Can We Build It? Yes We Can! ...Hopefully.

[handing]

Who: Pepper Potts and her Super Secret Boyband AKA Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Billy Kaplan, and Teddy Altman. Also anyone who wanders by and wants to comment?
What: Building an art gallery
When: August 11 thru whenever they finish. No later than the 16th.
Where: The open space to the left of CH 4/across from House 39
Summary: So Pepper suckered some people into manual labor. These are the results.
Rating: PG-13, maybe, if someone hits their thumb with a hammer and says bad things.

[She can't hide it; Pepper is ecstatic to take this major step in the art gallery project. The construction marks the point where the idea shifts into reality, and this time? She's responsible for much more than 12% of the baby.

Of course, the good cheer will probably turn into frustration as the building goes on, but what can she do? Other than try to supervise. And yes, Tony, that is Pepper's job, so no attempting to use it as an excuse to slack off. Also part of Pepper's job is providing drinks and food for everyone involved, and making sure there are no major injuries, so expect refreshments and first aid kits on site. And when she's not tending to anyone else's needs or watching Steve and Tony at work for reasons, Pepper might even jump into the fray, attempting a bit of building herself--success remaining to be seen.]


[ooc: tag around, do whatever. :Db]

Comments

[handing]

[Pepper hesitates when Steve asks if she needs help; she thinks she's been doing pretty well, and Steve could just be asking to be nice. But still...]

I don't know. [She grins over at him.] Do I?

[neversurrender]

Well, maybe a little? [He indicates her grip on the handle.] You can hold it a little farther down the handle, so you have more control over where the hammer falls. Not too far down though, or you might end up getting your finger caught.

[handing]

Lower? Really? [That's a bit of a surprise to Pepper, but she's willing to give it a try. She readjusts her hold, then lifts the hammer for Steve's appraisal.] You mean like this?

[neversurrender]

[He looks over her grip and nods in approval.] Yeah, that's perfect. Now give it a try.

[handing]

[She does, although her hits still lack the confidence of someone who believes in their aim. It all feels strange to her, although after she gets the nail in, she nods.]

I think I can tell a difference...maybe.

[neversurrender]

Good. Now you just need to put a little more force into your hits. Get mad at it if it helps.

[handing]

[Unfortunately, the comment has the opposite effect as Pepper laughs.]

Get angry at my hammer. Did it miss a board meeting or something?

[neversurrender]

[He flushes slightly. The advice probably sounded better in his head.] I actually meant get mad at the nail you're hitting.

[handing]

[No, it's good advice. Steve's just dealing with a relative novice.]

Oh, so the nail missed the meeting. Well, that makes more sense. [Getting angry at what she's hitting. Pepper looks down at the nail, and tries to summon up that irritation.

Except now she's having a hard time not seeing construction tools at a stockholders' meeting. She might be snickering.]

[neversurrender]

[Steve bites his lip to hold back the grin that is fighting for dominance over his face. It's hard trying to seriously teach someone when all they can do is laugh, and in turn make you want to laugh.]

I'm serious! It really does help.

[handing]

[That look Steve's giving doesn't help either, and Pepper's body starts to shake when she sees Steve actually biting his lip.]

Oh, I believe you. Really. I'm just imagining the nail missing the board meeting. Maybe he was off gambling in Vegas. [...] Getting hammered.

[And that's pretty much it for not laughing. Although to be fair, it's not nearly so funny when Tony does it.]

[neversurrender]

[And now he can't even control his own laughter. He doubles over next to her, his shoulders shaking.]

Would it make you more or less inclined to hit the nail if we named it Tony?

[handing]

[That does not help stop Pepper's giggle fit.]

You know, I don't actually want to hit Tony in the head with a hammer. He's never been quite that bad.

[neversurrender]

Alright, how about Tony Jr. then?

[handing]

[It's an innocent joke. Pepper knows that, along with the fact that Steve has no way of knowing certain things.

But her laughter dies down then. She's still smiling, but that--just hit too close to a fresh wound.]

Justin. [A safe name. One from the past.] Justin would be better.

[neversurrender]

[If Steve notices the effect his words have on Pepper, he doesn't seem to think anything of it.]

Alright, Justin then. Just picture Justin as the nail and try hitting it a little harder.

[handing]

[Apparently Justin works worlds better than Tony in this case. Pepper lifts up the hammer and brings it down with force, which would've worked wonders if she had hit the nail squarely on the head.

Instead she catches it at an angle, and the metal bends, now jutting oddly out of the wood.]

[neversurrender]

[Okay, she's got the swing down. Now she just needs to watch her aim. Steve reaches over to pull the bent nail out of the wood.]

Okay, that was better. But we're going to try that again. [He hands her a new, unbent nail.]

[handing]

[Pepper grins at the phrasing she'd expect from a teacher; gentle encouragement, and self-inclusion.]

Yes Captain. [Said much like someone might say "Yes Father." But Pepper is teasing, and she takes the new nail and sets it in the same hole as the first, lightly tapping before she takes a shot.

It's better this time. It only goes in halfway, but it's straight, and Pepper only needs one more hit to drive it home.]

[neversurrender]

[He watches closely; grin growing when she gets it in straight this time.]

Very nice. You keep doing that, and we won't have to worry about any weaknesses when the gallery goes up.

[handing]

[And she can't help it; Pepper laughs again, because Steve is just so earnest.]

I'll do my absolute best.

[neversurrender]

Good. [Once he's sure Pepper has gotten the hang of it, he stands.]

Well, you seem to be doing fine now. I better go finish putting these studs in place.