Time for some mouthwash

[lucetimods]

Who: You! Yes, you!
What: Well the event is over. So um. Yeah.
When: Today! The 19th! Whenever you wake up, so long as its after midnight.
Where: Well, just about anywhere, wouldn't ya say?
Summary: So like, there's these people. They think they're in love. But suddenly the experiment is over and they're all like, "WHOA! I can't believe I totally made out with you!" But the other one is like, "Oh my god, gross!" and the other goes, "Come on it was awesome!" But the second one is like, "You pervert, I'ma kill you with my space lasers!" And then shit blew up and it was awesome. The End.
Rating: Tame-ish? I mean, are you guys really gonna wanna smut in this log too? Seriously.


Okay it's after the event. Suddenly you realize you're not in love! Maybe the person you were with fell asleep next to you. Whaddya gonna do now? Awkward abounds! The village fractures! True Love loses yet again. So much for that being the strongest force of all, am I right?

Comments

[alloys]

[Tony is used to waking up in bed next to women. He is not used to, however, waking up in bed next to women that quite openly deplore him and that he's been whispering sweet nothings to for the last week. And then some.

...Oh, holy shit. Oh, holy shit. Well, he's wide awake now. And not moving. Because good god, what do.

After the morning's debacle, Tony is out. He does not want to be inside today. At all. So he's out, a Red Bull in each hand, "running errands", more or less trying to see familiar faces. Because he needs to commiserate with someone about this. He doesn't want to process it up front on his own.]

1/3

[fleurdesel]

[Despite her intentions, what she'd known to be true, thought to be false, what she'd determined would be the best course...Adele had gone home with Tony. One last time. Because she is an idiot. And the moment he'd walked into view all her worries and fears had just flushed from her mind, which hadn't helped at all. That was last night. This is the morning.

She's curled around someone, warm, sated, still a little sleepy and languid until the last week snaps into place. Her memory is as it should be. Everything was exposed for what it was.]

2/3

[fleurdesel]

[Stark. She was with stark. She levers herself up, sheets clutched to her chest and stares down at him. Not angry, not disgusted just....terribly sad. Gone. Every last bit of that warmth, that certainty, that affection. Just gone.]

3/3

[fleurdesel]

...Merde.

[alloys]

[Well, shit. She's awake.

He's used to that sudden snap of memory at the end of an experiment. So that doesn't get him right away. But immediately his mind starts reeling that this is not a situation that he wants to be and oh my god, is she going to cry?

He just stares at her. Wide-eyed. Almost petrified. He's half expecting her to murder him. But when she looks so sad, an awkward feeling lurches in his stomach that he doesn't like at all and holy shit this is a bad situation.]

...You're not going to cry, are you? [He could handle it if she tried to slug him or something. But the thought of her crying here makes him want to bolt out of this house instantly.]

1/2

[fleurdesel]

...

[She wipes her face with her hands, blinking down at the comforter. Everything. All of it. Every last inch of the past week, everything she'd thought she'd known. A lie. For a second time. And she'd let herself believe it.

A part of her wanted to be certain. Just. Even if it was Stark, she needed to check. She turns, slides a hand along his cheek and just. Looks for a moment. Trying to find any glimmer of what they'd had in the past week. A spark. Anything other than discomfort and fear.

...When that fails she leans in and presses her lips to his. Even as she tries this she knows. And yes, there is a tear. Maybe two.]

2/2

[fleurdesel]

[Nothing. From her, or him. She pulls back, wipes at her cheeks again, and mumbles a soft apology. A breath. Two. And she reels it all in. Just another day. Another mask. Once she's outwardly composed she tucks the sheet closer to her chest and turns, motioning to Tony's shoulder.]

Let me check this for you before I go, Mr. Stark.

[alloys]

[Just. Staring. The hell did she do that for? He doesn't even kiss her back--just numb. Still reeling. Backpedal. Trying to figure the quickest way out of here.

God, he was committed. She had been his girlfriend. Shit--she was crying. He sees that look. And it makes him panic. There's too many things to process and all he can concisely put his finger on is he needs to get out of there now.

He just jumps out of bed, then, to pull on the closest clothes he can find. Backing. Away. Got to get out. Got to leave. Not having this.]

You know--feel fit as a fiddle, think I'll go out--[He runs a hand through his hair, back turned.]

[fleurdesel]

Your continued disregard for your health is disconcerting, and irresponsible Mr. Stark.

[She's leaning over the edge of the bed, pulling a bath robe, at least, close so she won't feel so naked. She tugs that on while Stark's back is turned, belts it at the waist and walks over, hesitating a foot away. Her voice is flat, her expression blank, and for all intents and purposes she is entirely civil.]

I need to ensure you have not further strained the joint.

[alloys]

You say that as if I was ever concerting and responsible.

[But the snark doesn't pack much punch. He's searching for shoes now. Not having this. He 's not having this and he is not letting her touch his shoulder and he is not going to think about his memories of the last week. They're strange and false and--god, did she really have to cry and make this worse than it had to be?]

You don't. Actually. At all. I can handle myself. It's fine.

[redjacketthief]

[It's not hard to find Stark that afternoon, as Lupin himself is out and about. He knows, intellectcually, that he should be taking it easy...but there was something else in Luceti more important than his comfort and well being at that moment.

He's smoking cigarettes like they're on the verge of vanishing tomorrow, but his head is comfortably clear.]

Stark. We need to have words.

[alloys]

[Oh, hell. He doesn't even stop walking. When he thought 'familiar faces' he thought his own familiar faces. Not Adele's. God, this is not something he wants to discuss right now. Least of all with Lupin]

Nope! I don't think we do. Kind of. Busy at the moment. [He takes a lengthy swig from one of the Red Bulls.]

[redjacketthief]

Oh no you aren't. [He matches stride and pace, shoulder to injured shoulder, as it were. His smile is that of a wolf that always gets what he wants.]

You're as busy as I am in my hunt for Gitanes. You penciled me in on your calendar, remember? 'Constantly Watch Lupin.' Remember?

[alloys]

Dunno--had my memory tampered with this week, don't really know what to believe anymore, you know how that whole song and dance goes, don't you?

[His tone is offhanded and casual. He's not going to let himself get worked up about this.]

[redjacketthief]

[Yeah. Remember: Tony is speaking to a master liar. Lupin knows these tricks and has played them since he was a boy.]

I do, but you need to keep in mind that you're not the only one affected here. Take responsibility and don't be a coward is all--someone who is more useful to this place than either of us is currently in a dark place because of this. It's affecting her ability to work, among others.

[kineticcajun]

[Tony, you are not the only one out and about later on in the morning. Although Remy, for his part, isn't out for blood like other members of Adele's man-harem. Gambit, on his way to the grocery store to grab some ingredients for dinner later, quirks one eyebrow at the sight of the energy drinks in Tony's hands.]

Well, if it ain't Romeo. [You are so lucky Adele already told him you behaved yourself for the most part.] You already got wings. What're you needin' all that Red Bull for?

[alloys]

[Thank god, he has enough people at his throat as it is. Unjustly, too. Tony glances between the Red Bulls and Remy, an arched eyebrow.]

Helps your mind race. Good for productivity. I want to get things done today. Also--cute name, but you better leave the nicknames to me.

[DISTRACTABILITY that's the way to go.]

[kineticcajun]

[Yeah, he uses that same tactic enough to see through it.]

Hate to break it to you, mon ami, but your nicknames could use some work too.

[Gambit slips his hands into his pockets, eyes once again dropping to the twin Red Bulls. Not that he really knows any better where Tony's concerned, but that seems like a hell of a lot of caffeine to kick the day off with.]

An' I didn't know bouncin' off walls counted as productive.

[alloys]

Eh, your mileage may vary.

[This is going somewhere he doesn't like. He can already tell. But he hasn't brought up her yet. So that's a plus. Let's not talk about her, shall we.]

Well, it's better than sitting around, doing nothing, wouldn't you say?

[kineticcajun]

[Nope, not bringing her up yet. And he might not bring her up at all. That dodging is hinting that the Malnosso influence may finally have broken, after all. And much as he doesn't care to let on that he is, Gambit's concerned about everyone who got wrapped up in it. As long as Tony doesn't start acting way out of the ordinary, his suspicions that there's any lasting damage will be soothed.

And so, still keeping up his usual calm and slightly mocking mask, he waves a hand dismissively.]

Oui, but jitterin' around like a kid wit' a sugar rush ain't too much better. At leas' if you got plans for the day.

[averybadfeeling]

[Obi-Wan does not look judgmental or confrontational. If anything, he looks concerned when he finds Tony and asks him, apropos of nothing.]

"Are you alright?"

[He may be Adele's friend, but Tony is clearly in some distress over the past week, and Obi-Wan has the clarity to realize that he's as much a victim as Adele.]

[alloys]

[He knows who you are, right off the bat--but less as someone he's seen in movies, and more as someone he knows is close to Adele. Damn. How long is it going to take for him to shake that association? Like it should matter to him who her friends were.]

Just fine. Never better. Got things to do. The soul thrives on productivity, or whatever. [He gestures with the drinks in his hands.]

[averybadfeeling]

"Caffeine. Interesting. My own experience with caffeine was less pleasant, but that wasn't what I meant.

I know how hard Adele took it, and so, from what I gather, do many others among her friends. But it has occurred to me that for all of this, I haven't heard one person take a moment to consider how you'd be affected."

[alloys]

[Oh, good god, this. Of course it's this. He gets out of his house and goes about town to avoid it, and it comes right back to haunt him.]

Maybe it's because I'm not--that affected. As people seem to think I should be. I've kind of been around here for awhile. I'm used to the whole Malnosso song-and-dance by now. So I'm just moving on. Surely you won't argue with that.

[averybadfeeling]

"If that is true, then why are you being evasive and attempting to distract yourself?"