11833/The many loves of Tony Stark

The many loves of Tony Stark
Date of Scene:	30 June 2022
Location:	Stark Tower: Penthouse
Synopsis:	Tony gets a new project; more time with a love!
Cast of Characters:	Pepper Potts, Tony Stark

---

Pepper Potts has posed:
It's officially summer in New York City. The sun is shining, the white clouds dot the sky after a couple of days of greyish weather. It's still morning, and with the earlier hour, the heat hasn't yet risen to the point of discomfort, and as a result, some work can actually be done //outside//. Not on the lower level, or even ground level, however, but rather on the large balcony that also doubles as a landing pad for both the suit and the helicopter. (Only one of which is in residence on the upper floor.)

Seated outside, Pepper sits back on the furniture, dressed for work, though her attire is a touch more on the 'playful'. Cool, light fabrics adorn her frame, her strawberry blonde hair is down, covered by a wide-brimmed hat designed to keep the sun from adding to the freckle count upon high cheeks. A somewhat billowy skirt finishes the outfit, ending in a pair of sandals. Before her, on the table, is her tablet, and beside that, her laptop and a most necessary item, her cup of coffee. Light and sweet.

The tablet has a news channel on, the sound of the commentator droning on about bitcoins, rises and falls of values, and whether or not this country or that would adopt it as yet another currency. Pepper is processing it all, even if she doesn't appear to be actively listening. She's catching all the salient facts, and she can always go back later for clarifications from those she knows and trusts. More of her attention is settled upon the laptop; bills of lading, calendars of events, speaking and engagements, and cars. Long lists of cars.

Should one get a good look at them? They're all owned and held within Tony's stable, even if they're scattered around the globe; some in Germany, in Dubai..

Tony Stark has posed:
With the early hour, Pepper may be fully dressed for work, but Tony is...far from it. He comes shuffling out onto the balcony in a pair of slippers wearing a red silk robe and the Avengers logo in gold (yes, he is the only Avenger that has one, except for that one he got as a gift and gave to Steve that has most likely never left his closet - but it would be totally vain to put his own logo on it, right?). The soft shuffling of his slippers gives Pepper abundant notice that he is approaching, so as he leans down from just behind and to the side from her seat he assumes it will be lips he finds for a good morning kiss, but a cheek will do if she is too absorbed.

He moves over to collapse into a seat, and then gives Pepper that short Tony nod used in introduction to a point or a question. "My cars are personal, so their exhaust doesn't count towards Stark's green initiative," he warns.

Pepper Potts has posed:
*ffffft*ftttttt*

The soft shuffle of slippers (bunny?) does offer up some warning to one who is attuned to it. Is there even a question?

Pepper smiles a greeting, underscoring it with a quick but affectionate kiss in return. "Mmmmm.." is offered up softly, "Good morning."

Looking back at that which as her attention, brows rise and she cants her head as she moves between the screen and the man. Once he flops down beside her, her attention is a little more firmly upon him. "Mmhmm.." seems to be a pretty standard response; could go either way, really, but with the ghost of a smile that sits, it couldn't be anything but positive.

"I was thinking for next year's European tour, to break out a little green energy for the cars." Thereby not having to defend the carbon footprint! "It'd show that it could be done, and in a competitive market, rather than people thinking that it's just a publicity stunt." Uncrossing her legs, Pepper readjusts her seating by first slipping off her shoes, and then tucking a leg under her, which gives her a slight lean towards Tony. "Even better if we win."

Tony Stark has posed:
There is nothing but a smile on Tony's face as he settles next to Pepper. He leans forward and places his mug of coffee on the table, and then settles back against the seat, slipping an arm easily around her shoulder as she leans towards him. "So scrapping the whole, 'drive around at 220 miles per hour' thing," reaching up with his free hand to spin it around in a circle like he was pointing at an invisible track on the air, "And replace it with 'drive around at half that, but be all electric' thing?"

He looks at her skeptically for a moment, before grinning and leaning over to kiss her cheek. "I love it. Give them a year or so to plan, and who knows, maybe it'll be inventive enough to keep costs down." He smiles. "This is why I could never lose you - you're always thinking ahead."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"No, I mean have your drivers drive around at 220 miles per hour and be all electric," Pepper returns with a hint of a questioning expression, her brows rising as she continues. "No reason we have to lose speed, is there?" She's no engineer, certainly, but she does kind of understand the business. Somewhat. "So, it'd be a test of speed and distance that other manufacturers couldn't touch."

She smiles as his own thoughts start down that path, and as he leans to kiss her, Pepper breathes a soft laugh. "The main race of the tour is coming up in August. I can have you in Germany for the start of the race," when all the dinners, the galas, the unveilings happen. "In fact, I just received a call the other day from Ernst asking if you were going to be entering a car this year."

Tony Stark has posed:
"You think anyone else is going to be able to match our green tech in any way vaguely being competitive, Pep?" There is a smug look of satisfaction on Tony's face - he knows he can slap an arc reactor in a car that will leave it unmatched by anything else if it came down to winning a race. But if it was an arc reactor, it could go well beyond 220, if he could find someone with reflexes fast enough to drive, maybe even an extra super sense. Could the Kid drive? His senses were off the charts.

Then Tony realizes that Pepper is still talking. "What? Yes, of course, August, Ernst, I got it." He leans over to kiss her again, because he knows he missed /something/ there, and that always seems to smooth it over.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Tony's considering now, and with it could open up a completely new market for Stark Industries; the green energy that has been espoused within the last couple of years. There would be little else that could put it on the global view than having a car that could compete with the Formula One cars, or the more 'street level' vehicles that are going to be showcased in the coming weekend. "No," Pepper states confidently, "I don't think they could touch anything like it for years."

There's that pause, and her //look//; she doesn't even have to ask 'are you listening to me?' at this point. She knows exactly what is going on, and she presses lips together in a firm line, shaking her head. Green eyes close briefly at the kiss before reopening quickly, "Yes, August. Ernst. We have rooms in Nurburg castle."

Tony Stark has posed:
Tony is quiet for a few moments. Thinking. "When's the deadline to register a car for this year?" She knows this tone. It's the tone just before he starts diving into a rabbit hole. That tentative 'Are you thinking what I'm thinking' ? If she says there is time, Tony will have a full electric prototype in /this/ year's race. Or fall into exhaustion trying.

"Nurburg. Yes, of course." A smile. "Maybe we can hunt some Nazis while we are there. And give Steve a call if we can find some, so he can punch 'em for us." His fingers drift down to rub at the back of Pepper's neck. "Good plan."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Here's the problem, where 'rubber meets the road' as they say. Tony could probably walk in the day of the race and be able to register his car, such is his fame, infamy, notoriety. It would be a news circus, with the world's press corps going absolutely nuts. As it is, requests for interviews have been coming since it was hinted that Tony would be staying at the Castle. Pepper gives the man a long look, her lips pressed together in thin lines once more as she studies him.

She knows the look.

It's not permission that she gives him, or even a straight answer. It's more a tacit understanding of how this life is shaping up for her, and she nods ever so slightly. "The race begins on the 5th of August." It should give him a timeline, then.

Leaning to brush a kiss against Tony's cheek, she remains close for a moment, taking in the scent of him. "Not Nurenburg. Nurburg. Two different places. And I'm pretty sure there won't be any Nazis. We can ask Steve and Janet if they'd like to come, however. We might have to downgrade Happy's room, however."

Tony Stark has posed:
Slowly, Tony nods, his mind off somewhere calculating out what he would, how long he would need... "Let them know we're entering a zero emission car. Top secret, we're not divulging details yet, but they can start the press on it on the 5th. We're announcing it at the 4th along with the rest of it." He turns to look back at Pepper now finally. She can see the transition back to the here and now, and he leans in to kiss her again gently. "Can you imagine what Dad would say if he realized that we would be completely independent of fossil fuels? Did he ever think we would get there?"

He nods to Pepper's suggestion, and smiles. "For sure, let's invite them. Happy can squeeze into the servants quarters there. Unless he fell off his diet again."

Pepper Potts has posed:
There is no one so happy as Tony Stark when he's got a problem or a project to work towards except perhaps Pepper, who enjoys watching him in this state. (For the most part.) At his instructions, the redhead nods her head and readujsts her laptop in order to make the necessary notes. She's added more to her plate, but it's nothing she can't handle; just a little adjustment of time, of resources, and it's easy enough. It's what she does, and she does it quite well, after all.

Pepper smiles at the kiss and exhales in a long, slightly theatrical soft sigh. "Why do I keep doing that?" 'That' being offering up tidbits of ideas, which sends Tony away for hours into his workshop. Days. Weeks. The smile shifts, and there is that affectionate and proud gleam to her eyes, and she bounces her head ever so slightly, her words softly spoken as she reaches to take hold of his hand, even briefly. "I think he'd be impressed." And proud. Definitely proud.

Her smile grows a touch wider as she acknowledges the request, "It will be nice to have them come, but I think Happy may want to camp out in the antechamber." Of their room.. outside the door.

The laptop is once again attended, and Pepper is ready to get (back) to work. "I'll hold your calls." Of course she will!