Dog Days

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"How was your New Years?" No sooner had Tony plopped down on the stool beside his brother-in-law to be was he making small talk, leaning well over to get the chef's attention. The kitten antics had subsided naturally as both men seemed to have rebounded from the trauma of the holiday season--rather manically, in Tony's case. He wasn't bouncing off the walls as he was on New Years Eve, though he had a rather large spring in his step.

Comments

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

It would have been an enormous lie to say that Tony wasn't doing this out of a little scientific curiosity--though it was surely something he wouldn't have considered doing were he not mind-meltingly stir-crazy. "Let's say 24 hours. You know." Likely not long enough to master the art of being a dog but surely long enough to decide if he cared for it or not.

'Thor seemed happy enough.'

[st_ratagem]

“Do feel free to say whatever you want.” It wasn’t like a dog would be in any position to whine about or enforce an agreement, after all, and a little bit of threat was part of the fun. “Now, later, or by ambush?”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Evening. Surprise me." Gave him time to get a few things in order and SSS. He wasn't Tony Stark without building in a million little contingencies after all. He'd expect Loki to take enough into account that would maximize the...fun of it all--something else to plan around.

[st_ratagem]

“Fair enough.” It would be easy enough to sneak upon the man, catch him alone, especially since Loki wouldn’t have to be physically present. An illusion would do for spellcasting purposes, or even a simple and brief consciousness projection. The trick was making the change inconvenient without rendering it meaningless.

Alone, that was the key thing. It wouldn’t do to change him in front of Thor or one of the alleged children. “Surprise is generally a solid tactic.”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“Not in the shower.” Tony committed to fully melting his drink.

[st_ratagem]

“It’s not to my benefit to trap you in a small space. You won’t be able to open doors.” The shower door was a simple push, but other doors weren’t so easygoing. “The bathroom in general is probably out.”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Probably. "This gonna hurt?"

[st_ratagem]

"I don't think so." Loki turned his most innocent look on Stark, just for fun. "But then, am I the best person to ask? Part of the reason I like Valkyrie's company is her willingness to take a knife to me."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“Dare I ask?” What was it with Asgardians and their reckless stabbing? You hate someone? Stab. You love someone? Stab. Mild annoyance? Stab. Enthusiastic greeting? Stab.

Though, Thor never relished it so much as he tolerated it—or saw it as a game between the two. If he was into it Tony was fairly certain he’d have gotten the hint by now.

[st_ratagem]

"What's to ask? She's very good with a blade." Whether it was personal or impersonal, it didn't matter. "Sparring with her is very entertaining."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony squinted. “I’ve been told I’m a decent wingman.”

[st_ratagem]

"What? No." Even if he'd needed the help - which for a wonder he did not, so far - that wasn't how things worked. "It's never like that, believe me."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

‘I tried, Thor.’ Tony took a swig off his melted water, making a face at the odd taste. “Bonus points if you post a Lost Dog notice. You know. Spin a narrative.”

[st_ratagem]

"We'll see." It might be funnier just to amplify the mystery of the dog suddenly roaming around. Lost dogs happened all the time. A mysterious dog roaming for unknown reasons, causing random chaos to erupt in its wake? Much more interesting.