spoilers for age of ultron, away!

[redhourglass]

If I wanted to talk about it, I would.

There's work to do. I'm needed, and I've never been one to rush all the way around the world over--

( over a man? tch. her face twisted into a frown. )

If I leave the new Avengers with Rogers, he'll turn them soft. I'll come back and they'll be playing with puppies.

Comments

[brainsqueeze]

Talk, beer. Adopt a puppy?

[redhourglass]

If I can't even keep my plants alive, what makes you think a puppy would be better?

[brainsqueeze]

You leave food out it feeds itself.

( No, she never had a pet )

Beer then?

[redhourglass]

Somehow I feel like it doesn't work that way.

( clint would probably be horrified at the conversation they're having rn. )

Maybe I'm in a wine kind-of mood.

[brainsqueeze]

( Clint can mother them another day. They've got alcohol to drink and no feelings to talk about )

I'm pretty sure Stark's got whatever you're looking for down here.

[redhourglass]

I'm still surprised he let you back in the building. ( after you know, the whole 'working for fury' thing. )

[brainsqueeze]

Let me?

( Natasha, pls. Okay maybe Pepper did it )

[redhourglass]

Point taken.

( whatever, man. )

Last I checked he was still a little mad about it.

[brainsqueeze]

He'll get over it. And he doesn't have that much ground.

[redhourglass]

Since when has that mattered?

[brainsqueeze]

Since I actually have to listen to him.

[redhourglass]

Hey, been there, done that. Remember?

[brainsqueeze]

And that is why we're drinking his alcohol. Or maybe I am.

[redhourglass]

I might be. That depends.

Am I going to get a pep talk?

[brainsqueeze]

A pep talk on what? I invited you for beer. Or wine, whatever you're getting.

( Best bud ever )

[redhourglass]

( bless you best bud forever )

.. Wine. Red, the nicest vintage he's got. I know he hides some behind his racks.

[brainsqueeze]

I'll find it. I think we need it more than he does.

[redhourglass]

I know we need it more than he does.

[brainsqueeze]

I'd drink to that if it didn't sound so depressing. Got anything better?

[redhourglass]

We might not get sued for leveling parts of a city this time?

[brainsqueeze]

( Groan ) Please don't. There's been enough citis.

[redhourglass]

If it makes you feel better, Stark - and by that I mean Pepper - will probably foot the bill since SHIELD is out of the picture.

[brainsqueeze]

It doesn't. It's not the bill that bothers me.

[redhourglass]

As much as saving a city is good for PR, being the cause of the catastrophe in the first place is probably worse.

( she guesses that is probably the root of maria's worries )

[brainsqueeze]

( Ding ding ding )

That's something a lot of people have to face. Or a lot more people than the cause if you go by public opinion.

[redhourglass]

Don't remember hearing about anyone else who nearly blew up the Earth recently.

( you're nice tho, maria, you can stay. )

[brainsqueeze]

It's something that'll be remembered for a while.

[redhourglass]

( she shrugs. )

It's not the worst thing to be remembered for.

( it's just up there. you know. )

[brainsqueeze]

I don't want to know what worse will be.

[has_no_strings]

Then enjoy futility bashing your head against the wall of an unchanging world...

[redhourglass]

( you're much less scary now that she's out of the cage and has ripped apart tons of your cute little cronies. )

Oh, trust me. I will.

[has_no_strings]

I suppose I can take comfort in the fact that someday, you will inevitability face a threat not even the lot of you together can overcome and on that day, you will be annihilated utterly...

[redhourglass]

Don't you get bored of spouting the same old super-villain crap?

[subecho]

Yes.

But they will be hounds of the starred and striped hunt. Friend Captain will see to it.

[redhourglass]

You know, I'm not even sure what that would look like.

[subecho]

Nor I. But in friend Captain we trust.

Give him the hour.

[redhourglass]

In friend Captain you trust.

( ok, maybe she does too. )

He'll spoil the recruits rotten. They're Avengers, not children.

[subecho]

Let them be children. I have stories of wise Loki's youth.

They begin with tears: his. And they end with tears: mi -

[subecho]

Let them not be children.

[redhourglass]

Exactly.

[subecho]

Have no fear. You will do well by them.

In you, we trust also.

[redhourglass]

( oh. oh. isn't that a typical thor move, pulling out that kind of thing at the last minute to make her sorry for being so sarcastic. )

You aren't getting soft on me too, are you?

[subecho]

Jane likes it.

[redhourglass]

Did she teach you any other new tricks?

[stark_ravingmad]

It takes a lot to turn me soft, sweetheart. Besides, puppies aren't really my thing. I'm more into metal robots and axel grease. [Because Tony really doesn't want to be viewed as some puppy-loving, cutesy sort of guy.]

[redhourglass]

( could she roll her eyes any harder? is it possible? i don't think so. )

Why am I not surprised? Do us a favor and try not to make any more murderbots?

( it's funny now that it's not actually happening any more. )

[visionof]

I have no doubt that if the Captain chooses to bring puppies it will be intended as a team-building exercise.

However, your expertise will surely be appreciated.

[redhourglass]

If that's what you want to call it.

( she is still pretty unsure about you. and while she's smart, she's not tony and bruce biophysics smart, so you being you is still a mystery to her. )