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Pepper Potts     Some people are amazingly persistant, the types who will try and try, again and again to get someone's attention, flaunting wealth, power, prestigue, gadgets, anything that might catch the eye in an attempt to win them over, and some people will try YEARS until Stockholm Syndrome kicks in and the object of their affections falls in love.

    Others are more patient, biding their time until there is no chance for their prey to escape, coming up by surprise in order to catch others un awares so that they cna manipulate them with their back to the wall and then elmininate them.

    Outside of Tony's Malibu estate there is a man standing there, holding a large cheap bouquet of flowers, a box of candy, and an oversized card. He's looking through the grates of the exterior fence pensively, his lips pursed in a peturbed expression. He walks one way along the fence, and then back around, as if wondering if he has the right house.
Toph Beifong     After nearly a week on the road in the Earth Kingdom, the young lady of the house is without doubt as dirty as she used to be when she first began hanging out here as a guest nearly three years ago. The backpack she had fully packed when she first set out is nearly empty now, and her clothes will perhaps need an extra long trip through the washer and dryer before their original colours will be clear again. And Toph herself needs a serious washing, though her mind is more set on food at the moment. Food that she's bringing and that is always a big hit at the Stark house.

    As she nears the gates though she can't help but notice the strange man standing there. It doesn't seem like a paparazzi... is it a weird Iron Man fan or something? A sigh leaves the earthbender, and she raises her voice. "In case you didn't know you're not allowed to just show up here unless you got an appointment or if you're here on Union business, buddy." Okay, she herself invites people over, but that's mostly Union people, who /are/ allowed here. And she always takes responsibility for her guests and their actions, ready to kick their asses if they don't behave.

    Rather than heading through the gate, Toph kicks into the ground as she nears the fence, and the earth rises underneath her so she can easily jump on over.
Pepper Potts     "Oh! I have business here, I know the lady of the house." the man says. He sounds older, maybe in his sixties. He's thin, and tall, and has an easy sort of smile to him. He seems very casual. "I just... can't find the call button to let them know I'm here. I'm expect--" he pauses, and then he calls out. "Ah! You must be Toffee then! Toffee Bay-fong, right?"
Toph Beifong     No matter the kind of smile he has, it's lost on Toph. She does arch an eyebrow though when he says he's... expected? "Then why the crud don't I know about it? I would know if we were having guests," she points out. This guy has some flowers and candy with him, which you usually don't have for a casual visit. And if there are non-casual guests, then she /certainly/ would be told, of that she is certain.

    When the guy, whoever he is, figures out who she is however, Toph can't help but roll her eyes as she jumps over the fence, landing in a crouch that sends the pillar crashing back into the ground. "That's TOPH BEIFONG." It's not that hard to pronounce! Most of the Union pronounced it well from the first time she said her name on the radio, she can recall. And Toffee... okay, only Tony and Pepper are allowed to call her that in jest. "So how the crud do you know Pepper anyway?" While Toph /could/ walk up to the house and leave this guy behind she is a bit curious. Besides, she can deal with this guy without Pepper having to deal with him in case he's a crazy person or fanboy. Right now Pepper needs peace and quiet, and the earthbender is ready and prepared to uphold the peace, even if Jarvis might whine a little about the lawn and fence later.
Pepper Potts     "Me? Oh, I'm--" he cuts off a moment, and he comes down, hands on his knees, balancing the flowers and candy in his elbows as he gets down to Toph's level. "Wow. I can't beleive how /tall/ you are. Or how intimidating you look." he compliments her, and he gives a little nod. "I've known Virginia since she was a little girl -- oh, I don't think she's expecting me, or else she would be out here to meet me, you got me there, honey." he states.
Toph Beifong     The moment the man leans down and begins talking to her as if she's a kid the teenager gets a deadpan look on her face, wordlessly suggesting that this kind of approach is working against its intended effect.

    Perhaps she should be more patient with this, but oh what the hell. She's tired after walking for days, she's hungry, she actually looks forward to soaking in a hot bath... so if this guy doesn't have the decency to get to the damn point, then so be it.

    Toph's right hand snaps up and a dirty index finger points directly at the man's nose so he can smell all the dirt she's been digging around in the last days. "I asked you a question. Answer it." If he can't be honest and stop wasting her time, then too bad for him. There's no way she's going to let him disturb Pepper unless he gives her a damn good reason to. "Also, only a few people are allowed to call me 'honey'. You're not one of them, even if you claim to know Pepper." It doesn't sound like he's lying though... and he did reveal something when he referred to her by her birth name.
Pepper Potts     The man laughs. "Of course I know Virginia Potts. /I'm/ the one who named her." he laughs, standing up, not a bit threatened by this kid who can literally move mountains.

    Inside, Pepper glances up from where she was having coffee with someone. "Did you hear that?" she asks, her head tilting back, craning over the couch and looking towards the door.

    "Oy, aren't you supposed to be drinking decaff, Pep?" Stan replies, and he reaches over to try and pluck the coffee cup from Pepper's hands, where Pepper just leans back, and raises her eyebrows with pursed lips. "It's half-caff. I compromised." she states, and goes to stand, a little bit of a bump seen as her V-neck T-shirt clings to her slightly embelished frame.

    "Which, incidentally," the man outside the gate continues, "means I'm your granddad. Or Pop-Pop. Or whatever you'd like to call -- so... how's about getting the gate open for me?"
Toph Beifong     ... the one who /named/ her?

    Though Toph blinks once when he states just who he is. Somebody who Toph never really heard anything about. But the blind teenager is by no means slow, otherwise she wouldn't still be alive today after all the battles she's been through.

    What she knows is that Pepper and Georgia were in foster homes. Carolina didn't have custody of them, though they still have contact and get on as well as you can expect. The three Potts women are all strong and firm, and that shows when they are together. Carolina married again, as Stan is Pepper's step dad. If this guy had been important and somebody whom Pepper wants in her life, then he would have been in the wedding for sure. Heck, Pepper even sent an invitation to the Beifongs! If this guy is Pepper's biological dad, then there has to be a reason for why he wasn't invited in Pepper's wedding and why she hasn't spoken of him. At all.

    Narrowing her eyes, Toph lets out a snort. "No chance. You want in? Get a proper appointment instead of trying to get buddy buddy with me, I'm not stupid." With that she turns and begins to head towards the door.
Pepper Potts     "Aww, don't be like that, dollface." he coos, and reaches out to try and brush a hand at her shoulder. "We're family aren't we? I just want to apologize to her, and tell her how proud I am that she's made it so far." he pauses, and his voice takes on a somber note. "... I want to be a part of their lives again, but... strangely enough, Virginia's the only one I could find an address for."

    Because Tony Stark isn't shy with his address, but is /real/ keen on his security.
    "I even brought you candy."

    Pepper, meanwhile, tilts her head. Her Mom Sense was tingling... "JARVIS? Is there anyone outside?"
Toph Beifong     No, he's not successful in actually touching Toph's shoulder, because suddenly an earthen spike shoots up right behind her from the concrete, knocking into the man's hand. "First of all, I'm not 'dollface'," Toph begins, turning slightly around with an annoyed look on her face. "And just because you claim to be related to Pepper doesn't make us family." Family is more complicated than that, she of all people knows. "And if aunt Georgia doesn't want you in her life either, that's probably for a reason. Probably for what you say you want to apologise for," she adds. The unspoken question is there. Just what does he want to apologise for in the first place? And no, it wouldn't do to give him information on Georgia and her family either. Those are people she considers family, not this stranger who won't even tell her his name.

    Inside the house Jarvis speaks up, accessing the security cameras. "It appears that Miss Beifong is deeply engaged in a verbal dispute with a stranger who claims to have business with you, Mrs Stark," he states. "Shall I inform Mr Stark?"

     Outside Toph's voice has risen just slightly. "And seriously... /Candy/?" At this Toph lets out a groan that would make any teenager proud. "I can buy all the candy I want from the money I earn," since she doesn't spend much of the money she earns through the Union, and the allowance she's given is currently collecting high interest in a secure bank. "What I want the most now is a relaxing evening with my /family/," Toph continues, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder towards the house, "which doesn't include you. So scoot along, Poop-Poop." Yeah. This guy is nothing like Stan, that's for sure.
Pepper Potts     "Is that --" Stan begins, and he draws up to a stand so quick that he upsets a little coffee on his hand.

    Pepper's already going to the door. "Jarvis, alert Tony that there is a dangerous stranger at Malibu." Pepper states, and she reaches for her jacket.

    Stan is already on the move, and is out the door faster than any octogenerian really has reason to go.

    "Hey, no need to get defensive, Princess." the man states, drawing back and holding up his hands in a defensive gesture. "That's exactly what I'm looking for, I'm looking to relax. With my /family/. With my /daughter/ and her /daughter/ and her husband and --" he glances up as someone's approaching quickly.

    Hint: It's not Potts.

    "Toph, come through the gate." comes Stan's soft voice, from a bit of distance away.
Toph Beifong     "I have sent an urgent message to Mr Stark," Jarvis informs.

    The more terms of endearment that the man uses, the more it clearly annoys Toph. Because it seems like he thinks that calling her those things will actually make her more inclined to like him. It's something else being called named when it's trash talking. "This is /not/ your family!" the blind earthbender states firmly, kicking her foot into the ground so hard that the ground shakes. "I have no clue what happened, but if this /was/ your family then you would have been invited here, as simple as that! Now get lost before I kick your flabby ass off to downtown!" It appears that she's about to make good of that promise too, though she too notices Stan's approach as soon as he heads out the door and walks quicker than she's ever noticed him moving before. "Don't worry, I can handle this!" she calls out. She's already inside the gate, maybe Stan thought he saw her outside the fence. Okay, if Stan is like this, then that's further proof that she shouldn't let this guy in. Heck, that he should leave.

    "Leave now if you know what's good for you." Her voice is serious, as is her face. And it's not a request, it's spoken as an order. Because dammit, this is her home now, and she has the right to kick uninvited people out.
Tony Stark "Sir, Mrs. Stark has requested that I inform you of a, quote, 'dangerous stranger' at the Malibu estate," Jarvis remarks discreetly in Tony Stark's earpiece, as he sits nodding at a board meeting across town. That's one of the drawbacks to insisting that your pregnant wife take it easy and not worry because you'll handle things: You end up being Tony Stark, bored in a board meeting. (Don't do that. Get DirecTV.)

Tony sits bolt upright suddenly, causing one of the vice presidents of domestic sales to hesitate in her powerpoint presentation. At first, he tries to play it cool, like he just shifted to scratch an itch or something, but then his priorities kick into gear. Tapping his ear to indicate he's just received something via CODEC, he rises to his feet. "Sorry everyone, Monica. Union stuff."

The board is not happy but is well versed in the mantra of 'Union Stuff' by now and mumbles assent. "E-mail me the files later," Tony requests as he snags his suit jacket off the back of his chair and drapes it over his arm. "I AM interested in the contract." And he hurries out of the room.

Once safely in the hallway he jogs toward the elevators to the ground floor. "What is, how dangerous are we talking here, Jay?" he addresses the air, as someone passes him in the corridor and barely blinks. The boss talking to himself is nothing new around here. "Are we talking break traffic laws to get home, or are we flying?"

No, he does not take stalker reports lightly when his family is involved.
Pepper Potts     "Judging by Mr. Steinmetz's reaction to this gentlemen's presence, Sir, it appears the stranger in question tried to tempt Miss Beifong with sweets to gain entry to the house. Mrs. Stark is currently standing alert at the door with elevating pulse and blood pressure."

    "Let him be, Toph." Stan replies gently, and offers a hand to Toph. "You should tell me about your trip! You know, I still haven't been out to se eyour part of thew orlds -- I ought to go sometime." he says in a friendly tone, purposefully ignoring the man outside the gate, turning his back to him. "You see, sometimes when you ignore a barking dog, the dog barks himself out and walks away with his tail between his legs, you'll see--"

    And true to Jarvis's words, Pepper is at the door, plain to see from the gate where the man is standing, and the stranger's face lights up.

    "VIRGINIA! There you are, sweatpea! Look at you! Just look at you -- you're looking all grown up -- and /wow/! Pregnant too, huh?"
Tony Stark "Well," Tony quips, "We can't have Pepper ruining her blood pressure, now."

"I didn't think so, sir, which is why Mark 42 is already enroute. May I suggest the roof."

"I should give you a raise," Tony remarks as he hits the elevator button to take him all the way up.

"Indeed, sir. I have so many things I'd like to purchase to decorate the server room."

Which is why Stark is smiling bemusedly as he steps out onto the concrete rooftop of the main office; but the smile doesn't last long once the shining golden bullet swoops down from above to encapsulate him. Indeed his expression isn't too far off the Iron Man mask itself as he glares at Jarvis's readouts of Pepper's bio-signs on his HUD.

A sonic boom cracks out over LA.
Toph Beifong     Normally Stan is somebody Toph listens intently to, as he's earned her trust in addition to being a caring and considerate man. While she would love to tell him about her trip and talk about her own world and the Earth Kingdom, that's not as important as the issue at hand here. He does know how people think, and just maybe Toph would be inclined to listen to his good advice and follow it.

    If she wasn't already annoyed, that is.

    This is made worse when Toph too notices Pepper, as well as the man's reaction to seeing her. While he seems happy and calls out to her, Toph is quiet, her eyes going wide as her sensitive ears pick up what Jarvis already knew. Sure, the teenager has been around Pepper when she's been stressed, but this... this is clearly different. Right now this has become a situation that needs to be resolved. Stan suggests the airbender way, or is it the waterbender way...? That's not how Toph solves it, as her jawline goes tense and she turns towards the gate and kicks one foot into the ground as she tosses her backpack aside, causing the ground underneath the stranger's feet to push him backwards. Not a real attack, it won't hurt unless he stumbles and falls weirdly. At the same time Toph brings her other foot down roughly, launching herself over the gate! Landing roughly in front of the stranger she looks less than pleased. If she looked annoyed before, she looks furious now. "You get your sorry ass out of here before I send a rock spike so far up your ass that you can taste dirt!" she threatens, walking towards him. Sorry Stan, she's going to handle this her own way. "GET LOST!"
Tony Stark That's right about when Iron Man drops out of the sky into a perfect classic three-point landing on the driveway directly BEHIND the creeper. "I heard someone was selling Girl Scout cookies," he remarks lightly, though even the helmet filter and his best effort can't entirely hide the annoyance in his voice. "Don't tell me you're out of the Thin Mints, those are the best."

The suit's glowing optics shoot a glance up toward the house. "How are things, honey, doing all right? You want me to handle our guest?"

Back to the creeper. "Aw, you brought me flowers. You shouldn't have."
Pepper Potts     "Oh come on, Oven-Baked, not like you can ignore me forever!" the crass man calls out, clearly annoyed. He had set his hands on the gate when Toph had kicked up the dirt and sent him stumbling, and then Iron Man lands behind him. He pauses, and slooowly looks from the navel upwards, his eyebrows rising up. He gives a smile, red hair and freckles across his face, -- looks like Pepper has her mother's nose though. "Heeeeey! How's my son-in-law, huh? Put it there, buddy!" he states, and goes to offer a fist bump -- and then clearly rethinks it, retracting the hand. "On second thought, how about a cup of coffee? We can catch up, talk about the little Stark-in-the-Potts, eh? Eh?" he gives a smile.

    PEpper is walking forward, clearly angry enough to be out in bare feet, crossing the grass.

    Stan had been about to gently suggest Toph leave him be.. but at the insults, his mouth zips, and he gives a shrug. "Schmucks are going to schmuck... Pep -- you should go ba-" he begins, but Pepper stalks past him like an angry cat.

    "How dare you. How /DARE/ you try to come back into my life! /Now/ of all /times/ you picked now to show up!" she snarls, and she grips the bars in her hands, holding so hard that the knuckles turn plaster white.
Toph Beifong     It makes sense if Jarvis contacted Tony in this situation, considering how stressed out Pepper is. Though she doesn't back off even if Tony has landed right behind the strange man who claims to be Pepper's dad. "I was just about to show him the road," Toph informs Tony, in case he didn't pick up how she was about to force him to leave through earthbending if necessary. And no, Pepper's not all right. She's stressed, scared and angry from what Toph can tell. So the better they get this dunderhead out of here, the better!

    Though when Pepper walks up to the gate, Toph turns her head just slightly, some worry there in addition to the anger she's feeling at the invader. Oh yeah, she's so glad she didn't let him in. There's no smugness in Toph's tone when she speaks up. "I'm going to count to five. If you haven't moved by then, you will regret it." Because it seems that neither her nor Tony is going to let him get near Pepper right now. And Pepper clearly wants him gone.
Tony Stark Iron Man looks down at the proffered hand, somehow radiating mute astonishment despite the helmet's inability to emote. When the really crude comment after the request for coffee comes out, the mask snaps upward and Tony stares at him in rather more obvious disgust.

"It's okay, honey," he addresses Pepper rather than the disgusting man-turd, and steps past him to approach her at the gate, trying to meet her eyes to draw her gaze away from the stalker. "Hey. Hey, look at me. It's okay. We'll handle this, all right?" He rests one gauntleted hand lightly over hers as her knuckles tighten around the iron bars. "Deep breaths," he advises, his tone no longer light but in sincere concern. And he leaves his back to the uninvited guest. Pepper is WAY more important than him and he wants him to know it.
Pepper Potts     Stan is coming over, and reaches to Pepper's shoulder. Pepper is so angry that tears are threatening her eyes, her face is flushed and her lips are pressed into a thin line.

    Andrew Potts, however, doesn't seem phased in the least. "Aww, don't be like that, squirt. Listen to your hubby -- a couple of deep breathes."

    Pepper is losing her cool. Pepper Stark, who is /known/ for being in control, is losing. Her. Cool.
    "No, I am /not/ going to let you just handle this... and /you/," she snarls, with venom dripping from her voice. "If you think who can just walk back into my life, to any of our lives and think it's going to be all perfect, you're wrong. You're dead wrong. None of us are /ever/ going to let you in and let you manipulate and hurt us again. You heard my husband and my daughter. /Get Out/."

    "Hey -- HEY! I have just as much right to be in there as /he/ does!" Andrew Potts points at Stan, some of the flowers striking very near to Pepper's hands, his face turning an angry, ugly shade of red. "I'm your Goddamn /father/ Virginia, and you /WILL/ listen to me!"
Tony Stark Tony immediately turns and imposes himself between the angry freckled man and his wife. "In fact you don't," he replies coolly. He's been taken to court enough times to know how to handle this kind of outburst. "You see, this is my properly. Our property," he amends, with a quick flick of his eyes over his shoulder in Pepper's direction. "And Stan's invited. You haven't been. So... as you can see it's really pretty straightforward."

Keeping his eyes locked on Andrew now he continues levelly, "You're not her father. Her /father/ would have been in her life, like that man back there. She hasn't been /hiding/ from you for the last thirty years. You didn't give a shit about her until now, she's married a billionaire and suddenly you want to make amends. How stupid do you think we are?"

Without taking his eyes off him he calls back lightly, "Are you sure you don't want me to throw him off the cliff, hon?"
Toph Beifong     Good, Tony's working on reassuring Pepper and helping her calm down. If she can calm down at the moment, that is. Her heart is thundering from what Toph can hear, she is stressed... which isn't good for her nor little Bitchin' Camero. That is something Toph won't let slide. Not when Pepper speaks of the hurt that this man inflicted on her in the past.

    Tony might be handling this in a more adult manner, talking logically about things that has only briefly crossed Toph's mind, as she's been focusing on far simpler things involved in this matter. And Pepper isn't the only one who has been hurt by father figures here. As Andrew Potts raises his voice and tries to command authority, Toph has had enough. Besides, five seconds has passed, and hey... he /was/ warned!

    Toph brings her hands forward, and in response the earth underneath Andrew's feet moves back in an earthen wave, sending him rolling down the road along with dirt and debris. While he's tumbling Toph throws her arms aside, and the concrete of the road flies up to form around her in the shape of a large golem-like armour, only her mouth visible. "Time's up, Poop-Poop." The now ten feet tall earthen titan steps forward, and the earthbender slams a massive stone first down into the ground in front of Andrew. No, she's not out to harm him, but she's clearly doing her best to intimidate the man and send him running.
Tony Stark Tony blinks a couple of times. "Or that could happen," he remarks. Under his breath he murmurs into his CODEC, "Careful, kid. Don't give him any grounds to sue us for assault."
Pepper Potts     Yes. Yes that happened.

    ANdrew Potts looks a little concerned when Tony very adult-like handles the situation with grace and poise and excellent, well-made (and very true) points. "Well. You're Tony Stark. You're definately not stupid there s--" he begins...

    And then the redheaded man goes tumbling, crashing down, getting scraped up, tumbling, and he looks up, plainly afraid -- and that's when Stan steps in, holding up his hands and putting himself between Toph and Andrew.

    "HEy, hey now! Sticks and stones will break bones, but words are just words. His intent to hurt and weasel into your lives isn't going to work, now. You are too smart for that, to wise... and very wary." Stan looks to Pepper, and gives a soft smile. "Now, Toph, I brought ice cream. Wouldn't that be nice after some handwashing?"
Tony Stark "Save me some rocky road," Tony quips, and clanks a few steps down the driveway to follow Andrew's tumbling path. "You decided a long time ago," he addresses him quietly, but firmly, "that you didn't want little Virginia to be a part of your life. Well, now she doesn't want you in hers, and I can't blame her." He offers Mr. Potts a hand up, just to show HOW MUCH more of a real man he is. Though the repulsor pad gleaming in the center of his palm may be a bit intimidating. "Go, now," he advises softly, for Andrew's ears only. "Before I call the police."
Toph Beifong     Even as Toph smashes her clad fist into the ground she does hear Tony's warning, and she mutters back in response over the radio. "I won't." No, she's all about control, and she's not about to hurt the man. Though hopefully she can scare him into running off.

    But then Stan happens.

    The girl instantly stops in her path as she towers over the two men, clearly ready to throw another punch in Andrew's proximity. Sure, she /does/ want to make sure he's running off and not coming back, but unlike Andrew, Stan has Toph's full respect.

    So while Toph does inhale and exhale a few times, she does eventually let out a heavy sigh... and the armour crumbles around her, falling to the ground. All it takes is a few sweeping motions and the road is back to normal, and then she turns around to march back towards the gate. Though she does speak up again. "If you do come back here uninvited I /am/ going to kick your sorry ass!" Perhaps she is too gracious in her warnings. Once she gets through the gate though she reaches her hand out to Pepper's, clearly suggesting that they should get back inside. Her other hand catches the backpack that is knocked up into the air with a well placed earthen spike.

"You know the Rocky Road is my favourite, so I make no promises!" she quips to Tony.
Pepper Potts     Pepper is still agitated, her eyes narrowed, her face and ears red, but she lets Toph take her hand, and she puts her other hand on her stomach. "Pretty sure your sibling wants Rocky Road too. Want to see if we have any pretzels or -- ooh. /Bacon Flavored Poptarts/ to go with it?" the pregnant team mom asks, distracting herself with food. Very unlike Pepper.

    Andrew scrambles up, without Tony's help, trying to sort uout the spilled box of (strawberry-filled) chocolates and the discarded flowers -- until he just lets it all lay on the side of the road.

    "WEll. You'll be hearing from my lawyer about that little hooligan of yours. Unwarranted force, that was. No warning at all. And don't /you/ be expecting an apology."

    Stan stands with his back to Andrew, and he very slowly turns around. He pulls down his vest a moment, then rolls up his sleeves. It's pretty plain to see the faded blue tattooed-on number on his forearm as he steps forward, and his eyes coldly examine Andrew Potts.

    "You put my wife and my daughters through Hell. I happen to know a little bit about that myself." he states coldly. "You tried once before to contact Carrie and you were forbidden from ever, /ever/ having contact with her or your children again. Not after what you did to them. Not after y ou broke Carrie down, not after the damage you did to Pepper, not after you put your dirty hands on the girls. No, is /no/ Andrew." and he leans in. "Toph's and Tony's threats might not mean much except pity and a meal ticket to you, but if you darken the doorstep of my family again, any of my family, I will beat the ever-loving hell out of you, you son of a bitch." And Stan spits on the ground next to Andrew's shoes.
Tony Stark Tony's face splits in a smile. "I don't know about anyone else but you terrify me, /Dad/," he remarks jovially as he turns to pass through the gate and follow his wife and daughter up to the house. Andrew has evidently been discarded as not worth thinking about for one more second.

Stan's words run through his mind, though, and a shadow clouds his features after he's turned away. Pepper's told him how her biological father abandoned her, hinted at... other things, but Stan seems to know the full story. He makes a note to try to get it out of him. He wants to respect Pepper's privacy but if the guy is going to show up and be an active thorn in her side he should probably know exactly what he's up against.
Toph Beifong     It's clear Pepper's still upset, and well... she has the right to. But Stan is right, and Toph did get to state her opinion verbally and physically. Save for flipping Andrew the bird. And it sounds like it had a somewhat desired effect. In her mind it's better to be called 'hooligan' rather than being called 'dollface' and 'princess', Toph decides. If he still wants to claim he wasn't warned, then well... Jarvis ought to have some security tapes to prove otherwise.

    If she didn't approve of Stan before, she certainly would now. It's pretty telling if Carolina wanted nothing to do with her ex-husband, huh? The guy gave her a bad feeling, and the switching temper did hint of something wrong. Because honestly... the kind of person who could break Carolina Potts down... that's a person she doesn't want anything to do with save for punch him in the face. But no, Tony was right in his warning. Better not give this creep ammunition.

    "You need a foot rub later?" she offers Pepper, just to try and get her mind on something else.
Pepper Potts     PEpper is still upset, and she loops her arm around Toph's shoulders. She exhales in a soft huff, and then raises her hand to ruffle at Toph's hair, even if they're now both pretty covered with dirt. "I'm sorry you had to see me upset. I... wasn't planning on his showing up until announcements were made and I had time to prepare." she admits softly.

    Stan gives a slight smile to Tony, and he reaches to roll his sleeves down, and then turns and suckerpunches Andy Potts.

    "/Go/!" he barks -- and the redheaded man looks up and just scatters, sporting a bloody nose.

    Hrrmumph." he growls, and Stan rolls his sleeves back down. "I know Toph would probably cheer, but I've waited /thirty years/ to do that. If y ou or Toph did it, you'd have a Pee-Arr incident on your hands. If I do it, we can always blame dimentia." he states.

    "And bah, I shouldn't scare you, Tony. I like you. I let you marry Pepper." he states, pulling the front of his vest back down.
Tony Stark "You did," Tony agrees drolly, standing in the gate for Stan to catch up to him before Jarvis swings it shut behind them. His eyes trail after the fleeting man until he disappears around a curve in the long winding drive. "You and I are going to need to have a talk about Mister Potts later," he remarks in a low, almost grim tone.

But then, as the gate clanks reassuringly shut and he lifts his eyes up to trace the path of the womenfolk -- and particularly the view of Pepper from behind, he decides to put that kind of dark talk away for the time being, and jogs after them instead, heavy metal footfalls crashing with every stride. Drawing even with Pepper on her opposite side he hangs an arm casually over her shoulders and leans in to kiss her hair. "Did I hear something about bacon pop tarts?" A beat. "Because that sounds... kind of disgusting, actually."
Toph Beifong     There are no objections to when Pepper wraps her arm around her shoulders, and Toph even leans her head slightly against Pepper's torso, moving her arm around Pepper's lower back. "Man, are you eating super grow or something? Bitchin' Camero seems bigger this week!" she points out, trying to get Pepper's attention on happier things.

    She is aware of Stan punching Andrew, and while part of her wishes she could do it, she knows that it would be a bad idea. Stan however would get in less trouble since he doesn't have tabloids following his every step, so there's that. And well... it was kinda awesome, she must admit. Another reason to like her grandpa.

    Tony joins them, and Toph shifts her hand to punch him in the side with a grin. "That means there's more for me. And I'm hungry, I haven't eaten decent food in days after my provisions ran out on the way back. Speaking of which, I brought fresh dumplings. Extra ones for Pepper."
Pepper Potts     "If you're going to try and hire an assassin, I have to plead that you pick the redhead. It would be poetic justice." Stan states, and he weaves a little bit, coming down off the adreniline. "... I don't know how you do the super hero thing. It seems terribly exhausting." he compliments.

    Pep pauses, leaning back as Tony kisses at her hair. "Thank you everyone... for coming to my rescue... that wasn't... unexpected. Just not so soon." Pepper admits quietly, and she rounds the corner to get ice cream out of the freezer "Ooooh... dumplings."

    Stan's rubbing his hand, and he just gives a shrug. "I saw her eat half a bear."

    "A /gummy/ bear." Pepper corrects,

    "In one bite! It was all -nyooommmmm!-" Stan exageratedly pantomimes someone eating something huge, hoping that Toph could 'see' it -- "and then gone!"
Tony Stark "Fine, you eat my pop tarts, I'll eat your dumplings," Tony compromises, stepping clear so that he can divest himself of the suit. As he steps out of the armor and stretches, it closes itself up and turns to walk to the workshop. "I'm kind of surprised he didn't show up sooner," he admits, leaning in the doorway and smirking humorously at Stan's depiction of Pepper's voracity. "I mean we've been married what, four years now?" Joking aside, he muses more soberly, "You think he's just after the money, or is there something else going on? And how did he even know about the baby? We haven't advertised it."
Toph Beifong     Once inside the house Toph tosses her heavy back aside once she's pulled out the big box of dumplings, and she does her best to wipe her feet on the welcome matt. Most likely she will have to spend a good while in the bath tub later. "So ice cream first, then dumplings later?" she grins. Hey, if Pepper is getting ice cream out of the freezer, then she can wait with proper food for a while.

    Stan's comment makes Toph snicker a bit, and she does indeed seem to 'see' the pantomiming going on.

    If Tony wants a dumpling, he will get one. Opening the box Toph tosses one to him when he steps out of the armour. Though as for the subject of the baby, she arches an eyebrow. "Isn't it visible now though? I mean, it might be more obvious to me than to you seeing people, but there's a large bulge there," Toph points out. Quite literally as she follows Pepper and pokes her gently in the belly. Though Pepper's offered a dumpling too before Toph tosses another one to Stan as well.

    "I don't really care what the crud he's after, he's a condescending /creep/ that needs to stay away unless he really wants me to punch him!" There's a pause before she lets out a huff. "If I do punch him it will be for defensive purposes. And not too hard," she adds to Tony, just so he doesn't get too worried about any lawsuits.
Tony Stark "Well it's..." Tony cocks his head and peers at Pepper's midriff as she moves through the kitchen. "I mean I guess you can see it a little bit. If you know what you're looking for. You're a little... more rounded?" he offers up to Pepper with an impish smile.

Then he can't resist the temptation any longer and steps up behind her to wrap his arms around her, his hands resting very lightly over her belly button as he kisses the back of her neck. And gets a mouthful of hair, but whatever. "We should probably make some kind of official announcement," he muses, fingertips playing with the fabric of Pepper's shirt, trying to pull it up so he can touch skin. "I mean, just to shut down the rumor mill."
Pepper Potts     "You're absolutely right. He is a condecending creep that needs to stay away from my family. From all of my family." Pepper reolies, and she accepts the dumpling, nibbling on it as she sets out bowls, and brings out the Maple Bacon Pop-Tarts.

    Which Pepper opens a back, and breaks off part of one. Stan, understandably, does not partake in it, but cheerily accepts a bowl of ice cream. "You can't see it unless you're really looking for it, but then again, my eyes are getting a little weak. I should probably make my last trip around before they go completely... or maybe I could pick up Earth bending. Hrrrmmmm... what do you think, Toph? Tony? Think I could bend a little Earth?" Stan asks, and goes to flex a muscle -- and winces slightly.
Tony Stark Tony, still with his arms wrapped around Pepper as she goes about her kitchen stuff, tilts his head to rest his cheek against her shoulder and look back at Stan. "Could make you robot eyes," he offers lightly. At the wince he teases, "What's wrong, old man, arthritis acting up? I can get you into kung-fu lessons with me if you want to limber up." He considers for a moment. "Or maybe you want to put some ice on that after that punch you threw. That was pretty impressive."
Toph Beifong     Munching on her own dumpling, Toph lets the silly seeing people discuss what's kinda obvious to her at least. Though she looks curious when Pepper brings out the Pop-tarts and grins, walking over to grab one. "If you want to go on a trip and see the Earth Kingdom you are welcome to come with me to Yu Dao on the western coast of the Earth Kingdom, grandpa," she offers. "I'm heading there to look for students next. It's a Fire Nation colony, so it's a bit different than the rest of the Earth Kingdom." Once she's taken a piece of Pop-Tart though, she leans down, moving one of Tony's hands so she can press her ear against Pepper's belly, a look of concentration on her face.

    "The squirt's a bit more noisy if you ask me... felt any kicking yet?" she asks Pepper.

    As for Stan's arthritis, she does seem to get an idea. "Hot mud baths are even better for sore joints and muscles..." One can practically see the wheels turning in her head, as if she's contemplating filling one of the bathtubs with hot mud again like she did last year.
Tony Stark "Just me, kicking her in bed," Tony grins. "But she loves it. Especially when my feet are cold, right?"
Pepper Potts     "Sometimes. He's not really strong yet, but it feels weird just... knowing there's something in there. I talk to him sometimes, to, and tell him what a great big sister he has, and about all the people who are going to want to be aunts and uncles." Pepper laughs, leaning into Tony's arms a moment.

    Stan gives a wry smile. "Oh, no, no, no, I couldn't do kung-fu... too many opportunities to refer to myself as inappropriate things... hmm... but was considering taken a zumba class -- that's the slow one, isn't it?" Stan considers as he leans back in his chair.

    And Pepper halts her ice cream scoop.

    "Wait, did you... did you /punch/ him?!"
Tony Stark "Him, is it?" Tony continues teasing, taking the opportunity of Pepper's leaning to tickle her ear with his goatee. "You've finally decided it's a boy after all?"

He winces slightly, remembering that Pepper hadn't seen the punch and probably would have been better off not hearing about it, or at least not until later. So he tries to change the subject. "No, no, kung-fu is WAY easier than Zumba," he declares. "I'd take Zumba if I wanted to throw my back out for some reason; I don't know how people do it." And this from a man who routinely puts on power armor and flies around.
Toph Beifong     The blind girl snorts slightly at that comment. "And here I thought Buster sleeping over my face was bad..."

    Wait, Pepper knows the gender of the kid? "Did you do one of those ultra sounds while I was away or something?" It's a bit weird with what they can do with technology, but if that means they can make sure the baby is healthy, then that's good.

    Okay, that's a mental image she's not getting out of her head. "Okay, if you two sign up for zumba class I'm so coming along, even if I don't know what it is," Toph declares, standing up again so she can focus on helping Pepper with the ice cream.
Pepper Potts     "Well... no. I haven't found out, but I can't call he-or-she 'it'. What about this punch? Tony? /Dad/?"

    "Call it a squid." Stan replies helpfully, trying to deflect the question by stuffing his face full of ice cream, and he just points helplessly down at the botl, and shrugs his shoulders.

    PEpper turns to Tony, her eyebrows rising and her eyes narrowing.
Tony Stark "It's all about," and Tony attempts to demonstrate, whilst still draped on Pepper, "rolling your hips and dancing in rhythm," he gyrates deliberately badly, trying to get Pepper to move with him.

But then she turns on him and gives him that Look, and he desists, stepping back and lowering his eyes in a primal show of submission. "I don't -- know... punch? What? What were we talking about?" He glances toward Stan. "Did you say something? No, there's not really a whole lot of punching in kung-fu, it's more about redirection." He flashes his eyes back up at Pepper with a totally placating little grin, showing too much of his teeth.
Toph Beifong     Of course certain actions cause certain reactions.

    "Ooogie."

    That should be telling enough about what Toph thinks about Tony's zumba explanation. On to the subject of the punch... "He totally deserved that punch though!" Toph protests, feeling the need to defend her grandpa's actions. "I've never heard your heart race like that ever..." So it was justified. /One/ of them had to punch the asshole, right? "

    For now Toph thinks the matter is settled, and she too joins Stan in eating ice cream, getting some of it around her mouth before licking it away. "So when will you find out if it's a boy or a girl?" Not that it matters much to her, considering she already knows what to get the kid when he or she is born. Besides, any images they get will either way be more interesting to those with working eyes, she guesses.
Pepper Potts     "Thank you for being honest with me, Toph, and your support is noted. /You/." she points at Stan, who points innocently up at himself, peering out from behind his glasses, "Grounded. Extra chores at home. You." she turns, and points at Tony, and her eye narrows. "I'll think of something. And /you/." she points at TOph, and then realizes how ridiculous it is to point at Toph. "I have something for you."
Tony Stark Tony relaxes somewhat and takes the opportunity to growl playfully, "Oh yeah, better punish me." And he daringly pats Pepper on the butt as he sidles past her to get to the freezer for an ice pack for Stan. Ice packs, of course, are always on hand in the Stark household after someone decided to take up superheroing as a hobby.

"Another month or so," he answers Toph's question. "Pepper has this thing against me designing a new improved ultrasound to find out any sooner."
Toph Beifong     Lying to Pepper is pretty much an exercise in futility, Toph has learned. Whatever punishment the two men will receive can't be the worst, considering Pepper /has/ to appreciate what they did for her, right?

    There's genuine curiousity on that dirt and dust covered face though when Pepper states she has something for her. "Huh? For me?" Now you got her attention, Pepper. Pointing at Toph isn't ridiculous, since she is very well able to see the motions people do. Otherwise she wouldn't be able to fight as effectively as she does.

    Improved ultra sound sounds a bit weird, and Toph arches an eyebrow. "It's not going to make the baby grow any faster, is it?" she asks with her mouth full of ice cream.
Pepper Potts     "No, but... when I went to the office, they'd /just/ gotten a new machine..." Pepper reaches up, and pulls down something, and hands it over to Toph. It's plastic. It is squarish, but if Toph were to put her hands on it, it's a 3D printed image of a not-quite-done-bun.

    "Since you can't see regular ultra sound images... I wanted you to have so mething you could look at and show off to people." she gives a smile. "Unfortunately, little Bitchin' Camero was not cooperative, so it's a little fuzzy..." she trails off, and glances up with a smile at Tony.
Tony Stark "It's beautiful," Tony declares immediately. "Looks just like you, honey. And I am /so/ glad you're coming around to my way of thinking on the name." He pecks her on the cheek in passing and brings the ice pack over to Stan, along with a couple of ibuprofen. Also always on hand.

"And no, it wouldn't make the baby grow faster or develop a third eye or anything. She just doesn't want me to 'experiment,'" he does the air quotes, though in a good natured teasing way, "on her. Or our squid. You know what it reminds me of? That time I built the freeze ray, and I wanted to test it on you? You remember that Pep? God, when was that, I know you hadn't been working for me that long..."
Toph Beifong     Though she's not sure what Pepper's handing out for her to take since it's plastic, the blind earthbender sets her spoon into the ice cream and holds out her hand so Pepper can place it into her palm. The smooth material is a bit surprising to Toph, and she then sets the bowl aside on the bench since she can't figure out just what she's holding yet. Once she begins running her fingers over the square piece though, her eyes widen just a tad.

    Pepper's explanation only confirms it, and the earthbender looks a bit surprised where she stands. Sure, it's a tad fuzzy, but it still gives her a somewhat clear image. While she does hear Tony's words she doesn't really focus on them as she carefully traces the shapes on the plastic. Wordlessly the blind teenager leans back against the counter of the kitchen, not really paying attention to the others for a few seconds before she speaks up. "... man, I didn't think the baby would be /this/ small..."

    She seems to regain her wits when she rolls her eyes at Tony however. "Sorry, not gonna defend you here. It's your kid, and while you don't mess up /that/ often, I kinda understand Pepper."