1699/Called to the office

Called to the office
Date of Scene:	16 May 2020
Location:	Stark Tower: Pepper's Office
Synopsis:	Pepper gets more PR work out of kindness, and her office is cleaned!
Cast of Characters:	Pepper Potts, Cecily Winters

---

Pepper Potts has posed:
It's a new day with a new news cycle. The sun is streaming in through the large floor to ceiling windows at Pepper's back, though there must be some sort of light filter that pulls the the brightness and instead gives it a warm glow so as not to be overbearing and leave 'cat snoozing' lightray spots on her marble floor. The large screen television on the wall is always on, though right now, it's muted; the calvalcade of videos playing in silence. Business, stocks, city news, national news.. one might almost call this office the heartbeat of Stark Industries. The redhead behind the desk seems to have a handle on it all.

Earlier, a few minutes ago, Pepper had asked her own personal assistant to hold her calls, that she would be busy for an indeterminate amount of time, and that no one (underscored) should disturb them.

Now, with all that understood, Pepper's sitting back in her seat, her manner and mien warm and gracious.

"It took a little while to find you," she's in the middle of light conversation, green eyes kind, "but I kind of felt that it was important."

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Cecily had taken a small hiatus from being out and about for a couple of days, at least until yesterday. Pepper might have noticed the brief news report about a diffused gang violence situation in Mutant Town, and mention of a woman with 'fluffy ears'. But, between Pepper's own searching and Cecily wanting to talk to the lovely redhead, it was only a matter of time before the meeting is facilitated.

    And here she sits, in her professional business number that most of New York and the country had seen her in. She really needs to get more wardrobe options. "I did as well, Ms. Potts," she says with a quiet little sigh.

    She has her fingers on the bridge of her nose, as she sits straight, eyes closed for a moment. "...I'm aware of how much of a PR nightmare this may turn into, and I wanted to nip it in the bud before it got out of hand. The cell phone videos have already gone viral, and that can't be helped... but considering the way you carry yourself when you deal with Mister Stark, you definitely seem like you might be able to render some assistance?"

    he fox lowers her hand from her face, folding it on her lap with the other, fingers lacing. Her eyes focus on Pepper, her expression showing more warmth than she does outside of a secure office, a faintly pleading tone in her voice.

Pepper Potts has posed:
The news has been rough, and not only in Mutant Town. All over the city, there have been hotspots, not to mention Metropolis where the few friends she has have gone toe-to-toe with things that have given them .. difficulties. It's difficult to know how the redhead gets any sleep at all! But, the lovely vixen is right; it's hard to miss the glimpses when one knows what one is looking at. A flash of tail, ears..

"I know," Pepper's voice is meant to be reassuring, "It's hard to keep a low profile out there. It seems like the moment you step out the door, all eyes are on you." Her tones remain warm and soft, "I.. I could help," she starts, her words coming slowly,

A chuffed chuckle exits, and her mien shifts to bemusement, even if momentarily. "Mister Stark is a unique case. For you, it's just a matter of what you would like me to do. There's image, there's deflecting," which is what she does with her own public persona, "and there's an attempt at privacy." The smile that rises reaches green eyes as her features brighten a touch more. "What would you like?"

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Therein lies the difficulty of being a very obvious meta. The ears and tails aren't the easiest thing to cover up, after all. One of Cecily's tails lays across her lap, and she idly strokes it, listening to Pepper speak. There's a purse of her lips, a nod of acknowledgement, and also a frown. She muses, considering her options, smiling at the way she refers to Tony.

    "Well... I do wonder if there's a mixture of all three? I'd truly prefer to avoid having to do any awkward interviews, at the absolute least. I am, at the end of the day, a private security consultant. I have a client that I play acting bodyguard to on a part-time basis, and otherwise do freelance... contracting... when and where it is needed. As you saw first hand."

    Another little sigh and a shake of her head, "Not that it would be bad for business to have more clients, but I tend to have to focus on priorities. Privacy may be completely impossible, but what can you tell me about image and... deflection? Also, I suppose, if your group ever has want for aid, you know me now."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"That," Pepper starts slowly, "is a little harder."

The powerful PA sits a little straighter in her seat, her hands still settled quietly in her lap. "It's a trick of how to control your own image, to allow what they see and when they see it." That may be evident in everything Pepper //tries//, and, well, there are certain challenges. "I can send you to our PR department for the day to days advice; they're very good." They have to be, what with the money they earn! "That's not to say that I won't help, either, though," she's quick to add, making sure there are reassurances that she's not sending the younger woman away.

The rest, and the offer to help is met with a warm smile, "There is a thing going on at the Museum of Modern Art this summer, if you're interested in being a personal bodyguard. I can have my head of security," Happy, "call you." And she'll be sure he does!

"But, in the meantime? Let me have Homer go through video feeds of you, and we'll go over them and see what it looks like versus what the news says it is." There's a sly, professional smile that creeps onto the vaunted secretary's face and she gestures towards the muted television.

"I hate listening to other peoples' commentaries. I'll watch it first muted, then turn the sound on. That's how I catch a lot of things that need to be corrected. Then?" A soft exhale exits the woman and she offers a shrug, "Getting a notice with a header or footer of 'Stark Industries' gets peoples' attention." She's no fool that a lot of power comes with that signature.

Cecily Winters has posed:
    "It is harder," Cecily sighs. "And unless I want to go into hiding for the rest of my life..." she manages another quiet laugh. But she shakes her head, and listens to the words Pepper has to say. Listens quite intently. "Admittedly, with a brash teen superhero under my protective gaze, control is also a bit more difficult... Blessing is that she sees fit to do good deeds, however, and she shines bright enough to keep eyes off of me in the process." Indeed, Rave is quite the shining neon up-and-comer, with the glowing hair and eyes.

    There's a lift of the fox's ears, though, at the mention of a summer event. "I would be happy to attend, Ms. Potts. I expect your security head will appraise me on what armaments and decorum I should present?" she asks, then nods at the suggestion of video feeds. She leans back in her chair a little, steepling her fingers in front of her chest. Those tails go back to spilling out the sides of the chair, the trio of them lazily flicking to and fro. "I'm happy and thankful to have your keen eye, Ms. Potts, and your care."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper echoes that quiet laugh and shakes her head, "No, we won't do that." Somewhere along the line, it's turned into 'we'; a promise of teamwork.

"Brash teen superhero is difficult," Pepper admits. "That in itself is a PR job. What's to keep the news from spinning that all the superheroes out there are encouraging children to risk their lives in imitation? It's a balancing act of keeping the city and country believing that they are ultimately the authority in law and order, and acting out out of the need for .. right." That right there sums up her entire raison d'etre. "And it's not easy. One day, you're a vigilante, next day a hero, but the day after, half the city is calling for a stop because you don't help them when they want it.. or, you don't help them the way they feel you should."

Pepper lets out another chuckle and shakes her head, leaning back in her seat once more, her expression apologetic. "Sorry.. and Happy will certainly give you a run down. He'll be talking with the museum security and the police department, so I'm sure you will be fully briefed." By her 'people'.

Cecily Winters has posed:
    "Not that I'd mind a vacation..." Cecily grins now, "But I do jobs to do, after all... and I'm still a bit of a hero at heart..." she gives a resigned sigh, her grin turning into a lopsided smile. "...it's just how I was raised. Not that you're here to hear my life story, of course..." she chuckles and nods. "Though those are reasons I try to stay out of the public eye. My methods aren't the flashiest or the prettiest, not in the slightest.

    Her eyes flicker back towards the screen again, then once more to Pepper. "I'll be sure to give you my proper contact information, then. I do look forward to this gathering, even if I'm not usually one for fancy dress parties..." she considers. "Ah, but I suppose we should focus on the here and now, dear?"

Pepper Potts has posed:
"I wasn't," is given wryly. "Still not." Pepper can be lightly self-deprecating, "I'm still helping to run a company." 'A company' is a massive understatement. One that was predicated on weapons technology. Granted, it's since branched out, but not because of her; because of the Head and (still) CEO, Anthony Stark.

Pepper catches the glance at the television; the video flickers with news reports from Mutant Town, interviews that last thirty seconds, a minute before the subject walks on. Then off to other news as the stock ticker below rolls inexorably on.

"Here and now." Dear? "I'll get Homer.." But Pepper pauses there, instead of promising,

"Homer?" Pepper doesn't look up, around, or into the middle distance when making that call. She's used to it.

"Yes, Miss Potts?" The voice seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It's not the sound of a polished English butler, but rather more.. American.

"Homer, I would like you to check the New York station video feeds," brows rise when she looks at Cecily, as she continues her request, "for Ms Cecily Winters here. Time stamp last thirty days."

"Yes, Miss Potts."

Pepper rolls forward a couple of inches and picks up her Starkpad that lies on top of her blotter in gesture. "May I get a picture of you for his reference?"

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Cecily might call everyone 'dear' at some point, as a reflex and one she isn't entirely aware of. "From what I've seen, you do cut an impressive figure in a dress. You also don't have to tailor around tails," she grins and winks. Then she waits, looking up at the sound of the voice. She's accustomed to overlord AI's and virtual assistants, at the least, but her ears do perk and swivel as if trying to pinpoint an exact location for the voice emission.

    "Of course, dear," she sits up straight and looks forward, doing her best not to blink. One might think she's seen enough police lineups to make this easy on anyone taking photos of her. Go figure, right? "Again, thank you for the help," she says in a gentle tone.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper holds up the tablet and takes the picture quickly, uploading it with a flick of her finger. It takes all of a couple of heartbeats between start and finish, and she lowers the tablet once more.

"Received, Miss Potts. Estimated time until completion, one hour, twenty-two minutes and thirty-eight seconds."

"Thank you, Homer."

She's got that 'there, it's done' expression on her face, and pushing the tablet off to the side a little, she chuffs a soft breath and shrugs, "Rule number one. Spoil your tail-"

While Pepper pauses at what might be an inopportune time given her guest, the reason becomes evident as her door opens to a little robot on treads, very reminscent of WallE, rolls in, the little eyestalks glowing with 'powered on' IR light.

Pepper's brows rise and she holds up a finger in a 'hold that thought' gesture, and actually addresses the little robot. "Paula?"

There's an answering beep, but nothing more as it begins to .. tidy the outer area of the office. If one anthropormorphized it, one could almost hear it whistling... which it does in a series of soft beeps.

"I'm sorry, Cecily.." Green eyes narrow, though there's a great deal of amused.. affection that tinges her face. "You were saying? Oh.. I'll have a better idea when I go through the videos. I can't promise today, or tomorrow. There are more than a few meetings, trying to keep the city happy with our summer programs and such."

Cecily Winters has posed:
    "He'll be done that quickly? I suppose I'm still more... analogue... at times..." Cecily muses. "Mmm? Spoil my what now?" she asks, head tilting to the side. But her sharp ears catch it, and the little noise from the door catches her attention. She turns her head, following Pepper's gaze, peering at the miniscule automaton.

    There's an expression of curiosity on the vixen's face, but returns her focus to the redhead in front of her. "You do have an empire to keep track of," she says sympathetically. "Though..." a curious mixture of bemused and perhaps exaperation appears on her face next. "...I can't promise there won't be more to sift through in the next few days, either. I do end up where I'm needed. And I do end up in places on accident..."

    The kitsune sighs and settles in her chair a little deeper, eyes closing for a moment. "I do the best I can, and do my best to avoid excessive collateral damage while I'm at it."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Tailor. Spoil your tailor."

It was an unfortunate place to pause, but Pepper soldiers on. As she opens her mouth to continue, there's the soft sound of vacuuming coming from the opposite side of the room. Paula, again.

"Anything that comes up will get flagged by Homer," the PA assures. "But, please.. I'm going to ask this once. Don't do anything that might be difficult to spin." Not that the PR department can't do wonders, because they truly are miracle workers; and if they're not, the legal department IS. "If you want my help in getting you out of a potential hole and giving you some sort of normal life.." Pepper pauses and amends, "As normal as you can, anyway.. you're going to have to help me too. But that doesn't mean--"

"Paula?"

The little robot pauses in her cleaning to offer a *beep* in response.

"Paula, can you wait until I'm done, please?"

Beat.

"... that doesn't mean that you can't go out and do something. Just.. be aware."

Paula doesn't stop her activity, but instead begins a tread roll towards the marble floor area, her little vacuum suction thrumming softly.

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Another light laugh, "I was going to say, I do spoil my tails..." she gives a wink and a grin, reaching down to thread her fingers through one of the fluffy appendages. "I'm stuck with them now, after all, so I must take care of them..." Cecily leans back, pursing her lips again.

    "I'll do my best. But if the last report I was a part of was any indication... I went rather unnoticed... Unlike the spectacle with you and Thor and Mr. Stark... I'm not often in the business of tackling knife-wielding assailants in the middle of television crowds..." she breathes out an exasperated sigh.

    "I do my best work from rooftops and balconies and fire escapes, observing situations through a rifle scope..." she trails off, grimacing, "...though there was that one time I had to hip-fire an anti-tank rifle... moments like that, and the other day, tend to be few and far between. For better or worse..." she grumbles softly.

    "I suppose if there is an inevitable interview, I'll have you behind the scenes playing hangman with the management staff? I'm quite grateful to have you and yours on my side. And I do look forward to working with you, and for you, in the future."

Pepper Potts has posed:
It's hard not to notice the tails, but does one refer to them in polite company? What exactly is the etiquette on them?

Paula looks concentrated on a certain spot in the room, and once it's cleaned, whistle-beeps her approval and spins around on her rubberized treads and wheels out of the room once more. After all, 'Mother' did ask.

Once the little robot is gone, Pepper rises from her spot, and reaches a hand out in gesture for a handshake.

"I'll remember that. And, if you don't make my work too hard, it'll be a pleasure to help. Once we get it under control, that is, we know what we're looking at, we can keep it or I can hand off the feeds to someone else of your choosing." Still, Pepper's manner and mien is such that it's time to take on the rest of the day, politely. "You'll have me for the inevitable interview, I promise," is followed up kindly. After all, in the middle of the trade papers, a producer was fired, a director, head writer and a stage manager were all ... relocated.

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Etiquette on tails is likely on an individual personal basis. Cecily, for her part, doesn't seem to mind referring to them, nor them being seen. After all, despite her lamentations of her being so visible, she doesn't try particularly hard to hide them. Of course, it would likely take a sizable greatcoat to do so, which is just impractical in a New York summer, and entirely unprofessional besides.

    She stands, taking the offered hand and shaking gently. Without her gloves on, it might be a surprise at how soft and gentle her touch is when not handling a firearm--or a thug. "I truly appreciate it, dear," she says so kindly.

    Then the contact is broken, and she bows her head politely, "Thank you for your time, Ms. Potts. I look forward to future endeavors together," was that a playful wink? Either way, she turns tail and heads for the door, floofy appendages waving behind her slowly. She's going to have to spend a few minutes with security downstairs getting all of her guns back.