he should because it takes him all of point two seconds to realize how you misconstrued that and:]
Oh for fuck's sake, no! Not like that, fuck. [ give him a second to gag please.] Wanted to become like, a sidekick deal. Despite him having tried to blow up New York like a month prior with Doombots.
[ okay okay he will smack against your back now. he supposes.]
If I'm gonna date a villain, it's gonna be Madame Masque or Loki.
[Steve coughs and splutters until the cheeseburger dislodges itself, and, hey, Tony isn't letting him die, that's reassuring. And he's not taking another bite when Tony mentions dating Loki, so he only chokes on air this time.]
Loki?
[There is a pained look on his face right now. He really thought you had better taste than that, Tony.]
Yeah, not Old Man Loki, the younger one. Hipster of Manhattan or whatever he is. Hangs out with Billy Kaplan and-- wait, shit. You don't have any of those. Hey, FRIDAY, be a doll and dredge up some info on Loki here, please?
[ because your reaction, Steve, makes him think you gotta just have the old man version.
and stop judging him. seriously. ]
You guys do have Loki, right? Like--- oooh, wow, okay that-- why is his hair so long? That is a look. Suit's a good fit though. Really? Wouldn't date him at all? Or at least bang him?
[ is he spinning a picture of Loki after visiting Strange a little while back into your face? maybe he is. to tease.
[ look here Steve, you should just be so pleased with how much fun Tony is having right now. sure it isn't what he is used to, but teasing you about sleeping with Norse gods turned villains is keeping him from a lot of panic right now. the engineer cocks his head to the side and crosses his arms as he studies the picture of Loki. or Steve. maybe both.
there is a flicker of surprise on his face at that though.]
Really? That is not what I am used to. Not that you sleep with just anyone usually but, it's more of an 'if they're attractive and consenting' kind of deal. [ there is no judgement here, Tony is more than used to those relationships himself. flings? whatever.] Oh, speaking of-- well none of that, mind if I toss a few redesigned compounds your way? I might not have access to money here, but I still have ideas to get you all back on your feet. In a building. Whatever.
[Steve grabs at the change in topic like it's a goddamn life preserver, because anything is better than talking about his nonexistent sex life.
(Well, almost anything.)]
You can design whatever you want. [He chuckles quietly.] I think Pepper probably has all the money now, and she'll probably be willing to help us out. Maybe even get you some kinda legal status if we can't figure out how to get you back home.
[And, let's be real, if a Tony Stark can't make a fortune out of nothing, especially in a world that doesn't have the technological innovations he's used to, then what kind of Stark is he?]
[ he sees you, Steve. he so sees you. and will probably find a way to work it back into conversation at another time. for now, he will focus on architecture and new designs and throwing up a few more blueprints into the air. (the image of Loki is forgotten very quickly.)
Tony moves closer to Steve, pulling up some ideas that he had and enlarging them.]
Pepper, huh? I read that I almost managed a real relationship with her here. She is way too competent for me, in any universe. Interesting that I have her full control too, but yeah okay, we can maybe talk to her about some new things.
[ a pause, the image of his idea for a new compound stilling mid-turn.]
Later. Shit, is this-- too much? Should I just-- not and focus on getting home.
I mean, that was before I met you, so I have no idea.
[Namely, he doesn't know about Tony almost dying and giving everything to Pepper and going completely off the rails and really let's just pretend Iron Man 2 doesn't exist.
Except for Tony sitting in a giant donut while eating donuts. That can stay.]
But I think there were sort of, you know, issues with you being Iron Man and constantly putting yourself in danger and- [Generally doing stupid Tony Stark sort of things, as one does when one is Tony Stark.] Not that I'm any sort of relationship counselor or...well. Anything.
[Steve blinks, taken aback.] I didn't mean that you aren't welcome here, just that- I assumed that you would want to go home, you know? Back to- [Well, okay, back to attempted murder by Carol Danvers, which he can admit may not be the most compelling reason to go back.] I don't mind having you around. [It's dangerously easy to just fall into an easy pattern of back and forth with Tony, to be lulled into familiarity, an intimacy that he never quite achieved before.]
[ you just described why pretty much every one of his actual attempts at relationships with people went to hell in a really flashy handbasket. like, every single one. Tony has to rub the back of his neck, a little amused and a little called out all at once.
of course, that shifts with the topic, Tony finding himself a little torn. because, on the one hand, he really needs to get back to his world. or he should. probably. unless he is dead. even if he is dead, or mostly dead he should get back because he really can't let Carol get away with what she is doing. can't just hide out here in another universe with a younger Steve that seems to have less of a strained relationship with him.
not to mention it might be-- a lot, for those here that thought him dead. hell, he only saw Peter for a little while and that was clearly a lot. ]
Not that I think I'm not welcome, even if I wouldn't blame you I'm not the easiest to deal with on a good day, but more-- I'm not your Tony. Not anyone's Tony here. [ does he want to be? how about he doesn't think about that one too hard. even when a smile curls his lips at the truth Steve spills.] Don't mine, huh? High praise there, Steve. But, yeah I shouldn't just... abandon my universe. However, while I am here I will do whatever I can to help you all as much as I can.
You know what I mean, Tony. [Without thinking, he bumps the other man with his shoulder affectionately. Steve's just not good at using his words, that's all.] But I understand needing to get back home and all. I'd probably be the same way if I ended up in another universe.
[He ignores the treacherous feeling that he wants Tony to stay. It's probably just misplaced grief for the Tony of his world, trying to fill the chasm left by his loss. Even though this one seems to like him better, or is at least easier to get along with (and he's aware there are probably plenty of people back in Tony's world who would argue that point, because he's still Tony Stark). Even though he has an easy smile and a quick wit and-
god, he probably needs Tony to go back to his own world.]
Well, we'd be glad for the help. I don't know how long anyone else is planning on sticking around.
[ the way that Steve leans in, bumps against him, makes Tony smile. has him light up really with a grin and a laugh as he leans in easily. ]
Mmm, I should-- well I know it will take a while, you guys are kind of abysmally behind in a lot of things, and I also--
[ he stops, focuses on lines and equations of things that might add up to a life he never thought he could have. stares at them a little too hard before he has to shake himself.]
Well I will stick around, you're stuck with me for a while yet, I think. As long as I can get my hands on some materials I can help a lot more too.
Yeah, I think you're probably gonna have to build your own way home. [Steve snorts wryly. The only one who'd even come close to figuring out space-time travel was, well, Tony Stark. And even that's not advanced enough, apparently.] Unless Strange can help.
[Can Strange help? Honestly, he hasn't even spoken to the man, he just knows that a) he exists and b) he makes portals.]
Good. [Steve relaxes a little. He's not ready for a world completely devoid of Tony yet - and he wants this particular one to stay, for reasons he doesn't yet understand.] That you can help out. I mean, you don't have to or anything, just if you want. [Wow, he's just sticking his foot in his mouth. Funny how that happens so often around Tony.]
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he should because it takes him all of point two seconds to realize how you misconstrued that and:]
Oh for fuck's sake, no! Not like that, fuck. [ give him a second to gag please.] Wanted to become like, a sidekick deal. Despite him having tried to blow up New York like a month prior with Doombots.
[ okay okay he will smack against your back now. he supposes.]
If I'm gonna date a villain, it's gonna be Madame Masque or Loki.
[ because reasons. don't judge him. ]
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Loki?
[There is a pained look on his face right now. He really thought you had better taste than that, Tony.]
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[ because your reaction, Steve, makes him think you gotta just have the old man version.
and stop judging him. seriously. ]
You guys do have Loki, right? Like--- oooh, wow, okay that-- why is his hair so long? That is a look. Suit's a good fit though. Really? Wouldn't date him at all? Or at least bang him?
[ is he spinning a picture of Loki after visiting Strange a little while back into your face? maybe he is. to tease.
he has learned you are fun to tease.]
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Not without a genuine emotional connection, and I don't think I'd ever be able to make one of those with Loki.
[You know, even if he wasn't dead.]
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there is a flicker of surprise on his face at that though.]
Really? That is not what I am used to. Not that you sleep with just anyone usually but, it's more of an 'if they're attractive and consenting' kind of deal. [ there is no judgement here, Tony is more than used to those relationships himself. flings? whatever.] Oh, speaking of-- well none of that, mind if I toss a few redesigned compounds your way? I might not have access to money here, but I still have ideas to get you all back on your feet. In a building. Whatever.
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(Well, almost anything.)]
You can design whatever you want. [He chuckles quietly.] I think Pepper probably has all the money now, and she'll probably be willing to help us out. Maybe even get you some kinda legal status if we can't figure out how to get you back home.
[And, let's be real, if a Tony Stark can't make a fortune out of nothing, especially in a world that doesn't have the technological innovations he's used to, then what kind of Stark is he?]
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Tony moves closer to Steve, pulling up some ideas that he had and enlarging them.]
Pepper, huh? I read that I almost managed a real relationship with her here. She is way too competent for me, in any universe. Interesting that I have her full control too, but yeah okay, we can maybe talk to her about some new things.
[ a pause, the image of his idea for a new compound stilling mid-turn.]
Later. Shit, is this-- too much? Should I just-- not and focus on getting home.
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[Namely, he doesn't know about Tony almost dying and giving everything to Pepper and going completely off the rails and really let's just pretend Iron Man 2 doesn't exist.
Except for Tony sitting in a giant donut while eating donuts. That can stay.]
But I think there were sort of, you know, issues with you being Iron Man and constantly putting yourself in danger and- [Generally doing stupid Tony Stark sort of things, as one does when one is Tony Stark.] Not that I'm any sort of relationship counselor or...well. Anything.
[Steve blinks, taken aback.] I didn't mean that you aren't welcome here, just that- I assumed that you would want to go home, you know? Back to- [Well, okay, back to attempted murder by Carol Danvers, which he can admit may not be the most compelling reason to go back.] I don't mind having you around. [It's dangerously easy to just fall into an easy pattern of back and forth with Tony, to be lulled into familiarity, an intimacy that he never quite achieved before.]
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[ you just described why pretty much every one of his actual attempts at relationships with people went to hell in a really flashy handbasket. like, every single one. Tony has to rub the back of his neck, a little amused and a little called out all at once.
of course, that shifts with the topic, Tony finding himself a little torn. because, on the one hand, he really needs to get back to his world. or he should. probably. unless he is dead. even if he is dead, or mostly dead he should get back because he really can't let Carol get away with what she is doing. can't just hide out here in another universe with a younger Steve that seems to have less of a strained relationship with him.
not to mention it might be-- a lot, for those here that thought him dead. hell, he only saw Peter for a little while and that was clearly a lot. ]
Not that I think I'm not welcome, even if I wouldn't blame you I'm not the easiest to deal with on a good day, but more-- I'm not your Tony. Not anyone's Tony here. [ does he want to be? how about he doesn't think about that one too hard. even when a smile curls his lips at the truth Steve spills.] Don't mine, huh? High praise there, Steve. But, yeah I shouldn't just... abandon my universe. However, while I am here I will do whatever I can to help you all as much as I can.
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[He ignores the treacherous feeling that he wants Tony to stay. It's probably just misplaced grief for the Tony of his world, trying to fill the chasm left by his loss. Even though this one seems to like him better, or is at least easier to get along with (and he's aware there are probably plenty of people back in Tony's world who would argue that point, because he's still Tony Stark). Even though he has an easy smile and a quick wit and-
god, he probably needs Tony to go back to his own world.]
Well, we'd be glad for the help. I don't know how long anyone else is planning on sticking around.
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Mmm, I should-- well I know it will take a while, you guys are kind of abysmally behind in a lot of things, and I also--
[ he stops, focuses on lines and equations of things that might add up to a life he never thought he could have. stares at them a little too hard before he has to shake himself.]
Well I will stick around, you're stuck with me for a while yet, I think. As long as I can get my hands on some materials I can help a lot more too.
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[Can Strange help? Honestly, he hasn't even spoken to the man, he just knows that a) he exists and b) he makes portals.]
Good. [Steve relaxes a little. He's not ready for a world completely devoid of Tony yet - and he wants this particular one to stay, for reasons he doesn't yet understand.] That you can help out. I mean, you don't have to or anything, just if you want. [Wow, he's just sticking his foot in his mouth. Funny how that happens so often around Tony.]