Who: Tony Stark and Nina Pickering When: August Where: Supermarket What: Another chance encounter Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Complete
“It’s been awhile, I thought you’d given up on shopping for yourself” Nina said as she saw Tony Stark pushing a cart around the store, she’d almost not expected to see him out and about like this again. Though she’d seen enough of him on the television and in papers not to forget about him which she was sure was the point. He had a good PR department.
Tony turned at the sound of the voice, then broke into a smile at the sight of his supermarket friend. “Fancy meeting you here,” he said. “No no, we just got a new set of interns, so I have people to shop for me again.” He teased. Though, it was only half teasing.
Nina laughed, “I am fairly sure grocery shopping for Mr Stark is not in the job description unless you hide it under the ‘Anything else the management deems necessary’ clause” she grinned at him, placing sweet potatoes in her cart.
“That is a very big clause.” Tony agreed, nodding and smirking. “But… hey, are those yams?” he asked, noticing what she put in her cart. “I’ve only ever had yams out of a can. That I know of, anyway.”
“Oh I know, I make sure I get it defined before I sign on to anything now” Nina said, she’d learnt that the hard way. “Yam?” she frowned before realising the American term, “Oh yeah, sweet potato. Out of a tin? Really? I can’t imagine that was a nice experience” she said with a wrinkle of her nose.
Tony stepped forward and picked up one from the produce bin. He examined the outside, then glanced at the ones in her cart. “How do you cook it?” He asked. Hopefully he could glean a little information from this kindly nurse, like he had the last couple of times they’d bumped into one another.
“You can do all kinds of things with it, if you cook it in the oven it’s healthier than a normal jacket potato, you can make sweet potato chips uh...fries with it, boil it for sweet mashed potato - that’s my favourite” she admitted, as she described all the ways you could cook it.
“Mashed, hmm?” Tony asked, turning the potato over in his hands. He raised an eyebrow. “That sounds pretty good. Do you eat the skins?” He was trying to think if that was something he could handle. And did they need spices? He wasn’t sure. He didn’t have many spices in his cupboard at home. Just salt and pepper.
“You can but I prefer to peel mine, makes it easier to mash is all” Nina replied, “And you can flavour them with a little bit of garlic paste if you like garlic or just good old salt and pepper and a little butter” Because she imagined that was going to be the next question.
“Butter.” Tony had garlic, salt, pepper and butter in his place. He put two of the sweet potatoes in his basket, and decided to try them. With some kind of meat. Chicken, maybe? He could fry some chicken in a pan and eat it with the potatoes. Mashed. Because that sounded delicious. “I can do that. Thanks.” He paused for a moment, staring at her. “You’re like my fairy Godmother.”
“Fairy godmother of food? I can live with that” Nina said, “Pretty different to my day job” she grinned. Glad she could be of service, she wasn't an expert but she knew some good meals.
“I dunno about that. You’re a nurse, aren’t you? I’m sure you’ve worked miracles for other people, too, not just for me.” Tony had the utmost respect for those in the medical profession. He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, I should let you get back to your shopping.”
“Not usually by delivering them food though, hospital food isn’t known to be great” Nina grinned, before nodding, “And I should let you get back to yours. Good luck with dinner”
“Thank you.” Tony said, giving her a little salute. “Have a good day.” He turned to head toward the register.
“You too” Nina said with a little wave before she continued with her list.