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[propulsion]

"You have reached the life model decoy of Tony Stark."

sending crystal
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crystal;

[katabasis]

We've some business to discuss. Where are you?

[Hi.]

[propulsion]

[ Hi. ]

Uh. Workroom. You need directions?

[ He might. ]

[katabasis]

I think I'll make it.

[Which is apparently the temporary pausing point in this conversation. But, given the requisite number of minutes to traverse various staircases between point A and B, Flint does indeed manage to find his way to the right workroom.]

[propulsion]

[ The occasional clank of metal also helps.

Flint happens upon a kind of IKEA furniture moment, several lightweight crates having been opened and set aside, and a dozen or so metal and wooden pieces spread in an array on the ground. Tony is sitting in the midst of it, a half-assembled piece of something set between the splay of his legs, a coil of copper wire half-undone next to him, and focusing on running it through interlacing metal parts. A spread of tools is in a semblance of order beside him as he works.

He glances up as the cracked open door swings wide. A chin up of greeting. ]

It's my birthay, [ he explains, only to add, ] I'm kidding. Did I forget we had a meeting? I have an assistant now, so, that's on her.

[katabasis]

No, this is me pressing the attack, [he says, idle wit short the emphasize of any pointed look or eyebrow as he closes the door and picks his way across or around the debris field. One of these crates has its lid leaning against it, and this Flint scoops up so he might fit it back in over the open top and reconstruct a chair for himself.]

Do I want to know what all of this is meant to be?

[That does come with a look and some eyebrow action.]

[propulsion]

I mean, obviously it's an impact repulsion field core prototype, [ Tony says, straightening up a little to gesture around at the scattered fragments spread about. The corner of his mouth ticks up, then, acknowledging the eyebrow action as he concedes, ] Will be. Maybe. If the airship never gets off the ground, literally, you can tell me when your birthday is.

[ All this while he selects another tool off the ground, something screwdriver like in shape and intent, but activates under hand in some way that has the tip of it glow burning orange. Soon, the scent of hot metal. ]

So what's the ambush for?

[katabasis]

[A glance around the scattered components. Sure. Impact repulsion field core prototype. Obviously.

He takes a seat.]

Tertia's People, [sounds like it has a capital-P because it does. Which Tony will know from the various papers that have passed around the division office desks.] They have need of equipment and I thought we might see about arming them.

[propulsion]

[ Tony doesn't pause his activity, nor does it seem that he is expected to. He continues laying in the lyrium-infused wire, eyes on his task. He doesn't glance over as he says, ]

Like what are you thinking?

[katabasis]

I was hoping you might have one or two thoughts on that very subject.

[So not swords and knives, probably.]

[propulsion]

Sure. I can do thoughts.

[ A tool is swapped for another. ]

We've been trialing some enchanted grenades. Throwables, single use but cheap as far as enchantment-based equipment goes. Thermal detonators [ a rolling gesture with the screwdriver before it's reapplied to its job ] you know, fire explosions. Paralysis and slow-spells, too. And they don't need a high martial skill level.

Almost zero accidents.

[katabasis]

That's a start.

[He can, apparently, live with 'almost zero.' Theoretically. Seeing as these are just thoughts.]

Can it be done with our resources?

[propulsion]

[ Tony chuckles. A funny joke always: their resources. ]

Depends on the demand. What's the scale?

[katabasis]

If I were aiming to outfit a ship with expendables for hunting, I'd ask for a thousand and see what color your face turned.

[But he's not strictly doing that just now, strictly speaking. Sat there on the crate, Flint surveys the scattered pieces and Tony in the midst of them. Runs one hand absently over the other, working at one set of slightly stuff knuckles before spreading his hands.]

I imagine they will take what they can get, but my intention isn't to make a show of goodwill. It's to see them made more effective in their work.

[Raids on supply trains and slaver caravans; killings of semi-notable slavers.]

[propulsion]

[ Tony's face doesn't turn a colour—possibly because these are all just thoughts, of course, or because they're not outfitting a pirate ship, but also, something to do with the way the number reorients his focus from his task to Flint, has the corner of his mouth turn up.

He tilts back, settles his weight on his palms braced on the ground behind him, elbows locking. ]

Okay, [ is said with an air of orientation, some quick mathematics. ] I could maybe see a couple hundred ready for transport out of Orzammar in a month, as a baseline. More and sooner is possible with enough leverage.

Thing about dwarves is they love crafting stuff for money. I don't think that's insensitive to say.