"This is the last time I'm coming to one of these stupid things," Stephen grumbles into his glass of champagne, and at his side, Christine just laughs.
"You always say that," she teases. They're not currently dating, but Stephen has to admit she looks radiant tonight -- she's always liked these fundraising events more than Stephen does. She's in her element here. "But they're giving you an award, and you just can't resist showing off, can you?"
She has a point.
"It doesn't mean anything," he scoffs. "It's just a way for the hospital to brag about having me on their staff, and people's wallets open easier when it happens." Christine just smiles smugly, her point having been made. Stephen scowls. "Ugh, I hate it when you make that face. Go away. Leave me to the agony of socializing alone."
Christine laughs, raising a hand to wave lazily at him as she moves away, happily entangling a friend in conversation. She knows he meant no real offense, that's just how they interact. It probably is why she broke up with him, though, a fact that Stephen is aware of and yet feels no need to change whatsoever.
After some painful small talk, and congratulations from everybody who recognizes him, Stephen winds up in a group of four. A billionaire, and two nearly-billionaires, all in tech, and Stephen spares a moment to stare at the ceiling, bored out of his skull, as the three of talk about fossil fuels versus clean energy. It takes him a long moment, then, to recognize that half of the talk has gone, the two nearly-billionaires splitting off to carry out their conversation near the bar, leaving him with--
"Mr. Stark," Stephen says, politely enough. Everybody in New York knows who Tony Stark is, though Stephen doesn't particularly keep up with the news. "The last time I saw your name mentioned, it was on the cover of a lurid tabloid magazine talking about your difficulties providing for your... what was it, approximately sixteen illegitimate children? How's that going for you?"
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"You always say that," she teases. They're not currently dating, but Stephen has to admit she looks radiant tonight -- she's always liked these fundraising events more than Stephen does. She's in her element here. "But they're giving you an award, and you just can't resist showing off, can you?"
She has a point.
"It doesn't mean anything," he scoffs. "It's just a way for the hospital to brag about having me on their staff, and people's wallets open easier when it happens." Christine just smiles smugly, her point having been made. Stephen scowls. "Ugh, I hate it when you make that face. Go away. Leave me to the agony of socializing alone."
Christine laughs, raising a hand to wave lazily at him as she moves away, happily entangling a friend in conversation. She knows he meant no real offense, that's just how they interact. It probably is why she broke up with him, though, a fact that Stephen is aware of and yet feels no need to change whatsoever.
After some painful small talk, and congratulations from everybody who recognizes him, Stephen winds up in a group of four. A billionaire, and two nearly-billionaires, all in tech, and Stephen spares a moment to stare at the ceiling, bored out of his skull, as the three of talk about fossil fuels versus clean energy. It takes him a long moment, then, to recognize that half of the talk has gone, the two nearly-billionaires splitting off to carry out their conversation near the bar, leaving him with--
"Mr. Stark," Stephen says, politely enough. Everybody in New York knows who Tony Stark is, though Stephen doesn't particularly keep up with the news. "The last time I saw your name mentioned, it was on the cover of a lurid tabloid magazine talking about your difficulties providing for your... what was it, approximately sixteen illegitimate children? How's that going for you?"