004 | Tony Stark | Video

[manofiron]

[ Although he’s not exactly smiling, Tony’s expression is blandly neutral, relaxed, and his voice is friendly. ]

Normally I’d have my assistant – I guess technically she’s my CEO now - handle the whole public relations thing, but she’s not here so I guess that leaves me doing it myself. Unless I have a volunteer from the audience? No? Didn’t think so.

[ He glances away from the camera for a second, almost like he’s looking at a list. ]

Stiles, I got your bow and arrows here. Any time you want me to stop by and get them, feel free. Alternatively, I can be persuaded to play delivery guy.

Sharon. You wanted some new toys? I got a couple for you.

Party Poison. Not to be confused with the lovely Poison Ivy. We have a bet, right?

[ Twisting his wrist, the video blurs and comes into focus on a large sabertooth tiger reclining on the living room floor like he owns the place. At the attention, he lifts his head, flattens his ears, and lazily bares his teeth. The video blurs again, coming to rest on Tony’s face, who’s utterly unfazed by being threatened by hundreds of pounds of formerly extinct cat. ]

Meet Stanley. And start the countdown.

[ Flashing a smile, he starts to lower his wrist, then pauses and lifts it back. ]

Oh, right. And one more thing before I forget.

[ Anyone who knows Tony might know better here. Might realize that he wasn’t going to forget and has in fact been building up to this the entire time he’s been talking. ]

“Hot Hands.” [ He even makes the air quotes with his free hand as he smiles, like everything’s all friendly like. Much like Stanley, though, it’s really a baring of his teeth. ] Listen. If you touch Bruce again, I’ll break them. And then my big green friend won’t have to show up to beat your ass into the ground. Capiche?

Comments

[agentx13]

Has he been having nightmares? Insomnia? Working out more?

He works out more when he's upset.

[ Not that she cares. Because she doesn't. This isn't even her Steve. ]</small. If he's anything like the Steve I know, I mean.

[manofiron]

[ It's on the tip of his tongue to say that they all have nightmares, but that's giving too much of himself away and he's still operating on the pretense that if he ignores them, then that will somehow make them go away. ]

It always seems like he's busy, but... I don't know. I'll pay more attention. He did spend I don't know how long in with Stanley when he got back. I looked in and they were sleeping together on the bed. Does he do that? Sleep with dangerous animals?

[agentx13]

Not unless you count some of the women he's slept with. [ Bitter? Okay, maybe a little. Sharon had liked Bernie - as far as she was concerned, Bernie was wonderful. She couldn't say the same for Connie. Or Rachel Leighton. Or... several of Steve's flames. Even Sharon herself could be considered dangerous, given some of the things she had done. ]

[ She looks away for a moment as she tries to get herself under control. This isn't the same Steve. She has to remember that, no matter how hard it might be. ] But your Steve is different. Maybe he prefers tigers to women.

[ Oh, God. She closes her eyes. ] Or maybe we can just forget I said that.

[manofiron]

[ It's hard for him to imagine Steve sleeping with anyone. Not that he thinks there aren't people lining up for the opportunity. Far from it. It's just that Steve's attitude toward the world, and people especially, doesn't lend itself to easily imagining him with anyone. Especially dangerous women.

The tiger comment makes his nose wrinkle automatically, and he sniffs in disdainful amusement. ]

After all the times he's turned me down, if I find out that he prefers tigers, I'm going to be offended. And scarred for life. And possibly hurt in the ego parts.

[agentx13]

[ Sharon isn't entirely convinced that Tony is joking, regarding him carefully for several moments before speaking again. ]

You're building a harem, aren't you. Don't sultans have tigers, too?

[ She's not sure if his ego gave him this idea, or if she did and his ego might try to run with it now. Either way, she has to wonder if there's ever been anything so dangerous with an idea as a Stark. ]

[manofiron]

[ Her question makes him laugh, and as he does it, he lifts his hands in a gesture of surrender. ]

You got me. It was the tiger that gave me away, wasn't it? That was the last straw?

[ Tony waves a hand at the house. ]

My palace is a little dingy though. I need to do something about it.

[agentx13]

[ Her lips spread into what could be considered a smile, and she nods. ] Yeah, the tiger is what gave you away, definitely.

[ She glances at the stairs, thinking about the man who might be up there right now and might come down at any moment. If Steve is here, she'd better bid her adieus. She wants more time to steel herself for the inevitable. ]

Thanks for the toys.

[manofiron]

[ As he sees it, there are two different ways he can respond to that: seriously or not seriously. It's really no contest. ]

Any time you need a toymaker, my services are all yours.

[ And beneath the innuendo, he means it. If she needs something made, and there are materials available to do it, he will. ]