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There were a few things from Pepper's time on vigor that she still needed to clean up. Apologies to make, confessions, the like. Janet Van Dyne was on the top of that list. So, she made a phone call, offering dinner, on her, at the nicest restaurant in Manhattan. Pepper had the reservation in her name and is already sitting at a window table when the host will bring Janet over.
Pepper is looking far better than before. Still rail thin, but there is some color in her cheeks and the look of someone who is finally coming back into health. She's in a beautiful blue mod dress, a-line on her skinny frame, and her red hair is done up in the highest of beehives. SHe's already got a bottle of champange chilling and the smile on her face, as she sees Jan approaching, is all guilt and apology. "…Ms. Van Dyne. I… owe you… a thousand apologies."
*
While Janet is never one to decline an invitation to a fancy place on principle, she had even more interest in the call from Pepper. Namely, what happened that time Pepper disappeared when she tried to help her, and why Pepper even bothered calling her after whatever that stunt was. She's a bit confused about the whole affair. On the one hand, it was a failure to help someone she was worried about. On the other, she wasn't sure what sort of relationship if any at all, she held with Pepper.
Janet is dressed in a yellow dress of her own design, a pink headscarf tied around her head, and her makeup immaculately done. The purse she is carrying at her side matches her headscarf. Flower white pattern is beset on both dress and scarf.
"Ms. Potts," Janet says with a bemused look on her face as she's shown to Pepper's table, slowly slipping into her seat. "I'm still not sure how I let you go…I really wanted to help you shake off that…thing. That poison."
*
"I…I know you did…" They are probably no where near hugging friends but, at least, Pepper offers her hand for a brief squeeze of palms before she moves back to the table and slips down into sitting again, having given a proper, warm greeting. "And I know what happened had to be… confusing. I was very sick and very desperate. But… you were just trying to be a friend. For that I never thanked you… and I never followed up as I should have. I am sorry. Truly." Pepper's expression is drowning in shame and guilt about it. This isn't just some glad handing, she's still quite eaten up inside over it all.
*
Janet allows that much of a friendly gesture, she doesn't usually turn a cold shoulder to a friendly gesture. "So long as you're doing better, which by the looks of you seems to be the case, I'm alright with that. Did Mr. Coulson offer any help? I was trying to reach him…"
*
A slight nod is given in turn, "I am. But… cold turkey… it… it wasn't the way to go. I don't know that I could have survived it. Finally found a biochemist who was able to make a compound to help fight it… basically ween me off the stuff. It's a slow process, but it's working. I still shouldn't have left that way, no explanation, no note. I was just so sick…so desperate." Pepper admits quietly, her eyes half dropping, a bittersweet smile on her perfectly painted red lips. "It never should have happened. And after I was so rude… before…'"
*
Janet nods slowly as she listens along, trying to comprehend everything. It sure seems like Pepper got back on the right track in the end. She seems to be willing to move on in the end, and just grins playfully, "well, tabloids seem to support the theory one way or another, so it was an honest mistake, I assume you meant no offense."
*
A faint smile crosses her lips again, "I… I knew what I was doing, getting out. I had an extra dose hidden away. I used it… that wasn't your idea at all, to let me out. Don't ever question yourself or blame anyone but me, alright? Just know it's done now. Like me or hate me… it's done." Pepper states firmly, like someone riding themselves of a bad relationship, trying to force herself only to remember the bad things but still faintly in the shadow of everything that happened.
*
"Wait…that's how you got out? You had a dose and it gave you an ability…?" If anything, Janet seems a bit relieved of all things, "I thought something was wrong with me! Sheesh, that explains it…" she shakes her head, and then reaches to squeeze Pepper's hands, "I heard you got yourself a serious promotion, so I guess it all turned out for the best? Now you gotta tell me, were the board all red in the face? Did they try to treat you like a secretary? How is it over at Wayne's?"
*
A too-quick nod comes to Pepper's head as Janet asks how she got out, "Y-yes… Vigor, it gave people powers? You didn't hear that? It made my voice almost irresistible. I could give commands and people had to follow. So… so I did. It wasn't you at all! But it's done and over now…" Pepper smiles a bit sifter to the woman, a hint of relief in her eyes as Janet actually seems more relaxed herself. She half laughs at the squeeze of her hands and all the other questions. "Yes, well, it's been… a bit of a challenge. Everyone's so angry. Some threatened to walk out. I thanked them for their service and said we'd get along fine without. Things are still shaking free…"
*
"I was just worried I was losing it…like I told you before," Janet now lowers her voice, "I was an Avenger, I deal better with supernatural reasons than most…" she sighs as Pepper relates the walkout threats, "yeah, because a woman in an executive role means the end of days, right? So, so, so…arrrgh! I wish I could punch the guy who told you that…"
*
A slightly deeper laugh escapes her throat, "Not to mention the guy who hired an assassin to try and take me out. But, he was embezzling and he knew I'd already caught it. It's… a mess. It'll work out fine, though. I just need to prove them wrong, and I will." Pepper states with a surprisingly confident smile. She believes in her hard won skills. "And YOU? How are *you* these days?"
*
Janet's playful anger quickly dies down with the last bit about a guy hiring an assassin. Suddenly she's quite serious, and collected too. "Ms. Potts, you should give me his name…that is a crime. I deal with criminal bastards like him better than the law." Asked about how she's doing, Janet leans back in her seat, "working on creating a new team, one that unlike the Avengers, will not be forced to stand down because of stupid politics of stupid men."
*
A slight chuckle escapes Pepper's lips at Janet's grumbling about stupid men and their politics, but her blue eyes certainly have an understanding glint to them. "Was it really just men that took down the Avengers? And he's already been handled. In jail, both he and the want to be assassin. I'm perfectly fine. I got a new roommate. I'm not overly worried. It'll be *fine*. You must tell me about this new team?" And the first plate of appetizers arrive. Meats, cheese, fine bread…
*
"Well…it was politics," Janet mutters, it's quite apparent from her tone of voice how she's still livid the Avengers were disbanded, "Soviets felt the Avengers were the US signaling it's about to take over the world, so United Nations made President Kennedy disband us, and we all know what happened to him…" yes, Janet is about the only person who thinks if the Avengers were around, Kennedy's life would have been saved. "I'm glad that idiot is in jail." Janet pauses to take a few bites from the appetizers, taking a moment to savor the taste, before offering, "the new team will be called the Defenders, and that will be our focus, so no Soviet could claim we are looking to attack anyone."
*
An approving nod comes from Pepper, and she takes just a moment to motion the waiter over. "Order whatever you want. I'll be getting the sirloin, medium rare… " She offers to the waiter, who opens a menu for Janet, letting the woman pick a dish before disappear into the woodwork again. Now Pepper can fully concentrate on the woman and their conversation. "Well, at least you get to build it all yourself, this time, from the ground up. On your terms. Isn't that better anyway?"
*
"Not entirely myself, Howard Stark is a big part of it…but we'll make it work. I got some precious experience with the Avengers. I even took down a freak who wanted to burn the world in a nuclear holocaust. We did good work on the Avengers," Janet sighs, the topic rather depressing for her, as she orders alcohol before food, a Manhattan this time. "I can't wait to be back out there making a difference."
*