Yikes. I feel that Pepper over-reacted in this one. Just doesn't feel in character for her. But still, it's great writing and a very interesting vision.
I think it's possible that Pepper did overreact, but I would also argue that it is in character for her.
In the second movie, Pepper is on the verge of leaving Tony's birthday party when he starts behaving like an ass (it's only because Rhodey comes in that she ends up staying). She also shuts Tony down cold during his big emotional declaration, even though it's pretty obvious where he's going with it. And at the end of the film, she quits her job as CEO in response to "not being able to handle the stress." I feel as though she does exhibit a very strong impulse to cut-and-run as a self-defense mechanism. This is totally reasonable, because her comment to Tony in the first film, "You're all I have, too," suggests that Pepper has had look out for her own interests in the past, because she hasn't had anyone to do it for her. (I explored these aspects of her personality in greater depth in a short piece I wrote called "Green"In first movie, Pepper quits (even though she is talked out of it) rather than watch Tony continue on a self-
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Yeah, I meant the scene with comment (as well as his not following up to apologize or have a discussion) to be synecdochic, in the way that most of the snatches of dialogue in the previous stories have been. And it's not just about Tony's insecurities in the relationship--Pepper is bound to have a few of her own.
I also don't think that she changed her name and moved and disappeared all in one day. I see it as being a process that happened gradually, over several months. I also think that if you're someone whose self-preservation strategy is to put up walls and create distance, that wanting to do what's best for your child might intensify this behaviour, rather than mitigate it.
I know I'm not going to convince you that it was in character, and that's okay. I just want to make it clear (to anyone who might be reading this) that I've put a lot of thought into these pieces and specifically into their progression and the various aspects of both characters that they explore. :)
I'm not going to say I didn't like the fic, because it was good, you do great work, and it's a good read. I could believe it up until the end.
I can see Pepper walking out on what seems to be a less than permanent relationship -- tho she didn't give him any chance to really come to terms with the idea. Then again, he does wait 3 ays to call. But having had Tony all to herself, I can see where the idea of sharing or having him cheat on her wouldn't be something to look forward to. Smaller pain to cut it off now vs. larger pain later when it falls apart.
However... given Tony's own feelings about his childhood, I can't see her keeping him from being a father. He might not be the best -- tho you never know -- but he'd be there. He'd jump into fatherhood with both feet.
Your fic, so I won't tell you what you can and can't do -- especially when it's so descriptive and good. Just give me more and a happy ending in another fic. ;)
See, I don't know if I entirely believe Tony would "jump into fatherhood." I don't feel as though it's necessarily been in his plan for himself, and I think he's just self-absorbed enough that it might not have seriously occurred to him as a possibility.
I don't think he'd be a terrible father (although I think he has the potential to be very absent emotionally, especially when he's working, and I also think he might have a hard time relating to a kid--former child prodigies frequently do).
Also, I don't know how much Pepper knows about Tony's feelings about his childhood. I don't know how much WE know about it, come to that. The references to Howard are kind of contradictory and the references to Maria are non-existent.
My original idea for this story actually involved Pepper calling up Tony because her six year old son needed a bone marrow transplant or something like that, but it was hella depressing. Trust me, this is better. :P
I know what you mean about the contradictory messages about his parents. All we've heard so far is about his father, even in the first movie, there's a mention of a picture of him and his father on his work desk, but nothing about mom. I could have screamed when IM2 did the "my father never loved me" cliche. Of course, that could be from the comic, I dunno. But it's just so... over done, you know
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In the second movie, Pepper is on the verge of leaving Tony's birthday party when he starts behaving like an ass (it's only because Rhodey comes in that she ends up staying). She also shuts Tony down cold during his big emotional declaration, even though it's pretty obvious where he's going with it. And at the end of the film, she quits her job as CEO in response to "not being able to handle the stress." I feel as though she does exhibit a very strong impulse to cut-and-run as a self-defense mechanism. This is totally reasonable, because her comment to Tony in the first film, "You're all I have, too," suggests that Pepper has had look out for her own interests in the past, because she hasn't had anyone to do it for her. (I explored these aspects of her personality in greater depth in a short piece I wrote called "Green"In first movie, Pepper quits (even though she is talked out of it) rather than watch Tony continue on a self- ( ... )
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I also don't think that she changed her name and moved and disappeared all in one day. I see it as being a process that happened gradually, over several months. I also think that if you're someone whose self-preservation strategy is to put up walls and create distance, that wanting to do what's best for your child might intensify this behaviour, rather than mitigate it.
I know I'm not going to convince you that it was in character, and that's okay. I just want to make it clear (to anyone who might be reading this) that I've put a lot of thought into these pieces and specifically into their progression and the various aspects of both characters that they explore. :)
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I can see Pepper walking out on what seems to be a less than permanent relationship -- tho she didn't give him any chance to really come to terms with the idea. Then again, he does wait 3 ays to call. But having had Tony all to herself, I can see where the idea of sharing or having him cheat on her wouldn't be something to look forward to. Smaller pain to cut it off now vs. larger pain later when it falls apart.
However... given Tony's own feelings about his childhood, I can't see her keeping him from being a father. He might not be the best -- tho you never know -- but he'd be there. He'd jump into fatherhood with both feet.
Your fic, so I won't tell you what you can and can't do -- especially when it's so descriptive and good. Just give me more and a happy ending in another fic. ;)
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I don't think he'd be a terrible father (although I think he has the potential to be very absent emotionally, especially when he's working, and I also think he might have a hard time relating to a kid--former child prodigies frequently do).
Also, I don't know how much Pepper knows about Tony's feelings about his childhood. I don't know how much WE know about it, come to that. The references to Howard are kind of contradictory and the references to Maria are non-existent.
My original idea for this story actually involved Pepper calling up Tony because her six year old son needed a bone marrow transplant or something like that, but it was hella depressing. Trust me, this is better. :P
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