5987/Also there's a holiday

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Also there's a holiday
Date of Scene: 13 December 2018
Location: Unknown
Synopsis: Pepper's shopping is interrupted, and then Tony is interrupted.
Cast of Characters: Pepper Potts, Iron Man




Pepper Potts has posed:
In the lowest level of the mall, in an out of the way sort of nook sits a little shop that is often overlooked. Oleander's is a quirky shop with all things unique, and if there is anywhere in the mall where Pepper could spend an afternoon, this is it. From high end steampunk gear and decor to obscure gadgets and jewelry pieces that each have a story attached to them, the place has everything. And it's easy to lose an hour or three just perusing the goods and listening to the stories the eccentric collector who runs the store loves to tell. Today is one of THOSE days...

Iron Man has posed:
    "I think /this/ is very you," comes the very familiar voice of Tony from beyond her left shoulder, as well as the sensation of a hat being placed over her hair - askew due to her updo. It is an elaborately overdone pirate captain style hat with steampunk flair, in rich dark blue velvet. It's probably /not/ her at all.

    Tony went for the surprise, of course. There's no reason for him to be there at all (he just got back from Mexico and collapsed face-first into bed for a day), let alone right THERE behind her!

    He's dressed down, a nice windbreaker with sleek tech lines in blue running through the black, with a high neck, jeans, warm boots, a scarf draped somewhat around his neck in a loose rich dark burgundy. He might not be in a suit, but he's still extemely recognizable, particularly vocally: he has a distinctive voice. He's getting stared at by a few patrons nearby that heard him speak. It's one thing to hear him on the news assuring the world it's safe, another to hear him from a few yards away.

    Tony is also, it is important to note, wearing a cheeky smile, lips a little pulled to the side, aware he's going to make her jump out of her skin. He likes doing that. A lot.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper nearly jumps out of her skin. A Tony was the very last thing she expected to find in the shop, and she's already somewhat on edge of late, if anyone touches her without warning. She flinches, and freezes for a moment until the sound of his voice melts her again. A little.

"Oh...God..." Pepper leans to one side, catching sight of herself in the mirror to confirm that yes, it's just as bad as she imagined, and she laughs. "Th-that's terrible," she stammers, still shocked by the fact that he turned up here at all. "Does it bring out m-my inner pirate?"

Iron Man has posed:
    "It brings out something," Tony laughs, pleased with himself, coming up behind her to look sort of under --no, over?-- the left side of the hat. "Let's see," Tony plays, in his manner that he wheels out when she's trying to be businesslike and he's trying to get her to loosen up. "Will you spin? Just for me," Tony says, stepping back as if appraising a new car, with a little innocent gesture of hand. The gesture is 'go ahead', in his quirky manner. Encouragement. Ignore the people looking at them.

Pepper Potts has posed:
By now, Pepper is flushed pink, her eyes darting around at the people who are watching them. Were there this many people in the shop before? Somehow, she doubts it. Hesitantly, her gaze flitting between Tony and the onlookers, she turns - albeit a halting and embarrassed spin. It's a spin, at least. And the hat has survived atop her head, for the moment. "Like what you see, Mr. Stark?" She arches a brow with a quirky grin.

Iron Man has posed:
    "Eh, I could see it with a blue dress," Tony says, in an offhanded way. But dark eyes move to meet hers and then suddenly shy to aside as he dodges. He possibly spoke before he thought. Drawing up memories for both of them, not all of them good. Tony's recovery is fine to a casual onlooker, but Pepper KNOWS her Tony, and he's uncomfortable for that moment. That causes him to clear his throat, move forward to attempt to snare the hat and put it aside, smile returned. "You've been hunting the elusive perfect items for hours, haven't you? Time to eat, Miss Potts," Tony directs. But then he steps over to try to look in her basket, attempting to paw through the contents. He's rather entitled like that, in her space, playful. "What are we buying? Find anything worth taking over to the checkout?" Not so subtle hint.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper's eyes meet his meaningfully in that brief moment that he's not dodging her gaze. The faintest smile wistfully tugs at her lips before she, too, recovers. She dodges Tony's swipe as he goes for that hat. "Only if I can wear /this/ to lunch. You picked it out, after all."

Pepper draws her basket up closer to her as Tony is trying to paw through it. "I took all KINDS of time finding just the perfect items, and you think you can just come handle all my things...Tsk...So entitled." She quirks a grin and spins again, this time more quickly, evading his prying hands, and she sets the basket on the counter, where flamboyant older man is waiting behind an old punch-button cash register. Smoothing her tailored grey suit and catching a self-satisfied glance back at Tony, she arches a brow and smirks.

Iron Man has posed:
    "If you think it would embarrass me, I don't mind. It's your picture on social media," Tony teases in return slyly, moving next to her at the counter. She swatted his hands so he folds them together on the counter, still trying to look into the basket. He also immediately attempts to get the clerk on his side with a broad smile. Tony and his charisma, on full display. "Doesn't she look stupendous in that hat?" Tony suggests to the older gentleman smoothly. Of course she looks ridiculous. That's not the point. It's a distraction.

    "Who are these all for?" Tony asks, having attempted again to reach into her basket.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper picks up Tony's reaching hand, catching a finger between her index finger and thumb, and lifts it out of the basket, setting it back on his other hand on the counter with a pat. "That's /my/ business, isn't it?" Her expression is pensive, as if she's still trying to suss that logic out. "But if you must know, they're gifts to have on hand. Because /someone/ I know has this habit of throwing impromptu parties, and it's nice to have unique gifts on hand, just in case." She winks, but she lifts the hat off her head and smoothes her strawberry hair. "I'm afraid /this/ will just have to stay here, however. I have your image to upkeep, after all." She sets the hat carefully on a hat rack with others of the same sort, of various colours and decorative garb. Then she hands the clerk, who's clearly amused, her card.

Iron Man has posed:
    "Always glad to hear somebody's looking out for it," Tony says, finally rotating away from the basket to rest his hands backwards against the counter, looking out and across the store. Mostly they've been left alone now; people care to some extent, but they haven't been doing anything loud or showy, and people have shopping to do. Tony allows her to ring up her items while checking on his mobile-like device. He suddenly straightens up, and his entire demeanor changes. "Steve's hurt. I need to go," Tony says, his face serious immediately. "Can't let him die without me there to tell him to stop it," Tony adds, so that maybe she won't worry. He starts to move, and then gives her a 'look'. It's a quick check: to give her the chance to wave him off or ask to come.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper's expression changes in an instant from playful to all-business. "Go," she says hastily, pulling out her phone and flipping through Tony's schedule. "I'll cancel your appointments and rearrange your schedule. Let me know where you are? I'll come a little later. It'll give you a chance to figure out if you need me to do anything. Or bring anything." She's already firing off messages as she speaks, postponing a meeting, cancelling an appointment. "I'll catch you there." Wherever there is.

Iron Man has posed:
    "Yep. It's SHIELD; Triskelion. I will, Pep," Tony answers, starting to quickly walk off... and not stopping. Sometimes he truly does get tunnel-vision, and the threat of somebody close to him dying is definitely one of them. Some people might question Tony's bonds to others, or if he does care, but this moment would collapse any of those doubts as he rushes off to check on his friend.