14310/Goodbye in Dubai

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Goodbye in Dubai
Date of Scene: 13 April 2022
Location: UAE, Dubai
Synopsis: First direct attempt on Tony's life is at an 'event' in Dubai. It was the old waiter switcheroo! No one expects that!
Cast of Characters: Iron Man, Pepper Potts, Black Widow (Belova)




Iron Man has posed:
'Tis the season, as they say. Not quite the //actual// season that most would assume, but for the jet-setting millionaires and billionaires, it is //the// season. Spring is springing, and the private jets and yachts are coming out of the hangers and drydocks, respectively, and the one country that welcomes the convergence is Dubai, within the UAE.

Meetings couched in social gatherings are the norms for the movers and shakers of the world, and the kickoff for such things is THE gala, after the opening season of the horse shows. (After all, the princes and various princesses are noted equestrians who have made a name for themselves for both stock and equestrianism.)

The horse show is a hard miss; in Tony's multi-million dollar mansion, there are //things// to do. Phone conferences, mostly, which Tony has very little time for other than the occasional, 'Yeah, that sounds great' and 'Go ahead'. When he says 'no' to a project, however, it is more than likely to stall...

The gala.

Early evening, it's a time for those who are seen and wish to be seen as up and coming to put on their finery and find potential allies in business as well as companions for the evening. After all, what happens in Dubai stays in Dubai.

The venue, one of the smaller palaces of a prince. The estate is nothing less than what would be found in England's stately castles, only with the Arabic flair. Marble, glass, chandelliers, carpeting dotting the room to highlight the art and sculptures all showcased to full effect. Tony wears one of his many finely cut tuxedos, his hair slicked back and off his face. He cuts a figure with his beard and mustache carefully clipped, and on his hands, a pinky ring. He wears a gold watch on his left hand, the glints of the metal peeking out as he lifts a hand to take hold of a drink from a tray.

He seems to be a lucky one as only a small handful of the princes are escorting multiple ladies at the moment (their wives)...

Pepper Potts has posed:
There is a lot of time that goes into being Tony's assistant. But, somehow, she wasn't actually expecting how much more time would go into being his partner. She's taken more 'vacation' since they properly started dating than she's never taken in her life. Of course, she's still working, but that working means several days at his side in Dubai instead of in the New York offices. And no, she can't work through the gala. She's expected to be on his arm.

And, in truth? She's proud to be on his arm.

She's a vision in dark sky blue, the silk gorgeously cut to skim along her frame, leaving her shoulders and most of her back bare while her arms and whole of her body is covered. The dress manages to be conservative and suggestive all at once. Her strawberry hair is swept up off her neck and shoulders in soft waves and twists secured by pearl headed pins. Her make up is light and tasteful. She might feel overwhelmed, but she's not letting it invade her smile. She's standing next to him, proud and comfortable. But not alone... on her other side is the woman who has been quite loyal as friend and guard. But Pepper is making it clear that she, and no one else, is Tony's.

"This place is... huge. Goodness. I know I should have expected a palace, but a palace *in Dubai...*"

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova defies gender standards a little bit in this place by choosing to wear a men's styled suit, albeit with the crisp white linen shirt unbuttoned enough to show a hint of her modest cleavage. The suit is black in jacket and trousers and she's wearing a few rings as accessories, flashes of gold to mark a hint of status. Not that Yelena is anybody. It's just part of her job to pretend she is.

She sticks close to Pepper's side, making sure that she doesn't seem like she's part of Tony's coterie. She doesn't want to look like a harem, even if the locals might think it's cute.

"Is alright," she says to Pepper. "Probably real bitch to clean."

Iron Man has posed:
While Dubai claims to be an open playground for the rich and famous, it still has it's dirty little secret that it is still very, very conservative in many ways. It's money, ultimately, that allows for the freedoms. Tony's tuxedo is on the mark, Pepper's dress certainly does make its splash as being both 'plain' in the lines yet so very, very stylish. On Tony's arm, they easily mingle with the other high-powered businessmen on the world's stage. Yelena's choice gets the glances, some of the whispers if only because a woman is in a pants-based outfit. It hits at the conservative undertones, but nothing is said. She is lovely woman, and any who do take that second glance can't help but come away with the feeling of 'it most definitely suits her'.

Tony leans in to whisper, even as his other hand is waving a brief greeting to one several yards away, "You've set this in my calendar a hundred times," he reminds. "Granted, you and Happy were back at the house, but.." He has //that// smile on his face as he watches the approach of a couple of lesser Sheikhs, a step forward to extend his hand in greeting.

"Your Highness," Tony begins, and the young Arab Prince has a genuine, warm smile in the greeting.

"Mr Stark. So glad you could be in attendance again. We do look forward to your visits."

Tony shifts to the side in a half-step, and offers up an introduction, "If I may introduce Miss Virginia Potts," he remembers her given name!, "Ms Potts, this is His Highness, Sheikh Ammar." Certainly there are more names behind that, but..

The Prince dressed in flowing robe with a finely detailed head.. scarf inclines his head, "Miss Potts. It is a pleasure to meet you, finally." There's a hint of a curve to his lips as he looks back to Tony. "Is this who you have been hiding from us all, Mr Stark?" He, too, apparently reads the papers.

Tony looks back at Yelena, brows rising. Job or for a little fun? Makes a big difference!

Pepper Potts has posed:
No matter how her heart flutters in her chest, Pepper is doing pretty good at keeping her smile smooth and chin up. She nods in approval, shooting a few looks to anyone who would dare disparage Yelena's outfit. "You're going to tempt me to go in a suit next time you make such a show of it. Not that I can pull it off like you..." Pepper mutters to her body guard, but she's clearly impressed. And happy to keep the woman close.

Then she's turning to Tony, whispering against his ear as he reassures her, "Yes, I booked this... and worked at the house. You don't know how hard it is to not just run back to the house and keep doing work where it's safe and I *know* what I'm *doing*." Because, no matter how good she is at playing it off, she doesn't feel like she knows what she's doing.

Still, she smiles, even wider than before a she's presented to Sheikh Ammar. Her head bows in respect to his highness, "Your Highness. It's a pleasure. And I wouldn't say I've been hiding. Tony and I simply... only recently made things official. At least, as... romantic partners. Is that something I can say to a Shiekh? I'm sorry, I mean... I'll always be at Tony's side, one way or another. Just normally it's been at the office!"

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova is the opposite of nervous. This is the easy part to her, hobnobbing with rich people. Rich people are soft, tender, the opposite of dangerous. Like little chicken nuggets in clothes. Mmmmmm. Yelena wishes she had some chicken nuggets right now.

She keeps her eyes around, though, watching the corners, checking the perimeter. She's not going to allow any slips tonight as she protects Pepper, not letting the woman get out of her sight or even more than a few feet away.

"You look great, Paprika. Anyone says different, I break knuckles," she says, flicking her hair out of her collar.

Iron Man has posed:
"Well, right now, Happy is watching television and probably ordering out," Tony murmurs before his attention returns to the Prince. "Not hiding," comes basically at the same time Pepper says it, showing something of that 'in tune' that seems to rear it's head now and again.

As Pepper continues, however, Tony does get that slightly tighter smile, but it's so very, very natural. Probably not the best thing to advertise that they're single and romantically bound... which, again, has some laws for the more common man in Dubai.

It's called 'adultery.

Tony's raised eyebrows meet the Prince's, and the royal inclines his head once more, "Just so," is used to fill the momentary silence, "I look forward to your presence in the coming months." Months? Years? He knows his friend Tony..

"If you'll excuse me."

Tony nods, and as the Prince departs, Tony is emptying his glass and setting it on the waiter's tray. "Over there," Tony's tones are soft, "you know them. And over there.."

As he's talking, there is a shot that rings out, difficult to determine from where, but the glass in Tony's hand shatters, the shards flying in all directions. A second shot rings out, and while the first is met with shocked silence, the next is accompanied with screams.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper is sharp enough to realize that she stuck her foot slightly in, a hint of heat climbing up her cheeks, though it's mostly hidden under the same make up she's using to hide her freckles. It's a fancy night, she can't go out with her freckles on display! Her mother would die. She lets her smile widen just a bit more, "Years, hopefully, Shiekh." Pepper adds in, but then they are begging away and she lets out a breath of relief.

"Sorry, I'm sorry I... I'm really not good at this outside the conference room. I'm better at boards and charities! Not... Princes..." SHe almost envies Happy at home, in comfortable clothing. But the thought of Tony going out without him also has her nervous. Pepper's just starts turning her head to Yelena, murmuring a quiet, "Could you keep an eye on-" And just as she asks, her worst nightmare happens. Someone takes that shot.

"TONY!" She yells, hitting the ground, trying to drag him down with her but chances are Yelena's already in action while Pepper is trying not to completely freak out.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena moves like lightning, reacting violently and just moving to spear Pepper straight to the ground, trying to put herself on top of the redhead and shield her from potential harm with her own body. Pepper's hands likely grab at Tony's jacket but lose their grip from the force of Yelena hitting her.

She doesn't want Tony getting hurt either - much as he might irritate her at times - but Pepper is her first, last and only charge. There's a soft humming sound though and a hint of crimson glowing under her sleeves as she activates her Widow Bracers.

Iron Man has posed:
Years.

Assuming, of course, that the second shot doesn't hit its mark. The first only manages to give little cuts to his hand, and the second?

As Pepper is grabbing at his tuxedo jacket, a hole pierces the fabric between his body and her hand. It's Yelena's weight that pulls Tony free in order to do what he needs, and that is to spin around, and sound an.. urgent request (others might see it as an order?) between teeth, "Get her out of here."

The room is going nuts, people scattering in all directions, as Tony looks around for the direction of the poor-shot. He needs more eyes, better eyes, and unless he goes full Iron Man, he's not going to get it. But then venue?

Not something he really, really wants to do, even if it may be the difference between his life and death. People are more than happy to vacate the room, and truth be told?

He's not expecting Yelena to just leave.. he'd be surprised if she did!

Pepper Potts has posed:
"I'm FINE! Keep HIM SAFE, please!" Pepper's voice begs, not even a scratch on her. Maybe a bruise or two from just how fast she hit the ground, but she's in full panic that one of those bullets has found its way home or, worse, another one will come and he'll be hit because Yelena was busy protecting her. "Please, I'll stay down, help him...stop this killer!" Pepper begs her protector, trying to crawl forward to take proper cover beneath a table. She's not stupid in her panic, she's just desperate.

"Tony, Tony... are you okay, did you get hit? Tony, talk to me, stay down and talk to me. Let Yelena handle it, please!" She shakily breathes out onto the air, not able to fully tell if he's hurt or not and that's her biggest fear right now.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena doesn't really need them to tell her what to do. This is her business. If she needed an indestructible suit to wear or a really good cocktail, she'd ask Tony. If she needed a beautiful dress or to maximize her labor output, she'd ask Pepper.

You wanna fight killers head to head, though, ask a Black Widow.

Yelena spins on the ground and actually helps to sweep Tony's body behind hers, the venue's security moving to help cover as Yelena comes up in a crouch. Backtracing the bullet lets her spot the shooter fast, using the usual cheap cater waiter disguise.

She raises her right hand and, from the bracer on her wrist, a blast of crimson energy fires out, hitting the shooter with a neuro-shock hit hard enough to paralyze his nervous system and inflict agonizing pain. Most people just pass right out from it, but maybe the shooter's been eating his Wheaties.

Iron Man has posed:
"Stay down," Tony barks, but softens his tones for after, "It's okay.."

There's an active shooter. Tony's definition of 'okay' is a touch skewed after years with the Avengers. This 'okay' has the experience of much, much worse, but this is kinda bad. Not 'okay', but okay.

For as much as he is able to keep his footing (he has had more than a few rounds in training with Steve!), Yelena's experience is maximized, and has the earned respect of one of the people he considers a friend. To see her in form now, shows him exactly why.

And this is child's play, no doubt.

Regardless, while he's not 'hiding' behind Yelena, he's respecting her ability.

Anyone will say that getting hit by a neuro-shock hurts like a bitch. Even those with regenerative healing ability feels pain, for the most part. That, the shooter does. Pain. Lots of it. Remarkably, he is still standing, though pushed back a few steps. In the knock back, there is opportunity as the gun-hand is suddenly slow, the weapon seeming a little too heavy for him to level.

At the same time, the palace guards, the //real// ones, are flooding in. A little late, and a few steps behind the Black Widow.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper does know how to listen. She stays down, slumping beneath the table as Tony's voice sounds steady enough that, even if he's hurt, he's probably not dying. "I'm down! I'm staying down, I promise!" Pepper shout-whispers back to him. It's not meant to be a shout, not wanting to draw attention to herself, but she needs to be heard. She needs him to know she is alright also. She just slightly peeks out from under the table cloth, trying to see what is happening without exposing herself. It'd be very nice to watch Yelena work if they weren't in dire danger.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova closes the distance between herself and the assassin, backflipping the last steps to land knee-first on his chest. She aims her wrist-taser directly between his eyes, her lips pulled back in a snarl.

"Who do you work for, Sloppy? Tell me before I liquify brain into buttermilk!"

Iron Man has posed:
The promise from Pepper does gain a breathed exhale from Tony, and he nods his acknowledgment; whether she sees it or not, who knows. Still, it's there. He's watching everything else going on, and as Yelena goes after the poor shot, he's moving in order to give her room. To make sure no one interferes with her. Some distinct //looks// are given in the direction of their hosts, and they in turn bark their commands, in Arabic, to the guards.

There, on the floor, Yelena has her quarry. He's lying on his back, and even through the residual pain of that Widow's Bite, he talks, or rather, he doesn't give any information. "You'll die with him.."

Of course the Widow has heard of false teeth. It's the oldest trick in the book, and for some, it's part of the player's handbook. His eyes meet hers, and there's a sickly grin even as he bites down.

"There's more."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper remains a little mouse dressed in cascading blue, hidden beneath the elegant draping of a gorgeously bedecked dining table for a lovely gala that has clearly been interrupted. It's unlikely things will pick up after this, but Pepper is grateful for the shield of the heavy tapestry which nicely drowns her from the view of any other attackers. Fortunately, tonight, it does seem this assassin is flying solo.

She's too far to hear what the killer mutters to Yelena, but she's watching Tony like a hawk from her little hiding hole. She's trying to be certain there's not too much red blossoming from a wound he's trying to stubborn his way through. She still takes in a few ragged, too shallow breaths. She's on the edge of a panic attack and she just cannot let herself fall entirely victim to feeling. Tony was the one being attacked here. "I-is....is it done?" She breathes out raggedly as guards rush past her table.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova tries to jam her fingers in the man's mouth, attempting to retrieve the false tooth before it can dissolve, but it turns to dust in her fingers, leaving him foaming at the mouth as she rams her fingers down his throat. "COWARD!" she calls, followed by a string of imprecations in Russian, most of them about the guy's mother and some varieties of livestock.

Finally, she yanks her hand free and wipes it off on his shirt, turning her back. "He's dead," she announces to Pepper. The palace security regards her warily, especially with those bracers on her arms. Widows are feared throughout the world for a reason.

She walks over to Pepper and offers her hand, "Back to your quarters," she says. It's not a request, as her eyes go to Tony. "Find out who did this. So I can kill them." she says.

Iron Man has posed:
It's the joy of black tuxedo that it doesn't show blood, if there is any. White shirts, however, don't hide a multitude of sins. From Pepper's vantage point, it'd be hard to see any, thank you tuxedo. Actually, he'd managed to avoid anything beyond a graze; the bullet had passed through his jacket as she was pulling it taut. If she had a little more strength, he might have gotten it in the side, but right now? Scratches.

That's not half the insult, however.

The statement from Yelena gains a quick nod from Tony, and immediately he's doing what Pepper normally does for him when excuses need to be made. It's his turn as he has the respect and connections. Yelena holds the fear, Tony has the 'political' clout to make this a 'non-event', as it were. Tony's gaze lingers on Yelena as she speaks to him, an ever so slight nod given. He'll be back at the house later. This was the first that he's aware of, and in the UAE? It's not easy to get here.

Crossing the floor, he makes his way towards the Prince, pulling up a cloth napkin to daub at seeping blood caused by the shattered glass on his hand.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper reaches for Yelena's hand as it's offered and carefully lets herself be picked up off the floor. She's doing her very best to look put together and calm. She doesn't want to panic the other dignitaries, or even worry Tony too much. After all, he's the one who was being shot at! But Yelena can probably see it in her eyes. Tony might even too, if he looks at her long enough. She's keeping it together by bloody fingernails and nothing else. Inside, she's terrified and part of her just wants to scream.

Her smile is a little too tight. Her eyes are glassy and bright in a way that isn't exactly sane. But she's smiling. She gives Yelena's hand a squeeze, shaking her head slowly, "N-no, no, if Tony is staying, I want to stay. I... I want to help... smooth things over. I... I don't want to hide from this. Tony! You need...you should see a doctor, not be chasing these people..."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova doesn't slow down, just starts pulling Pepper behind her. "Will drag, if need," she says, simply, turning her head and giving her boss a level eye.

"This what you pay me for. Ask him what you find when he comes to see how your pretty head is."

Iron Man has posed:
Tony's said enough, made his feelings known on the matter with that lingering, even if brief glance to Yelena. He's repeated it often enough; she's the most important thing to him, and if //anything// happens to her?

He's not so cruel, however, that he won't acknowledge Pepper, answer to her fears. "Go home," and it's a little kinder. "I'll be home soon, I promise." Promise. Tony's definition of 'soon', however, isn't always the same as others. The chances are better than even that the moment he's clear, that suit is going to be on, and he's going to be flying around and //looking//. This is going to be an all-nighter, again. Too bad he doesn't have the same level of workshop here, but he does have access to JARVIS, even if he is on the other side of the globe.

With that, he's turning around for that cross to speak with the Prince, now surrounded by his own retinue, and at the same time setting an earpiece into his ear, murmuring, "You sleeping, JARVIS? Time to wake up. No vacation for you."