Tony, contrary to popular belief, knows when to keep his mouth shut and listen. Nida clearly has a few things on his mind that need saying and without much more than a quirked brow as he braces himself for what is, clearly, the platonic shovel talk. He's not been on this side of things before, he hasn't even given all that many- Rhodey is a grown man, Pepper had no reason to have him step in for any of her personal affairs- maybe for Happy now and then? So it's novel.
As is the supposed primer for dealing with Seifer. Anyone with eyes (then again what little he knows of the Gardens tells him how not so obvious that is) can tell how to handle Seifer. Or maybe only people that had been in his shoes. Tony takes the cliff notes and the threat with good humor and a slow sip of tea- well.
He tries. He means to not react, he means to keep a straight face and return the solemnity he's given but- that's not him. Certainly not while being threatened in his own forge for shit he won't ever actually do. The very idea of fucking over Seifer is laughable- so he laughs. Eyes crinkling, nose wrinkled, a half breathless guffaw that doesn't trail into a cackle so much as build into a full on belly laugh because this? This is fucking adorable.
It's what Rhodey would've done and honestly? That's the thing keeping him from telling Nida to get the fuck out.
"Look-" When he can breathe, wiping a bit of damp from his eyes (man he needed a laugh), "Kid."
Because he is. Because they are, no matter their life experiences, because more adults treating them like kids might've saved them some pain. "I don't know how you think I run this forge and honestly? I don't care. But your friend's more in danger of Thor trying to talk him into building something ridiculous than he is getting yanked around by me. I literally do not have time for that bullshit. You see that wall?"
Tony points with his thumb over his shoulder to the many, many, many special orders and projects listed. "What in any of that says I have time to play games when I need workers that are efficient and skilled? You don't get that by fucking with them."
no subject
As is the supposed primer for dealing with Seifer. Anyone with eyes (then again what little he knows of the Gardens tells him how not so obvious that is) can tell how to handle Seifer. Or maybe only people that had been in his shoes. Tony takes the cliff notes and the threat with good humor and a slow sip of tea- well.
He tries. He means to not react, he means to keep a straight face and return the solemnity he's given but- that's not him. Certainly not while being threatened in his own forge for shit he won't ever actually do. The very idea of fucking over Seifer is laughable- so he laughs. Eyes crinkling, nose wrinkled, a half breathless guffaw that doesn't trail into a cackle so much as build into a full on belly laugh because this? This is fucking adorable.
It's what Rhodey would've done and honestly? That's the thing keeping him from telling Nida to get the fuck out.
"Look-" When he can breathe, wiping a bit of damp from his eyes (man he needed a laugh), "Kid."
Because he is. Because they are, no matter their life experiences, because more adults treating them like kids might've saved them some pain. "I don't know how you think I run this forge and honestly? I don't care. But your friend's more in danger of Thor trying to talk him into building something ridiculous than he is getting yanked around by me. I literally do not have time for that bullshit. You see that wall?"
Tony points with his thumb over his shoulder to the many, many, many special orders and projects listed. "What in any of that says I have time to play games when I need workers that are efficient and skilled? You don't get that by fucking with them."