Closed - (Tony / Elena)

[runsonbatteries]

[It felt weird to say (...or rather think) that they were drinking to celebrate the end of the mission. No one was happy blowing up another planet and all its natives, but they survived together. Maybe it helped to create a checkpoint between accepting what they had done and moving on with their respective inner cheer leading and coping mechanisms.

Drinking had always been a tried and true coping mechanism for Tony. One of numerous motivations, so he doesn't immediately have to dwell on using a substance to deal with his surroundings. Another job well done. Another space mission he survived. It was five o' clock somewhere. Statistically.

Later in the evening, he's left alone with a bottle of bourbon and Elena Gilbert, who he's currently trying to convince into coming with him to the hangar deck. He might even reach for her hand a couple times. Higher reasoning dampened by alcohol and impulses feeling so effortless and easy.]

What if I told you Sparky told me I'm leader now, and this is a mission? A very important mission.

Comments

[heightens]

[ drinking isn't exactly elena's coping mechanism -- that was more damon's thing than hers -- but she's not above using it when it's necessary. after macha, it's definitely necessary -- that planet was a bitch and a half, and at this point she can admit that she was happy to see it go. that probably makes her a bad person, but she's getting more and more okay with that possibility as time goes on. she doesn't want to be bad, exactly, she still tries her best to be a good person, but a species that's willing to burn people alive doesn't really deserve her compassion.

(nevermind that humans are capable of that and worse -- the neraki tried to kill her crew, and that is something for which elena will not stand.)

by the time it's her and tony alone, elena's got a pleasant little buzz going, and she laughs as he pulls her along -- once he swung his hand out to grasp at hers and actually made contact, and she just hasn't seen fit to take her hand back. after the fucking shitshow that was macha, this feels like just what she needs: a way out of her head, and someone to make her laugh. damon could always do it, even in the middle of their darkest moments, but tony is an alright substitute, if she can't have damon. ]

Wait, wait, I thought Zack made you Sparky. Who are you talking about?

[runsonbatteries]

[His mouth opens and then closes again as his eyes zip up to the ceiling to recheck his mental files. Sparky fell out of his mouth before he remembered why it came so easily to him, like connecting Pepper to strawberries without the lethal allergy detail. Just because he was a genius and could revolutionize energy in a cave with a paperclip and chewing gum doesn't mean he couldn't be an idiot, sometimes.

The nickname he gave Zack was too long, anyway. He'd need a better one.

Anyway. He shakes it off and comes back to the conversation.]

Me. I'm talking about me, clearly. Me telling you it would be unwise not to go see the view.

[heightens]

[ tony is good at bullshitting, but not so good elena doesn't know that's what he's doing. she laughs at his explanation, but it isn't a mean laugh -- rather, it's an inclusive laugh, one that invites tony to laugh with her, instead of making him the butt of the joke. he's funny, and okay, maybe a trip to the hangar deck is just what she needs. at the very least, the view will be beautiful. ]

Unwise, huh? Well, we can't have that.

[ elena moves in front of tony, walking in the direction of the hangar deck. she still hasn't let go of tony's hand. ]

[runsonbatteries]

[The laugh receives a 100-watt grin. Tony might not be sober enough to appreciate the empathetic nuance of Elena's laugh, but he still gets it well enough to not back off and give her space (if she wanted it).

She's the one leading him by the hand, though. And squeezing was unintentional when she gets ahead of him and he thinks the link might break before he realizes he doesn't want it to. If anything, he's drunk and he might go spinning out of orbit.]