7167/Lunch 'adventure'

Lunch 'adventure'
Date of Scene:	08 April 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Tony and Pepper get lunch.
Cast of Characters:	Iron Man, Pepper Potts

---

Iron Man has posed:
JARVIS's warning to Pepper is, as is often the case, very useful, but often far too late to actually be too much of a warning. The reason, though, is that Tony made a sudden choice on the fly, and others are expected to quickly pull together what the billionaire's wishes are.

"Ms. Potts, Mr. Stark is on his way," JARVIS begins, in the tone that suggests that the man is probably already in the elevator, and he's attempting to be of assistance.

Tony has been buried in his labs, impossible to extract, which means this could go any number of directions: food, chatting up some idea, frustration venting, or 'other'. JARVIS assists with, "His mood appears positive."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper instantly recognizes from JARVIS' tone that Tony's arrival is imminent. She has time to peek into her compact, straighten her crisp navy linen suitdress, and move to meet him at the door. Her laptop is still open on the table, and papers are stacked in neat piles around it. And Pepper, for her part, is preparing herself for whatever news has brought Tony in apparent haste. As usual.

Iron Man has posed:
And then Tony's in the door. He started to throw it open in his usual careless way - almost thought about that he might be interrupting - and then carried on with a slight mental brush-off of the concept. His idea is great, so it's best to just go ahead with it.

"Hi, honey," Tony greets naturally, crossing a few paces towards her and then gesturing towards the door. "You're got a few hours free?" Tony 'guesses' expectantly, smile charismatic and easy on his goatee.

Tony's still in clothes consistent with his bunker disappearance: comfortable jeans, long sleeved shirt, with a sleek dark blue and yellow-edged jacket flung on over it --- and a pair of sunglasses hooked into the shirt that suggest he expects to go outside.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper smiles and leans in to kiss Tony on the cheek. "Actually, I do. I just finished my last meeting. Paperwork can wait. And YOU...have that triumphant mad genius look about you. Breakthrough? Or just a good day? Orrr...have you made up your mind about something?" She looks him over, deciding that his manner of dress doesn't suggest big crowds, at least.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony automatically draws her in as she comes in for the kiss, looping an arm over her shoulders and smiling at her in his open and relaxed way. His presence is large, particularly when he's jazzed up for some reason or other.

"That's the best way to feel about paperwork. Procrastination," Tony teases smoothly. "Grab your coat, then," he encourages. "I thought we'd hit Luigi's."

There's a lot of information on that: Tony's expecting to stroll into one of his hole-in-the-wall places (in this case, subway sandwiches), and get something that may be messy and high calorie. He may tease her about her salad selection. But it will probably be comfortable.

She may or may not have his whole attention, though.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"See thing," Pepper replies, grabbing her coat from a coat rack near the door. "Luigi's, hmm?" The implications alone make her smile easily, tension releasing. "At least you're eating. That's an improvement. And I didn't even have to prof you this time," she says as she slips on the navy coat that matches her dress. "Lead the way!"

Iron Man has posed:
"I've been eating. But that reminds me. I'm out of those freeze-dried blueberries I like," Tony observes, stepping back while she dons her coat, and then returning to touch his palm the the small of her back as he moves to head on out of her office, and the general other offices. Employees smile dutifully and move aside out of their way.

An assistant opens her mouth to ask Pepper something, and then hedges, suspecting it would be best to just save it for when she's not right next to the recently elusive Tony Stark, clearly being steered off somewhere.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper gives the assistant a 'You know Tony...' look as the two usher themselves right past everyone and out of the office. "I'll be sure the blueberries are on the list when I give it to JARVIS," Pepper offers, knowing that JARVIS has made note by now to remind her to add them to the list already. "You're chipper, I take it everything is going all right down in the bunker?"

Iron Man has posed:
The assistant does, she gives a quick nod to Pepper and moves on with other duties, smiling to herself. Tony caught the edge of it, and quirks one dark brow at Pepper sideways, with a brief additional flutter of masculine lashes. "I miss something?" Tony asks, but is diverted by her question.

"I can't be amazing just as a matter of course?" He asks. "But yes; I've got what I needed, and the replicators are working, and I deserve some Luigi's with beautiful company."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Ohh, Tony that's fantastic!" Pepper gushes, her smile suddenly radiant at the news. "You most certainly DO deserve some Luigi's, and dessert on top of that." She considers hedging on his inquiry, but her grin turns mischievous. "What, you're the only one who can communicate being unavailable to be bothered, with just a facial expression?" She winks.

Iron Man has posed:
"I am regularly fantastic, everyone seems to forget, somehow," Tony teases immediately, flippant, squeezing his arm around her once. He guides them to the elevator, not bothering with the buttons. JARVIS knows what Tony wants, and Tony himself can focus on Pepper. "What expression? I need to see this expression. Show me," Tony prompts, stepping back, and casting her a challenging, playful look.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper smirks and arches a brow, giving Tony 'the look' ...that one that conveys "You know Tony, it won't do you any good to stop us now." It's the full brunt of meaningful looks, as Pepper goes. It's also the same look he gets when he tries to pull something that she totally calls him out on without saying a word. Like trying to convince her that he's eating. "How's that?"

Iron Man has posed:
Tony stares at her, and then reacts, with a response of being chilled, rubbing his upper arms, and shaking his head. "Yes, all right, that look is now forbidden," Tony says firmly. "Reminds me of the time where I---" Tony pauses, squints at her, and then taps a few fingers against the side of his chin.

He adjusts what he was going to say. "Was clearly in the right, I'm sure." A wink follows. The elevator opens, and he gestures in a smooth 'ladies first' motion, polite, but hardly waiting. "I had the new Lambo brought around," Tony comments, if only to give her the information that they're headed out the front, not down into the garages.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Excellent choice, Mr. Stark." Pepper's little quirky little smile lingers on him for a moment longer, leaving open the question of whether it was an excellent choice to have the car brought around, or to have altered course in his observation. "But you're always right, aren't you?" she asks as she makes her way out the front doors where the Lamborghini is waiting. The question is playful, and not at all accusatory. Of /course/ Tony Stark is always right.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony may be dressed to not stand out, but the car alone will do it. It's an electric blue Lambo Aventador for the most part, but it clearly has some personal modifications through the back. The 'STARK52' plate seals the deal on the owner.

"Kind of you to say," Tony answers, without humility, as he catches the keys tossed to him by one of the valets; the valet is immediately moving across to open her door for her, while Tony is going to his own side and climbing in. The valets have learned Tony's signals for what he wants and when: it's a well oiled machine, really: Tony pays for competence.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper slides into the passenger seat as the door closes behind her. "I can see that you're interested in blending in today," Pepper deadpans, fastening her seatbelt. It's a fastidious habit. Not that she doesn't trust Tony's driving, but if something were to happen...say an ambush from above that rips the car off the road and shakes it like a kid with an ant farm, SOMEONE will have to be around to do the paperwork. Stranger things have happened.

Iron Man has posed:
"Blending in?" Tony asks, as if this was an entirely foreign concept. "Is there a reason to stealth that I'm not aware of? I mean, if you'd rather we take YOUR car...." Tony is, of course, entirely skeptical of the whole thing. And he's already adding his own belt buckle and neatly pulling out of the drive with a pleasant rumble of the engine.

"...that's very sad, since it's very much too late, we're what, halfway there?"

Pepper Potts has posed:
Laughing, Pepper shakes her head. "Oh no...no it's far too late now," she laments playfully. "I don't think stealth is particularly mandatory at a sandwich shop, so I SUPPOSE we'll just have to arrive in more style than Luigi's has seen since...well, the last time we arrived." It's fine. Unless someone is watching for Tony. Then, it's slightly less fine.

Iron Man has posed:
There's traffic, so it isn't exactly a flawless ride. And there's the usual amount of people looking at the car and reacting to Tony's presence. He doesn't ignore them, but he engages with Pepper while he drives, in conversation. In a lot of ways, Tony enjoys all of the attention. When he isn't interested, he'd not be out and about: he'd be in the bunker. There's two settings, usually: extreme, or zero!

"Once these new inventions are sorted out, I think the Italy trip can return. Besides, my birthday isn't too far off. I don't think I need to do the three parties of last year, but--"

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Oh nonsense...the first one just gets you primed for the second...and the third is the grand finale. How can you deprive the people of an opportunity to celebrate the anniversary of the day that Tony Stark first drew breath?" She gives Tony a half-grin. "You come up with the whens, and wheres, and what you want at the party...I'll see to the preparations. Deal?" As if she has to ask. "Besides, maybe all this stuff will have been dealt with by then...You'll need ample opportunity to celebrate, right?"

Iron Man has posed:
"We can only hope, but it's me. I'm motivated," Tony answers, pulling into the temporary parking outside of Luigi's. He climbs out, smiling into someone yelling 'Mr Stark!' at him with an easy returned wave, and crosses to Pepper's side to rejoin her. "By saving the world, obviously. Not the parties."

Right.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Mhmm," Pepper replies as she takes Tony's arm to join his little pomp and circumstance past a few photographers and gawkers, accompanying him into the restaurant. "We'll see how you feel closer to time. You know how well I work under pressure." She offers a wave to one of the waitresses tittering to the others about the new arrival. "You've created quite a stir with the waitresses."

Iron Man has posed:
"They miss me, what can I say," Tony shrugs, heading straight in to the counter, and leaning his forearms on it, looking up a the menu with a wrinkle of nose. "Agh, now I'm caught. I had something in mind, but you have that special. What do you recommend?" Tony asks, companionable as always, to the slightly disoriented helpstaff. Who is immediately replaced by the manager, who smiles to Tony and answers his question, to the relief of the other employee.

"Special is the word, huh. What do you say?" Tony asks of Pepper, pivoting a little to look at her over his sunglasses.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Fretting at her lip thoughtfully, she looks from her usual salad to the special, and back again. Tony will tease her about the salad if she orders it. He will probably tease her about taking half of it to go, if she gets the special. "Ahh, I'm living dangerously. I'll have the special. I skipped breakfast anyway." And lunch. She leans her cheek in closer against Tony's shoulder, lifting her eyes to look up at his face. "What'll it be, Boss?"

Iron Man has posed:
Tony pumps his fist and finger guns at the manager. He then flashes two fingers at him, and gestures for Pepper to procure the payment. She's here, after all, so the normal sequence would be that she'd pull one of his cards out and handle things. Tony pauses, distracted by one of his devices. "Be right back," he says, stepping aside, fingers moving to engage his earpiece as he asks something quietly into it.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper knows the drill. She has her clutch at the ready, drawing out a card and handing it over to pay for the meal. She hesitates for a moment, as Tony steps aside to answer the call. He can only be sidetracked on outings like this by a very few people. Or JARVIS. The order is taken back to the kitchen, but Pepper is prepared to have the meal prepared to go, should the situation warrant. She gives Tony a questioning look.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony turns back towards her and does the 'nod'. Yeah, this just became to-go. He turns back away again to ask a few more things, drawing his device out, and fiddling with it in thoughtful distraction. Something may have gone wrong, but he's relaxed overall. It can't be that bad ... but it is something.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper turns back to the manager, and smiles amiably. "It seems our plans have changed. Would you be so kind as to box those specials up to go?" The manager, not unfamiliar with their rapidly changing plans, reaches up into the air and whirls a finger in a circle, indicating not only a rush, but to box up the meals, as well. Shortly, the order is brought to Pepper, and she turns back to Tony. "Ready and set..." And like a whirlwind, the two are off to their next big adventure.