fade rift. inbox.

[propulsion]

"You have reached the life model decoy of Tony Stark."

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[heorte]

[ There are things Ellis has suspected about Tony. He hasn't asked, but he'd understood that there had been pain. Now, as Tony speaks, it's as if he pulls aside a curtain. The shape of all Ellis' carefully ignored suspicions resolve, become unmistakable.

His spoon scrapes the bottom of the pot. Ellis puts it down, doesn't reach for the tankard. ]

You have time to decide if you want it.

[ What comfort can he really offer? Ellis doesn't know the answers. ]

But knowing...I don't know if it helps. You're still here, not there. And whatever he tells you won't be a complete picture.

[ Would it be worse to know parts of the story? Would it be worse to sit with a different set of questions afterwards? Ellis doesn't know that either. He has a complete answer. There are no more questions for him. ]

[propulsion]

Yeah.

[ --quick agreement. Like he knew that all along, maybe. ]

I doubt five-years-in-the-future me plays with others any nicer than current me.

[ Well, anything could be true. The world could be in such a crazy state of play that he has no choice but to be forthcoming, and he knows that he never had any intention to die and take everything he had with him, so even if that's the case-- ]

For what it's worth, if we crack this thing open and find a way home, I'd think I'd miss you most of all, scarecrow.

[ It sounds like a reference, the way Tony says it, all mock cheer as he reaches for his drink. Gotta get the taste of all this emotional vulnerability out of his mouth. ]

slaps bow onto this

[heorte]

[ Across the table, Ellis finally lifts his tankard. ]

I'd miss you too.

[ Would Tony find a way home before Ellis had to find his way down into the depths of the Deep Roads? There's something to think about. Either way, in the space that follows, Ellis recognizes the need to move on to a less tender topic. ]

Now, tell me about your promotion. It's not going to cut into the time our projects?

[ "Our projects" is a bold description. But it's going to be an easier topic for them both. ]