Stark 2.0

stark2pointoh‌:

gemsandgin‌:

stark2pointoh‌:

“That’s right. I’m a self-made man.” Howard allowed the tension in is shoulders to slide away. “Not that it was too difficult.” 

She laughed. “No, I imagine you don’t find much to be very difficult. A genius such as you are…”

Howard grinned at her. “I knew you understood me. What about you? What about your family?” 

“My father was in steel until he retired a few years ago. The less said about my mother, the better.”

stark2pointoh‌:

“That’s right. I’m a self-made man.” Howard allowed the tension in is shoulders to slide away. “Not that it was too difficult.” 

She laughed. “No, I imagine you don’t find much to be very difficult. A genius such as you are…”

stark2pointoh‌:

gemsandgin‌:

“What did they do?” It must have been something impressive to make Howard who he was.

Howard hesitated. “My father worked for a green grocer and my mother worked in a factory.” 

Maria gave him a second to say whether he was joking or not, but when it was clear he wasn’t, she just nodded. “So you’re a self-made man.” That was very impressive. Not everyone could be born into money.

stark2pointoh‌:

Howard thought about his parents, then he thought about what he wanted to say in response. “No, no, my parents weren’t in the restaurant business.” 

“What did they do?” It must have been something impressive to make Howard who he was.

stark2pointoh‌:

“A good friend of mine owns the restaurant. So of course I come here a lot.” Howard shrugged. “If you don’t like the wine, we can order something else.” 

Maria tried the wine and nodded, impressed. “No, this is very good.” She let Howard tell her what he thought was good, and then she ordered something else entirely. Once their orders were in and they were left alone, she was a little more relaxed and a little less ‘on’ for the sake of the waitstaff. “My family has never been into the restaurant business,” she said. “Is yours?”

stark2pointoh‌:

The maître d’ offered up a winning smile. “Mr. Stark, it’s so good to see you again. Mr. Manfredi isn’t in just now, but we’re suppose to see him later this evening.”

“That’s fantastic, Carlo. Let him know I’m here when he does show up. I’d like my usual table for me and the young lady, please.”

“Right away, sir.” Carlo gestured to one of the waiters, who hurried over.

They followed the waiter to what was apparently Howard’s usual table. Another waiter appeared with a bottle of wine and glasses barely seconds after they’d sat down. Maria waited until both were out of earshot before she raised an eyebrow at Howard. “They seem to know your preferences very well here.”

stark2pointoh‌:

gemsandgin‌:

stark2pointoh‌:

Howard thought he could take her upstate to see the family property one weekend. He was sure she’d say yes. He found a parking spot close to the restautant– thank goodness; he’d hate to have to double park.

Maria didn’t recognize the restaurant, but there hadn’t been much chance that she would. She didn’t wait for Howard to come around, instead opening the door herself and stepping out without assistance.

Howard smiled at her independence. Somehow he’d known she wouldn’t wait for him. He came around the car and offered her his arm. “Shall we?” 

She did take his arm with a smile, and they walked together into the restaurant. It was as quiet and low key as Howard had promised, and no one but the staff even looked up at their appearance. “Very nice,” she murmured to him.

“Thank you,” he murmured back. 

The maître d' offered up a winning smile. “Mr. Stark, it’s so good to see you again. Mr. Manfredi isn’t in just now, but we’re suppose to see him later this evening.”

“That’s fantastic, Carlo. Let him know I’m here when he does show up. I’d like my usual table for me and the young lady, please.”

stark2pointoh‌:

Howard thought he could take her upstate to see the family property one weekend. He was sure she’d say yes. He found a parking spot close to the restautant– thank goodness; he’d hate to have to double park.

Maria didn’t recognize the restaurant, but there hadn’t been much chance that she would. She didn’t wait for Howard to come around, instead opening the door herself and stepping out without assistance.

stark2pointoh‌:

“I’m not too worried about my changes.” He returned the grin. They were getting close to the restaurant; he knew that the staff would pull out all the stops. 

She laughed, shaking her head. “We’ll see about that.” Already she was planning on a second (and third and fourth and fifth…) date with him, but he could still yet say or do something to turn her completely away.

stark2pointoh‌:

“Maybe your second date will be to an art gallery,” Howard said. 

“Don’t get too far ahead of yourself, Mr. Stark,” Maria said, grinning over at him. “You haven’t earned a second date yet.”

stark2pointoh‌:

“I do like art,” he said. “I have a few friends who are artists, and I do my best to help them when they need it.” 

“Do you? That’s good of you.” She was going to do the same once she had more control over her money. “If they’re any good, I’d like to see some of their work. Perhaps I’ll buy a few pieces.”

stark2pointoh‌:

“I think you could do interesting things with those two subjects,” he said honestly. 

“Everything I do is interesting,” she said automatically, though she then shook her head. It was just a line she used. “But what about you? Do you like art? I know you like science.”

stark2pointoh‌:

“Math is its own art,” he said. It’d been something he’d told Peggy once. 

“You’re not wrong.” She nodded, still looking at him. “Perhaps I could combine the two for my next degree.” If she did get around to getting another one.

stark2pointoh‌:

“Applied mathematics.” That’s not what he’d expected to hear, but then maybe he should have. It was obvious she was intelligent. “You’re interested in art?” 

“I’m a lot more interested in art than I am in math,” Maria said, watching him then instead of out the window.

stark2pointoh‌:

“What classes do you take when you do go?” he asked. 

“I did my undergrad work in applied mathematics,” she said. “But I think I’d like to study art history next.”

stark2pointoh‌:

“And you were right.” Howard grinned. “So what do you do? Go to school?” 

“Sometimes,” she said. “I’m thinking of going back.” She had one degree, but she didn’t do anything with it. She might as well try for another one.

stark2pointoh‌:

Howard frowned. “Then why did you apply?” 

She shrugged. “I was bored. I thought it might be interesting. I thought you might be interesting.”