Got it all yeah I'm young rich & handsome.

[primogenture]

For a good long while now, Tony has been telling him to retire. But he never quite makes it out the door before something needs his attention, or so it's perceived by him. That's how Howard ends up at Stark Industries until the ripe age of 83, meandering up and down hallways barking orders and generally terrifying new hires. He still hates sitting still, even if his bones protest him more than they did even five years ago. At the behest of Tony (and Happy honestly) he now has a sweet ass cane to get around with and to the chagrin of everyone it actually does make him faster. He can be found in a small corner office very occasionally, but most of the time he's doing his laps, trying to stay useful.

One day he actually goes looking for Tony and can't find him. Maybe his PA will have his schedule, though who knows with that boy. He was always getting off the leash. He wraps on the open doorjamb with the butt of his cane and glowers at the young woman now occupying this office. Wasn't there a brunette here just a week ago? Honestly... Except then he scans her nameplate and he realizes this isn't just another pretty face. Though he wasn't in the famous meeting where this woman corrected his son and not only got away with it but got promoted for it -- well. Let's say he heard more than a few things at the water cooler.

"You were in accounting." It isn't a question, he does that thing Tony does where he states things for the record. Without saying anything else, he moves to occupy the chair in front of her. "Is this role... agreeing with you, my dear?" Howard straightens said nameplate and starts rearranging the scant few things on her desk. She's very minimalistic compared to the last one, who always had papers strewn all about and pictures and knick-knacks.

Comments

[efficacy]

To say Pepper's life had been interesting these past weeks would be something of an understatement. She'd had to hit the ground running when Tony had hired her as his new PA on a whim (or so it had seemed for a hot minute there), mired up to her ears in learning all the ropes she needs to in order to effectively manage her new position -- and her new charge. That's more or less what it felt like, babysitting a grown man. But despite the exasperation Tony's irreverent ways caused her, she hadn't felt so invigorated in years. This was a challenge, and she relished tackling it.

The tap of the cane gives Howard away a few moments before the older man appears to darken her doorstep, so to say, giving Pepper time to sit up straight and drop the stress ball she'd been squeezing into a drawer as she'd been going through Tony's schedule for the week. And speaking of Starks... here was another handful. Howard Stark was well-known to all in the company, not only for founding it but for his utter inability to actually retire. Pepper had only ever seen him in passing and heard of his antics from others, but she suspects that would also be changing from here on out.

Pepper gives a placid smile, rehearsed by now (and she'd had to learn quickly) in hiding her true feelings, when Howard begins to touch the scant things on her desk. Her fingers itch already to move everything back where it was, but she curbs the impulse. She's sure there's an implication behind the question, but she's not sure quite which one. And she really isn't sure it would be polite nor wise to call the senior Stark out on it.

"I wasn't planning on staying in accounting forever, Mr. Stark," she finally replies pleasantly, not really answering Howard's question even if the words are true.

[primogenture]

That answer is... amusing, but he can tell she's holding back. Most people did around him, and he seems to have passed that trait onto Tony however unwittingly. She's giving him that side-eye Peggy gives him when he does... anything, and he unhands her things, sitting up a fraction straighter to mimick her posture. "And was this in your plan, Virginia?" They both know that it wasn't, but he wants to hear her version of things anyway.

[efficacy]

"Definitely not," she admits honestly on a tiny breath that could almost be an aborted chuckle, crossing her fingers and setting her hands on the desktop. There was no way she ever could have planned for this. "But I think this could have potential beyond simple accounting, certainly." Why should she deny her ambition? She could make something out of this position than mere babysitter or coffee-fetcher. At least she plans on trying her best.

[primogenture]

He crosses one ankle over the other, his hand closing around his cane as he relaxes -- he thinks he'll stay here a while. "I wouldn't argue with that. Though keeping up with him is just a bit more taxing than balancing a budget, isn't it?" Lord knows he couldn't keep up with Tony anymore, which was why he'd come to her in the first place. But he's putting that on the backburner for now. He's already forgotten what he wanted to ask Tony in any case.

[efficacy]

Pepper doesn't miss the way Howard makes himself comfortable, her eyes darting briefly over to her computer screen and the count of unread e-mail in her inbox, the number ticking up steadily. She ignores it with effort, focusing on the man in front of her. The whole thing feels a little surreal, being interviewed (interrogated?) by the founding Stark himself.

"Your son is certainly..." she trails off, hesitating a little over her words before starting over a touch more diplomatically. "It is more demanding, yes, but at least it isn't boring." So far. She doubts that's likely to change anytime soon.