3891/Pixies and Knights

Pixies and Knights
Date of Scene:	16 February 2018
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Dane and Janet come to an accord about a little bit more bandwidth, and a little bit of business assistance. Game continues to be awkward in her presence.
Cast of Characters:	Black Knight, Wasp (van Dyne)

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Black Knight has posed:
    It is tedious work. Tony;s got the operating system in place. They have the network up. It's the trying to improver speeds, and better prioritize traffic. The simple fact remains, there is too much traffic and not enough bandwidth.

    A certain Avenger has a couple of degrees in applied physics, as an Engineer. He also had a big hand in designing and building the things. Dane Whitman likes his gear to be tough. He likes durabilitiy, elegance, and reliability. He tends to over-engineer things. Mass was shed in the design to get the blasted things into orbit. Even as he has the fabricator basically working on a booster to better amplify the things he has up in the air already, Dane is working on a tablet, and dictating to the shop equipment. "That will get us what? Two and a half percent more capacity?" the computer chimes in that it is closer to 2.6, and dane simply growls.

    "Pedantic. Get me a sammitch, please? Something to eat? Valinor and I have been stuck here for days. I could really use some decent food, and a spar, and a ride, andâ¦" A beer. He could really use a beer. Dane rubs at his eyes in frustration.

    Be that as it may, in this room the Avengers did a lot of work, saving lives and maybe doing more to stabilize the world than they have behind the scenes in some time. Dane is an engineer, and a good one. The shop is meticulously clean and organized. the floors are kept clear, and the tables are clean. a place for everything, and everything has a place. his jaw could use a razor though, his stubble is a bit scruffy.

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
    Jan van Dyne was as affected by the internet outage as the rest of the world, perhaps even moreso. Running a label like JVD requires a lot of communication, and in a global economy that means the internet. Without the internet, Jan resorted to going old school to run her company. And that meant a lot of travel. Personal jet or not, that's doing it the hard way.

    With communication up on at least a rudimentary basis, she returns to New York. First order of business? See if she can hit up the Team's technical crew for a favor. Slow bandwidth is better than nothing for JVD, but it's still practically prehistoric.

    The door opens just as Dane starts growling at his tablet. For someone fresh off the plane from Paris, Jan looks amazing. She's wearing jeans, but they're form-hugging and tailored specifically to her. JVD label, of course. Same as the stiletto heels and the silk blouse. "Yes, a beer sounds wonderful." she offers, heels click-click-clicking.

Black Knight has posed:
    He finishes rubbing his eyes and there she is. Silk top, dressed flawlessly. Always a vision of perfection. Impeccable, implaccable, elegant Janet Van Dyne. Dane's back straightens, always the first little move of coming to attention. His left hand runs over the stubble on his chin with a slight grimace, as if he knows he looks horrible, and all of the sudden cares about it. He's in some nerdy T-shirt and a pair of khakis. There is some variety of metal debris on his shirt. With a frown and a couple of steps, he self-consciously clears his throat. "Miss Van Dyne." Dane's baritone is the sort that carries. A man out of time, he would be well suited leading soldiers in an age of swords, but then he did that. He even tilts his head towards her at the chin. A little cursory sort of nod to her. "You look fantastic." As if she needs to be told that.

    He looks about the shop. His dark brows draw in a little. "This is not usually where I run into you, Janet. Can I help you in any way? Or am I just lucky enough to catch you as you breeze in?" His smile is always warm for her. He makes eye contact for just a moment, then moves over towards the fabricator, popping his back as he does so. He looks over at her bag, and quips in his usual deadpan, "Do not happen to have a Michelob in the bag?"

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
    "Miss van Dyne?" Jan replies, with a warming smile. "When were we ever so formal?" The compliment is acknowledged with a slight tilt of her head, the smile widening a touch. "Janet is much better, thanks." Eye contact. Yes, she's making it alright. And from the way those blue eyes flicker there's little doubt that she's noticed his appearance as well. The stubble. The mess.

    She doesn't remark on it. Those of a cynical bent would think that she must want something.

    "Serendipity." she replies, by way of explanation. Shifting, she scoots up onto the edge of a table and somehow manages to make it look like a proper place to sit. She glances down at her bag as well, laughing softly. "Michelob? Surely you jest, Dane. Besides, I thought you wanted a -beer-." There's a sparkle in those blue eyes, now, a sparkle that's reflected in her smile. "Can you take a break? Perhaps we can talk over a -proper- drink?"

Black Knight has posed:
    "Jan. You were there when we faced down thousands of Para-demons, and a couple of dozen tanks from outer space." Dane's voice warms. "You can ask me almost anything, and you will get it." He admits, "Thor did most of the heavy lifting, but we acquainted ourselves just fine. What can I do for you?" He moves as if to offer her his arm, then makes a slight face. "I've been in here a little while. I'm running a little low on clothes." There is a hole in his shirt. No doubt because he was in here working on things.

    He reconsiders, then offers her his arm again. "I hope my drab does not dull your effervescent shine." he manages to say in almost courtly tone. "I can spare some time to spend time with a lovely friend." He adds, "and while I do believe in serendipity, providence, and kismet, I also believe in your acumen. You rarely succeed on accident; all your considerable success almost certainly happened on purpose. So, quit buttering me up, and ask me. Because you already know i will almost certainly say yes." Dane smiles at her; an honest to goodness smile. They can be rare sometimes, usually they are crooked, and vaguely self-mocking. This is an actual little, almost shy grin.

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
    Yes, she can see he's running low on clothes, alright. That's likely another clue, since she hasn't said anything about his fashion choice. Or the stubble on his chin. Yeah, he called her out. And she dispels his disbelief with a laugh.

    "It's a selfish request, really. You have important work you're doing here; helping the Avengers to help people." Stepping right up, Jan does slip her arm through his and press in close. Grungy clothes be damned. She starts towards the door, leading him away from the tech issues and towards the kitchen. "But my company network is still all-but crippled. And I'd really appreciate whatever assistance you could render, if you have a spare moment."

Black Knight has posed:
    His smile is soft. "Sure." Dane says. His grin is small, still, but it remains. "Do you have the information your technical people said to give to me?" He tilts a brow. "Or should i just give you a little bit more of our bandwidth that i just managed to crack open?" he lifts both his eyebrows. "I can spare a couple of fractions of a single percent." He hastilly tuts, "Given the torrents and immense amounts of data that we are processing, that should be plenty. Tony has commandeered a chunk. We have carved out other bits for other large corporations. You can have a few fractions of a percent. If they don't like it. Well, they can kiss my armoured backside."

    Dane actually gives her a small little wink. "And in return." he wants to horse trade. "In return, when i go to sell a little bit of technology, you will send one of your best business heads to make sure Pepper Pots does not utterly and completely eviscerate me in the contract/ Tony? Tony will let me make my money. It's Pepper's job to get the best deal for her company." there is not anger or disgust in his voice; it is that simple.  Business is business. "You look great." that is twice he's complimented her appearance. He rubs at his chin again. A faint abashed blush starts to rise on his cheeks.

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
    Jan walks alongside him while they talk, and when Dane mentiones sliding some of the Avengers' bandwidth over to JVD she clucks her tongue almost distastefully. She starts to offer a mock-protest when he winks and gets to the other side of the coin.

    Auburn brows lift, and then Janet laughs.

    "And they say *I* have a good head for business." Jan replies smoothly. "Darling, if you carve out a quarter of a percent for JVD I'll send our absolute -best- negotiator to deal with Miss Potts for you." Pausing for a moment, Janet raises up onto tiptoe to kiss Dane's cheek. "I've always wanted to talk with Miss Potts more than socially, after all." Giving his arm a squeeze, she adds. "You need shower and a shave, Dane, but it gives you a really nice, rugged look."

Black Knight has posed:
    His cheeks go about twelve shades of crimson. His brown eyes are wide. Dane is thunderstruck by a little peck on the cheek. He clears his throat and coughs on something. "I. Yeah. i do. Thanks for the moral support." He taps a couple of buttons on his tablet. "I cannot do a quarter of a percent. But, I can do .19 percent. I promised Tony two and a half. I found that, the the other bit, well it's yours." Dane tosses the tablet onto a table as he escorts her towards the kitchen. "If someone complains to you about that, well, tell them Dane did it. My shoulders are broad. I can take it." That Whitman defiance showing its face in his tone. Sometimes, Dane is just going to do what Dane is going to do.

    He fancies her. That much is now painfully obvious. Dane downplays his sudden, but unmistakable awkwardness very poorly. He moves to pull back a chair for her to be seated. He looks over towards the various cabinets. "What would you like? A pinot grigio, or is that too sweet for you?" His blush is still painfully in place as he moves over towards the glasses and the like. He wants a Boilermaker. He almost absently checks his watch, then gives a tiny little shrug. It is five o'clock somewhere. "It is kind of you to forgive the stubble. I. just... start working."

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
    "Done." Jan replies, giving his arm another squeeze. At this point she'll take what she can get, after all. "And I'm not concerned about people complaining. No matter how much you free up for me, it'll be a pittance compared to Stark." Nevermind that most of Stark's tech runs the Avengers.

    She settles into the chair when it's pulled out, not quite with a royal air. "A nice pinot sounds very good, thank you." she replies. Truth be told, Janet would *really* like a margarita right about now. With a bikini. In Bermuda. But she can get smashed once things are more settled. It's been a long week.

    "And there's nothing to forgive about the stubble. It's rugged, like I said." Jan replies. Looking thoughtful, she adds. "Still... some things are better in small doses, don't you think?" So yeah, Dane, don't lose your razor.

Black Knight has posed:
    His arm is like rock or steel. All muscle, even in this relaxed state. Slinging steels builds strong arms. "Well." Dane says as he considers. He frowns at something, then finds the corkscrew. He pours a generous glass, and walks over to give her the drink, so it can breath for a moment or two as he makes his own drink. "I just get busy. I live alone. I wear a helmet a lot. No one is really looking at my mug all that often. Lovely ladies do not usually concern themselves with Engineers as a rule." He does gesture at Janet, "Present company excluded." His baritone allows in a sincere concession. "But you are hardly the common lovely lady. You have turned your fashion sense into an empire, helped save the world, and overcome adversity. So, I guess you can come into the shop whenever you like."

    Dane finishes preparing his drink, his smile fading for a moment. "You know, i hate to say it, but I can get jealous sometimes. I invented my own lightsaber. I can make horse's fly?" He settles his gaze on her. "But around here? I'm the guy who runs the shop, and over engineers for durability. I shouldn't let it bug me, but i would be lying if I said sometimes I kinda want to tell people to shove it."

    Dane walks over. 'The whole satelite idea? Data accumulation and redirection? My initial plans. Here I am, working the fabricators. Amazing that the news mentions Stark industries twice when it talks about who is doing whatâ¦" he pushes a hand through his hair. His laugh is soft. 'It's okay. That's crappy thinking. That's ego, and that can be a bad thing. I guess, it's frustrating to live in a world where I can do all that, and still not be thought f as one of the great inventors of our time." he gestures at her with his Boilermaker. "But! I might not be a great inventor, but I am in the presence of greatness. You are going gangbusters. I read it in a fashion magazine someone left in the lobby, while i waited for a part to be milled." Dane moves to sit. "Tell me about your success?" He is not being sarcastic; he actually wants to hear it. 

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
    Janet settles comfortably into the chair, stretching her legs out as she accepts the glass. She lets it breathe, and if she's watching when he walks over to make his -own- drink it's at least discrete. And when he says she can come into the shop whenever she likes? Well, Jan smiles at that. Because he's right.

    "Well honestly, Dane, whenever Tony is around there's only SO much room left for other egos." she replies, both casual as well as slightly acidic. It's no accident that she selected the OTHER engineering genius as her example. A bit of goading, perhaps? "But his measure of success shouldn't be yours. Tony has his own problems, believe me."

    Janet hand-waves, cradling the wine glass in her other hand. "Dane, I drap fabric over underfed models to satisfy snooty critics. The fashion industry is fickle and cut-throat." And yet she's managed to carve out a significant presence in it. "But right now, I'm just the CEO of a company that's struggling to survive without a communication network. I'll have time to punch sequins into faux leather some other time. I need to be able to communicate without flying everywhere. I need to be able to access my accounts."

Black Knight has posed:
    "I shouldn't, and you are right." Dane replies to her as he settles into his seat. He regards her seriously, "And it is small and petty of me to complain like that. It should not be about who gets credit. It just.. Well, it takes a bit of ego to stare down a guy with an energy rifle with a sword in your hand. Sometimes, my dander gets up and I just sort of find myself fighting when if i was as smart as i try to be, well I wouldn't be fighting." Dane admits this with an abashed smile.

    "You are still a success in that industry. You did it on your own grit and ingenuity. No one can take your achievements from you. Jan, you are impressive lady, and I hope you never have the moments of doubt that sometimes plague me. I think you are pretty damn wonderful." he lifts up his glass. He looks at her for a long moment. "Maybe sometime⦠nevermind. I'll ask when this is sorted." he takes a very long swallow of his drink at that.