and he's back.

[shaves]

That was a little abrupt. Not that I'm complaining, a short leave of absence to recharge your batteries or more specifically, mine, can't argue with the logic behind that if it puts me in the long-term penthouse. You could still make it up to me, obviously. Those little Twisties things they sell near you? Toss a dozen in a box, send them my way and we'll call it even. You should probably send some to Pepper and Bruce, too. Add red and green sprinkles respectively, they'll love that. It won't look too Christmas-y, will it? Actually, scratch that, get the red glaze and make the topping yellow, nobody can complain about Sorry I Vanished gifts that present the universally delicious task of licking Iron Man themed pastries.

Arguably, I could have been doing something more constructive with my time than spending it in the garage for a couple of months. I've been relaxing, cut me some slack. Look what's coming up for me! I think I deserve a Get Out Of Jail Free card before the whole messy business hits home.

This was not my fault, you can't blame a guy for holding him in indentured servitude. Where are my chocolate Twisties?

Comments

/touches

[efficacy]

Licking anything relating to you doesn't rank very high on my to-do list right now. Or in a good while, I predict.

Had a nice vacation?

/SWOONS

[shaves]

Pepper! I did. Also, do we have to avoid the licking altogether? That seems a little, uh. Drastic.

[hulkbusted]

Pastries? Really?

How's your tan?

[shaves]

I was indoors, the tan didn't really go one way or another. Hi, you look miffed.

[hulkbusted]

I could trot out the overused line about the perpetual state of my temper, but I'll spare us both in respect for the busy time you have coming up.

[shaves]

I'm not that busy. Life falling apart notwithstanding, we still need to hang out. That's a thing I definitely want. Hey, I ordered you lunch! Sugary goodness scores me like, what, at least ten points?

[hulkbusted]

You've been alone with the AIs for too long if you're equating pastries with lunch.

I hope I at least get a look at what you've been working on.

[shaves]

Lunch has had an amorphous meaning lately, the time isn't a fixed point in the day. Don't be picky.

Technically you've already seen it, just premature to its actual completion. It's a little mind-blowing, I won't dress it down. I'm optimistic.

[veryastute]

Sir, please don't blame me for Mister Stark's atrocious diet.

[hulkbusted]

Knowing you, food has an amorphous meaning lately.

You're optimistic. So, on a scale of one to Loki, how bad are things going to get?

[hulkbusted]

I was thinking more about U and Dum-E. Nutrition seems to have been omitted from their programming, an oversight that can only be traced back to their programmer.

[shaves]

That's not a very fair scale to play with, nothing I do will be Loki-levels of messed up. Eighty, even ninety-percent certain.

[efficacy]

Think so, do you? It's called prioritizing. Someone had to cover for you for the few months you were off and away, you know, so my schedule is a bit full at the moment.

[debts]

Relaxing? [ A hum. ] And I haven't heard anything about accidental explosions.

[shaves]

Right? I can play nice.

[shaves]

You did? Of course you did, thanks. Thank you. Did anything interesting happen?

[debts]

It's almost a good look on you.

[hulkbusted]

Try not to get yourself killed. The Other Guy would be... peeved.

[shaves]

Bruce, c'mon, I'm not going to kick the bucket. Look at me, I'm a picture of health and undeniably charm.

[hulkbusted]

You're 80-90% certain of that. Good. That's good. I feel reassured.

[shaves]

I wasn't aware you were still keeping tabs on me, should I be flattered or creeped out? Y'know, romantic inter-team relationships never work out very well, but I'll still opt for the former. I wouldn't want to offend.

[shaves]

Be reassured. I'll, I don't know, I'll eat a banana in front of you to prove I'm fit as a fiddle and not battling the effects of scurvy. That fly?

[debts]

I'm glad you're choosing to let me down easy.

[shaves]

I think we both know I'm the one with the bigger heart here.

[hulkbusted]

Now you're just trying to distract me.