(Untitled)

[needsmoreiron]

Thanks to the wonders of global warming, by the end of September it's still warm enough that Bellenotte is serving guests on their outdoor patio, today in particular playing host to one Mr. Anthony E. Stark, accompanied by the lovely Ms. Maximoff.  Tony is looking dashing in business casual, and will be ordering the veal.

Or at least this is how it

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[redderthan]

And yet, Wanda gets it--she laughs, and rests her elbows on the table top, even though that's not quite good manners, and she knows it. There are worse things. She has noticed Tony is a bit hungover, and isn't sure drinking more is actually the cure for that no matter what some people say, but chooses to leave that line of questioning alone for the moment. (But probably not forever. She isn't good at ignoring that way.)

"Well, all right," she agrees, readily, "but for the record, I'm not taking my clothes off by any swimming pools, and if Charlie Sheen shows up, we are out of here."

[needsmoreiron]

Questions regarding Tony's drinking should really have been broached by virtually anyone a while ago, and ordinarily he's no good at secrets - but admission implies need, and Tony doesn't want to need anything, so there you go.

Besides, his sunglasses are very fashionable! ...hiding. It's a thing. A thing which is done while removing one of Wanda's elbows from the table so he can toy absently with her fingers. "I think Charlie Sheen was the valet, actually."

Coffee? Yes? Stroooong coffee, in tiny cups. Mmmm.

[redderthan]

"That really bodes ill for the car," Wanda opines, watching as her hand is claimed in the name of...Tony. Yes. "Once I'm out on my own I'll have to get a car, I guess. Probably not anything the valet will want to take for a joyride, though, regardless of where I go."

It's occurred to her that if she does actually manage this and move out, which at this point is only a 'maybe', unfortunately, there might not be as much going to places with valet. She won't bring that up just yet, though, primarily because she's decided to worry about it only if she somehow figures out away to actually accomplish the goal.

[needsmoreiron]

Tony releases her hand to its own devices, the better to become one with a large number of caffeine molecules. (Does he know the molecular structure of caffeine? Yes. Could he make caffeine? Probably.) "Support your local town car service, that's what they're there for."

Because most 18 year olds on their own subsidize town cars! Please live in this world a while, little Stark. "Or I could give you one. Pick a color." And he'll really do this too, unless prevented, because Tony Stark could easily be the sugar daddy of the population of a small country without much inconvenience.

[redderthan]

"You are absolutely not giving me a car," she disagrees, immediately, half-laughing at the casualness of it. It's very like him, these expansive big gestures, and part of her thinks he uses them as a way to keep people close. But Wanda, well, she doesn't particularly want material things. Money is nice. Money puts food on the table. Doesn't do much else that she really needs, though.

"But possibly I can bother you for rides to school once in a while?" Wanda suggests, nudging his leg with hers under the table. "You know, if you think you can bear my company. I promise I'm a morning person."

[needsmoreiron]

"We have that in common." He nudges back, straight-faced, promising and meaning it but not really getting it at all -- "I always like to see the sun come up before I go to bed."

And of course there will still be a car (red); when she says no he won't understand because how do you let people know you care about them without the involvement of Capital-S-Stuff?

[redderthan]

Wanda shakes her head at him, mock-reproachful. "I thought getting up very early was the American way! There are all those sayings..." And here, she intentionally makes her accent much thicker than it actually is, in a falsely self-deprecating sort of way. "About catching worms? And being healthy and wise? Although--I must say, I'm not very clear on the correlation..."

Now they're just getting silly.

Which actually is one of the more normal things about this little get-together, so maybe that should just be encouraged.

[needsmoreiron]

Look, a waiter! That's totally normal, right? Yes! --oh but then Tony starts discussing the aforementioned corkage fee with total comfort and aplomb, so ...never mind.

Presumably the dude also takes orders and then goes away; once this is established Tony turns his attention back to Wanda (as if it was ever really anywhere else, he has a habit of casual touching at all times), brows quirking. "Sure, the easiest way to catch the worm is to be up before he is." He shrugs with insouciant grace, as thought this is the way all 16 year olds think. "Then they don't see you coming."

He doesn't really believe that...but Obidiah does. "That's assuming worms are an important part of your diet, which strikes me as a little repulsive, but far be it from me to seem unamerican."

[redderthan]

"I think we've dragged out the metaphor as far as it'll go," Wanda agrees, wryly. She watches the waiter out of the corner of her eye. "Is it really all right that you brought a bottle of wine, Tony?"

Because she's used to getting away with things, to a certain degree, because of money, but hers isn't like his. Also, she doesn't drink that much as a general rule--once in a while, maybe, but sometimes it interacts badly with her medication, and that's nothing she wants to toy with too deeply (except when she thinks about stopping taking them).

[needsmoreiron]

This is information that Tony should really already be dealing with, such as by not drinking copiously in front of Wanda, for instance, but that would involve not being utterly self-centered so it hasn't quite happened yet. He adjusts his sunglasses and mangles his little coffee cup some more, leaning back in his chair. "Metaphors are extremely dangerous and should always be beaten until dead," he informs her cheerfully, not so much dodging the question as not really registering that it actually matters.

But eventually: a lightbulb! "Haven't been arrested yet! :D" ....because that's the ...point, except for how it's not.

[redderthan]

She gives him one of those wryly amused looks she's learning to patent around Tony (he is funny and charming and all those things she knew within five minutes of meeting him, absolutely, but she's starting to worry about him more and more).

"Ah. I'm very glad of that. Well, in the interests of keeping it up--" And now she's just going to, you know, reach across him to steal the bottle.

[needsmoreiron]

Worrying about Tony is only intelligent, really; pretty much the only person who isn't worried about Tony ...is Tony.

For a second he looks like he's going to fight with her about it, but then the expression smooths out and he surrenders with a smiling shrug. (He'll have a drink when he gets back to his apartment, and that's not okay, but he doesn't quite get that yet.) "Your concern is touching."

Touching? WHY YES. Helo wandaleg.

[redderthan]

"No," she says, as if to the ceiling, "that is touching."

She giggles, though, and bats at his hand in that teenage girl way that clearly means she's not really endeavoring to dissuade his interest--merely giving the perfunctory 'but it's a restaurant' resistance. "I should really just chain you to something whenever we go anywhere. It would be easiest."

It's possible she left that one wide open on purpose.

[needsmoreiron]

WIDE OPEN EH--sorry.

Anyway, it is not only a restaurant, but it is outside. None of this dissuades Tony, who is of the opinion that Wanda has excellent knees, and tribute should be paid. Especially when she's saying things like that. He leers openly, managing not to be Marion disgusting, and fans himself with one hand. "Ms. Maximoff, are you trying to seduce me?"

Okay SERIOUSLY you are too young for that reference. Ever.

[redderthan]

She affects poised thoughtfulness, resting her elbow on the tabletop and her chin in her hand. Wanda has, of course, seen 'The Graduate', because they are that particular kind of kid, and is trying valiantly not to smile at the reference.

"If I were," she says, blandly, "It wouldn't do to forewarn you, now, would it?"

[needsmoreiron]

If Tony were a little smarter (..."smarter") he'd probably identify with Benjamin's disaffection, actually. But never mind! "Forewarned is forearmed," he grins, kicking it back with all the radiant dazzling charm he has at his disposal.

BIG FREAKS at this table. Up in here.