( ooc ) application for ataraxion

[petitehands]

PEPPER POTTS @ ATARAXION

PLAYER INFORMATION Your Name: Maria OOC Journal: caipirinha Under 18? If yes, what is your age?: Nope! (19) Email + IM: EMAIL | m.pluzhnikov04as at gmail dot com IM | flamboyant penguin @ aim (rarely used) PLURK | sparklings Characters Played at Ataraxion: N/A CHARACTER INFORMATION Name: Virginia "Pepper" Potts Canon: MCU ( Iron Man/Iron Man 2/The Avengers ) Original or Alternate Universe: OU Canon Point: Post Avengers Number: 012 or RNG if unavailable! Setting: Earth-199999, otherwise known as the Marvel Universe in which the various films take place. History: From the films, we don't get very much background on Pepper, but according to the film's novelisation, there's a fun story on how she eventually became Tony's right hand (and no one is surprised). With a BA in accounting and a lacklustre modelling career - later referenced by Tony the second film - Pepper began in Stark Industries as low level employee Virginia Potts. Having found an error in Tony's numbers (WHAT NUMBERS idk), she was quickly dismissed by her superiors for suggesting that Tony Stark could crunch his own figures incorrectly, but she was having none of that, and thus decided to take it up with Tony himself. This wasn't a move appreciated by his security, who made an attempt to remove her, only to be loudly threatened with pepper spray. Not that she had any pepper spray on her at the time, it just seemed like a good idea. Picking up on the lie immediately, Tony Stark found himself faced with an honest, capable and bold woman that he decided he needed some more of in his life. From an outburst that would probably have resulted in her being fired anywhere else, Virginia was offered a new job and a nickname on the spot; she became Pepper Potts, personal secretary to the Stark legacy. Fast forward a number of years, and Pepper has become a pretty integral part of Stark Industries. Where Tony is the face of the company, Pepper has a big hand in running the business side of it all, given that Tony usually either can't be bothered or is otherwise occupied, on top of managing Tony's personal affairs, be they escorting away his "guests" or ferrying him off to Afghanistan. Of course, regarding the latter, she had no idea at the time that she would not see him again for three months, so in retrospect she's not overly happy with that, but still. Needless to say, Pepper was overjoyed at the fact that Tony came back from Afghanistan alive, albeit with a glowing circle in the middle of his chest. That's more or less in one piece, right? Following Tony's return from captivity, it would be daft to say that Pepper doesn't notice a change in him and his behaviour. Again, exhibit A is the glowing elephant in the room, which might not be public knowledge, but Pepper's more than well acquainted enough with the cavity in Tony's chest on account of having to stick her hands in it. She continues to manage his business and go on as normal as best she can, but once the bullet holes start to come into play, it's kind of becomes hard to ignore the fact that Tony has been up to something (hint: it is red and gold, really awesome, and flies). Pepper doesn't exactly take kindly to the fact that Tony is seriously taking certain matters into his hand, mostly out of the fact that she just doesn't want Tony to get himself killed in the process, but even when she tries refusing to participate in whatever it is Tony's trying to achieve, she still finds herself headed for Stark Industries with instructions hack into the company's computer system. She consequently discovers that it was Obadiah Stane who ordered for Tony to be taken in Afghanistan, and narrowly avoids a rather unfortunate encounter with him, even though he jig is up and he knows what she has seen. Although Pepper and a number of (the yet unnamed) SHIELD agents, including Agent Coulson, attempt to arrest Stane, he reveals his own iron suit and the name "Iron Monger", and quickly establishes that he's not going to be very easy to take down. In the ensuing battle between Tony and Stane, Pepper manages to overload the arc reactor in the main Stark Industries building, which takes out Stane and kills him in the ensuing explosion. Following this, Tony reveals to the world that he is indeed Iron Man, and though we don't get to see Pepper's reaction, rest assured it probably wasn't a very favourable one. As we begin Iron Man 2, things are already kicking off right from the get go. Between the subpoenas, court cases and being made CEO of Stark Industries (whilst in the middle of giving Tony a bollocking, no less), Pepper has quite a lot on her plate, and it doesn't get any easier, what with Tony still doing more or less whatever he likes - and not telling Pepper that he happens to be steadily crawling towards dying - hiring ridiculously attractive and well qualified ladies from Legal, deciding that it would be a fabulous idea to take part in the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, etc, etc. Of course, when things go wrong with the Grand Prix, it's not what Pepper would have probably expected. With Ivan Vanko now a very serious and public danger, Pepper has a wonderful time of going the wrong way around a race track and being in a car that more or less gets split in half while trying to deliver Tony's suitcase suit to him. With Vanko apprehended and Tony (once again) more or less in one piece afterwards, Pepper starts to suspect that there is something going on that isn't being said, even if Tony still won't tell her, though credit to him, he does try. With a sort of sorry looking omelette. After this, Tony's "I'm Going To Die"-induced madness culminates in a rather disastrous and drunk party that partially destroys Tony's Malibu home, things take a turn for the somewhat strained. Between media and commentators constantly questioning or putting down her capability as the CEO of Stark Industries and actually running the company itself, Pepper doesn't really appear to have much time or patience for Tony and his ill fated gift of strawberries, and quickly asserts that they are Not Really Okay. The film's final showdown, however, takes place at the Stark Expo where Justin Hammer unleashes his drones on the unsuspecting public, leading to a pretty awesome bit of teamwork on Tony and Rhodey's parts in taking down both drones and Vanko. Pepper also gets to find out that Tony was - but no longer is! - dying, and everything seems more or less fine, up until the point that Pepper is almost exploded by the self-destructing remnants of a drone (because when something is suspiciously beeping, standing and staring at it is a good plan). Thankfully, Tony makes a well timed rescue, and after dropping Pepper off to safety on a rooftop, she attempts to resign from her post at Stark Industries. This doesn't really work out at she planned, however, because she and Tony start making out instead. To conclude the film, Pepper still runs this joint and is now in a stable(ish) relationship - but this, of course, is not the end. Following the events of Iron Man 2 was, of course, The Avengers, in which Tony charmingly rounds up the amount of times he has Almost Died to four, what with this whole taking a nuke into another dimension business after a bunch of aliens try to take down New York. Pepper's presence in the film is brief, but hard to forget, considering that she and Tony display both functionality and excellent percentage related banter. Although every wiki in the whole bloody internet seems to be convinced that Pepper is no longer CEO of Stark Industries, if The Avengers is anything to go by, then Pepper is still managing press, she's still incredibly involved in the company and she must be one heck of a woman to be doing it without the credit (which is to say, it strikes me as unlikely that Pepper does not, for whatever reason, maintain a pretty high up position in SI, but all will be clear - hopefully - around about Iron Man 3). After all the chaos has settled down, we see Pepper briefly going over the plans for the rebuilding of Stark Tower with Tony. More functionality!!! But only until April. Personality: Now, if there is anyone in the world who tries to keep their feet firmly on the ground, it's probably Pepper Potts. Some people like to build incredible suits and zoom around everywhere and get themselves into sticky situations, but Pepper, she prefers to avoid them. She takes risks like any one else in business would, but there are some risks that just go a tad too far. She is sensible, capable and has an excellent head for business and organisation, something she probably would have had to get to grips with pretty quickly once she became Tony's right hand woman, because let's face it, ever since that pepper spray day she has probably had most of a huge company to run. If she can't make the stuff they sell, then she'll sure as hell make sure it's sold for a good price. Combining the fact that she works for Tony Stark and how she got her job in the first place, we learn two things about Pepper. Firstly, she is a multi-tasking goddess, and secondly, that she is not afraid of speaking up and being heard, no matter the potential consequences. She isn't going to let some smarmy business gits walk all over her, and that applies to just about anyone else. Unless they have the potential to kill her or something, in which case she would probably be aware of how vastly outmatched she would be. Verbal sparring is far more her forte, and she's not really about to try her hand at anything other than that. Pepper isn't so much impulsive as she generally is more careful and calculated - particularly in terms of business - but she has her moments, and a certain stubbornness of her own. She has her comfort zones, and she'd like to stay within them, thanks very much. Professionally speaking, Pepper is made for business. A undoubtedly methodical and ordered person, she has no qualms with voicing her opinion if necessary, and if she doesn’t agree with something, she won’t keep it a secret. She keeps her feet on the ground and tries to look at situations with as much realism as possible. She's also a terrible liar, which is partially the reason for where she is today, but it also means that she's very stiff and awkward when she happens to be more or less caught hacking into computer files that incriminate the dude talking to you. So, as far as Pepper's concerned, honesty is definitely the best policy. Pepper is, however, only human, and she is perfectly capable of getting a bit swept away by emotions, especially if they concern Tony and his more reckless, self-destructive activities. She's painfully loyal, knowing that even when walking away would ultimately be a better thing to do, it's a case of not wanting to see Tony get himself killed vs. knowing that Tony's getting himself killed and not trying to help him avoid this. She could be perfectly independent from both Tony and Stark Industries, but after all this time, they've both become a part of her, and it isn't so easy to give these things up, even when you've almost been exploded and all that. As much as Pepper might freak out in moments of sheer chaos, she bounces back, and she keeps going. Like anyone, she can have a shock reaction that might be dramatic and stressed, but then I don't think I'd be in the best of moods if I'd seen some hench Russian with insane whips coming towards me and slicing my car up like a cucumber. For the most part, Pepper is sociable and actually quite lovely, if you don't dick around with her, her boss or her company. She may give as good as she gets, depending on the situation; diplomatic, if there's something to lose, less so if there isn't. A bit of banter hardly goes amiss with her either. Contrary to the belief of some, she knows how to have fun and, my gosh, she even enjoys it too, if it isn't too over the top. If you're civil or even friendly to her, then you will likely get the same treatment back. If not, then your loss, let's be honest. Having been aboard the Tranquility previously, Pepper is pretty well adapted to the more unusual and unpredictable qualities of space. She has had to deal with Tony losing an eye, meeting his rather long-deceased father- the crazy doesn't end, but Pepper is ready to face it again. She will be a little more wary and cautious of the ship, but at the same time not too alarmed at the idea of being back. Abilities, Weaknesses and Power Limitations: PEOPLE & BUSINESS SKILLS | generally speaking, Pepper can handle people and business, no problem. It helps that she is a pretty nice person, so she isn't one of those heinously brutal business types that people end up bitterly resent. Probably more the "she was so polite and understanding that I couldn't be angry with her" type. ADAPTABILITY | spaceship or no spaceship, she won't let a momentary flash of emotion and intense alarm get the better of her. Give her a day or two to be completely freaked out, and after she will start to get back into the swing of running like clockwork. More or less. If (read: when) crazy shit starts happening again, she might wobble. Just a bit. SOFT AND SQUISHY HUMAN | arguably Pepper's only particular super power would be an incredible sense of patience and Tony Minding. Otherwise, she is a very breakable and normal human being. TONY STARK | is both a weakness and a strength, in some ways. While Tony is capable of bringing out the best in Pepper, he can also bring out the worst in her, and sometimes it's hard to tell if there is a balance or if one of them is more frequent than the other. Inventory: NOTHING because hopefully Tony will still have a small assortment of her things or else he'll be in trouble. Appearance: PB: Gwyneth Paltrow, as seen in Iron Man and Iron Man 2. | Caucasian female, somewhere in her mid to late thirties. Usually dressed in a different kind of suit to what Tony seems to prefer, and impeccably stylish, but there is quite possibly going to be less of that on board the ship because. Well, jumpsuits. She won't deny their practicality - not to mention she doesn't much fancy trying to get around a spaceship in heels. It's just not a good plan. AU Clarification: N/A SAMPLES Log Sample: As a general rule, Pepper Potts does not like to feel defeated. Properly, truly defeated where she is pushed to edge of some dark, deep canyon bubbling with stress and frustration and moments when her heart pounds so hard she thinks it might leap clean from her chest. These are moments she has certainly experienced. Recently, in particular, and most of them have unsurprisingly had the same source each time. Yet the thing about Pepper is that, no matter how close she gets to that edge, she won't ever fall. Yes, the matter of waking up in a tube, covered in something blue and absolutely gross, on a spaceship in another dimension - these weren't things that went down well with her. Not at first, and not now, either. There are certain things that will always take a hell of a lot of time to accept and get used to, but Pepper is adaptable. If she can't change this, then she'll damn well get on with it. She isn't about to let another dimension get the better of her. As collected as she may like to appear, though, it doesn't stop this place from making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She's seen her bit of danger, more than enough to last her a lifetime, and she knows that Tony has faced plenty of sticky situations (the Times He Almost Died count is already far too high, as far as Pepper's concerned), but this is different. From what Tony has told her - and she isn't sure if he's told her everything - it's a very different playing field, and it sure isn't level. She has faith in Tony, she has faith in Natasha and everyone else he's introduced her to, but it's a little hard to maintain the feeling when the man with all the resources and capabilities back home is now stuck on a spaceship. All the same, Pepper supposes it could be worse. Possibly. At least on a spaceship she assumes people will be avoiding explosions, and she's grown a bit tired of those lately, so that's a nice change. It would be preferable if this were a change taking place back home, but Pepper has her doubts that that would actually be possible any more. Either way, she's trying not to think too much about the what ifs and the could bes. There's no point in dwelling. God, the thought of having to get back into that tank and the blue stuff of liquid evil still makes her shudder, though. Being space would be much nicer without the thought of that. Comms Sample: I don't care how long it's been, this does not count as a vacation. Anything that begins with falling out of tubes and blue liquid - which is really, really quite awful - is just... [ she inhales deeply, keeping her voice level ] I genuinely have no words. Next time, I wouldn't mind spontaneously finding myself in Hawaii. Or maybe the south of France. Just not in space, preferably.