tushanshu | 05 § video;

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tony?

[ There's a wealth of worry and unease and offer of help packed into one word. ]

Hey. You're not invisible.

[That's good right? Yes. That is good.]

[ A small grin, complaisant. ]

Yeah. Trying something new today, just for you.

[That gets a little smile out of him.]

Mm. I'm glad you're there. You know, a lot of people-

Well. I think they're okay now.

[ He knows what you were going to say there. ]

They're okay. We're just all slowpokes, you know. Still here and all.

[He really thought he'd be able to say it without breaking until he tried to get the words out.]

You had me worried.

[To his credit, Tony can still make that sound like a joke.]

Hide-and-seek is probably not the best way to spend Halloween here. Someone might get lost.

[ You had me worried. Jack doesn't know exactly how to respond to that other than to apologize which he didn't think was what Tony was looking for, but the feeling still flutters in his chest. ]

Talk about ill-timed. Might have to resort to grounding, even.

Consider yourself grounded. No leaving this plane for a week.

[He doesn't know if he can take people continuing to disappear all at once. It's too much, too fast. But Jack joking along with him helps. It makes it a little less heavily in the "uncontrollable magic" level of wrong.]

That or I'll put a tracking collar on you.

[ But Daaaaaaad... ]

One week, huh? I suppose, I can stick it out.

Tell you what: if you can build one I can't break with cold, I'll wear it for a whole day.

[No buts.

Tony actually does smile a little there.]

You think I can't do it? Trust me, you want to wear a collar for a week I can make it happen.

I think maybe you're underestimating the Spirit of Winter, that's what I think. You're on, Tony.

[ Playful and cocky, sure... but a dare without much of a downside for the man. ]

Heh. You really don't want to try me. I'll do it.

[It helps. It's keeping him from thinking about everything else for the moment, which at least keeps him from breaking down right there. He's not as cocky as he could be, but it's there. And he holds onto their back-and-forth to keep himself going.]

The Spirit of Winter never had to deal with Iron Man.

Iiiii~ think I might have to call your bluff on this one! Though I guess that means I have to hang around to test it.

Not much else to do, being grounded and all.

[ They're both holding onto it. ]

Who's bluffing? I'm a genius, you know.

[Because he clearly has to inform everyone now. Just in case.]

You can spend your time grounded and collared. A week, right? No crying about it later.

[This definitely helps. It gives him a distraction from everything else. Hopefully it's useful to Jack too.]

I think we ought to have some kind of genius Olympics here on the turtle, since it seems like anyone can just walk around claiming that.

One whole week.

[ If Tony's not going to back down, then Jack damn well isn't either! ]

Trust me, you do not want that. It'd get messy really fast.

But if you want to test me, I'm game. One week, provided you can bust it using cold.

[Well, Jack asked for it. Tony can devote some of his time to making a cold-resistant collar. And who's to say the technique won't come in handy later? He's sure that this is an appropriate use of his time and knowledge. No one is going to convince him otherwise, now.

Plus, he can say he beat the spirit of Winter later.]

What, are smarts like contents under pressure?

[ He's just being a little smartass now. ]

Smarts are extremely sensitive. You can't take them lightly or you'll get reactions you never dreamed existed. Also, possibly a mess in ways you never expected.

[Being a smartass is good. That keeps Tony going.]

Can you experiment with them? Put them through paces?

Seems like a project all on its own.

You'll just have to find that out in person. I'm pretty sure you don't want to, though. I won't lose. And I'd hate to see you embarrass yourself that easily.

Not my smarts, I know I'd lose that one! But there are lots of really clever people around here.

Planning on getting help? I don't mind if you want to call in back up.

[And now he's just going to give him a hard time.]

I'll have to assemble a team. Know anyone I can call with reasonable rates?

I might know someone who could help you out.

I'm all ears.

See, I can say that kind of thing without Bunny around.

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definingfuture - 2013-11-29 04:04 (UTC) - Expand

wintershepherd - 2013-11-29 13:46 (UTC) - Expand

definingfuture - 2013-12-01 12:42 (UTC) - Expand

05 § video;

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Re: video; I meant "can't" >8|

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