video | un: iron.man

[buildsomething]

[Tony's in his workroom, look surprised. His expression is deadpan, but there's something almost pleased underneath it. An almost imperceptible loosening of the tension that's always there in the set of his shoulders.]

So I know we're all well aware that this place is weird as hell, but does stuff just like. Turn up sometimes? Your stuff, I mean. From home.

[As he's talking, a metal arm pops into view behind him. The claw at the front of the arm clicks together once, then starts slowly creeping forward like it's trying to peer at the camera over Tony's shoulder. It's about the least subtle thing imaginable, considering the robot's sheer size, but Tony seems to be quite comfortably ignoring it.

At least until the claw nearly knocks right into the camera and Tony has to move it out of the way like he's holding it out of the range of a toddler. The robot arm is still taking up most of the image now, though. When Tony's voice comes again, it's more than a little resigned.]

'Cause this definitely mine. Unfortunately.

Comments

[ikols]

[ A stifled, theatrical gasp at the sight of Dum-E, and Loki manages to look daunted. ]

Who could stand up to such a mighty beast!

[buildsomething]

[Dum-E's claw clicks proudly.]

That's what I'm saying.

[ikols]

I will never mess with you or your fearsome bodyguard ever again.

[buildsomething]

Good plan. He's mean with a fire extinguisher.

[ikols]

Oh, maybe we can be friends after all.

[buildsomething]

You got a thing for extinguishers?

[ikols]

I've got a thing for not getting set on fire.

[buildsomething]

Oh. Well that, I can get behind.

[ikols]

Have you tried coaxing the portal into giving you something? Offering up suggestions? It does listen, in my experience.

[buildsomething]

...the portal listens.

[Tony shakes his head a little.]

I mean, if it wanted to give me my building, I could be okay with that. Not sure I need anything though.

[ikols]

I mean ...

[ Itching the back of his neck since this is NBD ... ]

I was going to try and eke the tower through the portal, wordsmithery shenanigans and such ... but I don't know if I should bother anymore. [ He could use his reality-warping and silvertongue to see if that would be possible, but with Anthony in a coma is there any point? That was the only person he wanted to please.

Which is why he looks to Stark, now, as if only just considering him. ]

Would it make a difference to you?

[buildsomething]

[Some of the amusement fades from Tony's face to be replaced by something more thoughtful.]

I'm gonna guess we're not talking about my tower.

[And what would that really be like? A place that's his-but-not? It makes his shoulders twitch slightly just thinking about it. But all he does is offer Loki a very slight smile.]

Don't think I'm the one you should be talking to about it.

[ikols]

I can't exactly ask.

[ His gaze drops, overcast in thought. He could lie but it wouldn't be very convincing without any heart behind it and he's fairly certain Stark is smart enough to have pieced together a fair amount on his own. ]

But ... I don't think he would want anyone else taking it over, too much of himself is there. Inviting another him into the tower would be a breach of ... higher expectations. [ Not trust. Anthony already said he doesn't trust Loki, he told him not to touch. It's uncomfortable for Loki to put this much thought into protecting anyone elses assets but it also feels like a good learning curve. He definitely wants to do the right thing with this idea; and so he scraps it, knowing instinctively that Anthony is as private and guarded as the godling himself. ]

Sorry, the offer's best rescinded.

[buildsomething]

Rude. [Tony's expression is dry, but it's pretty easy to tell that he's teasing.] Just as well. I'd have had to go through and adjust everything to the correct height anyway.

[ikols]

[ With a lack of real reprimands, he cheers up a bit. ]

You are shockingly petite. [ And impulsively, to be a smidge kinder, ] It's cute.

[buildsomething]

[It still earns Tony's best offended look. Hand pressed against his chest and everything.]

Excuse you, I am not cute.

[ikols]

[ Tony's Most Offended Look is wildly weak, which has Loki chuckling. He's fairly certain Stark knows he's indulging him but Loki is too selfish to stop. He misses his friend. ]

Like a poodlehound, pintsize with a loud bark.

[buildsomething]

...did you just call me a poodle?

[Okay, now he might actually be offended. At least a little. The short jokes are one thing...]

At least grant me something with a little more dignity.

[ikols]

[ Does Tony expect quarter from Loki, oh no. ]

Mmm ... Dachshund?

[buildsomething]

Hilarious.

[How did they even get started on this.]

If the word chihuahua comes out of your mouth, I'm sending Dum-E to clean your house.

[ikols]

Please, I have some standards. Besides, I spend my time between apartment five and the Sanctum, so either way your adorably named pet would be helping someone.

[buildsomething]

Yeah, you'd like to think that.