I'm giving you a night call to tell you how I feel

[liverletdie]

WHO: TONY STARK and KAREN STARR
WHERE: A place for Brunch
WHEN: Tuesday mid-morning
WHAT: Tony Stark being a terrible person and Karen having to deal with the fallout
WARNINGS: SIM is a warning in of itself


[ The place he'd selected was supposed to have the bost mimosas. Armand de Brignac was the cheap mimosa here, which said a lot for his mood. He'd even gotten there early, and settled in, but he hadn't ordered anything, beyond coffee and a drink -- one of the pricier mimosas.

He'd mostly done this just to see her. Memory only did so much, and he knew there would be...competition for what he wanted to do in this world. The problem was going to be the competition. Back home, he knew the players. Oscorp would always be a minor annoyance, and there was Richards' company, but one was speculative, and one was just not even in the same ballpark. It was nice, to have a challenge, even if it made things more difficult. The major players were going to be people he'd have to keep an eye out for, and learn to anticipate. Of course, he was the best -- according to him -- but that was simply fact. Even with the restraints he'd had, Tony Stark was still a force to be reckoned with.

Plus, having Brunch with a beautiful woman?

High on his list of priorities.

He sipped at the mimosa while he waited. Not exactly trying to hide the alcohol, but it certainly wouldn't raise any alarm bells. That was starting to get old. Fast. ]

Comments

[boobwindow]

[ When she arrives for brunch, a waiter leads her directly to the table where Tony's already gotten cozy. She raises a brow, bu thanks the waiter and shrugs off her coat to hand it to him so he can hang it up with the other jackets and coats closer to the entrance. Smoothing down her blazer, she takes a seat across from Tony, crossing her legs. ]

'Morning. Hope you didn't get that much of a head start.

[liverletdie]

Not at all. I just ordered drinks.

[ He paused, and indicated the spread. There was coffee still, plenty of it in a pot on the table. ] Coffee and orange juice.

[ Pointedly not a mimosa. Not that she would know the difference, unless she tasted it. He took another sip of the drink, and leaned back. In his own business casual attire, he looked completely comfortable, and he grinned slightly, when she sat. ]

I hope you didn't have trouble finding the place.

[boobwindow]

Not at all. I've lived here long enough to figure out where things are and how to get there.

[ She'll gladly help herself to the coffee before adding some cream and sugar to it. She lifts the cup to her lips, enjoying that fresh roast smell before she takes a sip. Then she carefully puts it back on the table, leaning back into her chair. ]

You seem to be in high spirits today. Am I imagining that?

[ She can smell the alcohol thanks to super senses. Though it isn't strong, she has to raise a brow as it isn't even close to Happy Hour. ]

[liverletdie]

I always am, at least lately. Everything has been going very well at Starktech.

[ He said, simply, as if it was just the business that left him in high...spirits. ]

Did you settle back in, alright? I heard you were away, thanks to your assistant.

[boobwindow]

[ Starktech might be competition, but it's always for the best imPort companies are faring well. ]

Glad to hear it.

[ She swings her foot, the one hanging over her other leg, a little. ]

It's been a lot to catch up with, but I'm good for now. It's always the catching up with imPorts that takes the longest, I find. It doesn't look like whatever it is has let up just yet.

[liverletdie]

Certainly not, no. Unfortunately.

[ Yes. Very unfortunately. He shook his head, and took another drink of the mimosa. At least it wasn't hard liquor. ]

Nobody close to you has had to deal with that, have they? I keep hearing stories that things are bad, for a lot of people.

[boobwindow]

Someone I know aged up, but he's been dealing with it alright.

[ Mostly alright, but that's not a story to share with anyone besides the people who matter in this case.

She takes another sip of her coffee, watching Tony and his mimosa. Despite knowing him for over two years, she doesn't actually know Tony Stark. There's been a lot more bad than good affiliated with his name especially in the past two here, though it looks like the anti-Tony Stark hype has died down considerably.

But something about him today is not sitting quite right. ]

But let's chat business. I did some back reading, but I'd like to hear it in your words without a dozen or so imPorts jumping down your throat.

[ Yeah, she saw some disapproval... ]

[liverletdie]

Hm?

[ It took him a moment, a long one, and his head tipped, his eyes didn't flash, but they certainly looked distant, and danced for a moment, practically waking REM as he reviewed the information, to get a good idea of what he was supposed to be selling.

Ah yes. "Charity".

Lovely. ]

Xavier wants us to help the other people in the world. With energy, water, infrastructure. That kind of thing. [ Airily. And definitely under Xavier's umbrella, as opposed to his. He was a capitalist, after all. ]

We're looking for other people to get involved, so we don't shoulder more burden than we have to. I may be good, but I do run a business.

[boobwindow]

[ That's a peculiar response from him. He certainly doesn't sound enthused by his own idea — unless it wasn't, but in his own post he sounded rather committed to the idea. ]

I'll speak with Goldberg — he's co-CEO of Starrware and helped me start it up — but I know for a fact all of us at Starrware would love to get involved. We're committed to these exact kind of problems and solving them, so I don't doubt we'll have an answer for you before the end of the week on it.

[liverletdie]

Oh, excellent. Just forward it to my people, and we can incorporate your work along with it.

[ He leaned forward, then. More invested. ]

You know, I think it's interesting that we haven't worked together yet, Karen. I'd look forward to doing something with you personally. For the project.

[boobwindow]

[ She stays where she is, trying to look particularly unfazed. She's starting to get the sense this brunch wasn't all business.

Well, that's Tony Stark for you, one could guess. ]

It is strange, isn't it? After all this time we've known each other.

[ It definitely is odd. ]

Tight schedules have a way of keeping sharp people from putting their heads together.

[liverletdie]

Yeah, they sure do. People like you and I, we have a lot to offer the people here, huh? Sometimes it's easy to get... swept up in everything that we have to do, rather than what's good for ourselves.

[ A pause. ] Intellectually, I mean. I think if we worked on something together, we could learn quite a bit, don't you agree?

[boobwindow]

I do my best, but what's good for me is helping others. Always has been.

[ Whether as Power Girl or Karen Starr... she has the brains and brawn to do what needs to be done. She could never sit idly. ]

Are you proposing something else, Stark?

[liverletdie]

I agree.

[ Simply. As if it were the same -- or was it something he understood about her? He didn't clarify. Just took another drink. It wasn't as if one mimosa would do enough to outdo the healing factor from Extremis. Actually. Very little would. ]

I was thinking that we should design something together. Maybe for this project, or if we're inspired... maybe something else. I'm pretty sure working with you would be inspiring as a whole.

[boobwindow]

Such as...? [ She sighs. ] You're a smart man, Stark. You don't need to keep flirting with me so we'll work together.

[ Although if he continues she might just outright decline. She's not uncomfortable, mostly annoyed by his behaviour. ]

What is going on with you today?

[liverletdie]

That's fair, I do it because I like to.

[ He paused, even so. ]

There's nothing...going on? I know I've flirted with you before. You can't be that shocked by it.

[boobwindow]

And I've rebuffed you every single time.

[ Her head tilts and she eyes him like a hawk. ]

Please don't tell me you've had something else to drink before you got here.

[liverletdie]

I had coffee.

[ An irish coffee. And a bottle of vodka. ]

Why? Something on your mind?

[boobwindow]

I just think you're a lot more chipper than usual.

[ More that it feels like she's missing the context for this good mood of his. Did his company's stock value go up? End up in Forbes? Who even knows. ]

[liverletdie]

Well.

[ He shrugged. ]

I don't know if I'd say it's more than usual, but... maybe I'm in a good mood. I have good company for breakfast, things are going well, can you blame me?

[boobwindow]

Was this ever about business, Stark?

[ She sets her cup down on the table, uncrossing her legs so she can sit up better in her chair now. She's slightly more alert now than she had been a few minutes ago, concluding Tony's had more than just a coffee to start his day off. ]

[liverletdie]

Of course it is.

[ He lies. Because while it had started about business... well.

He didn't care about that business right now. ]

I have no qualms with mixing business and pleasure, though.

[boobwindow]

[ A sharp, irritated huff follows before she rises to her feet quickly enough that it pushes back her chair. She holds both hands up to convey she's had about enough in the past ten minutes. ]

Okay, we're done here. What kind of woman do you think I am, Stark?

[liverletdie]

One that never said she wasn't interested?

Apparently I didn't take the hint, sorry for expressing interest in someone both beautiful and intellectual.

[ He waved a hand. ]

Up to you, but if you want breakfast, feel free to sit down. We can also talk real business, since you've made your lack of interest clear.

[boobwindow]

Not expressing interest doesn't mean anything!

[ Men. ]

How about a rain check? I can smell something that smells a lot like alcohol.

[ Which she doesn't have to explain is certainly unprofessional of him. ]

[liverletdie]

So?

[ He shrugged, either way. ]

A mimosa with brunch never hurt anyone, but it's your choice.

[boobwindow]

What is going on with you?

[ Tony wouldn't sabotage a potential business investment, would he? He struck her as much smarter and cautious than that. ]

I don't think you're acting like yourself. It's probably the alcohol talking.

[liverletdie]

From one drink?

[ He lifted an eyebrow. ]

I hate to break it to you, Miss Starr, but I'm certain it isn't the alcohol. I haven't had nearly enough to get drunk on.

[boobwindow]

Then what is it?

[liverletdie]

I just realized I didn't have to keep pretending, is all.

[ He sipped at his drink again. ]

Why dance around with what I want? It does nobody any good.

[boobwindow]

Pretending what?

[ She doesn't move to sit back down, but she hasn't stepped away either. Honestly, she's a bit worried. ]

[liverletdie]

Pretending about everything.

[ How annoying. ]

Do you know how annoying it is to keep everything under complete control? Make yourself dumber for everyone else, not say what you want, because it might be offensive? I've held myself back for years, and I'm sick of it.

[boobwindow]

I sincerely doubt anyone forced you to do that, Stark.

[ She scoffs loudly, rolling her eyes, too. ]

Being gifted and well-educated must be such a burden. You're a grown man, you're able to do what you want.

[liverletdie]

You're right.

[ He grinned. ]

And that's what I'm doing, but suddenly, that seems surprising to everyone.

[boobwindow]

You can tone down the massive ego, probably.

[ Some of his behavior is reminding her, alarmingly, of a certain man she met way back when Starrware had reopened back home. ]

[liverletdie]

I could.

Or I could accept that I am as good as I think I am.

[boobwindow]

You don't need to be such an ass about it.

You're making me want to deck you in the face right now.

[liverletdie]

I get that a lot.

[ He put his glass down, now drained.

What? He was thirsty. ]

It's amazing, how many people resort to violence when it's just not necessary.

[boobwindow]

[ Another eye roll follows. This is exasperating — she knows Tony is a rather cocky son of a gun, but he's really not hearing her this time. It's more like arguing with a wall. A shiny, steel wall. ]

Might be warranted in this case.

[liverletdie]

You know, you say things like that, and I'm going to start to feel threatened.

[ A grin. ]

We can't have that. In a nice place like this.

[boobwindow]

Wow, the great Tony Stark can actually feel threatened?

[liverletdie]

I'm just a normal, human man.

[ Anything but. ]

And I don't like getting slapped in the face any more than anyone else does. What can I say? It's unpleasant.

[boobwindow]

Count your lucky stars, Stark.

[ She steps away again, grabbing her purse and not bothering to push the chair in. ]

I'm leaving to get some real work done. If you're serious about anything, give me a call. Or don't. I'm not chasing you for anything.