capeandcowl | [video]

[There is a blue-eyed child looking at you. She can't be more than three. She is, however, wearing a very grown-up expression of dissatisfaction. And some kind of superhero outfit with a big "6" on the chest.

Ordinarily, Val would be cagier about immediately going public in a strange place, but, well, she has A Problem. When she speaks, it's with fully adult syntax and no hint of a lisp or any other childish speech impediment.]

Hi. I'm Valeria Richards. Assuming no alternate timeline stuff--not a safe assumption, I know, but sometimes you gotta live dangerously--it looks like there are a few people out there who're friends of my parents. You've got a couple of hours to come get me before they [she turns the phone to show a pair of what are presumably social workers, looking simultaneously put-upon and patient] try to stick me in foster care and things get sketchy.

[Anyone who knows Val will know that's more for the prospective foster parents' protection than hers. No one wants her turning some unfortunate family's appliances into her robot escape army.]

...'Bye.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Val's about to demand to know what he thinks she's going to do, but quickly realizes that isn't a door she wants to open, either.]

Of course he is! I know what I'm doing!

[Also Tony realizes it's easier and safer for everyone to give her what she wants than have her break into the lab and take it anyway.]

[ He's side-eyeing her.

Which is most likely his expression any time he ever sees her. ]

I've heard that before.

[FFFFFUUUUUUUUUU]

You're worse than Franklin!

[The ultimate condemnation.]

[ Hm. He thinks about that, then smirks at her. ]

Thanks, Val. I'll take that as a compliment.

Goodbye, Julian.

[Click.

Yeah, he kinda won that conversation.]