un: latrodectus | text

[expatriates]

[ Natasha found herself an egg and wrapped it in the spare jacket she brought under the reasoned assumption that heat might help hatch it. Couldn't hurt, anyway, especially not in their current climate. She brushed the snow away from a patch of jagged, uneven land and nestled herself into it with the bundled egg sitting in the bridge of her lap. ]

Looks like we're going to be waiting a while. Hope you packed your winter coat.

I missed the last mission, something about gods and energy. Anyone want to fill me in?

[ Egg-hatching was like a stake-out; you had to fill the time somehow. Thus, small-talk. ]

video ; [ironman]

[hyperverbose]

[ enjoying your vacation yet, audentes?  

it's shortly after they spend a day warming up and 'hatching' the squidges, but before they've embarked on their journey across the frozen tundra that they receive the following video transmission.  despite his frequent bitching about it to everyone who would listen already, tony's wearing the ALASTAIR uniform for warmth - but they would get a view of his back as he turns away, where he's stitched IRON MAN across the back like it's a sports jersey.  he's tinkering with... something that's set up on a nearby rock, but his body blocks it entirely from view ]

I haven't met all of you yet, which is a real shame for you, because you're gonna wish you'd had someone to steal this idea from earlier.  

Tony Stark, Earth's Avengers, saved the world a few times, might have heard of us.  [ the cavalier delivery manages to mask pretty well any of his current reservations about the word 'hero', or about the Avengers in general, or about being good for his planet and not a potential menace to it, but those who know him are probably aware that it's the usual tony facade kicking into gear ]    Anyway, there's someone else I want you to meet.

C'mon, don't be shy.  The camera's your friend.  Know it, love it.  [ he's coaxing the thing on the rock, and as he steps closer to the camera, where he shifts the bracelet he's set there a hair to the left and steps aside.

this gives them a perfect view of a miniature suit of armor that is currently wobbing on top of the rock.  it's red and gold, and since the head is so large it probably looks a lot like this stuffed toy.  it is perfectly squidge-sized, but the little guy is obviously baffled by this development and trying to shake out of the thing to zero avail ]

Amazing what you can requisition if you ask nicely.  I'll have to take ol' Lloyd for a space brew some day.   Hear that, Lloyd?  You and me.

This is Sparky, by the way.  He's still getting used to the -- [ he gestures at himself as if to indicate the armor, as the squidge rolls over onto its side ]   Totally safe from the elements in there.  Keeps him toasty, monitors vitals, I'm even working on a food dispensing unit... And the material?  Titanium alloy, great for--  [ with a loud squeak, sparky tries valiantly to get up and winds up falling straight backwards off the rock with a resounding clang, causing tony's head to swing that way. ]   -- falls.

Uh, one sec.   

[ he holds up a finger and steps away from the bracelet, accidentally shoving it slightly askew so that they can't see anymore as he does so ]

VIDEO - un: p. parker ( WATER BALLOON BABY DAYCARE )

[webdesigned]

( first things first... this place is freaking cold. Peter isn't as bothered by the elements as he could be, super senses and all that... but he's worried about his squidge, who did only just thaw. Beaker's little face can just barely be seen over the edge of his t-shirt, under his sweatshirt and jacket and every other layer he's got on. he's not asleep, though, he's quiet and curious. not sure what he feels about the world yet. it's cool, it's hard to have a real lock on your understanding of the world when you're a few hours old.

and you'd think having one tiny alien creature to worry about would be enough for anyone. more than enough, in some cases... but apparently, not for Peter Parker. he's worried about the little crowd of unattached squidges that wander off on their own, and tries to stay as close to him as he can, and well, that's not the only thing he's worried about.

he waves to the camera, offering a slight smile. )

Hey. Peter Parker. Still. You guys remember me. ( he is still pretty new as far as the team is concerned, but he's been long enough to know quite a few faces. ) I figure we should talk about the little ... flock? Crowd? Pile? ( who knows the proper terminology for a group of squidges? anybody? Bueller? ) ...the poor little buddies that don't have anybody to look after them. I know they haven't imprinted but that doesn't mean we should just ignore them. I'm willing to keep an eye on them but I'm just one guy, anyone else that wants to help out...

( a pause, and an awkward scratch behind his ear. his glasses are fogging up from the heat of his breath, and he pushes them back up his nose. Beaker stares up at him from the safe alcove of his shirt, watching quietly. )

And... I mean, if you think this is too much, or you don't want to look after yours... let me know. I get it, it's not for everyone. But we can't just leave them, you know? I'll keep an eye out if anyone needs a... squidgesitter. ( HOW MANY SQUIDGES CAN ONE KID WATCH? idk but spidey senses will probably help... right??? ) Anyone who wants to help out, though... yeah. Please. Seriously.