InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Do not think of blind walruses"

Pepper Potts (Iron Man) (pepperedsnark) wrote in utr_logs,
@ 2008-04-30 23:42:00

Entry tags:

doctor strange, pepper potts

Who: Pepper Potts and Stephen Strange
When: Tonight
What: Having dinner
Where: Somewhere in LA
Warnings: Uh. Well it's us but I dunno.

Pepper wasn't quite sure about this, and most of her was flailing internally and telling herself to just kind of shut the door in his face and go and hide. Mostly because of Sophie's words about her and Stephen. And she wasn't quite sure which was more odd. The fact that they had some relationship in the future, or the fact that it was 16 years in the future and they were still having some sort of fling.

For once she wasn't wearing a business suit, instead a nice dress. Apparently she wore a lot of those since she was some kind of actress now. And her home was big, much too big for her but what could she do? So she waited for Stephen to come like he said he would.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-01 06:21 am UTC (link)

Stephen wasn't laughing at her internally, only mildly amused at her behavior. He always thought of her as a bit high strung inside while maintaining that cool exterior. God knows Stark drove her crazy enough without him adding to it.

"France is very beautiful at night, especially the lighting here." There were more than likely beggers and thieves about, but they wouldn't have to deal with that. He blinked when she was thinking as he read a few of her thoughts, though he wouldn't let her know he had. It's a shame she had not seen the world by now. "Are you starving now or should we walk for a little while?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-01 06:24 am UTC (link)

Mildly amused by her behavior would be enough to send her running if she knew. She just didn't like being laughed at. Sure she was cool and calm and snarky on the outside with people who needed it but when it came to herself, she was always freaking out and nervous. "We're.. very high up.." she noticed, but didn't seem to mind so much.

She shook her head, "No not starving.. we can walk a little while though I have no idea where we're going, like I said.." that's when she noticed she was still holding onto his hand, "Sorry.." she mumbled and pulled her hand away.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-01 06:43 am UTC (link)

"I have an idea of where we should go. We'll walk from here to...oh. Yes, we are," he said as he looked down. "Hmm, a minor miscalculation easily rectified." And he snapped his fingers and transported them to the ground in the blink of an eye.

She'd pulled her hand out of his, which made him feel as if he trespassed into her space and it was unwanted, but he didn't say anything. "We're on the Champs-Elysee, and straight ahead is a string of locales and shops. The city looks like it's just coming to life here, and I'm sure we'll blend in smoothly."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-01 06:51 am UTC (link)

She managed not to fall over as they were suddenly down on the ground, "Woah.. huh. Neat.." she smiled at him. She hadn't meant to make him feel like he'd trespassed, she just figured he didn't still want to be holding her hand. She had a lot of inadequacy issues, especially now she guessed. "Sounds.. good to me. You know better then I do.." she gave a small laugh.

Then she crossed her arms in front of her chest and started to walk with him down the road. "Did you.. live in France or something?" she was awful and never knew what to ask anyone.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-01 07:02 am UTC (link)

Stephen sighed; her behavior actually bothered him because he knew how it used to feel that way. He had gotten to be more outgoing when he'd had several decades to culminate his personality into something more robust than the ass he used to be. "Pepper, you're going to have to loosen up a bit if you're going to enjoy this date. Don't feel like anything is expected of you. Just enjoy yourself." Then he punctuated it all with, "I'm not Tony Stark."

He tucked his hands back into his pockets, though he walked a little close to her, "No, never lived here. Traveled quite a lot. I tend to not stay in one place often enough to set up a residency, although I will have to change that since I'm expected to be a surgeon at Kent."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-01 07:14 am UTC (link)

Date. There was that word again. "Is it? ... I mean a .. date?" she sighed and rubbed her forehead. "I'm sorry.. Doctor Strange it's just.. I'm still getting used to being here and everything being upside down and then Tony's .. daughter she just.. she confused me. I know nothing's expected of me but it's there.. looming.. in the distance.. I wasn't good at this sort of thing in the first place.." she rambled on.

She nodded a little, "Right.. in New York.. I miss New York.. New York was good.." she liked it there. Except well now Tony was there. So maybe LA was for the best.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-01 07:38 am UTC (link)

"It's not going to be much of one if you don't relax," was his answer to that question. He wasn't exactly sure it was what he'd term a date, but he was taking her out as a friend who he did find fairly attractive...maybe it was one after all. "Doctor is terribly formal. You can call me Stephen," he said, waving his hand in the air. "Do you think his daughter was serious? Maybe Stark put her up to it. The future isn't set in stone, Pepper. You have to learn this. We're probably changing our fates as we speak."

They crossed the street and were with lines of shops, most of them still open, with a few restaurants and a bistro buzzing with life from a distance. "Then come back to New York. Or if you get lonely, I could move between the places, visit you often..."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-01 07:45 am UTC (link)

Pepper gave a small nod, "All right then.. Stephen.." she was going to try really hard not to call him sir. He wasn't sir even. In any form. She gave him a look, "Tony wouldn't.. I mean not about .. me. I mean.." how to term it. "It's not that he wouldn't tease me, obviously. But.. I don't think he could.. joke about.. me being in a relationship." she didn't think he'd be too jealous for that, but something akin to it. "And no offense, but we're hardly in a place where anything is normal, especially the future. It might be in this world.."

She ran her hand up to the back of her neck and looked down at the road before glancing back up at him. "You.. you'd do that? Come and visit me I mean.." actresses though did have houses in New York, that was very true. "Maybe I'll move back.. if.. Mr. Stark's wife doesn't kill me for doing so."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-01 07:59 am UTC (link)

He would have to admit he didn't know much of her relationship with Tony except what he'd divulged on the surface. He'd never really read either of their minds when they were around one another as he didn't think it was any of his business when it came to them. "No, we're not, but this place is very tame compared to the worlds I've seen and the planes of existence I've traversed."

"I assume I will work with his wife at one point or another, but I wouldn't presume she'd kill you for being a part of his life. You are his friend, after all," he offered. "We all need friends, someone in our lives, or it gets very lonely." Which was something he was accustomed to. "Yes," he said, his smile spreading, "I believe I would do that. It's very easy to accomplish, and even if I weren't gifted enough to be able to travel so efficiently, I would visit regardless."

They walked for a little while longer until they came upon a place that didn't seem to be ransacked with the younger crowd. "What say we order something and take it to the Eiffel Tower? We could watch the city and have a private dinner at the same time."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-01 03:38 pm UTC (link)

Her eyebrows went up a bit, "Well she doesn't like me, that's for sure. And she's pregnant. And from what I hear she almost killed some girl who was giving Mr. Stark grief, so I'm going to stay far away from there as possible.." she nodded a bit, "I know he needs friends but.. I don't think he's worth getting my head taken off for." It was nice to see him smile, she didn't know how many times she'd seen him do it in the past. "Well all right then.. you can visit me any time you'd like.."

Glancing at the restaurant and then back at him, she smiled. "Yeah.. that sounds lovely.." and probably far too romantic, but she wasn't really thinking like that. She'd never been to the tower before either way. She went inside with him and looked at the menu. "Oh right, French.. well let's see.." she was a little rusty.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-01 05:21 pm UTC (link)

"I don't think she hates you. I would presume she loves him very much and given your, ahem, past, she feels threatened, and add in her hormones from her pregnancy, it could mount to what appears to be seething hatred. She'll calm down sometime, I'm sure. I'm sure you remember what it was like when you used to have him all to yourself and then other women would step in to try and take your place, whether they were meaning to or not. A woman in love will always want to be the only one he ever needs. Gives her purpose," he said, his eyes scanning the menu. Doctor Strange could be very intuitive when he chose to be, even on affairs such as these. Not that he had loads of experience in this kind of personal matter.

"But you are important to him in the role of a friend, and I'm sure one day she'll understand. While Stark is many things, he is very loyal to friends and loved ones. Ah, this is what I was looking for," he said as he located what he wanted on the menu. When the waitress arrived, Stephen directed her to make their order to go before he set to order a few things in French, including a bottle of very expensive wine. He'd conjure everything they needed as far as a table and utensils once they arrived at the tower.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-02 07:05 am UTC (link)

Pepper gave a small little nod, "Yeah.. well.. we'll see about that I suppose." and she knew that she wasn't really needed anymore. And she had to be fine with that. Eventually. He was right of course, she just wished that she had had more time to get used to this whole thing without it being shoved down her throat. Of course she let him order because she didn't know what she was doing.

Instead she stuck her hands in her pockets and then waited for the food. It didn't take very long thankfully. "Ah well.. ready when you are? I mean if we're.. going there.. and not walking.. which I assume.. yeah. Shutting up now." she rocked a little on her heels and looked up at him.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-02 07:57 am UTC (link)

Tony might not have needed her anymore, but he was sure Pepper wouldn't be alone here. Not if he could help it. It wasn't like him to abandon friends when they needed him.

Once the food came out, Stephen took it and paid for it all, graciously thanking the waitress and paying promptly for the food before Pepper could offer. He'd asked her out; it was his honor. When they were safely out of sight, he shrank the cartons of food down so small that they could fit in his breast pocket of his coat. Pepper could be absolutely cute when she seemed confused. "I shall teleport us there, then conceal us from plain sight once we are there." A few hand motions and the two of them were transported from the Champs-Elysee to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Once they were there, something that looked vaguely like a fog spread around them, encasing the entire top of the tower, but not obstructing their elegant view in the least.

A few conjured items were needed: table and chairs, utensils and glasses. The place now resembled the perfect romantic getaway as he took out their food and returned it to normal size in the center of the table for them. Stephen pulled out her chair for and bowed, "Dinner awaits us," and he waved a hand at the empty chair.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-02 08:04 am UTC (link)

It was a change being with a gentleman. Of course she always seemed to be steered towards the bad kind of guy, or at least bad for her. At least Stephen knew how to treat a woman. And she hadn't even said anything about him paying. Though to be honest? It was mostly because she didn't have any kind of French money. And he obviously did. She put her hand in his again as they were teleported up to the Eiffel Tower.

Her eyes widened as she looked around, gasping a bit. "Oh wow.. I.. wow.." she was kind of speechless. "It's so beautiful up here.." even better then the archway. Oh right. Food. She sat down in her chair, smiling at him. "Thank you.. for.. all of this.."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-02 08:21 am UTC (link)

If she'd known him before he'd become the sorcerer supreme, she wouldn't have recognized him. He was bitter and callus towards others' suffering, even if he was a doctor. "Isn't it?" he smiled and slid her chair in. "You're quite welcome, Pepper. You deserve a quiet evening to gather yourself. The transition must be difficult," as he was sure from the way she'd spoken on the forum and the things they'd already discussed during the course of the night. He moved to sit then uncorked the bottle of red wine, filling both glasses for them. "Quiche, bread, butter, nothing too fancy. Something simple for us tonight to share in as friends." He was pleased she was happy with the view and his efforts.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-02 08:27 am UTC (link)

She didn't want to make it seem like she wasn't able to function without him. Even if that was possibly the case. So she just waved her hand a bit, "I'm fine.. really.." even if she wasn't. At least not completely. "How about we don't mention his name.." ever again. "Anytime tonight okay? Just.. whatever else. Not him.." she reached out and took her glass and took a sip. "Anything's better then sitting at home and eating pizza.." she mused with a smile. Then she moved to help him get all of the stuff out of the boxes, since well it was just natural for her to do it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-02 08:44 am UTC (link)

"No, not at all. Tonight is ours." This was probably the most he'd smiled in years, since he had to spend every waking hour devoted to keeping a mystical balance with dimensions and any number of things going on in their universe. It was nice to have a break from all of that for a change. "Next time, we'll have a real pizza made in Italy. Sicily has several places that come to mind." He busied himself helping her set their food out and putting a slice of the quiche on her plate, arranging bread and setting the butter out. "Other than that topic, does this mean any other is fair game?" he asked as he rolled out his napkin. "Do you believe that it's like Sophie said, that it will be us?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-02 08:52 am UTC (link)

She laughed a little, "Italy really has pizza? I kind of thought that it was just.. beneath them almost to have such a thing since .. it's yet another thing us Americans stole and used it as our own.." but if he said there was pizza, then she'd get pizza with him. "Maybe we should.. I don't know.. go to every country and try food from every one? Though I'm not sure that'd be good for my figure." though there she was, grabbing food and starting to eat like she hadn't eaten in years. "Sure, if you have something to ask.." and of course he had to ask that. She kind of blinked at him, "I.." she began, "I don't.. it's 16 years in the future and we're just... I don't know what we are, she wasn't exactly forthcoming." she paused, "And.. well she was lying about the one thing.. I just.." she trailed off. She didn't know whether to feel glad that things would be better, or something else because it was 16 years in the future and she was still... almost single. And didn't have a family. Still.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-02 09:33 am UTC (link)

He took a bite of the quiche, "What we have here is an Americanized version. Italian immigrants in New York brought the idea over, but yes, they do have pizza. But I much prefer the real thing than what you find in America. Fresh roma tomatoes and cheeses...it doesn't get any better than that." He finished the bite and took a swallow of wine. "You propose a cuisine tour?" Stephen tilted his head as he considered the idea, "Sounds intriguing, though as an actress, I'm sure you have a personal trainer who'd be more than willing to keep that from happening." Though she'd be more likely to gain a ton of weight eating rich Americanized versions than the real things.

"Yes, that. One thing that you must understand with me is that time doesn't have real constraints on my physical form any longer." He took another swallow of wine as he let that sink in. "What I mean is my physical age isn't representing my chronological age."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-02 04:17 pm UTC (link)

Pepper mm'd a bit, "That does sound good.. and as far as some.. trainer goes. I can't act, so I'm sure this whole actress thing will go away soon. Then maybe when we go some place to eat I can look for a job there.." sounded nice enough. She wasn't quite sure if that was a yes on his part, so she left the idea and decided to just focus on eating.

She listened a bit and then nodded some, "So.. I'll get older but you won't.. I guess that explains.. some things." Sixteen years must seem like a blink of an eye to him. "How old are you then?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-02 05:40 pm UTC (link)

"I think you're a wonderful actress," he said offhandedly. He knew so many times how her calm exterior was nowhere near the tumultuous feelings that raged behind her eyes half the time when it came to Stark. He thought about how she'd always looked at Tony, then Sophie's words came to mind and he wondered if it was true. Which meant that she'd one day look at him with the same passion and love she'd given that man for so many years.

"The ravages of time will not affect my body, no." He took another bite. "I'm seventy-seven years old."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-02 05:50 pm UTC (link)

Her eyebrows raised, "Oh right? Good at pretending not to give a damn about anything? I guess if that's acting, I'm pretty good. I guess we'll see when it comes to playing another person.." but she was smiling though. She just didn't think she was going to do well at all. She was better at data entry and everything else.

Seventy-seven. Pepper looked almost impressed, "Well you look.. very well for seventy seven." she smiled a little again. "Well.. I.. have you done.. that.. I mean.." she wasn't quite sure what she was trying to say. "I know it's not .. okay.. being with someone.. who.. won't die.. watching them.. die."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-02 06:03 pm UTC (link)

"Good at letting others see the emotions you want them to see. That is what an actress is, after all. Pretending, falling to a role that isn't your real one," he said, the corner of his mouth quirking. He was always good at shielding his own feelings.

"Thank you," and he'd been about to take another bite of food when she'd mentioned something about watching someone die. "I'm used to death. It's been a part of my life since I was young. First my sister, then my brother, my parents, all unfortunate accidents or illnesses. But you never accept it. You get used to it, but I still have a difficult time accepting." He twirled his fork between his fingers and stared at it. "That's the price of being me, but despite all of that, being in love with someone is worth the risk of watching them die someday."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pepperedsnark
2008-05-02 06:19 pm UTC (link)

"Suppose you're right.." well then she guessed she really was an actress of sorts. He was pretty good at hiding his own feelings. Honestly, she couldn't read him at all. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Probably bad. She listened, eating her food as she did so, because really, that made sense. Never accepting it. "You think so?" she wasn't quite sure that was the case. But then she'd never dealt with this sort of thing before.

"I guess so.. if you really love them.." she sipped her wine and sighed. "Sorry, this is kind of morbid right?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sorcsupreme
2008-05-03 02:33 am UTC (link)

"It's not morbid since we're discussing our supposed future." He'd busied his hands by tearing a piece of the bread off and started to spread butter with precision. He'd gained the old use of his hands when he was brought here. From the way he moved them, and even when casting spells, one could tell he was very good with his hands to a degree of an insane amount of accuracy. "I know you said not to mention him anymore tonight, but there's a question I have to ask if you'll permit me." After he took a bite of the bread, he wiped his mouth and prepared the phrasing before he spoke. "Do you think you could ever love someone else as much as you love him? To give another a chance to earn that kind of fierce loyalty and passion he has?"