No spoilers, please.

[coconut_and_metal]

So you haven't even seen the movie, but it's making you haul me out here. Well, great. I'm so glad you're trying to make this AU work again. Nevermind the advice of the genius in your head not to; clearly you know better than a man who regularly rests in the top four percentile of IQ tests.

Don't look to me for back up on this one, sweetcheeks. I'm not the kind of AU anybody should be enthusiastic about, although you're certainly making drinking sound appealing. If anything would get me to go back to it, I think this 'muse' thing would do it. You don't even have a plan on where to put me or what to do with me, you just want to play me again. And Pepper thinks I do things without thinking of the consequences. [He sighs, tugging down his sleeves out of habit. It's an exasperated motion.] At least put me in memes this time. With the wave of popularity canon-me is getting, I might be able to actually do something this time.

Comments

[smash_stuff]

Top four percentile? [No, he's impressed. Really.]

[coconut_and_metal]

I haven't had time to retake the test. So I slipped down to the top four. But you know how it is when you're trapped in someone's headspace.

How've you been?

[smash_stuff]

Yes, yes I do. [In more ways than one.]

[a shrug] Oh you know...yoga, bongos...light jazz... [He's kidding of course.] And you?

[coconut_and_metal]

[Tony smiles, briefly.] Oh, you know. Sitting around, doing nothing, redecorating the mun's headspace in tasteful gold and hot rod red.

[smash_stuff]

You. Doing nothing.

[He shakes his head] Sorry, I just can't picture it.

[coconut_and_metal]

I know. It goes against the basic laws of nature. Time is warped and space is now bendable.

But my mun promises to actually put me on memes this time around, do something with me for once. So there's that.

[smash_stuff]

Well...space was always bendable... [But physics lectures can wait.]

So you'll be out saving the world again. That's good. [Bruce has been in a few memes, though the mun tends to find the ones with the most action and explosions.] Not exactly a calm work environment.

[rescuedhim]

Do I want to know what these differences might be with this...'au' thing? Regardless, I would have to agree there are...times when you don't appear to think of the consequences of your actions. Sometimes.

[coconut_and_metal]

It's a Mystery Science Theater 3000 reference, Bruce.

Saving the world and probably getting into ill-advised romances my mun thinks are good ideas. Sobriety's killed a lot of fun in my life.

[coconut_and_metal]

Well, uh, I quit drinking. [And picked up a far worse habit. But. Progress? He tugs down on his sleeves nervously.] And I have you for the times I don't think things through, Pep.

[rescuedhim]

Well, I guess that's good news? But why doesn't it feel like it?

[As much as Tony quitting drinking, she's sure something else must be going on as well, or at least in it's place. Something he isn't telling her.]

True. Though I wish you would try to consider thinigs more in the long term sometimes, Tony.

[coconut_and_metal]

Look, I'm trying. I really am, Pep. Isn't that good enough? Come on, it's me we're talking about here.

Hard to think in the long term when you're trapped in someone's headspace.

[rescuedhim]

I suppose. That you're trying at least needs to be taken into account.

That's true. I know there has been times where my own player has dropped from a game and not particularly used that account since. Were you planning on going anywhere?

[coconut_and_metal]

I'm not sure if my mun's going to put me in a game or not yet. It's the AU thing, you know. But there's always memes. [Any excuse to hang out with Pepper, even if he's not totally the same as the Tony she knows.]

[rescuedhim]

I see. Mine is the same, but then, she only recently made this account, though the 'au' thing doesn't apply to me. I suppose at least I can see you here.

[She's still not sure what to make of him claiming to quit drinking. It's worrying, when she considers what might have happened to cause such a change in him. But she isn't sure how to ask about it either, at least not yet.]

[coconut_and_metal]

Mine made this account and then forgot about it for a while. No idea what made her decide to pick me back up, but it's nice to see you, Pep. How've you been?

[He's not sure how to broach the topic of what he now does. He doesn't want to upset her, and even if he's not known for his tact, he's trying his best, here.]

[rescuedhim]

I'm sure there's one or two at least that my player could say the same about herself. But I would hazard a guess and say the latest in your story is probably the reason. It's nice to see you too.

[She can't help but manage a small smile at that small admission.]

I've been okay. I mean, she hasn't done a lot with me yet since I'm so new. So there's that much to be thankful for, I suppose.

[coconut_and_metal]

So the only way my mun can remember me is seeing the version of me that drinks alcohol like water. Great.

Good. I'm glad she hasn't done anything crazy to you. Muns can make me look sensitive.

[rescuedhim]

Well, you've. Been through a lot, Tony. You're getting better. [Sure, it's taking time, but slowly, surely, even Pepper can see Tony is trying and struggling through recent events. Doing his best to change and set things right after being kidnapped and almost killed by his own weapons.]

So I've heard. I don't suppose you could say the same, though it has apparently been a while.

[coconut_and_metal]

Different. Not necessarily better. I - you know. I'm not perfect. I was getting better, but then the Loki thing happened and I just... I guess I'm not as much of a genius as I thought.

[rescuedhim]

Tony....you're going to get through all of this. I know you will.

[She knows more or less what went down, considering it was all over the news at the time when Loki came with his army. She tries to reassure him, head tilting slightly as she reaches to put a hand to his shoulder.]

I don't care how different you might be. How you deal with this -- we'll get you through it. You'll be okay. You just, tell me when you're ready, and I'll do what I can.

[coconut_and_metal]

[He flinches when she touches him, but briefly. He looks over at her, trying to open up, but emotions aren't something Starks are good at. Tony's not sure what to do now.]

Why do you put up with me, Pepper? [His voice is quiet, and tired.]

[rescuedhim]

You've said I'm all you've got. Well, it's the same for me. You're all I've got too. Besides, I hate job hunting, so you're stuck with me now.

[Her expression softens, noticing the flinch and withdrawing her hand for the moment, a small frown at her features as her other hand raises to brush some of her hair back.]

[coconut_and_metal]

[He reaches for her hand, awkwardly, but his smile is genuine.] I kinda like being stuck with you.

[rescuedhim]

So do I. Even if there are moments when I ask myself why I put up with you sometimes. [Her 'quitting' comes to mind most readily there at that admittance. But the corners of her own lips curve upward in instrinctive response to his own smile, her hand in his when he reaches for it.]