Classic New York City Pastimes - Episode Two - Toni Stark's Scenic Living Room

[iam_ironwoman]

[Toni was never in a good mood when she couldn't be in her garage for more than 48 hours.

Given that she'd been ordered off any heavy lifting - and hadn't felt up to so much as TRYING to defy doctors orders - for a week after the baseball incident she was getting to be rather grouchy come Wednesday. When JARVIS let Steve into the penthouse she was pacing around her living room in a tank top and comfy pair of pants, fussing over a massive 3D blueprint projected above the coffee table.]

Captain Rogers to see you Miss Stark?

[Her head snapped up from her work and she shot Steve a smile as she spotted him by the door.]

Oh hey, what are you doing here?

Comments

[themanoutoftime]

[Steve felt so awful. Just completely awful because their outing-- which Toni had graciously offered to take him on, because she was trying to be nice to him-- ended with her in the hospital and on even more bed rest. What kind of horrible joke was that? The worst. It was the worst joke.

So, he decided to check up on her, just to see if she was okay. And you were supposed to bring sick people flowers or something, right? But flowers felt weird to Steve, like romantic or something, so instead he got some chocolates that he hoped Toni would like.

He smiled back at her, giving a little wave.]

Hi. I uh-- just came up to see how you're doing?

[iam_ironwoman]

[She set herself down and patted a spot beside her on the sofa for him. Truth be told she's very glad for the distraction of his company.]

Oh I'm surviving, just sore and stir-crazy.

Come on in for a minute, do you want something to drink?

[themanoutoftime]

Oh, not right now. Thank you, though. [He walked in and took the seat next to her, holding out the chocolate.]

I brought you this. I'm not sure if you like it, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry.

[iam_ironwoman]

[She accepts the box, blinking at it for a long moment. Most people don't bother to get her things because, well, she's Toni Stark, she HAS most things, but chocolate is never a bad thing to bring her.]

Well, thank you, but you didn't have to do that! What on earth do you have to be sorry about?

[But she's all smiles as she opens the box up and grins at all the different kinds inside, plucking out a cherry blossom to pop in her mouth.]

[themanoutoftime]

The baseball game! You got hurt. I'm sorry for that.

[iam_ironwoman]

Whu- YOU didn't hit me!

[She blurted that out around a mouthful of cherry and covers her mouth, swallowing before resuming]

You drove me to the emergency room and spent your fun afternoon at the ballpark babysitting me while I got X-rays! I owe YOU an apology here!

[themanoutoftime]

I know I didn't hit you! [He's kind of shocked at her outburst. And he's pretty sure he just felt cherry hit him in the face. Ew?]

You don't owe me anything. You were-- you took time out of your schedule to take me to a game, and it got ruined. I'm sorry for that.

[iam_ironwoman]

[She shakes her head, setting the box down on the table and reaching over to touch the side of his face.]

I still had a good time with you up until the ball incident, so I'd hardly call it 'ruined'.

You're too sweet for your own good. You really don't have to be sorry, but thank you anyway.

[themanoutoftime]

[Well, now he's blushing faintly, and he turns his head away from her hand, unused to touch.]

I--


You're welcome.

[iam_ironwoman]

[She drops her hand to his shoulder, then reaches for the box of chocolate again, settling back on the sofa to pick out another one and offer the box toward him.]

You want to stay for lunch? I was going to take a break from all this in a few minutes anyway.

[themanoutoftime]

[He considers the box for a moment and then reaches in to one that he hopes has nuts in it.]

Yeah, that'd be nice. What are you having? I thought your main food group was coffee.

[iam_ironwoman]

Uh... okay I'm going to level with you, I was just going to make myself a double size caramel latte and be done with it until you showed up and gave me a justification for ordering sandwiches.

If you like sandwiches that is.

[themanoutoftime]

[He tries really, really hard not to frown at her, because she's hurt and he feels bad, but he's not sure it works.]

Everyone likes sandwiches. And there doesn't have to be another person with you for you to order food, Toni. You should order some for yourself.

[iam_ironwoman]

I wasn't going to starve, jeez. I'd have made popcorn or something.

[She shrugged, picking up her cellphone and skimming through the phone book of restaurants.]

You like subs?

[themanoutoftime]

Popcorn is hardly a meal.

[He takes a bite from his chocolate, humming at the taste.]

Subs are fine.

[iam_ironwoman]

[Toni's got her finger on the button to dial up the sub place when there's a doorbell ring and JARVIS's smooth tones interrupt.]

A delivery for you Miss Stark.

...wow, I haven't even dialed yet, speedy!

[She eases her way up off the couch, heading over to the lift doors and gawping a bit when the delivery man emerges with an enormous arrangement of roses - at least three dozen - in a gradient of pinks and reds.

She signs to accept the delivery in a daze, carrying the vase to the coffee table, laughing bemusedly the entire way.]

Holy smokes, you don't have any idea who this is from do you?

[themanoutoftime]

[Steve can't actually do anything except stare at that huge flower arrangement. He glances at the now seemingly tiny box of chocolates he brought and frowns.]

No. No idea. Is there a card?

[iam_ironwoman]

[She has to dig through the blossoms to find it but there is indeed a card, full size with a dark red envelope and elegant script on the front. Toni sits down on the couch with it, grinning wider and wider as she reads through the message inside.]

This is from the player who hit that ball!

[She laughed, skimming the card again]

Well that was sweet of him.

[themanoutoftime]

[His frown deepens and he glances at the card.]

What's it say? If you don't mind, I mean.

[iam_ironwoman]

[She passes it over to him, getting up to fuss with the flowers for a second, snapping a picture of them on her phone because obviously this was worth bragging to Pepper about!

The card is succinct and polite - 'sorry about my long shot, I never like to hit a fan, especially not such a pretty one - when you're feeling better call this number and they'll get you tickets to another game with some seats on the OTHER side of the park this time - take care' - and signed by hand.]

[themanoutoftime]

[Steve's face is going to stick this way if it gets any deeper.]

That's hardly appropriate. I-- he hit you and now he's hitting on you? A little bold of him.

[iam_ironwoman]

[Toni waves her hand dismissively.]

Oh honey everybody hits on me. That's just what happens when you're pretty and well known.

It was nice of him to go to the trouble of arranging new tickets.

[themanoutoftime]

I guess....

[He shuts his mouth, though, and eats the rest of his chocolate. It's not really his place to have opinions about who Toni dates.]

Did he at least get a home run from the hit, though?

[iam_ironwoman]

I think so? I'll have to send him a message back and ask.

[Toni's digging up the number of that sub place again, still clearly in a good mood but not directly fawning at the gift anymore.]

What do you like on a roast beef sandwich? And should I order you two or three?

[themanoutoftime]

Oh, just whatever comes on a sandwich, if it's not too much trouble. Two should be fine.

[Steve can't stop staring at the roses. They're so big and so many different colors, and he's really...well he feels some kind of way about all of it. Hmph.]