Who: Phil Coulson & Pepper Potts & ... special guest? When: Backdated: July 6th, 2012 Where: New York What: 2nd Date Rating: PG
((OOC: Started in an AIM chat due to one of the player's crappy vacation internet.))
Despite the abrupt change in weather, he'd promised Miss Potts a second date and didn't want to put it off any longer, and risk being rude. Phil arranged for two tickets to see "Into the Woods", a musical he'd never personally seen before. He was familiar with the children's fairy tales that were at the center of it, and even found the music and lyrics somewhat catchy. Of course, the ending was somewhat depressing, but perhaps it showed what actually happened in life rather than just fairy tales.
Coulson glanced over at her as the curtain closed, and cleared his throat. "Very grim," he said, shifting a bit in his seat to stretch his legs a little. "But entertaining. Much like life. Did you like it?"
***
"I liked it," Pepper smiled, somehow very satisfied with the, as he'd described it, 'grim' turn the play had taken in its second act. "I always enjoy when someone takes a classic story and turns it on its head." Some of her favorite books did that, and it always broadened her perspective of things and situations. "I think in this case it even throws in a bit of realism; what happens after 'Happily Ever After'? Nothing is perfect, and stories don't end on the last page."
Looking at Phil, Pepper’s smile softened a little. “Thank you for this. I don’t get to come to the theatre often, and I always forget how much I miss it until I’m here. I hope you enjoyed it?”
***
"I did, very much so. As I told you before, I don't see many shows like this. I can count the few I have on one hand." He pondered her question for a moment. "I suppose that we realize that Happily Ever After doesn't ever really happen, or at least how we expect it to. And you're right, stories don't ever really end, do they."
Phil stood, his own soft smile forming. "Thank you again for the company. If you'd like, there's a restaurant around the corner with a bar, we could have a drink or dessert?" He gently took her hand in his, intending on helping her from the seat. "I cleared my schedule for tonight and tomorrow."
There was a beat before he realized what he might have implied with that last statement. "That is," he said quickly, "so that I wouldn't be called into an assignment early tomorrow and have to terminate, I mean ... end the evening before you were ready to end it." His expression turned slightly pained looking, as if hearing how odd his own words were in this situation.
***
“When I was training, I got to see them all the time,” she told him. “Then my schedule got busier and now,” with a shrug she shook her head. There just wasn’t room in her life at the moment. Considering his answer though, her eyes focused on something distant, her mouth turning up.
“No, I don’t think the story ever ends; everyone’s life touches someone else’s, and whether they know it or not, those ripples spread outward and go on forever, and more are added to it. As for Happily Ever After - I believe it’s possible, but it certainly isn’t easy, and it’s all about perspective.” She took his hand, getting to her feet. “Too many people think they need so much to be happy, but the happiest people in the world usually have almost nothing.”
As they made their way out of the theatre, she laughed softly at his faux pas, squeezing his hand. “Dessert sounds wonderful,” she agreed. “Barring an emergency,” she resisted the sudden and intense urge to knock on wood. “I don’t have to be anywhere tonight.” Tomorrow was a different story, but she still had a few hours left until then.
***
"I used to watch more movies," he said, thinking back. "They'd show them sometimes during our downtime in the camps, or on base. Then after, I also got very busy with other work. And my schedule hasn't really slowed down since."
He looked slightly relieved at her laughter, and gave her a faint smile in return, his fingers interlocking with hers as they exited the theater. "I'm afraid I can't clear any emergencies," he said, with an attempt at humor. "If I could, I might have some kind of god-like clearance at my job."
Phil stopped at the entrance to the theater with her. "And before some kind of emergency does happen, and I lose the chance," he stepped in front of her, reaching for her other hand, "I'd like to say once more, thank you. For your patience, above all, and your kindness."
***
Giving him her other hand, Pepper smiled easily. “You really don’t have to thank me, but you’re welcome,” she said. “You know I understand – more than understand – what it’s like to be in a position where your job takes over your life. I suppose I have the advantage of having a job that requires me to communicate with people on a constant basis from all over the world.” She smirked. “And have the patience of a saint.”
It would certainly be nice to pass off emergencies to someone else once in awhile though. “God-like clearance… I wonder where you could get that?” she asked thoughtfully. “Then again, I guess I’d spend my time off wondering if they were doing it right.” She had a terrible time letting go of her own responsibilities.