3852/Vacation for the Kidnapped

Vacation for the Kidnapped
Date of Scene:	18 October 2020
Location:	Stark Tower: Penthouse
Synopsis:	Pepper plots to kidnap Tony for a vacation!
Cast of Characters:	Tony Stark, Pepper Potts

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Tony Stark has posed:
There's signs of the previous activity flung around a little bit near the bathroom. Tony'd been on one of his private physical workouts, with one of his trainers, and the gear is near the door, as well as what he'd been wearing. The water in the shower switches off, and, freshly rinsed and happier for it, Tony emerges, dressed simply and comfortably, in jeans and one of his favorite band shirts (ACDC in this case).

Unaware Pepper has arrived, he's humming a little bit, and chatting at the ceiling without looking. "Well, work with JARVIS on that update, then. Teamwork," Tony smirks.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Not only has Pepper arrived, but she's been busy. Settled beside the bed is a small set of luggage, Tony's set. Perhaps he'd not noticed it before, but more likely, quickly and easily packed during the time he'd been in the shower. Pepper's known him long enough to know about how long his morning showers last and how long his post-exercise ones do.

Standing at the doorway of his bedroom, is the culprit herself. She's dressed casually, but fashionably, with a form fitting shirt beneath a dark, printed button down, and a pair of slacks. She's barefoot, which probably means she's got her heels by the door. She leans soon after he emerges, her arms rising to fold before her, green eyes bright and has one of //those// looks. The smile that says a million things, such as, 'oh good, you're done' usually coupled with, 'I need you to do this', which usually finishes with, 'there's no reason why not'.

As a matter of fact, Pepper does open with at least the inquiry, "How's that going?", her tones holding that lilt that screams there's more there than meets the eye. "Everything looking good?"

Tony Stark has posed:
Tony stops entirely, full halt, and gives her an entirely distrustful and critical eyeballing. "Everything's great," Tony replies, open and even in tone, though his expression still betrays a 'why are you asking and am I in trouble' look to it.

Tony approaches, fearlessly but watchful. Like walking into a situation that may or may not be so safe, but he's gonna own it anyway! Wing it, as always.

"Did something explode? I don't smell fire, /or/ fire extinguisher spray," Tony questions, before catching sight of the bags. He doesn't get alarmed - this isn't crazy. He perks up a little, and his eyes dart to her with renewed interest. "Changed your mind about Vegas?" he teases.

Pepper Potts has posed:
There's that smile that plays on her face the moment he gets that look. She's not looking as if she's going to let him off the hook too quickly, but she does shake her head at the actual question asked. "No, that's all fine. Your lab is fine, the robots are fine, everything is fine."

Fine.

There is nothing in her words that could even begin to set off alarms; there's no posture of annoyance, no look of disappointment, and her posture, for the most part, is open and natural. Comfortable. It's just.. there is most definitely something behind those eyes. She definitely has that //look//.

A laugh is breathed, and she shakes her head at the question regarding Vegas. "What? And lose you to the craps table all night?" She drops her hands and takes a couple of steps in, walking slowly in approach to him. "Not my idea of fun, I'm sorry to say." Green eyes don't move from his face as she speaks, her words still in a quiet lilt. "I was thinking something less, well.. noisy."

Once she is before him, her arms rise to drape around his neck, to rest forearms on his shoulders for a light embrace. "Care to try again?"

Tony Stark has posed:
Years of these signals leading to Tony being in trouble or frustrating her just mean that's the first reaction, though. That he is going to be 'managed' a little bit, or perhaps just gently guided to something else. Or perhaps just something he's not aware of, since he was passed out drunk. Yet he can't find any possible screw-ups in his immediate recollection - and he hasn't been blackout in weeks.

So instead, as she approaches him, he eases into that, in fact, this is maybe something highly positive. Something he may really LIKE... and it brings a surprised interest into his dark eyes. He draws his hands up first along her arms, but then drops them to her waist as she steps into the loose embrace.

"I'm going to go with a place where your bikini may see some light of day," Tony suggests, eyes flitting to the bags, then to her, with a sharpening focus. He might have been thinking about other things at first, but he's coming around - and fast.

Pepper Potts has posed:
There are times when it's difficult to get his attention, when he's hung up in a project. The purpose of asking how things were going were actually twofold- out of sincere interest in his work, and his opinion of it, and the other? How absolutely buried is he in the project, and what will it take to get him unstuck, if only for a little while. Like, perhaps a weekend?

Pepper's got her answer, and the moment his hands touch her, her head tilts a little, her eyes shine a little brighter, and there's a touch of pink on freckled cheekbones. "Mmmm.." and she nods her head, just a little, "but not Vegas." She's not moving away from him as she speaks, her voice is canted low, "My parents have this little cabin in Connecticutt. On a lake. Been in the family for generations. The trees are about as perfect as they're going to be, and I think that it might be a nice little trip for us. Not too far, three hour drive, tops..." There's a pause before, "Besides." Here, her brows rise, and she gets another gleam in her eye, her tones filled with that light mischief, "You can't say no."

Tony Stark has posed:
"How presumptuous of you, Ms. Potts. That the boss cannot say no?" Tony teases her in return, a mild 'threat' of messing back with her in return. "I mean, perfect trees, is that enough, really? To steal a hero like Iron Man away from the city, for days... someone might think you a villain," Tony wonders aloud, with a wrinkle of nose, 'weighing' the offer.

"But maybe I can be convinced of your pure intentions," Tony wonders. He dips his head in, a brush of nose to hers, and with a quick smile, offers a warm, full kiss. An opportunity to 'convince' him, perhaps.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Mmmhmm," Pepper begins again, her gaze simply not leaving his. "Well, I just happen to know your schedule, Mr Stark," she continues, "and I am responsible for making and confirming all of your travel." Her head cants, green eyes still gleaming, "So, rather than that trip to Vegas?" She slotted not only a different time, but a different location, "And I have it on good authority that there's nothing else pending."

Her head rocks forward a little, the tip of her nose gently brushing his. "Only thinking of your best interests," is murmured. Unspoken? 'Like always', but it's not hard to hear that before she fully presses in to return the kiss. Fingers play at the soft, short hair at the nape of his neck, and she takes that half step in so she's pressed against him in the embrace. It's still so very heady; the scent of him is clean, light, and his hair is still lightly damp.

Tony Stark has posed:
Hard to argue with the master of the schedule, perhaps. Harder still, while in the middle of a very pleasant kiss. Tony may have originally intended it to see if he could knock her off her game a little, play with her some, but the thing about kisses with Pepper, he is finding more and more, is that there's something more than just play with them. There's a /difference/ to them from what he's more used to, a lift in his heart.

So the intended kiss goes on longer than originally expected, and his arms move more securely around her. Once it parts, Tony clears his throat just a small bit, dark eyes opening, taking her in. The tease is out of his gaze, but soldiers on in his voice. "Still, I don't know about the car ride..."

Tony seems to be backing out -- but it's just a light game. "We'll use a helicopter."

Pepper Potts has posed:
It's true. Pepper can argue from a position of, well, her position. The one that he's relied upon her doing to the best of her ability for all those years. That she //still// does, side by side, just as she has always done. It's the kiss, and if she wasn't aware of the effect it has on him, it won't be long before she is. There is play, and then there's that undercurrent that her heart is most decidely on the line, that it's there lying just there, below that surface.

Once the kiss does part, she's not far from him, her arms still so comfortable in their spot in the drape. Pepper can see those eyes, and there isn't much there that she can't translate. A quick frown creases her features, and is that a flicker of disappointment that rises, before his response after tossing out that potential of complete idea rejection.

She's momentarily speechless before, "I.. I don't think there's a landing pad in the middle of a hardwood forest, Tony.." But, there is a clearing, a field not far. "A car might be a little easier.." She looks dubious, then perhaps a more than a little suspicious,

"Did HOMER spill it?" How else would Tony know about a potential landing field? "He's.." a tattletale?

Tony Stark has posed:
"No," Tony answers, honestly, amused by her flustered dismay. "Just a problem that can be solved by throwing money at it, Pep," Tony grins, but leans in for a follow up kiss. It's mostly just out of personal selfishness, that one: not to distract her, but due to ... just wanting a little bit more of that. And he is not one to hold back on certain desires and vices.

He isn't really even against a road trip: this was just Tony's troubleshooter lifting it's head, as well as the pleasure that can come with 'improving' upon a plan. He likes to be a part of things: but that's something Pepper will recognize as definitely beneficial. If he's involved, part of it, then he'll //show up//.

"You know I think you need a vacation, you came into this knowing that. So no, I'm not saying no."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper laughs before she leans in for the kiss once more. It's a touch shorter, but it still makes her a touch breathless once they've parted, and she nods, offering up the concession. "Well, there is a place to land." Throwing money at things, she's found, doesn't always solve the problem at hand. If there hadn't been a spot where a talented helicopter pilot could land? Money wasn't going to buy an LZ, at least by the time they get out there.

"You do," Pepper agrees with a light head bob. "You're packed. I'm packed." She offers a warm, affectionate smile, now, her expression filled with that absolute, heartfilled love she's got for him as a hand rises to play with the wisps of hair that tickle at his forehead. "Well, we've got everything we need there already. Groceries are delivered, jacuzzi on the back porch is ready. And there is no one for miles around. Just... us."

Tony Stark has posed:
"Right /now/, then?" Tony asks, brows lifting a little bit. The sudden quality to this is a big part of it. But Tony is hardly daunted by that - he's an adventurous sort, and pivots very quickly with any new information or exciting idea. And Pepper knows him well - that even presenting this in this way might add to the allure of it all.

"Great. Guess I better put some shoes on," Tony chuckles, keeping her close for a little more of a secure hug. Something flows into his eyes for a brief moment, something deeper than just an amused pleasure. It plays there, a softened quality, but Tony doesn't voice it, just kisses her briefly and releases.

"Let's do it."