and though the truth may vary

[motherofnemesis]

Who: Regular Max & tiny Tony.
What: Quite unexpected
When: Tonight.
Where: Tony's workshop.
Warnings: None that I can think of yet.

[ She hasn't actually checked the network since she got back, aimlessly walking around as she tries to figure out what to do next. Back here is more familiar than the old West, at least, but it's not too great, and she does miss the sun. She's restless, and irritated, and wandering around in the cold damp grey really isn't helping. It's always better for her to have something to do with her mind and hands.

She finds herself outside the workshop almost by accident. It's really just about the last place she'd meant to go, given the slip she'd made in front of Tony with her empathy, but she's here and it's not like she can't lie. She's good at lying. (She just doesn't want to have to, to someone she considers worth getting along with.)

Regardless, she had a project underway before they were called away, and she should check on it. Should, or wants to, or wants the excuse. Which one's the real reason is something she's not looking into too closely. She slips in through the side door she generally uses, whistles as she strolls into the main area in a casual warning of her approach. If he starts asking too many questions, she can duck out again, or lie, or whatever. Finishing work will be calming, and she could use calming. ]

Comments

[motherofnemesis]

Plenty of stuff to write it down on here. And make them with.

[ A shrug, and she sighs a little. ] They say it's the way to get home. Though mostly they don't ask us to do anything so far.

It could be, I guess. Or dinnertime, more likely.

[nanite]

[ He's getting more and more okay with being here.

But mostly as long as you're here, since you're the first real person he's met and apparently he knew you already and so he's sort of going to duckling along with you for a bit hope that's alright.

He basically visibly processes the other information but doesn't comment either way. That will take a while. ]

Dinnertime? Are you serious? Did you bring any food then? What are we eating?

[motherofnemesis]

[ She won't hate it, which is more than can be said for her interaction with 90% of people.

Actually he's kind of endearing, in some weird kid way that she's never really had a chance to figure out, or maybe just in a Tony way that carries over even when translated to a six year old Tony. Which one it is she's not entirely sure. She'll at least give this particular situation her best try, though. She feels kind of like failing him would suck. ]

I didn't bring any food, but there's restaurants around. We've got some menus - you can pick one, we'll go get some takeout and come back here. That sound good?

[nanite]

[ It sounds great, to the point where he's just ignoring the question and moving on. ]

Where are they?

[motherofnemesis]

[ So long as she's gotten a decent plan in place. She's going to figure this out, okay. ]

All over the place. Anything that you think sounds particularly good?

[nanite]

I mean the menus. Are these the menus?

[ He doesn't wait for an answer, just reads them and puts them down until he finds something he wants and shows it to her. ] That. [ pointing to the item on the menu. ] I want that. What are you getting?

[motherofnemesis]

Those are totally the menus.

[ Okay yes, this is a Tony, hesitation doesn't seem to be a thing he does that often. It's not a bad thing at all though. ] What if I get that [ pointing to a totally different dish ] and we'll get some - what do you like to drink? Soda, lemonade?

[nanite]

If you get that and I get this can we also get that and share? [ maybe? please? are things he doesn't say with his mouth, but maybe with his face. he learned how to manipulate adults a little while after this age, but not by much. ]

Can I have coffee?

[motherofnemesis]

Yeah, I think that works. [ It's food, she's not going to object on this stuff. She might need to save objections for when they matter, like -

Coffee. That just seems like a really bad idea, somehow. Like a genuinely very bad idea. ] You can have a little bit of coffee, okay?

[nanite]

[ Coffee at this point is still some sort of sacred adult thing that he's not allowed to have, and Tony thought she might be a little easier to get it from, yes. He is marginally manipulative and conniving at any age. ]

And soda.

[motherofnemesis]

[ well played, tiny Tony. but okay she's not giving him sugar and coffee that sounds even worse than just coffee. ]

How about you pick one or the other for tonight.

[nanite]

But what if I don't like the coffee? [ worried, woobie face. he's actually much better at looking pitiful when he's still got the babyfat on his face to emphasize it ]

[motherofnemesis]

[ she is so telling on you to older Tony ] If you don't like the coffee, we'll switch drinks.

[nanite]

[ For being manipulative or thinking he might not like coffee? ] Okay, deal. [ Gotta shake on it. He's looking up at you until you shake his hand. ]

[motherofnemesis]

[ For being manipulative. But she sticks out her hand and shakes his solemnly. ] Do you want to come with me to pick it up or wait here for me?

[nanite]

[ Oh, he'll be so proud. Also he visibly considers this for all of two seconds before coming to a conclusion. He visibly considers basically everything though. ] I'll go with you.

[motherofnemesis]

[ That is so not the right reaction to that. And okay, sweet, she picks up the menu and starts towards the door. ] Got everything you need?

[nanite]

[ Yeah, well. Tony, his reactions. ] I don't have anything here. [ Which means yes, and he's following you. ]

[motherofnemesis]

[ Following it is, and she holds the door open long enough for him to get through with her. ] You can borrow my coat if you get cold, and we'll walk fast. How old are you, exactly?

[nanite]

[ He's lying, but because telling people how old he is actually tends to make them all get weird. He's about seven, but the answer he gives is ] Ten.

[motherofnemesis]

[ Looking down at him a little skeptically. ] Yeah? You don't look it.

[nanite]

I don't act my age either. I don't know why I have to look like it too.

[motherofnemesis]

I don't know, does anyone act their age? But most people look it.

[nanite]

I'm special. Where are we going?

[motherofnemesis]

Well, I see that's one belief you didn't acquire upon growing up. [ Amused, though. ] Just halfway down this block. The store with the green banner.