[Unaware that he has spoken to Tony at length and in person before, Rip reaches out to him now in what will surely be a polite and rational exchange.

Surely.]

Mr. Stark:

My name is Rip Hunter, and I am an acquaintance of Miss Peggy Carter. I was wondering if you had heard from her in the last day or so.

[ some people know what to say and to who and other people are apparently dumb enough to hit all the wrong buttons.

tony has his safety goggles on and there is noise, he's working on something metallic and surely he'd stop for the sake of this conversation but - ]

You're her what?

[ couldn't catch that, sorry. ]

...oh bloody hell

[Already they are off to a great start.]

Her acquaintance. [Louder this time to compensate for the racket.]. I haven’t been able to get in touch with her and I’m concerned.

Her acquaintance.

[ right. ]

well, she never mentioned you.

[ and so. ]

I'll ask her. I'll tell her you've been missing her acquaintance.

[And at this moment, Rip finally recognizes the voice over the din—lovely. It's his number one fan from the bar.]

You're no doubt aware that Miss Carter is a highly private person.

[So really, her not mentioning Rip isn't really a sign of much.]

I was hoping for something a bit more immediate than that, actually. We have a standing appointment of sorts, and she hasn't shown up for it today.

[Never mind that there has never been any set time, or even spoken confirmation that their meeting would become—habit. Routine. Expected. She's shown up without fail until now, and that is cause for concern.

So, in robot speak: Rip's worried.]

-- She stood you up on your date?

[ that's miserable. ]

You know, maybe if you ever used her name it make more of a difference.

[ just saying. ]

Maybe she's screening you. You know, amazingly, I'm not keeping up with her schedule.

[ but fine, he'll check. not that he's telling him that. ]

Our appointment.

[Because it is not a date. They are not dating. Did Tony miss the part where Rip called them acquaintances twice?]

She's aware of how I address her, Mr. Stark. [And while she may indeed be screening him, sharp commentary isn't going to satisfy Rip just now—not from the way he frowns as he continues.]

No, but you do know her room number, so let's stop dancing around it, shall we? For some reason you've decided you don't care for me, which is fine as you're hardly the first. But given how she's spoken of you, I'm at least hoping you give a damn about her.

[Oh look. Tony isn't the only one who can act pissy about things.]

Enough to where you're willing to check and ensure she's--[here]--alright.

She's fine.

[ oh my god this is worse than steve. he actually misses steve now. ]

anything else? because I already listened to the audio version of Jane Eyre, I don't need this whole Mr. Rochester speech. I'm in the middle of something.

[So it would seem that Peggy's phone does work after all. What anger had been there fades from Rip's voice and his expression alike, though he doesn't exactly look happy either.

Even if he is on some level relieved.]

And that's all she said?

[That she's fine. Nothing else; no reason why, no explanation.

Just. She's fine, which leaves Rip nothing but his own speculations regarding what might have changed between them. Even after the other events, she'd still shown up.

Every time.]

I suppose there isn't. […] Thank you for checking.

She didn't say anything. I checked her room, she's fine.

[ and how did he do it without getting up? well. the iron man suit flies through the window. ]

That's what you wanted to know. I'm not having this conversation with her. She's my aunt, not my uh.

[ what was the word he used? oh yes. ]

acquaintance.

[ h u f f ]

--How did you check her room?

[Considering they haven't ended this conversation and Tony seemingly hasn't moved. Congratulations Mr. Stark on raising entirely new concerns about monitoring.

Because oddly enough, Rip rather easily believes him.]

Family business, I'm afraid. top secret, confidential.

[ what. if that guy can be an acquaintance than tony stark can pretend to keep a secret. ]

need to know only.

And clearly, I don't need to know.

[He's not happy with it to be sure—but assuming that Rip does have opportunity to speak to Peggy again, she might well deign to tell him. Or to give Tony Stark a piece of her mind, should she not care for his methods.

Who is Rip to say how it might play out?]

As you'd have it. So long as she is fine.

[It would have to be good enough.]

No, you really don't.

[ if tony stark introduces the suit to this person now, it would only bee in the shape of an iron punch to the nose. ]

But if I see her, I'll be sure to tell her a self-righteous asshole was looking for her.