14129/Valentine's, Part 2

From United Heroes MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Valentine's, Part 2
Date of Scene: 15 February 2022
Location: Penthouse - Stark Tower
Synopsis: Tony surprises Pepper with a very confusion proposition -- Dinner out, in fancy clothes, but just for them. She's highly confused, but whatever the boss says, goes!
Cast of Characters: Iron Man, Pepper Potts




Iron Man has posed:
Mark II.

Displays out of doors are starting to come down to make ready for the next holiday, that is, St Patrick's Day. The advertisements for the different city venues are slanted in poorly imitated Irish accents, and the hanging of the green is everywhere. The weather is just as cold as it was yesterday, and will be the same tomorrow, so just because one winter holiday has passed and a soon to be 'almost spring' one is on its way, doesn't mean a thing.

It's cold.

Thankfully, then, Tony's not so much of an outside sort of person. The out of doors is too big for him; he'd much prefer to be in rooms, with a roof over his head, with heating and air conditioning at his beck and call.

When all is said and done, the multi-billionaire playboy inventor is lucky he's got such a capable right hand girl; he's in his workshop again, at the table, with the same picture now back up and floating around him in the air in an exploded display. Thrusters. There, he stands with his tablet in hand, dark eyes darting from the display held in his hands to the ones all around him.. and back.. and forth. He's back in 'comfortable', hasn't bothered shaving, and it's questionable if he had a shower this morning. Maybe, maybe not. The expression on his face isn't a positive one, however; brows are creased, a hint of, while not confusion, it is close, and setting the tablet down, he starts talking to himself. "Right, So, what's the dif- oh.." and he closes his eyes, hangs his head and exhales, all in one go, his fingers digging into his eyes. "Right."

He lifts his head once more, where confusion and annoyance once lived, determination finds primacy, and reaching out, he swipes everything away and tosses it into the virtual trash.

"They wanted prototype? They're gonna get state of the art prototype."

As he begins once more, however, Tony does make a call on their personal line, his and Peppers. "Hey," he begins, "you here or did you go home early and just not clock out?" He's teasing, but there is definitely that deadpanned expression. "I'm gonna need you to do something for me.."

Pepper Potts has posed:
It was a long day, made longer by just how much work she got on the quiet day previous. It means everyone she contacted on that day has gotten back to her. It's well after six at night when she finally looks up from her computer and blinks as she realizes just what time it is, "Oh, hell." She breathes out quietly, dragging one hand down her face as she tries to refocus her eyes away from the strain of that many hours on a computer. "JARVIS, has Tony eaten recently?" She calls up, a simple habit she's gotten into. They share a lot of dinners for the sheer fact that he forgets to eat when she doesn't bring it to him over half the time.

When she gets the confirmation he hasn't in a while, she stands up.

"Well, maybe sushi *tonight*." She mutters to herself. She then shuts down her computer and stands, pulling into today's suit jacket (gray plaid, single breasted, fit and flare cut) and secures the button. She then slips her feet into her heels which she'd secretly slipped off about an hour ago for comfort. She's just about to walk out and find Tony when, think of the devil, and his voice comes across her personal line. A slight smile flickers across her lips just to hear his voice.

"I was just about to find you, actually. I hear rumors you didn't eat *again*...sushi tonight? Maybe my phone will finally work. But I'll do whatever you want, if you do me a favor in turn and *actually eat some dinner* before 8 pm."

Iron Man has posed:
"He's such a tattletale," Tony responds over the link. "He keeps it up, I'm going to exile him to the Avengers Mansion." Compound, whatever it is. All he knows is that he pays the bills. Still. "Make him clean up after Thor for a couple of months, he'll come back a changed AI." Not that he ever would; not only has Tony come to rely on him, he's pretty sure that Pepper has as well. And, in terms of AI programming? There are times when JARVIS surprises him with the learning and the new algorithmic patterns that are created. In a way, he's created artificial life.

"I need you to get in touch of my aircraft division tomorrow morning and tell them that I'm flying out." Oh, by the way, Tony's flying out to California. "They'll need to retool, and I'll tell them what and how and get the specs for them tomorrow." It's all there, now, rolling around his head.

Tonight is going to be a sleepless night.

"And, when you're done with that, we'll find something to eat. Promise." There's a pause, a long, deliberate one before, "What're you wearing?" Tony follows it up quickly, "I-I-I don't mean to make that sound weird or anything. But, do you have, I don't know.. something that isn't a business suit around?" Of course she wouldn't. She doesn't live at the Penthouse!

"Okay, I can have Happy drive you home. Unless you've got a hot date or something tonight that I don't know about."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Tony. I haven't had a date in... God. I don't even want to think about that. We both need to each. I have a little black gala dress in the closet here for emergency last minute events, but... What's going on? Never mind, just order some sushi, put it on the company card. I'll be up in a few minutes and can put the fight request in from there. I'm coming up." Pepper doesn't even really think too much about why he's asking about what she's wearing, but she's definitely got an edge of a blush beneath her faintly freckled cheeks. She's pretending to ask he didn't imply he was being too forward by asking what she's wearing.

Without having stopped for her emergency back up dress, she's now taking the elevator up and up from the office floors to the penthouse area. She does carefully try to put herself back together so she doesn't entirely look like she's been working a very long day. She combs her fingertips through her hair and straigthens her shoulders, smoothing her skirt down and pinching her cheeks to refresh the blush. "Be there in two minutes. Not even. Coming now."

Iron Man has posed:
Tony smirks, even if Pepper can't see it, but she could probably hear it when he responds, "Is that why it's still around?" In other words, Pepper is usually VERY good about getting rid of every vestige of every model, every actress he's ever had a one night stand with. The fact the black dress is still there is by pure design. Not that he even knows where it is, mind, but it's the principle of it. And it's a point where he can tease her.

Shutting down the workshop, Tony admonishes the robots the same as he usually does, "Keep an eye out, and no parties. I'll be back later. Might as well get some sleep now, because it'll be a long night." Yes, he talks to them, and they totally understand him in return. Taking the stairs up two at a time, he's emerging from the stairwell looking, well, like he hasn't had the best late night sleep and a shower in a couple of days. "You don't have to announce yourself." Not as if she'll catch him doing anything she hasn't seen him do before!

He's near the bar, the bottle of scotch unstoppered and already poured into the glass, and when she does come in, he turns around and watches her progress, a hint of a smile on his face as he takes his drink. "Ya know, that might do." He nods, and takes the first sip with one hand, replacing the top of the bottle with the other. "Mmm.. I have to grab a shower."

So far, quiet as to what he's got planned.

Pepper Potts has posed:
It's not too long before her high heels announce her in the usual fashion, quiet clicks against marble flooring of her familiar footsteps. Pepper looks him over the moment he comes into view, a cross of concern tugging through her brow as she notices just how tired and ragged he looks around the edges. "A shower and perhaps a good 8 hours sleep. I'll order something easy in, and you can go to sleep early. I know that's unheard of but... if you're flying tomorrow, you need it."

Then it registers in the back of her mind what he said. She blinks in quiet confusion, her head tilting a little to the side, "What... might do? You shower. I'll finish the flight logs. We'll eat in just a little bit." Pepper's already pulling her jacket on, though she just buttoned it nice and neat. She's ready for a night settled in, doing light work from his couch, and then trying to convince him into bed.

Her pale eyes do look over to that glass in his hand. "...Shower before scotch? Maybe? For me?"

Iron Man has posed:
She's definitely looking much better than he is at the moment, but he holds up an open hand in gesture, "No, we're going out. And I changed my mind. Maybe your spare dress?"

A glance is given to the glass in hand, however, when Pepper specifically mentions it, the one he's already taken one sip out of. The glance turns into a lingering one, and pressing his lips together, he sets it on bar without emptying it first with a *thunk*. The sound is so final.. but of course, it's not. Never is. He just wasn't willing to start the negotiation phase.

"Shower," Tony agrees with a single nod, his back to the bar once more. It's on his list of 'to do' anyway. "Shave, then, we go."

It is true; he's tired. He's been running since the mission, the projects are piling up, and still, he's ready to go out again. At the end of his pronouncement, he's crossing the distance towards his large living suite. Stopping at the door, he's looking out and back at her, and drawing a deep breath, he lets it out slowly. "It's okay," he offers with something of an encouraging smile. "I'll get you home early."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Out? Going...o-out??" Pepper stammers, confusion dancing across her face. It's not exactly panic, but there is an edge panic there. She is not a woman who is used to plans changing. She knows all the plans. She *makes* all the plans. He deciding to go out randomly on a Tuesday night throws a wrench into her carefully laid mental plans that no one else needed to know anything about. It's almost enough to entirely distract her from the fact that he does put his drink down at her request.

Almost.

She does give him a momentary, softer smile. It's a look of thanks, pride, and relief that he's willing to put the drink down and get a shower. That alone is a gift she didn't expect tonight. She takes a breath, trying to calm the suddenly quicker flutter of her heart, and steps closer to him. "We... we can go out, if you want. I don't understand *why* we're going out, but as long as you put food into yourself, I'll go where ever you want me. But won't ordering in be... easier? Why do you want the back up dress?" The fact that yesterday was Valentine's day hasn't even crossed her mind.

Iron Man has posed:
See, the trick is, when he's using all of his toys, he has one other person he can call on to be sneaky with. Two, if you count JARVIS. Pepper is extremely good at her job, and there is no one in the world who is better, literally, than she is at making sure everything is right where it needs to be, when it needs to be.

That, right there, means it's hard to surprise her. And, if there is one thing that Tony actually knows about Pepper, is that she doesn't care much for surprises.

Case in point.

All is right with the world when Pepper knows what's going on and she's in some control of the situation. Tony-wrangling is an art as much as it's a skill, and there aren't many who could even begin to comprehend the task, much less perform it. That, and she has his utmost trust. No one can say that.

Tony hangs by the door, leaning on it, watching her. He's spent years in the company of this woman, and..

"It'd be a lot easier staying in. More fun? Probably not. You'd end up going home, I'd end up going back downstairs to work, which, by the way, is going to happen regardless. But, the hours between now and then aren't going to be spent in the living room here." He gives a quick, quirky smile and shuts the door, ready to shed clothing and hit the shower.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Confusion doesn't begin to summarize the look on Pepper's features. "Look. I'm coming in. I'm not *looking*, but I'm coming in, because we are going to figure out this dinner thing and if I need to be in a little black backless dress then there is much more going on here than I understand is going on. So while you're getting this shower, you are going to tell me what you have up that little metal sleeve of yours because there is no reason we shouldb e going out on the town on a Tuesday night in the middle of winter."

Pepper did warn him that she was coming in the room and she meant it. She's careful, however, opening the door with her back mostly turned and then stepping into his room with her back fully turned. She shuts the door behind her, shielding her eyes like a proper lady so she doesn't see anything she hasn't seen before (well, a few times, always by accident), but she's trying to give him his privacy while they 'work'. She's also trying to understand the situation.

"I'm putting your flight clearances in for 11 am. You *are* going to sleep in some and we *are* going to eat tonight and maybe even enjoy it. I'll have you all set up for the morning. I just need to know how I should be set up for tonight? Is there a gala you didn't tell me about? Who are we schmoozing this time?" She's talking to him and half staring at her phone as she goes through the process of getting his morning flight in the system. *Late* morning. She wants him to sleep.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony is many things, but shy and modest just don't rank on the top ten. When Pepper comes in behind him, his shirt is already off, and there burns that arc reactor in his chest, the blue light giving off its glow to add to the room. He turns to look at her as she comes in; only she could actually do this, any of this, and even remotely get away with it.

"Pep.." there's a sound of exasperation as he drops his trousers, and steps into the bathroom. He has the closet door open, showing off the range of suits in bags to protect them. Tuxedos, suits, sport jackets.. all hung up with care. The shower turns on, and as the water hits the shower tub, there's an odd sort of .. subtle naturalistic music as the water drains. He'd had it installed a few years ago in a (vain) attempt to relax using more 'natural' methods.

"Clearance at 11, sounds great," is called out. "I'd rather not talk about this while I'm in the shower, Pep. Unless you'd like to join me." That last bit is something of a throwaway; he knows full well that she won't and that he really.. kinda.. sorta.. doesn't mean it. But, there it is.

"What's so hard to understand. No, we're not going to a surprise gala. You have the calendar of all those events that I get to ignore." He falls silent for a few; undoubtedly washing his face, and his hair.

"Why can't we go out on a Tuesday? Who made that rule? If I wanted to shut down tomorrow, I can make a phone call.. no, you could make a phone call and annoy everyone, telling them it's a company wide day off. I don't care. I want to go out, I want you to join me." More, he wants to take her out.. but in the shower? Probably getting lost in translation.

A couple more minutes pass, and the water stops, the cascading, melodious sound of the water's progress to the drain also ceases. There's a little bit of rustling before Tony emerges again with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"I'd really like to get something to eat, and I'd really like for you to actually sit down and enjoy it. It's all set up. The helicopter is fueled and ready to go. Flight crew is already waiting for us."

Pepper Potts has posed:
It might be the sound of him in the shower, the suddenly very clear certainty that she can hear water against flesh and that means he's *naked*, And he just asked her to come into the shower with him. Pepper's brain blue screens just a moment, lips opening, stammering breath, but she can't actually reboot her mind fast enough to speak. It means he gets his entire statement out about getting something to eat and even a helicopter. "...Helicopter?" She breathes out raggedly. "What?? Fine, fine, yes...I'll ... Change. Shave. You should shave. Your n-normal shave, not all of it, keep the goatee, the goatee is good but... You know, just... yes. I'll go change."

And then she's escaping. For just a few minutes. Giving him time to properly clean up, shave everything he needs, and even pick out a fancy outfit. She's walking as seemingly calm and collected as possible from his room back to the elevator. Once she's in the hall, however, she's tearing down the hallway at full speed. They were going somewhere in a helicopter, she HAD to be dressed proper.

With the speed and precision that can only happen with a woman who has timed her life down to the last heartbeat, Pepper dashes back into her office and digs out that near forgotten dress which is going to turn out to be skin tight on her with a slip up the leg to her upper thigh. This was one of Tony's more classy, elegant affairs, but it was still one of his *affairs*. She was dressing to show off. She pulls into the thing, tugging her hair out of that knot and shaking it free to some faint waves are clear. She grabs her make up bag and, once she dashes back to the eleavtor, uses the mirror there to freshen up her make up if a few quick swipes. Once the door opens, she takes a quiet, resetting breath and steps back into the penthouse like she breezily waltzed out of bed this way just this morning and didn't tear around the building like a hurricane to put herself together. "Now...what is this about a helicopter? And why... now? Without asking me to book anything?"

Iron Man has posed:
If she had called him on it, the 'joining him in the shower', he's not entirely certain.. okay, no. This? This is something else. Tony listens to Pepper depart, thus allowing him to step out in said towel and get his shaving kit together. It takes him more than a few minutes to get everything right, follow it up to make sure it's impeccable. Standards, after all.

And once dressed, he's got his suit. Dark suit, just this side of a tux. No bow tie. Pair of black shoes, shined to the point of looking like patent. He emerges, finally, from his suite, carrying his jacket rather than having it on quite yet. His tie, also, isn't tied, so he's 3/4s dressed, anyway.

Looking up from his spot near the couch in the center of the living room, his gaze following her movement; he can't take his eyes off of her. Nodding his head, he's decided that he'd made the right choice. Besides, wear a work outfit, and there's nothing magical, nothing special. Wear something like that? And Tony knows all about 'the clothes make the man'. He whistles softly before he realizes that he is not only staring, but he's got a smile on his face.

"Right.. uh.." Tony straightens, caught off guard, "Right," he repeats. "It's going to take us a little while to get there, but it'll be fine."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Since he actually took a bit of extra time getting ready, it means Pepper's had a few spare moments to properly style her hair in his guest bathroom and put on a dash of her amber perfume from her purse. The dress is stunning, sweeping off her shoulders to expose her elegant, delicate decollatage, skimming her body chest to hips, then a long skirt with that tall slit. It's more than a 'little black dress' and she saved it because it fits her perfectly.

But it's the sight of him that leaves her momentarily speechless. She's seen him bruised, bloodied, sweaty, scruffy, and everything in between, but he's never really shined up just for her. It's different being right next to him than seeing him from a distance at a party or press conference. Heat thrills up her cheeks for a few moments and her genuine smile mirrors his. She says nothing, breathless, for just a minute.

"Right..." She echoes him, finally. "You still didn't tell me what this all is about, you know? But... you look great. And it will be nice to... spend a night with you that isn't watching you fight for your life against something trying it's very hardest to kill you, so I'm not... complaining. I'm just confused." But she steps over to him, bringing that faint scent of sweet amber with her, and laces her slender arm through his. "I suppose you can explain on the way."