05 § video;

[definingfuture]

[Tony starts out sitting in front of the console. He's a little slow to start up what he wants to say-there's an awkward pause beforehand like he's just sizing them up through the video itself.]

So, I've been busy lately. And I've gotten a little distracted by other things, but-

[Something catches in his throat and cuts him off. Tony clears his throat and tries to look casual and calm. He's distracted and maybe in need of some sleep, with his attention wandering from the feed, but he's not going to drop the flippant tone. Especially not now.]

But apparently there have been some strange disappearances lately, and those people might actually still be around.

[He seems to want to say more, but his heart isn't in it. Maybe he should be offering to try to help those semi-disappeared people. Probably. Unfortunately he can't make himself do that.]

That's not what I want to talk about. I need... [Don't finish that, Stark.]

I need someone who knows how to take care of flowers. Horticulture isn't my thing and I have some and I have to make sure they, they don't die, so if you have any advice, I could use it. That or animal counselors. I'm sure those exist out there somewhere.

[ooc: cw for mentions of child deaths and violent arguing.]

Comments

[definingfuture]

They're not mine. I... I'm taking care of them. They belonged to a friend.

[The ironic part is that this is probably the first time he ever admitted that much.]

[dustonmyfeet]

[Toph's head tilts slightly, taking in the words. Yeah, there's something more going on here.]

Considering we're on a floating turtle-island, I'm going to guess this is going to be for longer than vacation.

[Pause.]

You okay?

[definingfuture]

It's a pretty long vacation if that's what it is.

[Is he okay? Not in the least.]

Yeah. I'm great. As great as I'm gonna get.

[dustonmyfeet]

[Toph leans her jaw into her hand, sending a wry expression towards the screen.]

Wow. I didn't even need earthbending for that to be unconvincing. Let's try that again: What's up?

[definingfuture]

[Toph, please. Why can't you just pretend to be fooled like his other friends?]

I'm... [Okay, not good.] fine. I just got flowers. And some new pets. And mail. Real mail.

[He's trying to sound happy about that.]

I haven't gotten mail in months.

[dustonmyfeet]

[Toph is not good at pretending for the purposes of saving anyone's ego, Tony. >:| The screen is getting a long, flat expression because yeah, no.]

Look, it's up to you if you want to talk about it. I can totally respect the space thing. But at least say so instead of pretending you're a flower and pet person. Because you and I both know you're not that kind of fluffy.

[definingfuture]

[Well, damn it, Toph. Why can't they just pretend it's all fine? He likes his ego!]

...Okay. Okay, I'm not a pet person. Or a flower person. But now I have pets and flowers and I need to do something with them, so, so I'm doing that.

They didn't leave me any instructions. They left me flowers with no instructions and I'm a terrible flower person, all right?

[dustonmyfeet]

[>:|, Tony. Just >:|.]

[But Toph's tone softens a little.]

Someone left, huh?

That sucks.

[definingfuture]

[Heroes don't show feelings. It's in the rule book!]

Yeah. A few people.

It really sucks. What am I supposed to do with flowers?

[dustonmyfeet]

[Reread that rule book, Tony. >:| Toph shows feelings, and she's about as hero as they come. (Just ask her.)]

Well, if it were me, I'd keep a couple. Then maybe wait until the rest were rotting and smelly and toss them over the palace wall.

Something like that, anyway.

[definingfuture]

[He never follows the rulebook! That's way too easy. Tony Stark makes his own rules.]

Right. Use them as ammunition to get the Emperor's attention. I'll have to try that one if I can't keep them alive. But I'd like to keep them alive. Maybe put them somewhere?

[Tony is taking this very seriously. They are important flowers.]

[dustonmyfeet]

[He really is taking it seriously. Toph pauses a moment, exhales a breath out her nose, leaning her chin into her hand.]

There's always that garden thing? Maybe there's room in that. And people who know what to do with plants, too.

[definingfuture]

Yeah, I guess there is.

[Is that cheating? But they'd take better care of the flowers than he would. Maybe Bruce would let him put them in with the other plants...]

I think he underestimated my ability to break things. Over overestimated by ability to do the plant thing. Friends.

[Well, he sounds a little more normal at least.]