[ No, he really does have to. This computer is a disgrace and if it is his most important personal possession, then it needs some treatment to make sure it doesn't meet an untimely demise. Although looking at it, Tony isn't sure he'd call it untimely or overdue. Bruce really just needs a new laptop.
A normal person would just let it go. Would thank him for the compliment, smile, nod, and change the subject. A somewhat abnormal person might ignore it completely. And that's what Tony knows he should do. He's heard it before. If you don't have anything nice to say... But it rises like bile in the back of his throat and although he manages to keep his voice matter-of-fact and almost deceptively light, he finds that he can't resist saying something. ]
Why? [ He has never shied away from the contempt that he has for himself and he doesn't do it now. He just sets the laptop back on the bench and casually puts the tools back where he found them as he speaks. ] You have one already. You had two. Either way you look at it, I'm still superfluous.
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A normal person would just let it go. Would thank him for the compliment, smile, nod, and change the subject. A somewhat abnormal person might ignore it completely. And that's what Tony knows he should do. He's heard it before. If you don't have anything nice to say... But it rises like bile in the back of his throat and although he manages to keep his voice matter-of-fact and almost deceptively light, he finds that he can't resist saying something. ]
Why? [ He has never shied away from the contempt that he has for himself and he doesn't do it now. He just sets the laptop back on the bench and casually puts the tools back where he found them as he speaks. ] You have one already. You had two. Either way you look at it, I'm still superfluous.