "You knew Howard Stark." It sounded almost like an accusation.

"Fine, yes, I did, but the how and why is classified. It was a long time ago, Joe."

Joe looked speculative. "Chris's dad, Kevin Tanner, was a respected Watcher, but he also had ties to an organization called the SSR during World War Two. But I kinda figure you know that already, don't you?"

"You're reminding me of just why I don't like the Watchers," she pointed out. "You know more than is good for you."

Joe held up his hands. "Can't blame a guy for trying to put the pieces together. Besides, it's an occupational hazard where we're concerned." He slapped Chris companionably on the arm. "I bet you could tell some stories about being an operative during the war." He hurried to add, seeing the warning look on Charlotte's face, "Hypothetically, of course."

Giving up, she sighed dramatically. "Hypothetically, I hope I can tell you a few of them one day."

Grinning, Joe said, "Now that's a day I'm going to be looking forward to."

She cocked her head to one side, as if listening to something. "Visitor?" Joe asked, recognizing the look.

As she nodded, Methos strode over to them, kissing Charlotte on the cheek. "You're having a get together and didn't invite me?" he said with mock indignation.

"Just following your lead," Charlotte replied cryptically. Chris looked down, all of a sudden very interested in the salt and pepper shakers on the table, while Joe choked back a snort of laughter.

"Okay, what did I do now?" Methos asked, his eyes moving around the table.

Charlotte picked up the folder, handing it to him. "That must have been some lunch you and Tony had last week."

"Joe," Methos said reproachfully.

"Hey, don't blame me! I didn't know it was a secret. Maybe next time you'll let me in on the details of your clandestine assignations."

Methos just shook his head, opening the folder, reading, his eyes widening. "The Stark collection?" He looked like a kid who'd just been given a candy store. "It's renowned, one of the best in the world, and almost impossible to get full access to."

"I take it you've tried," Charlotte said. "Well, I don't suppose I'm going to see much of you for the foreseeable future."

"I'll pace myself," he said with a cheeky smile.

"Sure." She didn't sound as if she believed it. "We need to talk, Methos."

______________==============______________

They walked down the beach below Charlotte's house, so far, in silence. She wanted to know just why Tony had come to see Methos, but a part of her was dreading the answer. Finally, it was Methos who spoke first. "How mad are you?"

She rolled her head back and forth, trying to release the tension in her neck. "I'm not mad, Methos. I'm scared."

He sucked in a breath, his hand coming up to rest against her neck, strong practiced fingers kneading the tight muscles. "Charlotte—" he began.

"Tony's dying, isn't he?" She stopped, looking up at him. "Tell me the truth, Methos."

"They're all dying, love."

"Don't! Don't give me that crap! You know what I mean, and I want the goddamned truth!"

"Charlotte, look, the man is mercurial, and I barely know him, so what his motives were for coming to see me, I only know what he told me. That he wanted to make a fresh start, between the two of us, for you."

She searched his eyes. "That's not everything."

Putting his hands on her shoulders, he shook his head. "No, it isn't, but that's not for me to tell."

______________==============______________

][ PART ONE ][ PART TWO ][ PART THREE ][ PART FOUR ][ PART FIVE ][ PART SIX ][

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4008986.html. Please comment here or there.

What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas?

2013-04-11T01:16:59Z

I wish.

Looks like I came home with a lovely souvenir from my trip - gastroenteritis. Started at 3AM this morning, needless to say, I stayed home. Which mostly involved laying on the floor in front of the bathroom. Feel weak as a kitten now.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4008788.html. Please comment here or there.

Awesome

2013-04-09T04:48:58Z

Having a blast at Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night concert in Vegas! Details later.

Next Chapter

2013-04-08T04:19:56Z

I've posted chapter five of Equivocal Coalescence to AO3, but won't get a chance to post it here till after we get back from Vegas.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4008220.html. Please comment here or there.

Sticker Shock

2013-04-07T19:22:18Z

I knew the price of healthcare was going to go up, a lot, but dang, I still got sticker shock when I opened the bill from my doctor's visit. Now, I was there for maybe twenty minutes to get my prescriptions renewed, saw a PA not the actual doctor. Last year, it cost me $90, this year? $175! My work insurance is a catastrophic policy, with a $5000 deductible, so that's all for me to pay. Yipers!

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4008161.html. Please comment here or there.

It's Getting There

2013-04-07T18:50:54Z

For those that may be wondering, I have been working on the next part of Equivocal Coalescence, it's just sort of growing, in part to Joe Dawson walking into the story. I think there's going to be an extra part or two more than I anticipated. I need to rewatch the birthday party scene from IM II today yet again to get the timing/dialogue right in the story. The first four parts are up on my AO3 if you need to catch up.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4007796.html. Please comment here or there.

Scandal

2013-04-06T00:44:44Z

Scandal is my guilty pleasure. Pretty much every character should be in prison, but I find the show captivating. So some thoughts about the last few eps.

I said it was Cyrus! Episode before last, when the show went all 'Homeland', I was baffled. Some of the points just didn't track for me. But I figured maybe I hadn't been paying attention during a multi-tasking moment. It's always made me wonder that Cyrus has Huck's former Black Ops teammate in his employ, and though the show seemed to forget it (so it seemed) I always reminded myself that he'd had that girl murdered in the first one or two eps of the series. So if the CIA Director really wasn't the mole? Cyrus was the logical candidate - to me. Hoooo boy! By the end of last night, I relaized what a total misdirection the conversations between Jake aka Creepy Guy and the man in the park were all about. And it is CYRUS! and stupid Fitz, telling him you killed Supreme Court Justice Assasin Woman. That will come back to bite you, m'dear.

And who else thinks David will end up becoming a gladiator? [raises hand]

And now it's THREE WEEKS till the next one [pouts]

I guess you can tell homw much I like this show -- after all when was the last time I wrote this much about a TV show?

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4007480.html. Please comment here or there.

I think that's everything

2013-03-31T19:59:24Z

Realized I'd forgotten to put in chapter links at the end of part four of Equivocal Coalescence both on DW and LJ, so got that done. also replied to a bunch of old comments - so in case you're wondering :D

When did Sunday become such a busy TV day?

Vikings
Once Upon a Time
Lost Girl
Army Wives
Amazing Race
Game of Thrones

Why can't they share with the other nights of the week?

HBO is free this week on DISH, so finally watched Snow White and the Huntsman. I thought the actress who played Snow White was a little lackluster, but it was an enjoyable movie, made better by it being free :D

I really hope I hear from the ACM this week about my tickets. I know I'm not their priority, but still, I won't believe we're going to the concert till I have the tickets confirmed.

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4006978.html. Please comment here or there.

Better

2013-03-31T19:12:53Z

I'm been awful at responding to comments, and am going back trying to at least partially catch up. Going to try and do better in the future, promise!

This entry was originally posted at http://ithildin.dreamwidth.org/4006878.html. Please comment here or there.