Lab Below Stark Industries, Friday Morning

[imafuturist]

It was safe to say that Tony too had not noticed anything strange today. Mostly because he rarely used a filter when working with JARVIS and had been working since the night prior with only a few coffee breaks.

On one hand, he was getting closer to finding where HYDRA currently was, but on the other.... sleep deprivation.

Choices, choices.

He took a sip of lukewarm coffee and fiddled with the code on a bot he'd designed to watch the traffic cameras in Queens. For the tenth time that hour.

Yeah.

[open for anyone lookin' for him!]

Comments

[fjordicswagger]

"That's what I thought," Tamsin said, holding out the bottle for him. "With any luck, when we finish these, we'll be so tired we pass out for the rest of the day."

[imafuturist]

"I'm going to need more than this," Tony said, taking the bottle. "Though I haven't had anything other than coffee in the last twelve hours..."

[fjordicswagger]

"So we'll order in Mooby burgers," Tamsin said, twisting the top off her own bottle. "And I'll be nice and not ask you about killing people. Not that I have any right to talk."

[imafuturist]

"I want to ask, but it'll just make me talk about things I don't want to discuss either."

[fjordicswagger]

"See? Nobody asks any questions," Tamsin said. She took a swig from the bottle. "That's the best way to do this."

[imafuturist]

Tony had to laugh at that, opening his own bottle to take a sip. And, admittedly, the laugh bordered on desperate, but it was still a laugh. "Silent, angry drinking. Sounds like home."

Aaaand a much longer sip.

[fjordicswagger]

"Then stop talking," Tamsin muttered. She snagged a chair and sank down in it with an oomph.

[imafuturist]

"I'm a talker," he shot back sullenly. "We can't all be stoic and hell on wheels."

A beat.

"Probably be easier if I was."

[fjordicswagger]

"I'm only stoic because that's what I'm raised to be," Tamsin said. "No emotions in-- my family."

Hey, that wasn't a lie.

[imafuturist]

Tony raised his eyebrows at that. "So was I. Just ended up a bleeding heart instead."

[fjordicswagger]

"Can't afford me one of those," Tamsin said.

Right. Time for another big gulp.

[imafuturist]

Tony sighed and leaned back against a table that held the newest version of the armor for working on. "Are we telling the truth or what we think is true?" he asked.

[fjordicswagger]

"Are you getting philosophical on me?" Tamsin muttered. "Stop it."

[imafuturist]

"It's part of my emotional deficiency." Wait. "I meant to say charm. Please pretend it's what I said."

[fjordicswagger]

"I'd love to," Tamsin said, putting the bottle back to her mouth. "I'm not good at this touchy feely crap."

[imafuturist]

"Who is?"

[fjordicswagger]

"Out of who we know? Maybe Jessica."

[imafuturist]

"She is pretty good at this," Tony admitted. "Shame we have the same taste in women, though. Cuts down my dating pool."

[fjordicswagger]

"It's not like I date," Tamsin said, rolling her eyes at him. "Don't be weird."

[imafuturist]

"Well, I do date," Tony replied. "And friends with benefits only works if no one gets hurt by it."

[fjordicswagger]

"Are you wingmanning for Jessica?" Tamsin asked, squinting at him. "I feel like I should be flattered, but I'm not actually a huge font of self-esteem."

Ugh. More drinks.

[imafuturist]

That explained so much about Tony's friendship with her! Like called to like.

"Yeah," Tony replied as he fiddled with the label of the bottle. "I'm preventing myself from hugging you because I don't need a black eye.

[fjordicswagger]

"Good thought," Tamsin said, nodding. "Even though now I kind of want a hug."

Uuuugh.

[imafuturist]

Now Tony had to go and wander closer like that hug was imminent. "Are you going to punch me?"

[fjordicswagger]

"I'm going to say yes, but I'll mean no if it doesn't last longer than twenty seconds," Tamsin said irritably.