1963-12-08 - Misunderstandings and Assumptions
Summary: Pepper Potts meets the Winsome Wasp at the Hellfire Club and promptly, severely sticks her own foot in her mouth.
Related: None
Theme Song: None
wasp pepper 


Janet is dressed up for a night of fun at the Hellfire Club, one of her favorite posh spots on the city, it's decadance and sordid reputation fitting just fine with her spoiled socialite, and shameless party girl reputation. Sure she likes to complain about the tabloids and their snoopy reporters, but she does love the fame, the attention. Tonight, however, she's at the club mostly to forget about an unfortunate turn of events. For a while now, she has been quite upset about the Avengers disbanding, she even blames the President's assassination on his decision to disband the team. Her one shining ray of hope was Howard Stark, and his venture to create a new team with her. Sadly, over the last few days she found out that due to legal issues, Howard Stark will not risk it.

She has been at the club for a while now, dressed in a pearl studded, white, glittery halter dress. Naturally, she wears matching purse and heels. Her choice of earrings the oft seen diamonds, can't go any less in this company. Right now she had just lost a game of cards at a table with mostly gentleman, and took a break to meander towards the bar, ordering herself a Strawberry Daiquiri. Her cheeks are somewhat reddened, and she looks like it's not her first drink of the evening.

*

While Pepper is still the new girl on the block in this club, and generally a BIT lower class than most here, it seems the White Queen found her interesting enough to invite in and the red head cannot deny it's a great networking opportunity. So, she's making it a habit to now come by once or twice a week after work. She's not dressed in finery, but in a designer suit that she wore to the office. It's still quite nice looking, a deep red color that somehow compliments her skin, tailored perfectly to her hourglass frame, double breasted buttons and a slit up the skirt to her mid thigh. A proper business suit! Of course.

She steps into the room, trying not to look as nervous as she feels. She had been invited, after all. A slightly shy smile dances across her red painted lips, all of her make up having been freshened up after the day before coming here. Pale eyes look across the bar, considering somewhere safe to slip up next to that doesn't have a handsy man or intimidating looking person. Janet is the closest thing to safety in those terms, so Pepper slides up next to her but a moment or two after…"Ah… scotch and water, please." She asks the bartender.

*

The sight of a woman in a business suit is something that really jumps out to a fashion designer like Janet. Her drink in hand, she spots a suave looking fellow making an approach towards Pepper, even as she comes nearer to her by the bar. "Excuse me," she raises her voice surprisingly loud, "I'm ever so sorry, Francis, but I think I'll be stealing the redheaded lady from you, if you don't mind," Janet gives a playful wink. Apparently Janet has such a reputation, that Francis doesn't even seem shocked, he just waves amiably at Pepper and calls at her, "save a dance for me, will you toots?"

Janet for her part makes 'shooing' motion at Francis and as he departs, she raises her glass at Pepper, "you're welcome, Francis can be quite possessive, don't mind him." Turning to put her purse on the bar counter as Pepper stands next to her, Janet looks her way and immediately shoots, "you're that woman who works for Tony Stark, aren't you? Virginia Pepper something?" Not the best way to make an impression, not being accurate with someone's name, but Janet wasn't the best read in the business section of the paper.

*

The redhead's eyes widen a bit as the woman goes to 'steal' her from someone. Pepper gives a little almost nervous laugh, but aso a slightly relieved look as she slips herself up next to Janet closer. "Thank you. Goodness. I…I don't even think I KNOW Francis…presumptious, isn't he? Goodness! Yes, well, thank you…" Pepper admits with a bit darker of a blush and a nervous touch of a laugh.

Then the question turns as to whom she is, and Pepper blinks. She's blushing more now, dipping her head, not minding that the woman doesn't really get her name right. "Potts. Virginia Potts, but… yes, everyone calls me Pepper. I'm her… I'm his… right hand, these days, I guess. It's working out nicely. And now you have me at a disadvantage. You are…?" Pepper might be nervous, but now she's stepping more into business mode and she practically can be seen coming out of her shell for it.

*

"Darling, you haven't the slightest," Janet giggles as Pepper remarks about Francis' directness, "he will go for every skirt in sight," she pauses for a sip of her drink, "even if it's a business skirt, apparently. Don't mind it though, you look professional and in control. Stark really appreciates you, doesn't he?"

"Ah! I stand corrected, Virigina Potts then, it's an honor," Janet muses, before immediately offering, "I'm Janet Van Dyne, surprised you haven't heard of me, I take it you're not very focused on fashion, are you?" Janet investigates, after all, she'd always love new vict-err-customers for her new designs. As the bartender hands Pepper her scotch and water, Janet asks, "scotch drinker? Do you have a preference for a brand?"

*

Professional. In control. Yes, of course. And it's clear the woman is younger than her, the blossom of youth and alcohol reddening Janet's cheeks so nicely. Pepper gives the younger lady a bit more of a calm smile, letting her confidence truly take over as she just pushes her mind into business mode. She can do this. "Ton…A…Mr. Stark takes good care of me, but I take good care of him. It's worked out very well since I started there. He lets me prove myself, woman or not. I like it." Pepper states proudly. Clearly business is actually a passion of her's.

Then the commentary about who she isee makes Pepper blink, "Oh! Oh, yes… I mean, I have a secretary, she orders my things, but she's a huge fan of yours. I think I own several of your pieces. They're very in vogue, aren't they? You're famous! Forgive me… I… no, fashion isn't…always my thing. I know that's rude to say to someone. But your designs are very pretty." Pepper is clearly bad at being a typical woman, her mind in ledgers and not fashion magazines. She takes the scotch and drowns a good sip, nodding in approval, "Oh…something aged, single malt. Lagavulin is my preference. I was happy they carried it here."

*

"See? That's what I like to hear," Janet seems mighty pleased when Pepper relates how Mr. Stark values her work and regards her without letting gender blind him with prejudice. "I say we can do every bit as well as the guys, fact!" Janet seems mighty sure of herself, but then she'd also clearly had quite a few drinks, as evidenced by her loudness. Luckily, she shows the ability to control her volume as she edges closer to Pepper, as if meaning to share something a bit less publicly for a change.

"Oh yes, I don't like to conform, I follow my whims and muses wherever they take me. I think inspiration and disregard for convention makes for quite a fab result." Janets tsks a few times, clicking her tongue, before laughing, "I see why Mr. Stark holds you in such high regard then. Not a silly woman, are you?" She chuckles some more at her own words. But the question of Scotch answered, and Janet nods firmly, looking all too serious suddenly. "Why yes, the Hellfire Club stocks the finest and rarest of brands too! It's why the place is so precious to me. Say, Pepper, can I ask you for a favor? I know we've just met, but it's a small one, I promie," she gestures with her index finger and thumb to show just how tiny the favor she will ask for is.

*

As the conversation continues, Pepper is realizing more and more just how tipsy Miss Janet Van Dyne may be. But, Pepper has smiled her way through many a drunk business lunches, using the time to learn more about those whose tongues are looser for it. This is no different. So, she takes the most delicate, lady like sip of her scotch, clearly intending on doing nothing but nursing it the rest of the night, and turns pale blue eyes fully on Janet. Especially as she comes in for that secret. Pepper arches an artfully manicured eyebrow.

"…Yes?…Of course… well, if I can, I'll try…what is the favor, Miss Van Dyne?" She inquires almost innocently, but she cannot totally hide the slightly skeptical and slightly curious tones from her mezzo voice.

*

"Well…it's like this," Janet starts, pausing a moment as she tries to concentrate and get her thought in order, so what comes out of her mouth is more or less the same as it was imagined in her head. "I worked with a Stark, that is Howard, Tony's father? Right? Annnnnddd…let's just say it kinda didn't go as well as I'd hoped, so, you, being close to Tony? Mr. Stark, I mean, of course! No disrespect!" She laughs, and has another sip of her drink, "well…maybe, you could arrange for me a meeting with Tony Stark? I'm thinking a younger mind might be more…open to fresh suggestions? Surely you can arrange that, can't you, Miss Potts?"

*

As the woman says she worked with Howard, Pepper looks genuinely surprised. Of course, there were lots of women who *worked* with Howard. Pepper looks a hint skeptical, her head tilting to the side, some soft red curls brushing over her shoulder and she studies Janet's eyes a bit deeper. "…And…just what…were you working on with Howard? I mean, Tony… he's not really a fashion line kind of guy. We're more of a technology and development company, as… lovely as your clothing is…"

*

Janet certainly shows her age with her reaction to Pepper doubting she has anything to offer beyond frolicking and fashion, pouting dejectedly and looking away, muttering, "that's a bit harsh, isn't it?" She empties the rest of her drink, and then shifts even closer to Pepper, pressing against her actually, and as she leans to whisper in her ear, the scent of the alcohol is rather fierce. "I'm more than just fashion, Miss Potts, I'm the Winsome Wasp!" Now the Avengers Initiative was quite top secret, but no doubt during the discussions surrounding the pressure from the Soviets for the US to disband the team, and the late President Kennedy's eventual appeasing of the request, there has been some publicity about it. Maybe Pepper heard of the Winsome Wasp, maybe not, but it was clearly one of those superhero codenames. One that Janet was mighty proud of, after all, she choose it herself!

*

Super heroes, well, other than the fact that Tony runs around in that suit, are something completely outside of Pepper's world. She blinks quietly, brows arching towards Janet, "The…Winsome…Wasp? Is that a… dance name? Like, that…Burlesque, stuff? I mean, I hear it's all the rage in Paris…" Yes, even Pepper Potts can fall victim to societal sexism. Janet is a beautiful, young, perky thing who is into fashion and clubs like this one. Pepper has just assumed, in the worst ways, that she wouldn't ever be a super hero. Isn't that a man's job? The confused, wide eyed Pepper is going to be making up for this one for AGES.

*

Janet for once loses her smile. She stares at Pepper, a bit aghast, realizing it's not just men who form opinions about her. Even in her drunken state, the thought that someone immediately assumed 'The Winsome Wasp' was a stage name rather than a codename is quite offensive. She stares blankly at Pepper for a few moments, then picks up her purse, leaves a $25 bill on the counter and snaps, "Bernard, that's for you darling," at the bartender, before clutching her purse against her chest. "Ms. Potts, I…I think I've had too much to drink, I'm tired, if you're ever in the mind to apologize," she mutters, looking over her shoulders, staring daggers at Pepper, "setting up a meeting with Tony Stark would be a lovely way to do it. Toodles," she wiggles her fingers and starts marching firmly for the doorway, nudging and bumping away any unfortunate fellow who approach her, blissfully oblivious to just how pissed off she is at the moment.

*

"..W-what? I… I didn't mean…I'm sorry…" Pepper stammers out, completely confused as to what she has done. She'll figure it out later when she looks up the Winsome Wasp. She'll feel awful later. Now she's left blinking in Janet's dust, her scotch forgotten along with the woman's disappearing, elegant perfume.

*

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