2166/Back to School

Back to School
Date of Scene:	25 August 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Iron Man, Huntress

---

Iron Man has posed:
It's late in the afternoon and you're at one of the most illustrious, most innovative, most beautiful stores in lower New York City - Target. It's not like he's not recgnizeable. He has his hands on his hips, and he's looking around the store, his shades tinted blueish but his eyes still visible. "You're sure this is what I asked for?" The somewhat automated but also human sounding voice of JARVIS plays back just audible enough if you're close to him...<<You did say you wanted to buy more targets.>> "Jarvis...I meant for the new Marks coming off the line. I need some things to test their capabilities against, make sure the systems are all calibrated correctly. <<My bad, sir.>>" And so Tony sighs, looking at everyone shopping about and trying to decide what to do with this new purchase.

Huntress has posed:
Helena is dressed casually, an oversized sweater over close-fitting jeans. And perhaps unlike Mr. Stark, she regularly frequents Target for actual shopping. Walking in the front doors, she moves to get a shopping cart and that's where she stops. Mostly because some -guy- is in the way. And he's talking to himself. The brunette pauses, smiling as she looks at him. Something familiar... "Excuse me. Did you need help with something?"

Iron Man has posed:
Tony looks over, curious at the new arrival and helper. Is she wearing a red shirt? "I don't know...trying to figure out what to do with the store," he says to himself. His lips pursed, and he smiles back to Helena for a moment. "You're not dressed as an employee though. Do you usually help random people? Not that there's anything wrong with that. it's probably not something that happens as often in our society as we'd like but probably happens more often than the news portrays. Still.....' that' sa whole lot of answer for a fairly simple question but it's Tony Stark. Why answer with 3 words what you can answer with 23?

Huntress has posed:
Helena shrugs, the sweater slipping to bare that shoulder. On purpose? Quite likely. "I'm a teacher. Helping people is an occupational hazard." she replies, the smile returning. Then something lights in her blue eyes and her smile becomes wry the longer he speaks. "So shall I help you with your shopping, Mister Stark?"

Iron Man has posed:
"Teacher huh?" He ponders, "What kind of school? Little kids? High school?" He seems intrigued as he pulls up a thing on his wrist, hitting a button and you can see an inventory sort of 'pop up' as he starts to skim through supplies. His figners move to the electonics and then over to the normal supplies and he starts putting up other sheets that are visible as he looks to you. "How many student do you have?" Yup, he's getting all nosey now. "I'm Tony, by the way," but he adds it as an after thought, as he's clearly distracted, at least a little, with trying to show you what's available for schools.

Huntress has posed:
Helena chuckles softly at that, pushing the cart slowly closer. Tilting her head, she gives the virtual inventory a curious look. "I teach English Lit in Gotham, actually. High school." Extending a hand, she offers. "Helena Bertinelli. And I thought you were. I like the H.U.D., by the way."

Iron Man has posed:
"Helene Bertinelli," he says, and of course, Jarvis is goign throughe verythign there is to know about Helena Bertinelli and preparing to, more discretely, fill him in on any facts that the mega-billionaire should know. Of course, how many secrets can an English lit teacher have, right? "I liked English lit. Well I liked my teacher. Miss Stephens. She was also the women's soccer coach. Very fit..." he asys, his comment having very little to do with literature or teaching but you know, such is the way with Tony. "So note pads, pens...ear buds? Do you ever do books on tape? No matter, we can add those anyway, most state tests have a bit of a hearing component now..."

Huntress has posed:
Helena chuckles softly at that, nodding. "Well I don't coach soccer or anything." she replies. Of course the sweater and jeans don't hide that Miss Bertinelli obviously makes regular visits to the gym. Or something. Then she peeks more closely at the virtual shopping list. "Mister Stark... Tony... what exactly are you doing?"

It isn't long before Jarvis will start to turn up some very interesting information on Miss Bertinelli as well. Parents: deceased. Vague circumstances, but definitely a multiple murder. Digging further back Helena's father, the late Franco Bertinelli, was mafia royalty. The girl spent years in Sicily and then Switzerland after the murders, before returning to the US and get her degree.

Iron Man has posed:
"Nothing....what school did you say?" He looks to you and then goes, "Oh, thanks Jarvis." And soon there's a scheduled delivery to your school. And so a delivery of school supplies will be sent to your school which is good and helpful, hopefully. He grins to hismelf and puts the spreadsheets away, assuming they're done. "No, not soccer," he says with a laugh before looking back to you. "Not soccer but something. You don't look like you're any stranger to staying fit. Probably helps in Gotham the fact that if they don't do their homework, you look like you could take at least a few of them in a fair fight," his smile displaying that Tony at least thinks he's funny.

Huntress has posed:
"Gotham Central." Helena replies, expression becoming almost wry. "And thank you very much." Reaching out, she rests her hand lightly upon his forearm while they talk. Professional manicure, albeit some unusual callouses upon her palm. She laughs then, and replies. "I work out every day. A lot of sit-ups." Okay, so about 700. Not to mention the vigorous vigilante activity. "But I think I should warn you that I almost never fight fair."

Iron Man has posed:
"Huh...." he says with a chuckle. "I should look into those." He looks to his laptop and humourously, says, "Jarvis, look into trademarking sit-ups. Apparently, they're popular with teachers and kids alike, and do wonderful things for the body. Maybe we can make some money off of that," he says and Jarvis, apparently picking up the humor, answers back. <<Right, sir. And perhaps after that we can look into buying the company that makes epi pens and maybe then the company that sells AIDS medicine to Africa.>> Tony frowns, "You're a real buzzkill, Jarvis. Just so you know." He looks back at you, not worried about the contact, his skin warm, his own figure well taken care of though in truth there's a chance you're possibly stronger.

Huntress has posed:
Helena shifts, expression fading towards amusement as Tony wanders down the path of situp theory. She remains close enough to touch, just in case further expression is needed. Italian, after all. "So who is Jarvis?" she asks, rolling a fingertip in a circular motion. "Sounds like he's either an AI search engine or your conscience."

Iron Man has posed:
"He's definitely one. He sometimes THINKS he's the other. It can make life a bit distracting, specifically when I'm wanting to do one thing and he decides that maybe we should do something else. You'd have think I'd have coded in a 'do what the hell I say' feature but at this point, I'm not convinced he wouldn't have just removed it when it got inconvenient," says Stark with a chuckle as he looks out to the rest of the store then back to you. "So how does a Bertinelli end up in education? I mean I suppose I could see the teaching thing but not art? Opera? Interperative dance? Italian...." Yes, the list of other possible subjects you could have taught continues for a few. He starts to walk in the general direction you were going with your cart before you stopped, as he figures you still haven't gotten what you came here for yet.

Huntress has posed:
Helena chuckles softly at the assessment of Jarvis, resting one hand lightly upon his shoulder while guiding the cart slowly with the other. "So you coded him? Of course you did. I suppose that's the problem with children in the end, isn't it? They all become independent." He mentiones 'a Bertinelli' and her grip briefly tenses, blue eyes becoming a touch wary, perhaps? "Oh, I'm fluent in Italian. And Latin, for that matter. That's a Catholic upbringing for you. But my degree is English Lit."

Iron Man has posed:
Tony Stark would probably be more cautious of the hand but, you know, teacher. He's not overly concerned at the moment. Plus, like you said; Italian. Hand gestures, touchy feely, he gets it. "Hear that Jarvis? She says you're a child." <<I'm not sure that's what sh-->> "Hush, Jarvis. The adults are talking." He grins and shakes hsi head, as if to agree with you. "Kids these days. No respect for their elders." And then his watch lights up and he turns it over to look at it. "I don't remember sponsoring a kids sceience camp...." he says, reading the email and looking back to you, likely only to find out later that the donorship was instigated by hi slittle AI friend there. "So your classes - nice kids? troubled kids? Somewhere in the middle kids being kids kids?"

Huntress has posed:
Her hand shifts back to the guide the cart, once she discovers it's got a bad wheel. Helena laughs again when you reprimand Jarvis, and she doesn't even try to hide it. "I didn'g mean to hurt his feelings." she offers. "A science camp? You are a true philanthropist, Tony." And from the half-smirk she's guessing the nature of his relationship with Jarvis. Shrugging as she pushes the cart along, she replies. "They're like kids anywhere. Mostly good, with a few that require more... guidance. This is a pivotal age, which is why I like the challenge. A high percentage of criminals turned bad somewhere during their high school years. I like to think that this is one way I can make a difference."

Iron Man has posed:
"I don't know. I think it starts earlier than that, possibly. At birth, the family they're lucky to get or not get, if they get parents who are there or not, who care to make a difference or not," he says with his lips pursed thoughtfully. "Not that many of them can't make it or don't make it beyond their circumstance, but I feel if you connect crime to socioeconomic or family make-up, you'll see just as much of a connection. But...that brings to light then why do the ones who don't go in to crime stay away - is it something in them or is it becuase they were lucky enough to have a you in their life that wanted to make sure they had options, and that they knew they had them."

Huntress has posed:
Helena slows a touch as the conversation shifts towards family. You've got her attention now. "You're asking the age-old question of 'nature versus nurture', Tony. Are people simply -born- bad or do they have to learn it?" And yes, this is a serious question to her. "I think it's a little bit of both. We can't help who are parents are, or what they've done. But we ultimately make our own choices. We can choose to be criminals, but there's nobody out there -forcing- us."

Iron Man has posed:
"Not really...I'm on the side of nurture. That's why i say where you're born to, and what you have to start with makes such an impact. Still...it's an interesting argument," he says, agreeing for the most part as he sits back, taking a bit of a deep breath and looking towards you and the store once more, lips pursed, "I need to get back to the store and talk to Miss Potts about what I'm going to do now that I own a Target. I hope you'll forgive me. If your school needs anything, I'm sure you'll contact Bruce Wayne but on the off chance that the charity division of Wayne Enterprises is a little slow...feel free to give Stark Industries a call. Tell them you know me. That always gets a chuckle and then tell them I said be nice and transfer the call or I'll have them on gutter clean out. No one likes gettign on the roof of the tower, and it's one of my favorite empty threats. Motivating though...I can get themt o do just about anything." He grins and offers you his card which...huh, kinda smooth how he managed to pull that not exactly out of no where but that was nifty.

Huntress has posed:
Helena tilts her head when you make your excuses, but then again she realizes that you're only here by mistake in the first place. On one level she really likes watching a master of the language work, and on another level your complete focus on yourself is even more amusing. She smiles. "Of course, Tony. And thank you. We're doing okay for funding, but I'll definitely keep your offer in mind." The card is accepted with an arched brow, and she eases it smoothly into a back pocket of those tight jeans. "It's been a pleasure, to be sure. And you should be nicer to Jarvis."

Iron Man has posed:
Tony isn't focused on only himself. He has Jarvis to deal with. "Everyone says that," says Tony. Which makes him purse his lips, and you can see it, that moment as you slide the card itno your jeans back ocket that he pauses, it's almost like a person who has a stutter or such and has to reset so as not to stumble through what they're about to say but he does. See, the moment passed. Maturity and Stark, happening in unison. "Enjoy the store. Whatever you need's on me. Perk of owning the store and you putting in the time you do to help children. I may not look it cause I'm single and have dated models...but I find it an admirable skill in other people to care about everyone else."

Huntress has posed:
She lets that hand linger on her hip, thumb hooked into the back pocket now. Yeah, she knows what you're staring at alright. "There's nothing wrong with having dated models, Tony. But you're speaking in past-tense." Can't put that one by the English teacher! She doesn't outright -ask- if he's seeing someone else, but she lets the question linger in the air. Unasked, but implied. "And definitely look for me to call."