somethingwithturquoise | The Smith Household; Earth, Dimension FH-001, Sunday Afternoon [06/15].

Even though there walls a whole Dimensionality factor involved, Summer would have actually have felt a little bad about spending Father's Day Weekend around Seattle and then not at least stop in to see her dad and grandpa (and, he'll, Morty, too, joining the line of terrible fathes in this household). She definitely wasn't dropping in until later in the afternoon, when the ringing from the concert started to finally drain from her skull, and she was spending most of her time on the couch and on her phone.

But, like, it was important, what she was typing out, in a mass text to whoever the multiverse wanted to deliver it to:

hey everyone!
Just do you know, I'm throwing a big
BIRTHDAY BEACH PARTY SUMMER SUMMER BASH!
On Friday (the 20th)

Drinks, food, music, maybe games, idk, but whatever, just show up and have fun!
Because it's almost summer and it's also mg birthday!

There. Now to text a few other people spd finally about stuff and continuing ignoring her family in real time so that she could at least say she was present, what more did they want?

[[ open for calls, texts, rando visits, whatever!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Texts were easier. Texts he could rewrite before the words were seen by anyone else. Talking was riskier. Everything came out wrong sometimes.

i'll be there. with something strawberry. and i'd like to help, if i can. you shouldn't have to do it all yourself for your own birthday

yeah but if i do it all myself, then I'll know its being done right

Find the lie.

but u can help with set up maybe if you want?

Summer would be more than happy to have someone else lugging tables and chairs and coolers, omg.

you are better at parties than anyone I know

Again, just the truth.

I can set things up and even take them down. Always happy to help you.

He'd be more than happy to lug things, let's be real.

Did Summer feel a little bad about using her ex and his willingness to do things for her to her benefit? A little! Bit also, like, Stark was the type of person to help just about anyone if he could, and Summer was the type to exploit anyone's willingness to help if she could, sp clearly, it was fine.

Plus, like, hello? It was her birthday? So, yeah.

awesome. Sounds good! Thanks james

If it helped, Stark was at least trying to think of it more as offering to help his best friend?

He shook his head a little at the name.

just tell me what time you want me to come

Summer snorted ar the immediately dirty reading of that response, going back and forth as to whether her reply should acknowledge it and wondering if Stark had even meant it to sound like that.

She thought maybe it was better to just not, but also the response was too good to pass up.

I'd be impressed if u could get it that exact but idk probably 11?

Stark certainly wasn't going to tell whether he'd intended it to be read that way or not.

I'll see what I can do

Did Stark even know whether or not that was intended?

I'm sure you'll try ur best

Stark did know! He might even confess, given encouragement.

i always try. always trying to be better

I know u are

Summer thought of adding something a little more to that, then thought better of it, and just stuck with:

I'll make sure to get the heaviest tables i can find too so u can try even harder

Another time Stark might have had a different response. For now...

Gladio will approve of the workout

I should get both of u to help set up so that I can just sit back and enjoy all ur hard work. It is my birthday after all

Well, the day after her birthday. Close enough!

is that your birthday present then? Shirtless gladio carrying things?

shirtless gladio carrying things is a present to all mankind

Summer was not wrong. Not even a little bit.

should i ask my stylist what to wear for carrying heavy things

knowing your stylist like I do i bet she'll suggest either something very practical and comfortable OR

She was absolutely pausing for dramatic effect.

leather pants

And Summer was also already picturing herself lounging in the sun and working on her tan while directing and enjoying the views.

That made Stark pause as well.

maybe no pants on the beach. But...another time?

Was that presumptuous? Maybe. But also they were clearly still feeling out this new (old?) dynamic.

wait. Not leather pants on the beach not no pants at all that's not what I meant

You know, Summer hadn't even been thinking that until Stark said it.

idk gladio with no shirt, u with no pants, makes perfect sense. Like, balance or whatever

not in public summer!

He'd die of embarrassment and have to cross himself over.

But, you know, he was happy to wear and then not wear leather pants inside a home. Not that he was going to say that right now but he was thinking it.

ok ok ok fine but like I won't be wearing pants

It was true! Cute swimsuits only! Well, she might find cool sort of loungy pool-side pants look, actually...

probably

Could Summer hear Stark's little whimper all the way in Seattle?

is your birthday you can wear what you like of course and you look better without pants than ido

What was that the narrative had said earlier about texts being safer?

He was the one who brought up clothing and telling her to just tell him when he could come, he had no one to blame but himself.

it's true I do look pretty good without pants

Silver lining? At least these messages were coming from far off (suburban) Seattle and not, you know, right downstairs from him right now.

guess we'll just have to wait and see what MY stylist comes up with

If the texts were coming from downstairs she definitely would have heard a pained noise from upstairs.

Stark had suggestions for the stylist in question but not really. He'd love to see a certain swimsuit again but that seemed too far.

she never disappoints you'll look good no matter what

Still dangerous territory, maybe, but this was one of the most normal conversations they'd had in ages.

What did it say, that one of the most 'normal' conversations revolved around them not wearing pants, then?

And Summer knew this was where she always got herself in trouble, this feeding of her ego and the ease of leaning into it. After all, she would be coming back later that evening...

But maybe it wasn't the worst idea to not feed that particular beast.

thanks James. I'm sure you'll look great too

It probably said it was easier to have normal conversations when Stark wasn't tying himself into knots trying to make sure he didn't say something wrong.

i promise not to look better than you

He meant all of it. That was the problem. Or part of it, at least.

The Smith Household; Earth, Dimension FH-001, Sunday Afternoon [06/15].

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