" Ah yes, my favorite reputable source -- gossip," because it wasn't related to the task at hand stephen mumbled the sentence under his breath. In reality, it could have gone unsaid and stayed in his head but something about being around the mechanic made it hard to resist his inner monologue. Stephen would have to employ a stricter meditation schedule.
Stephen approached the workbench cautiously, his gloved hands trembling as he reached out towards the object. The magic embedded within the rock lashed out instinctively but he persisted, slowly, gently enveloping it in a barrier of his own power. All this effort occurred in the span of a few seconds and yet Stephen still couldn't answer Tony's question with confidence. It wasn't earthly, it had some sort of transformative qualities, and it wasn't an infinity stone. That was about all the clues he had gathered thus far. " I think the knowledge is safer with me. I can take this off your hands and get out of your hair. If my theory is correct I might even send you some music recommendations." Stephen stole a glance at Tony at his side, he knew the look in his eye. The same one he had when he was in the operating theatre. He might not know what this thing is but it would be better unlocked by someone that derived no joy from the discovery.
Distraction would probably help, " do you always work so late?"
