18720/Building a bike

Building a bike
Date of Scene:	31 July 2024
Location:	Stark Tower: Workshop
Synopsis:	Tony introduces Crush to Pepper, and gives away the fact that the young alien has brains as well as brawn.
Cast of Characters:	Tony Stark, Xiomara Rojas, Pepper Potts

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Tony Stark has posed:
    A corner of the workshop has been cleared of standing racks of components, tables and half-finished projects Tony never got back to after thinking of another way to do something. In their place is a very large vehicle that boasts of motorcycle as one of it's parents, and 'what the hell is that?' as the other. It's on a pneumatic lift so it can be raised up to work on it's lower parts without having to crawl around below it.

    Tony is currently showing Xiomara an enlarged hologram of the part they are currently trying to fit in since they're not making an exact replica of Lobo's Spacehog, but more of an offshoot of the idea.

    "See, if we raise this a couple inches it will fit better, and there's nothing vital there that can't be moved."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Crush is completely enthralled by the hologram in front of her, looking over the details, studying the diagram, even turning it to and fro for looks at different angles. The project was coming to life slowly, not unlike Frankenstein's monster, but at lease this one wouldn't scare the villagers.

"Those few inches is all we need, to move this," she reaches up to move the part she is referring to, over to the new space just made. "there, which in turn gives us more room in the cargo-ish area. I still say we should invent the space fridge."

Grabbing the bottle of water off the table, she takes a large drink to finish it off, crumples the plastic bottle up like it was made of paper and tosses it into the recycling container across the room.

"Did you over come the oxygen scrubber problems?" She then asks, looking toward Tony. "I don't need air, but my girl does."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Ms Pepper Potts is dressed in 'business casual', that is, looking like she's got somewhere to go. Not only does she have meetings within the company, but she sits on numerous boards in the City, and has for several years. So, if this is Wednesday night, it could be the Mayor's Taskforce on Business Affairs, it could be the Met's board meeting...

As is her wont, however, the redhead does announce her departures, particularly when she knows that Tony is within; and being in the workshop or the garage absolutely counts. So, high-heeled shoes can be seen descending the stairs before she's totally in view, and once at the landing, the code to the room is toggled, and the clear door opens to her.

*click*click*

"Tony, I'm.." And there is a pause as she redirects with a smile, "Hello," is said in greeting before she refocuses on Tony for the rest of her statement, "..leaving for the Met in a about a half hour. Chef will have dinner ready in about an hour." Now, again, she's turning her attention to Xiomara, "Shall I tell him to add another place?"

Seems that Pepper is more than familiar with holographs dangling in the air, and certainly knowledgeable about manipulating them. She doesn't blink an eye. Instead, she raises a brow, "The bike again?" Or //still//, take your pick!

Tony Stark has posed:
    Tony looks up from what he's pointing to and turns the point into a wave at Pepper. "Heya Pep, and yeah, I had some free time. Which leads to Pepper, meet Crush. Crush, Pepper Potts - Stark Industries CEO and my main squeeze. Well, only squeeze nowadays." He looks back to Xio and stage-whispers "She's reforming me."

    With a laugh, he says "And Pepper, this would not only be the person who just handed me an FTL engine design, but is also our first space construction worker. She's currently doing on-planet construction, and as she said, she can survive in space without special equipment."

    "Yeah, why not. We're probably gonna be working on this for a while since you have a meeting. Might as well get some work done while you're gone." He looks back to Xio "What do you say, want to have some dinner in an hour? Not sure what he's making today, but Chef usually hits out of the park."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
It was the sound of the heels that Crush picked up on first, at a distance even. Cocking her head slightly, she looks toward Tony and offers a quiet, "Someone's commin." before looking toward the door.

As Pepper enters there is a lot of blinking, because the woman is down right beautiful in person. She'd seen Pepper on the news of course, she ran Stark Industries, she was known, but in person? "Dude, you don't need no one else if you got her," she stage whispers right back.

Wiping her not dirty hands on her t-shirt, she walks around the halotable to extend he hand to the woman as she says, "Nice to meetcha, Ms Potts. A real honor." There is a hint of fangirl in her tone, just a little, but for different reasons.

After shaking her hand she steps back and looks over at Tony, "Uh... sure, I don't really have ta eat, but I /love/ food."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper makes a soft 'mmm' at the 'extra time', though she knows full well that's how he operates. A little down time from other pursuits just gives his brain the chance to reorganize and regroup, then he's off again, stronger than ever. And, well, the space station is something that is a little more than just a vanity project. It's Stark Industries' main push that is now in the public eye, having held numerous press conferences about it. There's a deadline!

She crosses the room in a quick pace and wraps an arm around Tony's waist briefly to press a brief kiss. There and finished. "Only, yes." Green eyes dance with that gleam of pleasure before she turns fully to Xiomara, now identified as 'Crush'.

"Crush," and the word falls warmly, "A pleasure to meet you. Really. Thank you for taking on the work." Though, undoubtedly she'll be properly renumerated!

Pepper takes the other woman's hand, stepping forward, "Welcome. And I'm not sure what he is making, but at the very least, it'll definitely be delicious."

Once introductions are completed, Pepper retrieves her hand and moves slightly to settle on the edge of a table, her attention back at the hologram. "You're in trouble, Crush," she jokes, "You'll get spoiled by the tools Tony has here. We'll have to figure out how to get it all into space so you can work easier." Easier and smarter.

Tony Stark has posed:
    Tony returns the light kiss then chuckles and says "I think she's actually looking forward to it. And since the engine on this" he lightly pokes the holo "is what will be scaled up and driving out cargo ships, it's even main project related. I could probably bill the company for Crush's time if I really wanted to." He smirks a touch and asks Crush, "Want a consultant's fee? I hear Stark Industries pays pretty well, and you have actually explained some of the working of this thing to me."

    "Tools? Easy as pie, I've got backups for the backups. And without needing a space suit, she can use normal tools instead of thing that all have to be specially designed."

    He looks over to Pepper, "Oh yeah, another thing about her... Behind this alien biker look she's got going, she's almost frighteningly intelligent. I wasn't kidding when I said she explained parts to me." Looking back to Xio he shrugs and says, "Sorry kiddo, the secret's out. It may not come up on construction jobs, but working on something hi-tech like this you really can't hide it."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
"I been wanting to get to space for a while," Crush admits with a shrug, already looking the hologram over again. "Wanna find my people... if there's any left." She won't go into further detail on that, who wants to share that their dad tried to exterminate their entire race?

"Lobo's Spacehog engine is really stupid in design," she then comments out of no where. "It's also dangerous, but I think he likes it that wa..."

She stops, just not registering what Tony said. Her left eye starts twitching slightly as she has to take time to process. Consultant job... and he picked up on her intelligence, fuck. When her head finally decides on a course of actual, she offers a lopsided, shit eating grin.

"If they don't know how smart ya are, they under estimate ya," she states with a snort. "People look at me and see a big, dumb alien, so... that's what they get. Hell, even the Titans ain't picked up on it."

Shifting her eyes to Pepper a moment, but only a moment so she doesn't stare, they return to Tony. "I was born with knowledge from my people, languages being one of em. I just /know/ things, and what I don't know, I learn quicker by reading. As for my 'alien biker' look, whatcha see is my normal skin, normal face markings, an my own personal style." She adjusts her sleeves jacket to make her point.

Her dress is her usual, a half shirt in aqua, and sleeveless leather jacket. Instead of the leather pants she is wearing a pair of jeans, along with her knee high combat boots. Around her waist is a thick black chain, wrapped twice, with a diamond head that looks much like a snakes head but is just metal.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"I meant the holograms," Pepper chuckles. And quite probably limited access to HOMER, or a secondary AI to aid in number-crunching and just all around company.

Her attention swings back around to Crush and she nods her head slowly, obviously agreeing, undoubtedly seeing that which Tony also sees. They're shrewd, and while Tony may talk and take center stage, he is also always listening; the two of them are pretty perceptive. Have to be in order to live life on the bleeding edge.

"I don't doubt that," is offered, that warm smile in place. "Not for a minute."

The admission by Crush regarding 'her people' leaves a hint of forlorness? Sadness? within Pepper, even if it's seemingly given as an off-the-cuff 'reason'. Being alone isn't easy, and obviously 'not human'.

The dawning realization on the younger woman's face has the redhead grinning, a laugh exiting as she straightens from her lean. "Think about it, Crush. We don't need an answer immediately. We have time, and you certainly know how to get in touch with Tony. You can discuss it over dinner." She nods her understanding, her tones going sotto, "We use that trick too, and have. Tony the playboy," only he //really was// as well being an underestimated genius, "And I'm just a glorified former secretary." Which some in the business world had realized a little too late that she's got her own feet that she stands on, much to their detriment. "You're fine."

Tony Stark has posed:
    Tony waves a hand dismissively, "That too. Well, a holo table at least, I don't plan on rigging up the full projection grid like we have here. At least not a personal one. I do plan to rig the station with them. They'll be useful for announcements, guidance, all that sort of thing. And during construction, way easier than carrying physical blueprints around, or even tablets." His eyes get a far-off look for a moment, then he nods and snaps back to the now. "I'll have to program a new AI for it, I think that would be the best way to handle things."

    Returning to the conversation in the room, he nods and says "You're going to be a fairly well off young woman after the station is built. Consultant on the ship engines to start and then hazard pay for space work is going to be high, to say the least." He pauses, then says "And yes, you get it even if it isn't especially hazardous to you." before she can even bring that part up.

    "I'll be honest, I'm going to ask you to be something of a space lifeguard. If any of the other workers manage to untether themselves and lose contact with the station, we'll have a long cable you can use to pull you and said worker back to the station after you go get them. I'm going to try and make sure that can't happen, but sometimes people can be stupid in really ingenious ways."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
While the two talk to her, Crush moves her head back and forth between them. She'd come to get a Spacehog, figuring Stark was the only one who would actually build it, and apparently she was leaving with a few jobs. Not exactly what she expected, in fact it was a lot more than she expected.

"I..." and then he finishes with she gets hazard pay anyway and she has to snort a little.

"I ain't in this for the money," she admits plainly with a shrug. "I get that humans like stuff, want stuff, work for stuff... in some cases steal stuff to have stuff, but none of that really matters to me."

She chews a little at her bottom lip and absently runs her hand along the chain on her waist. "I just think it's time Earth stops being so... earth-centric," she then adds. "They ain't the center of the universe like they believe themselves to be, an there's gotta be a lot of stuff out there that could help save this planet an the people on it. So the station, totally makes sense."

"I call this place home, an the people on it need protecting. I didn't use ta think like that, done some real shitty things, but I'm making up for it. You want me to be a space lifeguard, I'll do that. You want me to haul materials, I'll do that, but consulting? Me? I mean... the engines in your files now." She gestures to the hologram. "But sure, I... can do that if ya think I'll be helpful."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"That reminds me," Pepper murmurs. She has to make sure the legal department has filed the OSHA paperwork for space construction, assuming the US has something that even begins to resemble what they require. After all, the International Space Station wasn't built with US specs. The thought has her reaching for her phone to jot that quick note.

Crush's words have Pepper's head lifting once again, and there's that more common expression, the ghosted smile, that remains on her face. "Everyone needs to feel they have a purpose. To feel needed," she begins. "Most here on earth are motivated with just the thought of money. Others have money work for them to whatever purpose they desire. Some for good, some for bad. But ultimately, when all is said and done, purpose."

She's crossing the short distance to stand next to Tony, her words remaining soft in the space between them. "Protecting your home is good. Making it better is," and she nods, the gesture reminscent perhaps of the man beside her, "Better. And space is absolutely the next step. We just need it to be as safe as possible while we're reaching."

The ghost of the smile that resides upon her face broadens, and she exhales in a soft breath, "Perfect. I think you add a valuable part to this venture."

But! "I'm sorry. I do need to get to the meeting." Pepper turns to Tony once more, "I'm having Happy drive me. So, don't worry." She leans in to kiss him on the cheek, and turns to face Crush once more, "It really has been a pleasure meeting you, Crush. And I look forward to seeing you more often."