Players:
Summary: A break in the park finds Tony and Kaji meeting a Russian who's just arrived in the Big Apple.
Date: July 8, 2010
Log Title Thursday in the park
Rating: PG
NYC- Central Park Lake
Bethesda fountain sits at the edge of the lake with a large terrace for people to hang out and relax. Benches sit under the trees creating a peaceful atmosphere. A dock stretches out into the lake for people to rent row boats to enjoy the entire lake. In the distance Bow Bridge can be scene crossing the man make lake.
The morning in New York had been beautiful as far as weather was concerned. The temperature was nice, not a cloud in the sky, and people were enjoying the sunshine. Around noon the temperature began to pick up causing people to seek shade from the sweltering sun. Central Park was obviously a hot spot for people to enjoy a summer day and as such there was quite the collection of people sitting around the Bethesda fountain at the edge of the lake. Occupying a small table underneath a large tree is Tony Stark, and his friend Kaji. The pair had left the Flushing plant for a breath of fresh air, as good a quality you could get in the city, and perhaps venture out on one of the rental boats.
The mutant leans back in his chair, his feet up on the table to relax a bit as he takes a swig of a drink he got from the plant. He glances over at Tony for a second before he looks back at the lake and says, "Perfect weather for bein' outside don't you think?" Kaji looks up at the sky for a moment before letting out a soft hum before his gaze flicks back over towards Tony.
'Plunk'! Alex sits right next to Tony. He's smiling happily and immediately folds his hands together. "Hey, gents. How's it going, enjoying the weather?" He obviously doesn't realize who Tony is, though it probably wouldn't bother him if he did. "I heard it was going to rain today, but look at it now, it's so clear."
Outwardly there is only a slight tick to Tony's jaw as someone plops down in the chair next to him. The internal reaction was a different matter entirely. Being that Stark has an aversion to unknown people, bordering on xenophobia, it takes considerable control to offer a tight smile to the stranger as he raises a bottle of water up from the table to sip at.
There's a soft clink coming from Kaji as his feet swing down onto the ground and a hand resting at the small of his back the moment the man sits next to Tony. "Sir, might I suggest put a bit of space between my friend and yourself? Not many people like it when someone inserts themselves in their own personal space." Sounding nice, with a quite stern undertone.
Alexander tilts his head somewhat, "Hm?.." His smiles fades slightly, "Oh, I'm Alex. Just arrived in New York." The smile returns but in the form of a grin. "It's nice to meet you both." The man looks to Tony, "Tony Starks, right? Owner of this big megacorp that produces weapons? I've heard of you from my homeland." He then looks to Kaji, "Bodyguard? Friend?"
As casually as he can, Tony leans himself to the right, and he offers a curt hello. "I'm no longer in the weapons business, haven't been for awhile." Tony leans back so that he can feel the top of the metal chair slightly digging into his back. "Welcome to New York, you're just in time to make the first heat wave."
Kaji lets out a sigh as he goes ignored. "Nice to meet you, Alex." He gets up and moves over towards the man's chair. "But, I requested nicely for you to move." He drags the chair away from Tony, getting about halfway around the table if left alone before he lets go. "And I'm his friend." With that, he goes back to sit down in his chair near Tony.
Alexander seems unphased, almost comically allowing his chair to be dragged around the table. He sets his folded hands back down on the table after Kaji stops moving him. "That's interesting. It is probably the best, instead of profiting from war." Alex continues smiling.
"Reporter?" Tony asks as he sizes up Alex from across the table. "I've put that subject to bed, old news. I'd rather enjoy what's left of my respite without having to rehash something that's been brought up more times than I've changed socks in my lifetime." He reaches into his trouser pocket to pull out his small computer pad, turning his gaze briefly toward Kaji, "We've got about another half hour."
Kaji looks over at Alex, keeping an eye on him for a moment before he nods over at Tony. "Do you think we should try and break your record for being fashionably late?" He looks back over at Alex for a moment as he quirks a brow in curiosity. Then he just goes back to drinking that soda.
Alexander unlaces his hands to raise a single finger as if to make a point, "Russian. I am sorry, I did not mean to rehash anything." His hands go back together. It's a bit odd that he's wearing leather gloves in this weather, maybe he has something against germs.
Tony waves dismissively, "Don't worry about it." Missing the meeting with the Board of Directors would get him killed by Potts, but he's considering it. At least, the fantasy of having no responsibility to the tedium that is business meetings can last for at least another half hour. "I may move the location of the meeting," Tony offers up as an aside to Kaji. "So, Alex, were you just looking to chat up some random people or did you come over here specifically because I was sitting here? Inquiring minds must know, after all."
Kaji chuckles a bit. "Could have the meeting at Starbucks like you did with that one a short bit back." He looks over at Alex, letting out a silent 'ah' at the nationality. Then he looks at the gloves, and goes silent a bit more. Just waiting for something to happen it seems, but he's masking it as he looks over at the lake.
"Well I — Uh." Alex laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "I sat down and only just realized who you were. My brother is a huge fan of yours, if not for him, I don't think I would have known who you were." He offers this politely.
"Hmm, better than a reporter." Tony comments as he reaches out for another bottle of water that is sitting on the small table in front of him. Unscrewing the cap he finds himself regarding this young Russian man with a curiosity now that some space has been given. "You want an autograph? I'm sure it would sell on eBay pretty well."
Kaji lets out a soft laugh at the first bit before he glances over at Alex, the mutant looking a bit more relaxed now as he starts to watch the lake a bit more. He looks over at Tony, and shrugs a bit before he just keeps an eye on the man in front of him now.
"An autograph? No, but thank you." Alex stands up from his seat. "You both appear to have a busy schedule, don't let me get in the way of your business. It was good meeting you both!" He laughs again, before turning to leave.
Stark rests the bottle of water he is holding back down onto the table. He folds his arms across his chest, gazing out across the lake for a brief moment, then toward the fountain. "Pleasure, Alex. Be careful who you stop to have a chat with in this city, some are less inclined to give a guy a ear, they just take yours."
Kaji looks over at Alex and adds on, "And some won't take it. They'll just have others take it and more if they're so inclined on that." He looks over at Tony and stands up before he says, "Think we should head towards the building? Less any more fans stop you."
"Yeah." Alex responds, waving casually as he leaves the duo. Exit stage left. Or park left. Or just leave the park. Something along those lines.
Watching the Russian walk off, Tony quirks an eyebrow. "Was he wearing gloves? In this heat? Strange." Brushing that thought aside he hops up from his seat at the table, grabbing the opened water with one hand. "If a group of random women approach put on your A-Game, Benji. I'll try to get a few phone numbers for you."
Kaji shrugs a bit. "Honestly, I don't understand how he can. I mean, even shifting in this heat is enough to make me want to get in front of a fan on High." At comment on the women, he laughs a bit, "Right, I'll just sit here and look all pretty."
Tony gasps in horror, "You'll scare them off looking like that. We need to work on your sophisticated sex-magnet expression." Tony picks up the empty water bottle that is rolling on the table with the light breeze, and crosses to throw it away in a nearby waste bin. "In fact, you and I are going to have this meeting in five minutes, fire up my jet," Tony begins explaining as they walk toward the parking lot where the car awaits. "The in flight attendants will serve up something, and we'll hit the cliff diving spot you mentioned the other day."
Kaji laughs. "Oh, now I'm going to get schooled by you in how to attract ladies?" He shakes his head as he walks alongside him to the car. "Jet's already waiting for us. Let's get you to that meeting." He claps his friend on the shoulder before they get to the car.
