eachdraidh | first jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts

(For those who are online, if you will, the video feed of both courts will flicker on to the picture of a man who looks surprisingly calm all things considered. His hair is neatly combed back and parted, his clothing well put together, and there’s a borderline arrogant smile that plays at his lips. If it had taken him a half dozen times to get the locket to work correctly for him, it didn’t show on his face, but for him it was practically like magic.

It was technology that was still years away from where he was, he had only recently managed to install a telephone in his car (and promptly sold the idea for a handsome profit), but even it had been quite an ordeal, there were a dozen wires, it needed a long and thick antennae to work, and if you weren’t careful it could drain your battery in a heartbeat if you weren’t careful, but it was technology that he felt had promise. Adding the ability to view the person on the other end of the line was something he hadn’t even thought about trying, let alone making it so small and portable. Sure, he had managed to miniaturise a camera lens for a pen, but that was just for still photos. He was intrigued by it, though, a fascinating idea (one he wished he had been the one to come up with), and he didn’t hide his impression. He didn’t dare attempt to pop it open, however, lest he not be able to put it back together. While the imps had been kind to him thus far, he hadn't argued much when he'd been dragged away, he wasn’t sure how well they’d take to him breaking one of the gifts that he had been given.

For the time being he would leave it as it was, but eventually he might ask if someone knew just how they worked. Just for the sake of curiosity.)

So I take it this place doesn’t take too kindly to technology of any kind, huh? Even one as simple as a battery. (He raises his wrist to show the watch on his arm, it had stopped when he had arrived, and though it was currently useless, he couldn’t take it off. He was too used to wearing it and would feel naked without it.) Is there anywhere around here where they sell watches you wind? Or parts so I can convert this one?

(There’s a pause, he takes his hand down again and shrugs his shoulders lightly.)

Anyway. Good morning. My name is Howard Stark, and back home I was an inventor of sorts, so I’m not entirely sure why they’ve brought me here, unless it’s to update this place somehow. My company’s goal was to build a better and brighter tomorrow, and it looks like this place could use a bit of that. It’ll be like going back in time with what I have to work with, but I’m sure I can manage if that’s what’s wanted.

So, tell me a little bit about yourself, mysterious person on the other side of the magical locket. What makes you special?

Unseelie Locked

Who’s in charge of your weapons division? Back home, right before I was brought here, we had a war that ended, and I worked in weapons on the winning side. I can’t imagine that’s a coincidence.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh. [There's a "..really?" kind of look before he moves off of the screen to grab something, holding up a smartphone of some kind to the camera to show him.] One of these. Dumb thing's broken because of the technology barrier.

[Not that it matters too much. He has other things to be focused on now than getting his phone to work (and really, who would he call at this point?) He just leans back in his chair, letting the locket dangle from his hand as he thinks that over.]

Everybody around here seems to be using them just fine. [But he's with him on that. Despite the fact he's been picking up bits and pieces about magic since he arrived a few days ago, he's missing having concrete facts at his disposal.] If you'd rather trust a horse though apparently there's plenty of those here, too. [Guess who doesn't trust horses? This guy.

...please tell him more about your flying car. There's a tiny smirk that follows the question though.] Is there a difference?

...is it like a book? Made of glass? That can make phone calls? (Because that's all it looks like to him.) Still a shame that it's broken.

(Because he would be interested in seeing what it actually does, since he's pretty sure it's not just what it looks like. Sorry, Hiro, it's still years off until stuff like that comes around. BUT!! He just got a car phone so that's cool.)

Everyone seemed fine using Zeppelins and then the Hindenburg happened, so you'll have to forgive my scepticism. (Even if it is decent magic, that doesn't mean something can't go wrong, is what he's saying. Even if it's just a fluke.) It might end up being the lesser of two evils.

(One day. He is still proud of it even if it's not working yet entirely. But the war kind of put it on the shelf for a little bit.) Frequently.

No, it's more like…it's like a computer. You can store all kinds of information in it like music and videos and maps and other stuff. [He looks at the phone, making a face.] Right now it's just a paper weight though.

[Howard…buddy…pretty sure you need to redefine your definition of cool. It's okay, Hiro will help. As soon as he starts talking about the Hindenburg incident though Hiro's eyebrows raise. That was decades ago in his timeline but Howard's talking like it wasn't too long ago. But the point isn't any less clear.] I think I'll take my chances. At least a fairy ring can't kick me in the head on accident.

[…can it? That's kind of a weird thought.]

In that case, what about both? Favorite and most highly acknowledged.

I guess computers really take off. Turing must be thrilled. I'll have to make sure that I invest heavily in their development when I get back. (Because they get to go back,right?) If you get it to work again, I'd like to give it a look.

(Excuse you, Hiro. It's super cool. He just sold the patent to Bell, too, this is the future. Think of how convenient it'll be! Think of how much money it's going to make him! Plus, it's super practical because now he can get ahold of Jarvis whenever he needs him. He could use him now. :c

...has he not heard of it? Kid, this was hot new just a few years ago! Howard can see he's young, though. Maybe he was just a wee babbin when it occurred.) Unless it transports you into somewhere you're not supposed to be. It might not be the ring itself, but who knows what's waiting on the other side?

(He will click his tongue.) Most highly acknowledged would have to be either Captain America or the Atomic Bomb. (Much to his chagrin. He wants to be acknowledged for the things he built on his own, not just what he's contributed massively on. But. They are kind of big deals.) Favourite, personally? I have this car I've been working on that's pretty neat.

Not a bad idea. [He's amused, actually, if only because it's like traveling backwards through time.] I'm pretty sure it's gonna work once I get to the Station and then I can probably give it some new upgrades, too.

[Hey, he might not have created something like a car phone but he's created something revolutionary…that…kinda led to a bunch of bad things happening, but it's still the thought that counts. That's the trouble with inventions isn't it?] I don't think that's how they work, but okay, fair. We don't know what's waiting on the other side. [Monsters. Seelie soldiers. Anything.] I wish we could set up cameras or something at each ring so we could always watch them.

…wait wait wait, you worked on the a-bomb? […double-wait.] You built a person? [Mind. Blown. Even if Howard didn't create them, the atomic bomb is a huge part of history and that says enough.] I don't think anything I've made yet has that kind of history. What kind of car?

[He's thinking something similar to like a fancy sportscar…not…actually a flying car.]

(This feels awkward, since he is a young kid, no matter how much Howard understands that age is but a number.) If you do, do you think I could watch? I'd love to get some ideas. Promise I won't steal them, though. We probably don't have what's needed anyway back in my day, but I can build what can become it.

(Howard knows all about creating things that make a lot of bad stuff happens (see: the a-bomb). It's the burden all great minds bare.) How would you know, though? It's magic. So far that seems to be something unpredictable, and potentially unstable. Especially if there isn't a way to check out what's waiting first. (A nod.) Alas, technology.

I did. (Hey look, a kid who knows. That must mean he's from his world, right? Sort of, at least.) One of the chief advisors. (Hahaha WELL.) Sort of. Not exactly. I helped perfect and engineer what allowed him to become...well, him. You haven't heard of him? (Maybe not his world exactly. He's kind of a big deal.)

One that flies.

Absolutely. [He knows it's probably weird. He's already had a few conversations since being here that've pinged him as "people probably think I'm weird" and this isn't much of an exception.] Only if you show me anything you create afterwards.

Even if it's magic, there has to be a solution for it. People around here probably think science is magic too because it seems unpredictable and unstable to them. [Which doesn't make any sense to him at all because, well, duh.] I'm still looking into it, maybe some of the imps would be willing to test stuff out.

That's pretty intense. [But that's suddenly not his focus. No, what is his focus is the fact that Howard's talking about Captain America. As in the Captain America. He's heard the stories but to know that he's talking to someone who had a hand in the creation of someone like Cap? Still mindblown.] No. No I have, I just...wow. [That is probably the fastest way to shut him up.] How?

[But there's a shrug.] We made a hovercar a few years ago, too. It was just a prototype though and then Aunt Cass got mad so we shelved the idea.

first jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts

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