Text to Tony

[st_arkintern]

Mr. Stark, can I ask for some advice?

Comments

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Yuppers. Shoot.

[st_arkintern]

Brad kissed Liz and I'm not sure how to feel about it.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

The kid with your face?

[st_arkintern]

Yeah.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

She alright? Can't picture her being the aggressor there.

[st_arkintern]

She seemed alright.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

From an outsider perspective I wouldn't worry about her sniffing around in other pastures. To her, you're as green as it gets, Pete.

[st_arkintern]

I don't even think it's that that bothers me.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Any sense of what does?

[st_arkintern]

I guess I don't understand why Brad would do it. I thought the two of us were friends. And when I think about that, I start wondering happened to make him think it was all right to do it.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Teenage boys are creatures of emotion and impulse.

No offense. I was one.

He probably wasn't thinking anything beyond "Liz. Pretty girl sighting. Initiate kiss." Like a computer initiating a subroutine with the other subroutines like "good judgement" throwing up exceptions.

[st_arkintern]

I'm a a teenage boy and if Brad had a girlfriend, I wouldn't try kissing her.

The fact that he has my face makes this even weirder. I don't know, it's really uncomfortable.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Barring mind control, there's no decent excuse. Kiss another man's woman (or man or otherwise) you get a teachings moment out of it.

If you still plan on being friends, preferably with words.

[st_arkintern]

I'm not gonna hit Brad. I don't like hitting other people unless I have to, and I don't have to hit anybody.

But I don't want to talk to him about it, either.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Yeah, no hitting. With your Spidey strength you'd take his head clean off. Oh and only using violence in defense of life and stuff.

If he asks, a few prepared words would be wise.

[st_arkintern]

I did punch Alec a really long time ago. I feel bad about it now, but at the time I thought he deserved it. I haven't really punched anyone or anything since that fight with the undead zombie things.

What would you say if you were in my position?

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

If I was in your position?

"No judgement, just look at 'em! Seriously, just look. Window shopping's fine but none of it's for sale."

Friend, though, tricky. You don't have to do it immediately, in fact I'd recommend not, but it'll fester. Talk. Words are important.

[st_arkintern]

Thanks, Mr. Stark.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

You're a good egg, Pete.

Frame everything in how it made you feel. Your feelings are objective fact.

Don't thank me, thank the psychology texts I skimmed.

[st_arkintern]

I really try to be.

I really want to be the sort of person my parents would be proud of.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Don't do yourself the disservice of assuming you're not.

The tricky part of being a good person is it's an active effort. Its distressingly easy to be a shitty one.

You're off to a good start. Keep it up, young buck.

[st_arkintern]

You said it, being a good person isn't something you can just finish being. You have to do it all the time.

There's been times where I've messed up, and I really regret it.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Failure is messing up in the same way twice.

You need help processing anything, I'm here.

[st_arkintern]

Thanks, Mr. Stark.

I don't think I'll mess up like that again.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Need anything else in the meantime? Hug? Swing around the trees? Stiff drink?

[st_arkintern]

If you're really offering, I'll take a hug the next time I see you.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Did I stutter?

This is a written medium. That was a joke.

You in your room? Give me three minutes. I'm in mine.

[st_arkintern]

Sorry, right now's not a good time.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Gotcha. My suit clocks in at Mach 10 so say the word.