author: Lucinda
rating: pg13
main character: Cordelia Chase
disclaimer: I hold no legal rights to Cordelia, the creation of Joss Whedon for the series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. I hold no legal rights to Tony Stark or Janet Van Dyne, the creations of Marvel's Avengers comics.
distribution: Jinni, Paula - anyone else just ask.
notes: this takes place before Cordelia joined the AI crew.
11:49
Cordelia walked away from the punch bowl, reminding herself that trying to drown that perverted old man in the punch would be a bad move. He'd struggle, which would get punch all over her dress, someone might try to stop her, and then she might end up in jail on top of everything else. And she reminded herself not to frown. This was supposed to be an opportunity to circulate, to try to make a good impression on the right sort of people to get auditions.
Instead, she was having slimy bastards try to get her into bed with them. It was frustrating, and disappointing.
She jerked to a halt, having almost run into a man in an expensive suit that had just been bumped by an angry would-be leading man who was storming away in a sulk. The guy in the suit looked vaguely familiar in the way that means that she'd probably seen his picture somewhere - a lean face, dark hair, a neat mustache.
"Are you okay?" The question just spilled out as she noticed the fact that his color looked a bit gray under his tan, and there were the faint lines round his mouth and eyes that poke of pain.
He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes for a moment, as if he was trying to figure that one out himself. Carefully, he opened his eyes again, and looked down at his left hand, which was clenched into a fist. His words carried the accent of New York prosperity, of wealth, power, and authority. "I think so... now. I wasn't certain for a few moments."
She reached out, brushing a few bits of lint from his suit, the touch confirming that it wasn't just a nice suit, but a really expensive suit. "I hadn't realized that he'd ran into you quite that hard."
"There are other factors." He shook his head, sighing slightly. "I'm going to have to figure out something to make Janet miserable about this. I've seen friendlier smiles at the shark tanks of aquariums."
"Well, there's a lot of competition." Cordelia tried to manage a smile. She'd glanced at his hand, noticing the expensive watch and the complete lack of wedding ring or the indentions and paler band of skin that would indicate he normally wore one. "Is Janet your girlfriend?"
"A co-worker, actually." He sighed, and glanced around the room. "And she's completely vanished, naturally. So much for her assurances that she'd protect me from the crush."
Cordelia tried not to giggle, and almost managed to succeed. "So, you don't sound like you're from the area. Did you relocate, or are you just visiting?"
"Visiting. I had a small business matter, and Janet managed to convince me that I could use a break from work.... I think she just didn't want to walk through the door alone. Something about her public image."
"Ahh." Cordelia nodded, knowing the importance of appearances. "Well, if you aren't having fun, as long as it wouldn't leave her stranded, nobody will notice too much if you don't stay. There's sort of supposed to be a lot of socializing at these things."
"Actually, that doesn't sound to bad, Miss..." He paused, his blue eyes narrowing slightly. "I didn't catch your name."
"Cordelia Chase." She smiled, not offering him one of her carefully professional looking cards. He didn't feel like a movie producer or casting director to her, and she didn't want to seem pushy.
"Well, thank you for the rescue, Miss Chase. It's been a pleasure to meet you." He smiled and headed into the crowd.
He was intercepted by an elegantly dressed woman with short brown hair. She turned, and Cordelia placed her immediately - Janet Van Dyne, noted designer. Wow.
"Tony, you look unhappy. Is the party quite that miserable for you?" She gazed up at him, the height difference making them almost look like a movie poster.
"Mostly. But leaving sounds quite appealing."
They made their way out, and only then did Cordelia place where she'd seen his picture before. Not in the celebrity sections, or the gossip columns, but in the financial news. Tony was Tony Stark, owner of Stark Industries, one of the richest industrialists under forty. And she'd talked to him.
Had he actually meant it when he'd said it had been pleasure to meet her, or were the words only empty courtesy? Either way, he was a welcome change from sleazy come-ons and cool snubs. If only that sort of thing could last - his world was probably much more comfortable than the place where he found herself right now. Not to mention her current apartment...
If she had left a good impression on Tony Stark, then... Maybe he could mention to Ms Van Dyne, or to producers? To someone influential in the entertainment industry? She could only hope.
12:07
end Party of Heroes.
Footnote: Tony Stark is the real name of Iron Man (it's a secret identity). Janet Van Dyne is the Wasp. Both of them are members of the Avengers, the only superhero group to be consistently regarded as heroes by both the Marvel universe's general public and the Marvel Universe's American Government.
rating: pg13
main character: Cordelia Chase
disclaimer: I hold no legal rights to Cordelia, the creation of Joss Whedon for the series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. I hold no legal rights to Tony Stark or Janet Van Dyne, the creations of Marvel's Avengers comics.
distribution: Jinni, Paula - anyone else just ask.
notes: this takes place before Cordelia joined the AI crew.
11:49
Cordelia walked away from the punch bowl, reminding herself that trying to drown that perverted old man in the punch would be a bad move. He'd struggle, which would get punch all over her dress, someone might try to stop her, and then she might end up in jail on top of everything else. And she reminded herself not to frown. This was supposed to be an opportunity to circulate, to try to make a good impression on the right sort of people to get auditions.
Instead, she was having slimy bastards try to get her into bed with them. It was frustrating, and disappointing.
She jerked to a halt, having almost run into a man in an expensive suit that had just been bumped by an angry would-be leading man who was storming away in a sulk. The guy in the suit looked vaguely familiar in the way that means that she'd probably seen his picture somewhere - a lean face, dark hair, a neat mustache.
"Are you okay?" The question just spilled out as she noticed the fact that his color looked a bit gray under his tan, and there were the faint lines round his mouth and eyes that poke of pain.
He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes for a moment, as if he was trying to figure that one out himself. Carefully, he opened his eyes again, and looked down at his left hand, which was clenched into a fist. His words carried the accent of New York prosperity, of wealth, power, and authority. "I think so... now. I wasn't certain for a few moments."
She reached out, brushing a few bits of lint from his suit, the touch confirming that it wasn't just a nice suit, but a really expensive suit. "I hadn't realized that he'd ran into you quite that hard."
"There are other factors." He shook his head, sighing slightly. "I'm going to have to figure out something to make Janet miserable about this. I've seen friendlier smiles at the shark tanks of aquariums."
"Well, there's a lot of competition." Cordelia tried to manage a smile. She'd glanced at his hand, noticing the expensive watch and the complete lack of wedding ring or the indentions and paler band of skin that would indicate he normally wore one. "Is Janet your girlfriend?"
"A co-worker, actually." He sighed, and glanced around the room. "And she's completely vanished, naturally. So much for her assurances that she'd protect me from the crush."
Cordelia tried not to giggle, and almost managed to succeed. "So, you don't sound like you're from the area. Did you relocate, or are you just visiting?"
"Visiting. I had a small business matter, and Janet managed to convince me that I could use a break from work.... I think she just didn't want to walk through the door alone. Something about her public image."
"Ahh." Cordelia nodded, knowing the importance of appearances. "Well, if you aren't having fun, as long as it wouldn't leave her stranded, nobody will notice too much if you don't stay. There's sort of supposed to be a lot of socializing at these things."
"Actually, that doesn't sound to bad, Miss..." He paused, his blue eyes narrowing slightly. "I didn't catch your name."
"Cordelia Chase." She smiled, not offering him one of her carefully professional looking cards. He didn't feel like a movie producer or casting director to her, and she didn't want to seem pushy.
"Well, thank you for the rescue, Miss Chase. It's been a pleasure to meet you." He smiled and headed into the crowd.
He was intercepted by an elegantly dressed woman with short brown hair. She turned, and Cordelia placed her immediately - Janet Van Dyne, noted designer. Wow.
"Tony, you look unhappy. Is the party quite that miserable for you?" She gazed up at him, the height difference making them almost look like a movie poster.
"Mostly. But leaving sounds quite appealing."
They made their way out, and only then did Cordelia place where she'd seen his picture before. Not in the celebrity sections, or the gossip columns, but in the financial news. Tony was Tony Stark, owner of Stark Industries, one of the richest industrialists under forty. And she'd talked to him.
Had he actually meant it when he'd said it had been pleasure to meet her, or were the words only empty courtesy? Either way, he was a welcome change from sleazy come-ons and cool snubs. If only that sort of thing could last - his world was probably much more comfortable than the place where he found herself right now. Not to mention her current apartment...
If she had left a good impression on Tony Stark, then... Maybe he could mention to Ms Van Dyne, or to producers? To someone influential in the entertainment industry? She could only hope.
12:07
end Party of Heroes.
Footnote: Tony Stark is the real name of Iron Man (it's a secret identity). Janet Van Dyne is the Wasp. Both of them are members of the Avengers, the only superhero group to be consistently regarded as heroes by both the Marvel universe's general public and the Marvel Universe's American Government.