2970/Packing & Planning

Packing & Planning
Date of Scene:	17 August 2020
Location:	Pepper's Apartment - Upper West Side
Synopsis:	Pepper packs for a trip, finally admitting she's got a boyfriend. Amanda plans her next event and tries not to laugh too hard at her friend.
Cast of Characters:	Pepper Potts, Amanda Sefton

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Pepper Potts has posed:
Late night in the City. The noise of the streets is a little muffled, thanks to the apartment's address, but there never seems to truly being a stoppage of traffic, of 'things' going on. As a result, Pepper's arrival home at all hours of the evening, afternoon, early morning really isn't strange. The world turns, the city turns...

But, remarkably, a barefoot Pepper's in her bedroom, a suitcase on her made bed with a stack of shirts, pants and the like beside it, and she has Patrick *whirrrrring* around her as he looks for things to clean. She's dressed down, so it look as if she's not leaving immediately for.. where ever it is she's packing for. Vegas? DC? Points Europe?

Still, a couple of clean/pressed dresses are hanging in their plastics on the side of her door, and in the samsonite so far looks to be enough underthings for at least a week. Give or take.

"Why do I feel like everything I //want// won't fit." Her voice is set in a soft, breathy huff as she surveys her choices that lie on the side of the suitcase and what eventually is going to be put in.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
"Because you've actually got someone you want to impress," Amanda says, a hint of a smirk in her eyes as she comes to lean on the doorframe to Pepper's bedroom. Her arms are crossed lightly over her chest, one ankle hooking the leg that bears the bulk of her weight. "So where are you headed this time?" She scans the pile of clothes with an eye to typical usage and arches a brow. "Business or... pleasure?"

The sorceress has been exceptionally busy, herself, over the last week. Between getting the contract for the film festival signed, thus staring up work on that, and trying to figure out anything about the strange tablet Radu left in her hands... yeah, her hours have been nearly as crazy as Pepper's. But with considerably less travel on the horizon.

She's also had to do a lot more magic in the apartment, which means she's been exceptionally conscious about a) keeping Patrick out of her bedroom -- much to the little bot's chagrin and b) being absolutely meticulous about cleaning up and airing out afterward.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper looks up, her hand on the samsonite, and swivels around to sit on the bed amidst the clothing. There's that tight, ghost of a smile before another exhale comes, one hand moving to steady the pile. "Business," she says succinctly. "Not sure if Tony's going yet." She.. never really knows. "Should only be a couple of days, though."

There's a wider smile that comes before she nods her head in mock defeat, "Fair question, though."

As quickly as she'd sat down, she's back up again, eyeing the things on her bed. She tries to keep her voice as calm, level and conversational as possible before, "We're dating now. It's new.. and wonderful and scary all at the same time." Oh hey.. a shirt that needs refolding before it joins the underthings in the actual suitcase.

"So.. it's a thing."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
A single brow drifts higher above Amanda's eyes. "Oh, so you finally figured it out, huh?" A genuine smile touches her lips, but there's still amusement twinkling in her blue eyes. "It's about time."

A beat. A broader grin. "Pepper Potts. Dating her boss. Gossip rags will have a field day, when that comes out."

She grows more serious. "You gonna be okay with that?" Because those rags won't be hearing it from her. And if they start camping out on the building's doorsteps...

Well, she *is* quite the skilled illusionist. And invisibility spells are totally a thing, too.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper drops her head and her hair falls forward before she turns around on a foot, sitting again amongst her clothes. "Yes, yes I did. And he did too." There's that smile again, her manner and mien all reflecting that 'happy place'. "It's weird," and she shakes her head briefly, but not to cast any doubt, "but it's okay. If.. if we actually get a chance without it hitting the news yet." It's still young and the pair are walking in uncharted territory. Well, she is.

"Dating my boss. No.." and Pepper shakes her head. "I'm dating Tony. Who happens to be my boss... but that feels different too?" She's not sure, and it's easily discernable. "But I know. Gossip rags will eat it. And while I know I have to share Tony with the world, I'm not willing to share him with the daily tattler."

Pepper honestly does seem to know and understand the gravity of the whole affair, and she purses her lips before nodding. Green eyes land on her friend again, and she gives a light shrug, "I've worked for him for the last eight years. By his side, on the sidelines. Attended Congressional hearings with him, press conferences, the Expos over the years. I'm not a new face to the press." So that may work in her favor?

"But," and she sighs, the sound.. fond. "He's worth it. I mean, he bought me flowers, had them on my desk when I went in. Now," and her voice drops to something bemused, "everyone at work thinks I have a boyfriend." There's a hint of a smirk after it; it still sounds so strange to her.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda understands the nuances of what Pepper says. The careful distinctions. She nods her head in an oblique manner that acknoledges that fact. A wry smile twists her lips. "You've essentially been 'married' to him for years, yeah. I get it. The only difference, now, is that all the salacious angles the press have been waiting to spring on you are... well, I don't want to say 'fair game', but... You know what I mean." Open season.

Nevertheless, she chuckles at the description of the flowers. "They're right. You do have a boyfriend. It's just not who they expect."

She gives a light shrug, now, and moves through the door to sit in a chair off to one side. It's more comfortable -- especially if Pepper's going to keep working on that suitcase. "I imagine 8 years will buy you some slack, as should your continuing, consumate professionalism and competence. Just not in the gossip rags."

But Pepper already knows this, wishful thinking aside. She has more direct experience in PR than Amanda has, for all her education. "Don't worry, Gin. I've got your back," she says finally, eyes gleaming again. "My transmogrification skills aren't great," so she won't be turning anyone into toads, "but my hypnotism, illusions, and invisibility spells are ace."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"It also buys me the 'You know what you're getting into' angle, which means, I'm not going to expect much in the way of sympathy when he does something." Pepper barks a soft laugh at that; he does a LOT. "But, I really don't want to share that part of him with the world until I have to. They already have 90% of him." She nods and another happy sound comes, and with it, the weight of what she's embarking on is given reason,

"I can't see myself without him. It's just... him."

A sigh exits the woman, the sound one that is stuck in the throes of a newly acknowledged bit of feelings, and doesn't really want to find her way out. The offer though?

The redhead turns around, and her expression is lit to more than a little amusement. "I may call you on that. Or, barring that, a 'no comment' will do." She's the queen of 'no comment'!

"So," and her words turn to a different arena. "Tell me about the film festival. You have the places lined up? Just let me know what the outlay will be and we'll get it done." Pepper doesn't spend her money, other than on rent and the occasional dinner out. She's got something of a, well, nest egg. Plus. "PR should start early."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda's expression softens at her friend's happiness. She doesn't know Tony really well. She's heard all the gossip. Seen all the same salacious news reports as everyone else. But, she knows Pepper. She knows both the level-headed workaholic and the crazy, romantic risk-taker from days of yore. Tony... actually fits both halves of that personality.

"To be frank," she says with a shrug, now, "I doubt anyone else can see you without him, either." She chuckles dryly. "For different reasons, perhaps, but still... I'm pretty sure it'll be a sign of the final apocalypse, you and he quit of each other."

See, to her... all of this is a foregone conclusion. It's not like she hasn't been watching it play out since she got here. Albeit rather one-sidedly. Because she's met Tony... what? All of once.

Thus, she accepts the change of subject graciously enough. "I've been given a list of the titles they want to secure and am starting to investigate venues," she tells her friend now. "We'll need about a half dozen over all, I think. But the real challenge is going to be the festival space. I want something... special for that. Something that suits the season, the theme, and the city."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper smiles at the sentiment. She's lived through all that salicious gossip, and won't offer up if it's all true or not. Like anything, there are lies wrapped around bits of truths, but in Tony's 'earlier' days? More truth than lies. "He's not the same man he was a few years ago. He's different. And while that old Tony was.. something else, this one is a little more grounded." Like a man who saw his life flash before his eyes. "Just.. don't believe everything you read in the paper." At least anything that wasn't ghost-written by her, or the PR group. "And, by the way, you're the only person I've told." Not that her best friend needed to hear that, but.. she's got the scoop, as it were. Not even her family knows.

Though, now? Festival space!

This frees her up to get back to packing, and it's a little easier now that //that// weight is off her shoulders. Shirts are rolled, and looking back over her shoulder, her brows rise, "We could call one of those tour companies. You know, the ones that take out of towners through haunted spots in the city?" She scoffs softly, but really has a feeling she shouldn't? Those are usually run by charletans, anyway. "Ask what sights they recommend in the city, or we'll go on one ourselves so it doesn't look like we're trying to steal their information."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda chuckles. "I've already figured that part out," she says, vis-a-vis the newspaper reports. She learned a long time ago -- just because of Kurt -- to never believe news reports at face value. Sources, spin, and slant are always, always suspect. "Don't worry. No one will hear anything from me." Which doesn't mean the news won't get out. At some point, Tony will take her out to dinner and that'll be that.

With luck, it'll be a time and place of their choosing and not something some paparazzi crashes.

"A tour might be interesting," she agrees. "If nothing else, it may encourage some lateral thinking." Her lips purse. "We're looking at a collection of classic films -- thrillers, suspense, and horror. Hitcock, Kubrick, Carpenter. Stuff from the 20's through the 80's. So, vintage. Lots and lots of vintage. I think we need to play up the classic Hollywood period, but twist it with some camp."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper is back to folding and putting things into her suitcase, and from the looks of it, she might fit most of what she wants! The suits and dresses, well, they go into a proper bag. "Dinner, maybe some dancing.." she murmurs.

But! Here and now. And they're talking tours! "Well, New York would be good for something like that. There are lots of tours for the Art Deco period buildings. The Astors and Vanderbilts. If you wanted, when I'm done, we can get some more ice cream, sit out on the balcony and look up tours that look like they may help?" Pepper grins and shrugs lightly, "I think it would be fun. The City is filled with this stuff, and not all of it is obvious."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda nods at that. She shoves herself up out of her chair. "That sounds like a good plan," she agrees. She smiles. "Look, you finish your packing; I'll grab the ice cream." Because, really, it looks like Pepper's about done.

If she's nervous about returning to the balcony, after the last time they tried to share some ice cream out there, she doesn't show it. She hasn't used the balcony since for her meditation, mind, but that has much more to do with the complexity of the magic she's been working than any lingering apprehension.

She eyes her friend. "Don't take too long, or I'll start without you." With that, she flashes her a final grin and slips out to fetch their snack from the kitchen, leaving Pepper to her packing... and to bring the tablet for searching later.

Pepper Potts has posed:
The packing really doesn't take too much longer. It's heavy, though... something for Happy to bring down, should she ask nicely. Also assuming he doesn't have an 'assignment' somewhere else. A few more things and it gets locked up and set to the side of her bed for later. She'll bring it to the office tomorrow, put it in a closet and she'll be good for any emergency trips she may have to take. Her 'bug out' bag, as it were.

Once done, Pepper pads out of her room, scooping up her small laptop and goes to meet Amanda in the kitchen, and out to the balcony. While she may not have forgotten the experience out there, the residuals, the lingering issues aren't something that she truly understands. So.. her favorite location in her place might not be the best anymore?

"Now," and she's ready to take a bowl and spoon with an, 'Oooom.. thank you..' before, "because we're looking at a contracted time table, we need to look at these tours and book as soon as possible. Halloween stuff is in the stores already, so we shouldn't have too much problem."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda is settled in a gravity chair, bowl balanced in one hand, flower boxes providing a pretty backdrop even in the starry night. "The advantage I have," she notes, "is that I can schedule the tour anytime and call it a work appointment and expense. You, however, have the more problematic schedule." Especially if she's going out of town.

"I'm thinking it might be an idea to look into little-used or unconventional venues. Old buildings with parkinglots that can be converted into event spaces, parks with old architectural displays we can co-opt and convert into screening spaces. Sure, having some indoor venues for daytime viewings will be helpful, but I don't think it's essential. By that time of year sunset is early enough to make two or three nightly viewings possible -- particularly for earlier films, whose running lengths were generally shorter." She's musing, now, slowly enjoying her ice cream as she thinks aloud.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Or," and Pepper slides out her glider chair to sit down, pulling bared feet up so she's effectively curled in the seat, "find a place with an underground parking garage? Hire the right sort of stage builders, and that might work?" It's a thought, as she dips a spoon into her ice cream and slides it across the surface before licking it upside down. "So, instead, I ask Happy to drive us around the city in the convertable." One of the.. many. She may not have access to all the cars, but there are some nice ones still.

"Staying inside the city, yes? But, the boroughs are fair game?"

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Again, Amanda nods. "That could work. And, yes. The boroughs are fair game. I've already suggested to the clients that a wider geography, in terms of the city itself, would broaden their reach. And unconventional venues will just add to the experience, if done right."

The set dec doesn't even have to be expensive, she knows. Just clever and thorough. And she's got years of carnie experience to help out with that. Pep might know the world of Fortune 100 companies. But Amanda knows showmanship.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper nods, drawing the top of her spoon over the ice cream again, and licking the upside down frozen confection. It's casual, comfortable, and she's truly enjoying the lazy evening. "We can get as unconventional as you'd like," in terms of spending. Because really? Return is much more important.. and not all of that can be quantified. It's good business sense.

"Get a well known B-lister to help introduce, or advertise for you, it'd be a big draw and help the camp?" Pepper can help with that, too! "We have presentation in spades," she smiles, her head canting to the side as she looks towards her best friend. This is the stuff she enjoys! Projects. Ground up planning, building, getting people talking. If someone can get her excited over a project? It'll work.

Gesturing with her spoon as it points down, lightly 'stabbing' at the ice cream, she grins, "This is going to be fun. And, this really is amazing ice cream."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda laughs. "Do you know the buzz I'd create if Pepper Potts was an Angel Investor?" she says, a brow rising. That's *not* a hint, by the way. Just an observation. "But, yes. I've considered which celebrities might be a draw. I was thinking someone with a history in the city, known about town and not just a West Coast fly-in." She gives a small smile. "It's important to me this have a real New York feel, no matter where the movies themselves are set. This is a local festival, and shouldn't be a direct competitor to the Film Society's do." That is, the New York Film Festival, held at the Lincoln Center almost every year. This festival is not that one.

"I'm actually tempted to have look-alikes show up in character in some places. Depending on the film, mind." Not all of them would be readily recognizable.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"SAG. Just contact them." For the actors, that is. "There are lots that can be called up from New Jersey and New York. Many live across the bridge to try and avoid City taxes." Amanda's resident expert in all things New York City is helpful, or tries to be.

There's a laugh, an appreciative sound and she shakes her head. "It's your name that needs to get out there. I'm in the background, cheering you on and making sure it works out exactly how you want it to." Sound familiar? It's where Pepper likes to be.. just on the edge. It's where she's been for a long time; any picture of Tony in press conferences and the like, if one looks? Can find her, usually.

"It has to have a New York feel, yes. No fly-ins. Got it." Nothing worse than a West coaster who thinks they know how the City works. "One of the sites could be at the Cloisters, maybe?" An old castle. "But, we'll look."

The ice cream is melting, and now Pepper has to eat it properly, spoon-bowl facing up. It's more soup than ice cream, but she's managed to eat most of it. "We'll do some research and find some personnages for the actors, if that's the way you want to go."

Amanda Sefton has posed:
"It'll largely depend on the final budget," Amanda says, knowing (somehow) Pepper won't really let that be an obstacle. "I think celebrity involvement is most important for the opening, the gala, and the close. The individual, outlying venues would be better served by more generic faces playing to the theme." She smiles, now. "I don't doubt, though, that it will all eventually fall in line." She does know what she's doing, after all. And she knows her friend will help where she can. So, it's a win-win.

Which isn't to say there won't be set-backs and obstacles. But those happen no matter where you go, or what you do.

As long as a horde of zombies or demons doesn't invade when the Veil is thinnest, things should be fine... Amanda makes a mental note to ward against that. Just in case.

Maybe she hasn't *entirely* shaken off the surprise that was Radu, yet.

She sets aside her bowl as Pepper about finishes her own. "So," she says finally. "A public tour? Or a Happy tour?" She smiles. "I can disguise you, either way." Just maybe not with the whole 'Jemaine' trick she saw the other night.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Just get //that// out of your head," Pepper offers pointedly as she sets her bowl to the side with two hands, the spoon nesting inside it. "Rough idea of budget is all. Worksheet." Of all the other things, she agrees with easily and readily. Makes sense to her, and she's offered what she sees as solid ideas on how to get the people needed. All she needs is a casting call ad in the coming weeks.

"This will be fun." She hasn't done this sort of thing; her bent really is the extravaganzas. The showy shows. All the things that come together to showcase Tony and the work being done by Stark Industries.

"It's up to you. Public tour means we get to mingle. Happy tour means the convertable comes out and we might get a ride in the country later, just for fun." She shakes her head at the offer for disguise, however. "New York is pretty forgiving. I don't think people will actually recognize me." She's been on Tony's arm for events before and has managed to 'get away' unscathed, after a fashion. Once she'd been properly identified as Personal Assistant.

Uncurling herself from the chair, bare feet hit the floor and she stands up from her chair slowly before reaching for her bowl. "You done?" is asked as she holds out her hand for her best friend's bowl, just in case. The question regarding 'Jemaine' can wait for another day.. but it will come.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda chuckles at Pepper's insistence, unsurprised by it. She nods and mutely passes her bowl over, though she pulls herself to her own feet even as she does. "I don't care which we do," she says easily, with regard to the tour question. "As long as it's done early this week." She wants those venues fixed before the end of the month. Once they're in place, everything else is just details.

Between the two of them, they'll rock the details.

She moves to the rail and looks out over the city, a satisfied smile on her lips. "It'll be fun," she agrees. "New York won't know what hit it."

Truer words?