3907/An offer impossible to refuse

An offer impossible to refuse
Date of Scene:	23 October 2020
Location:	Cafe Lalo
Synopsis:	Pepper asks for Bruce's aid with a very important endeavor.
Cast of Characters:	Pepper Potts, Bruce Banner

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Pepper Potts has posed:
It's actually a pleasant day in NYC. The sky is overcast, there's a touch of humidity in the air, but it's above normal for the day, so say the weather prognosticators. As a result, there is more traffic in and around the Upper West Side, including the Park, the streets, the sidewalks, and the eateries in the area.

One in particular is a favorite of a certain red-haired Personal Assistant, and that is for several reasons. It's accessible from the Tower, it's close to her apartment, The Dakota, it's close to her yoga studio, and she's known. No one bothers her here, not that anyone really would. After all, how many people look at those that remain in the background of such amazing people, amazing things?

A phone call is given to Dr. Banner, which in itself could be considered remarkable. How many people have his personal cellphone number? On the off chance that it's not answered, more for inattention than ignoring the rings, there is the English-accented voice of one JARVIS that is more than happy to convey the message.

"Sir," the AI begin softly, the word enunciated correctly, "Miss Potts is attempting communication. She wishes to meet with you at a Cafe Lalo at 2pm. Shall I tell her you will accept?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce was perplexed, if anything. He's not particularly good at social interactions. They make him uneasy, which is largely why he spends most of his time in his lab. Still, he has been bottled up for a bit too long and that's no good for his nerves either.

"Confirm appointment," he says to the AI.

When the time comes, he's in a lime-green cardigan over tweed, his tie snug against his throat. He's ordered a chai tea while he waits, sipping carefully. He assumes the waiter will lead Pepper here, although they didn't have a formal reservation. He hopes no one recognizes him - his celebrity is in some ways strange, but his mere presence could incite anything ranging from devoted fandom to absolute terror. He carefully flicks through a crossword puzzle on his phone, using it to soothe himself.

Pepper Potts has posed:
This //is// New York City. This is a city of stars, and for the most part? Celebrities are left alone, except for the occasional 'secret' selfie that is attempted.

Pepper has her hair up in a pony tail, her heels *click-click-clicking* on the sidewalk, and is dressed in a light grey business skirt suit, her name brand pocketbook tucked under an arm and protected. The door is opened, and as she steps through, it closes with a little jingle, and once within, Pepper seems a little more at ease, that is, her smile is a touch more relaxed. Whispers are exchanged with the staff up front, complete with gestures towards the gentleman in green and tweed. A warm smile is offered as she approaches and pulls her purse up and off her shoulder, hanging it to the back of her chair. Looking back at the staff, she adds, "Blueberry matcha, please," before she gives her full attention to Bruce.

"Thank you," and she sounds like she honestly means it. It's warm, friendly and conversational. "I know you're really busy, but," and there's a soft laugh, "sometimes you need to leave and get some air." She knows this from experience.

Finally, Pepper sits down, sliding into her seat gracefully and pulls a napkin off the table, setting it on her lap. "How are you?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner smiles, "I make myself busy. Busy is good," he says. Idle times meant he got in his own head and that wasn't good for anybody's health. He'd risen from the chair at her arrival, taking his seat again as she settles in.

"I'm well enough, I suppose," he says. "I've been doing some work with local schools. Promoting science education. I'm not sure I'm the best spokesperson for that, but there I am nonetheless," he says.

"I'm sure Tony's keeping you with plenty on your plate. He has a habit of moving on with things unfinished," he says.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper utters a soft noise in acknowledgement and thanks as Bruce rises and then seats himself again. Once she's down and situated, she is settled in and her hands drop to her lap, the smile still warm, her manner and mien attentive. As he speaks about the time he's putting in with schools, that slight smile grows again and she nods.

"See, that is exactly what I'd like to speak with you about." It's no secret that one of Pepper's pet projects is STEM for high schools in the city, or offering it up for what would be considered disadvantaged. "I think you saw my notices? Tony's agreed to send a lot of robot kits to the schools, leaving one thing absent. The power supplies." Big surprise?

There's something of a fond expression that rises that perhaps is tempered a little with bemusement and she nods, "There is a lot going on. We're planning for next year's Expo already. Still working on the theme." A soft chuff exits soon after, and there's a soft 'tsk', "Tony's fine," as if that'd answer the comment.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner takes a sip of his tea, "Tony's fine is most people's hyperactive. He's a workaholic even though he hates work, which is quite an achievement. The secret is that he thinks all the stuff he does is fun."

Not that Bruce is entirely innocent. His scientific obsessions are just more theoretical and less practical than Tony's. Not as easy to notice him doing calculus theorems in his head.

"Robotics is not my specialization, by any means, but I probably still know more than your average high school kid. Although not all of them. Some of them are pretty bright," he says.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Tony enjoys his work," Pepper agrees, her smile remaining, and it does reach those green eyes. She's a loyal woman, there is no doubt. "Not all of it is fun, though. He also believes in 'necessary'." A soft chuckle does exit the woman and she inclines her head, a single concession, "A lot is fun, though." Even if she doesn't always understand it.

Bruce certainly isn't innocent in all of that. Science is important, and not always fun.. they can agree. But, it's necessary.

"Well," Pepper says softly, the word lengthened as she seems to consider his words, but.. is there any argument to be had? "I'd say you'd be qualified," and her tones underscore the words. "What I would love would be a line judge. Once the robots are built, we are going to host a drag race for them. Schools versus schools, then ultimately it will be one against one." Very much like Pinewood Derby. She pauses, cants her head, and brows rise. "Would you like to do it? You'd be doing it with Tony."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner considers for a moment. On the one hand, the idea of being in front of a crowd, of being around a school and kids, seems unwise to him. While the Hulk hasn't been as senselessly cruel as once it was, the rage that guides it still burns deep and, if provoked, he would be an immediate threat to anyone and everyone around him.

But...he also knows that he can't shelter himself from the world forever. Well ,that's not quite true. He can. But he shouldn't. And he doesn't want to.

"I'll do my best," he says. "I don't have to make speeches or anything do I? Let Tony handle that part."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper can almost see the indecision on the good Doctor's face. She's good at negotiations in the board rooms, presentations, and can really read the room, as it were. Dr. Banner, knowing something of his history, is easy.

This, this is a chance to get out, do something not only good for the kids of the City, but enjoyable.

Pepper presses her lips together, that smile playing on her face; it hasn't dropped once, and she nods. "That's all I can ask," she agrees. There's a light shake of her head, and her smile widens as if to allay any fears, "No. That'll be up to Tony, I'm sure he'll be happy to cover for you on that one." And, she may keep him from poking at Bruce. At least try?

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner nods, "I'm just not very good with words. I tend to fumble and I never know what to say. If my doctoral thesis hadn't been a breakthrough in quantum physics, I'm not sure I'd have passed. I stuttered through the whole presentation," he says.

He takes another long sip of his tea, "I'm a bit better now. Sometimes," he adds. His eyes dart downwards, having difficulty maintaining eye contact for too long. "I'm sure some of the projects will be quite impressive."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper understands that, mostly. Kinda. "Oh," and she pulls a hand up to cross the table, reaching to set a hand on his forearm in quiet support, "I'm sure you were impressive." Pepper is more than aware that the docorate is quantum physics; what that actually entails, beyond 'chaos theory' and 'string theory' as vocabulary words? Not her forte.

Her head bobs in a nod, and pulling her hand back slightly, Pepper readjusts her napkin on her lap and looks to settle for a pleasant conversation and afternoon out of the office, if only for a little while. "You are. I mean, you're sought after for projects. People ask for your expertise all the time." And then, there are the Avengers. "So.."

There's the pause in the shift, and finally her matcha smoothie arrives. "Oooh.. thank you," is given over her shoulder before she continues, "I think they'll be a lot of fun. The kids really do enjoy themselves. Some of them prefer the paint job over actually the robot actually //working//."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner tries not to startle a bit at the brush of her hand. He's just not used to it, it's nothing against Pepper at all. He keeps himself from showing it too much, keeping his eyes down before she draws her hand away.

"I appreciate it. The work and the Avengers and...everything," he says. He find sthe last bit perplexing. Why wouldn't they care about the robot working? Isn't the entire point to get the robot working? His brow furrows for a moment before he shrugs it off. People are strange. "I'm not sure I'm very good at fun. But I'll try."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Well, the first rule?" Green eyes rise to see if she can't capture Bruce's face for a moment, "Relax. It's their day." Pepper bobs her head, moving it slightly sideways as she smiles that fond, warm smile, adding, "And Tony's. He has a lot of fun with it too. He just won't admit it. And those kids that have the neat paintjobs?" A laugh exits Pepper as she reaches for her smoothie, "They'll get honorary mention, I'm sure. Some fuss will be made over them."

Pepper takes a swallow of her smoothie soon after, and once she swallows, she waits a moment, and then, "I'll be sure that I don't schedule it opposite any forums or conferences. I'm looking for after the new year. And by the end of the school year, and just before the Expo, we should have our last run." With Pepper and her projects? It's all about the scheduling that makes things successful. In her eyes, anyway.