|
  |
A gleaming white limo with chrome wheels drives up to the fixer upper Avenger's mansion a little after noon on Sunday. Hopefully Carol was home, but if not, Pepper could at least drop a note and some flowers. "Victoria, keep it running for five minutes. If I don't come back out then, I'll give a call later and you can take the afternoon…" She comments to her driver/body guard. She then pulls herself elegantly out of the back of the limo, a bag of food in one hand and lovely daisys in the other. Pepper looks like a fresh flower herself, red hair perfect, a brilliantly lovely cream sun dress on her willowy frame. She heads up to the door and rings whatever bell there is before knocking. Just in case it doesn't work.
*
The doorbell rings, then… starts smoking slightly. The knocking, however, does get Carol's attention, as she was working on the foyer a bit. Wearing just a worn T-shirt and a pair of beat up jeans and sneakers, she has her hair tied back with a bright blue band, and smiles, "Oh, Pepper! Hey, sorry about that, I thought I got the wiring right this time." She concentrates, and the would-be fire just goes *pfft* leaving a few traces of smoke. "Come on in, I've been working on the place." And it does look far less of a fixer-upper than it did before, but apparently Carol isn't quite an electrician yet.
*
The redhead gives a faint, warm, if slightly (weirdly) guilty smile as she offers the daisies first, and then she motions with the bag. "I heard you were renovating things up here. I suspect you lose track of time when you're working, just like I do… it's well after lunch. Katz Deli sandwiches? Enough to fatten us up and make us want to puke after and not regret a single minute." Pepper states with a somewhat wider smile, definitely not joking about the sandwiches. The scent is on the wind now too.
*
Carol Danvers smiles, "Well, certainly Pepper. And… well, thank you." She blinks in surprise with the daisies, then nods at the redhead, "Come on in, and definitely bring those sandwiches. I have some iced tea here if you wanted it, or lemonade. Despite the outward appearances, the place is really coming along." And it is, actually, though there definitely is still work to be done… there's advantages to having super-strength AND not really needing more than an hour or two of sleep.
*
The redhead looks around, quietly impressed, her smile lingering softer than before, "It's…looking really nice. And I thought you guys said it was a wreck. I … cannot imagine the amount of work you and Steve have put in already." Pepper shakes her head, gently making that weird, awkward sort of small talk that she's pretty good at making, but still means she's dancing around a subject. SHe lets Carol lead her through to the kitchen, "Iced tea would be lovely. And there is a Monte Cristo and a Reuben in there. Take either, I really love them both… and fries to split. So we can pretend to watch our figures."
*
Carol smirks, "Not quite as much of a worry for me, right now." She doesn't exactly elaborate… maybe it's superpowers, maybe it's her being wrecked by the Iceberg Tony. But she's looking pretty strong about it as she gets two glasses and pours out the iced tea from the fridge, "Well, I focused on the main rooms people will see first. Believe me, it's still a bit of a dive, but there's only so many hours in a day." She glances over at Pepper, and smiles, "Well, you brought them, you choose which one you want, or should we go half and half on each?"
*
"…you are brilliant, did anyone ever tell you that. Halves. Best of both worlds." Pepper pokes through a few cabinets to find some plates, but eventually pulls out two, so she can dish out their sandwiches and the fries. Pepper still had to worry about HER figure, even if she was elegantly perfect as ever. Really, just the sort of girl you love to hate. If she wasn't so damn nice. She nods towards the back area, "..Seems there's a nice back garden, shall we sit in the air? I… I wanted to talk. Check in on you. I… heard about Tony." Pepper offers, as delicately and quiet as possible. Her expression seems genuinely concerned but there is a weird line of guilt in her features too.
*
Carol was about the pour the iced tea into the second glass, then she tightens her grip at the mention of Tony. Fortunately, she catches herself before she spills the tea into the now-crushed glass. Not even shards. Just… powder.
Apparently someone isn't quite moving on yet, as she bites her lip, "Damn. Okay, yeah, let me get another glass, and sure, we can talk out back in the open air. I'd prefer it that way." She gives Pepper a smile she doesn't exactly feel, but she gets the iced tea and leads the way to the back. Which is… a bit weed-infested, but not bad. Will be better once the groundskeepers are set loose. And they get groundskeepers.
*
That was *not* the reaction Pepper expected. A trace of guilt deepens on her features as she looks over at her friend. They were friends, right? If new friends? Maybe not any more, but Pepper tries to keep her smile in place, still balancing those plates. "Goodness. I… I'm sorry.. maybe I shouldn't have…brought it up, but… Well, take a breath. We'll sit down… Try and relax…" Pepper coaches gently, waiting for Carol to get another glass.
Then they are headed outside. The weeds don't seem to totally bother Pepper, it's early in the spring. SHe settles at one of the old patio chairs that rests there, setting the plates out on the glass top table between them. Her pale blue eyes search Carol's face in quiet worry. "…I… I just heard, last night. God, Carol…I'm sorry. He's…. a thoughtless asshole, sometimes."
*
Carol sits in the nearby chair, "It's okay Pepper, it's not /your/ fault." She sighs, "What kills me about this is… he actually was getting more driven, more mature. I thought it was good, and tried to encourage it." She then gives Pepper a wry expression, "And then the asshole dumps me." She shakes her head, taking a drink of the tea. "I'm okay, now… for the most part. It's pretty hard to deal with. Especially when he had the nerve to ask if we could still be seen in public together occasionally." She looks at Pepper, "Which, well, that pretty much clocks in what his opinion of me is, so to Hell with him." And wow, Tony is still breathing.
*
With that news, Pepper clearly not having gotten the whole low down of the situation, blue eyes go wider in a touch of anger FOR Carol. "…What?! God…Tony, you're such an… IDIOT." Pepper sighs deeply, suddenly not quite hungry for her sandwich. She does pick up the iced tea, though, taking a deep sip of the stuff as she sinks back in her chair. "He… he's a mess, still. Internally. He told me that he wasn't good enough for you, that you deserved better. Which is, honestly, probably true. Especially with the way he did it."
*
Carol snorts, "Well, and here I thought I wouldn't agree with him on anything. Frankly, Peggy owes me a full pardon with work and a fucking raise for the fact this is all HER fault in the first place." She smiles a bit ruefully, "Sorry, you don't deserve to be caught in the middle on this. But on the bright side, at least I think the home office is starting to see things my way."
*
"No…I came to check on you. Because when he told me, I… I couldn't believe it. He's an idiot…" Pepper's lips hover on the edge of something else she wants to say. Something she SHOULD say, fess up to, even if it will make things worse between them. But she cannot find the courage. Perhaps the guilt painted all over her pretty face will give her away, because damned if she's not feeling awful about it. She gives a little poke at her sandwich, "I should have warned you more about him. I thought… maybe he'd changed. Gotten better. Changed his mind." SHe sighs, "And yeah, Carter really does own you ten thousand apologies and an extra week vacation."
*
Carol blinks, looking puzzled at the tone of Pepper, then she narrows her eyes, "Hey, if you want to stick your head in the lion's mouth, I'm not going to try and stop you. But I reserve the right to say I told you so when he decides you're too good for him too." She seems to put things together pretty quick, but then she's a pretty good spy, so that figures. She smiles wryly, "But you should know the score. The real score, and not what he said. Believe me, the last thing I want is him back in any sort of relationship sense."
*
Pep cannot quite meet Carol's eyes as the professional spy easily reads the woman who constantly keeps her heart on her sleeve. Her pale gaze just drops, staring down into the iced tea that Carol was nice enough to pour for her. She exhales quietly, "…logically, I know it's an… Idiotic decision. He slept around on me the last time we dated too. He runs from any real success he has that isn't an invention. He's self destructive and selfish. It's… stupid of me to…" Pepper shakes her head, drowning her words with a deep gulp of iced tea before forcing herself to look up to Carol. "Fine. I'm… Listening. What's the real score? How bad did he fuck this all up?"
*
Carol Danvers shrugs, "Well, I don't know what he said, but it basically went that he was explaining how he was wanting to focus on just his work and research, so he wouldn't have time to have a relationship." She gives Pepper a wry look, "So he said we were done, but if I'd be so kind to maybe appear on his arm once in a while in public that would be great." Her eyes look at Pepper, then she sighs a bit, "Which, I'm guessing he neglected to mention when he wanted to start dating again, right?"
*
Well, that certainly puts a wrench in things. Pepper listens earnestly, not having any trace of doubt on her face about what Carol is saying. It's just not the story she was originally given. Her nose screws up a bit more, jaw setting in momentary anger herself. "He… can I ask how drunk he was? Was he drunk?" Hell, Pepper knows how drunk he was last night. A touch of fallen hope starts cresting its way across her features.
*
Carol Danvers shakes her head, "He didn't seem drunk, that's for sure. He actually seemed pretty sober, for Tony anyway. If he was drunk, well, I'd have made an account for that, but…" She looks at Pepper, "Anyway, that's what happened between us. And hey, don't let my being mad at Tony make you think I'm mad at you." She reaches out a hand towards Pepper, "Seriously, I still think you're a friend."
*
That also seems to surprise Pepper, the redhead looking straight back over to her friend. She stretches her hand out, wrapping small fingertips around Carol's and giving the smallest, most gentle of squeezes. "You… are far too good a friend, you know that? Most women would lose their minds hearing that their friend is going on a date with their ex. And be in the right. Though… hell, Tony has a LOT of explaining to do." Pepper definitely looks a bit mad, and it's not at Carol in the least.
*
Carol snorts a bit, "See, Hera had the wrong idea. Don't beat up innocent women because Zeus is an asshole." She smiles wryly, "There's a definite asshole, here, and it isn't you Pepper. And hey, if he treats you well, more power to you. And I'll be here with iced tea and potato chips when he treats you badly. I'll try to keep that visit to one I told you so, at least." She has a bit of a wry look at that, as if mentally figuring the odds.
*
"You'd be.. more than right to say it every other sentence, if… I actually do this." Pepper is looking awfully torn. Eventually, the sandwiches she brought win out for being a good distraction alone. She sighs and reaches over, scooping up her half of the reuben and taking a good bite of it. That was good. Her eyes shut in approval, relaxing just a touch more. Maybe everything wasn't completely awful. Once she swallows, she starts speaking again. "I'm… glad we can still be friends. ANd there is a very nice lawyer named Matthew to whom I should introduce you…"
*
Carol smiles a bit, "If you like, but I'm just… well, I don't know. But sure, if you want to give him my number, that's fine." She takes the other half of the reuben, and takes a few quick bites, then adds, "A lawyer?" Okay, maybe she's a bit more interested.
*
That interest makes Pepper smile a bit more, "A… really nice one. He's blind, but… one of the best lawyers in New York. And with his heart in the right place. His name is Matthew Murdock. I'll definitely have to make introductions." And that will help Pepper feel a bit less guilty for not dating him herself. It all seems to work out neatly in her mind. She takes another bite of sandwich, sinking back in her chair, finally a bit more relaxed.
*
Carol Danvers listens, then nods, "Sure, why not. He seems like a nice guy from what you said, and I could definitely use one of those now, that's for sure." She grins, finishing off the reuben half as she pulls out the Cristo half, chuckling, "Sorry, I haven't eaten in… well, a while. Sometimes I don't need to so much and I get so wrapped up in renovating this place and everything else…"
*
"Well, you're getting my other half of this too, if you want it. I'm barely going to get through this Reuben. These sandwiches are RIDICULOUS." And Pepper didn't have the super metabolism that Carol did, not by far. She takes another good sip of her iced tea but now seems to fully be relaxing. She happily falls into more casual conversation with Carol about plans for the mansion, work… Anything that isn't men. It actually turns out to be a nice afternoon.
*