[ Caffrey circles the area, lingering with his glass and inspecting this way and that. He's never not impressed by Stark's skills. He has the elegance of an artist in that his work is never compromising. Neal appreciates that. More so than that, he finds Tony's balls-out way of living his life inspiring. He doesn't hide or apologize, he's accountable, he takes care of his own. And he's haunted, but who isn't? Not so miserable he can't smile, and that feels relevant.
Neal puts his nose in the glass and breathes in the fine wine, swirls it, smells it again, but waits to try it. When he's seen enough of the project, he turns back to Tony and raises his shoulders. ]
You know how it is: Things build, people get antsy.
[ No real details, but he's not deluded enough to think Tony couldn't find out, just confident he won't try. ]
[Normally, Tony might object to anyone prowling around his workspace, but over the years Neal has prowled around often enough that Tony knows he won't touch anything that doesn't look like it should be touched, and anything else, Tony can spare.]
I know how that is, yeah. Especially the tomorrow part. Mm, nice pick. I forgot I had this.
[He won't try. Neal's business is Neal's business, always has been, and military contracts aside, Tony is generally allergic to the government.]
How is your agent, and Mrs. Agent? She did a nice reception this weekend. Just a small thing.
[ Now that Stark's said so, Caffrey takes the time to sip the wine, nodding thoughtfully — he knew it would be a good choice — and then finding a place to rest his hip along the workbench, well out of the way. ]
El's good. She'd said she was doing something exciting, but I figured that meant big, not small.
[ He should know better. Elizabeth excels in details just like her husband, but she's often more ruthless with how precise her application happens to be. A smaller endeavor would require a much more defined eye, a singular vision, the kind of conditions where she thrives. ]
Peter's stewing, I'm sure.
[ He sips a little pointedly, though, despite how nonchalantly he says so, not really bothering to hide his irritation ]
Pep's good. She's in Sydney this week. I'll tell her you said hi.
[Pep's still a little sore about that Rothko, but sore with Tony, not with Neal. It's a fun and familiar little rant she goes on whenever he brings it up, he'll enjoy it when she gets home.
That spike of irritation doesn't go unnoticed. Okay, so he claims he doesn't want to talk about it, but he's still annoyed enough to let it affect him. Tony isn't going to ask directly again, but he'll tease it out of him eventually.]
It was a private party, an anniversary thing, exclusive, high-end, you know how they are. Pepper and I stopped in before she flew out, I was impressed. They're usually over the top, and you know I never mind that, but everything was low key, really tasteful. Pep will push some business her way, I think. That ought to make them happy, the two of them.
[Because Peter's happy when El's happy, although El's happy right now and Peter isn't, why is that?]
That's great news; they'll definitely appreciate it.
[ He thinks into his wine glass for longer than he should, reminded that Elizabeth and Pepper aren't that unalike. It's an easy stall, with something positive to focus on. ]
Pepper always sends a card. She's so thoughtful. I'm sorry I missed her.
[ He smiles, sips, eyes Tony. Such an obvious weakness, but when aren't good women? Neal had liked the feisty redhead the moment she'd threatened to take his head off if he got out of line. It had been a whisper of emotion on her face, not even words that needed translation. In every card, the underlying message had always felt like a subtle hint: Potts carefully assured that Neal, in no obvious words at all, understood that he ought to keep his nose clean around her and her own. ]
You two should come over for dinner some time. I'll cook.
Sounds like a plan, we'll come by. Sometime when you're not. You know. Grounded.
[Any excuse for Neal to cook, honestly, and Tony enjoys those low-key evenings peppered with stories of dubious truth and/or legality.
There's another opening for him, too, by the way, if Neal is starting to feel a little more relaxed and like he wants to unburden himself about what got him into the doghouse this time. No pressure.]
[ 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}
tfln overflow - notjustarmor
[ Caffrey circles the area, lingering with his glass and inspecting this way and that. He's never not impressed by Stark's skills. He has the elegance of an artist in that his work is never compromising. Neal appreciates that. More so than that, he finds Tony's balls-out way of living his life inspiring. He doesn't hide or apologize, he's accountable, he takes care of his own. And he's haunted, but who isn't? Not so miserable he can't smile, and that feels relevant.
Neal puts his nose in the glass and breathes in the fine wine, swirls it, smells it again, but waits to try it. When he's seen enough of the project, he turns back to Tony and raises his shoulders. ]
You know how it is: Things build, people get antsy.
[ No real details, but he's not deluded enough to think Tony couldn't find out, just confident he won't try. ]
Tomorrow it'll be like nothing happened.
no subject
I know how that is, yeah. Especially the tomorrow part. Mm, nice pick. I forgot I had this.
[He won't try. Neal's business is Neal's business, always has been, and military contracts aside, Tony is generally allergic to the government.]
How is your agent, and Mrs. Agent? She did a nice reception this weekend. Just a small thing.
no subject
El's good. She'd said she was doing something exciting, but I figured that meant big, not small.
[ He should know better. Elizabeth excels in details just like her husband, but she's often more ruthless with how precise her application happens to be. A smaller endeavor would require a much more defined eye, a singular vision, the kind of conditions where she thrives. ]
Peter's stewing, I'm sure.
[ He sips a little pointedly, though, despite how nonchalantly he says so, not really bothering to hide his irritation ]
Subject change: How's Pepper?
no subject
[Pep's still a little sore about that Rothko, but sore with Tony, not with Neal. It's a fun and familiar little rant she goes on whenever he brings it up, he'll enjoy it when she gets home.
That spike of irritation doesn't go unnoticed. Okay, so he claims he doesn't want to talk about it, but he's still annoyed enough to let it affect him. Tony isn't going to ask directly again, but he'll tease it out of him eventually.]
It was a private party, an anniversary thing, exclusive, high-end, you know how they are. Pepper and I stopped in before she flew out, I was impressed. They're usually over the top, and you know I never mind that, but everything was low key, really tasteful. Pep will push some business her way, I think. That ought to make them happy, the two of them.
[Because Peter's happy when El's happy, although El's happy right now and Peter isn't, why is that?]
no subject
[ He thinks into his wine glass for longer than he should, reminded that Elizabeth and Pepper aren't that unalike. It's an easy stall, with something positive to focus on. ]
Pepper always sends a card. She's so thoughtful. I'm sorry I missed her.
[ He smiles, sips, eyes Tony. Such an obvious weakness, but when aren't good women? Neal had liked the feisty redhead the moment she'd threatened to take his head off if he got out of line. It had been a whisper of emotion on her face, not even words that needed translation. In every card, the underlying message had always felt like a subtle hint: Potts carefully assured that Neal, in no obvious words at all, understood that he ought to keep his nose clean around her and her own. ]
You two should come over for dinner some time. I'll cook.
no subject
[Any excuse for Neal to cook, honestly, and Tony enjoys those low-key evenings peppered with stories of dubious truth and/or legality.
There's another opening for him, too, by the way, if Neal is starting to feel a little more relaxed and like he wants to unburden himself about what got him into the doghouse this time. No pressure.]
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.