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It's been a rather busy day for Carol Danvers, aka Warbird, aka Air Force Colonel-turned-SHIELD Agent. After all, stopping a horde of crazy Russian superapes and their boss as well as some villain using cold rays isn't exactly your typical afternoon. Well, except maybe for Carol, because she's who she is.
In any event, Carol Danvers is just casually sitting in the cafe because 1) she needed to get a bit of a break and 2) Peggy asked her to meet here for coffee. Which, well, coffee and a bagel were just what Carol was going to have /before/ all the craziness started, but now that it's resolved, coffee and bagel it is, though Carol is mainly just having the first. Bagels can wait for Peggy to arrive.
*
*Completely innocent of all plotting, of course*, Peggy invited Tony out for coffee because it'd been a long time and it was safer to do that on neutral territory for both of them. She also invited Carol out because, really, does Peggy do ANYTHING without some plotting behind it? Even ever so pregnant as she is right now, she's still a business and social director and steps into the room, looking around with tired dark eyes that are already slightly glimmering in amusement. She waves as she sees Carol, walk-waddling over. She's getting to the waddle stage. No one should dare tell her that. "You in one piece? I… heard some reports."
*
All Tony did today was oversee the continuing repairs on his building…they're nearly finished…work on v.2 of the Iron Man Suit, attend some supremely boring meetings, and have a couple of drinks. And now he's meeting 'Aunt' Peggy for coffee, as it has been a little bit since they last spoke…and the widget he was inventing for her got stolen. Fun times.
He arrives just in time to hold the door open for the pregnant Peggy, "If it's a boy, you're naming him 'Anthony', right? I mean, it's a good name…just saying." As she moves over to tall, blonde, drink of water, he murmurs, "I take that back. If I ever have a kid, I may have to name her 'Peggy'…"
*
Carol grins and stands up, giving Peggy a hug, "Hey, yes, well, it was a little dicey, but not so bad. I think Fitzsimmons is going to have a field day analyzing the goodies I brought them though." She laughs a little, "But I think I've done enough to earn a little bit of time off." Then she looks over Tony and blinks, then looks sidelong at Peggy, giving her the /look/. She knows the look.
However, after Peggy gets The Look, Carol gives a friendly smile over to Tony, "Hi, I'm Carol. Carol Danvers." And with that, she extends a hand towards Tony, giving him a once-over.
*
"…I think that is a perfectly fine deal. I'll talk to Daniel about Anthony, if you name your first Peggy. Hm? Peggy is a *fine* name." Oh yes, Peggy is a MOOD today. Self assured and a little bit amused, mainly because she finally managed to get Carol and an elligble man in the same room at the same time. She's been plotting this for ages. "Sorry, did I not mention that I invited Tony along? He's practically my nephew and we hardly ever get to catch up. I figured it'd be nice of us all to have some coffee. Well… Tea. I don't know that coffee is quite something I have the taste for now. Tony, do you care to buy? Proper gentlemen buys for ladies, yes?"
*
Tony takes the offered hand and gives it a squeeze and a shake. "Tony Stark. It's quite a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Danvers. Can I call you 'Carol'? Let me guess…December Birthday?" But before he can go too far, Peggy reins him back just a touch. "I think this is the first time anyone's ever called me a 'Proper Gentleman' so just for that, I'm happy to buy. You've got a tea," and he looks back to Carol, "What can I do for…get for you?"
At least he's only had a couple of drinks and isn't yet soused. The coffee may even help.
*
Carol nods a bit, looking somewhat wary, though she smiles a bit, "Actually, no, June. About as far from December as you can get, but sure… you can call me Carol." She hmms a bit, "Coffee for now, I think. I definitely wouldn't mind that at all."
*
A slightly deeper frown crosses Peggy's lips as something in her head realizes that Tony has probably had a few. Even if he's not soused, it's something in his step. And she thought he'd been getting off of it. The things she misses being kidnapped for several months. Well, too late now. She steps to the chair next to Carol and lowers herself down into it, exhaling a little breath as she's rather happy to be off of her feet. "Tony is… a bit… wild, but he's a good man deep down. I've known him since he was practically a kid." Peggy recommends gently.
*
"Coffee…" Tony looks to Carol, and then to Peggy, "And tea. Got it. Should be able to handle that order, I think." He gives both women one of his 'charming' smiles and saunters over to place the order. He'll make sure to get himself a coffee…and he may choose a few sweets form the bakery counter to add to the order. After all, having just coffee in a social situation with two lovely women means that it will end far too quickly.
It also gives Peggy a chance to talk him up to Carol. Right?
*
Carol glances at Peggy, after Tony goes up to the counter, "A 'little' wild, huh?" She arches a brow, "I mean, he seems okay, but I've heard some of the stories… a little wild is a bit of an understatement Pegs." She doesn't seem completely /against/ the idea… but it's not going to be the easiest sell, that's for sure.
*
A slight sigh escapes Peggy's lips, voice dropping as well as something in her mind triggers about this all and she is intelligent enough to realize it MIGHT not be a good idea. "This… may have been awful of me, but he quit the bottle back in the fall. Or so I thought. I… am now wondering if I was wrong about that. It would have been something you had in common. And you are both actually work-a-holics, of your own sorts. He IS a good man, Carol… I'll stand behind that phrase. Good and brilliant. Just… sometimes so brilliant he needs to shut off. You know the sort." Peggy isn't exactly taking Tony up, she's just being honest.
*
Tony has an incredible tolerance, built up over the years, no doubt. He's perfectly lucid at the moment, but maybe a little looser in the tongue. It doesn't take too long for him to bring over a plate of baked goods. "I figured that we might be hungry and coffee by itself just seems…wrong. And I don't smoke," which may come as a surprise due to his many other vices. "Coffee and tea are on their way. I had them brew a fresh pot for us since who knows how long it's been sitting here?"
Dark eyes flicker between the two, "Oh, don't stop chatting just because I'm here. So, what are we talking about?"
*
Carol blinks a little bit in surprise, and actually smiles, "Well, that's very nice of you, Tony… to be perfectly honest, I'm rather famished. Had a bit of a busy morning." She shoots a "does he know?" look to Peggy, before reaching over and grabbing a danish from the plate. "I used to smoke a bit, back when I still flew fighter jets, but quit that a while back."
*
Just the slightest shakes of Peggy's head in the negative, as she gets that questioning look. She's studied up on sobriety, since Carol's revelation. She understands things about the program, including not revealing someone's status. "…Food… actually is quite wise. Not that I could ever turn it down right now. I'm at the constantly famished point of child making, it seems." She reaches out to pick up one of the pastries herself, smiling quietly.
*
"Eh, I can be smart sometimes," Tony grins and waits for the two to choose their snacks before he takes one. "Never really got into it. There's the occasional Mary Jane, but that's not quite the same. And wait, you flew fighter jets? When? In Korea?" They allowed that? "That's fascinating! How'd you get that gig?" He leans an elbow on the table and rests his chin in that hand to listen.
Peggy gets a glance before he looks to her belly, "I don't remember you ever eating like a bird and if you were going to try that now, I'd have to…well…I don't know what I'd do since you could probably flip me over your head even now, but I'd glare at you sternly."
*
Carol smiles wryly, "Nah, they wouldn't let me fly jets in combat. Against regulations. Like enemy fighters care who's the one shooting them down. And I did it by being the best, Tony." She grins, and gives a sidelong look to Peggy, "Might have had someone to inspire me along the way, too. That definitely helped."
*
"Their loss." Peggy states flatly to the comment about they wouldn't let Carol fly in combat, shaking her head quietly. She takes another good bite of her pastry, pulling it apart piece by piece, a wry smile still on her red lips. She seems content to let them speak and hit it off, or not. But things aren't crashing and burning quite yet.
*
"Indeed," Tony agrees. "Although I'm guessing that the government would have felt terrible if -you- were the one who was shot down." There's a bite of his pastry, "We could go flying sometime if you'd like. Although I don't own a fighter jet." Not yet. No real need. At the mention of inspiration, he glances to Peggy, "She -is- pretty amazing, isn't she? Only one I've ever known who could put my dad in his place…including my mother." She didn't have the strongest personality.
"So, if you're not flying now, what keeps you busy? I'm not sure anything can be as exciting as flying."
*
Carol smiles a bit, "Oh, this and that… still doing some consultation work with NASA, regarding their space program. It's actually pretty interesting. And I still go flying when I get the chance, though it tends to be a prop plane more than a jet these days."
*
"Carol and I are work colleagues as well. She's one of the best around I know. I wouldn't trust anyone else when I'm down for the count for a few weeks, all things considered." Peggy motions to her stomach like it was an inconvenient flu virus, or something. It's casual at this point. "And yes, I do have to fight with NASA over her sometimes. It's quite frustrating. But… you two would probably enjoy flying together."
*
"Prop planes I have," Tony comments and looks to Carol as she mentions that she consults with NASA. "Really? Well, good for them. Last I knew, they were quite the Boy's Club, but I'm glad they're coming to their senses. Bet it makes their offices a lot prettier too." Because Tony has to be Tony.
At Peggy's explanation as well, he takes a moment before giving a knowing "Ahhh." Then he adds, "So you do that as well. Which department? She tried to get me involved, but I decided I needed to stay out of that part of the 'Family Business'" Sometimes he has to forcibly push away the resemblances some say he and his father share.
*
Carol hrmms, "Well, there's quite a few women doing the programming and math there, so we might just beat the Russians after all." She grins a bit, "Too many Boy's Clubs out there, but if you've known Peggy that long, you know all about those I'm sure." With that, she takes another bite of her danish, casually avoiding the other question.
*
"Indeed… In fact, I heard their new IBM is almost entirely run by women. It's quite impressive. Of course, SHIELD was ahead of that curve by a decade, so…" Peggy grins, practically peacock style. SHe's proud of her ladies and will always show it. FInally, she pauses as their tea and coffee comes, she murmuring a thanks to the waiter and happily dropping some cream in her tea before she scoops it up between her fingertips to quietly nurse. "I look forward to hearing how your first flight together goes. SHe'll embarrass the hell out of you, Tony. SHe's much better. Sure your ego can take it?"
*
"I've known her since I was a kid," Tony points out before he looks between the two women. If it's a set-up, he seems perfectly fine with it. "You sure about that, Peggy? I said I -had- a prop plane. I never said I'd be flying in it." There's a bright, smug little smile even as he takes a sip of his coffee, black. No need to muddy it up with cream or sugar right now.
"My ego is also healthy enough to take a couple of bruises, and," he slides another glance to Carol, "I think it might be worth it."
*
Carol grins at Tony, "I've landed fighter jets onto a carrier in the dark with a storm raging around me. You sure you want to make that bet?" Well, that's one way to get Carol going, say she might not be the best at flying. Though she hmms, "But, if you do have prop planes, taking one up could be fun. Though I prefer something else if we're actually going to be doing races."
*
"Mm… Should I take my tea to another table, let you two plan some future times together? I'd hate to interfere in the start of a beautiful… Friendship." No, Peggy isn't being subtle at all, but she doesn't care about that. Despite her initial worries about Tony's drinking, this is actually going better than she dreamt.
*
"Impressive," Tony concedes, "And if you wanted to take the plane up, I'm sure we can work that out. But as I said, I prefer to fly in something else." It's not a secret. "Are we racing or just flying? What happens to the winner and the loser?" Because bragging rights are all well and good, but he tends to be a little more High Stakes.
Peggy gets a glance, "Don't you dare. You're the one who set up this coffee meeting, you get to see it through." He's not drunk (yet) and maybe the coffee is helping. He has at least shown that he can stop drinking if he chooses. For a time.
*
Carol chuckles, "Well, if you decide to break out the suit, I think I might just have a surprise for you, Tony." She grins, a bit /too/ confidently, as she gives Peggy a wry expression, "Yes, you're stuck here, you have to see your diabolical ploy all the way through, at least for the first meeting."
At the mention of a wager, she then grins at Tony, "Well, let's see… if /I/ win, it's dinner at the finest restaurant in New York. And of course, you're paying." She sounds pretty confident… maybe /too/ confident.
*
"Oh, fine, fine… I'm not going anywhere. I didn't want to get up anyway." Peggy huffs at both of them, picking up her tea once more, but she can BARELY hide her grin behind the cup as Carol dares Tony to this little contest which is going to end in dinner for them, one way or another. Peggy really looks like the cat who has eaten the canary now.
*
"That's the best way to fly, if you ask me, although there is something to be said about having those stewardesses on airplanes." Totally different sort of travel, of course. "Well, I wasn't going to build a catapult, however fun that might be." Tony grins over his coffee mug at Carol. His eyebrows lift when she starts to name her terms. "Just dinner?" The mug is set down and he lifts a finger to tap at his lips. "And if I win, I get to take you out to dinner at the finest restaurant in New York…and of course, I'm paying."
*
Carol arches a brow, "Well, that does sound interesting, though I have to wonder, what exactly is the difference. Aside from the fact that you still think you're going to win?" She sips her coffee, giving Peggy a look that says she's not going to get it. Just yet. Maybe later. Depending.
*
Peggy keeps herself dead quiet for the moment, still smiling, trying to look innocent about it. She just sips her tea before finally chiming in, very quietly, "You will both have to tell me how it goes."
*
Tony slides a glance to Peggy, "You mean you won't have the place bugged ahead of time so you can see and hear for yourself?" Maybe he wouldn't put it past her? Or it's to give her an idea? "Well, my other thoughts probably weren't the best to be offering for a first date…" or maybe it is, depending on how well the dinner goes. "If you have other ideas I'm open to hearing them."
*
Carol smiles wryly, "Oh, she's going to be watching with binoculars from behind the rose bushes, are you kidding?" She arches a brow, "Don't get too far ahead of yourself, Iron Man, you still have to win that race. If you can." A sly look at that, as she definitely has that 'I know something you don't know' look.
*
Peggy is trying to hide that look as well, but she probably knows WAY more about Carol's file than Tony does. "No, no…I am not THAT much of a dottering old aunt. Besides, I do have my own family AND job right now. I just expect a full report afterwards. I think one or the both of you can manage that." Peggy states with the smallest, encouraging huff.
*
Tony taps his finger on the side of his coffee mug, "All right, fine. Dinner and if I win, drinks back at my place." She asked so he went there, even with Peggy right there. "A Full Report? You sure about that?" is asked before he leans back in his chair, "Even if I don't, I still win something, I think. Although losing bragging rights might sting."
*
Carol hmms, "Well, as long as drinks don't involve anything more than either Coke or ginger ale, I can live with that." She smiles a little wryly, "For me, anyway. What you drink is entirely up to you." She then flicks a look over to Peggy, then chuckles despite it all, "Happy now?"
*
A deeper smirk, "Neither of you are technically family. A full report to… a point, at least." Peggy demands, her eyes still glimmering. She then takes another good sip of her tea and then looks up, catching sight of the clock on the wall, "Bloody hell… that went fast. Carol, we still have the meeting back at the office which is supposed to start in 10 minutes. I… hate to break you two up, but work is work." Peggy states flatly, this clearly not an excuse. She just lost track of time. She takes one last gulp of her tea then pushes herself up into standing.
*