sixwordstories | (no subject)

Have my personal grooming appliance to thank.

[With a smile the large man drew a vicious looking blade.]

[He's in full-dress uniform, medals and all, and looks less than pleased that a comment's been made about it.]

I don't recall asking your opinion. [He tries to keep his voice respectfully low, making a scene would be poor form at the moment.]

Um, thanks. You look nice, too.

[A hint of a smile showed at that.] Thank you. I'm still trying to figure out how Stark convinced you to attend this charity event.

[Natasha tried not to smirk at that response.] No, you didn't, but it's a free country. Anyway, what's the occasion, Captain?

[He grins.] If you figure it out, let me know. It'd be nice to not make the same mistake again.

He can be rather persuasive when he wants to be. It's hard to resist. [Natasha was pretty much immune to such things but she can see how it'd work on Bruce.]

Yeah. I'm not sure I follow why he wanted me here, though. I'm not exactly suited for these types of social circles.

Formal hearing request. [He reaches down to adjust his cufflinks.]

Something about the ethics of human testing being brought up again. Just another chance for someone to put me on display and add more embarrassment to Ross's reputation.

[That was the beautiful thing about being a spy, she technically didn't exist, and never had to deal with formal hearing requests.]

Your situation was hardly unethical since you knew what you were getting yourself into. And I doubt anyone will feel sorry for Ross. He dug this grave himself.

He probably thinks you need to socialize more or something like that. [She looked around at the people in attendance for a moment.]

All you have to do is smile and nod, these people love listening to themselves talk. [Natasha had too much experience with these type of events. She'd prefer to be at home with a good book instead of schmoozing with people who thought too highly of themselves.]

Explain that first part to a bunch of politicians trying to get reelected. [Blonsky had been to hearings throughout his career, so he was used to them even if he still hated them.]

Tony's a nerd. He should know better.

[Bruce looks around too, but he does so discreetly, sneaking glances around him.]

That sounds excrutiating, frankly. What do they usually talk about?

Do I? [Chon looked down at himself in a black button down shirt, open at the top and black slacks. With black, very shiny shoes on. He could clean up should the occasion warrant it.]

[A hint of a smile showed on Natasha's face.] Well, considering how I found you, this is an improvement.

I'm surprised they're letting what happened with you get out. The military and government aren't exactly known for being forthcoming about their mistakes.

It's behind closed doors. [Unlike Stark's hearing. Though Blonsky still doesn't give it long before word gets out.]

Congress loves doing this "I told you so" game with Ross. I heard the hearings when Banner got out were bad enough. I almost fell asleep during the last one.

Yeah, I've been told that on rare occasions. [He actually offered her a rare, warm smile.} Though since then? I've gotten my memory back, and a few more scars to add to the others I've been collecting.

A lot of finger pointing and no real accountability I imagine. This will happen again, though, and they'll be lucky if Harlem is the only city that gets destroyed.

[She raised a brow at that.] You know as well as I do that nothing about Tony Stark screams typical nerd. He's all about socializing, if you hadn't noticed.

[Which would be nearly impossible since Tony couldn't walk into a room without immediately drawing attention to himself.]

The usual bullshit. How much money such and such company is making, stock prices, summer homes, how philanthropic they are, etc.

You're definitely as tough as you look then. [Natasha definitely knew a thing or two about collecting scars. She had quite a few herself.]

A few more scars is a good thing, though. They're physical evidence of all the shit we go through in life. Just try not to crash into another tree. I doubt I'll be around to help out next time. [She said with a real smile this time.]

Nothing about Tony is typical, period, but he understands the nerd mindset.

[He listens to her description of the typical conversations with dismay and a bit of disdain.]

Um, yeah, no thanks. I'm beginning to think he's mad at me for something. Uh. We could dance? Or...um. Just stay and talk with me okay?

[Natasha huffed out a soft laugh at that.] I didn't take you for the dancing type. And you do know that would only draw more attention to you, right?

Oh, I'm definitely not the dancing type. I'm a horrible dancer, but I'd rather humiliate myself, than endure high society's idea of conversation. If I dance badly enough, though, they'll shun me, right?

[He grins, boyishly self-deprecating.]

Yeah well. Being a Seal you kind of have to be a tough nut to crack. Plus, I go for a long swim into cold waters every single day. It's kind of how they train you to be tough. Put you in icy, cuts like needles water until you choke. Make you carry heavy shit up hills, and along long distances until your thighs burn and everything hurts. You come to enjoy the pain, then you just stop noticing it. [He said with a lazy smile.]

Yeah, it just adds to my handsome physique. [He said with a laugh.] Yeah, I will do my best. No promises though. [Though he was clearly joking.]

It will. It just won't happen to their city, of course. All they do is yell and accuse someone else for something that's happened. The fact that it happened in New York City only reopened a few old wounds, so they're dragging me out in front of the committee again to get support for another pointless law or something.