[ It's a halting, painful kind of conversation already, and they've only just started. Steve wonders if it's worth it to keep at it, but he's never been that good at letting something go. ]
[ As if Tony's anxious, stream-of way of talking wasn't bad enough, somehow it translates over to text message too. Steve waits to make sure he's really done before replying. ]
I'm pretty sure it's different for kids. I haven't really asked.
[ Sometimes it really is better not to know. ]
If he survived the dragon stuff, I'm sure he's fine. Either way, we get a break after today.
So I know you're not a complete naive idiot. So you know what happened. Cool. Yeah it's cool. I said this place sucked. I said that from the beginning. But I suck too. Which I'm sure you're trying not to tell me with platitudes but you know I do. Because I did it. I have to live with that now but that's OK I'm the same asshole you always knew I was right
Right
[It sits there for another minute. Then, they turn to:]
[ Message deleted. (7:03:45) ]
[ Message deleted. (7:03:55) ]
I'm going to sleep. Bye
[There's no hiding the notifs. But whatever. That's morning-him's problem.]
[ This is what happens when Steve ends up taking a shower in the midst of a text message conversation with Tony Stark. Looking away from his phone for more than a few minutes may as well be a capital offense.
There's a lot to take in here before Tony gets to the actual meat of what this conversation is maybe supposed to be about, and Steve gets to read the messages before they disappear, the record of them removed. ]
You had eight straight days of that, without really knowing what you were in for. I've heard what the Iris effects are like.
I know you're going to beat yourself up about it anyway, but it's not like you made a conscious decision to do what you did.
[ Whatever that is. Steve's nose can only tell him so much. ]
[Morning-Tony does indeed deal with the problem, when he rolls over in his assigned apartment's bare-bones bed and catches the blinking indicator on his wrist device. It's the second thing he notices after the disappearance of the tentacles, though those he'd been kinda aware of from a) alien sex city's prescribed calendar, and b) the burning sensation along his forearms and calves in the middle of the night.
He stares at the messages for a few seconds, re-reads them once or twice.
Then he closes the message app window and rolls back over again to face the wall. He tugs the sheets over his head and closes his eyes.
If he doesn't reply, then maybe he never saw it. If maybe he never saw it, then Steve won't ask him about it.
But that doesn't mean he's not stuck right here, right now.
no subject
Would you rather talk about that?
no subject
Maybe
no subject
Have you talked to Peter yet?
no subject
Forgot how much you sucked at the cheering up thing
[Then, several:]
Not since dragon town
I'm sure he's ok
Super sure
Why wouldn't he be
You know in 80's acid trip alien sex town
Right
You think this moon thing has an age cap
Really hope there's an age Cap
*cap
no subject
I'm pretty sure it's different for kids. I haven't really asked.
[ Sometimes it really is better not to know. ]
If he survived the dragon stuff, I'm sure he's fine. Either way, we get a break after today.
no subject
[About a minute goes by.]
What about you
Eaten out of any trashcans
Sniffed any butts
Actually don't answer that
no subject
...actually don't answer about eating out trashcans either
Poor phrasing
no subject
I typ ED this with the jellyfish tentacles how weird is that ..
[Five more minutes.]
Did you know I can charge this thing too with the electricity. Watch out Rogers
no subject
Tony Stark is typing...
[Pause.]
Tony Stark is typing...
[Stops. All at once:]
So I know you're not a complete naive idiot. So you know what happened. Cool. Yeah it's cool. I said this place sucked. I said that from the beginning. But I suck too. Which I'm sure you're trying not to tell me with platitudes but you know I do. Because I did it. I have to live with that now but that's OK I'm the same asshole you always knew I was right
Right
[It sits there for another minute. Then, they turn to:]
[ Message deleted. (7:03:45) ]
[ Message deleted. (7:03:55) ]
I'm going to sleep. Bye
[There's no hiding the notifs. But whatever. That's morning-him's problem.]
no subject
There's a lot to take in here before Tony gets to the actual meat of what this conversation is maybe supposed to be about, and Steve gets to read the messages before they disappear, the record of them removed. ]
You had eight straight days of that, without really knowing what you were in for. I've heard what the Iris effects are like.
I know you're going to beat yourself up about it anyway, but it's not like you made a conscious decision to do what you did.
[ Whatever that is. Steve's nose can only tell him so much. ]
no subject
He stares at the messages for a few seconds, re-reads them once or twice.
Then he closes the message app window and rolls back over again to face the wall. He tugs the sheets over his head and closes his eyes.
If he doesn't reply, then maybe he never saw it. If maybe he never saw it, then Steve won't ask him about it.
But that doesn't mean he's not stuck right here, right now.
Thinking. Knowing.
He tries to fall back asleep. But he doesn't.]