Tony Stark (in_extremis) wrote in oh_marvelous, @ 2010-09-11 13:55:00 |
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Skirmish
Characters: Open to all! Tag yourselves in.
Setting: New York, New York
Content: Sex and death
Summary: Happy and Pepper are engaged! That means everyone in the entire universe should be celebrating, and Tony was put on earth by wise gods to realize that. Party time, everybody!
There was, allegedly, a guest list. Tony had no idea who was on it, despite not letting Pepper anywhere near him, his office, his inbox, or, occasionally, the whole Tower while he was trying to dutifully organize this endeavour without her having to worry her neurotic little head. That was, unfortunately, the only part of the whole process Tony did clearly remember, and Pepper probably worried more for it. That couldn't be good for the baby. J.A.R.V.I.S., as dictated, was helpfully around to remind Tony that he'd booked a private affair at the Hiro Ballroom, as well as a suite at the Maritime should he wish to dress there.
People still lined up outside Hiro, surprised to be informed 'Sorry, private party' by the thick-necked men flanking the doors, arms folded with menacing conviction. They barely blinked at the rapid flash-flash-flash of cameras that winked through the glass doors at the entrance to the hotel whenever another car pulled to a stop at the curb and some too thin, too perfect, too well dressed body slid free of its rich, leather womb.
Inside the Ballroom, it was a jarring change from the cool blues of the hotel to steamy darkness with flaring red hotspots that barely washed from the hanging paper lanterns as big as a man. The room seemed to go on forever beyond the darkness, the vaulted ceiling curving away out of the light, with engraved staircases leading away to private balconies and new levels of chinoiserie seating to discover. Later, once everyone had been introduced to the extensive cocktail menu and explored something appropriately themed for the space (like the Far East, mixed with shochu and melon liqueur), the darkness would be sliced by lasers and strobes because Tony had promised something radical in return for a performance by the Chemical Brothers. J.A.R.V.I.S. was not present for that contract and could not replay the details of the meeting for Tony's benefit. He made a guess that it was a helicopter, and J.A.R.V.I.S' dry reply was, "Yes, everyone loves helicopters, sir."
Tony didn't really want to be there. Truth was, after he sat through the refresher course of what exactly he had managed to accomplish that week, he was already exhausted. While the people he couldn't remember the names of arrived in a pop-flash of paparazzi light downstairs, Tony delayed as much as possible in his sound-proofed suite to instill as much liquid resolve as he could manage in-- how long had they been there? An hour and a half?
"Don't let me order another martini tonight," he requested of Raven as he slid out of the bathroom, beads of water collected on the face of the repulsor and dripping from his hair down his back,and a towel slung around his waist, "If I see another olive I might puke." Despite the declaration, he took up the glass he had left by the door before stumbling into the shower to empty it with his head thrown back, then a regretful grimace. He had to drop back against the wall for balance, and only with a deep breath and the martini glass pushed well away from him could he roll his head to the side to spot Raven where he left her on the bed. The smile that spread across his face then was slow and stupid, and he considered not for the first or last time just staying up here and ordering a bottle of champagne to the room. He could give Happy a call later and ask if he enjoyed himself.