Owner	Pose
Tony Stark	The personal, smaller party goes far better than any of the large ones ever do, in terms of both control over the event and the clean-up. A mix of some Avengers, Tony's closer friends and staff members, it was low key compared to what's coming at the end of the week. Then again, most things are low-key compared to the monstrosities that are on the horizon, planned by the master of bold statements.     Despite that, Tony drank like it was the end of the world, until some of the friends artfully distracted him away from it, and he became more sober towards the end of the party. 'More' being the key word: not 'entirely'. The guests have now headed to the rooms in the tower provided to them, and Tony rescues his not-at-all-forgotten wine glass, seeking Pepper out with a second glass for her, requiring a toast: "To parties all about me, regardless of size and convenience," with a wink and flash of warmed smile. He did have a good time, even though he was a lower-key version of himself, lacking the cascade of reporters and guests.
Pepper Potts	Pepper was certainly more relaxed. This was the one party where in she could have fun, not worry about reporters, or PR messes, or any other woman sleezing up on Tony. Even if they'd been out in the press, well... Women still had ideas. She could just sit back, relax, have a few, drink and laugh with friends. It had been a nice night. She's now abandoned her sky high heels, padding lazily through the penthouse still in her dress for the night. It was a simple, beautiful pale blush gown with an empire waistline which called back to summer and, somehow, and earlier time. It was shockingly feminine compared to most of her corporate wardrobe, and it left her arms (and decollatage) temptingly bare.     She saunters over in his direction, accepting the glass of wine with a rosy blushed smile, "To *you*...Tony Stark. And every crazy, stressful, wild, wonderful year you've given me..." SHe clicks her glass gently against his.
Tony Stark	"This WAS a particularly exciting year. We weren't entirely sure if there'd be a birthday," Tony says, light, at ease about the whole thing. It's easier to look back and laugh, of course. It wasn't so funny at the time when he started to stare down the gun of mortality. No, best to laugh and pretend that wasn't an issue.     "But instead acquired some new alliances," Tony comments, and moves towards her, with a smile that softens through his eyes as he draws a hand and arm gently around the waistline of her gown. There's a familiarity, a comfortable sense to it; as if it had been happening more than just a few months. And also a quality of distraction, since he isn't entirely meeting her gaze, but looking more at the whole of her.
Pepper Potts	The distraction of his look gains a slightly tilt of her head. She takes a sip of her wine and then carefully settles it down so she can wrap both arms easily around him. There was no hesitation these days in the touch, just as if she purely, naturally fit there. "Something...on your mind, darling?" She whispers softly, breath slightly tracking against his jaw, but not in a seductive way. Just in that intimate, no reason to be loud, it's just them and a slow end of the night way. Also a touch worried, but she always worried about him. Even doing healthy now, she always worried. She'd probably never stop.
Tony Stark	Tony let her have his glass, as well, without argument, after he had a long drink to finish what was in it, of course. Not like he has a use for the empty glass. It's that natural rhythm with them from years of her anticipating when to relieve him of objects like that glass that has an unspoken communication with them. Tony doesn't even notice it, either, it's just the thing that's always been there. "Mostly you," Tony replies, settling both hands on her waist now, before lifting one to gently guide some of her hair on the same side behind her ear, thumb curving over her earlobe a little just after the gesture. "And my new shirts." Lips quirk just a little bit, the small gleam and narrow to his dark eyes evidence of his self-satisfied tease.
Pepper Potts	"Well, yes, you needed new shirts, you know. It's not like you are kind to your daily office wear..." Pepper teases him throatily, but then she's ever so gently starting to pull away. She lets him brush her ear a moment, her nose nuzzling into the edge of his hand, and then she's fully pulling back. Fingertips out, leading him towards the elevator. "But... there could be something else. Something to show off those shirts..." And the door opens. JARVIS must be in on it already, because the button for the garage lights up without her even asking for it.
Tony Stark	Tony gives her a suspicious look but doesn't resist in particular. He can sense potential of further gifts; it's a knack of his, to identify pretty quickly when things are going to fall his way, and getting those opportunities. "I am probably not in a good position to drive anywhere right now, I might have had a drink or eight," Tony says, spotting the garage light in the elevator, but coming along, weaving fingers into hers to follow and see what she has in mind. "Which isn't to say I'm against you being fine with my reckless decisions."
Pepper Potts	"No need to drive at all. Maybe just stretch out... there are things you can do in the back seat of a car which... well...Maybe we're still young enough for." Pepper teases him lightly, "Unless this is the birthday where you stopped *doing* those things in the back seat of a car..." Her grin is ridiculous with barely contained excitement. She really has been waiting all night for this. She didn't do it to show off for his friends, or for anyone at all but him. So, she waited. And now, the door opens...     and the garage has changed. It's a bit more crowded. A few other cars have been pulled slightly back to highlight the newest car in his collection. Something she's seen him look at in magazines. Something he talked about when they very first met, that his father wouldn't let him have when he was in college. Something he could have bought for himself but, for some reason, never has. Maybe it was a part of the issue with his father. Maybe it was still to have something to work for. But now, before him rests the classic -- a 1932 Ford Flathead Roadster. Top down. Paint job gleaming. Fixtures chrome.
Tony Stark	Tony got a little bit of a puzzled look when he started to notice something was different in the garage, but there was no distrust. Mostly just a curiosity, which always wakes Tony up. Puzzles are interesting and he has the brainpower, even tipsy, to quickly solve it. He looks at the car, and just stops, considering it. "It's missing something, though," Tony says, in a thoughtful tone, approaching it, surely with her in his wake. And then turns to her with a grin of playfulness, ignoring his 'age', and teasingly sits her up on it. Admires his handiwork. "That was it," Tony says grandly, and then allows his pleasure to finally show. "I fixed it; it's perfect now. Except for maybe some flames---" Tony talks too much.
Pepper Potts	It wasn't exactly the reaction she expected, but it wasn't a bad one either. She blinks, a half laugh brushing her lips as she's scooped up onto the car, that elegant, flowing dress spilling out across the fender like she was meant to pose there. Pepper's never been all that good at showing off as a woman, getting nervous and shy the moment she realizes she might be dressed to gain attention, but the booze in her and the relaxation of the night is helping. "...I...didn't know if you really wanted it. You talked about it a lot but... well, you never got it. So, I thought, maybe...that was the one thing I could get you that you wouldn't get yourself." And then she rasps out a bit of a laugh, "...*Flames?!* Tony! This is a classic car!"
Tony Stark	"Right here," Tony says, stepping back and splaying open both of his hands across the front, with a flowing gesture to indicate where the flames would be in his tipsy mind's eye. Some of his gesture includes under where she's sitting, but he's looking through her, as he often can do when his mind goes off into the future. Tony's perception of the future with the changes he has in mind. She may sense she's lost his attention for a minute, as he looks down over the wheels and the body of the car, but his pleasure with the gift is entirely apparent. "I didn't put flames on my suits, they need to be somewhere," Tony reminds her distractedly.
Pepper Potts	It's that distraction, his mind's obsession with the flames, picturing the future of it all, making it his own... That's what lets her know she did well. She grins, carefully shifting roll over onto her stomach and lay stretched out over the hood, dress spilling everywhere and dress scooping down *just* enough to almost be indecent, but not quite. She watches him with that saucy, somewhat proud smile. "Mm... Well, it's your car now. Title is on your desk. You can put flames on it, or the back seat to good use, or anything you please. Happy Birthday, Tony..."
Tony Stark	"You /do/ come with the car, right?" Tony asks, as if only partially listening. He can multitask, though, of course, and he's still with her. "Special edition hood ornament," Tony observes of her, before following her innuendo to the back seat with his eyes. "Is there also a slip for you on my desk, for you as a ride? Or is this more a Freudian slip," Tony questions, with his usual quick, witty tease, coming around to tease her skirt just a bit higher on purpose. But the kiss that Tony brings in with it is a real one, and has a deeper honestly. "It's great. Thanks, Pep."
Pepper Potts	"...added luxury option. Only available on weekends and select evenings. But yes, even if the car has... Flames. I'll be your hood ornament. On occasion." Pepper teases back, drowsily happy smile not breaking from her pale pink lips. Her make up wore off long ago and now she's in drowsy, late night, tossled Pepper look. It was an excellent look on her, even if she'd apologize for being a mess if she realized what she looked like. "And you are awful. No ride slips... you know you ride for free." She laughs faintly. Then there is the kiss, and she's melted into it. Her fingertips brush up across his cheek, cupping gently. "...It's impossible to shop for the man who has everything, you know. Especially when you love him."
Tony Stark	"It's also impossible to shop /as/ me. So much better for you to do it. And yes, you'll get to be seen with me, ornament or otherwise. A priviledge," Tony says smoothly, with no catch at all. It's not like she'd suffer, or anyone suffers, being seen with Tony Stark. Even in towseled version. But they're alone here in the garage now, nobody to judge either way.     "Do you need flames too?" Tony questions, teasingly looking for an appropriate (or inappropriate) spot where flames could be placed on her, drawing one of her hands towards himself, looking at her arm. "Here maybe?" he suggests, and kisses the inside of her wrist. The direction of his birthday night is probably fairly evident.
Pepper Potts	Every enjoyment in the car is explored rather thoroughly, christening it in a way, before the two drowsily stumble back up to the big bed. Discarded clothes, that beautiful dress in a pile on the floor, exhausted limbs crawling into thousand thread count sheets. The sleep of contentment is long and needed.     For once, Pepper's still sleeping in the morning. She moved all her morning meetings and officially filed for a half day on the books, so she could sleep as long as she pleased. She's in just a too-soft t-shirt of his she's 'borrowed' most nights she stays, and that's most nights these days... Body drowsily begins to stir at the hints of morning around her but, instead of rising, her head just buries into his arm.
Tony Stark	His arm is drawn across him, and now he has hair in his nose as she slides in to rest against him closer. Tony makes a half-sneezed noise, drawing other hand up to loosely bat her hair, and ends up finding her forehead. Drowsy, he opens one eye to squint down at her, and after a thoughtful pause, rolls partially to use her as more of a pillow, one muscular forearm thrown across her in a loose tangle.     "Stay, mmmkay," Tony says, expecting her to attempt to escape as usual.
Pepper Potts	Well, that's... One way to wake up. The sneeze against her hair and that familiar, batting hand. Pepper vaguely rouses with a gentle laugh on her lips. It's a lovely way to wake up, if a touch silly, and so incredibly... Normal. Compared to the rest of their lives, their brief morning routine was about as normal as it gets. She turns her head, burying herself closer into his neck, brushing a few kisses against his adam's apple. "Mm... a few hours. I cleared my schedule until 1 pm... All for you. Happy birthday."
Tony Stark	"What?" Tony asks, disoriented. "JARVIS, confirm," Tony says, teasingly disbelieving this could occur.     "The schedule change is accurate, sir," JARVIS chimes in smoothly. Tony turns his head and critically checks her, as if expecting something odd. "You are a pod person," Tony informs her, dismayed. "Fortunately for you, I'm more than okay with strange alien women. Well, assuming they're you." Tony turns to kiss her mouth and smirk, before rubbing his face and jaw a little, evidently starting to wake up more fully.
Pepper Potts	Another laugh escapes her throat, almost rumbling against his neck as she hasn't fully extracted herself from being wound around him, "You're telling me that if you, Tony Stark, found a pod person in your bed but they had my face, you would be fine with this?" She's clearly teasing, it not a serious question though, with their lives... It could happen, some day. "And I can take a half day off, on occasion. I took a sick day last..." Oh. She actually couldn't remember the last time that actually happened..."...year...sometime..."
Tony Stark	"Hmmmmm, not really sure. I'd probably just play it by ear. I mean, it WOULD be a Pepper Pod-person," Tony reminds her, relaxing back onto his back, a small adjustment to invite her to shift some to rest against him in a continuation of their laziness. He's not terribly motivated to move yet, really. There's some hangover squint when the arc reactor gets revealed, but he snares some sheet and mutes that awfulness right away.     "Wasn't I ill early last week? I remember how kind I was to not share that with you, giving you opportunity to bring me chicken soup." Tony's kindness knows no bounds.
Pepper Potts	As he shifts, she does in turn, settling upon his shoulder and allowing her arm to drape across his waist so she remains half wrapped over him, using him as a pillow, the faint eletric sound of that reactor and his heart behind it the familiar comfort against her cheek. He can practicall feel some of the early morning, should be up and working tension leave her body. She breathes out slowly, a small, contented sound escaping her throat. "Yes, you were entirely kind not to share that with me, much like the last time I came in sick you said I should go no where near you, hmmm? I'm so glad we can share all these things." She sardonically, if warmly, teases him.
Tony Stark	"I picked up the workload and everything. I sent cough drops. You soundeded horrible," Tony replies, dropping his hand as she settles in, to pass the fingers idly down her back, against the soft fabric of the shirt she's snuggled into. Tony didn't bother with clothes; there's no shame about it, particularly when he's had a proud drinking night. Which can be often.     "I didn't know you didn't use sick time." Tony doesn't keep track, somehow. "Saving it up for a wild fake illness spree of fun somewhere, I can tell."
Pepper Potts	"Mm... and let everything fall to pieces? The joy of remote work is that there's almost no reason to use sick time. Besides... what would I do? Just lay in bed? I'd go insane in two hours." Pepper admits softly, trying to laugh it off, but the amount that she's worked since she started with Stark Industries is probably a little bit insane. The strawberry blonde in his arms is, no doubt, a bit of a work addict. The fact that she took this morning off is honestly a miracle, he's right about that. "And who would I have a wild fake illness with? Certainly not my boss and...yet... the only person I'd want to in the world is right here. So, we have a bit of a problem."
Tony Stark	"You have the /best/ boss, I'm certain he'll be fine with it," Tony encourages her. "I can put in a good word if you're worried," Tony adds. "What's the worst that could happen, getting fired? That company wouldn't know what to do without you, would practically beg for your return." Tony continues to drag his fingers over her back, catching in the cloth a bit, and then settles the hand on her bare lower back, warm, relaxed.
Pepper Potts	A happy shiver brushes through her body as he picks up the shirt just enough to find bare skin. It's easy, the shirt almost comically large on her being one of his. Her own fingertips continue an idle path down his ribs, just firm enough not to tickle but simply share warmth, "Yes, well, then I'd come back after being gone for days and everything would be chaos. Best not to go in the first place. I hear I keep the place running." She murmurs with that still slightly teasing upwards lilt to her voice.
Tony Stark	"JARVIS no doubt spreading rumors about that. Shouldn't listen to that guy, what a yes-man," Tony replies, letting his eyes close. Not that there was much tension, but his body relaxes and eases into the comfort of the bed and Pepper's touch. And then, "We don't mean it, you're the best, of course, -- I mean, I created you." JARIVS replies evenly, "Thank you, sir."
Pepper Potts	"...You are the best, JARVIS. And you know he doesn't mean it. And you know you can route any real emergencies up here and I'll take care of them." Of course, the moment Pepper was thinking about JARVIS, then her mind was back in work and the fret of what could go wrong when she didn't have her hands on the steering wheel. So, she did what little she could to ease her heart before settling back against Tony. "...so, you have me all morning. Your third birthday present. What would YOU like to do?"
Tony Stark	"We're taking the roadster out for breakfast somewhere. What would suit your fancy?" Tony questions. And brightens. "Strawberry pancakes?" he suggests. He's pretty sure strawberries have something to do with her, after all. No doubt him remembering will impress her.
Pepper Potts	That just makes her smirk and sit up a bit straighter, propping herself on an elbow as she looks down into his eyes and tries to figure out of he's joking or not. Nope. Not joking. It's the same dance as before. She can't even be made, but she gives a half little laugh, "...if you'd care for a trip to the ER shortly after, of course..."
Tony Stark	The expression is open and unaware. Yeah, he didn't intentionally make a joke about it. His recovery is smooth though. "At least we'd drive to the ER in style," Tony reminds her with a shrug and wink.
Pepper Potts	The woman leans over to kiss him full on the lips, he in a veil of her strawberry hair and the scent of her in the morning. She lets that kiss linger for several heartbeats before pulling back and smiling to him. "...let me shower and... waffles, perhaps. Peach waffles. With whipped cream. You'll drive." She winks to him but leans down for one more kiss. Perhaps breakfast would be delayed a little longer.
Tony Stark	"My original plan involved flying in my suit with you in my arms, so it's just as well you decided to distract me with an amazing car," Tony replies, returning the kiss, before chuckling and entirely encouraging the delay. They'll try out his new present's actual engine soon enough.
Tony Stark	"Also, I was close. You like fruit," Tony says, pleased with himself.