[ Pepper is so incensed it takes her a moment to catch onto the fact that another person is getting involved in the argument, busy staring down the merchant with her most forbidding of stares that works on 99% of all stubborn representatives of the male gender. She turns a little to include this mysterious third party, the empathetic yes, thank you! in response to the excellent counter dying on her lips.

Stunned astonishment follows, flickering visibly across her face. Is she seeing things? Is this merely a very good lookalike, or is this actually Loki, that Loki that let the Chitauri into New York and tried to take over Earth?

Pepper struggles to regain her wits from the surprise, corralling her galloping thoughts and emotions. She can't fight on two fronts simultaneously, so to speak, so she lets that matter rest for now and focuses on the merchant who's now visibly cowed, figuratively sweating bullets. ]

I don't think that's something you wish to risk. Contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as bad press.

[ Just look at Justin Hammer after the Expo debacle. The merchant hurries to placate, but Pepper shakes her head a little, lips pressing into an unhappy line for a beat. ]

Maybe I'll come back later, to see if your customer service has turned more equitable to all parties. Good day.

[ It doesn't sound like a well-wishing, despite the words. The merchant takes the hint and tucks tail, retreating to the other end of the long counterspace of the stall to nervously serve another patron. Pepper eyes Loki next. ]

Auspicious timing, Mr...?

[ It's a trap, she wants to see how he'll introduce himself. ]