20432/Summons come in all forms.

Summons come in all forms.
Date of Scene:	13 April 2025
Location:	Stark Tower: Pepper's Office
Synopsis:	Pepper asks for help for a trip from a woman who can do pretty much anything, knows everything, and, well, is one of her best friends.
Cast of Characters:	Pepper Potts, Natasha Romanoff

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Pepper Potts has posed:
Grey skies have settled outside, as seen by the panoramic windows of Pepper's office. The view is no less remarkable than the penthouse, with buildings settled around her in artistic display. The office is brightly lit, however, with the streams of light from the recessed ceiling lights, giving the office a warm glow to offset the gloom beyond the windows.

The television in the 'waiting area' just beyond her office proper, is set into quarters, each feed a business stream, the world's different languages settling into a hum of background noise.

Pepper is standing beside her desk, dressed in business attire; she's either just coming out of a meeting, or going into one, and the chances are better than even that she'll be working deep into the night, again.

She's asked her friend, and sometimes confidante Natasha in for a favor. While she doesn't //need// the Russian, it would be //nice//. It's a big ask, and the redheads manner and mien reflects it; perched on the corner of the desk, hands clasped and settled on a thigh, her expression set with serious tone.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
When Pepper asks for a favor, Natasha presumes that it's something that needs to be done discretely, and is outside her normal contacts. Natasha's surprised that Pepper has the capacity to need someone removed from existence, but her life as a CEO might have hardened her some. Natasha is hardly one to judge. Pepper knows that Natasha doesn't offer advise on fashion (that's what Janet is for). If it was something technological or analysis related, she would go to Stark or Pym. If it was leadership, then she would go to Rogers.

So, the woman nearing a century has decided that the most probable thing is that Pepper needs someone of her skillset that's deniable. And that can't go through the normal channels as it has to be done discretely and that it crosses some ethical boundaries. So.. In her own twisted sort of way Natasha si rather proud of her friend for deciding something that needs to be done, and who to go about it.

So when Natasha arrives, she doesn't bother to announce herself or go through the normal channels. She simply arrives through the elevator without triggering any of the normal 'announcement' chimes.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Thing is? Natasha isn't that far off.

It's not something Pepper //wants// to do, but it's something that she has to. These moments are the ones where she's appreciating Howard Stark, and even Tony for being able to navigate the waters that even she had been a little hazy on. And it's not overt. Never overt.

There is a flush of relief when she sees her friend enter, and rising off her perch, she's standing to greet her with a smile. It's one of friendship, not one of 'this'll be a great time!'.

She shakes her head ruefully, the gesture slight but present, "Thank you, Natasha," she begins. In this moment, Pepper can feel the weight of the billion dollar multi-national corporation sitting squarely on her shoulders. "I hate to do things like this. We're //friends//, not just some.." she moves to pace a little, her fingers entwined in a touch of nervous energy.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha is good when it comes to making people disappear. She would enter in on time and give a smile over to Pepper. It might not even be a fake one. But she's here on business. And tht means that she has to let Pepper go on with small talk until she's comfortable to bringing up her request. It means letting the woman go on at her own pace and comfort level. Natasha knows how these things work. Empathy.

"Pepper, we're friends. You can ask me anything and I can promise that I'll try and do everything within my power to do so." Again, a small lie - Natasha has targets she won't go after and she has some level of restraitn in -case- PEpper is compromised to has been rpelaced with an LMD. But her response is normal, and also designed to help comfort.

Pepper Potts has posed:
See, the pair know each other well enough that alarm bells would absolutely go off if Pepper made a request that is far outside of her 'normal'. She's not a smoke-filled, backroom CEO seeking competition's demise (though really, how much competition does Stark Industries really have?). So, in a way, this could be a test, and the redhead knows it. Both of them do, as their words are couched in preludes and friendly introductory banter.

"I need a pilot. I have to go to Malaysia, and I need someone who knows the plays there. Not just what is reported by Reuters, but the undercurrent. I could ask Ms Blake, but while I know she's knowledgeable as well, I just.. don't know." She shakes her head at the last bit.

Green eyes level onto her friend, "And I can't just use my own crew. They don't know, or understand. They're not trained, not equipped.." Pepper lets her words trail off again.

"There are threats, but there are things there that we need that we can't really get anywhere else." No, not drugs.

Tech.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha waits over for Pepper to continue on. The woman needs to take her time to convince herself that this is necessary, and that there aren't other ways she can go about it . And she can't bring it up (likely) with Stark as the man would motormouth hsi way along through it and not help anything. The redhead knows what convincing yourself of things that make you question your morals and ethics.

"Of course. Do you have a plane arranged that won't be noticable or do you need one readied? Have you read briefings on the city and know the different factions and geography?" She doesn't tell Pepper that ti's a very dangerous place. Pepper knows that going into it. She's just making sure that Pepper knows her way on how to get around in it first.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"I don't want to give them any real reason to impound the plane, or withhold access, so it'll be one of our jets." They absolutely have a fleet. Just in case. "I'm hoping that there isn't an issue, but I'm not so naive." Anything with that sleek 'Stark Industries' logo is a target, for pretty much anything or anyone.

The pacing ceases again, and Pepper finds her desk again upon which to lean, her gaze never really leaving her friend.

"I've read a lot; which faction is fighting which, who has a tenuous peace, or more a 'cease fire' with whom." As she gives her litany, the redhead rolls her hand in front of her. "You know as well as I that information like that can change in a second, and the intelligence you had five minutes ago means nothing." So, broad strokes is what she's saying?

Yup.

"I'm hoping for easy wheels down, a car, a deal, a setup for shipping and receiving, and gone." Which probably means it'll be a great deal harder than all that. Again, not as naive as she used to be. This is a woman who is settling into her role and takes it very, very seriously.

"It's nothing illegal," Pepper's quick to point out. "It's just.. the major companies can't do business with them for one reason or another. We have ways, and avenues, but we just have to work it out from start to finish."

Yes, legal is apprised and involved. (Guess who is going to Washington later?)

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod over at Pepper, "Then you'll want something low end on the outside. A propeller plane will be good. You can land in the Phillipines, procure one there, setup a fake registration number and bribe a few officials through customs to get some papers. You'l lwant to review who is in charge of the district where you're going to land so that you know proper etiquette and who you have to pay off. And the local gangs to make sure that no one's going to want to mess with your plane for your own ends. These are the things you'll need to be ready with ahead of time. I suggest a smuggler ship on the way out to extract yourself. Those can be arranged there. The plane you can simply abandon or sell for parts to someone. There are plenty of scrappres about." She would fold her hands together.

"There are a few.. Companies that operate out of there with varying degrees of professionalism and firepower available that you can go to if you get targeted and need some.. Enforcement while you leave there. I would suggest not hiring any of the locals for anything beyond that. They tend to be far too willing to work for whomever pays them more and if you go with someone reputable they're too well known to do it subly."

Pepper Potts has posed:
The stress and strain of it all is something Pepper isn't used to, and once again, there's a wash of relief on the redhead's face, complete with a barked laugh as she nods her assent and acknowledgment. "I have a window of opportunity. I just need to know when you're available. I know you have other things..." again, her voice trails off. There's SHIELD, Avengers, and.. well.. lots of other things.

"If you'll come with me?"

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod at Pepper, "I will try." She doesn't promise she will. She doesn't know whatever crisises and obligations will come up. But she'll do her best. Unfortunately, one cannot always do what they want. But if there is any way she can manage it without putting any other missions at risk, she will do so.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper is nothing if not appreciative. She really is.

And, as that switch is hit, she relaxes, offering, "Dinner tonight? Chef is cooking up a surprise. He's not telling.."

Time for small talk!