14268/At the International Car Show's grand opening

At the International Car Show's grand opening
Date of Scene:	05 April 2022
Location:	Javits Center, New York City
Synopsis:	The couple's debue, and it goes.. about as well as can be expected when out with Tony Stark.
Cast of Characters:	Pepper Potts, Iron Man

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Pepper Potts has posed:
While Pepper has scheduled him at the car show before, read the articles, and even controlled some of his PR releases about new Stark technology that's premiered at the place, she's never actually been herself. Much less been on his arm. She asked, on their way there, if she should just act like his assistant still. But the idea was quickly dismissed. She's suddenly quite glad she wore the designer Pierre Cardin dress -- a form fitting number of deep midnight blue with a button lined pencil skirt and a dipping boat neck across the top of her chest. Her hair is swept elegantly up off of her face and her heels high enough to put her on par with his height. She doesn't look like just a secretary, but a woman who commands power. A woman who fits on his arm.

"You know, if I gave up the apartment, I could afford...any one of these. I could get a Porche. An actual Porche. Drive it too fast up the coast..." She states with a grin, the thought a little thrilling to her. She's drunk on the power of being on Tony Stark's arm, proud and happy, as they wind through the room.

Iron Man has posed:
"You.. look amazing." Tony's pep talk to the possible moment of indecision to his lovely date of the evening. "Really. Don't change a thing. They'll love you."

Tony always cleans up neat and sharp, ever elegant and so very comfortable in a modified tuxedo. His hair is set with a touch of muss, his beard and mustache are sculpted neatly, and his arm is bent ever so slightly in the manner of making sure there is indeed an arm for the lady he is escorting. Even at the entrance, there are throngs of not only car enthusiasts, but fans of the various talents that are attending. When Tony and Pepper arrive, a section of the group goes wild, women screaming, men calling out for autographs. A quick smile and a wave is given to his fans, complete with the ubiquitous 'kiss the hand and throw' gesture into the audience as the approach the doors...

...which are opened for them.

"You could have any of these anyway. Don't go giving away your bachelorette pad yet." Tony nods up in a smile and greeting gesture to those in attendance, the inevitable glad-handshake, quick introductions and the flattering responses .. 'lovely' and 'enjoying the evening?' followed by 'looking at any of them closely?' because that would mean, of course, a pile of money going into the company, and thus.. stocks suddenly soaring.

Tony knows the game, and he simply smiles, adding, "Doesn't she? I'm thinking this is her night and I'm just along for eye candy."

Pepper Potts has posed:
A gentle blush crosses Pepper's cheeks as Tony tells her not to change, but it's mostly hidden beneath that perfect amount of make up that she's wearing to almost entirely hide her freckles. She's going in public where there are cameras, the freckles had to go away for the day. But she doesn't hide on his arm or behind his shoulder. She's walking with him like an equal today.

"Well, if you're telling me that, I suppose I'll have my cake and eat it too. But... which car do *you* think is the most fun to drive. I do suppose I could let you borrow it. Sometime." She teases him with a bit of a wink.

Then there are throngs of people. Cameras. Questions in their direction. Pepper stumbles, just a bit, her eyes going a little too wide as she tries to keep her cool but this is far more than she expected for a car show. Tony's smiling quip gets a nervous smile from her and she stammers warmly, "Yes, I...I'm the one looking. I'd love to see something new and... Fast." And that gets more questions screamed at them.

One in specific, a fierce looking lady reporter in a gray suit, "Tony!? TONY! Did you promise her a car to keep her on your staff, or in your bed?!?" Gossip reporter. Paparazzi. But she sees it. She's not letting go now.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony leans in, the wink noted and there is a look that is just for her alone; lingering and fond before he's back in 'press mode', going for that 'good picture' with the lovely lady at his side. "I'm looking forward to looking at //all// of them." Turning ever so slightly so he's standing in front of her, there is a whisper, "Cobera. Zero to 60 is 2.4 seconds. Rigged for clean running." Of course Pepper understands the value there...

Clean energy.

Tony finishes the turn, and putting a hand up to keep Pepper's hand in place in that moment when he felt her falter a little, he clears his throat and calls back easily,

"Car's pretty cheap. She's worth a whole lot more, and deserves a lot more for putting up with me." He straightens up, his tones easy, but they are an underscore, "Whatever the lady wants, the lady gets."

As the crowd continues forward, the grand display of cars lie before them, each shining brilliantly, beckoning all to look. "Never stay too long in one place. They'll take every word and build off that until you wish you could gnaw your arm off to get out of the press bear trap. They'll yell at your back, just keep going. You'll be fine. You're with me."

Pepper Potts has posed:
That question from the lady gets an open glare from Pepper, shock on her features, double taking at the woman and about to yell in her direction before Tony answers just as smoothly and they are moving on. Sure enough, the woman is shouting more questions as their back, but Pepper forces herself to square her shoulders and keep walking on.

"Who...who the hells business is it ANYWAY?" She hisses beneath her breath, a mix of mortified and angry. She keeps walking, nodding towards the Cobera, since he recommends it, "...Cobera. Sounds good. I need to get inside something that is sound proof so I can scream. Because I can HEAR what that woman is saying. What is going ON. How dare they!" Pepper thought she was ready for this. She might not be totally ready. SHe tightens her arm on his.

Iron Man has posed:
"C'mon, Pep. Everyone thinks it's their business to know who I'm sleeping with, and it's assumed the moment I have someone on my arm. You know that." Tony's voice is low, soothing, calm and careful. It's a low attended field, too. It'll only get worse, and he knows it. "Ignore them. You're with me, you go home with me." It is becoming his mantra until he begins to feel the lovely redhead at his side begin to relax.

If she relaxes.. and with the tightening of her hand on his arm, this'll be a rough first time for her.

Tony swings around the Porsche floor, looking at the models (car, not the lovely models that are showing off more than the car's wares), though they do try to gain attention with the obvious lean to show cleavage.. the old tricks that //used// to get Tony's attention. He offers quick smiles, but no murmured promises of getting together after the show closes, or even hints of quickies in the closet after shift change. Much to the models' disappointment. Tony Stark does have a reputation, it seems.

"You okay?" is queried after a few more minutes. "We can go home if you'd like. Try this again at the Orchid show. How bad can they be if we're looking at flowers?"

Pepper Potts has posed:
The mantra is helping. A few reporters might actually get a tender picture (one they probably won't use) of her leaning to the side and pressing her head against his temple. Pepper just takes in a deep, slow breath of his scent, letting that focus her through the crowd and the chaos. She squeezes his arm one last time and then straightens, squaring her back one more time.

"I'm okay... I'm okay..." She doesn't necessarily believe that, but she is trying. Then she keeps going, towards Porche-land with him, before another question is yelled at their back. Her eyes flash in a momentary look of anger. She turns, still holding onto him, looking at the cadre of reporters. "Now. All of you. Listen up. Yes, Tony and I are together. It's not just a work thing. It's been a long time in coming. This isn't about money, or power, or even Stark Industries. This is about being a partner to the man I've partnered with for a decade. This is about people and our PERSONAL lives, which are NOT your business. Understood? If you have other questions, you can submit press requests. Now Back. OFF." She huffs, fire behind her eyes, before taking Tony's arm one more time and parading over to a very expensive car. She's going to enjoy their day.

Iron Man has posed:
Of course they won't run with the pictures of the softer, tender looks. Other sites may, of course. Body language experts will be coming out of the woodwork soon enough. The show is.. different. A debue, as it were.

As they look at the cars, each with their hoods up, doors open so some of the celebrated guests can actually //sit// inside them, the questions are lobbed at their backs. Tony ignores them, but it seems that Pepper simply can't. Not anymore.

Tony has had meltdowns in front of the press before, he's been guilty of letting them get under his skin, and 'not good things' have happened because of it. Therefore there is no way that he'd fault her for it. As she turns and gives the local press a piece of her mind, he's got her hand, a soft 'hun,' in her ear, followed by 'It's okay," softly spoken. "They'll learn."

As if to underscore and give her that solid foundation, Tony does turn to walk backwards a few steps, adding his own, "I believe the lady has spoken." And hadn't he said earlier,

What the lady wants, the lady gets?