10282/Friends love Tony!

Friends love Tony!
Date of Scene:	02 December 2019
Location:	Pepper's Place
Synopsis:	Tony and Pepper have their Thanksgiving 'aftermath'.
Cast of Characters:	Iron Man, Pepper Potts

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Iron Man has posed:
The gathering for Thanksgiving had a lot of very, very curious eyes aimed at Pepper and the turns of her life as of late. Her friends, of course, from 'before' Stark Industries had had a hard time getting much time with Pepper over the years. A gathering of various couples and singles for the holiday was formed well in advance, months prior. It was six people originally.

That Pepper would have a +1 in the form of Tony Stark, to make seven, was the part of the gathering that caused a lot of very interested eyebrows to go up. And it probably did not do a lot for Pepper's stress levels!

Of course Tony would 'behave'. The man was a social butterfly for any situation. Hell, he'd lead the party. Still, there was perhaps that concern of judgment that might happen: what would the old friends think? And did it matter what they thought?

Did Tony worry about it? If he did, he hid it entirely. The whole of the evening was a long Tony show, though, as he seemed to put in /extra/ effort to charm Pepper's friends, and didn't entirely divert every topic to himself immediately. Any questions that Pepper had to field about their 'status' were done in the kitchen out of Tony's earshot, so he was protected from it.

Now, the last of the friends have left, one of them eagerly trying to press his businesscard onto them, and the door has closed. Tony beams a triumphant smile to Pepper, sure he did well, but it's also one seeking her approval.

Pepper Potts has posed:
When her friends had asked to get together for the holidays, Pepper had been shocked. It wasn't that she hadn't kept in touch but sending an email now and then or making a Facetime call was much different than getting together for a major holiday. Yet, her friends insisted and she relented.

Most she knew from college, although a few had become friends through other friends after. She even had opted to have it at her apartment, which didn't get a lot of use these days. Maybe this would make it feel like she wasn't wasting money keeping it. It also helped with the hint of control freak in her, wanting everything to be perfect.

Perfect it was. She had the meal catered, preferring not to have cook herself. She could cook but why? A few friends brought some dishes or desserts just to add to the social element.

When they realized who her +1 was, there were a few looks behind Tony's back. There had been six separate discussions in the kitchen.

As she waved goodbye, giving a bright smile and promising they would be in touch again soon, she closed the door firmly behind them then leaned her back against it. She took a deep breath and released it, the sigh hopefully taking some of the tension out of her now that they were gone. "While I enjoyed that, I'm kind of glad they are gone," she admitted with a sheepish grin. She immediately kicked her heels off over toward the side of the door, leaving her in her bare feet and lovely black cocktail dress.

Iron Man has posed:
"Daniel," Tony begins, "Does not have my endorsement to work for me," he says, with a slowly released breath, lifting one hand to rub his eyebrow with the edge of his thumb. The man had been dropping way too many hints, but just wanting to be well paid is /not/ enough to get a job, of course. Tony approaches Pepper at the door, leaning into her personal space with one hand beyond her, and trying to draw one of her hands up to his mouth, to kiss the back of the fingers, if she allows him that.

"...But Chloe is hot, she can work the front desk," Tony teases smooth as silk even while doing the smooch maneuver, cheeky, with a quick flash of a roguish grin and play dancing in his dark eyes. He's energized from the party, like the true extravert he is.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"No, she can't," Pepper counters immediatly even as she slides her fingers into his hand willingly. As he gave her fingers that kiss, punctuated with his comment and grin, she couldn't help grinning a bit even as she denied his verbal request. "She would spend all of her time flirting and not doing her job. Which may be alright by those she was flirting with, is not alright with me. Besides, she has a job already. Granted, it isn't much of one and it is at Hammer Industries, but it's a job. You notice how she skipped that part?" she teases.

She doesn't try to push away from the door, due to his position. There is still clean-up duty. Certainly she has a service that comes in to clean but she will get no sleep if she knows there are dishes to be gathered and put in the dishwasher.

"Daniel is a good guy but he lacks drive. Always has. Took him seven years to get out of college because he couldn't settle on a major. I think he'd still be in school if his parents didn't pull his funding."

Iron Man has posed:
Tony blanches as she tells him about Hammer, as if she remarked that poor Chloe had cancer. "Urgh, I can see why, what unsettling dinner conversation," Tony says, with clear relief. "Best to keep the toilet humor well away from the festivities." He clucks his tongue against the inside of his teeth, and then wings a smile at her immediately.

"Although even more reason to hire her. Save her from that horrific fate. They don't deserve her," Tony points out. He starts to draw her by the hand, though, towards the main table - though it's just en-route towards the kitchen. Perhaps she can get some plates on the way through. "Also, Daniel clearly has a thing for you. Were you flattered?" Tony questions, curious.

Pepper Potts has posed:
As he tugs, Pepper pushes off from the door and starts to follow along. As they get near the table, she does her best to scoop up a few plates, stacking them atop each other with silverware on top but her task is short lived as he continues the path to the kitchen, clearly expecting her to come along.

She does. With her small stack of three plates with matching silverware. A faint sniff of derision at the question. "Not in the least bit flattered. He's had a crush on me since college. I could never see him as more than a friend. Maybe it was his lack of drive but I like to think it's the fact he thinks he is God's gift to women. While the hairline has started to make the latter less than it was back then, I still wouldn't go out with him if he were the last man on Earth." It's stated matter of factly.

The door to the kitchen is opened and she starts to step through. "Only way Chloe can work for you is if she's in a cubicle or an office alone. With no interaction with human beings."

Iron Man has posed:
"Me? I was thinking of you. And maybe her in close proximity to you. Making out." Cocky and obnoxious as always, but none of it is serious. Tony has proceeded along towards the sink area: he knows there's wine there. But when she follows him with plates, he looks at them, and seems to make a conscious choice. He reaches out to take the plates off of her hands, and put them into the sink, turning on the water. He clearly intends to pitch in to help her.

While chattering about her making out with her cute college friend.

"It's all right. I threatened him, I think. Not intentionally," Tony observes, lifting his shoulders, attention moving into the sink. "Wash or dry, Pep?"

Pepper Potts has posed:
Ever had a moment while looking at something and it makes no sense? This is one of those moments. Pepper is staring at Tony as he puts the dishes in the sink, starts the water and is apparently planned on helping with the clean up. "I...you..." She has lost the ability to speak coherently for at least six seconds. Finally she shakes her head, as though clearing cobwebs.

The scene has not changed. "I'll wash. You can dry. Maybe. Do you know how to dry? I mean, I know you know how to dry but just..." Now she has gone the other extreme. "Could you clear the table instead? I'll work in here."

She moves to find an apron, not wanting to get water all over her cocktail dress. It is pulled out of a drawer, unfolded, and slipped over her head. "I didn't catch you threatening him." There. Change back to another subject. That'll work better. "I must've been in the kitchen being interrogated at the time."

Iron Man has posed:
"Yeah. Sure," Tony says, relaxed, as if the request that he dry or bring dishes were entirely ordinary, and she isn't suspecting he is instead a Skrull. "I am versed in drying, both of the air or towel variety." He also does not go to dry anything, nor to the table, he comes around behind her to snare the strands of the apron and tie them neatly for her at her lower back. He lifts a hand to briefly also attempt to touch her shoulder, but then draws aside, much as the topic moves. To the dishwasher.

"Is this what you have? On your salary? I now know what to get you for Christmas," Tony says, taking stock of her washing machine. Because what every woman wants is a new dishwasher. A sparkly one. "At least Stark brand next time. I'm wounded," Tony asserts, before strolling towards the dining room, recalling his quest. He begins to collect wine glasses, talented at carrying a number of them between his fingers, it seems.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"It came with the apartment. I didn't select it personally. Though it does work just fine, despite not having your name on it," Pepper says with a laugh. The help with the apron is appreciated, though not necessary. It was kind of sweet too. Funny how he could be that way so often. Most people never got to see it. She smiled at the touch on her shoulder then got to the business of adding soap to the hot water and plugging up the sink to get to business.

"And don't change the subject. How did you threaten Daniel?" Right back on that point.

Iron Man has posed:
"By existing," Tony answers as he drops off the glasses on the counter, and then heads back for another trip for more items. It's plates and assorted empty serving trays, this time, in a stack, with some dinnerware. "Watch your fingers, knives there," he observes aside as he puts them down, but lingers this time, to chat. Chatting is a priority over dish-fetching!

"It's a sixth sense. Like a Spider-Sense. Who else in the room is worried about being measured," Tony chuckles. He's treating it casually, but it's part of his social prowess: reading others quickly and well. "Won him over by the end, though. Nobody resists me for long." He lofts his brows at her in a flirt, before swanning back into the dining area, presumably for dishes.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"I thought you meant more in a literal sense. I understand. You do have that effect on...well, just about everyone to one level or another," Pepper agrees as she steps to the side slightly so he can put the dishes in the sink with the others. She pulls out a drying rack to set on the countertop to the side of the sink, a towel underneath it. It's more 'old school', like her mother used to do. Not the high tech that would be a dishwasher handling it so all that was left was putting them up.

"You confidence in your abilities is astounding." But she's used to it. Honestly? It's well earned. "Oh and before you seriously get me a dishwasher, I would prefer something a bit more fashionable. With diamonds possibly. Nothing too fancy. And no, that does not mean a diamond encrusted dishwasher!"

Iron Man has posed:
"/That/ would be horribly tacky. You can't honestly think that would be something I'd consider tasteful," Tony asks, as he returns with dessert plates. "Also," Tony adds, "I always trust that you will choose the most ideal thing for me to give to you." Tony slips in behind her again, annoyingly attempting to hug her around the middle and get in the way of the dishwashing.

Until something near his head beeps, and he sighs, though he doesn't withdraw. "Yes, JARVIS," Tony asks the air (well, his earpiece). He then pauses, listening. "Hold up a second." That was to JARVIS. "It's Avenger stuff," he says to Pepper. "If it's not orphans on fire, I'll stick around, though, okay? This is not me bailing," Tony informs Pepper with a finger pointed at her, which turns into a thumbs up at her -- although he's now taking a moment to listen to his headpiece.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"I didn't think you would but your sense of humor sometimes takes curves I don't expect," Pepper admits when he askes that question. Which is followed by a soft laugh at the mention of her buying her gift. "I'll be sure to sign it for you too." Since she can almost duplicate his signature after all these years as his assistant. "Or sneak it in a stack of papers and you'll never know the difference." As he slides his hands around her, she has her arms soapy almost up to the elbows, then running the plate under water in the second sink and putting it in the rack. She allowed herself a brief moment, with a second plate in hand, to lean into him a bit. Which is why she hears the beep so very well.

"Tony." A slight admonishment as tonight was supposed to be a night off for them both. "JARVIS. Orphans on fire is the only thing he goes out for!" She knows it will pick up what she is saying. Then she shifts her weight back forward and continues working on dishes, keeping a side-eye watch in Tony.

Iron Man has posed:
"Well, how many are there?" Tony asks his headset, with an apologetic 'one second' lift of fingers that's usually reserved for business work between himself and Pepper. But like everything, there's bleed-over: personal, business, Avengers. Because Tony's lines between all of that don't really exist. He's just a whirling dervish of things, all of them under the 'Tony' umbrella that somehow remains functional. Possibly largely due to Pepper's support.

"So count them; I don't think that's an inordinately hard request. Even the Hulk can count. Tell him I said that." Tony moves out of the room to gather things, but lingers there, distracted now. He's good to multi-task, though, and does return with the last of the glassware.

Pepper Potts has posed:
As he is focusing on the call, Pepper makes good use of the time. She's working through the dishes, being certain to clean everything to her impeccable standards. Only when each dish is perfect does it get rinsed then placed in the rack. She works quickly and effeciently. No wasted movements. No wasted time. It's a task to be completed and she's very good at that sort of thing.

Each time he comes closer, she gives him a tight smile but then she goes back to her task and tries not to look like she's watching him while completely watching him and listening with no feeling of guilt for eavesdropping.

After all, it is their evening being interrupted. She has a right to listen in.

Iron Man has posed:
"Anyway, Vision can remove his sweater vest and go handle it," Tony answers. "I'm..." Tony orients on what he's doing, "having an incredible date, thanks for asking," Tony replies, as he puts down the heap he'd wandered around with. He flashes Pepper a 'sshhh' motion to his lips, as if she'd betray him and yell that she was having a horrible time.

"Yes, lots of nudity," Tony adds smoothly. He clearly isn't talking to JARVIS, the transfer to someone else happened a bit ago. "Great, enjoy Vision. Bye now." He taps his earpiece once, and gives Pepper a much put-upon sigh. "That's the lot." He pats his hands on the counter once, clearly bored with the dishes task, but seems content to watch her continue, while he adjusts to rest agains the counter, observing her.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Tony is digging himself right out of that pit he fell into when the communicator went off. With his suggesting someone else go, then explaining about the incredible date. She glanced at him, got the shushing motion and her smile was brilliant.

Until he added the part about nudity. Her mouth fell open in surprise and then she snapped it shut, lips going into a thin line as her eyes narrowed. She quickly refocused on dishes, washing with a bit more pep (no pun intended) than originally as she took out her frustration there.

"Thank you for gathering the dishes." Once he has hung up, she turns to walk toward high with her soapy, wet hands. Then she gives him a ten-finger-salute. She flicks all of her fingers his direction, intending to get him soapy and wet in the process. "Who in the world were you talking to? Nudity? Really, Tony?"

Iron Man has posed:
Tony watched her approach, with a 'you wouldn't dare' innocent deer in headlights look. Just look at those big brown Bambi eyes. When she is not turned by his expression, he 'awks', hands up to defend against the soap bits.

But it was just all a game, and he drops his hands, coming to join her by the sink. He'll supervise. The time of helping has passed.

"Who? SHIELD," Tony answers, in the same way one would mention a telemarketer they were messing with. Enjoyable, but not important. No big deal, just SHIELD. "They always seem to call at dinnertime. I think they target that," Tony comments dryly, flicking a bit of bubble suds off his sleeve. "More specifically Fury. It'll be fine." There's an easy confidence there: Tony does believe it will be fine, there are none of his signals of it not actually being fine that Pepper can always read.

"Assuming there's nudity. The spies might check. I need you to honestly collaborate my story."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"If you want me to get naked and prance in front of the windows, you will be sorely disappointed," Pepper says. She's already stressing out at the idea SHIELD might be trying to peek into their windows at all. Particulary to see if there was nudity going on.

She'd have to call Phil tomorrow and be certain nothing of the sort happened. Maybe tonight. When Tony wasn't looking.

He's comfortable and not the least bit concerned, which always helps her to relax. She continues to work, methodically and carefully. Even manages not to cut herself on any of the knives.

It doesn't take long to finish. It was a small party after all. She takes out a towel to start drying, wiping her well rinsed hands first then focusing on Tony more fully. She won't have an OCD meltdown if the dishes dry in the rack, at least.

Iron Man has posed:
Unaware of her OCD, or maybe because of it, Tony has wandered to the rack to play with some of the drying things idly while he talks. Could be a way to distract her. He's sneaky like that: but it mostly just looks like he needs a toy for his hands. Toys come in many forms for him: tech devices, snacks, stress ball, ....alcohol.

"So anyway, on the topic of spies. You mentioned interrogations. Sheer bliss back here, I take it? What was the question of the night?" Tony asks. And does look for where the wine got to. Sort of subtly, except that he rescued his wine glass before it gets washed. He'll want that.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"You know, the usual." When he starts to putter with the dishes, it works. Suddenly she has to work on them so they are not out and able to be puttered with. She picks up a plate to start drying it as she continues speaking.

"Mainly it was about you. I know, big surprise," she says with a small laugh. "Some approved because you are, according to them, a 'catch'. I never did understand that phrasing. It makes someone sound like a net full of mackeral or the like." She shakes her head and continues, drying a dish and putting it in its proper place as she talks. "Others concerned because you are my boss and ... Let me remember this quickly. 'You shouldn't dip the pen in company ink.' I found that quaint."

Iron Man has posed:
"Hardly surprising. I was the most interesting person here," Tony teases in return. He's generally impossible to shame, and this moment is no different. "I'm an incredible catch. There's a massive chase involved and I am /quite/ fast. I've been voted most eligible hot bachelor I don't know how many times in a row, by whatever magazines care about that. I know you remember, because you helped schedule two photoshoots this year," Tony says. And then pauses. "Or maybe Bridgit did those." Tony doesn't remember which assistant scheduled everything. That's not his job. He shrugs, moving on.

"Also, how dare they suggest you quit your job. I need you," Tony says firmly, with direct, clear honestly. Clearly the only option is to quit, not to drop /Tony/.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Daniel did suggest I quit. I think he hoped you might hire him to replace me," Pepper says as she finishes up some more of the dishes and has them tucked away. The glassware is last and she hangs each carefully on the rack for them hanging under the upper cabinets, sliding them into the slots provided by their bases.

"Chloe is the one that suggested I should dump you because you are most eligible hot bachelor, according to The Bible. Her version, which is Cosmopolitan magazine," she adds, since she didn't want Tony to suddenly think he might've gotten a place in that particular book as hot bachelor. "You are a playboy who is seen with women all the time, photographed, on every rag magazine out there. How can I ever trust you!" She is mocking the accent of Chloe when she says it. Then she is just Pepper as she gives a shake of the head, finishing up that last glass.

"Followed immediately by her asking if I thought you would like her, when I sent you packing. Since /she/ doesn't work for you."

Iron Man has posed:
Tony leaves off messing with her dishes, but does locate wine to fill his glass. He hasn't had an overwhelming amount, though. If there's too much more, that might begin to really cause worry. And it's very easy for him to turn into 'too much'. He's just using it as something to do, at the moment, not a stress reliever: not that that is any better, really.

"Well, if you want to get me a Chloe for Christmas, I'm not saying I'd be horribly upset," Tony teases her playfully. He crosses, though. And pauses. "Chloe was the strawberry blonde, right?" he asks. Chloe was /not/, in fact, strawberry blonde. She didn't imprint on his memory strongly enough to even get that much. He'd really been looking at Pepper.

Tony comes around to settle closer to her now, seeing that she's done, and pulls on the apron string. "I liked meeting them, I got to see more of you. Good friends." He leans in, a quick kiss offered.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Chloe was the brunette with the pixie cut," Pepper points out with another smile. It's one of those things about him that is endearing yet aggravating. Really, a lot about Tony was that way. "Madison was the strawberry blonde. She's married to Tim, the broker?" She has no idea if he remembers either of them at all.

As he unties the apron, she pulls it off over her head then pauses with it in hand as he leans in for the kiss.

He tastes of the wine though he has been keeping to a minimum. She would prefer not at all but baby steps. She tosses the apron onto the counter top, instead of putting it away. Then she reaches to capture his glass of red wine from his hand, even while she is kissing him. As they part, she looks up into those very dark brown eyes and smiles.

"Remember that joke you made about Chloe and myself?" The suggestion about them making out. She turns and walks toward the kitchen door, taking a sip from his wine as she did so. It got it away from him so he wasn't overindulging. "Did I mention we did go to college together?" He was told that, of course. She peeks over her shoulder at him. "Lots of experimentation goes on in college. I'll have to tell you about it sometime." Then she ducks out the door with a laugh, leaving him to follow.

Iron Man has posed:
"I'm not saving orphans that are on fire, so I've got some time to hear about it," Tony encourages in return, following her with a grin into the other room. He does follow, and doesn't really care about the loss of wine. He's following the woman, not the drink: and is still sober enough to continue to enjoy his evening with her.

It's like Pepper knows how to manage Tony. And Tony's better for it.