Gardevoir was quiet for a moment.

What is this device of which you speak?

"It's..." Tony paused, trying to figure out how to actually explain it. "It's a suit without a person, I guess? It'll be more of a shield and quick get away if she needs it than an actual suit like mine."

A shell that moves without anything inside? Like a Shedinja? That was the closest thing Gardevoir could compare it to.

"Something like that, yeah. Only, y'know, mechanical." Tony grinned. "It's a prototype, I have no idea how it will actually turn out."

Intriguing idea, Gardevoir mused. And it will keep Maeve safe?

"It'll help once I get it programmed right," Tony agreed, wiping his hands off on an already-stained rag.

Gardevoir found him a cleaner rag and handed it to him.

I will support anything that will help keep Maeve safe.

Tony shot her a smile. "Well, we'll see how it goes. And yes, you can watch the whole time if you want."

Gardevoir nodded. That would be alright.

Tony took a break for a little while before he started working again. Because this was Tony, he didn't do extended breaks.

Gardevoir settled back to watch, occasionally using her psychic senses to check on Maeve. After a little while, she let her attention wander and paused when her gaze settled on a sticky note on the worktable. It was in Tony's Pidgey-scratch handwriting, and seemed to be a note to himself about locating a female Eevee. Gardevoir leaned in a bit to read it, curious.

The note was indeed about finding a female Eevee, and there was a date scrawled on the note too. Maeve's birthday. Tony didn't notice where Gardevoir was looking for a few minutes, but when he did notice he snorted at her.

"Stop peeking or you'll give something away."

You're planning something for Maeve? Because Gardevoir couldn't possibly have missed the date on the note, and she knew very well that it was Maeve's birthday.

"No, not that you know, now hush. Stop poking around at everything, this is my lab, something could blow up at you or something." But Tony was grinning a bit.

Gardevoir gave Tony something of a Look, but backed off. She had an idea of what he was planning, and it wasn't a bad plan.

Tony just huffed at her. He was very used to Looks; he got them from Peps and Ninetails and really why did Ninetails give him Looks, the pokemon was just as bad, there was really no justice in this world. But he went back to tinkering with his prototype for a while.

Elsewhere, Steve was attempting to help Bruce in the kitchen. He refused to let Julie bustle around the kitchen like she wanted, insisting that she relax and rest some more. He wasn't too bad at cooking, and he could take orders, so he could help Bruce out in the kitchen in Julie's place.

Julie had huffed at him a bit but had ultimately given in. He was pushy (in a very polite way) and bigger than her, so she knew she wasn't going to win. But she did perch at the kitchen counter and watch the two.

"Watch the onions, Steve, they're going to burn," she said with a little grin, because he was doing a few things and an extra set of eyes never hurt.

"On it," Steve replied, going to rescue the pan. He glanced at her with a bit if a smile. "Thanks."

"No problem." Julie grinned. "Since you seem intent on keeping me sitting down, I figured I could be at least a little useful."

Steve grinned.

"Just looking after you," he said.

Julie harrumphed at him but she couldn't help but grin. She didn't mind as much as she said she did.

Although it helped Steve's case that all Julie's pokemon sided with him.

Steve grinned again and went back to cooking. Or rather, letting Bruce direct the cooking. Because, to be honest, that's what was happening.

Julie settled in to watch and help as much as she was able. She even let Vulpix hop up to drape across her shoulders. Growlithe was, of course, sitting near her eyeing Steve. Most of the other people were fine, but Steve she wasn't so sure about yet.

Once the cooking was done and Bruce went to collect everyone else, Steve made up a plate and took it to Julie so she wouldn't have to get up.

"Here," he said, handing it to her. "Let me know if I did alright with it."