[ It feels disturbingly apt, doesn't it? For as often as he feels like a scolded teenager, Neal could probably do with not responding like one. Pouting and dipping deep into a bottle of whine is just a grownup's version of a tantrum.
He feels slightly guilty for involving Tony at all, truth be told, but even Caffrey's not deluded enough to think he reached out to Stark just because he was bored or lonely or whatever. He couldn't have taken the text back even if he wanted, and now that he's come all this way, it feels disingenuous not to come a little clean. ]
I put my ear to the ground and came back up with information that could put Sterling Bosch in a pretty sore position. I had to meet my contact on company time and you know how Peter appreciates that.
So, I get the two-for-one deal of the day.
[ Neal tries to shrug it off, but even when he's doing the right things for the right reasons, he's always stepping on someone's toes. Sure makes a guy wonder where he should stand. ]
[Tony winces in sympathy. He's done the theoretical right thing for the theoretical right reasons and had it blow up in his face. He knows that feeling all too well. For someone who used to make his living purely through illegal and exciting means, Neal must really wonder how he ended up pushing paper for the FBI and dating a high level insurance investigator.]
If Sterling Bosch doesn't want to be put into sore positions, maybe they shouldn't contort themselves quite so much. Just a thought.
[They do what they do and how they do it for a reason, blah blah, he knows the corporate patter.]
But it'll be a win. So it's only a temporary setback. Lay low, drink my wine, blame me if someone goes looking for you and you're not there. Hold this like this?
[Normally he wouldn't ask, but he's temporarily in need of three hands while he does a little delicate wiring work, and the bots are butterfingers sometimes.]
[ It's not an accurate expression of the level of gratitude that Neal's feeling, of course, but only because the sting hasn't quite worn off. He feels so often that he's living at the behest of others, and he doesn't want that, even if he sometimes needs it.
Trying to remind himself that Stark's always been on his side, he puts himself to work as Tony's directing, his wine discarded in the event that a fourth had might be needed. That Tony provides a place and plenty of distractions doesn't mean he's trying to steer Caffrey's life, at least. He feels he can (mostly) be himself here, that Stark understands why they don't trust Neal, but also why Neal's so frustrated they won't. ]
[ He mutters, then: ] It's never not going to be an uphill battle. Nights like this make me wonder why I stay. I know why I do, but riding through that feeling gets harder every time.
[ He hates the feeling of disappointment he generates in others, even when he's doing what he's supposed to, as Tony had noted. It's a pervasive feeling tonight and since all Neal ever wants is to do a good job at what he puts his mind to, he's a little lost. Yes, occasionally what he needs to do is something that leans on the shadowy side of the law, but no one complains when he's effective (although they sure batch on the lead-up to that). ]
They'll keep their distance tonight; I appreciate the sanctuary, anyway.
[Working fast while he has the help, Tony does some rewiring on the fly, humming in approval when he gets the circuitry put into place, far more streamlined than it was before and with less chance of a lucky shot tearing through anything important.
His head tips as Neal talks, an indicator he's listening even as he keeps his eyes on the job.]
Eventually it won't. Probably. Maybe. I don't know, you'd know better than me, but.
[He finishes what he's doing, sits back with a satisfied nod, wipes off the soldering gun and tosses it back in its holster on the work bench, then gives Neal a speculative look.]
It's harder this way. Yeah. I know, uh. A little something about that. Plus if you left I'd miss our little late night cocktail hour gab sessions. We'd have to Skype, it would be a whole thing.
[ It's clear enough that he feels at least a little bad for thinking it, although it's obvious they both understand why. It's hard to give up the people you care about, but harder yet to stick around and see them hurting.
He pokes around Tony's work, not touching but snooping. Neal's not all that technologically inclined, but he's got a good mind for figuring things out. Beyond that, as an artist, he can appreciate all sorts of work for the effort involved. Well-placed, well-soldered wires were an art of their own and for what it's worth Stark's a mad genius. It always catches Neal's attention how Tony's chaos lives on such a high level, it just appears to be a whirlwind of things that can't possibly tie out.
He purses his lips and then sighs, apparently ready to give in to his thoughts. ]
You're right, that sounds like way more effort than trudging over on foot every time I want to sulk.
[ Neal softens. ]
One of these days I'll repay the favor. Until then, I'll make an effort to send fewer texts out of desperation. Unless I'm bringing the wine.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ It feels disturbingly apt, doesn't it? For as often as he feels like a scolded teenager, Neal could probably do with not responding like one. Pouting and dipping deep into a bottle of whine is just a grownup's version of a tantrum.
He feels slightly guilty for involving Tony at all, truth be told, but even Caffrey's not deluded enough to think he reached out to Stark just because he was bored or lonely or whatever. He couldn't have taken the text back even if he wanted, and now that he's come all this way, it feels disingenuous not to come a little clean. ]
I put my ear to the ground and came back up with information that could put Sterling Bosch in a pretty sore position. I had to meet my contact on company time and you know how Peter appreciates that.
So, I get the two-for-one deal of the day.
[ Neal tries to shrug it off, but even when he's doing the right things for the right reasons, he's always stepping on someone's toes. Sure makes a guy wonder where he should stand. ]
It always works out.
no subject
[Tony winces in sympathy. He's done the theoretical right thing for the theoretical right reasons and had it blow up in his face. He knows that feeling all too well. For someone who used to make his living purely through illegal and exciting means, Neal must really wonder how he ended up pushing paper for the FBI and dating a high level insurance investigator.]
If Sterling Bosch doesn't want to be put into sore positions, maybe they shouldn't contort themselves quite so much. Just a thought.
[They do what they do and how they do it for a reason, blah blah, he knows the corporate patter.]
But it'll be a win. So it's only a temporary setback. Lay low, drink my wine, blame me if someone goes looking for you and you're not there. Hold this like this?
[Normally he wouldn't ask, but he's temporarily in need of three hands while he does a little delicate wiring work, and the bots are butterfingers sometimes.]
no subject
[ It's not an accurate expression of the level of gratitude that Neal's feeling, of course, but only because the sting hasn't quite worn off. He feels so often that he's living at the behest of others, and he doesn't want that, even if he sometimes needs it.
Trying to remind himself that Stark's always been on his side, he puts himself to work as Tony's directing, his wine discarded in the event that a fourth had might be needed. That Tony provides a place and plenty of distractions doesn't mean he's trying to steer Caffrey's life, at least. He feels he can (mostly) be himself here, that Stark understands why they don't trust Neal, but also why Neal's so frustrated they won't. ]
[ He mutters, then: ] It's never not going to be an uphill battle. Nights like this make me wonder why I stay. I know why I do, but riding through that feeling gets harder every time.
[ He hates the feeling of disappointment he generates in others, even when he's doing what he's supposed to, as Tony had noted. It's a pervasive feeling tonight and since all Neal ever wants is to do a good job at what he puts his mind to, he's a little lost. Yes, occasionally what he needs to do is something that leans on the shadowy side of the law, but no one complains when he's effective (although they sure batch on the lead-up to that). ]
They'll keep their distance tonight; I appreciate the sanctuary, anyway.
no subject
His head tips as Neal talks, an indicator he's listening even as he keeps his eyes on the job.]
Eventually it won't. Probably. Maybe. I don't know, you'd know better than me, but.
[He finishes what he's doing, sits back with a satisfied nod, wipes off the soldering gun and tosses it back in its holster on the work bench, then gives Neal a speculative look.]
It's harder this way. Yeah. I know, uh. A little something about that. Plus if you left I'd miss our little late night cocktail hour gab sessions. We'd have to Skype, it would be a whole thing.
no subject
He pokes around Tony's work, not touching but snooping. Neal's not all that technologically inclined, but he's got a good mind for figuring things out. Beyond that, as an artist, he can appreciate all sorts of work for the effort involved. Well-placed, well-soldered wires were an art of their own and for what it's worth Stark's a mad genius. It always catches Neal's attention how Tony's chaos lives on such a high level, it just appears to be a whirlwind of things that can't possibly tie out.
He purses his lips and then sighs, apparently ready to give in to his thoughts. ]
You're right, that sounds like way more effort than trudging over on foot every time I want to sulk.
[ Neal softens. ]
One of these days I'll repay the favor. Until then, I'll make an effort to send fewer texts out of desperation. Unless I'm bringing the wine.