IC Inbox (penance)

[hypoxic]

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[hypoxic]

[There's no Tony in sight, presently. The common space of the suite is relatively sparse, aside from a project Fitz has been tinkering with. It's small, mostly something to keep his hands busy.]

You do?

[He gestures to his chest, as if there might be someone else to be confused with.]

I. I'm fine.

[deaddrop]

No one else here. I saw you up on those hooks too. I had a few other people to check in on first, but that doesn't mean I didn't want to follow up.

[hypoxic]

[ she mentions the hooks, and he visibly flinches, biting his lip to hold back more of a reaction. ]

It's. I got down. Can't say it's been the easiest to sleep at night, but there's no harm done in the end.

[deaddrop]

[She won't call him out on the obvious dodge. She didn't come here to pry or force anyone to open up. Even if they were closer, that's not her style.]

Can't blame a girl for checking.

[hypoxic]

[That's the sort of thing Bobbi used to say to him when he was prickly with her. His head droops lower, eyes on the floor as he steps back from the door and opens it wider.]

D'you want to come in for a bit?

[deaddrop]

If you don't mind the company. I won't barge in if you'd rather be alone.

[hypoxic]

N-no, it's fine. I. Was just about to put on some tea.

[He shrinks back into the suite, to give her more room.]

You prefer coffee, yeah?

[deaddrop]

Usually, but I can drink tea if you have some. Not too picky, honestly.

[hypoxic]

It's fine, I'm sure Stark won't mind if some of his goes missing.

[He funnels himself into the kitchen and starts to prepare beverages.]

He's certainly not careful about the belongings of others.

[deaddrop]

Oh, in that case you can just tell him I helped myself. He should be used to that.

[hypoxic]

I'll be certain to mention it the next time he emerges from his cave. How d'you take yours?

[deaddrop]

Black is fine.

[She doesn't make a comment about not needing to hide the flavor of coffee. Some people take that kind of thing seriously.]

[hypoxic]

If you're fond of gulping at tar, perhaps.

[He'll never understand the fondness people have for life without a bit of sweetness. Not the rubbish cloying nonsense Americans prefer, but something better than dirt. There ought to be a midground.]

[deaddrop]

If you think that's bad, you should see how Russians take their tea.

[Wryly, not taking it too much to heart.]

Just the same, I'm all right with the tar.

[hypoxic]

Under ten metres of ice and snow?

[He'll fuss with kitchenware in the interim.]

[deaddrop]

Sweetened with jam.

[Not that everyone takes it that way, but in Natasha's experience that's a particular habit that tends to put off Western tea drinkers.]

[hypoxic]

[Wait but that sounds awesome actually.]

Yeah? Not something I've thought to try. Might be shorter than dunking a biscuit in.

[deaddrop]

When you finish your tea, you get to eat the preserved fruit, but now it's warm and re-hydrated and tastes a little like tea.

[She actually sounds rather fond.]

[hypoxic]

That sounds rather tasty. I'm sure my English fiancee would find it abhorrent, but she wouldn't know good tea if she sat in it.

[deaddrop]

It's nice. Not necessarily an every day thing, but nice. But not everyone's okay with finding a warm cherry at the bottom of their tea cup. Still, if you're ever curious...