3771/Brotherly 'Love'

Brotherly 'Love'
Date of Scene:	30 January 2018
Location:	Triskelion Cafeteria
Synopsis:	Tony talks at Gregory Stark in the SHIELD cafeteria, and gets repremanded by a very persuasive Pepper.
Cast of Characters:	Gregory Stark, Iron Man, Pepper Potts

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Gregory Stark has posed:
It's early evening at the triskelion. The occasional friendly face passes through on their way about their day, but for the most part it's a relatively quiet place. Staff mill about prepping the buffet tables switching out in preparation for the dinner rush. The atmosphere is a very welcoming one.

     Setting at a small table to the back of the large room under the shadow of a looming pillar is Gregory Stark. As usual he's dressed in his all white suit with matching trench-coat and mirrored shades. His hands are held out in front of himself motioning in the air to control the heads up display provided on the inside of his glasses, a tray filled with food stuck off to one side out of the way.

     Setting beside him is a woman who can only be described as Generic. Her features are all very forgettable, as if picked from a catalogue rather then something they were naturally born with. Other then his all white uniform he barely even registers to the mind simply blending in as anyone else. Her expression is completely deadpan as she watches Gregory work, hands folded onto her lap. She's almost... too generic.

Iron Man has posed:
The entourage of Tony Stark is large today. There's two tech people, four aides of various sorts (two of them lovely women; one is experienced, the other her apprentice), at least one lawyer (hard to tell, she could also just be PR or something else), as well as the add-on SHIELD agent that Tony always gets to kind of keep an eye on him. And he does deserve the babysitting. All of those people, though, are just towards the front of the cafeteria, having arrived and clogged up some of the doors, and are discussing the private dinner situation that their group is going to have shortly. The Cafeteria will, of course, need to deliver to them.

Tony himself has actually slipped the group, letting them debate over the situation, fully able to refill his cup all on his own at the fountain area. He's in a comfortable, expensive suit, and has a small little drone with him: it's about the size of a volleyball, floating near his left shoulder, and has a few little hover-cables dangling. Lots of people stare at it, but Tony doesn't much react. He flashes a quick grin at the agent at the drink fountain as he waits for her to finish at the station, and the trainee gives him a deer-in-headlights look when she turns and finds herself suddenly that close to Tony Stark.

"Whoops, careful there; nearly got wet, and I haven't even done anything," Tony says playfully, helping her to not slosh coffee on herself by helping to steady her tray, and moves around her with a follow up smile. He fills his cup, and ... notices Gregory. There is a very clear body language change that Gregory will see loud and clear: Tony is definitely going to come on over.

Gregory Stark has posed:
Gregory's hands dance and flutter about with grace and speed as he types away on an invisible keyboard, occasionally flipping around an image only he can see as he works on his newest designs. He's fully engrossed in his project right up to the moment the entourage arrives.

     There's a pause in his movements, a slight freeze as he sees that familiar face peaking out of the rather large crowd. Eyes follow the figure from behind mirrored lenses for some time. The work can wait, for the moment there is a bigger situation.

     Gregory's white gloved hands go back down to the table. His fingers star rapping on the shined surface one after another as thoughts fly rapidly through his mind. Then the two lock eyes for just a moment. It's clear there's going to be an interaction, that much may well be unavoidable.

     His posture adjusts causing him to set upright. He looks away from his twin for a moment trying to pass it off as if he'd merely not noticed him. There was little chance it would work.

Iron Man has posed:
It wouldn't make a difference if Gregory even didn't see him; it isn't like Tony wouldn't go over even without a meeting of the gaze. He would anyway. And so it is that Tony fills his cup and heads over with his usual charismatic smile and relaxed manner: so entirely opposite from the tightened posture his brother adopts. The little droid bobs along in his wake, peering over his shoulder in a curious manner at the very forgettable woman: her opposite as well, really, in memorability.

Tony invites himself right up to the table, though he doesn't sit down: there isn't a free chair anyway. "I gotta ask. Actually working, or practicing your jazz hands? I really hope you've picked up a fun hobby or two, Greggo, let some of that tension out," Tony says, playful, not particularly combative, with the mild tease.

Gregory Stark has posed:
"You caught me." Gregory comments reaching up to pull the mirrored shades from his face. "Here I thought I had everyone fooled." As he folds the glasses up tucking them away into the pocket of his shirt, two baby blue eyes now visibly locked onto Tony. "Figured if I did enough of them people would leave me alone."

     He makes a light motion with his hand, and his assistant comes to a smooth stand, moving the chair around the table in case Tony wants to have a seat. She looks human even down to the smallest details, but there's still something glassy to those eyes, like there's nothing behind them. It's barely noticeable, but it is there.'

Iron Man has posed:
"Maybe it's the angle; move the wrist more like... say..." Tony considers. And snaps his fingers, pointing to Gregory, "Like you're waving goodbye to morality," Tony suggests, finding an example appropriate to Gregory's experience, of course. He winks some, hardly lingering on his joke, and then orients on the robotic woman and the chair, brows lifting. His own robot chitters at her like a slightly demented R2-D2. "Let her be," Tony admonishes his little bot, which rebelliously emits a whirring noise but obeys.

"No need: I'm fine; I'd overstay my welcome with a chair," Tony says thoughtfully to the chair, but smiles at her anyway, as if expecting a smile back from her. "I know I run that risk even standing," Tony adds.

There's something off with Tony. Yes, there's years (decades?) of separation between these brothers, but there's certain things that linger. He has some kind of health issue, possibly some kind of extreme exhaustion, but he's pale and there's a sort of manic energy under the surface. He's sick enough with something that it's showing, which means it probably is pretty severe.

Gregory Stark has posed:
"I was about to say." Gregory adds at Tony's comment, relaxing somewhat in his chair. "Overstaying your welcome is one of your more honed talents." Offered as a compliment as he looks towards Tony for a long moment. There may have been a long separation between them but it didn't change the fact they were brothers.

     Gregory is able to pick up on the changes, and it causes him to pause for a long moment. "How long you been sick?" Asked out of the blue as he leans down onto his hand supported by the table.

     The mechanical woman closes her eyes offering a warm smile. Her head tilts slightly to the side with the motion, before she offers a low bow. If it weren't for the little tells she could pass for human.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony doesn't like being asked that, which causes a similar reaction to any one of his other peeves (like being handed things, for example), and since it's Gregory he doesn't particularly bother to hide the fact that it does. He does brush it off, though, "Sick at heart from the lack of birthday cards from my favorite brother? Years," Tony rattles off, in his usual manner of filling the air with words.

But he does come around to an answer just after the dodge, possibly aware he should probably convey the real answer. "Since my kidnapping 'vacation'. Worse lately. Some surgery coming up." A pause. "Say, if I need a heart transplant, I can count on you, right? Since you're not using yours?" Tony asks 'hopefully.'

He also starts to move in and look at what Gregory has on his tray, a familiar move with Tony, he often sort of helps himself to such things. Whether it's deliberate to annoy Gregory or not, well, that may be up in the air.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Half glaring her way through things, half well known enough that she gets a pass, Pepper Potts is on a MISSION. Even in the fairly busy food court, the snapping click of her high heels can be picked out of a crowd. She's walking double time on those spiked Prada pumps and her pale green eyes are stalking across the room like a homing beacon. She's looking for the one and only Tony Stark and, finally, she finds him.

Heels re-direct, jaw set in a tight line, and it's a matter of a minute before she's coming right up to him and his sitting brother, her eyes bright with a mix of pure anger and heart sick worry. "Anthony Stark, you are coming home RIGHT this moment. I..." She clears her throat a heartbeat, giving Gregory a half smile, "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, but... Mr. Stark really has a very... Important Meeting... at the tower, right this minute. In fact, he's quite LATE." Pepper is trying not to expose his soft underbelly right now, but she has a tone of voice that is NOT meant to be argued with at the moment.

Gregory Stark has posed:
Everything on Gregory's tray is segregated to its own little section, perfectly portioned and hand cleaned. He's got some peas, macaroni and cheese, basic food all around. He's even got one of those fancy Jello pudding cups flavored like red velvet cake.

     Gregory starts to speak. "You should know me better th-" Only to be cut off by the rapidly approaching Pepper. He's silent for a moment before a smile crosses his face. A beat passes and he's come to a stand himself, trenchcoat billowing slightly from the motion.

     "Ms.Potts, a pleasure." He offers, with a slight bow. "I'm sorry to keep my brother from his meeting, we were just catching up on the good old days," He takes a look towards Tony. "And lost track of time"

     His robotic assistant lowers her hand from the concealed weapon built into her leg as it becomes clear Pepper isn't some form of assassin sent after Gregory. Her body language having shifted almost instantly into a combat stance now sliding back into a more relaxed positioning.

Iron Man has posed:
Oh look, he's caught. Tony is innocent, obviously. Look at this innocent face.

"Best days. Hey, pudding," Tony says, snaring it off Gregory's tray, as Pepper suddenly is right upon him with the insistence about meetings. One of Tony's little round flying drones is also present, and it peeps at Pepper in welcome. Tony is a bit lower in wattage but gathers himself to put forward a good front despite the exhaustion. His candle has no wax left, he's really scraping from the burning on both ends. "Hey now, that, ahhh, I thought I rescheduled it for a more convenient day," Tony defends, but there isn't a lot of strength in it.

Pepper Potts has posed:
A tight smile is given in Gregory's direction and the slightest inclination of her head, "It's alright, Mr. Stark. I am more than certain it wasn't YOU who was keeping your brother from his meeting. Tony tends to be stubborn in his own right. Good to see you also." She chimes in, trying to sound polite and respectful about it, but it's clear that her worry is for where Tony is at this moment. So, after those kind words with a taupe-toned lipped smile, she looks back to Tony.

"No, it was not moved, and I need you back at the tower now. You can either stand up, take my arm, and we can get out of here, or I can get Happy to come up from the car and assist me in TAKING you out of here. THat is your choice. Take it or leave it." Pepper has gotten more bossy in her old age and long time working at Stark Industries! Or, perhaps, she just finds her true fire when she's this deeply worried about Tony.

Gregory Stark has posed:
"Of course, help yourself Tony." Comes the dry comment from Gregory as his exquisite Jello cup is pilfered carelessly. "I'm on a diet anyway. Gotta watch my figure." He shoves his hands down into the pockets of his jacket, before looking to his brother once more. "And Tony" He pauses. "You might be a little shit, but you're still my brother." His eyes narrowing somewhat. "and I'm not about to let you die on me" Coming a bit out of nowhere as he flicks open a small panel on the back of his assistants neck. There's some adjustments that need to be made.

Iron Man has posed:
"Well, you WOULD know my schedule better than I would, since I have more of just... broad strokes on the whole of it," Tony does admit. If the little drone could facepalm, it probably would be doing so, but it mostly just chitters ineffectively at Tony, who ignores it.

"No need to bring out the big guns and threaten with Happy," Tony sighs deeply. "You know, that really is quite an unfortunate last name. We need a nickname that's equally inaccurate. Like 'Tiny' or 'Obedient to Tony'," Tony says, eating the stolen pudding without paying it much attention, but steps away from the table. There is a slight trip there, because his motor skills actually are pretty shot, but he recovers admirably. That he's this functional with how bad he is? Testament to the willpower of the man, really. Tony Stark fancies himself unkillable and tireless. Hopefully he's right about the first, since the second seems to be bending the truth.

The weird family comments from Gregory make Tony blink at him once. A long blink. "That's fine, you can be the big shit," Tony answers generously, cheery. "I'm glad we can agree that me dying is something we won't allow. ...Good talks, Greggo," Tony says with a salute of pudding spoon.

Pepper Potts has posed:
The moment that Tony trips, Pepper slips her arm through his and actually does her best to steady him. She might be smaller than he is, but she's fierce, determined, and powered by the adrenaline of protection right now. So, she does her best to hold him up and actually claim him in a way that she might convince him out of the place. "Yes, well... time to go now. Gregory, we won't let anything like dying happen to him, but I really do need to get him back to the tower. Come now, Tony. Now." Pepper really isn't dropping it and, as gently as possible, she tries to guide him to turn and walk for the door. She's not going to make him run, she'll let him lean against her, take it as easy as possible, but she's also not letting him stay a minute longer.