[tony's house]

[anthony_e_stark]

Parties have always been Stark's thing. Since he'd been old enough to enjoy the attention showered on him, he's been fond of them. Can't get enough of 'em. Would throw them for anything. Special event? Good business deal go through? It's Tuesday? Time to party. Birthday parties are doubly so.

Not so much this time, though. Despite having been the lifelong life of the party this is exactly the last place he would like to be right now. That's not a sentiment much of anyone around him would believe - well, mostly. There's at least one person who might've backed him on refusing this shindig. Not that anyone else would listen, even if she yelled again.

Shame, he thinks, staring down at the spiderweb of dark veins radiating out from the arc reactor while his computer screen cheerfully lists his new and improved expiration date. Palladium concentration: 89%. Not like I'm gonna get another one after this.

Comments

[lichfield]

Busted. Of course he had to comment, he's Stark. Caroline gives him a very half-hearted glare and huffs. "I was grumbling at your stupid fluffy hair, actually," she says with as much dignity as she can muster. Which isn't very much, especially given that she's still playing with his hair.

"But I could probably be talked into growling at you if you ask nicely," she adds after a moment, leering at Tony again.

[anthony_e_stark]

Tony laughs quietly, adjusting his arm around her waist. "Only if I ask nicely?" There's something else he was going to say, he's sure, but as soon as he opens his mouth to continue his phone chimes. That's the Pepper text alert. Goddamnit.

He has to shift around awkwardly to find his phone. One look t the notification is enough to get a small frown out of him. "How does she always know. It's like she's got a sixth sense for fun-ruining."

[lichfield]

Caroline starts to reply with some comment about standards or not rewarding bad behavior or something equally ridiculous when Tony gets a text. From Potts. She's been on the job long enough to recognize that particular phone chirp. Oh boy.

"Are we in trouble already?" she drawls as he wiggles around to get at his phone. She's mostly joking, but also not. Pepper Potts hates fun more than Scrooge and the Grinch combined. It's impressive.

...If they're not yet, they will be shortly. "Well, I think you're stuck going to your party after all," she says after he gets a look at his phone. Damn. That's annoying on a number of levels. She shifts around a little to slide her feet back down to the floor. Wait a minute.

"Of course," she adds, "there's nothing that says you have to stay there." She's not even sure he'll particularly care about continuing... whatever this is by then, but at least he doesn't have to stay at this party he so obviously doesn't want.

[anthony_e_stark]

"Already?" Tony sighs a little theatrically, a little long-sufferingly. He thumbs the screen of the phone back off and tosses it to the table. "More like always."

He looks very sad at her slipping her legs from the armrest - and out of his grasp. Her idea's not a bad one, though. It's not something that Tony shouldn't have thought of on his own either. It's just Tony Stark is not really known for showing up to parties only briefly. He hadn't even considered that. "I could do that," He considers aloud. "Show up, make the rounds, call it a night early..."

Stark trails off a moment, expression going thoughtful. "Be ready to leave when I, y'know, bolt for the exit." He says as if he's going to be making some daring escape or something.

[lichfield]

Caroline reluctantly stands and backs out of the way enough to give Stark room to stand as well. She smooths the wrinkles out of her dress while he thinks aloud. "Will anything be exploding or on fire for that?" she asks. She's mostly kidding.

Hey, at least she's invited too. That's gratifying.

[anthony_e_stark]

Tony looks very disappointed when Caroline finally leaves his lap. He stands reluctantly, giving the watch collection the briefest of looks before picking more or less at random. Good enough.

"It's me, so..." He trails off, thoughtfully. "Probably."