19330/A Meeting of Like Minds

A Meeting of Like Minds
Date of Scene:	20 October 2024
Location:	Cafe Lalo
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Carol Ferris, Pepper Potts

---

Carol Ferris has posed:
It's been a few months since that rooftop party that Carol Ferris threw on July 4th -- the last time she's been face to face with Pepper Potts, the illustrious CEO of Stark Industries.

Of course, when you're running companies worth billions of dollars, a few months pass in the blink of an eye. All of the events, the board meetings, the day-to-day decisions, the charity fundraisers, the congressional hearings (that one tries their best to avoid)... it all takes a toll, and without a proper balance, it can be incredibly easy to look up and realize that you've lost years.

Carol tries (and often fails) to balance that with her... 'other' responsibilities. The ones the Sapphire Gem chose her for, to be the Queen of the Zamarons, and with the creation of the Star Sapphire rings, the champion of the Star Sapphire Corps. It's one thing to be a Green Lantern, part of a large Corps that has existed for eons. It's another thing entirely to be the very first leader of a Violet Lantern Corps that was created within your own lifetime, just within the last few years. Its success or failure rests in large part squarely on Carol Ferris's shoulders.

Just like the fate of her father's aerospace and defense company.

It's a lot. But then, who else would understand that better than Pepper Potts, who was wildly talented even before she made an indelible mark on Stark -- both the company and the man behind it.

So while a few months might have passed, and while the threat of Galactus seems to be looming ever closer, Carol has found it within her schedule to reach out to Pepper and invite her to lunch. No doubt, there are unmistakable undertones of 'business meeting' in that invitation, and it's schedule far enough out to allow for a couple of hours. But it's also two CEOs taking an afternoon to catch up. After all, simple contracts between divisions of their companies could be worked out by employees well below their pay grades, and there's no hint that this is any kind of 'merger' or 'acquisition' talk.

So what is it about?

That's... a good question, and one that Carol didn't make entirely clear. It's just 'lunch and a follow up from July 4th.' Ominous? Or maybe a little... desperate. Desperate to have just a couple of hours with someone who isn't trying to beg her for money, sue her, audit her, or ask her to save an entire planet a galaxy away. She has Hal, of course, but he has his own responsibilities, and as much as she loves him, it's not the same as having a friend that understands the other aspects of your life -- being a woman in charge of a major defense contractor while trying to balance all of the rest of the feelings, like thoughts of family, a ticking biological clock, whether or not marriage is even worth considering at this point in life.

Surely Carol didn't invite Pepper to lunch to talk about all of that, right? After all, they barely know each other. But how does one become friends unless they take that first step?

So, Carol sits at a table by the window in a crisp, designer pants suit and violet blouse, dark hair left loose around her shoulder and handbag hung off of the back of chair. She'd gotten there early, and she has her phone sitting on the table beside a cup of coffee she ordered when she was seated. She seems perfectly content to idly scroll through e-mails while she waits.

Pepper Potts has posed:
As for Pepper, life has been and continues to be a whirlwind of events. The word encompasses the full array of business life, including but certainly not limited to meetings within the company and without, civic and political, and personal. When one is a heartbeat away from the Avengers and all that which comes with it, AND not only a 'business partner' with Tony Stark but also in a deeply committed relationship (which the news has no idea HOW committed), where exactly is there time?

Only when eked out in small doses really. There's yoga on Wednesday mornings which is sacrosanct, and those jogs in the park which seem to get cancelled now more than actually done. And no one truly can begin to understand the strain and stress of it all except for another woman who is experiencing almost the same.

How much the same, neither woman truly knows. Not yet, anyway.

Dressed impeccably in autumn business fashion, that is, the deep browns and greens that look so stunning on the pale complected, Pepper steps from her darkly colored sedan that has stopped at the curb. A man in a suit moves with purpose around the car to open the door for her, and the pair exchange words briefly before the driver moves back to the driver's seat and the car pulls away. There's no hint of the 'usual' bodyguard around the redhead, though there is the possibility that her entourage is so low key as to be almost invisible.

Stepping into the establishment finally, then, Pepper drapes an errant strand of hair behind an ear and smiles briefly at those that she passes that have made quick eyecontact before moving away. There's certainly a buzz in the place, but because it's a New York City establishment, only glances of recognition with perhaps a nod attached is all that's given. New Yorkers simply don't care.

At the approach to the table, Pepper's expression turn into something a little more genuine, but still guarded for the establishment as a whole. "Carol," she offers softly but conversationally. "I hope I'm not late. Traffic was a little much, and I'm not sure why." The last bit is offered lightly, though the apology certainly is honest. "Tell me you weren't waiting long."

As she speaks, Pepper pulls a chair and slides into the opposite seat, continuing, "This was a wonderful idea; thank you for suggesting it."

Carol Ferris has posed:
Carol looks up from her phone as Pepper approaches, her expression shifting from neutral to warm in an instant. With a graceful motion, she sets the phone aside, pushing it out of sight as a soft smile tugs at the corners of her lips.

"Not at all," she insists with a light chuckle. "If anything, I was early. I wasn't sure how long it was going to take me to get here from Metropolis, and I didn't want to be late, myself."

As Pepper settles into the seat across from her, the buzz of the restaurant fades mostly into the background, and Carol focuses her attention fully on the woman in front of her.

"Traffic's a beast, no matter how much we try to plan for it." There's a playful lift in her voice. "But I'm glad you could make it. This really was long overdue."

Her smile softens as she leans back in her chair, and for a moment, the weight of running Ferris Aircraft and the unrelenting pace of her other commitments seems to fall away.

"I thought it would be good for us to get together," she continues, her tone more personal now, almost as if she's allowing herself to step out of the CEO mindset for just a little while. "Catch up... without boardrooms or reporters or looming deadlines breathing down our necks."

"How have you been?" Carol asks, her voice soft, genuinely curious.

The question is simple, but layered, as if offering Pepper a chance to talk about more than just the surface-level obligations that come with their titles. It's an invitation for honesty, the kind that only comes when you're speaking with someone who truly gets it. And sure, with companies like theirs, there's always the risk that this some some sort of ploy... some sort of attempt to find a weakness to exploit to get an upper hand.

But it doesn't seem like that, and Carol's never been known to do business like that. If any thing, Carol Ferris is one of the straightest, most direct CEOs in the defense industry. She negotiates fairly, she doesn't take crap off of the government suits that try to push her around, but she doesn't cut corners and scheme, either -- even if her company might be more profitable if she did.

Pepper Potts has posed:
It all really is a balancing act, isn't it? A game of how open one can be given circumstances, given location, given people. Everything is not only a degree, but sometimes kind.

There's that moment that Pepper takes to situate herself, to get comfortable, and the shifting of the seat a little in one direction, another, looking for views as well as being able to properly attend this new, potentially budding friendship. Nodding her head in agreement even as Carol explains her thoughts on the matter, she makes soft noises to underscore, leading to, "It really is a nice idea. Hopefully no one will hear of it until //after// we're long gone." There's something of a wry smile that comes with that; the knowledge and understanding that they're //never// truly out of the public eye. Then, of course, the potential interviews of waitresses on how well the billionaires tipped, or what they ordered or somesuch will hit the tabloids.

Pepper takes a deep breath, her head canting, and her green eyes linger on the woman before her for a moment before she smiles again, a soft chuckle rising from her throat that sounds warm and genuine. "Things are.." and she can't help a second, soft laugh before continuing, her head nodding as the thought is pushed forth, "... challenging." She pauses, considers, and continues, "Challenging, I think, is a good word for it." Business. Business is always easier to talk about, even if in generalities. But, there are things that are even easier than that.

"It seems like forever since the Fourth. I've read wonderful things about things you're doing, and I kept meaning to pick up the phone." The fact she hasn't does have a little regret tinged there. "But, challenging. Life tends to throw curve balls."

Not one to focus on herself, Pepper swings it around a little, "How are you holding up?" All encompassing, nonspecific.

Carol Ferris has posed:
Carol listens intently, her eyes never leaving Pepper's as she nods in agreement. The subtle shift in Pepper's tone isn't lost on her -- the word challenging holding so much weight, yet glossing over the specifics. It's something Carol understands all too well.

"Challenging is a pretty perfect word for it," Carol responds with a soft chuckle, leaning forward slightly, elbows resting on the table. "Sometimes it feels like no matter how much you plan, something unexpected always gets thrown your way."

Her gaze softens as she meets Pepper's, appreciating the unspoken understanding between them.

"Thank you. I've been... managing," Carol admits, the slightest hint of exhaustion creeping into her voice. "Between Ferris Aircraft and... everything else, it's a lot. With everything going on... Galactus, all of that, it's easy for people forget that the universe is still spinning. New Themyscira needs as much help as people can give it, and right now, we're relying a lot on the charity of the Justice League to help us get the supplies we're putting together out to them. That's... one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, actually. That new space station of yours."

A little wry smile tugs at one corner of her lips, but it's a passing reference to 'work.' She doesn't linger on it, even though it does seem to be tied to her charity efforts rather than her regular business at large.

"The Fourth feels like ages ago," she adds, her tone shifting to something lighter. "I've kept up with Stark Industries, too. You've been making waves -- and all the good kinds." A playful glint enters her eyes as she leans back, letting the weight of their responsibilities settle for just a moment.

It's then that a waiter makes it by the table, greeting politely, reading off some daily specials, and asking if he can get anything for them.

Pepper Potts has posed:
It seems that they've found //the// word that completely encompasses their lives. 'Challenging'. And those that simply look in from the outside can't begin to understand the stress and strain of their lives. Neither, of course, even has a hint of 'pity me', but rather that bemused, 'this is what we do' approach now.

Would either have it any other way? Probably not.

"I.. don't even know where to start with that," Pepper murmurs softly so as not to be overheard. "With Steve gone," big news that. Captain America presumed dead, and that continues to play, though now more in the background, having yielded to Galactus' approach. "I just don't know. I know I can't just say 'oh well, guess it's all not worth it' and shut everything down. Not when everyone still relies on us." //Us//. She shakes her head quickly, and her voice never rises, "I can't think about it."

As to what the Avengers might be doing about it, or more specifically Iron Man? Not a hint.

A knowing smirk finds its way to her lips, green eyes gleaming before she reaches out to touch Carol's hand in reassurance. "Work talk is fine. Just tell me what you need, and I'll see if I can't get it into the framework." Few people know Pepper well enough, or her habits, in order to gain her ear. But when the secret is learned? If the idea is solid enough, and pulls enough of the right strings, there is no better ally than Stark Industries, which has proven itself to be able to stop on a dime and retool, reoutfit and remake itself without a cascading effect on the global stock market. It's an enviable position to be in, truly, but again?

With great power comes great responsibility, or something like that.

Pepper's smile grows again, and she even laughs, an almost self-deprecating sound. "I am trying." That's the best she can do, right? "For a little while, I didn't think I could do because," another pause before, "following Tony is a rough position to be in. But he's still so involved, and I'm really proud of that." Of him.

With the arrival of the waiter, Pepper looks up, brows rising, and she listens attentively to the specials, "I'd like a champagne mimosa, please. Nothing too heavy, I think." Glancing at her companion, she waits for her friend's order before adding hers, "Kale salad, cranberries, the candied pecans sound lovely with that fig vinaigrette, I think."