Owner	Pose
Pepper Potts	Evening; the city's lights are bright behind the PA's desk, but Pepper isn't in her seat at her desk. She's seated in the anteroom on the couch, dressed in her 'armor', business attire, though shoes are off. She has her tablet on her lap, a cup of coffee beside her on the end table. The television on the wall is on but muted, the closed captioning scrolling along the bottom of the screen. It's another late night at the office, and Pepper looks settled in.
Cecily Winters	It's a late night and it's after the party. Cecily had called ahead, a follow-up appointment after she'd asked the great and powerful Wizard of PR for help. And so, in her usual attire, less jacket, more vest and shoulder holster, the fox-woman checks in and makes her way up, up the tower to Pepper's office. She's humming a little tune and fiddling with the Starkphone she'd been given.     And she's still playing with it when she walks into the anteroom and pauses. Her ears lift and she blinks at Pepper, having expected her at her desk, despite the late hour. "Ah, Miss Potts," she says, sliding her phone into an internal vest pocket. "Good evening, dear," she greets warmly, with a smile.
Pepper Potts	Late, early, on-time, it really doesn't matter on nights when she works. The time really is more of a consideration rather than a tried and true concept for certain things; personal communications is one of them. (But, she's NEVER late to anything. Ever.) If she's here, she's here. "Ms Winters is here, ma'am.." and the voice is a touch on the tinny side, at least to Pepper. It's not Jarvis, it's Homer. Pepper smiles without looking up, "Thank you, Homer. Show her up." Cecily will find that as she approaches the elevators, the lights illuminate the path, the elevator opens the moment she's near it, and she doesn't even have to key in the floor. Onto the floor and to the door, it's the one thing that really isn't automated. The door. Cecily's entrance does find Pepper with her bare-feet tucked up and underneath her. Looking at the door, a warm smile rises to her face and she untucks in order to rise to her feet. "Cecily. How are you. Can I get you some coffee? Tea?"
Cecily Winters	There's always something to be said about analog devices, and doors are certainly one of them that still has a charm to them. Still, she's greeted with a smile, and so too does the fox greet the lovely redhead. "Quite good, dear, quite good," she answers, moving towards the seating.     "Oh, um, tea if you could, please? I do prefer it to coffee. Caffeine is still a dreadful vice but it makes the world run, doesn't it..." she exhales a sigh, shaking her head, but she's still smiling!     "I actually am surprised you're here this late. But I wouldn't be surprised if you had a bed hiding in here somewhere, either."
Pepper Potts	Pepper laughs and gestures towards the chairs, the couch in offrance. "Tea, then." She's got a little set-up, and getting her shoes back on, she's *clicking* away in her 'sensible' heels. "I live on it, honestly," is admitted, "Okay, more like thrive on it. There's a great deal of things I have to get done, and I think I'm ready to buy stock in it." She pauses, the smile turning to an amused grin, "Insider trading, right there." The coffee/tea station is reached, and as she works on the heated beverage, she's still entertaining, as it were. "Bed here? No.. I actually do go home. I'm afraid I really do keep strange hours. Just ask Happy."
Cecily Winters	"I'm pretty sure that the stuff is already quite highly prized on the stock market, dear," Cecily smirks, moving towards the couch. An offer of a comfy cozy place to sit is something she'll rarely decline. She's not exactly on the clock right now anyway. "Well, I'm glad. Tony can't be the taskmaster sort that literally chains you to your desk..." she gestures around. "All in all you have a rather cozy workspace, actually," the fox grins. "Nothing like the cramped desks at the precinct..."     She crosses her legs modestly, leaning back with folded hands on her lap, "Though since my office is my home, I suppose I'm in a similar state of... cozy? Ah... green or black tea, cream and honey if you have them, please?"
Pepper Potts	"Well, okay. I won't expect any calls from the SEC, then," Pepper jokes lightly as she preps the tea. "Green, then? I love green tea when I actually want to enjoy being woken up." The tea emerges warmed, and she sets the cream and honey (just in case!) on the side before she walks it back and sets it on the little coffee table. It does look like a little 'living room'. "I spend a lot of time here," is affirmed, "And there are times when I do just sleep on the couch. Not often, but I do." Pepper settles back on her chair and slips her shoes off once more before tucking her legs back up and under her again. "Home offices are nice. I find that it's harder for me to work from home, though. I need to actually come into the office." At the mention of Tony, though, Pepper shakes her head definitively, "He's not like that. Not at all." There's something of an affectionate smile that rises soon after, though, and she offers a single-shouldered shrug, "He's not a lot of things that people think." Beat. "You didn't come here to talk about my hours, though." Pepper's back to settled, and she looks attentive, "Tell me. What's been going on with you."
Cecily Winters	"I've been drinking a cup of green tea every morning for years. Even when I skip breakfast. You'd think a cop would be a cup of black coffee and a pack of smokes a day..." Cecily gives a lopsided smile, and then sets to adjusting her tea to her liking. Honey, cream, the lovely green tea latte turned into a thing of sweet delight.     A long, slow drink is taken, as she listens to Pepper speak, nodding. "Oh I just see Tony as a genius and a hero, who happens to have a hedonistic side. As for my home office, well, it's really just a bed, a kitchen, and a full armory... I can't exactly work from home in my business, you know?"     A playful grin is cast towards Pepper, and she considers the statement. "...there's been troubles. Though simply, I know you had been working on... evaluating my image and my doings. Though with the birthday and the trip to Vegas, well, is it worth asking where I stand? I'm happy to have your aid and I recall you reviewing things, but I also am far from wanting you to spend over-long on me when you have so many other duties to tend to."
Pepper Potts	Pepper isn't willing to talk overmuch about Tony, and is more than happy to let things remain there with a nod of agreement. "I'm still here and working for him." So he must be good, right? Pepper is more than happy to switch over on topic, which, lo and behold, is work related. She's good with that! Her green eyes narrow slightly, and she exhales in a soft release, "I've been following somewhat," she begins. "Have you had any problems because of your actions?"
Cecily Winters	It is for business that the fox is here, hands cradling a cup of tea, tails curled artfully over her lap. "My actions haven't caused any problems, no. There have been other problems, however. Still... assisting in those when and where I can has been what I've been doing."     She shrugs, and takes another drink of her tea. "I still do manage to get by trying to remain inconspicuous and remaining on the sidelines where I can best operate. Though I do worry I may be a target after some recent encounters..."
Pepper Potts	"Recent encounters?" Pepper has that balance of concern and curiosity playing on her features; the need to help and the tacit understanding that not everything can be solved by her. But given time and money? Most things can, perhaps? "Is it something I'm going to find in the papers? On the news? Or.." Pepper leaves it open-ended before falling silent for a couple of heartbeats. It seems that perhaps she's hit upon something as her expression changes, and her head cants, "Do you have good people around you? Honestly."
Cecily Winters	"Recent encounters," Cecily says quietly. She nods at the screen, "There was a mention of it in a 'mutant interest' piece a couple of weeks ago but so far it's been below the notice of many..." she sighs. "...but I've run into those... things... twice now."     "Feel free to see if you can find the footage on the report. And as for good people? I have friends on the force. I've got... Spider-Man's contact... Rave is eager to help and has a good heart in her chest. But..." she purses her lips.     "...I live alone, and while I have many... attractions..." she says with a faint hint of a playful glance towards Pepper, she lets it go quickly though and sighs. "I'm married to my work."
Pepper Potts	Pepper makes mental note of the term 'recent encounters', the outward show a look of consideration with a brief bounce of her head in a nod. "Mutants," is repeated, that sympathetic tone sounding, underscoring the word. Straightening in her seat, the PA nods, the gesture a little more definitive, though her head is canted slightly, green eyes narrowed as if the answer to some question is written in the air. "Okay," comes as a final statement. She actually does smile again, a quiet chuckle rising from her throat as her expression gentles again and nods again, "Me too." Solidarity! "But, I can give you advice that I've never taken? Take time off. See what else is out there before you get locked into one spot. Try something new. You still have time to collect a pension."
Cecily Winters	Cecily laughs, "You know as well as I do that I can't do that... I keep a sidearm or two on me even if I'm going out to lunch on Taco Tuesday. I will not suffer a dereliction of duty if something comes up... I hold myself to those standards as well...." The fox exhales a sigh and slumps back on the couch. "Especially when there are people and things hurting those I care about..."     Her ears perk up, "I suppose I do have some good people around me, at least. And good deeds don't go unpunished... Rave is becoming quite more confident in herself despite setbacks... and I have you, after all."
Pepper Potts	"Believe it or not, I actually do understand," Pepper has something of a tight smile, though it's made from humor. "I can only suggest." Pepper's tea is long forgotten, and as her visitor slumps back, Pepper leans forward as if to rescue her from her thoughts. "You do have good people around you. And, well.. for those who aren't as good as everyone else? I think I speak for them when I say, 'don't worry about us. Do what you need to.' She nods at Cecily's last bit as if confirming the statement, and a soft, airy laugh exits soon after, "Oh.. and don't tell Mr. Stark I said that. He needs to stay and continue to run the company."
Cecily Winters	"It's not something you can turn off either, is it," Cecily says quietly. "I became a cop to help people. And it evolved from there... especially after.." she glances down at one of her tails, "..I evolved." She takes a breath, then sighs it out. She does laugh at the jest about Tony, though, and she does smile. "So I do what I need to, I always have. I just suppose I want some affirmation that I'm doing it right? And I don't mean right as in proper paperwork of permits... Gods I'm up for renewal on my heavy weapons waiver soon..."
Pepper Potts	Pepper shakes her head, "Nope," is said quickly and simply. "As much as I'd like it." Taking a centering breath, Pepper sits back a little again, trying to get comfortable. Still in work clothes, so no tucking up on chairs. "Affirmation?" Her head cants slightly and brows rise as her expression turns thoughtful once more. "Ask yourself, then.. because of what you did, can someone sleep better? Affect one person, you actually affect about 10, personally. Parents, spouse, close friends." She offers a light shrug that is far from dismissive, "I know a lot of people who don't like the 'one person', but what if that one person is someone you care for?"
Cecily Winters	Cecily nods, "Of course. I am in the business of saving lives, directly or indirectly. ...granted..." she trails off, taking a breath and holding it for a moment. There's a slow, slow exhale and her lips press together in a thin line. "...I am also in the business of taking lives if there is direct interference to my first objective..." she admits. "Ripples are made in every action, even if the action goes unseen..." She still has her tea, and hasn't forgotten about it. In fact, she distracts herself for a moment to take in a long slow sip of it. After all, Pepper went to all the trouble to make it for her.
Pepper Potts	Pepper nods and just looks at the young.. fox lady across from her, studying her. She's not cut out for this, not completely. Her level of psychology has always been short and sweet: 'stop it'. Or, conversely, 'You know you should', and it ends there. "Well," Pepper looks as if the words are long in coming, "Yes. I think about that a lot. Moreso now than ever. But, maybe your time in Mutant Town won't be a waste, even if it might require a little bit of a spin. I'll have to watch the videos. Maybe Homer can get me some of the camera footage."
Cecily Winters	Another purse of lips, and Cecily sits up. "..the incidents were not in mutant town.." she says quietly. "Finding the news piece on the more public happening shouldn't be difficult. If there were any surveillance cameras on the incident before that... I don't know of them..." she idly rubs her shoulder, as if remembering an old wound. "Regardless, I do what I can to help. Be it for whatever greater good, or at the least, one person at a time." She specifies person. Not human. Not mutant. Just. Person.
Pepper Potts	"Ah. Well," Pepper begins anew with the information that was probably gained earlier, but it'd probably tucked under the radar again, "There are light cameras, building cameras, drone cameras. I might be able to call in a favor with a friend of mine." After all, SHIELD does have a few more eyes than just the occasional camera. "And I have Homer." Pepper uncrosses her ankles and moves forward to rise from her seat. Her expression is set to a warm, genuine smile that reaches her eyes. "Tell you what," she begins, "Let me make some phone calls, and if you trust me, I can have something for you to think about." It hasn't passed her notice, certainly. But then again, one tends not to make too many distinctions in business... unless you're looking for a market. Then, anything goes. "Okay?" There's a pause before she looks honestly apologetic, "I have a presentation due soon."
Cecily Winters	"You would think that in the age of camera phones and such things everywhere that we would have better intelligence..." Cecily does smile, and she does laugh, finishing her tea. "But I suppose too many people are watching the wrong things..." she says, sighig now. She can feel the energy shift, though, when Pepper stands. It's a subtle way of saying 'our time is up', and the vixen knows the gentle cue all too well. She doesn't seem put out by it, however, and she too rises. "I do trust you, dear. Why else would I be here visiting you in the middle of the night?" she asks, then her smile turns into a grin.     "I suppose I could just come calling because you make good tea, I like your company, and you're quite beautiful," she winks, "..but your help is appreciated, too." She straightens out her clothes after having been sitting for so long, and sighs, nodding, "And I haven't had dinner yet... Thank you, again. Sincerely. Please take care, and I hope to see you again soon."
Pepper Potts	Pepper just smiles at that wish for better intelligence, nodding her tacit agreement with the statement. "You would think," is added. "But, the presentation waits for no man. And I don't live far, so I can go home, so please don't worry about me." Just in case. If it gets too late in the evening, public transportation shuts down, but she's got a ride regardless. Usually Happy is, well, happy to do it. Though that does beg the question, "Do you need a ride? I can call and you can get to you wherever you need to be. It's really fine." Still, it's time, and Pepper nods before taking a step forward to give a light hug to her visitor. "You wil be hearing from me very soon."
Cecily Winters	"I could use a lift, yes," Cecily says quietly. For all the toys and guns she's got, she hasn't really gotten a lot of use out of a car. She walks, takes public transit, and sometimes calls for a lift. But she can drive when needed. And that hug is reciprocated without hesitation.     "Good night, dear, and thank you," she says kindly.