[ooc: I myself have no idea what'd happen, so anything Norry says works, as far as I'm concerned. |D]
To put in one word, Pepper was shocked. She stood still for several seconds, gawking in a positively unladylike manner at Marquis and his door, both of which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Quickly closing her mouth, Pepper struggled for a further few seconds to find the right reaction, the right words. Nothing sensible really came to mind, so she eventually decided to go with the first coherent sentence to come to mind and run with it.
"H- How'd you do that?" The estate had pretty intense security; Tony had made sure, a long while ago, that Pepper was well acquainted with the various systems and protocols. But this- this was just ridiculous. And he had a door too, for Christ's sake.
Pepper had assumed that she'd have to make up some story for the man and then he'd tell her one too, or something like that- had he meant other world literally? Pepper had quite an open imagination - after all, her boss was a superhero, wasn't he - but this was something utterly beyond her. And to be quite frank, that door and suspicious glow were not looking too promising to her.
[alright~ if it turns out being a loud alarm we'll say they had rushed out or something haha]
The Marquis raised his eyebrow in return for the look, allowing her to stutter out what questions she would for exactly the right moment before stepping forward.
"The less questions you ask the better- trust me, magic is a very finicky thing." He said, gesturing for her to move. "Well come on, I'm an important man and I do not have all day. You're coming with me on an errand- and easy thing, no worries, and you may gawk and stare all you like while we do so." he informed, starting back towards the doorway as though he expected her to follow.
"Hey, slow down- I did not agree to magic, I did not agree to meet yo- how the hell did you find me here?" She held up her hands defensively as she spoke, taking a small step back for his step forward. "Could you at least explain what's going on before trying to drag me through some doorway?" Pepper was hoping that Tony would be alerted quick enough - and react quick enough - to come and intervene before she was coerced into something strange. Or before she went with this man against her better judgement, because her undeniable awe and curiosity were interfering, to an extent.
"Explain, and maybe I'll consider it," Pepper said, repeating the earlier idea, her voice a little calmer and more level, yet still not without a note of unrest and lack of trust hidden in her tone.
The Marquis stopped again, eyes rolling away from her sight as he spoke in a tone one would use for small children. "Magic, simply, is that which we cannot explain. So obviously explaining it would be a rather fruitless thing." he said as he turned back to her, standing in the doorway.
"I found you because our agreement allowed me too and no reason else. The deal was I would take you to a different world and back in return for a tale of my choosing. Honestly, it's like talking to Richard on one of his denser days." the man said as he pulled out the fine gold watch from his pocket, clicking it open as he continued.
"It's simple, you walk through and come to another world- London Below if you wish the name. I happen to have a meeting very soon so if you will decide quickly I'd be obliged." He glanced up, a small smile on his face. "Aren't you curious at all what lies beyond these walls and skies? Just a peek, that's all, and on my word you will be back here sooner than you wanted."
She hesitated- but he was right. It wasn't every day someone decided to appear in the middle of a house with some random glowing door and offer you the chance to go to another world. To be honest she was expecting some sort of hoax, maybe Tony was playing a trick, but it didn't hurt to... play along? Pepper wasn't sure how to describe it. But, if you considered that her employer was capable of building himself a superhero persona, Pepper was finding it easier and easier to start believing in strange and wacky things.
"... Fine." She didn't bother asking who Richard was, she didn't expect a straight answer nor one that would mean anything to her. She didn't know any Richards, as far as she knew. "Fine." She straightened, trying to look as dignified as possible as she took several steps forward, closer to the door, ready to follow the Marquis's lead.
The Marquis watched her as she spoke, smile widened as the words left her mouth. "I think I like you already." He said- that was hardly an irritating affair at all. He turned back to the now dimming door, snapping his clock shut as spoke.
"Try not to wish while you walk through - those thoughts tend to grow minds of their own this way." He warned, stepping through the door way. It was only the briefest moment of pure, white silence before the dim light of the Underground flooded his eyes; dark and dank and home.
She raised her brows at the remark, and didn't reply any further than that. Once again, she hesitated just for a moment, specifically to try attempting to understand his next words. Upon failing to do she, she just resolved to keep her mind clear of any thoughts at all while walking through. She sincerely hoped that a blank mind wouldn't be able to grow into... anything.
Needless to say, as someone who'd grown quite accustomed to the glamour of Malibu and the modern sophistication it had, Pepper wasn't particularly impressed by London Below. She had to squint for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the sudden darkness following the brilliant white she'd spent only seconds within. "London Below?"
The Marquis wondered if all upper worlders were fond of repeating everything he said. He pulled a long light, like a torch only with an industrial glow at the end, out of seemingly nowhere and began to walk.
"There are two sides to every coin- your name? I am the Marquis de Carabas." He explained as he moved. "Though that is not a name I would repeat readily here, there are several who get cross with me when what they wish doesn't turn out all they wished it to be." he said.
"Anyway, this is the other side of London. It's where everything that's lost ends up, all that fall through the cracks- items, ideas, people. We're going to the Floating Market, you're quite lucky it's around this time."
"Pepper Potts," she answered, not looking at him as she did. She was too busy looking at... well, forwards and at nothing in particular. She'd not been to London before, but this certainly wasn't what she had imagined. Then again, he was going on about it being the "other side" of London and such like. So the appearance made a little bit more sense. Only a tiny bit, though.
She wondered whether it'd be worth anything to both telling the Marquis that she didn't really understand what this place was- ideas? People? It meant nothing to her really, and what on earth (or wherever this was), was the Floating Market? However, in the interest of not coming across as annoying and parroting his every word, Pepper simply continued to stare a bit, waiting for the Marquis to do something, anything.
"Charming." The Marquis turned sharply. Of course he hadn't mentioned getting to the market was dangerous but then again what worthwhile thing wasn't? "Now Pepper Potts, out of curiosity what was that enormous house? You wouldn't happen to be a woman of nobility would you?" he asked, turning another corner with a dim light near the end. "Or you Americans, you call it 'elite?' 'Rich?'"
Ahead a tower came into view, long and stark white like ivory against the black back drop, pushing far into the sky despite the enclosed space. "The White Tower." he explained, pushing the torch aside in favor of the dull light from the place before them.
Dangerous? Tony would be pleased with this little outing, undoubtably. Pepper wondered if she had to tell him about it if he didn't find out about it himself.
"I'm not myself-" Actually, this wasn't true. Pepper was better off than the average American, but that's because her paychecks were, frankly, ridiculous. The house still wasn't hers, mind. "That was my employer's house." She followed after the Marquis, trying not to get too distracted by these curious new surroundings lest she went and lost the man. It was difficult, though, especially when the White Tower came into view. Pepper tended to stare quite a bit at times, and this was another occasion on which she had to do so. "What is it? I mean, as in, what's it for?"
[ooc: I am so so sorry this took so long, I got distracted by the Gotham plot :[ blame tony ]
"Mr. Tony Stark?" The marquis asked, interest peeking as he glanced over. "He must be an important man - an iron one if my sources are correct. Such a burden." he mused as he waled.
"Oh this?" he asked, waving at the tower almost disinterestedly and ignoring the metal suits watching their movements. "Just another piece of a bloody history. The most dangerous places and people like to wear masks of purity." he said confidentially, holding the door open for her. "After you Pepper Potts." he said with a sweeping gesture to the interior, a stark room with many doors.
"He keeps me on my toes," was all Pepper offered in reply. She was too distracted by the metal suits watching them and too cautious to go into too much detail about her esteemed employer with such a... "unique" stranger. Who was taking her somewhere potentially rather dangerous and certainly very strange. Pepper was starting to have second thoughts, and she was feeling rather tense, biting her lip slightly at the Marquis's words.
"Comforting." She could find no other response besides a slight cringe as she slipped inside the door, struggling with all of her current being to not hesitate with every step. It wasn't as if the ground was going to leap up around her and then suddenly swallow her. At least, she sincerely hoped it wasn't.
To put in one word, Pepper was shocked. She stood still for several seconds, gawking in a positively unladylike manner at Marquis and his door, both of which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Quickly closing her mouth, Pepper struggled for a further few seconds to find the right reaction, the right words. Nothing sensible really came to mind, so she eventually decided to go with the first coherent sentence to come to mind and run with it.
"H- How'd you do that?" The estate had pretty intense security; Tony had made sure, a long while ago, that Pepper was well acquainted with the various systems and protocols. But this- this was just ridiculous. And he had a door too, for Christ's sake.
Pepper had assumed that she'd have to make up some story for the man and then he'd tell her one too, or something like that- had he meant other world literally? Pepper had quite an open imagination - after all, her boss was a superhero, wasn't he - but this was something utterly beyond her. And to be quite frank, that door and suspicious glow were not looking too promising to her.
Reply
The Marquis raised his eyebrow in return for the look, allowing her to stutter out what questions she would for exactly the right moment before stepping forward.
"The less questions you ask the better- trust me, magic is a very finicky thing." He said, gesturing for her to move. "Well come on, I'm an important man and I do not have all day. You're coming with me on an errand- and easy thing, no worries, and you may gawk and stare all you like while we do so." he informed, starting back towards the doorway as though he expected her to follow.
Reply
"Magic?"
What.
"Hey, slow down- I did not agree to magic, I did not agree to meet yo- how the hell did you find me here?" She held up her hands defensively as she spoke, taking a small step back for his step forward. "Could you at least explain what's going on before trying to drag me through some doorway?" Pepper was hoping that Tony would be alerted quick enough - and react quick enough - to come and intervene before she was coerced into something strange. Or before she went with this man against her better judgement, because her undeniable awe and curiosity were interfering, to an extent.
"Explain, and maybe I'll consider it," Pepper said, repeating the earlier idea, her voice a little calmer and more level, yet still not without a note of unrest and lack of trust hidden in her tone.
Reply
The Marquis stopped again, eyes rolling away from her sight as he spoke in a tone one would use for small children. "Magic, simply, is that which we cannot explain. So obviously explaining it would be a rather fruitless thing." he said as he turned back to her, standing in the doorway.
"I found you because our agreement allowed me too and no reason else. The deal was I would take you to a different world and back in return for a tale of my choosing. Honestly, it's like talking to Richard on one of his denser days." the man said as he pulled out the fine gold watch from his pocket, clicking it open as he continued.
"It's simple, you walk through and come to another world- London Below if you wish the name. I happen to have a meeting very soon so if you will decide quickly I'd be obliged." He glanced up, a small smile on his face. "Aren't you curious at all what lies beyond these walls and skies? Just a peek, that's all, and on my word you will be back here sooner than you wanted."
Reply
"... Fine." She didn't bother asking who Richard was, she didn't expect a straight answer nor one that would mean anything to her. She didn't know any Richards, as far as she knew. "Fine." She straightened, trying to look as dignified as possible as she took several steps forward, closer to the door, ready to follow the Marquis's lead.
Reply
"Try not to wish while you walk through - those thoughts tend to grow minds of their own this way." He warned, stepping through the door way. It was only the briefest moment of pure, white silence before the dim light of the Underground flooded his eyes; dark and dank and home.
Reply
Needless to say, as someone who'd grown quite accustomed to the glamour of Malibu and the modern sophistication it had, Pepper wasn't particularly impressed by London Below. She had to squint for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the sudden darkness following the brilliant white she'd spent only seconds within. "London Below?"
Reply
"There are two sides to every coin- your name? I am the Marquis de Carabas." He explained as he moved. "Though that is not a name I would repeat readily here, there are several who get cross with me when what they wish doesn't turn out all they wished it to be." he said.
"Anyway, this is the other side of London. It's where everything that's lost ends up, all that fall through the cracks- items, ideas, people. We're going to the Floating Market, you're quite lucky it's around this time."
Reply
She wondered whether it'd be worth anything to both telling the Marquis that she didn't really understand what this place was- ideas? People? It meant nothing to her really, and what on earth (or wherever this was), was the Floating Market? However, in the interest of not coming across as annoying and parroting his every word, Pepper simply continued to stare a bit, waiting for the Marquis to do something, anything.
Reply
Ahead a tower came into view, long and stark white like ivory against the black back drop, pushing far into the sky despite the enclosed space. "The White Tower." he explained, pushing the torch aside in favor of the dull light from the place before them.
Reply
"I'm not myself-" Actually, this wasn't true. Pepper was better off than the average American, but that's because her paychecks were, frankly, ridiculous. The house still wasn't hers, mind. "That was my employer's house." She followed after the Marquis, trying not to get too distracted by these curious new surroundings lest she went and lost the man. It was difficult, though, especially when the White Tower came into view. Pepper tended to stare quite a bit at times, and this was another occasion on which she had to do so. "What is it? I mean, as in, what's it for?"
Reply
"Mr. Tony Stark?" The marquis asked, interest peeking as he glanced over. "He must be an important man - an iron one if my sources are correct. Such a burden." he mused as he waled.
"Oh this?" he asked, waving at the tower almost disinterestedly and ignoring the metal suits watching their movements. "Just another piece of a bloody history. The most dangerous places and people like to wear masks of purity." he said confidentially, holding the door open for her. "After you Pepper Potts." he said with a sweeping gesture to the interior, a stark room with many doors.
Reply
"He keeps me on my toes," was all Pepper offered in reply. She was too distracted by the metal suits watching them and too cautious to go into too much detail about her esteemed employer with such a... "unique" stranger. Who was taking her somewhere potentially rather dangerous and certainly very strange. Pepper was starting to have second thoughts, and she was feeling rather tense, biting her lip slightly at the Marquis's words.
"Comforting." She could find no other response besides a slight cringe as she slipped inside the door, struggling with all of her current being to not hesitate with every step. It wasn't as if the ground was going to leap up around her and then suddenly swallow her. At least, she sincerely hoped it wasn't.
Reply
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