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It has been a while since they last met, Janet being a bit busier with the fashion business, and some unexpected troubles while trying to help Virigina Potts with the Vigor addiction issue. Since their last meeting, Janet managed to discuss the legal implications with the office of Jennifer Walters, and today she arrives at Stark's Mansion with her input. After ringing the door bell, she fully expects to be lead to Howard, unless he does her the courtesy of meeting her at the door himself. "Howard, hello, how's tricks?"
*
Instead of the usual of being greeted by Howard himself after a long wait or the image on the side of the doorway Wasp finds herself greeted by an actual person! A real butler to help out around the city block sized mansion. The place even looks like it might have been cleaned up in the last few weeks.
Their walk through the front entrance and towards the sitting room is one flanked with empty rooms which had been reworked into classrooms of sorts now left empty. School equipment left set up for his grand project which seems to already have been left dead in the water. Occasionally while walking the two have to stop for a small passing robotic helper, simplistic in design and made only for cleaning. The design of them isn't exactly what one would call fashionable more a pure focus on the function of them as they slam into walls lightly bounding off thanks to the rubber ring around them. The head butler seemingly still a bit on edge about the things.
When she's lead to Howard he's sat behind a large wooden desk, documents and files organized out for filing on the transfer works from his little failed experiment to try and capture the magic of Xaviers. When he see's her come into that small office he gives a bit of a warm smile. "Not dead yet, so I'd that counts for something." His face still somewhat stern all things considered as he comes to a stand walking over for a handshake. "What brings you around these parts?"
*
"Howard Stark, I'll be darned, how do you ever find your way around your city of a house!?" Janet laughs as walks up to Howard, foregoes the handshake and greets him with a hug. "So, little ol' me actually did some work, I set a meeting with lawyer Jennifer Walters, to check the government won't lock us up in some unknown basement because of our plans…guess what?"
*
There's a moments pause at the hug, but like a gentlemen Howard returns it. "Helps when you're the one who drafted the designs, trust me." The smile widening a bit as he gives a light hearted chuckle. "Don't spare me the details."
He walks back over towards the liqueur cabinet, grabbing out a small bottle. He pulls it out, and a pair of cups, sloshing round the deep crimson brown liquid. "Unless it's bad news" A quick pop of the lid so he can pour a pair of glasses. "Had a little too much bad news lately."
*
"I guess you got a point there, probably not all that different than knowing the garments I design," Janet gives herself perhaps more credit than Stark would, but who knows? Maybe he'll be nice to her. "Wouldn't be a bad guess, Ms. Walters did assure me we would be in for a world of trouble…but!" Janet does a dramatic pause, smiling ear to ear, "there's a way we can actually make it work! See the Fantastic Four as a reference!" She starts pacing about the room while gesturing with her arms, "we can't be the Avengers, but if like the Fantastic Four we present ourselves as a non for profit public defense force, then it could work! We were the Avenger, now we can become the Defenders, what do you say Howard?" She turns to look at Howard with sparkly hopeful eyes.
*
"Any designer worth their salt has to have an understanding of what they make." Howard hands over the glass. "To some extent." He moves back over towards that chair, the school symbol placed onto the front already removed, as the symbols of the whole thing have already been started being moved towards storage. Howard listens silently and attentively as she speaks.
He takes a long moments silence to think and drink, slow sips as it's still somewhat early in the day, he kicks back slightly in his chair. "What if we classify ourselves as a state militia instead?" His hands steepling in front of himself. "Just as a thought if we could convince the courts we'd be technically protected under the constitution. Throw enough money at the problem and it might go away." A slight pause. "Similar concept, different legal precedent."
*
Janet looks absolutely radiant when Howard actually gives her credit, it's rare for men to appreciate the world of fashion design. At least that's what she found. An earlier meeting with Sean pretty much proved that much.
"Ms. Walters wasn't too keen about that, but I guess it's another avenue to check, I can schedule another meeting with a lawyer to test it. But I do like the idea of being a defensive force, that way we don't step on anyone's toes, particularly when we're a not for profit." She does seem to like what Howard proposes, "so…you say I should check on that first?"
*
"Measure twice, cut once." Howard comments while tipping his glass slightly to the side. "Better we exhaust all the options, before we dive into anything." A firm nod of his head as he takes a sip from the glass, a light sigh escaping his lips. "I'm trusting you on this Janet, long as we cross every T and dot every I they'll have no choice but let us operate."
He presses down on a small button build into the desk. "Rich, do me a favor, get Hackman on the horn, we're going to be filing a few new copyrights, and trademarks on The Defenders, and that Artist Shen." Soon after letting go of the button, letting it go silent. His face is hard like granite but there's that slight glint in his eye as he just returns the glass back down onto the table following another drink.
*
Janet listens intently, and nods, looking quite invigorated by the idea of actually making progress and not bowing down. "Yes!! Why can the Fantastic Four do it and we can't? Because we're not a family? I'm sure we'll do it and nobody will be able to say anything." Janet is quite beaming at the prospect as she extends her hand towards Howard, that handshake from before offered again, "I'm so happy you contacted me, Howard Stark, and I am filled with purpose moving forward. I'm sure this will be a great endeavor!"
*
Howard gives a light nod keeping himself grounded somewhat in reality. He's got a bit more grey in his hair this time then when last they met, a bit of clear hair dye going on but he does seem to be on the ball as ever. "Well I would adopt every member, but I've got a feeling that would cause problems down the rode." Said with a complete straight face, between sips of the drink. "And I've got enough trouble picking out Christmas gifts for Tony."
He comes back to a stand, extending back out a lone hand and connecting for the handshake. "Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss you'll land in the stars." A light wink of the eye as he pulls back his hand down to his side. "Just keep your wits on you, don't want too many people catching wind of the plan, or next thing you know we'll be so tied up in red tape you won't be able to tell us from Christmas trees."
*
"Hey…I can get so little, it'll be hard to see me! So the tiniest tree at best, probably more of a Christmas leaf," Janet laughs, as she salutes Howard playfully, and looks for his servant to help her find her way out. "I'll be in touch once I know more, thanks for being a part of this, Howard."
*