IM3 spoilers in comments are quite likely

[canyouregulate]

Okay, let me get this straight.

You want to play me... why?

Right. That's right. I didn't think you had an answer.

At least make more than one icon before you get serious.

[A very bored eyeroll.]

Comments

[curbing]

[ UGH IT'S YOU. ]

[canyouregulate]

[Well. You get an eyebrow raised. And maybe even a bemused look.] Cat got your tongue?

[curbing]

I was just really hoping you were gone.

[canyouregulate]

[Oh, a broad grin at that.] Oh, I'm not that easy to get rid of, bright eyes.

A little like some people I know.

[curbing]

Don't call me that. I have a name, and I'm not-- [ scared of you, but this guy really is kind of a creep. even more than his boss had been in some ways. ]

Yes, well, Tony's resilient that way.

[canyouregulate]

Oh-ho-ho, of course you do, sparky. [Problem is, he can tell that he's creeping you out. And he enjoys it.]

Yeah, it's kind of a problem. But it's one I'm sure I can fix.

[curbing]

Don't you lay a finger on him. I'll-- do something-- very drastic if you do.

[ VIOLENCE. pepper hates it. but if it's for tony, well.. 8'( ]

[canyouregulate]

Very drastic, [He repeats, somewhat singsong.] That's... cute.

[curbing]

You say that, but it wasn't Tony who killed Aldrich. [ tipping his chin up a little, fingers curling into white-knuckled fists. honestly, what's wrong with him? isn't he always telling tony to watch who he's sassing? and now here he is talking back to a walking time-bomb. ]

[canyouregulate]

No. It wasn't. [Actually, could that be a spark of respect? Well, maybe not respect... but something vaguely like it.

Still, you should take your own advice. Watch you you're sassing. He links his hands behind his head, half-shrugging.] So you took care of the boss-man. I never said he didn't have it coming. You plan to mete out some more of your fiery justice on me?

[He doesn't sound threatened. Or threatening. Just... curious.]

[curbing]

[ despite himself, he shudders a little at the man's tone, rubbing his arms self-consciously. ]

.. No. Not so long as you don't hurt Tony. [ because tony can handle the rest, he supposes. as much as he hates the fact that the other man throws himself into danger pretty much all the time, he has to admit that he's become pretty good at not getting himself killed, at least. ]

[canyouregulate]

Well now, with my boss outta the picture, who's gonna order me to hurt yours?

[Well, except for the fact that he might like to finish things. Get a little revenge. But he'll just... neglect to mention that. It's more fun that way.]

[curbing]

Well, I certainly hope you'll leave well enough alone. It's already ended badly for you once, after all.

[canyouregulate]

[Oh, ouch. Is that glow in his eyes real, or just your imagination?]

Once was enough. Trust me.

[curbing]

[ ugh, please be his imagination, please be his imagination.. ]

Well. Good. I'm glad to hear that.

[canyouregulate]

[He grins. If there was any glow there, it seems to subside. For the moment.]

So. Bright eyes. What'cha been up to?

[curbing]

My name is Virgil. [ you don't get to call him pepper. 8'| ] And it's really none of your business what I've been doing. Suffice to say that I'm managing, anyway.

[canyouregulate]

Ah. [Well. It's a start.] Well, that is what you do, isn't it? Manage? [As if to indicate you can't do much else. Nevermind that you dispatched his boss, of course.]

[curbing]

I do a great deal, though I imagine most of it would go over your head. [ drawing himself up straighter-- as if it'll help him look taller. he unfortunately doesn't have the benefit of his female counterpart's tendency to wear very tall heels. ] True, I don't kidnap presidents or murder people for a living, so I suppose it might not be particularly impressive to thugs.

[canyouregulate]

Would it? [He looks bored, more than anything - he's smarter than he lets on, but no, he's really not interested in what you do all day. It sounds very... confining.]

Aw, hey now, Virgil. Don't knock it 'till you've tried it. You never know. You might like it.

[curbing]

I certainly would not! [ huff! ] I am not a violent person, and-- and anyway, even if I were, I certainly wouldn't do the heinous things that you've done.

[canyouregulate]

Uh-huh. Of course you're not, Virgil.

But'cha killed my boss just fine, didn't you? [See, maybe you're not so different, after all.

Or, really, you are, but it's too much fun to insinuate you're not.]

[curbing]

That was in Tony's defense. Don't you try twisting that around as if it was-- was anything else. I didn't enjoy it.

[canyouregulate]

Oh, but you did. Maybe it was just for a second, but you can't tell me there was no little rush of adrenaline, no spark.

[curbing]

Of course there wasn't. [ except.. that's sort of a lie. a part of him had been just the slightest bit satisfied to make aldrich pay for what he'd done. ] I-- Stop it. I'm not like you.

[canyouregulate]

Oh, Virgil, Virgil, Virgil. You're such a bad liar.

[fotlenke]

[ Gonna hesitantly poke you in the back. ]

Am I not supposed to burst to flames?

[ And now just some annoying poke poke poking. ]

[canyouregulate]

[What.

Just... what.]

Not unless I mean for you to, sister. [Eyebrow raiiiiiiise.]

Which I will. If you keep poking me.

[fotlenke]

[ Midgardians are just so fascinating. ]

I do not think that is possible.

[ And now she pokes his shoulder. ]

I do not see red. Is there not red?

[canyouregulate]

You really wanna go there?

[The glow starts in his eyes, but it doesn't spread very far. Yet. Because really, you're a good-looking woman. Maybe you've got smarts to go with those looks.]

Because I think you don't. What do you want?

[fotlenke]

Oh. It is no comment upon your capability as a warrior, I simply doubt that you would last long against a warrior goddess of Vanaheim.

[ Wow. That's a nice effect. Just gonna...stare. ] How does that occur? Are you magic?

[canyouregulate]

[Well, that's good. For you both, probably. He cocks a half-grin, though he has no idea who you are or what you're going on about with warrior goddesses.]

Magic? Hell, no. It's all science.

[fotlenke]

For true? [ That's pretty interesting. ] Were you born with such abilities?

[canyouregulate]

Yeah. For true.

[Well, sure. If you care about the mechanics. He knows 'em. He just doesn't care to let on that he does.]

Nope. In fact, they're not that old. Coupla years. But I'd say I've had plenty of practice.

[fotlenke]

Are you a warrior?

[ She cocks her head to the side. ]

[canyouregulate]

A soldier. I was a soldier.

[He's... something else, now. But yes. Still a warrior, in his mind.]

So what are you, blondie?

[fotlenke]

I am same. I fight for my people who are wrongfully oppressed by gilded hands and their fat axes.

[ That'd be Aesir, bb. ]

[canyouregulate]

Axes, huh? [That's... unique.] That sounds messy.

[fotlenke]

Oh, but they do hate a mess.

[ said with spite. ]

[canyouregulate]

Well, that's where the hired help comes in. Cleans everything up, no muss, no fuss. [That's his job, after all. The only messes he leaves are the ones he's told to leave.]

[fotlenke]

They only make more messes. To destroy what they do not understand. [ Big no-no. ]

[canyouregulate]

Then clearly they're not hiring the right help.