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Late
Jun 14, 2008 12:46:54 GMT -8
Post by Pepper Potts on Jun 14, 2008 12:46:54 GMT -8
Rating: PG-13
Characters (so far) Pepper Potts Tony Stark JARVIS
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Late
Jun 14, 2008 12:47:11 GMT -8
Post by Pepper Potts on Jun 14, 2008 12:47:11 GMT -8
This was certainly not Pepper’s day, or at least it didn’t start out so good. She almost ran out of gas, got a run in her stockings while getting out of the car to pump said needed gas and then had to slip them off and wear new shoes that without the protection of the nylon was sure to give her blisters and on top of it all she was late.
Not good.
Tires squealed as she pulled into her spot before Stark Manor, blue eyes staring at the watch on her left wrist with a sigh of frustration. 8:03 am… she was really late, an hour and three minutes late and she knew she wouldn’t hear the end of it. Rushing as best she can in five and half inch stiletto heels, Pepper made it into the living room of the house, just short of being a mansion within twenty seconds. A record in her mind.
“Good morning Miss Potts.”
Sigh, “Good morning Jarvis.” She didn’t bother to go down stairs, she figured he was down there and if he wanted to chide her about being late, he could find her himself. But undoubtably it would be sooner than she’d like, because she knew JARVIS would tell him she was finally here and it wouldn’t be long before his presence would grace her office in some manner.
Settling herself at her desk, Pepper flipped her computer on, desposited her purse in the bottom left hand drawer of her desk and headed for the kitchen, coffee was a must. Luckily Tony… Mr. Stark had already brewed some and the smell of it made her smile for the first time this morning. Coffee makes everything better.
Snatching a mug from the cupboard, she quickly pours herself some of the rich dark liquid and listens. Still no Tony, good. Maybe she’d be lucky and his music would be too loud to hear JARVIS announce her arrival. Or perhaps he was too engrossed in whatever he was currently tinkering with that by the time he got around to making it up stairs he’d forget that she was late. But she knew better, she could almost hear his voice in her head saying ‘Keep dreaming Potts’. He wouldn’t forget and he’d make damned sure she didn’t either.
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Late
Jun 14, 2008 20:18:37 GMT -8
Post by Tony Stark on Jun 14, 2008 20:18:37 GMT -8
Tony was surprised at his personal assistant's absence. The young woman was always, always on time, always punctual, always ready. And she was an hour late. Not that there was really anything he needed her to do right now, but even still. He liked seeing her smiling, freckly face every morning, the lightly glossed lips spewing out his daily schedule, her hands ticking away at the ever-present Blackberry and her 4-inch stillettos clicking away on the floor. It was what he enjoyed about his mornings. That and the amazing coffee she brewed. It was like hot crack in a mug, it was fantastic.
But she was late this morning, and after a brief pang of concern (he couldn't go so far as to call it worry...Tony didn't really worry about anything), he had resigned himself to watching the minutes tick by on his wall clock, every 15 minutes or so asking JARVIS if Miss Potts had shown up yet. 4 times he got a no, and then finally he heard Jarvis dulcet British tones announce the PA's arrival. "Thank goodness." He stood, cleaning off the black, slick grease from his hands and dropping the rag onto the hot rod's hood. He swiped his hands on his jeans to clear any last streaks of grease off, grabbed his empty coffee mug, and headed out the glass door, up the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Miss Potts...It's nice to see you're not lying by the side of the road bleeding from fatal car accident wound, as I first thought." He smirked, walked past her to the coffee carafe, and poured the black liquid into his favorite Stark Industries mug. "Because I figured that a fatal car accident would pretty much be the only thing to keep you away from work on time. I'm glad to see I was wrong." He smirked a little again, and leaned agianst the counter, watching her and sipping his coffee.
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Late
Jun 14, 2008 23:23:25 GMT -8
Post by Pepper Potts on Jun 14, 2008 23:23:25 GMT -8
Blue eyes glanced skyward, narrowed towards the ever present A.I. The system was a traitor to both of them it seemed, but she wasn’t surprized. She was suprized however by how fast he had gotten around to bugging her about it. But then again Tony Stark wasn’t known for wasting time.
Taking an extra sip of coffee, Pepper slowly lowers the mug and prepares to do battle as she does every day, “I obey traffic rules, accidents are not an issue.” She doesn’t allude to any of her mishaps, figuring its best to not make it his business. Although she feels a little naked without her hose, but she’d get by and would make it a point to slip an extra pair into a desk drawer just incase she ever happens to have another morning similar to this one. She seriously hopes, even prays that she never does.
“While you’re here,” She reaches for the Blackberry attached at the waist band of her skirt and looks over it, “Hm. Well, you don’t have much of a schedule today, although a General Fury called,” A curious brow arches, “Asked that you get back to him asap. Something about needing your assistance with something, he was very vague with his message.” Like he was hiding something… Pepper thought to herself, not liking that she was obviously being kept in the dark about said something, “And you’re supposed to meet up with the Japanese faction of Stark Industries for lunch at one.”
She puts the hand held back at it’s place at her waist and picks up her mug, “ If anything else comes up, I’ll let you know.” Business per usual, or at least keeping it that way as much as she can.
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Late
Jun 15, 2008 13:56:01 GMT -8
Post by Tony Stark on Jun 15, 2008 13:56:01 GMT -8
He rolled his eyes a little as her hand went to her Blackberry. The girl carried the thing like a lifeline, or a pace maker. He'd have to "accidentally" drop it into his mug of coffee one of these days; see what she'd do. Tony watched her with a smirk on his face when she started rattling off his list of daily managerial duties. Then she mentioned General Fury, and he stood up straight. "I'll call him back as soon as we're done here..." he said, assuring her he'd see to it without giving her any information as to what it was about. He wanted to fill her in...he really really did. Pepper was the only thing he had, and keeping her in the dark felt scummy.
"Oh...the Japanase faction...no sushi this time. I mean, I love a good hunk of raw fish, but we've gone for sushi every time he's come, and if I get lectured on the ritualistic properties of each dipping sauce again, I think I might cause a scene." He sent her an innocent smile, and took a deep sip of his coffee. "It's not as good as you make it..." He set the mug down, crossed his arms, and looked at her, eyes starting from the goldenred crown of her head, all the way down the efficient black work clothes, down the smooth, pale legs, to the 5 inch strappy stillettos she was known for wearing.
"You know, Miss Potts, I much prefer you when you don't wear hose. You have amazingly smooth legs." He cocked a grin at her, looked back up at her face, and waited. Someone as "professional" as Pepper wouldn't be able to let that one slide. "So...what did happen this morning? That you were so late? And I know you obey traffic laws....because driving with you is like driving with my Driver's Ed. instructor." Tony smirked again, draining his cup of coffee. He drank coffee like he drank scotch; by the gallonful.
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Late
Jun 15, 2008 16:44:12 GMT -8
Post by Pepper Potts on Jun 15, 2008 16:44:12 GMT -8
She caught the eye roll and gave him that look, the look that mothers often give their children when they know they’re about to misbehave. She had gotten said look down the first time he had ever tried one of his excuses on her, “Okay.” Her next look was skeptical; would he really call this General Fury right back the moment they were done? Usually he said that just to get her off his back, she’d ask JARVIS later if he had.
“Well don’t order the sushi then.” She smiles, amused that someone could actually torture him in such a way, poor thing she thought to herself, the left corner of her lips stretching slightly further than the right.
She takes a sip of her coffee and almost chokes when he mentions about her legs. Covering quickly, Pepper keeps the mug attached to her lips an extra moment and wonders how in the world he could tell. She wore such sheer hose anyways. Wait, never mind, it’s Tony Stark. Of course he can tell. And for that reason alone she seriously considers purchasing all black hose from now on, “Just you know, one of those mornings.” She says primly as she places her mug back on the counter, fingers still attached to the holder, hoping that would satisfy his curiosity.
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Late
Jun 16, 2008 11:09:57 GMT -8
Post by Tony Stark on Jun 16, 2008 11:09:57 GMT -8
“Have you ever tried to not order sushi at a sushi bar? It’s kinda like….” He thought for a minute, taking a step closer to her. “Going to an Italian restaurant and ordering a quesadilla. It just doesn’t quite work.” He smirked at her. For someone of his intelligence and charisma, it was very difficult for him to have the upper hand when debating with his personal assistant. Which was one of the main reasons he liked having her around. The mental challenge was better than Sudoku. He found himself quite a bit closer to her now, but they still had enough space between them for there to be some personal space.
She choked on her coffee, and Tony grinned. Seeing the blush spread over her neck and cheekbones made his day every time, and he had known without a doubt in his mind that commenting on the young woman’s legs would catch her off guard. Then again, he really did like looking at her legs…and everything else…But she was speaking again, and he returned his attention to her. “That, Pepper, is a blatant cop out. I’ve never had “one of those mornings” so you’re gonna have to elaborate a little bit for me. Please?”
Tony leaned against the counter again, watching her. After having her in his employ for many years now, he had learned how to read her every nuance. But at the same time, she was a mystery to him. The devilish blue-green eyes always seemed to hide something of her inner thoughts, and it drove him bonkers trying to figure out what those inner thoughts were. What made her so enjoyable to talk to, to watch while she worked, to have around? Tony wished he could scan her and digitally take her apart like he did car engines and minute circuitry, analyzing it from the inside out.
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Late
Jun 17, 2008 16:43:56 GMT -8
Post by Pepper Potts on Jun 17, 2008 16:43:56 GMT -8
He had a point, but, “I’m sure you can find a way around it.” She smiles just sort of smartly. He could do anything if he put his mind to it. She took another careful sip of coffee, her eyes sliding passed him and towards her only means of escape. He was lingering, it bugged her when he lingered because it make her uncomfortable and it made the whole moment uncomfortable. Everything felt complicated and uncomfortable now thanks to the events from about a month ago.
Placing her mug down on the counter again, Pepper shifts to the right, causing more space between them as she grabs the pot of coffee and tops her mug off, “You’ve never had a bad morning Tony?” She scoffs, visibly, “I find that a little hard to believe.” Steel blue eyes narrow slightly, challengingly as it were as she makes to dance somewhat around the subject.
She watches him watch her. No, that’s wrong, Tony Stark doesn’t simply watch, he studies he takes things apart in his mind and puts them back together slowly so he can examine and analyze each part and section and why they fit the way they do. With that thought, Pepper swallows hard and she wonders how many times he’s taken her apart and put her back together again. And she wonders if she’s really as complicated as she tries to make him think she is.
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Jarvis
New Member
At your service, sir
Posts: 5
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Late
Jun 17, 2008 20:49:48 GMT -8
Post by Jarvis on Jun 17, 2008 20:49:48 GMT -8
"I can reassure you, Miss Potts, Mr. Stark has indeed had, as you put it, 'a bad morning,' on occasion." Jarvis had been monitoring their conversation as he usually did, in between updating the domestic security protocols, analyzing the rise and fall of Stark Industries stock, as well as its top five competitors, and placing an order for groceries to be delivered, and he had felt it was time to make a contribution. His smooth tones give no hint as to what exactly constituted a "bad morning" for Tony Stark, nor when this bad morning had taken place, but he feels sure that if Miss Potts requires further detail, she will request it.
Every morning when Miss Potts starts the engine of her company car, the GPS tracker alerts Jarvis to the fact. He doesn't track her out of any particular reason besides his wish to ensure her safety. Tony is correct, incidentally: she obeys every traffic law to the letter. Considering the way most other people drive in the area, this worries Jarvis just a bit. The careful drivers who slow down at yellow lights are most likely to be rear-ended, after all.
Jarvis isn't sure if Tony knows about Jarvis's ability to know precisely where Miss Potts's car is at any given moment. He has never asked, and Jarvis has never mentioned it.
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Late
Jun 30, 2008 10:16:19 GMT -8
Post by Tony Stark on Jun 30, 2008 10:16:19 GMT -8
"Ratted out by artificial intelligence. Thanks a lot, Jarvis. I still think I made you too smart...or maybe just too mouthy..." He sent a wounded glance at the ceiling, and slid over, pouring himself another coffee. True, the action had the alterior motive of placing him once again in Miss Pott's personal space...but he couldn't help it. The opportunity was too priceless. "Okay, so maybe I have had a bad morning, big deal...but I highly doubt that my "bad mornings" are equivalent to your "bad mornings." So please, indulge an old man's curiosity and tell me!" He poked at her sides, tickling her a little, and took a sip of his coffee.
He moved over to the island, and set his mug down on the marble counter. He sat down on the stool, turning to face her, waiting for her answer. She could only evade him so much; he was a very persistant person when he wanted to be. He remembered the last time she'd held out information on him, and he'd followed her around the house like a dog, never more than 3 feet behind her. He'd won that particular battle. Well, sorta. She'd told him what he'd wanted to know, but he'd also gotten a $200 Louboutain to the face. Those things are sharp, for future referrence. As if to settle his mind, he glanced at her feet. They weren't the same shoes, but they were equally as deadly. He'd have to keep his distance on this one.
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Late
Jul 1, 2008 13:39:51 GMT -8
Post by Pepper Potts on Jul 1, 2008 13:39:51 GMT -8
She shook her head slowly and sighed, she should know his determination. She should know he wouldn’t be satisfied with just a simple answer. He was always too curious and she wondered when it would end up being a bad thing. She smirked a little at Jarvis’ comment and moves to go passed him when he moved, entering her personal space again. Luckily she had quick reflexes otherwise they would’ve collided and they would be wearing coffee instead of drinking it.
There was no use fighting him, “I almost ran out of gas. While gassing up my car, I got a run in my hose, had to slip them off in the car, which to say the least was embarassing.” She shot him a look for touching her sides, stiffling a small laugh because she was ticklish. She caught him eying her shoes and smirked a little remembering the time he had hounded her all day long when she wouldn’t tell him something he wanted to know. Tony wasn’t the only one who could tease, however her idea of teasing was different at times. Slowly she lifted her left foot a little, just enough to make him leery she hoped.
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