maskormenace | two ✩ video

[ ID reads Karen Starr.

Long time no see, network. This time Karen's post is not coming from the small comfort of her government housing, but from a brightly lit office. Situated against one of the walls is a dark red couch, a pillow propped up against the edge. The windows, though not quite large but neither small, reveal De Chima in the background for anyone who might recognize it immediately.

Though she's been living in her office for a couple of months now, the room doesn't look as lived in as one would expect it to. That's because Karen made sure to tidy up and make the office look as professional and presentable as she could before she dared to turn on the feed. However, her cat can be seen sitting in her office chair, peering over the edge of the desk and reaching for an elastic that's been left on the surface.

Karen, with her hair tied away from her face, smiles into the camera. ]

Hi there. It's been ages, I know.

Since there are many of you who don't know me: I'm Karen Starr. I'm co-CEO of Starrware Industries, located in De Chima, Virgina. We're an R&D company primarily focused in coming up with solutions to the planet's environmental issues. We've been trying to get approval on studying even a small sample of nanotech, but we haven't heard back aside from a "request pending" notif. So, at the moment my team is mainly working with artificial technology and semi-organics.

Anyway, we've been up and running since about September now. We're a pretty small firm, but recently business has picked up so we can afford a few new employees. I won't lie: the wages aren't really high, though if you're interested in doing some good for the planet and working alongside people with a similar passion and vision then you're more than welcome to drop off a resume at my office or contact me privately. There's a lot of bright and talented imPorts here, so I'd love to work with you if you're interested.

[ There's suddenly a light crash as pens and some papers are pulled off the table courtesy the cat. Karen gives a hapless shrug and then adds: ]

Annnd that brings me to a random question: anyone know any good real estate agents around here?

[ Seriously, it's time to stop living in an office. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Not quite desperate. But the contingency plans start to abound now. He's never been a plan guy, but the longer he stays here, and the more complicated things become, the more it feels like he needs to be pretty clear on his options. ]

I registered, if that's what you mean. [ Instinctively. Patriotic duty. ] That doesn't mean I trust what they'd do if I showed up on their door asking for a favor. Or what they might ask in return. I've been a military agent. I know how these things can go.

This is all still pretty ambiguous.

[ If she can help someone she'll do it, but she needs to know what she's dealing with. ]

I'm guessing this suit doesn't have a zipper that you can unzip.

[ The black costume she had seen him in, isn't it? She hadn't suspected anything when she first met him. ]

I'll need to see it, if you're willing to trust a stranger.

I'm sorry. I'm being as specific as I can. It's...a touchy subject. I don't like to say more than I have to, unless I'm in dire straits, yanno?

[ Without revealing what it really is. Without having to put anybody in a position where even a single piece of it might slip out of his control. But his alternatives for taking it down or taking it out aren't in place here, and there are things about it he can't ask Peter about. And on principle, he refuses to ask Valeria. ]

It doesn't unzip. And I can't really take it off, or give you some of it. But I have plenty of what Dr. Pym concocted, and that is easy to hand over. And I'll pay you back for everything, obviously. I'm not asking for favors I can't repay.

How did you manage to get into something like that in the first place?

[ She pauses, considering. ]

I'd still like to see what this costume looks like in person. I promise not to poke anything at it.

[ She thinks, maybe, if she can get him to appear before her she might be able to use her X-ray vision to take a peek at whatever the suit's made out of. Maybe even find a way to get it off. ]

I'll see what I can do. You up for a trip to De Chima?

[ Unless he's already in De Chima, of course. ]

The United States Army gave it to me. 48 hour missions max. It wasn't supposed to turn out like this.

[ It's like a full-body shrug. Full-voice shrug, even. He'd known the risks, or he'd thought he had...and the question of whether or not he regrets the situation he's in is a little...yeah. ]

I can make it out to De Chima. And you can poke it, within reason. But it's a little weird, so just...don't do any sudden tests.

[ He's wary, after what happened with Spider-Man/Doc Ock/whatever. And he knows the symbiote is paying attention. It's bizarre, knowing he's talking about hobbling it if necessary, more tests, with it living in him and listening.

But no more drugs. Not like that. Just...just in case. ]

[ This makes her all the more intrigued. ]

I'll keep it in mind when I get an actual look at it.

[ She won't make any promises yet, but she doesn't understand the gravity of the situation either, not until she's seen it up close and personal. ]

My office is located at [ street name ] and I'm assuming you won't be using the front door.