3434/Ice Cream Makes Everything Better

Ice Cream Makes Everything Better
Date of Scene:	22 November 2015
Location:	New York-199999
Synopsis:	Pepper checks up on Toph after the incident with HK-47.
Cast of Characters:	20, 204

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Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    After two days of treatment in medical, the medics had finally listened to the pleas of the young earthbender and agreed to discharge her. While the poison was out of her system, Toph was still clearly tired, not to mention still coughing. Yet she was restless and had been asking for permission to go home. She was fine, really! She didn't need oxygen, and she would be careful! No heading out during the weekend and giving her caretakers another scare for her, she swore. So the medics had relented, and Toph had been given some medicine that she was to keep taking, and inhalators for her coughing fits.

    Upon arriving home at Malibu, Toph had been quick to head into her room. And she's been there for quite a while. If it wasn't for Jarvis keeping tabs that yes, the teenager was still in there, and the fact that her coughing can be heard, one might wonder what's up. It's past dinner time, and Toph is still lounging on her bed, some chunks of metal resting around her as she keeps her arms up above her, bending one of the metal chunks into various shapes as it remains suspended in the air. There's a pensive look on her face, at least until she makes a face and bends the metal aside, sitting up abruptly before she begins coughing violently, cupping a hand in front of her mouth. Seems her lungs are still irritated.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    It wasn't just Toph who wanted her home; Potts was keen on having the girl back in her own care. Protective mom is a good mom. She had gone after the other prisoners, the hostages while Tony rescued Toph -- he was the sure bet to get her out safe and sound.

    Toph gasping for breath is still in Pott's mind, finally having displaced Tony's destroyed helmet in the woman's nightmares. Potts had taken the day off, relying on JARVIS for updates on Toph, but letting the Earthbender have her space to recover on her terms.

    Potts' approach was on whisper-quiet bare feet, tip-toes from years of moving around in high heels. When she knocks, she slips in, hearing the coughing, making her way to Toph's side.

    "Easy, Toph." she gently says, and sets something at the bedside, her hand coming down to Toph's shoulder, trying to give what comfort she could.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    It's a bit harder to hear Pepper's approach when she's coughing, and it's harder to sense her when she's on the bed. But Toph does hear Pepper, and she nods her head once as Pepper reaches out to rest a hand on her shoulder. It does take a few seconds, and Toph wheezes. "I-I'm fine," she manages to croak out, then she takes a slow breath before she exhales. At least she's not coughing as badly as she did the first night where they kept her monitored constantly after Tony rushed her to medical. But at least this time Tony and Pepper was allowed to be there as much as they wanted to.

    "I can't lie flat just yet," Toph sighs, not pushing Pepper away. The girl does look a little tired. "Guess I gotta sit on my ass for the next days after all..." And here she had hoped she could get to do some bending on the beach later.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Good. Take a couple days off to recover." Pepper replies, perching on the side of TOph's bed. She reaches up, and smooths the girl's hair down. Her heart rate was up. She was worried for Toph, pretty plain to see, and with her other hand she fluffs up Toph's pillow. "I brought you some ice cream." she offers, and then meekly adds "... I thought it might help your throat."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    While Toph enjoys relaxing, it's clear she doesn't like just sitting around at home, especially if her bending can be useful to help people out. Or if she gets a chance to show off, basically. But she was only allowed to go home if she promised to take it easy, and... Tony and Pepper had been really nervous. Even now she can hear it in Pepper's heartbeat, and it's easy enough to tell in how she fuzzes with her hair.

    If it's one thing that really gets to her is how Pepper worries. How she had screamed in that underground bunker, how on top of things she had been at medical, and now here... It wouldn't be fair to Pepper to worry her even more.

    So she manages a small smile and a nod. "Ice cream would be good..." Heck, most stuff tastes good after having to eat the food in medical. It tends to be a bit boring.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    Pepper would worry regardless. She still thinks back to asking Tony if those were /bullet holes/ in that suit.

    "Hospital food is terrible." she agrees, and she lifts the bowl. It's very cold,a nd there is a sweet spiciness to the smell of the ice cream as she offers a bowl to TOph. She has a cup for herself. "Give it a try, I'm kinda curious about the flavor." she slyly suggests, and leans back against the headboard. She may or may not be used as a leaning post.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    It's a bit harder for Toph to tell where the bowl is considering they're both sitting on the bed, but she does find it and accepts it. "Thanks..." Toph offers. Indeed, as Pepper shifts and leans back, the blind girl isn't slow to shuffle close and lean against Pepper's side. It does feel a bit better to have somebody close, she must admit.

    "... I'm sorry I ran ahead of you guys," she says carefully, digging the spoon into the bowl, scooping up some ice cream that she sniffs at before she stuffs it into her mouth, curious about the flavour herself. Just what did Pepper get her?

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    It is GINGER VANILLA. With candied bits of ginger and a ginger syrup swirl in it. It's pleasently cool and gently spicy at the same time, a gentle heat, like slipping into a hot bath after a long day, and the sweetness of vanilla with the cooling, soothing ice cream. Pepper gives a thoughtful 'hmmm' sound at the taste, warm and comforting. She was wearing a T-shirt and sweats. Her feet were bare -- and maybe, even, a little dirty. she might have walked outside to get something from the back. She keeps up, letting Toph lean into her.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    The taste is a bit curious, and Toph blinks as the flavour hits her tongue. It's... different, but not bad at all. But then again, when has Pepper ever fed her foul ice cream? "Different, but not bad," she settles for, snuggling up a bit where she's resting. It's a bit better when she can sit upright.

    It's a bit unsettling that Pepper hasn't responded to her comment yet though, and Toph is quiet for some seconds as she eats another spoonful of ice cream. "... I guess I gotta tell you guys more about where I go on missions, huh?"

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "... I thought what the screens were showing was... what was going on." Pepper admits quietly. She stirs her cup of ice cream, leaning back against the headboard. "And when I was hit with the EMP, I couldn't... I couldn't help you. All I could do was make sure Tony could get to you." Pepper replies softly. "We're not a conventional family, we run missions, and businesses... but one thing is for abso-freaking-lutely sure." Pepper sets her cup of ice cream down, and gently wraps her arm around Toph's shoulder in a gentle, one-armed hug. "You are my daughter. I /love/ you. I will worry about you pretty much forever. It doesn't matter if you are running missions with Tony, or taking a jog, or going out for ice cream with members of the Union." she pauses.

    "Especially if you're going out for ice cream with members of the Union. Were they /serious/ about weird things happening when that happens?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Oh right, the screens. Toph only remembers it too well, the first time she ran into HK-47 and he recorded her being poisoned, threatening to show Tony and Pepper. And how she had tried to keep the gravity of the situation hidden, only for Tony to lecture her about it later. And now Pepper knew too.

    It really seemed like the piece of scrap metal had done everything it could in order to lay a trap for her, huh? The area itself, how it tried to keep Tony and Pepper from her... If they hadn't been there, then she would have been dead for sure. No, they're not a normal family by any means. Tony's a superhero, Pepper is one too now that she has the Rescue suit, and she herself is the greatest earthbender of all time. And they all chose to be a family together despite not being related by blood. But the feeling is genuine, that's for sure. Especially when Toph feels Pepper's arm wrap around her shoulder.

    Despite the heavy and unpleasant memories of what happened just a few days before, Toph can't help but smile softly as she's hugged, and she reaches one arm up, wrapping it around the back of Pepper's head as she leans more into her. "As long as you don't try to keep me inside the rest of my life," she half-jokes. Like her father tried to.

    Oh right, ice cream incidents. "Hey, I've gone out for ice cream with Union members before without anything happening, so I don't know what the crud they're talking about," she replies honestly with a shrug. Her arm is still there, resting at the back of Pepper's neck and shoulder.

    "... I'm glad you guys were there. I... haven't really been outnumbered like that before." It's something she hopes she never has to experience again.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Good lord, and deal with all those super-clean rugs, no more footprints on the couch? I could..." she pauses, and looks out to the distance. "I could have white carpets again." she replies but then she gives a smile, leans over, and gives a peck to Toph's forehead.

    "Life is about taking risks. I took a risk once and told /the/ smartest man on the planet that his math was wrong. And now we're getting married and have the most... kick-butt daughter ever. So there's that." The redhead gives a smile, held in a half-hug with Toph. "I was terrified that I would lose you, but as long as I live and breathe you will go and rescue others, and do what you want, because you are Toph and that's just what you do." she replies. "You keep being awesome."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Haha, real funny," Toph snickers at Pepper's silly comments. Oh yes, she remembers what it was like when she first began hanging out here, back when Tony had just been appointed her supervising officer. How she and Pepper had argued...

    "You can have white carpets. White carpets with spots on them," she clarifies with a teasing grin. Only to make a silly face when Pepper pecks her forehead.

    Risks, indeed... It's good to hear that they're not about to go utterly paranoid from this. And since they did lose Tony earlier this year, well... it makes it even more important to stay safe. Somehow Toph can't help but smile at the comment from Pepper, and she nods. "I'll be awesome all right. Once my lungs can take it again," she appends. Fortunately Pepper isn't freaking out, which makes it a bit easier to deal with. "The next time I run into that piece of scrap metal... I'll make a pretzel out of him." At least she won't let him get the better of her again.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Someone is getting unbendable metal ingots in her stocking this year." Pep teases back. And she takes a breath, and gives the teen another squeeze. "You will... and I promise, your dad and I will be right behind you, covering your back every step of the way. We take parenting to a new technological artform, or... something. I'm still new at the mom thing." Potts gives a laugh. No, she's not freaking out. She has Toph here, leaning up against her. Tony's in the shop, and thanksgiving is this week and --

    .. OK, maybe freaking out a little, but it's not Toph related.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    At that Toph snorts. "Like I won't find a way to bend them," she mutters under her breath, just loud enough so Pepper can hear. There's amusement there when Pepper talks about how they're figuring out how to be decent parents, and Toph shrugs. "You've been doing well for over a year now, really." There's no doubt that Tony and Pepper are good parents, at least not in Toph's mind. They have been there for her several times, saved her life and made her feel welcome. What more can you want? Besides the fact that they go on missions with her and are fun, that is.

    So why is Pepper freaking out?

    "Relax," Toph says, then resumes eating her ice cream. "So... we heading off for Thanksgiving again this year?"

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    Ah, that's the reason. Potts gives a slight groan. "It'll be nice to see everyone again, but.. well." she gently pulls herself away, and runs her hands over Toph's hair again before she presses another kiss to her forehead. GOOD MOM.

    "You focus on getting better so you can make it up there and stuff yourself full of food. That's an order. From your not-superior-officer-mom." she states. "And if you need anything, Jarvis will let me know."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "I bet Liz is /big/ now," Toph says. "And it will be fun!" Heck, you know these people better than Toph does, Pepper! Still, Toph remains still as Pepper scoots away, strokes her hair... and kisses her forehead again. Though the blind girl bears it, letting her be close. Pepper needs this, she imagines. And well... it's kinda nice too, she guesses.

    That's an easy order to obey, really. So Toph smiles and nods, giving Pepper a mock salute. "I hear you. I'll be good and stay here for some days until I'm no longer coughing up my lungs." It's easy with Jarvis being there too, keeping a watchful eye. "I'll let him know. For now I'll finish up the ice cream, then I'll curl up for some sleep." Maybe she'll have a good night without too much coughing or too many nightmares about what happened.