IRON MAN THEME?

[stabbywheelfeet]

[This is the most exclusive ski resort in ALL OF SWITZERLAND. Or something like that. It's expensive, exclusive, and full of crazy-rich people. Including this one. Look at him smoozing around the bar one evening. He seems to know everyone here, and he's greeting them all. And he may or may not have a fantastic bruise on one cheekbone, care of a snowdrift that was hiding a rock. A few people give him sidelong looks, but for the most part, he's a familiar, and apparently popular, face.]

[... Really, he came up here to relax. With his secretary -- but no one needs to know that part. So far, everything's been quiet. It's a good vacation.]

[After making his routine sweep of the bar, he wanders back over to one of the huge couches by the fire. They're so big, they make their own sort of privacy screen. And he flops down onto one. And since this is in Switzerland, and the author is totally winging this, there's totally a box of chocolate open on the side table, next to some wine.]

I have the best vacation ideas.

Comments

[electrowhipit]

[ That... actually makes him laugh ] What are you doing?

... hi there sir

[stabbywheelfeet]

Fattening you up for the winter. Just in case we're snowed in.

/spams suit icons

[electrowhipit]

Aren't we supposed to be keeping a low profile?

aaaaaugh my hero

[stabbywheelfeet]

Well, yes. But I also need my loyal minion capable of surviving the bitter cold, don't I?

<3

[electrowhipit]

You can feed me chocolates later.

[stabbywheelfeet]

Well then. How can I resist?

[He flops back over.] I didn't think there'd be so many people I knew around here.

[electrowhipit]

Considering the money the runs through this place, I'm surprised there aren't more.

[stabbywheelfeet]

[He thinks that over for a moment, before sitting up and peering over the back of the couch.]

... That's a good point.

[electrowhipit]

[ He'll take that opportunity to come around the couch and plop down next to him ]

How's the cheek?

[stabbywheelfeet]

[He flops back down with a huff, sitting a little nearer to him.]

It's sore. It sort of feels like someone hit my face with a bat.

[electrowhipit]

[ He reaches up and very, very gently touches that cheek ] I still say you got off easy. You could have broken something.

[stabbywheelfeet]

[He hisses, and almost yanks his head away.]

My reflexes aren't what they should be on skis...

[electrowhipit]

[ he pulls his hand away, looking apologetic ] Sorry.

Do you need anything for it?

[stabbywheelfeet]

Hush. You didn't break it.

[He looks at him sidelong. Up and down.] You. Alone. Possibly in the hot tub.

[electrowhipit]

That's not what I meant.

[ a beat ] But that does sound appealing.

[stabbywheelfeet]

I thought you'd agree with me.

[He glances around.]

... I say we give it five more minutes before I can pretend to be trashed and be "escorted" to my room.

[electrowhipit]

Works for me. Want me to walk away so you can make a bit of a scene?

[stabbywheelfeet]

Only a bit? Now I'm disappointed.

[But he's already reaching for the bottle of wine.]

[electrowhipit]

Just don't hurt yourself again, that's all I ask.

[ with that, he gets up and wanders away, pulling his phone out and pretending to take a call ]

[stabbywheelfeet]

As you wish.

[As soon as Jolt wanders off, he grabs the wine bottle, and clambers up onto the back of the couch.]

But... they're -- they're never -- They're never gonna take my freedom!

[He shouts this at the top of his lungs, "riding" the couch as if it were a horse.]

[Needless to say, every head in the room turns to gape at the apparently drunken man.]

[electrowhipit]

[ A few moments later, Jolt comes back, shoving his phone in his pocket. ]

All right, I think you've had enough.

[stabbywheelfeet]

[He waves his hands at him. Both hands.]

No. No, no no no. I got this. I got all of this.

[Some of the people laugh. Some of the people roll their eyes. And someone glowers. A little too much.]

[electrowhipit]

I'm sure you do. Regardless-- [ Jolt shoots an apologetic look at the crowd- he does catch sight of the glower-er, and that unsettles him a little. He moves to get between them and Sideswipe as he makes a grab for the wine bottle ]

It's time to go now.

[stabbywheelfeet]

Irregardless. That's the word.

[The glower-er's expression turns into outright scowling. And he shifts in place a little.]

But I don't wanna...

[Even so, he's sliding off the back of the couch, looking sulky as can be.]

[electrowhipit]

No, now. [ there's something urgent in the look he shoots Sideswipe. He doesn't like having his back to this guy, whoever he is. There's a subtle shift in the air around him, and a light spark of static from his fingertips. ]