601/Tasty ice cream and bitter issues

Tasty ice cream and bitter issues
Date of Scene:	16 September 2014
Location:	New York-199999
Synopsis:	Toph meets her new grandfather for the first time when Pepper's step-dad Stan stops on by for ice cream. As well as some rather serious talk.
Cast of Characters:	20, 204, 301, 555

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Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    A peaceful day, following a quiet phone call to a certain organization and a promise from Agent Hill that someone would be by to repair the hole in the couch, and Potts is in the livingroom, running through some papers, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, lips pursed in concentration, wearing old jeans and a Cal-Tech T-shirt, walking towards the kitchen....

    DING~

    ... when the doorbell rings.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Tuesday. Not that bad a day with less stuff to go through. While she still hasn't completely caught up, it seems like she's getting today off without having to read a chapter. So why not relax? Toph is in the middle of relaxes on her bed with Buster snuggled up next to her, some rock music playing without being overly loud. After the incident with a certain spy with creepy stalker tendencies, she's been a good girl and actually spent some time at home. Besides, there wasn't anything needing her attention. So she did all of her lessons yesterday, and even if she woke up early these last two mornings, she's not headed out. Tony /did/ seem a bit worried after the incident. And not worried in the same way that her father was worried about papercuts and stumblings and other stupid stuff. While Toph doesn't know /what/ Natasha tried to do... she does have a bad feeling about the spy.

    The door bell catches her attention, and Toph blinks. Visitors? Well, Pepper is home, so it can't be too bad. But still, she flops back on the bed. Pepper will get it. Or Jarvis will let her know if she is needed.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    The door opens, and standing there is a rather unassuming looking man in a brown suit, something of a cross between the kinda guy who feeds pidgeons in the park and the kind of professor who forgets what course he's teaching. He has gold-rimmed glasses, and worn brown shoes that have been re-soled because they are 'comfortable as all get out', and his footsteps are easy and light on the ground.

    "Stan!" Pepper exclaims quietly, and she briefly embraces him. He gives her a warm hug and gives a small laugh. "Hello, Ginny, how are things? Not yet going Bridezilla?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Most people might not be able to hear the voices through the walls, but then again, Toph has sharper hearing than most people. And she can hear Pepper sounding rather happy. And it sounds like an older guy... hmm? Okay, so she is a little curious. So Toph sits up and slides off of the bed, brushes off her t-shirt a bit and offering a brief pet to Buster's head before she walks down the hallway and towards the entry hall.

    Just how is this person? There's a slightly curious look on Toph's face as she steps into the hallway, the little teenage girl visible for the two as she doesn't even attempt to hide her presence. She lives here now, and she's not gonna hide or shy away in her own home.

    An older guy...and both he and Pepper seem relaxed, which is a good sign. She is curious, at least a little. "Who's visiting?" she asks rather bluntly, though her tone lacks any snarkiness considering the fact that this visitor isn't somebody who has been stalking her.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    Potts turns to Toph, and she gives a bit of a smile. "Hey, Toph. This is Stan -- he's Carolina's husband, which makes him my step-father." she introduces him. And Stan stays at the door a moment more, then steps in, and sets down his briefcase again before he stands up. He's tall, taller than Tony (which... isn't a huge surprise. Most people are taller than Tony).

    "It's nice to meet your aquaintence." he smiles. His voice is friendly, and there's not an ounce of ill intent in the guy. Teddy brears can be more frightening.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Oh... Carolina's husband? At least he doesn't /reek/ of that overly sweet perfume, Toph notes. And if he's Pepper's step-father, doesn't that kinda make him her grandpa or something?

    The blind girl looks rather curious as she walks over. Man, he's /tall/. And his body language is rather relaxed, and he sounds very friendly too. Well, first impression is a good one at least. And if Pepper is reacting like this to him, then he's most likely trustworthy. Because Pepper seems picky about who she likes.

    Toph stops in front of him and nods her head. "Same." She even smiles a little, then jabs a thumb in Pepper's direction. "I think she's been too busy to think much about the wedding yet." Which reminds her... she should ask her about some stuff later.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    Potts gives an amused sound, closing the door behind Stan as he enters. "That might be what it is on the outside, but trust me," he leans down, looking conspiritally in Potts's direction "... she thinks of /everything/."

    He more or less stays a little down, on Toph's level, -- eye to eye, so to speak -- and just friendily inquires "So. Pepper tells me that you enjoy kicking asses, moving around large a mounts of earth and rock, Freddie Mercury's voice and eating ice cream -- is that correct?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Believe me, I have noticed that. I'm blind, not stupid," Toph smirks. Pepper /does/ think of everything, doesn't she? But she doesn't seem to be stressed out about the wedding, at least not yet. Just when are the two lovebirds getting married anyway? They are both busy, so it doesn't seem like they're getting married just yet.

    Stan's question does make Toph turn slightly towards him, yet she isn't completely facing him. "It sounds like you did your homework. Add in metalbending and you know the most important things about me, old guy," Toph responds. "Pepper hasn't told me much about you, though! I did meet Carolina right before Goldie proposed to Pepper, so... well, I have met your wife at least?" she offers with a shrug.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "That's because I am a mystery wrapped up in an enigma wrapped up in a question, who has ice cream in his briefcase. We /should/ probably eat it before it goes completly into my laptop." he explains, and then loudly, to Pepper

    "I will definately keep up the healthy eating habbits your mother has perscribed to me under pain of death, it's all carrot ice cream with celery chunks."

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    And then, under his breath "It's rocky road and death by chocolate."

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
Jarvis inquires, having noticed the odd pattern to Stan's speech, "Are you wearing a wire tap, sir?"

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Ah, no, JARVIT. I'm pretending to be conspirital in order to lull Pepper into beleiving that I have healthy food so that if her mother calls, I don't get iced or creamed." Stan replies.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    ... ice cream?

    You've got her attention, sir.

    "I'm all for ice cream. Even funky tasting ones," she responds with a shrug. Only to smile and try to act normally when he whispers to her, clearly not wanting to let Pepper know what is up. Heck, she can keep a secret if he can. As for Jarvis' question... "I can't sense any weird placed metal on him," Toph replies, then heads towards the kitchen to find bowls and spoons. Because if this is a chance to eat ice cream before dinner, she's all for it!

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "In that case, I'll leave you before any incriminating evidence can be seen. I'll be in the office if you need me." Potts states, and she wanders towards the office rooms.

    Stan seems to know his way around, at least marginally, and follows Toph to the kitchen. He opens his briefcase and takes out two pints of ice cream -- one is indeed rocky road, he sets them on the counter. "I figured I would try to smooth over any... ah... bad interactions with Carolina. These women are not anything if not protective of their children... I suspect that Pepper will be the same."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Toph grins and leads the way into the kitchen. Let Pepper be in the office if she wants to. Though, doesn't she want ice cream too? Maybe she should save some for her later?

    Once in the kitchen Toph heads over to the cupboards where she knows the bowls are, and she stands on her toes to reach up and grab them. Okay, two of them, and then there are spoons on the drawer over there... Though she can't help but look a bit confused about Stan's comment. "Huh? Carolina is okay, she's nice," Toph responds. Sure, the woman could stand to bathe less in perfume, but... She wasn't /mean/ or anything. Which is what matters. "She seems to know what she wants, nothing wrong with that, is there?"

    Protective of their children? Well, that kinda fits. And Pepper /is/ protective of her too, luckily she isn't overprotective like her parents are. "Yeah, I guess so. At least she doesn't nag /too much/." Not now when Toph actually showers now and then and doesn't drag too much dirt inside the house.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "No, but she did grab Tony by his shirt and shake him quite violently over embarrassing her daughter in front of billions of people." Stan replies, accepting a spoon and turns it over. "Any preference for Rocky Road or Death by Chocolate? The latter has chocolate ice cream, fudge swirls, chocolate pudding, chocolate cookie bits and chocolate chips."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    She did /what/? Toph actually snickers at that, wishing she had been around to witness that. "Really?!" she asks with a laugh. "It could have been worse, though! And he's Tony Stark, it's his job to embarrass people." He's even started embarrassing /her/. As for her choice in ice cream, she doesn't seem to need long to decide. "I'm up for the death challenge," she states and holds out her hand. Since she can't tell which ice cream is which.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    Stan gives a smile, and uncaps the ice cream then hands it to Toph. "It's open." he states thoughtfully, and then goes to open his own.

    "And I will be level with you, Toph." he explains, "I am a psychologist. I'm someone who people talk to when they have problems, or need help sorting things out. Before Pepper was my adoptive daughter -- and I 'adopted' her in her twenties, go figure -- she was one of my clients. She had a lot of trouble in her late teens stemming from the idea that her biological father didn't value her -- which is true, he's a bastard and if you or Tony ever meet him you should punch him in the mouth. I will condone it and stand as an expert in any criminal proceedings to get you out of trouble." Icecream chomp. He stirs the softened rocky road around a little bit. "I can count the times I have seen Pepper cry on one hand; once in my office, when she thought Tony was killed in Afganistan, when she thought he was killed in New York, after Greenwich, and when she thought she might lose you."

    "You are family now. And you might not be ready to talk about things with anyone right now, and that's okay. I expect that, and I respect that; but I promise you that if you need to talk to someone, I will be there, any time of day. Goodness knows that Georgia takes advantage of that one."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "I can tell," Toph responds and takes the ice cream, then begins eating. Only to halt when Stan is upfront about his job. A psychologist? Did she hear about it somewhere sometime? Or...? Perhaps she was told just briefly and she never paid attention to it. To hear that he was there for Pepper when she needed somebody to talk to is a bit strange, especially about when she had been crying. Sure, she could think that it was hard on her when Tony was missing and captured in Afghanistan, or when the aliens attacked, when those three attacks hit various places... but the last admission does make Toph blink in surprise. She... cried when she was affected by that spirit?

    The blind girl looks slightly awkward at that, not sure how to handle the idea of a crying Pepper. Heck, it's easier to imagine punching her biological father in the mouth if that guy ever shows up.

    Is that all psychologists do? Talk? It does seem a bit weird, and Toph shrugs, trying to seem casual as she takes her first spoonful of ice cream. "Heh, talk about what in particular?" she asks. "I dunno how it would make any difference at all. And then what should I talk about? The Union? Where I come from? Stalkers?" She is rather quick to scoop her mouth full of ice cream again, however.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Anything you like, really. The Union. Your day. I will admit, I've always fancied being a doting grandfather. I've helped students with changing degrees and confronting parents about challenging ideas, or when terrible things happen. The loss of a parent or sibling, or grandparent." Stan replies. "In your case, Pepper is concerned about recovery from sudden upheavels in your life. But /I/ wanted to know you because you seem like a fascinating individual and incredibly worth knowing. After all... if I'm going to be a grandfather in any capacity, I'm going to have to figure out which ice creams and cookies to secret away from Carolina to spoil you with." he replies in a jesting, soft tone, a lilt in his voice of kindness and plotting for sugar overloads.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    While she /does/ kinda appreciate the gesture, Toph can't help but feel awkward about the whole deal either. To talk about those kinds of things.. There are many topics that Toph finds hard to deal with, and even if Stan is a nice kind of guy and he sounds sincere, it's still hard. So she focuses on the easier things to talk about instead. Like ice cream.

    "Eeeeh, I like most of them, but the crunchier and more chocolaty ones are my favourites," Toph responds as if trying to make things less of a deal. This guy isn't lying at all, and he's been honest and upfront about why he's here to begin with. Which is kinda rare.

    It's better to talk about something less dangerous than any bitter feelings, right?

    As for upheavals? Not that bad, it's okay with the Union and all," Toph says casually with a shrug. Let's at least be honest with this guy since he's honest with her. "People don't think I'm weak even though I'm blind, I get to do what I like to do, and I've made friends."

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "That's good. Making friends is always good." Stan replies, and he leans back a little, turning to lean against the counter as he sits on his stool, and stirs aorund his ice cream. "I'm a sucker for the classics. Rocky road, butter-toffee crunch -- where I'm from originally, we would go on holiday to the mountains, where there was snow year-round. And I remember having fancy gelato made by hand and chilled by snow in the mountains in flavors like lemon and bright cherry or mints. I'm afraid the village doesn't exist anymore, but I remember the taste... aah, but that's the ramblings of an old man."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Friends /are/ good. It's just sad that she didn't get any friends until she ran away from home to teach the Avatar. When she was young, she never got to go anywhere... But now she's heading all over the multiverse. Quite a change. "Ice cream is good and never stupid to ramble on about," Toph offers with a brief shrug between spoonfuls of ice cream. This... is kinda awkward, isn't it?

    "So... uh," Toph mumbles as she tries to figure out something she feels like talking about. "... it's not bad living here either. Even if Pepper was a bit naggy in the beginning."

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "She's what we like to call... a neat freak." Stan confirms quietly with a nod. "She feels most in control when there's order and organization, and she enjoys having things presentable in case someone stops by who might nag her on it." ice cream nom. "mm -- like her mother. Who will go through the house like a hurricane and then complain when there is a single vase out of place in the dining room."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Somebody who understands!

    Toph blinks and nods. "Yeah! I mean, she nagged and whined about me dragging in dirt and getting hand, foot and butt prints everywhere, claiming she could see where I had been!" No, Toph isn't angry. She looks more amused now when she thinks back on it. And the thought of Carolina being the same? "Really? ONE single vase?" she blinks, then snorts. "End of the world right there. Try fighting Feds for a change..."

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "The Feds wouldn't stand a chance. When I meant that the Potts women were protective of their families... well..."

    He le aans back. "Look at Pepper. A Fed was in Greenwich, burried us in our wine cellar by a spare blast -- your mom had insisted that we get below ground like it was a tornado. Pepper /punched/ the Confederate who was attacking in the head. She'd never so much as raised a hand to her sister when they were kids, and Georgia was a terror. And there she was, in Tony's armor, punching a Confederate in the head because she was threatening her family."

    Stan is quiet, but his countence changes. "I think I would not make Pepper angry in the future. I hear even that green fellow in the Avengers has fear of Pepper Potts."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    How could Toph forget that triple attack when she herself was stuck on Hawaii fighting a lava bathing monster? How distraught Tony and Pepper had been afterwards? "Yeah... I mean, Pepper's nice, but that won't stop her from focusing on doing what needs to be done..." Toph nods slightly, poking at the ice cream with her spoon. Does Hulk fear Pepper? Heh, that would be amusing to witness.

    "I'm not afraid of her."

    Then again, Toph does not have any plans to threaten anybody Pepper cares for. Heck, Pepper cares for her. Then again, Toph is full of youthful bravado and confidence. "Though I guess it goes for me that she wants me to be careful, even if she probably knows I can handle myself..." she offers with a shrug before she eats some more ice cream.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "And her mother knows that she can handle herself. And I'm decently sure if Carolina's mother were around, she'd still be frought with worry because goodness knows what the three are capable of when together." Stan pauses. "I won't mention the argument over slicing the turkey. Terrible times. All of the men in the household holed up in the media room hiding from a trio of terrible tomato-heads." he seems more amused at himself than anything else.

    "Ah, and you might not be afraid of her, but you've never been in trouble with her looming over you." he comments lightly.

    "So, other than kicking butt, ice cream, and ah -- bending large amounts of earth and metal, what do you like to do for fun, Toph?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Tomao-heads...?" Toph parrots, arching an eyebrow in confusion. Though she can't help but laugh imagining Pepper arguing with two other determined women. "They really argued about how to slice up a /turkey/?" Man, somebody made that problem bigger than it needed to be! As for her being in trouble? "Eh, getting lectures about hygiene isn't something an earthbender cares much for, I guess they can be compared." Or so she thinks.

    What defines Toph Beifong outside of kicking asses of dunderheads, enjoying tasty treats and bending? "Eh, spend time with friends I guess? Listening to movies and music, playing with Buster, checking up on the badgermoles back in Gaoling, going on missions to new places..." Indeed, she is a simple girl for the most part. She knows what she likes.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Well, there wasn't anything else that began with a 't' and was read that I could think of." Stan replies defensively. "I'm old and my head isn't quite on right... and just you wait until Thanksgiving. Though I suppose with Eliza it will be... mmm... interesting. Too young for the adult table, too old to be in a high chair. Odd one out." Stan teases slightly, "Ah, but you'll fit right in with us in the library. Minus the scotch."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Oh... a colour pun, huh?" Toph smirks and waves a hand in front of her sightless eyes. "Kinda hard for me to get those!" At least she has a sense of humour, even if it's a morbid one. Though his next comment makes Toph blink as confusion settles on her face. "Thanksgiving? What's that?" Being from another world makes it hard to keep up with these things, and she had enough trouble with getting used to Christmas and the gift giving part of that. Now that she's actually living with people here instead of Njorun station, it's a bit harder to avoid these things. Adult table? High chair?

    The comment about the library though, now that warrants a laugh. "I might be able to read after I joined the Union and Goldie insisted that I learned Braille, but don't count on me going crazy in any library!" she smirks. It does sound like it's a gathering at least, this Thanksgiving thing... "So... all the women in the family," it's kind of weird to consider it /her/ family now too, "are stubborn as pig mules, and all the guys have learned to steer away, huh? Goldie doesn't seem to want to argue with Pepper either."

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Ah... let's see -- ah, well, I can, you can't so I'll describe it... red is sort of the color that goes with when you touch a hot iron pan. That burning sensation? Red." he explains, and then he leans back, pulling a few nuts from the ice cream.

    "THanksgiving is an American holiday where you get together, eat as much as humanly possible, curse yourself for eating that much, and then find room for a slice of pie at the end. It's about being thankful for what you have -- a full stomach, throw-away decomposable dishes, and the fact that you are surrounded by people who love you enough to let you sleep through the evening." he gives a wry smile. "And yes. All of the women in this family are... stubburn as pig mules and probably worse."

    And he tilts the cardboard container backwards, slurping out some of the ice cream loudly.

    "I always said Tony was bright."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Having colours explained to her, at leas the concept, now that makes Toph a bit curious. "Really?" Though she imagines that isn't why Tony calls Pepper hot...

    A holiday where you get to stuff yourself with food and pie? "Eh, sounds good to me!" Though she can't help but wonder... does this mean they will spend that holiday together with Pepper's family? Just how many people is that? Will she even get along with all of them? Not that she won't try, considering Pepper might get upset if they argued...

    "He's bright, and he knows it. Maybe that's why some people don't like him," Toph shrugs. She has no problems with him, preferring people with confidence and a sense of humour. Not to mention her same approach to dealing with most stuff. Though Toph does seem pensive for a moment as she works on scooping out the last of her ice cream. "I... don't think some of his associates like me very much, though." Her expression is slightly more serious. "Those SHIELD people."

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Ah, SHIELD. You know, I once was asked about it because a client was considering signing on... but I imagine their logisitcs and finance division is very different than the ones you've met." the empty cardboard container goes 'thunk' on the countertop. "What makes you think they don't like you?" he inquires, mildly. His eyes peer over at Toph with kindly curiousity.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Nooo, Toph doubts that Natasha is in logistics and finance. Toph stuffs the rest of the ice cream into her mouth, setting the empty carton down as she leans on the counter, sucking on the spoon. "Well, I guess the first clue was when they thought it was a stupid idea that Pepper and Goldie adopted me," she mumbles. As for the other reasons? "Then they kinda hinted that I somehow might... well, be a danger to Goldie. With my bending and all." The look on her face should clearly state just what she thinks about /that/ theory. Yet somehow, she seems a bit tense where she stands. "Did Pepper tell you about the hole in the couch from the other day when the lady who has stalked me came and acted all weird?"

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Ah... no... because that would mean I'm required by protective services to report that there was a firefight in the house..." Stan winces. "... but given you're all with the Union, I think I'll submit the report to myself and bury it."

    "Well. I don't think you're a danger. You're well in control of yourself. You're surprisingly mature and fair, and I doubt you would use any of your powers to hurt your parents." he smiles, and reaches out to put a hand on her shoulder.

    "You're about as much danger to Tony and Pepper as Buster is to you. Oh, a spat might come away with a few scratches, but nothing terrible. You handle yourself magnificently."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Back where I come from firefights usually required a firebender or two..." Toph sighs, then arches an eyebrow. "So... you're required to report if something bad goes on here?" Why? Isn't this Union business or something?

    Being called mature is new to Toph, but then again, she's used to people, especially the Feds, calling her rude, dirty, brattish, stubborn and some other words, all in different combinations. Even as Stan speaks, the blind girl remains quiet. Pepper is still in the office from what her feet can tell her.

    "Buster only scratches me when he gets really eager when we're playing, but it doesn't hurt," she shrugs, though it's clear her thoughts are elsewhere as she bites on the inside of her lower lip.

    "... will you tell Goldie and Pepper what we're talking about here?" she suddenly asks. Because there are some things she doesn't want those two to know.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "I'm required by law to report if a minor's been put in danger, it's part of the job of being a psychologist." Stan replies, and weaves his fingers together as he rests back against the counter, and then he raises his hand to scratch at his nose. "But I will consider it at my discretion, given who you and your parents are, your capabilities, and the oversight." he considers.

    Then, at the question of telling TOny and Pepper, he outright laughs. "Goodness, no! This is between us, kid. You're my granddaughter, and I want you to trust me because not all of us stuffy old men are mean or unhip. Hip...? Ah, is that still a word?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Oh." Psychologists do that? Well, it's not like she and Tony couldn't handle matters with Natasha. Though they might want to talk with that Fury guy to get her to stop. Weirdo stalker lady...

    With her standing close to Stan, it's real easy for Toph to get a good read on the man when he responds. He's... being completely honest. There are no signs of him lying, and his voice sounds sincere. Sure, she's not exactly able to imagine him as her grandfather just yet, but he's a nice guy, if only slightly weird in the way he talks. Unhip and hip... the multiverse really has weird slang. Toph shrugs. "I'm not from this world, you tell me."

    Either way, she thinks she can trust him. Which only leaves...

    "Jarvis... can you lock this from Goldie and Pepper?" she asks, her voice a bit quiet. Because even if she trusts Stan to not tell, Jarvis /is/ a tattletale and tells Tony stuff. And it doesn't seem like Tony has told Pepper about the nightmares. Just what would Pepper think and say if she knew...?

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    Ah, that was clearly something he didn't consider. He glances up at the ceiling, his lips pursing as he murmers "I forgot about the omnipresent butler. ALFRED."

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
Jarvis corrects mildly. "Jarvis, sir. And yes, Miss Beifong, I can ensure that this conversation remains private, unless Mr. Stark or Miss Potts needs to know its content in order to save your life."

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "AH, Jarvitz, like the center in New York. Smart boy, that Tony."

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
Somehow, the AI manages to express an audible silent beat, but it's really not important how he got his name. Some other time, perhaps.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    It's not hard for Toph to pick up Stan's murmurring. "... it's really awkward knowing he knows /everything/ that goes on in the house. And I'm not just talking about the bathrooms," she mutters, hoping Jarvis didn't pick that up. Yeah, it was a bit weird at first, though you get somewhat used to it.

    As for Jarvis' reply? Toph snorts. "Okay." Though she seriously doubts that they will need to know this. Okay, take a deep breath. Stan won't tell. Tony knows this too, at least partially. "After I learned metalbending, it... it gradually got stronger, and I learned how to sense metal as well as earth. After some months, I was able to sense all the metal that's inside Goldie, and not just his pacemaker or whatever he calls it." She sighs, her brows furrowing just slightly. "I... can feel the shards stuck in his chest. I mean, not all that well at first, but I could tell that they were there." Her small fingers seem to get restless as she idly traces patterns on the counter top. When she continues, her voice is hesitant, and she doesn't seem too comfortable talking about this. She's only talked about it once before in this very kitchen. "Right after that, I... began having these nightmares."

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    Stan's emotions take a sad turn. He's genuinely sorry that Toph could see into Tony's chest. He had he suspicions -- even Pepper was hesitant to speak of what happened to him in Afganistan.

    But he's still surprisingly tanquil. Years of practice. He folds his hands over his chest and considers a moment as he watches her fingers trace and twirl.

    "What kind of nightmares?" he inquires gently.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Of course the question would come. But even so, no matter how mentally prepared she was for it, it still causes the blind girl to tighten her jaw where she stands leaning on the counter. She moves her arms a bit so all of her arms are resting on it for support. "I... wondered if the shards could be taken out. But I couldn't tell exactly how many shards there were, because the other metal in his chest interfered. It's... kinda like hearing this really loud noise and trying to pick up softer noises underneath, if that makes sense," Toph explains with a heavy sigh. "Shortly after that... I had this dream where I..." It's a bit tough to talk about it. Not even Tony got any details because she didn't want to disturb him. "I was trying to get the shards out of him."

    Her voice is tense, and she looks a bit nervous where she stands, hoping that Jarvis /really/ won't let Tony or Pepper know about this. But at the same time, it's something that's been heavy on her mind for several months now. "A-and... it didn't go well. At all." She swallows nervously, leaning more on the counter in an attempt to keep her arms and hands /still/. "I wanted to stop, but the dream me just kept on going, determined to get the shards out. Even if he..." Toph cuts herself off, clearing her throat. But she doesn't continue the sentence.

    Instead she changes the topic. "I know how many shards there are now. And where every one of them is."

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Well." Stan begins, and he purses his lips.

    "It's a good thing that you want to help Tony, and bending the metal out of his chest would be a step in the right direction to you since it's something you can control and consciously do to help him. If you're worried that if you tried, you would fail and hurt him, perhaps it's best to wait a while before broaching that subject with Tony; perhaps begin with the physiology of the muscles that would affect how pulling the metal would go. Consequently... you could ask a few medical professors for advice on the subject. I know you have no intention of hurting Tony... you want to help him. And that, my dear, is quite noble."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Huh?

    The fact that Stan steers the conversation onto something positive, now /that/ takes Toph by surprise. Her eyes widen, and she blinks twice. There's no comment about how disturbing her dream is, how horrible she is for even dreaming it in the first place, that she is a danger to Tony. She turns slightly towards Stan, shock still present. "I-it isn't like I was planning on doing it in the first place!" Toph interjects. No, not after that nightmare! Sure, her bending has become far stronger, but if Tony was nervous about her bending his helmet when it was stuck the other day... then there's no way in hell she's going to even mention the suggestion that Stan made! Does she want to help Tony? Well, of course. But isn't it dangerous? They are in his freaking /heart/. The metal shards are in the tissue there, held in place by that magnet. A presence that makes her want to hold her breath at times as she feels the metal there whenever she's really close.

    Her thoughts go back to the conversation she had with Tony when he heard about her nightmare, a comment that made things quite clear to her.

    'But you don't have to worry about the shards, okay? I've got it under control. I'm fine. I'd never ask you to do that.'

    Toph's fists tighten where they rest on the counter. And she swallows. "It's a stupid idea." For one, of course he's nervous. Secondly... the risks are too great.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "No, no, diving into a glass of water is a stupid idea, voting against secular education is a stupid idea, competing against my wife in a chilli-eating contest is a stupid idea. Wanting to help people is never, ever a stupid idea. We might go about it wrong, Toph, but to try and better the lives of those around us through trying to heal them is never a stupid idea."

    The old man adjusts his glasses, and there's the sound of him rolling up his sleeves.

    "Could I trust you with a secret, Toph?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Toph closes her eyes where she leans on the counter, her expression a mix of annoyance, frustration and worry. Can Stan really understand what it's like? Can anybody else truly do? "Getting somebody killed isn't helping them," she points out. Besides, she doubts Tony would trust her with it. After all, he got nervous just when she offered to bend the helmet. And that was /easy/! He had been nervous about her bending his suit before, and even if he trusts that her, it doesn't seem like he trusts her bending for those things. Not that she can blame him for it...

    The question from Stan was upexpected, and Toph opens up her eyes where she leans. "Sure." What kind of secret, though? She's not the type who goes prattling on to people, and secrets are meant to be kept.

Natasha Romanova (555) has posed:
    Toph hopes Jarvis won't tell Tony? Sure, Jarvis won't tell anyone--that is, unless he still has a small virus in his programming that's secretly uploading copies of all surveillance feeds to SHIELD satellites.

    Indeed, secrets are best kept! In secure places, with people who *need* to know them, of course...

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Your intention is not getting him killed, and you are wise enough not to try." Stan remarks, and he gets pensive. He's looking down at his arm. And then he speaks up, quietly.

    "I have nightmares of my own. The kind that makes you start from sleep in a cold sweat, covering yourself from harm because of thoughts and memories reaching out to get you." he remarks. He seems pensive, and he runs his finger over a bit of his arm. "I once had five brothers, and two sisters who my father thought were the most beautiful girls in the world. Family was important to us then... and it still is to me, now, even so many miles away from that village where we had the delicate gelato..."

    He trails off, lost in a thought. "... I try to help others now because I was so helpless then. And even if I'm not sure I can... I try. It may not be at the same level as your metal bending and trying to help Tony, no, but I do what I can... because it is an... /awesome/ feeling when you do, isn't it?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    No, she would never want Tony killed, not even hurt. There's no doubt in her mind, she would do whatever she could to keep him and Pepper safe and unharmed. They would do the same for her.

    It does seem like most people do have nightmares of some sort. She knows the feeling too well, waking up like that. And from the way Stan speaks... she guesses that there is more to this. For one, the choice of word 'had'. Something happened, but he isn't saying just what. And somehow, she gets the feeling that she shouldn't ask. But his message does make her consider. Could she really help Tony? Even if she's the greatest earthbender there is, despite the fact that she's the inventor of metalbending and she's slowly learning to master it the same way she's mastered earthbending... she has her doubts, which is rare. The normally confident girl can't help but be cautious in this. Because if she were to mess up, then she would never be able to forgive herself.

    "I do love bending," she says with a nod, though it should be clear that there's more underneath the surface here.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "And I love ice cream. And helping others. So fortunate that in my life I've had both." Stan replies, and he takes a deep breath, adjusting his glasses again as he pulls down his shirtsleeves.

    "Now. This bending business... I've got to experience it sometime. I hear it's amazing to watch, especially with someone who knows what they're doing."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    It's far easier to talk about other things her bending can do besides potentially kill her adoptive dad. And the young earthbending master does have an ego to match Tony's, so when Stan hints that he wants to see it in action, hey... why not? Toph reaches out to pull open one of the drawers, and she gets a fork there. Her other hand is held next to it, and she begins moving her fingers, causing the fork to slowly peel back and over, all before she makes a circling motion with her finger, causing the utensil to roll around itself. "You should have seen me at the WMAT last year when I made it to fourth place," she says with a slight smile. Too bad that she got kicked out early this year... Next year. She will do better then. "Maybe I could show you guys at Thanksgiving, whenever that is." Since the rest of the family might want to see bending too. Most people from other worlds seem to.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "A little over two months." Stan replies helpfully, but Toph has his full attention. He's literally never seen anything like this, and he's fascinated, watching the fork bend over itself and roll around.

    "Well. You can bet that I will be obnoxiously cheering from the audience in your next go-around. This is pretty hip... ah... cool? ... is there a slang-word for 'very interesting' in Gaoling?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Two months? Man. "Not too long until then, huh?" she smiles weakly. Oh well, she'll have to ask Pepper more about it later. And maybe Tony too, since they are likely to tell her different things. Toph gradually bends the various parts of the fork, then slowly bends it back into its original shape and hands it over to Stan so he can make sure for himself that it's just the way it was.

    "Eh, very interesting describes it well enough, really," Toph shrugs. "Cool works too." Stan... tries a little too hard, doesn't he? It's kinda cute and amusing too. At least she doesn't think he's a bad guy, far from it. And he seems trustworthy as well.

Pepper Potts (204) has posed:
    "Cool it is." Stan agrees. "Well. We're all out of ice cream. Shall we move on to the poptarts?"