2208/History Lessons

History Lessons
Date of Scene:	24 June 2020
Location:	Stark Tower: Pepper's Office
Synopsis:	Peggy meets Pepper and Tony.
Cast of Characters:	Peggy Carter, Pepper Potts, Tony Stark

---

Peggy Carter has posed:
It's a while after Tony's birthday and the city has gone through a lot, but Peggy has finally ceased dancing around going to visit the man who is so achingly like his father she needs to adjust the name in her head every time she sees him on the news. So, she's finally arranged an appointment to visit. She's dressed impeccably in a pair of high waisted, wide legged slacks and a matching, tailored jacket with wide lapels, both of which would be out of 1940s business couture as much as they are acceptably vintage now adays. A pair of high heels keeps the pants from brushing the ground, her hair is set in it's usual waves, and she's even in that too-red lipstick of which she's so fond.

She paits patiently in the outer office room for her turn, knowing both of them are horribly busy. She's bad at sitting, so she's busying herself with examing what Stark Industries has turned into. Any models on the wall, holographs around, whatever they are showing off, she's looking at.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper has amassed a small art collection, courtesy of Foundation, all of which have hung in various galleries around the City, at the very least. She's got a favorite style, of course.. and it's not the harsh lines of the vintage 'war prints' of which were hung in many, many office buildings in the 40s and 50s. In distinct contrast, Pepper's outer office is decorated in lines, echoing the technological work done in the building and in the company. Lines of marble and steel, though off-set by comfortable couches.

It's not long before Pepper's assistant looks up from her work, and offers a, "Ms Potts will see you now.." and rises from her desk in order to open the wooden door that leads into the inner office.

Again, it's all glass and steel with some carpeting to soften the edges. Behind the desk, sits Pepper herself, dressed in a light green, tailored business suit, a cream colored shirt ruffled beneath the jacket with a pair of sensible pumps seen below the glass and metal desk. Behind her, a large plate-glass wall overlooks the city.

Pepper rises from her seat, a moment of courtesy and politeness, and her smile is in place, though while not forced, she's not really in the best of moods.

"Ms. Carter." It's a statement, and she extends her hand, "Vir-- Pepper.. Pepper Potts." Darn Tony. "A pleasure."

Tony Stark has posed:
"Hey Pep, I ---" Tony suddenly arrives out of his own office, without his suit jacket, button-up collar relaxed and open. He has one of the floor-cleaning robots dangling from his right hand, hanging onto it by one of the lower 'limbs' that helps it navigate things like stairs.

The robot's face is sideways, and it swivels to be right-side up to take in the women.

"BEEP?" asks the robot cheerfully, as if inquiring if Pepper has a mess that needs to be cleaned. Tony ignores the robot entirely, and smiles broadly, automatic and easy charisma Tony is so known for surfacing without effort. "--I lost track of time. Hello," Tony greets, crossing, and swapping the robot across his body to offer his hand for a handshake to Peggy.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Peggy crosses into the room smoothly, her heels carrying her as neat and comfortably as comabt boots might, but then they have always been her combat boots. "Ms. Potts, it's an honor to finally, properly meet you. We... passed at the party, but you were a bit busy. Not that you aren't always busy..." Peggy's voice is still, somehow after decades in the US, that professional, clipped British accent and slightly-too-intelligent for her own good tone. Her smile, however, is genuine. She truly seems honored to meet Pepper, as she offers her hand for a firm, warm squeeze. She's not brought her cane today, generally not needing it, but there is still a slight wasting to her that the expert tailoring of her suit is mostly hiding. Only her cheeks really show it. "I won't keep you long but...I was hoping to make a few more inroads considering my... once connections to Stark Industries. I'm Margaret Carter, but... Peggy will do just fine..."

And then he's there. Still the vague image of Howard, a young Howard, but not. Her breath catches in her throat just a second to see him this close, not totally distracted by a party, but she keeps her red lipped smile in tact as she looks him up and down. "...Mr. Stark. I... hope I'm not interrupting anything." Her eyes flicker to the limb in his hand, a hint more amusement and a momentary deep fondness crossing her gaze.

Pepper Potts has posed:
The moment Tony enters, Pepper's gaze turns to him, even though her body is turned towards the newly arrived, her hand out in gesture for greeting. She turns her attention back to Peggy in the next heartbeat, finishes the introductions, her smile softening and reaching the freckled cheeks and green eyes. Her head cants to hear of the connections, and a softly formed 'oh?' exits before she looks at Tony again.

She moves around the desk effortlessly, and reaches to take the poor robot out of Tony's hands with a soft, "Let me have her, please." It's like a giant, robotic family and Pepper has a need to make sure the brood is safe and happy.

She straightens in front of their guest again, and offers another, if a little bit awkward smile as if this is completely normal (it is!). "Peggy.. it's Pepper, please. And what sort of connections did you have? I don't recall seeing anything.." Now curious, she looks at Tony; something written there, perhaps?

Tony Stark has posed:
Tony gives up the robot without issue when Pepper requests, as if passing off an empty glass at a party. "I was going to get her an upgrade," Tony asides with amusement, related to the robot.

"Beep?" Beeps the robot, tentative but excited for her upgrade, by all accounts.

As a celebrity, Tony is well used to others feeling or being far more familiar with him than he is with them. Others feel a connection to him, from seeing him on television and similar sources: so it isnt unusual to be approached with familiarity and friendliness, or even fondness. It's just usually related to him saving the city, or something like that.

"You don't work for me, I understand you knew my father; it's 'Tony'," Tony says with a flippant quick smile as he clarifies the proper way to address him. That's also the question that Pepper had.

"Obviously he's not around, but I do what I can to fill in," Tony says to Peggy, in a relaxed way. If Tony has pain around his father, the feelings are currently buried behind swagger. A swagger that's probably quite familiar to Peggy.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The poor robot's plight seems to get a bit of a softer smile, especially as Pepper asks to 'have her'. There's just some familiar banter in it all that makes Peggy's heart ache, the look of nostalgia on her face naked and raw for a moment, though she tries to pack it away a few moments later. She clears her throat. "Very well, Pepper, then...and Tony. Though, I doubt you remember...the last time I saw you, you were quite firm on being called *Anthony* like the proper young man you were." There's a strange fondness in her voice, memories probably only she has and yet she can't completely box them away.

The questions in the room, especially from the unaware Pepper, are a lot. Peggy gives a neutral, completely calm smile as she explains quietly, "Together... Howard Stark and I founded SHIELD in the 1950s. He's the one that convinced me to leave the SSR after the war and try something... new. He was my best friend. And... he's the one that put me in a cryosleep long enough they managed to... Mostly fix the genetic damage done to me by some probably not all that wise, but necessary, science SHIELD did in the 1970s. That's why I don't much *look* like a woman who has been breathing since 1921, but...I assure you, I am. As strange as it sounds. And... I watch Stark Industries grow from... nearly the first day. Well, up until the last 30 years of sleep or so."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper keeps the robot face up, now, at least the little thing doesn't have to stress the rotors in order to maintain its balance. She holds it, albeit a little awkwardly, and nods quickly in the information of the impending upgrade. "Good. Could you please put sensors on the door for her so Mary doesn't have to get up and let her into the office?" It's a quick 'business' discussion before she comes back around to give her attention fully back to the conversation at hand.

Her head is canted slightly, her lips pressed as Tony first gives a brief synopsis of the relationship, and when Peggy fills in more, her attention is rapt as she watches as well as listens carefully. "Oh," Pepper begins, but with that, there isn't much she can add. Instead, she moves and pulls a rolly-office chair out and offers, "Please, sit down.." There's a pause as she moves to settle the little robot on her desk with a soft admonition, "Don't move," before she's back.

"You.. I'm so very glad to meet you." If she wasn't before? "Are you with SHIELD now? Or...?"

Tony Stark has posed:
"The Anthony thing was until.... twelve or so," Tony laughingly guesstimates with a lift of hand in a tilt motion to indicate give-or-take, willing to admit to that piece of his history.

"The sensors are there, they're just off, so she doesn't come in without your permission," Tony clarifies back to Pepper.

The robot looked up at Pepper, and then started to move as soon as she looked away. But a lifted finger from Tony cows it, as 'dad' puts down the law about moving off the desk. Instead ... the robot busies itself tidying the desk. That must have been what Pepper wanted...

"I found a lot of old research on the cryosleep. Maybe even more than flying cars," Tony observes, with a thoughtful quirk of a smile, and more of a thoughtful look over Peggy. The emotion on her face is clear to Tony, and he gives Pepper a little sideways glance. There's a lot of feelings in this room. The look was a mild fish for help.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"We stole most of the technology from the soviets. I suppose I should be thankful, it means I'm standing here now." Peggy half smiles, a slight shrug coming to her slender shoulders. How did one talk about their own strange, frozen ressurection? She still wasn't even certain how to do so. Pepper's previous question, however, is a good save for the conversation. "You are quite kind. I'm... not near so exciting as I was a few decades ago, but I'm glad SHIELD seems to have remained in... sensible hands." Mostly. There's a few feelings under the surface there too, but she's been good at buttoning most of them up.

"When I was director, they got very cranky about my taking field duty. I've been missing it. So, yes, I suspect I'll return to active duty in the field and get back to... well, where I started. I'm still in a fair amount of physical therapy from the genetic damage and cryo sleep. but... I'll be back in the field soon enough. I suppose it's time to simply... Enjoy my new found freedom." Without family, ties, or almost anyone she used to know. Still, she keeps that smile in place.

"I...shouldn't keep you both, though. I simply wished to make introductions and say if you ever need anything... well... It's strange to *not* spend a few evenings a week in Stark Industries. Howard and I... we worked a lot of late nights together. And therefore lots of dinners. I thought I'd at least... stop in and say hullo." But she can feel Tony's desperate ask for help, and quite how busy Pepper is. She doesn't seem eager to linger.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Oh, Pepper has that //look// now that says volumes, and part of it is a barely contained smirk coupled with bright green eyes. "Anthony. How cute." She glances towards Tony, and her head bounces in a gentle nod, "I can see that."

Though that bit of information regarding entrance sensors has her scrunching her brow for a moment and looks back at the robot. "You know, all you have to do is ask.." Turning her back to her desk once more, she catches Tony out of the corner of her eye, doing the 'dad finger' at the errant robot. A fond sigh exits the redhead and it allows for her attention to be fully upon their guest once again.

"Director?" Brows rise and she can't truly hide her surprise. "That was something.. even 20 years ago." This woman before her was something! Is. Is something!

"Please. I can have Mary get you some tea. Or, if you decide not to stay, come by and we'll see about dinner." Pepper doesn't live here, but works enough hours that it'd be a better than even shot that she'd be here regardless! "I'd really wouldn't say 'no' to the company."

Tony's 'cry' for help doesn't go unheeded, however, and Pepper glances back before she gestures back towards the little robot that is now re-organizing her desk. "She sounds like she needs that upgrade." Sooner rather than later.