[ He's been nowhere good, Natasha, let's just leave it at that. But it's nothing a few hours of relaxation can't distract from, right? He'll just tell himself that.
Tony flies himself out to the new spa area, scans it quickly and marks it low on threats for the time being. He'd ran surveillance earlier, of course, but that's low reliability; things change at a moment's notice around here, and there's no predicting it. It's part of why Tony hates this place so damn much.
But! Relaxing. Or a close approximation to it. Yeah. Tony heads inside and gets himself changed into a robe, avoiding any nearby mirrors so he won't catch a glimpse of how gaunt he's gotten or any leftover marks Lucifer might have left from their time together. No need to trigger a panic attack in the middle of a day spa.
Now he'll find the comfiest seat, lounge a bit and wait for Natasha. ]
[Natasha shows up perhaps a minute or two late. Her posture and mean or relaxed, or could be mistaken for relaxed, but there are dark circles under her eyes and if she looks like she's not concerned with their surroundings, like she's not looking over her shoulder, it's only because she already knows what's there.
Her expression tightens when she sees Tony and some of the tension slip through.]
Well... [She approaches him, taking in his weight.] ...you look terrible.
[Sometimes there's no point in tact. But she doesn't ask what happened.]
A glowing assessment as always. And sure, let's party.
[ There's a flicker of guilt in Tony's eyes, but they're all that accompanies the quip in response to her remark as he gets to his feet with a grunt. Damn, he really is an old man, isn't he? He'd definitely heard his joints pop just now. Lovely.
Positive vibes, though. Tony heads for the hot tub, sheds his robe and pauses at the steps. ] What's the story FRIDAY? Is it poisoned? Boiling hot? pH levels okay? Nobody wants a nasty infection in parts unknown.
[ It checks out, so Tony removes his tech and climbs in. The immediate relief makes him audibly groan, and he wades in further then sinks down to about chin level. Closes his eyes. Honestly, this is almost better than Frenzy. Definitely better than sex. He really is an old man. ]
Never let me claim you're not handy to have around.
[Normally if Natasha wants to treat herself to a spa bath, she has to weigh it against the risk of aphrodisiacs or being cooked alive. There's still no accounting for what the staff might try to pull, but at least she'll have someone else to watch her back. In the end the math rarely works out and she settles for a quick shower in the hotel.
Now, she shrugs out of her gear and sets her weapons aside. At least, most of them.
How unarmed Tony wants to believe she really is when she joins him is up to him.]
We did have a lull in the team building exercises for a while there. Though to be fair there was the whole, you know-- [ he snaps his fingers pointedly ]-- and now the hell thing. Kinda kills the vibe.
[ Tony sighs heavily, leans back and closes his eyes. And yeah, he looks like shit. Thin and pale, and he might have some fresh bruises here and there from his last encounter with John. There's a reason Tony asked Natasha along for this particular excursion-- she doesn't push, knows when to tread lightly. There's just that pesky side effect that she can read him like a book.
But what about her? Tony doesn't need his scanners to tell him she isn't doing great either. No shit, right? It's hell. No one is going through this unscathed. But he does want to ask her how she's doing, and he'll get to it eventually. ]
You know what I think the silver lining is about this place? [ His eyes stay closed as he talks. ] We're so used to things going pear-shaped at a moment's notice that it isn't scary anymore. I'm half convinced this hot tub will spontaneously heat to boiling and cook us alive at any point but see? [ He gestures to himself, at his relaxed stance and closed eyes. ] Cannot be bothered.
[Tony's always so eloquent. It's the gesture that gets to her. A little chill that the hot water can't keep away, a little prickle at the back of her neck, and she snorts slightly.
He's not wrong, though. Natasha's been better. She's been worse, too, but not as often. The worst part is that it's a drawn out kind of low; the kind where you know you haven't hit the bottom yet.
She keeps it together, mostly, keeps a good face on, but the dark circles under her eyes are telling and it's hard to say just how long she's been wearing the same make up.]
Team building looks a little different down here. Try to throw a party, you're likely to attract succubi or, cultists, who knows what else.
[Natasha pauses for a second, the water easing some of the aches of training out of her muscles.]
[ That's exactly it, isn't it? They're hovering. Suspended over a lake of fire just enough so the flames singe their edges-- so that they burn and blister their skin, but not enough to kill. That's what true torture is; Tony knows that better than anyone. It's having the end--blissful rest--so close, but always edging out of reach.
And of course Tony knows what's happening, Natasha, he knows everything. But, conversation. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Let's do this
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Then I'll meet you there. Save me a towel.
--> action;
Tony flies himself out to the new spa area, scans it quickly and marks it low on threats for the time being. He'd ran surveillance earlier, of course, but that's low reliability; things change at a moment's notice around here, and there's no predicting it. It's part of why Tony hates this place so damn much.
But! Relaxing. Or a close approximation to it. Yeah. Tony heads inside and gets himself changed into a robe, avoiding any nearby mirrors so he won't catch a glimpse of how gaunt he's gotten or any leftover marks Lucifer might have left from their time together. No need to trigger a panic attack in the middle of a day spa.
Now he'll find the comfiest seat, lounge a bit and wait for Natasha. ]
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Her expression tightens when she sees Tony and some of the tension slip through.]
Well... [She approaches him, taking in his weight.] ...you look terrible.
[Sometimes there's no point in tact. But she doesn't ask what happened.]
What did you have in mind? A soak in the hot tub.
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[ There's a flicker of guilt in Tony's eyes, but they're all that accompanies the quip in response to her remark as he gets to his feet with a grunt. Damn, he really is an old man, isn't he? He'd definitely heard his joints pop just now. Lovely.
Positive vibes, though. Tony heads for the hot tub, sheds his robe and pauses at the steps. ] What's the story FRIDAY? Is it poisoned? Boiling hot? pH levels okay? Nobody wants a nasty infection in parts unknown.
[ It checks out, so Tony removes his tech and climbs in. The immediate relief makes him audibly groan, and he wades in further then sinks down to about chin level. Closes his eyes. Honestly, this is almost better than Frenzy. Definitely better than sex. He really is an old man. ]
Come on in, Romanoff. Water's fine.
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[Normally if Natasha wants to treat herself to a spa bath, she has to weigh it against the risk of aphrodisiacs or being cooked alive. There's still no accounting for what the staff might try to pull, but at least she'll have someone else to watch her back. In the end the math rarely works out and she settles for a quick shower in the hotel.
Now, she shrugs out of her gear and sets her weapons aside. At least, most of them.
How unarmed Tony wants to believe she really is when she joins him is up to him.]
We could stand to do this more.
[Seeing each other or relaxing. Whichever.]
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[ Tony sighs heavily, leans back and closes his eyes. And yeah, he looks like shit. Thin and pale, and he might have some fresh bruises here and there from his last encounter with John. There's a reason Tony asked Natasha along for this particular excursion-- she doesn't push, knows when to tread lightly. There's just that pesky side effect that she can read him like a book.
But what about her? Tony doesn't need his scanners to tell him she isn't doing great either. No shit, right? It's hell. No one is going through this unscathed. But he does want to ask her how she's doing, and he'll get to it eventually. ]
You know what I think the silver lining is about this place? [ His eyes stay closed as he talks. ] We're so used to things going pear-shaped at a moment's notice that it isn't scary anymore. I'm half convinced this hot tub will spontaneously heat to boiling and cook us alive at any point but see? [ He gestures to himself, at his relaxed stance and closed eyes. ] Cannot be bothered.
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He's not wrong, though. Natasha's been better. She's been worse, too, but not as often. The worst part is that it's a drawn out kind of low; the kind where you know you haven't hit the bottom yet.
She keeps it together, mostly, keeps a good face on, but the dark circles under her eyes are telling and it's hard to say just how long she's been wearing the same make up.]
Team building looks a little different down here. Try to throw a party, you're likely to attract succubi or, cultists, who knows what else.
[Natasha pauses for a second, the water easing some of the aches of training out of her muscles.]
You hear what's been happening?
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And of course Tony knows what's happening, Natasha, he knows everything. But, conversation. ]
Lay it on me.
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Lucifer's little experiment. The suburbs. You get to give that one a pass?