a thing i will name later

[billionaires]

When Tony carved out this little slice for himself and Bruce, he never in a million years thought he would be desperately searching for it in an alternate timeline, but here he is. Googling himself had never been so utterly dissatisfying, especially for him. As he's trudging up to the cottage, he's already working up to a way he can get back at Strange for this blip, which he's already decided is definitely that guy's fault. But as usual, he has no idea how to find him in any universe, so complaining to his greenest friend will have to do.

He's wearing a thick hoodie even for the beach and dark sunglasses, but it doesn't hide his signature beard or general appearance of you know, a dead man. He raises his hand nervously, trying to think of how exactly to explain this to Bruce when he doesn't get it himself, that is, when someone who is decidedly not Bruce flings the door open and very nearly crushes him.

"Well, this is awkward. Or it might be, depending on who you are... Who are you?" It's asked brightly to hide his own anxiety as he shrinks back from the door and tries to will himself into a less Tony Stark-shaped man. Cue the freak-out in 3...2...

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[billionaires]

He nods to acknowledge her commiseration, frowning as he looks over the ocean. But that frown slowly warms into something that could almost be considered a smile when she asks about his kids. Tony gets out his phone to show her his lock screen, since not much else works about the phone anyway, but he's grateful to have this solid reminder even in another dimension or whatever this could be classified as.

A slightly older Pepper Potts than the one Jen may be familiar with has her arms wrapped around two kids in the photo, one a nearly pre-teen boy and the other a five-ish-year-old girl. He hadn't read down Google far enough to know yet that the Morgan in this timeline is a girl.

"Morgan and Edison. We call her Edie."

[lawyershow]

His lock screen is a lot more wholesome than her own screenshot of Captain America's butt, that's for sure. Jen can't help but grin at the picture, at the quintessential scene of domestic happiness.

"Aww. Look at them, cute as buttons." They really are, all of them-- and looking so cheerful and happy. She spares a fleeting thought to Ms. Potts of this world who didn't get that, and feels foolish about the prick of sadness toward a woman she only knows by reputation and from TV appearances. Propping a green elbow on the counter, Jen cradles her chin in her palm.

"You must miss them. Wait, how long have you been stuck here, anyway?"

[billionaires]

He serves up a watery smile in response, glancing at the phone again before setting it on the bar.

"Coming up on 24 hours." That one deserves a healthy swig from his glass. He doesn't know much about the time-space thingy, but he's almost certain the longer he's here the worse it is for his prospects of getting back. "What about you? Any family waiting back home?"

[lawyershow]

Jen makes a sympathetic moue at that. "I'm sure you and Bruce will genius something out." She takes a drink herself, albeit a smaller one than Tony, following it with a small laugh at the question.

"There's mom and dad and some extended family, but anything else? Nah." She waves a hand dismissively. "Dating in your thirties was already hard enough without all... you know, this."

She indicates herself now, meaning the big and green thing. Little does she know a lot of people would actually prefer to date the big and green thing than her human self. Blithely, she adds, "The perfect hair is pretty sweet, though."

Seriously, she has a magazine-ready blow-out built into those black and green tresses whenever she transforms.

[billionaires]

"What about you? You seem smart enough to bounce some things off of." He flashes a toothy smile while he absorbs everything. It is true, dating had taken a backseat in Bruce's life as well, but he had found moments of intimacy along the way. He is the big romantic love guy, so call him crazy but he thinks it could work. "I'm not the most traditional example, but started dating at 38, married at 48, didn't have a family until near 50. Age isn't everything, especially when you're an immortal green lady."

Just saying. He does have to concede about the hair too, it didn't look as runway ready as it does now, for whatever reason.

"I had no idea that was part of the deal, but see. Looking up for getting a date already." He clinks their glasses again just because.

[lawyershow]

"Oh, well, thank you for that sort of backhanded compliment," she returns through a laugh, not offended (since she's pretty sure he didn't mean or even notice it) but unable to keep from calling it out all the same. "I mean, sure, but bear in mind I'm basing any and all comments and interjections on old movies. You want help suing whoever's responsible for you being here, though? I gotcha covered."

She points with a finger, not quite fingerguns but it's close!! That should be an interesting precedent. She snorts as he clinks their glasses, unexpectedly charmed by this peptalk of his. Taking a swig because one can't not when there's glasses being clinked, she shakes her head and guffaws a little once her mouth's empty.

"You don't count! You had like this, almost predestined fairy tale romance baked into a redemption arc that us mere mortals can never match. How's that even fair in comparison?"

[billionaires]

"I'm keeping that idea on the back-burner, it has potential." Is Strange even alive to be sued? He sighs as he takes another swig even while knowing he's drinking too fast. Turning the subject back to his family is bittersweet even if he'll never fully pass up an opportunity to relive the early days of his relationship with Pepper. "Maybe we are a special case, but... it's the only experience I have so, sorry not sorry. Still, people are lonely at every age. You could try the widower crowd."