starter for @fatedfuturist
Natasha had become Natalie Rushman three years ago. It was easy enough to forge records and pay off executives in order to solidify her background — an academic career in history and law (child’s play for someone who as been alive as long as she has), a modeling career that spans the globe (she knows how to use her body to get what she wants), even a string of meaningless jobs should anyone look her up, at places that are SHIELD cover organizations.
But in order to find out more about the richest and most dangerous inventors on the planet, she has to find a way in, get up close and personal. She starts at Hammer Industries, frankly because she thinks it will be easier to find a way in. Natasha knows that Tony Stark has built a reputation as someone whose company has high standards. She respects that, of course, but it means that they’ll ask more questions. She needs a starter card, an alibi, a stroke of “beginner’s luck” elsewhere that will lead to her employment with him.
Hammer Industries doesn’t seem to care who they hire, as long as they do a decent job. As an intern, her pay is mediocre for the amount of work required, but the expectations aren’t terribly high either. "Natalie” excels easily, makes a name for herself as someone who is hard-working, competent, and takes no bullshit.
It’s not long before Stark Industries recruits her away. She goes willingly.
Working as a notary is not a glamorous job, but it does allow her access to a variety of legal documents, patents, etc. She records them as she goes, slowly coming to understand the goals of the organization, but she wants more. Natalie finds herself slowly inching her way into Pepper’s circle — casual conversations in break rooms; offers to do favors, both work related and not; showing dedication to the company; offering insights on directionality, structure, and potential charity offsets.
She is a model employee, and therefore it’s no surprise that she shows up with the contract when Tony decides to sign over the company. She enters the room with none of Natasha’s stealth, the clack-clack of heels stealing attention from the combatants in the ring. They’re both sweating, and Tony is drinking something that looks absolutely repulsive, and she can’t help but get the idea that the man isn’t quite his usual self. Then again, she has no idea what his usual self really is, aside from how people talk about him, and she hardly trusts wagging tongues to have true insight into a person’s character. After all, they’re so easily misled.
She turns to Pepper, still subtly watching the scene between Tony and Happy play out. Their form isn’t completely atrocious, she concedes to herself, but it needs work.
“I need your initials in each box, please.”
