[OPEN] The most dangerous place...

[distinctive_guy]

CHARACTERS: distinctive_guy and OPEN
DATE: Nov 12 (Day 18 - Backdated to Evening)
RATING: Possible swearing from this guy
SUMMARY: Eliot was working in the Greenhouse and discovered the place is safe from the leaves.

Comments

[takingouttrash]

Pepper had needed to move around a bit. After the panic of the 'mission', there was a build-up of suspense that she was not really sure what to do with.

Except going out was not quite fun. The wind and leaves blew inside the buildings, too, but they were worse outside.

By the time she sought shelter, the back of her hand was bleeding lightly from a slim cut, which she hadn't even noticed yet. And yet inside this place, the air was quiet.

"Oh," she said to nobody in particular, since she hadn't seen the greenhouse already had somebody inside. "The wind doesn't come here." Yes, yes, noting the obvious. The whole place had her off-balance enough to get her to do that, sometimes.

[distinctive_guy]

Eliot looked up from where he was crouched amongst the plants when he heard someone enter. Straightening up and rubbing the dirt off his hands onto the apron he wore, the big man grinned with amusement. "So it appears, sweetheart. For some reason, this place is safe from the nasty wind."

He wasn't more than ten steps from her, probably unnoticed until now due to how quiet and hidden he had been. His grin settled into a softer smile when he added, "Sorry if I startled you. You're welcome to stay as long as you need."

[takingouttrash]

Pepper jumped. Just a little bit, but she did. And then, naturally, glared, which got slightly alleviated by his apology.

"It's all right. I'm sorry if I'm intruding. Or interrupting."

She gave a quick glance down and up, as usual to read... whatever could be read in clothing and body language at this place - habits die hard - then managed a reasonable smile, rubbing the back of her hand.

"My name is Pepper Potts, I guess I haven't been here all that long... is this your work?"

[distinctive_guy]

Eliot laughed, his burly form shaking at the shoulders at the thought of being responsible for the greenhouse. "No," he said, but as he looked around and recognized more plants than not that he had a hand in caring for, his expression changed to proud amusement. "Maybe

[takingouttrash]

"I see." Pepper smiled slightly. Weapons made a lot of sense in this place, whatever sorts he might be choosing.

Unless one was as non-proficient with them as herself, that was.

But caring about the plants, now that was something different. She wasn't exactly a green thumb sort of person, but did know enough to recognize this as a different kind of approach to the place than trying to destroy things.

She looked down. "Oh. Yes." Another smile, more business-like and more focused. "Of course, thank you. I don't really know where it came from." She was heading to the back already, stepping carefully on the walkway cutting through the greenhouse.

[distinctive_guy]

His answer was a soft, deep laughter that reverberated deeply from his chest. "Sweetie," he said, gesturing to the windows, therefore outside. "It's no secret that the winds are tryin' to cut us up alive here. With how they're pickin' up, I'm surprised that's all that's showing." He turned around and led the way before he could start contemplating where the cuts might not be showing, or allow those thoughts to wander off too far.

"Knowin' this place, they'll probably get worse after nightfall. You might wanna make your way to somewhere safe or secluded before then if you don't plan on spendin' the rest of the seventy two hours here with plants." Though it might not be a completely bad idea if she could stand it, there were few places as wind free as here.

"Here... runnin' water." He stopped before a pump and a basin of clean looking water. "May I?" Extending his hand waiting, he waited to see if she'll let him clean it for her.

[takingouttrash]

"I suppose." Pepper shrugged slightly. "But you are right, it's likely to get worse." Her lips pursed. At least Tony would be safe in the armor; this was something it was good for. Hopefully.

But if he could fight with airplanes and still survive in that thing...

Stop this.

She took a deep breath, then smoothed her features in a smile as she reached to place her palm in his hand. "Thank you." And then she forced herself to not look away. If this was what was coming in the approaching hours, she might as well mind and be able to take care of the cuts, herself.

"Having access to California's or New York's best doctors for years spoils one regarding things like this." By means of apology. Sort of.

[distinctive_guy]

Eliot's hands were full of calluses but his touch remained gentle as he carefully ran Pepper's hand under the water to clean it. Honestly, he didn't mind helping her with this, and he made sure to convey that through his open grin.

"The Big Apple, huh? I've been there." Several times, half of them to con some person or another out of several things, least of all their money.

"Dunno about the handiwork of your best doctors," he wrapped the wound up with a strong sure hand, having done this hundreds of time in the past. "But the doc, Hadesu-sensei, at the hospital here knows his stuff." He pronounced the name and title like a Japanese would, suggesting some familiarity with languages. Finishing up, he replaced the extra materials back into the first aid supplies he kept in his utility belt. "There, all done."

He gave her one of his more charming smiles. "Or you're welcome to look for me if you need help with somethin'."

[takingouttrash]

Pepper couldn't resist smiling at Eliot; he was taking everything with such a mixture of good cheer and helpfulness and resignation that he was making her feel that little bit at peace. It was no mean trick.

"Thank you. Maybe I should go look for him and ask for some basics, if this is going to continue. Should help with feeling a bit not so useless, here."

She gave a quick look around. "Since you are the one doing something useful, maybe the offer for help should be going the other way."

[distinctive_guy]

Eliot was about wave her off with his customary gallantry, but considered her offer again. Perhaps he could understand the need to be helping with something, although he regarded her outfit and again at her hand.

Admittedly, time will pass more pleasantly to have a lovely companion like miss Potts to keep him company, but she was hardly dressed for manual labor and he didn't want her agitating that wound. "What do you know about gardinin', sweetheart? Maybe you can take a look 'round and gimme some suggestions."

[takingouttrash]

"Most of what I know is from reading, although a long time ago I helped a bit with my mother's garden."

Pepper's mouth twitched. "It was not one of my favorite pastimes, back then, but it's preferable to facing monsters right now."

That, and growing up had taught her to appreciate certain things that she hadn't, as a child. Not that she was going to change her life back home; not in a million years. But she still did appreciate simple activities - like gardening - better.

"It was mostly flowers," she added. It wasn't helpful, other than by letting him know what previous experience she had. Like... providing precise credentials.

[distinctive_guy]

Which Eliot could appreciate, the lovely female company if not the gardening resume provided. "You look like you can easily pick up on it." He grinned at her. then showed her some of the plants around them. A few of the later season ones were still flowering.

"It's not all that different from flowers, basic concept's the same. I can teach you sometime. And about first aid." He smiled in that sweet way of his that he usually secures him a date. "If you want. I'm just sayin'."

[takingouttrash]

"Thank you, I'd very much appreciate that." Among other things, even other than helping Tony and practice with Bruce, she had a lot of spare time. Learning things that might be useful sounded like a very good idea.

"Might not be the most immediate survival skills where monsters are concerned, but I'd rather learn them anyway. And help."

ooc: *goes tags the other log...*