fandomhigh | Coworkers? Still Jerks, Thursday, August 18, 2016

"Meetings can be productive things that allow you and your coworkers to be on the same page for projects or the day to day activities involved in your job," Tony said, ever so slightly manic in his smile. He in no way had enough coffee to function as a proper adult for class today. But he was going to soldier no through it like he'd been doing all week. "Or... they can be hellish experiences that waste precious time better spent doing more productive things."

Like braining yourself on your desk.

"Sometimes they start as one and spiral into the other," Steve said. "Especially if a Power Point presentation is involved." And the presenter reads them aloud. Slowly. The worst.

Tony shot him a look and mouthed 'really?" at him. Because that had to be covered in the Geneva Conventions, right? "I can never look at SHIELD the same way," he muttered. "Unfortunately these might just be part of life and the best you can do is get through them without getting into a fist fight."

"So today we're looking for productive solutions to getting through those meetings that isn't sending your AI and pretending to be sick."

Tony. Steve's version, but still.

But now he went and gave this Tony the idea for it. For shame, Steve.

"But creativity is always good," Tony said with a more genuine grin.

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"I don't make the rules," Tony replied with an exaggerated shrug.

There was a long pause. "There's not really a rule, right?"

Just checking.

"Only if you ask Jan." True story.

Steve burst out laughing. "Of course she'd have that rule."

"The rule also applies to people who wear crocs." Which meant Barton was shunned once.

"What are crocs?" Steve asked, pulling out his little notebook.

"Type of shoes," Tony said, craning his neck a little to see what else was on there. "Offends Jan's delicate sensibilities."

"So, ugly shoes," Steve concluded, writing "crocs" under "AquaNet" and "ET."

"Up to the 80s?" Tony guessed.

Steve nodded. "I read the politics, now it's time for the movies and music. Michael Jackson's pretty good!"

Tony grinned and nodded back in agreement. "It's a good time. But I'm biased because I grew up in the eighties."

And he was going to delete every picture of himself with a permed out mullet he could find. HE WAS YOUNG AND DUMB THEN.

But that sounded amazing. Don't remove joy from Steve's life, Tony!

Steve shook his head. "I never dreamed I'd see the '80s."

Beat.

"And then I didn't."

Smartass.

Undoubtedly, Rhodey had a few choice ones to use as blackmail. But then he'd face the risk of Tony showing pictures of his fashion mistakes.

"Aww, poor baby," Tony teased. "We can watch bad sitcoms and teach you all about shoulder pads next week."

Hammer Pants. Please say Hammer Pants.

"Sounds fun," Steve said earnestly. "I don't think I have a mission for a few weeks."

Rhodey would never live those down. Never.

"We can binge eighties and nineties pop culture then," Tony replied. "It'll be fun."

With all the Hammer Pants possible.

Well, Steve needed to learn about the deeply regrettable music that were Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice.

"Should I order in pizza?"

It was a rite of passage. Culturally speaking.

"And beer. I think I'm going to need alcohol for some of that era."

"Worse than disco?"

Because if so, Steve was afraid.

"...it can be. But it might just be because I lived through this one."

And made poor, permed choices.

And people who wore voluminous pants jacked up to almost their armpits really couldn't talk about bad fashion choices, Steve.

"That could be it," Steve admitted. "Think of yourself as an expert in the field."

Actual Old Man Steve Rogers really was the last person to judge fashion.

"Prepare to be wowed, Captain Rogers" Tony said, pointing a finger at Steve's chest. Possibly because it was the largest target to point at.

"I'm looking forward to it," Steve said. "Wednesday? Thursday?"

Tony tilted his head, running through a mental calendar of projects and things he needed to get done. Odd how not having a company hadn't really slowed that down.

"Wednesday?"

So he could deal with emotional destruction again on Thursday. Aw yeah. His luck.

Tony's life suuuucked.

"After I go to the gym with Brock Wednesday afternoon, then," Steve said.

You weren't invited, Tony. Be so happy.

YOU'RE NEXT, STEVE. ALL LIVES MUST BE FULL OF PAIN IN THE AVENGERS.

"Have fun with that." Tony's exercise was way less intense. And hopefully less full of mansplaining.

Re: Talk to Steve and Tony

heroic_jawline - 2016-08-24 15:24 (UTC) - Expand