IC inbox for duplicity

[definingfuture]

Tony's Mailbox.

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misfire> backdated | un: parkerp | text

[spectacularluck]

So I know last time things didn't go how we planned on the ceiling

but hear me out

we could give it a shot again — at my place, this time — and I could even put a safety net under us just in case I drop you again

And wear something sexy and ridiculous just to entice you. I'm even giving you full permission to make fun of me and I won't use any pet name for at least the entire night

[definingfuture]

[Whoopsie-doodles. Tony has a few questions, but he's going to start off easy.]

This is just my opinion, but you might be going a bit too heavy. Maybe taking on too much at once? The pet names are probably not a great idea. I'd drop that one.

[spectacularluck]

[ Okay, this is not the response he was waiting for and it's definitely not Hakkyuu. Cool. He can deal with this with a minimum amount of embarrassment, maybe. And a rational explanation about why he's talking about the ceiling. ]

Hey now. The pet names are important because they're a bad idea.

It's a whole story.

Who are you, again?

[definingfuture]

I'm sure. I'm just basing my assessment on your initial message. It seems like your partner isn't thrilled by it, so you might want to cut back until the right time.

Maybe when you're on the ground.

[There it is. You knew it was coming.]

This is Tony Stark.

[spectacularluck]

Of course it's Tony Stark.

[ Of all the people he could have accidentally sent this text to it had to be him. Maybe it's just a Tony Stark. There's so many multiple versions of people that it's not so outside the realm of possibility, right?

Right. ]

Ok, first of all, I don't need your advice on how to woo my partner. The whole pet name thing? It is to annoy this person.

And for the record, I know that sentence doesn't make a strong case for the whole not needing advice thing.

Second, we're just fans of heights. There are so many ways to get on the ceiling. It's totally normal and it requires nothing out of the ordinary at all.

Normal people have sex on the ceiling all the time.

[ Nailed it. Nothing at all suspicious in this entire text ]

[definingfuture]

You're trying to woo your partner with pet names they don't want and a questionable use of the room that sounds like it didn't go well if this is your second attempt.

Yeah, I can see you don't need any advice. You've clearly got it all handled.

[And it's very suspicious. He seems even more determined to justify himself now that he knows who he's talking to.]

Try "please". That tends to help smooth things over.

[spectacularluck]

How about "sorry, the text wasn't meant for you, goodbye!" instead?

Sounds real smooth to me.

[definingfuture]

If you lead with that, they really won't want to have sex on the ceiling with you.

Don't tell me you're embarrassed?

[spectacularluck]

[ On one hand this conversation is ridiculous and he should back out of it instead of digging his grave further. On the other he's getting more and more irritated by the minute.

Last time he got irritated by Tony Miles ended up in trouble because neither of them was paying attention. Maybe he should cool it and actually act like a mature adult.

Maybe. ]

I'm not embarrassed.

But I don't want to discuss my sex life with you, Stark. Great to know you're here, by the way.

[definingfuture]

It's okay to be embarrassed.

[He can feel the irritation resonating from the responses. It doesn't take a genius or an AI to tell that much. And... he doesn't exactly feel surprised either.]

Oh? Was I supposed to tell you I was here?

[spectacularluck]

[ He really should just cut the conversation right here and now. He doesn't need to mess things up any further and he's perfectly happy keeping his life as Peter Parker very far away from Tony. And yet. ]

No, that was obviously an attempt to steer this not at all awkward conversation away from how not embarrassed I am.

I can see it worked great.

[definingfuture]

[There's a tight ache in his chest. He really liked this man; admired him in a way. Although the exact reasons are hard to place and he doesn't think that matters very much now, especially while they are here. But it hurts to feel that disappointment. And... disgust? Maybe. Maybe something else.]

You don't have anything to be embarrassed about.

[spectacularluck]

Really? Because I had pineapple on pizza just the other day. Not as bad as you'd think.

[ It takes him a couple more minutes before he sends another message ]

Do you actually know who I am?

[definingfuture]

[What a strange response. Comfortable. He doesn't know what to make of that. Or the next one that comes after Tony figures Peter has moved on.]

Peter Parker? I'd like to think so.
You worked with me for a while.

[What does that even mean? He doesn't know. It's just an answer that comes on its own.]

[spectacularluck]

[ Somehow, he feels like going back to the embarrassing text might be better than this. ]

Yeah. A long time ago now.

[ And really, it was. So how come it still feels fresh? He's responsible for his own decisions. Out of everything that happened, the person Peter has been most disappointed by had been himself.

But Tony ... well. It's complicated. ]

How's this place treating you?

[definingfuture]

How long ago?

[Might as well ask. It doesn't really matter, but he likes to keep track anyway. It's a detail to mull over later.]

Better than it's treating half of the people they bring here. Can I ask...?

[spectacularluck]

Long enough that you don't have to worry about it. Let's maybe never ever touch my professional career again. Sore topic.

[ He's also not sure how much Tony remembers and what he remembers, since he knew he was Spider-man back then. The less he says, the less suspicious he's going to get, which means he's less likely to put the pieces together.

He's again thinking that he should just drop the conversation entirely, it's better that way. He's not even remotely over everything that happened between the two of them, after all.

But he keeps writing anyway. ]

It's treating me well enough too. Unless you were going to ask something else, in which case, well. I might just not answer.

[definingfuture]

[The conversation is going poorly. Maybe too poorly for the moment, even if it is conversation relating to home. It's strange, and maybe a little familiar in a way that makes Tony want to react in a way he doesn't understand.]

Peter.

[spectacularluck]

We've established that's my name.

Last name is Parker, in case you forgot that.

[definingfuture]

[It's personal. That's alarming, because Tony can't precisely put his finger on why it would be.]

I haven't forgotten. Actually, I've been wondering about it, but I hadn't gotten a chance to say anything to you yet. I thought it might just be a weird coincidence.

[spectacularluck]

[ See, now it's the time to panic because way to say the worst thing he could have. He hasn't forgotten. Just his last name? Or is he speaking about other things. Peter just went and talked about encounters on the ceiling and Stark knows about Spider-man. Obviously. Has he already made the connection?

No, that's ridiculous.

Should he ask to meet? Does he want to meet Tony? He's never texting anyone ever again. Ever. ]

We are still talking about my last name, right?

[definingfuture]

[What did he do now? That response is... weird. It's obviously referring to something, and Peter is clearly on edge, but by now Tony expected outright anger and accusations. Threats, maybe. Whatever it is they are dancing around is clearly important to Peter and he'd normally expect to be hearing audible screams by now. So why are they playing hot potato with whatever important event this is?

His head hurts. He doesn't want to deal with screaming. Or pain. Or more hatred from people he knew.]

It sounds like you're the one that wants to forget things.

[spectacularluck]

[ Honestly? He feels like he's the hot potato being tossed around right now. Each new response does put him on edge, and it just keeps on getting worse because Tony is being vague, and he can't figure out if he knows knows or if he's figured out he's hiding something and is trying to get him to say what.

Rather, he's pretty sure Tony figured out he's hiding something. What he's not sure of is whether he actually realized what it is.

That's always been the thing with Tony. He never says what's going on. ]

And if I do, I don't think that's your business, because I was just a former employee. So unless you remember differently, boss, if you're trying to get me to get me to say something, you're going to have to outright ask.

You know.

Like normal people do.

[definingfuture]

[He'll be awake for days wondering about this one. What the hell is it that he did to hurt this man so much? There's clearly contempt. He'd like to apologize, but apparently whatever it is went too far, because Peter won't even talk about it.

Oh, but he'll throw out some venom, all right. That Tony picks up on easily.]

You were never just an employee. I hope you don't really believe that.

[Does it matter now? If it was really as long ago as Peter says? He thinks the distinction matters at least. Peter was a good friend.]

You're right. I won't ask.

[spectacularluck]

[ Yeah, because he was more like a piece to maneuver. It's worse than just an employee.

He manages not to spit that one out no matter how much he wants to, because it's damning in and of itself. But that last sentence, that's what really pisses him off, and he can't stop himself. ]

Only because you don't want to hear the answer. Maybe you could stand to hear what other people have to say from time to time. Could be eye-opening.