13514/Wrong Turn

Wrong Turn
Date of Scene:	06 December 2022
Location:	R and D Labs: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Zinda gets lost in the Triskelion and stumbles into Toni's lab.
Cast of Characters:	Zinda Blake, Toni Ho

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Zinda Blake has posed:
The R&D Labs at SHIELD see a lot of things going in and out. Today, however, a blonde woman wearing a flight suit steps in through the doors. The curls are sweat-damp and her skin is glistening, although her makeup looks otherwise unsmudged. The name on the suit reads simply 'Blake' and she has a black helmet with a gold hawk insignia tucked under one arm.

"Call Sign: Lady Blackhawk

The woman looks lost, although her strides are long and confident as she searches for some human to talk to.

Toni Ho has posed:
For the most part, the portion of the day where people are around the R&D labs is over. Most everyone has either retired to quarters or just plain gone home.

That's for suckers and people with families.

Toni Ho, resident armorsmith (among other engineering professions), is in one of the labs hard at work. A Stark-style power armor, mostly dark blue with red trim and a big silver star on the chestplate stands near a workstation with cables running from it into the computer. The pink haired engineer is seated in front of the computer, knees to her chest and feet flat on the bottom of the chair as her fingers fly across the keys. Next to the keyboard is an open can of some approaching illegal energy drink with a couple empties nearby.

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake bursts into Toni's lab without so much as a 'by-your-leave', looking very military and full of purpose. It would probably help if she had a gun, but attitude and bearing still go a long way. She is -still- every bit of six feet tall, of course. Stalking right up to Toni, she looks the girl over for a moment before speaking.

"That hair color -can't- be natural, honey." she declares in a deep, Georgia accent. "Look, I'm afraid I've gotten all turned around somehow. Tryin' to find the locker room, and I'm gonna guess I'm off by at least a couple floors."

Toni Ho has posed:
The first thing that Zinda will notice is that the soundproofing of the labs is -very- good. The second thing she will notice is that Toni is absolutely blasting some heavy bass thudding industrial beats. Which, when she notices someone's shown up, she will turn down to just a pleasant buzzing thud in the background.

This is after she jumps a mile when Zinda hits her peripheral vision.

"Gah! I thought this place was empty!" She grabs that can of liquid caffeine and clutches it like a life preserver as she looks up at Zinda, peering at the nametag. She takes a long pull of the beverage as she looks Zinda in the face, a thought immediately hitting her brain. 'Oh no, she's hot. ... Oh shit, is she a telepath!?'

Swallowing, she coughs once before answering. "One: It's not, it's from a bottle. Two: Locker rooms are like, three floors up. ... Or down? I still get lost. ... I know where the vending machines are."

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake just tilts her head and watches the pink-haired girl's reaction. She cocks a hip for good measure, then offers one of her best, poster-worthy smiles. Her gaze shifts to the can of whatever-that-is that the girl is holding.

"Kinda late to be still workin', ain't it?" she asks. "And would it be wishful thinkin' of me for that to be some sorta alcoholic beverage? I'd even settle for what folks nowadays call 'hard liquor', so long as it's wet."

Speaking of wet, she licks her lips as well. And if the cheesecake pose looks natural as Zinda spins a chair around and straddles it backwards, it's because she's had plenty of experience. "Lemme start again. I'm Zinda."

Toni Ho has posed:
Zinda, unknowingly, is twisting knobs in Toni's brain and it's just not fair. This might be easier for the young woman if she actually, you know, interacted with other human beings on a regular basis.

"Is it late? I really don't..." Toni trails off to look at the clock on the computer. "Oh damn. ... Shit, it's already Monday? I've been here a while." The second question just gets a shake of the head. "It's honestly the anti-alcohol. It's an energy drink. Lots of caffeine. Though if you mix it with vodka you either have a great time or die, so I hear."

Zinda licks lips, and Toni's glasses take on a reflective shine for an instant. She can't take more of this. "Toni. ... Short for Antonia, but you don't care about that, and I'm rambling." She sighs. "Jesus, I need to get out more."

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake has played this game before with plenty of GI's, so she recognizes the signs. It never fails to amuse her, all the same, even if she's NOT really trying all that hard.

"Listen, Toni, lemme set y'all straight on a couple things. First off, yes I -do- care what your name is or I wouldn't have given mine. Second, yes you DO need to get out more. We can fix that after a shower, though."

Zinda reaches for one of the empty cans and sniffs it suspiciously. "Third, why anyone would ruin good vodka by cuttin' it with this crap is beyond me."

"Make a deal with you. Help me find a locker room so's I can shower and change. Then we'll take you outside and remind you what the sky looks like." She grins, then adds. "Maybe we'll catch sunset, but the stars should be pretty tonight, too."

Toni Ho has posed:
"These things," she wiggles the can for emphasis, "Keep me functioning. Calories and vitamins and caffeine. Everything the genius girl needs to tweak the AI in her power armor." Toni gestures at the suit. "Though you're probably right." She still finishes the can, though, and sets it with the other empties.

"And you never use -good- vodka, only the kind that comes in plastic bottles." She pauses conspiratorially. "Not that I'm technically old enough to -buy- it for a few months yet, but no one questions the S.H.I.E.L.D. ID. ... But you didn't hear it from me."

She finally shifts on the seet, putting feet to floor. She is also not actively thinking of Zinda in a shower. "I'll help you find the locker room, sure. And fresh air will be nice. I think."

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake winkles her nose, leaning in closer as her voice lowers to a conspiratorial tone. "Honey, there ain't no such thing as -good- vodka." she replies. "Take it from an old moonshiner." Wink.

Then Toni puts feet on the floor and Zinda follows rises, standing taller than the pink-haired genius. "Well I ain't one to judge people drinkin' under-aged. Again, that's the old moonshiner in me." A poster-worthy grin follows this time.

"I'll shower while you..." she hand-waves towards the console "... finish up whatever it is y'all are doin' here. I promise it won't take long for me to primp. Natural curls CAN be a blessing."

Toni Ho has posed:
Toni, even standing, has to look up a little at Zinda. "I have three doctorates from CalTech and work in Research and Development for S.H.I.E.L.D. I think I've earned a few illicit drinks. This shit is stressful," Toni says with a shrug. She pauses, a quizzical look on her face.

"Do people even do that anymore? Moonshine, I mean."

Sure she'll get an answer soon, she just nods. "Just gotta do some shutdown protocols and close up shop. I'll meet you down there!" She turns back to the console and starts typing again, clearly using the command prompt like some kind of maniac. She does watch the taller woman head out from the corner of her eye. Whatever they get up to will at least be interesting!