IC inbox for duplicity

[definingfuture]

Tony's Mailbox.

Comments

[sorserer]

[ stephen, looking at his phone, huffing in reluctant amusement. ]

I said what I said.

Besides, you'd have to pay anyway.

[ stephen is a submissive. it's a good excuse to make other people buy him food. ]

[definingfuture]

Okay, then, yes I would love to go on a date with you. Thank you, Stephen.

[He did not say no and gave Tony the opening.]

You say that like I wouldn't treat you anyway.

[definingfuture]

[ Tony pauses before his response. He actually sighs, but luckily Bucky can't see him do that. ]

I'll rebuild it for you.

[freightcars]

[ The abruptness of it's unsettling a feather or two in Bucky, a thread of wary uncertainty, the lack of a price. Maybe it's just the great depression in him, the masculine pride his father always hammered in about not accepting charity. Working for your meal. ]

Doesn't gotta be a bottom-up job, if you can just fix where it's messed up I don't care if it's ugly.

[ Or if it's a little glitchy, stiff, questionable pressure sensors. Just as long as it works and he doesn't shred the bedsheets when he sleeps.

Pushing the point, straightforward: ]

How much?

[definingfuture]

You need a full reconstruction. It's a mess.

[ Tony. ]

I mean that nicely. It would just be easier at this point to build you a new one. Besides, the original is an older model. I can do better even here.

[ He's trying to be nice, but this is also his area. He provides his world with a majority of their tech innovations alongside Reed Richards and Hank Pym, so he takes it seriously. ]

It'll take some time and I would like to see your arm up close. See what can be salvaged from it. But it shouldn't actually take that much time.

[freightcars]

Tell me how you really feel

[ Mildly, and amused. It's a mess. Thanks, pal, appreciate that honesty. ]

When you say you can do even better
just to be clear
we're not talking like
vibrating, toast making, missile shooting, tooth brush in a finger right
Seriously, I'm happy if it just opens door knobs

[definingfuture]

I think the guy that made your arm was an amateur that was wasting a lot of great potential. Which is probably good for your world's heroes, but definitely not as efficient as my work.

The energy conservation can't possibly keep up with your needs. I don't know what you were using it for, but it couldn't have been as much as you could use it for. Hydra, right? They have second tier engineers at best.

[ He said to tell him! ]

And, no, you and I are not close enough for me to begin considering any sort of weapon. Vibrators and toothbrushes are negotiable, as long as you promise to clean it properly.

You already have a hand that can open doors. That's boring.

[freightcars]

Let me rephrase:
I actively don't want missiles, vibrators, or tooth brushes in my arm.
Please, god.

And if we're being honest, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about with the energy conservation part of it either, but it did me just fine.

[definingfuture]

Ugh, come on. It was in desperate need of an upgrade. I'm surprised it wasn't grinding and sputtering.

I have no intention of putting any kind of explosive in your arm.

[ He politely fails to mention any other possibility. ]

[freightcars]

It may have done a little grinding and sputtering, but it fixed itself most of the time

Thinking about changing my mind and just replacing it with one of those wooden backscratchers now, seems like the safer bet

[definingfuture]

[ The tension remains, which Tony can tell isn't going to stop any time soon, but Bucky just needs some time. He'll let him sleep on it, give him some space, and eventually it'll work out. If his calculations are right, this conversation has actually gone well. ]

I make your nervous.

[ He can't hide his amusement. ]

That's all right. You'll get used to it. I'm glad you came by, you know? I was starting to wonder if you guys ever made friends with each other.

[definingfuture]

It fixed itself. Really.

Do people on your world not know how machines work or is there magic involved...? I hate to say this, but I hope there is magic involved, because otherwise your tech was in worse shape than I thought.

And don't you dare. You have an opportunity here.

[freightcars]

when it stops grinding and sputtering on it's own, it counts

[ right??
he's never owned a car, go easy on him ]

let me know when you wanna get a look at the pile of scrap attached to my shoulder in person.

[definingfuture]

You know, I hate to say it, but this was probably better for you in the long run.

And I'm only going to do this if you promise to actually take care of it.

I'm basically free all the time now. More than I want to be.

[freightcars]

You wanna run me through what you mean by taking care of a metal arm? Do I need to floss it or something?

Tomorrow afternoon?

[definingfuture]

I'll show you what I mean. You would think someone with military training would know the value of caring for equipment at least, but I'll forgive you this time.

That's fine.

[freightcars]

I volunteered for the gun.
The arm, not so much.

See you then.

[sorserer]

I didn't know you would, actually. I like a pleasant surprise.

You pick a place. I'm not as apprised on what constitutes a good lunch date in your neighborhood. And I'm free all week.

[definingfuture]

Isn't that something Tony Stark should do?
Besides, I have my own reasons for wanting to do it.

Would it be too much to ask you to come to mine?

[definingfuture]

[Herbert is taking this all much more simply than Tony is. Maybe that means he's just overthinking everything or that he was taking the contract situation the wrong way this whole time. It won't stop him from acting like his usual self, so it shouldn't worry Tony so much.]

I can trust you, right?

[scientificist]

[Herbert pauses, to think about why Tony might be asking that. What does Tony have to hide? He's not...the best at analysing intent but he does trust Tony. So clearly, Tony should trust him.]

Yes. Of course. ...why?

[definingfuture]

I just want to know you'll be honest with me. I- I don't want to force you into anything. And sometimes it happens.

[He's questioning his own motivations here, even though Herbert trusts him. Tony wants that trust to be mutual.]

I'm glad. And I'll try not to disappoint you.

[scientificist]

[He's looking a little awkward now about all this...sincerity? This is more open and emotional than Herbert wanted it to be, really, he was trying to avoid it. But maybe it can't be helped when you're talking about trust... When he thinks about it, though, it does make him smirk, briefly.]

I'll be honest. Believe me: you...won't force me into anything. [A moment.] Iii'll. Take strange events and impaired moments into account.

[definingfuture]

[Getting serious with Tony always involves a certain level of honesty and at least attempted sincerity. He worries a bit too much and regrets more than maybe he should, but it's only because he wants to help those around him.]

Thank you. I just needed to hear that. It's- I can promise you there will be some strange events and that is probably the one thing I can guarantee.

[For better or for worse. He hopes they aren't bad.]

Before we do this, do you mind if I ask for one more thing?

[scientificist]

[Ah, ok. Fair enough. He can definitely see wanting assurance that Herbert is clear-headed and sensible enough to not suddenly turn against Tony due to events beyond either of their control. A very good idea to determine that before the contract.

Although he can't imagine what else might be required. He raises his eyebrows and tilts his head slightly forward, quizzically.]

No, go ahead--we have, weeks until the deadline after all, o-one more thing won't hurt.