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[IC] Appointments Post
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It can be Written, Action, Voice, or just a quick call on the journal system for whatever reason.
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[Action, January 1st]
Thanks!
[action; july twenty-second]
[He pauses, reflecting over his glass, but doesn't take a sip.]
Look, we both know--I say a lot of things. Which may or may not be always sincere. But when it comes down to the things that matter? Those things that you just--[The things so close to your heart you can even say them. The things that make you want to be a hero.] I know myself, Billy--and better yet, Pepper knows me even better than I do. And if saying this--promising this--was enough for her? You might consider it. It's not your reality, and it doesn't change much--and, hell, maybe it's only important to me. But that's it. It's important to me that you know.
[action; july twenty-second]
And maybe it takes a disaster of that magnitude to trigger that change.
He considers all of these things carefully for one lengthy moment, then glances over at Tony with a weary expression, lips quirking into the smallest smile.]
The opinion of your housekeeping fanboy is suddenly so important?
[action; july twenty-second]
[Which means yes, he does. But it's clearly beyond just him being his housekeeping fanboy, even if he can't say it. Working up to saying things took time for him--and it was force of will that he was even being this open now. Because he felt like he needed to. He had a point to get across.]
[action; july twenty-second]
Well... this fanboy's going to stick around and keep watching you, if you don't mind. And if I see any slip-ups, I'll be sure to point them out.
[He's pretty sure that Pepper will be the one to keep him in line, but hey, every little bit helps. Especially when it's for the good of all.]
[action; july twenty-second]
And here you said you were thinking about quitting. Keep me on the straight and narrow, Billy.
[action; july twenty-second]
That's the plan, boss. Guess we're stuck with each other.
[And then he pauses, brows furrowing as the smile vanishes once more.]
About the SRA, though- Pepper and Sue mentioned not telling Cap. I can understand why, I just... wondered what you thought about that.
[action; july twenty-second]
So he'll go with his general answer for these sorts of things.]
If he needs or wants to know? Tell him. If it doesn't come up, then don't.
[If it didn't become important for him to know, then what was the point?]
[action; july twenty-second]
I don't want to tell him. It's- ...there's no point. I'll leave it up to Susan to decide.
[He's pretty sure she doesn't plan to, so they're probably safe.]
[action; july twenty-second]
[Except the whole thing isn't fair, not really, to any of them. But that's just one more inconvenience of Luceti and he's made the decision to not let it get to him anymore. He's his own man. He knows what he won't be. No alternate universe is going to dictate that for him.]
[action; july twenty-second]
Because the fact of the matter is this: once bitten, twice shy. And those first bites are still stinging, months later. The scars on his ears are testament enough of that.]
...I'm sorry for all of this. Really, I am. None of this is right, even if we can't help feeling the way we do. But for what it's worth... I wish he was more like you.
[action; july twenty-second]
He is a better man, and you know what? It's nice to have people point it out sometimes.]
Now, don't get sappy. The Coke's a little too strong?
[action; july twenty-second]
[Billy ducks his head, lifting the heel of his palm to rub stubbornly at an eye. He's always been excessively emotional, but he's determined not to cry in front of Tony. He'd probably never hear the end of it.]
You are still a jerk sometimes, though, so don't worry about your reputation.
[action; july twenty-second]
Well, that's a relief. I can't tell you how shattered I'd be if people knew I was nice occasionally.
[action; july twenty-second]
Thought so. I won't say a word.
[action; july twenty-second]
[What were you saying about nice? Tony smirks and takes another sip from his glass, emptying it.]
Now our skeletons are out of the closet, and I have a mission to set off on in the morning. [Not to mention a lady waiting at home. And he shouldn't keep the lady waiting.] You think you can make it home after that Coke? It's a doozy.
[action; july twenty-second]
I'm sure I can stagger my way through a teleport somehow. [Billy smiles faintly, lifting a hand to wave him off.] Don't get killed, okay? I'd be no comfort to Pepper.
[It's said half-teasingly, but he does mean it. On both parts.]
[action; july twenty-second]
[Not that he intended to get hurt anyway. Getting hurt really isn't one of his favorite things, even if it seems to happen a lot.]
Try not to get too wasted, Billiam.
[action; july twenty-second]
[Psh... like he'd drink underage. His mother would find a way to travel across dimensions so she could kill him herself.]
See you when you get back.