Meanwhile, at thestation

[starkingenuity]

Hey.  Can I stop being in a coma yet?  There's a cute blonde poking at me and I'm missing the whole thing!

Comments

[tessie]

Do they possess any other qualities that you might find appealing? They could turn out to be a nuisance and then you might wish you were back in the coma again.

[curbing]

Why are you in a coma? [ oh my god. ] What happened? Are you hurt?

[ .. but wait. ]

Why is a blonde poking at you? [ he's offended on his female self's behalf. 8'| ]

[starkingenuity]

Little incident with Banner's meaner, greener, alter ego--

[Don't give him that look. No. Really. Don't.]

I just get poked a lot, all right? Don't freak out. I can tell you're about to freak out. So don't.

[curbing]

Oh my God, Tony, you-- what were you doing making the Hulk angry? [ not freaking out, not freaking out, not freaking out. ]

I'm not freaking out! I just-- [ okay maybe he's freaking out a teeny tiny bit. ] Really?

[starkingenuity]

It wasn't-- Why does it have to be my fault? I didn't do anything.

[Well, except for flirt with Loki, but to be fair, he had breasts. Really nice ones.]

[curbing]

Really? You didn't do anything. Hulk just-- just Loki-slammed you for no reason.

[starkingenuity]

Hey, I was protecting someone, all right?

Also? Pep? He did not 'Loki-slam' me. He sort of insect-flicked me...

[curbing]

[ a sigh. ] .. Yes, I suppose I'm not surprised that you were.

--That's better? [ well, maybe. fewer broken bones, hopefully. ]

[starkingenuity]

I had the armor on.

[You're worrying again.]

Just a little bump or two.

[curbing]

[ of course he's worrying. ]

But you're in a coma, Tony.

[starkingenuity]

Temporary coma. Do you really think a little head trauma could keep me down?

[curbing]

It's still a coma, however temporary. [ right. not thinking about tony in comas somewhere possibly minus a pepper. he rubs his brow. ] Is Bruce okay? What set him off?

[starkingenuity]

[Yep, minus a Pepper.]

Would you believe a prom on a space station? I'm really not lying.

[curbing]

[ you should probably do some advertising, tony stark. ]

A pr-- [ what. ] A prom. A prom? Really.

[starkingenuity]

[Peppers worry too much.]

Yeah, long story. Well, actually, no it's not. Formal wear was found. Someone suggested night at the space opera. Loki showed up. I never went to prom, so I don't know if that's how it goes or not.

[curbing]

[ a long stare, then he shakes his head, waving it away. ]

You know what? I don't-- It's-- I don't know why I ask. If I ever see Loki again, though, I'm going to personally break his nose.

[ pepper's not a violent person by nature, but for tony and bruce? yeah. ]

[starkingenuity]

Think Asgard has some good plastic surgeons? Think they take credit?

[It's cute when you're protective, honey.]

[curbing]

He'd better hope so. I might actually melt him or something. [ do frost giants melt? if anything could do it, he's pretty sure the extremis could. ]

[ well, you're no good at taking care of yourself, sometimes. B| ]

[starkingenuity]

Now that I'd like to see.

[He's becoming very well aware of just how poor he is at taking care of himself, actually. Remembering to eat sometimes while frolicking with 36th century tech is...impossible.]

Course the me in the coma has no idea about the you with the dragon breath.

[curbing]

You would.

[ tony. tony, seriously? you need a babysitter, sometimes.

he huffs. ] I don't have dragon-breath, Tony. And.. maybe a 'me' will show up there. I hope so.

[starkingenuity]

I've got a Banner?

[He's not so bad.]

[curbing]

[ a small quirk of his mouth, amused despite himself. ]

Yes, I suppose you do. I hope he'll start bothering you into taking care of yourself. If he can remember to do the same for himself, anyway. Honestly, the two of you are enough to give someone grays.

[starkingenuity]

I think he'll be too busy hiding again after this. He's sensitive.

[Pepper's constant worry is endearing.]

I'll buy the company that makes your dye if it gets too bad.

[curbing]

Hiding isn't the solution.

[ huff. ] Oh, no, if I go gray, I'm just letting it. That way every time you look at me, you're reminded that maybe you should stop doing things to terrify me.

[starkingenuity]

Name one time that was directly my--

Name...seven times it was directly my fault!

[curbing]

I think you're.. reaching there just a bit, Tony.

[rescuedhim]

Dare I wask what happened that you are in a coma?

[And. :l What is this about some cute blonde?]

[starkingenuity]

Just a little snuggle with the Hulk.

[You're not there, Pepper. He already feels guilty, okay?]

[rescuedhim]

A--Tony, the last I knew, the Hulk doesn't really do snuggling. What did you do?

[Because. Surely something he did set poor Bruce off. And yeah this is just her way of trying to focus on that rather than the blonde comment.]

[starkingenuity]

Everyone always-- I just brought him to a party!

[rescuedhim]

And what happened at this party? Something must have set him off and got him...mad.

[starkingenuity]

Loki...might...have also been...at the party...

[He hadn't known! The trickster just showed up!]

[rescuedhim]

....I see. So that's it. [She sighs, raising a hand to place it at Tony's shoulder.]

Are you going to be okay? I mean, obviously you're not right now, if you're--in a coma and all, but....

[starkingenuity]

I'm going to try to be. As good as I can be stuck on a space station in the 36th century--

[Excuse the smiling, okay? It's actually pretty cool.]

[rescuedhim]

I can just imagine you with the technology there....

[namikaze_naruto]

Armor guy! Can't wait till you wake up!

[Naruto didn't get a chance to meet Tony quite yet, that so needs to happen!]