Coffee Shop Construction is a go!

[widows_kiss]

Who: Natasha Romanoff and anyone conned into likely to swing by and help
What: Before it can open, the coffee shop needs a little tlc and a few touch-ups.
When: Friday, May 10. Possibly extending into the weekend.
Where: The future location of A Shot In The Dark coffee shop. (AKA, Building M)
Summary: Natasha calls in a few favors and bribes a few friends and teammates into helping her get the coffee shop ready to open. Anyone able to hammer a few nails, wield a paint brush or broom, or move some furniture is invited. Or come ogle some of the shirtless males she's put to work, that's acceptable too.
Rating: PG. Probably. >.>


Natasha's still not entirely sure why she's doing this. Most mornings, she wakes up with the inevitable realization that she's probably lost her mind. She's not one to put down roots, to make a commitment to anything, because things don't last, situations change and her lifestyle choice of 'don't get attached' is slowly getting buried under a mound of teammates, friends, and persistent pests that somehow end up being debatably endearing.

And, apparently, a coffee shop.

Yup. She's definitely lost her mind. That doesn't seem to stop her from going each day and working on the little shop off the plaza, although she's reached a point that there's not much else she can do on her own. She needs help. A galling realization, but hey, that's what teammates are for, right? So, on a bright and sunny Friday morning, she rounds up what help she can find to pound out the last few renovations needed for the place.



((OOC Note: Most of the work needed is inside the cafe itself, although some work can be done outside as well. The doors will be propped open for people to come and go and they're taking pretty much a blank slate of an interior and turning it into this. So, work your character could possibly be doing is helping construct the coffee bar, painting the walls, hanging light fixtures or the shelving behind the coffee bar. Cleaning up the tables and chairs or the other surfaces inside once the sawdust and nail-pounding clears up. And if someone wants to get creative and make her a sign, she will be eternally grateful.

There will be a constant supply of drinks and snacks as well, for people wanting to take breaks or those wandering by to eyeball the proceedings. Hop in, help out, or just stop by to chat.))

Comments

[handing]

Pepper was expecting an extreme level of awkwardness at any rate—but that was why this was important. So they could move past it, somehow. Right?

“Good.” That much was easy. “I’m doing okay. It’s Tony’s birthday, which is always a good thing to see come around.” Even if the events of the day itself hadn’t always been pleasant, Pepper could still be very glad for each year he lived long enough to get older.

[touchofrogue]

"Oh, was that today?" The awkwardness faded away, and Rogue's distress was genuine. She'd been so caught up in the usual feelings May inspired that she hadn't even realized why the date looked familiar.

Hell. Some not!daughter she was.

...ha. Hahahaha.

Like forgetting his birthday is the worst you've done - freak - it's not like he wants to hear from you anyway- don't start laughing now, keep it together--

"I guess it's the same time every year," Rogue said, shaking her head slightly to help quiet the psyches and stay focused. "Should've written it down."

[handing]

“Today isn’t over yet.” Pepper pointed this out with a sympathetic grin. “And Tony has no room to talk about anyone forgetting someone’s birthday.” Considering that he’s so good at doing so himself, it was practically an art form. Not that she could really blame him about what happened this year, thanks to the Malnosso, but she already had over a decade of picking out her own gifts.

“There’s going to be a party here after we’re done working for the day. You’re welcome to stay for it.”

[touchofrogue]

I shouldn't be here.

"I don't think that would be such a good idea," Rogue said, looking away. Really, it was almost hard to believe that Pepper was talking with her. She took a controlled breath and then turned to meet Pepper's gaze again, "I'd like it if he had a happy day. I hope ya both enjoy it."

I shouldn't be here.

She gave Pepper a small nod and began to turn away.

[handing]

"Wait, Rogue." If she had to, Pepper would reach out, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder or her arm where the cloth covered her skin. Either way, once Rogue stopped, Pepper let out a quiet sigh.

"I don't know what happened between you and Tony." She'd been able to pick up a few details when he'd come home after their last talk, but only based on what she had seen. That Tony was upset she'd expected, but not to the degree, or the way he almost seemed--haunted, afterward. "But neither of you wants to lose the other. So please, don't pull away from him."

[touchofrogue]

Rogue waited, her shoulders tense as if expecting a blow. That was enough, what had happened was enough, more than enough.

She attempted to put a shade up over her eyes, but it wasn't possible to hide all that haunted her. "There's a difference between pullin' away and givin' someone some time and space. There ain't much space, here. I'm gonna give it to him."

[handing]

“It’s been a month.” A month since Tony ventured out to see Rogue and whatever happened after—although from the way Rogue looked at her then, it could have happened yesterday. It made her stomach twist, but Pepper still had to ask it any way.

“Just how much time and space do you think you need?"

[touchofrogue]

A month. Was that all? "To be fair," Rogue pointed out dryly, "I did spend a good bit of that month in bed."

Trying and trying and trying to keep herself separate.

She looked away, her heart contracting painfully, "But I guess we'll see."

[handing]

“I know.” Pepper sighed as she lifted a hand to lightly rub at her temple. “But he’ll notice if you aren’t here. So please. Even if you only stay long enough to say hello. I’m not asking for you to pretend everything is all right. Just to let him know that you two haven’t pushed each other away completely.”

That maybe things could be all right again, in the future.

[touchofrogue]

Would he notice? Rogue wanted to say no. But Pepper was the undisputed expert on all things Tony, and Rogue knew that better than most. There wasn't any point in arguing that. She glanced over towards the birthday celebration, and wondered if she was just scared of getting hurt or losing control again, and was honest enough with herself to admit that was part of her reluctance. She was so tired of being hurt. And she was so scared of losing control.

"...it wouldn't feel right," Rogue said, shadows in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Pepper."

And she was. She didn't say that if she didn't mean it. But from where she was standing, it would be far worse to go over there and ruin his celebration with her presence than have her absence noted, especially since she wasn't completely convinced that Tony would even care. He might notice, sure, but she had forgotten about his birthday until now - he'd have no reason to assume she remembered. And if she was in and out, there'd be no reason for him to think that she'd even been there.

[handing]

That he’d notice wasn’t even a question in Pepper’s mind, and if she would have wondered more about just what had happened if she had known Rogue doubted it. But the woman didn’t offer that, or anything else beyond a refusal and apology. It left Pepper uncertain of what to say, to both Rogue and Tony. Having him notice that Rogue hadn’t been there would be bad enough; telling him that she’d left would be worse.

“Then…I guess you’d better go after all.” Pepper didn’t mask the regret at how horrible those words felt to say. She didn’t want Rogue to leave, or to think Pepper wished that. But what else could they do?

[touchofrogue]

Rogue, normally at least halfway decent at reading people, had a blind spot when it came to herself, and she read Pepper's regret as something mixed with disgust. "Yeah," she turned to go. "I know."

She couldn't get out of there fast enough.