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Summary: Michael's back from overseas so Tony drops into Barnes Academy to catch up with the SHIELD liason.
Date: August 12, 2011
Log Title: A Brief Visit
Rating: PG
Barnes Academy HoloQuad
Stepping into the HoloQuad one would almost forget that they were in an underwater school. The sky changes to reflect the time of day, sunny with clouds during the day to night time reflecting what the Northern Hemisphere would look like without light pollution. Sunsets and Sunrises are even reflected in the room. It's impossible to tell there is a ceiling up there. Plant life, benches, fountains and pathways make the room look like a luxurious park and unlike the sky, the rest of the room is real. Sometimes a breeze passes buy and the room is always a comfortable temperature giving the students a way to feel like they're outside enjoying the fresh air.
An afternoon meeting on Wall Street has concluded which means that Anthony Stark is a free man for the day! Well, as free as one can be until Pepper Potts tracks him down to lump more work upon him. A quick check of messages he's surprised to find that he's received a call from someone he hasn't heard from in ages requesting a word with him. After dismissing his bodyguard for the day he retakes possession of his executive briefcase, hops into his Audi, and heads over to Barnes Academy. Once inside the facility he wanders down to the HoloQuad dressed in a sharp business suit, sneakers, and shades carrying a fedora in one hand and the case in the other.
Michael steps out of one of the buildings dressed in…well, what he is always dressed in. The olive and khaki marine class a service uniform, buttoned and crisp, with a hat on his head. The particularly eagle eyed would notice a couple new ribbons adorning his breast, possibly explaining where he has been. He chuckles when he sees Tony in the sneakers, shaking his covered head. "Good to see you." He greets.
Tony puts his hat atop his head freeing up his hand which he extends towards Michael. "Welcome back!" Teasingly adding, "You've sure picked a rather rotten time to return. Super villains on the loose, mind controlled teens running amok AND school is starting in a few weeks. How will you cope?" Since they are standing in an indoor park the guest in the facility waves towards a nearby bench opting to sit down and enjoy the faux environment. It certainly is a nice change from being out in Central Park where Tony has terrible karma with getting attacked. The likelihood of an attack in this particular park is nearly nil. "So, where did you wind up Michael?"
Michael chuckles again and shakes his head, holding out his hand to shake Tony's. "I'm a little more involved in that then I'd like to be." Michael says. "Although as long as the people I love stay safe, still better here. I ended up in Iraq and Afghanistan, helping to oversee a joint operation there with our military and shield, and the British." He moves over towards the bench.
"Sounds like a lot of people with their hands in a cookie jar," Tony comments about the mission Michael was tasked. He won't pry into what was being done as he could easily find out given his position in Washington and with SHIELD. "This latest development here has hit the Xavier school hard. Are you thinking of removing your daughter from the school because of this?"
"It was small enough that it wasn't actually that bad. A very focused unit, with some of the best from both our and their special forces." Michael explains. He sighs. "Yes." Michael says frankly. "What she can do has nothing to do with combat."
Tony sets the briefcase down then pushes it underneath the bench with his foot. "I'm glad the mission went well. Normally involving any number of organizations can cause chaos in organization. Anyways that's over and done with and there's the more pressing issue here at home. I believe the school to be excellent in helping students with unique gifts however there is the fact that the school has been attacked so I don't blame you for wanting to make sure your child is safe," a pause to gather his thoughts, "though her gifts may not be combative in nature that is the best place for her to learn how to use her abilities. Sort of caught between a rock and a hard place, no?"
Michael nods. "Oh yes, U've been in plenty of boondaggles and mix ups because of multiple branches and agencies. It's how I first had contact with SHIELD, actually. And one of the reasons I hate working with the CIA." Michael says with a sigh. "It is. And she is safe, and smart, but I'm still her father and it worries me."
"Exactly hence the cookie jar reference," Tony smiles peering around at the fountains and such nearby having not spent very much time in this room before. Most often times he's visited the school he's been in the Administrative Wing or in discussion with some of the staff elsewhere. "Have you been in contact with the school since your return or is that the first thing on your to-do list?"
Michael nods. "I've been in contact with the ones I can talk to, and I've talked to my daughter every day since I got back." He says. "If I need to get her out of there, I don't care that some of them can light me on fire. I'll get her out. But it is, despite its profile in various communities, fairly safe."
Tony tips his hat back, "It's not that bad, Michael. If you wanted to remove your child from their institution you wouldn't have to wear flame retardant gear or roll about in a protective bubble." He's quite certain Michael was only joking and thus he laughs about all of this despite the serious situation. "It's New York. You could get mugged walking to an ATM or have a fifty foot Pizza the Hut stomp on your car. Anywhere can have it's troubles so it's best to go with what's the safest option. I really should drop by there soon and see if I can't offer my assistance in some way. I know quite a few of the students there as well as the professors and the headmistress. I do not want them facing another assault again."
Michael chuckles. "Well, it would be interesting for me to get mugged, but I do see your point." Michael says with a nod. "Yes, that was…" He sighs, shaking his head. "To be an entire world away when that happened just about killed me." He says seriously, sighing a little bit. "But I'm glad that it seemed to survived, thank god."
Tony breathes in deeply then pulls his hat from his head to hold it while resting his arm along the top of the bench seat. "Hopefully something will turn up soon as many people are searching for the proverbial needles in a haystack. Any information or sighting of one of the missing students or the super villains would be something to go on. They've done quite well with keeping a low profile despite how many eyes are searching for them."
Michael nods. "That would be good. Only thing worse than no intel is bad intel." He says with a shake of his head. "We'll find them; they can't hide forever. And super villains aren't generally known for their long term restraint."
"Unfortunately this pair likes to send mind controlled people out to do their bidding. Either they show themselves while using the others as either distraction or fodder or I am considering having a telepath attempt to find them." Tony relaxes against the seat waving at nothing with the hat then placing it back atop his head. "That's something I must discuss with others. On a completely different note; What are you going to do now that you're back stateside?"
"It seems like a good idea." Michael agrees to the Telepath suggestion. At the question he shrugs. "What I was doing before. Liaising with SHIELD and being in command of any soldiers detached to their command, and teaching at Barnes."
Tony nods in understanding, "Are you on a leave at the moment or already back to the grind? Both working on SHIELD business and preparing for classes?"
"I get to take a little time off to present some academic papers, things I had mostly finished off before I got back and that I can do before school really picks up, but for the most part I'm back in the grind." Michael chuckles. "It is nice, however, to get to do some academia again; it's been a bit."
"If you're in the neighborhood feel free to stop by the Towers. If I'm not there I'm either at the research plant or the mansion otherwise I'm tied up. It might be best to call ahead and ask Bambi or Pepper where I'm at just to spare yourself a trip."
Michael nods again, smiling. "Thank you. I'll look forward to doing so; hopefully after things have settled down. Or at least settled back to their normal insanity." He says as he looks about the Quad.
