There was a rattling sound coming from the air conditioner. Antoinette's mind instantly pinpointed the problem. The fan hadn't been secured, perhaps, or there was a slight displacement in the dust filter that was causing the rattle each time the air moved through the expansion valve and the coils. With her understanding of machines and mechanisms, it would take her maybe four minutes to fix it. But she wasn't going to lift a finger. It was difficult enough to look unimpressed and pissed off with the entire world and all of its occupants without going around fixing AC units like Bob the Builder.
The astrophysics lab was ridiculous. Grey linoleum flooring squeaked underfoot. Motivational posters were duct-taped over the open spaces above doors and windows. Notice boards had been stationed around each of the desks. It reminded Toni of the labs in a middle school science classroom. Built into the stone-blue desks - which were all bulky, connected and shaped like a beginner's first attempt at Tetris - there were compact drawers and shelves in which lab equipment was stored. It was about as exciting as a root canal.
Jane Foster obviously felt very different. From the moment that the woman with the reddish-brown hair strode into the room in her block heels, she took a deep breath as her lungs expanded eagerly to suck it all in. The scent of the 1940s-style corkboard, the dust that came in from the half-opened windows and the sea breeze air-freshener was obviously something that the astrophysicist liked. Toni couldn't have been more horrified. She thought it smelled like a retirement home. Once Jane had opened yet another window, which made the room so intensely cold that Toni shuddered into her parka, she then turned to the two people clustered in the opposite end of the room. Her smile was radiant.
"It's a pleasure to meet you again, Mr Stark," Jane went to shake the billionaire's hand, "After so long, I'm not sure if you remember who I am. It's Jane. Jane Foster."
"Point Break's girlfriend," Tony Stark answered and returned the handshake, "I remember."
"On behalf of the Astrophysics Department, I'd just like to thank you again for offering us a space in your facilities," Jane said, "It's a hell of a lot easier than having to come here every other weekend from Mexico City. It's very generous of you."
That's when Toni spoke.
"Oh, yes. Very generous," Antoinette muttered.
Tony turned to glare at his daughter. It was an affirmative way to tell her to shut up, which she did with immaculate precision, and then he crossed his arms over his chest. The engineer's words caught the attention of the head of the astrophysics department, who turned to offer her hand to Tony Stark's daughter politely. Under duress, Toni accepted it.
"It's nice to meet you, Toni," Jane greeted. "Darcy's told us all about you."
Toni fake-smiled, "I sure hope not."
Jane's brow quivered for a moment, as if she were about to frown but decided to take the comment in her stride. After the handshake, the astrophysicist excused herself politely - as there were things that she needed to do before their meeting started in ten minutes - and then she would answer any questions that they had. Jane even asked them if they needed anything.
"A cup of coffee?" Toni asked hopefully.
"Sorry, we don't drink coffee here," Jane apologised, "But you'll find bottles of coconut water in the cooler over there. Much more refreshing," She winked, "I'll be back soon."
Jane went to order some papers on the main presentation table. As soon as her back was turned and she was out of earshot, Toni turned around and whimpered. Yet she could tell that the tried-and-true puppy eyes weren't going to work on her father this time.
YOU ARE READING
Lore: When a Trickster Meets His Match
Hayran Kurgu"Loki." Her hands were timid. They were much more shy than he had been, which should've made him wonder if he'd been too forward with his actions in the first place, and there was a tremble in each fingertip as she gently reached out and put her ha...
