6308/Sleep little spider

Sleep little spider
Date of Scene:	29 January 2019
Location:	Avengers Mansion
Synopsis:	Jessica is treated to Popcorn and Big Trouble in Little China
Cast of Characters:	Black Panther, Spider-Woman (Drew)

---

Black Panther has posed:
It is evening at Avenger's Mansion. T'Challa has had quite a day, taking care of a few things as part of becoming a full-fledged member of the team. There's even a press conference. Likely T'Challa saw Jessica at it but did not have time to talk much with her as he was the focus of reporters.

Finally the press conference was over and he was able to return to his room. A nice hot shower and then changing into a warm sweater. The New York City winters are not the most pleasant for the African man. After consulting with Jarvis, T'Challa takes a trip downstairs to attend to some other matters. They might seem lesser matters to some, but just as important to T'Challa as the press conference was.

T'Challa climbs the stairs back up, carrying something with him in a tub. He reaches the hallway that holds the residences, walking down it until he comes across a door adorned with the same image as Jessica wears on her uniform. Leaning against the wall and door frame, T'Challa gives a soft rap on the door.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess has been reading most of the afternoon. One of those dystopian novels that gives her nightmares, but she can't put it down. The rap on the door nearly makes her jump out of her skin. "Yeah?" she asks, hopping up and hastily laying the book on her desk at a precise 45-degree angle. She's just been reading since her own shower, so her hair's all tied up, and she's wearing an oversized navy blue sweatshirt bearing the Avengers' "A" in white, over black leggings. Her slippers, one blue, one purple, clearly don't match.

Before she opens the door, a little optic aperture opens on the spider's thorax, on the outside of the door. "Wade, if that's you, I'm armed and angry!"

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa leans over where the peephole will show him, as he was probably out of sight it before. "Pardon me for intruding so late without calling," he says through the door. Though it's not /that/ late, it is evening at least. "I have something I thought you might appreciate. If it is inconvenient though, I can return another time. Particularly if you are armed," T'Challa offers softly, smiling at the last part.

The tub of buttered and salted popcorn is held out of view of the peephole. But the African man affects a soft smile towards the lens as he waits to see if she answers, or opens up.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I smell popcorn," Jessica says, aiming her words right at the peephole, as if that will somehow change how her voice is projected through the door. "If I open this door and you don't have popcorn, I'm still armed and angry." But her smirk is probably audible in her tone. "So you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, Do Ya Punk?"

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa's expression, which showed just a bit of weariness, grows into a soft smile. After an hour or two answering reporters questions and interviews, a dose of Jessica does him well. In reply to her question, he holds up a tub of popcorn. The kernels are white and fluffy, heaping over the top like a snowy peak of a mountain. Except this mountain peak has been drizzled heavily with butter.

And where one finds butter AND popcorn, there is a very good chance they will also find... salt!

"And how lucky would this qualify as?" T'Challa asks her through the door, his smile growing even a little more.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
The door opens a little crack almost immediately. There is a chain still latched, and a nose appears in the crack, sniffing deeply. "Pretty darn lucky..." The door closes with a snap. Within seconds it's open again, and Jessica is standing there in all her shut-in chic glory. "Your sacrifice has been accepted. You may enter." Inside, Jessica's room is obsessively organized. Labeled boxes, labeled caddies. Labels on EVERYTHING. Caddies for pens. Pencils. Flash drives. Swedish Fish. Files. There is nothing here that was not placed precisely as it now sits. The one major exception is the twin bed in one corner. It is more of a nest than a bed, really. A tangle of comforters and afghans, pillows and throws. She could curl up anywhere on it at any time and comfortably hibernate through the New York winter.

Black Panther has posed:
The door opens and T'Challa's eyes fall on Jessica and he gets a contented look as he steps inside. He glances around the room with idle curiosity. Nearly the opposite of what he expected? T'Challa looks back to Jessica and his smile grows a little more. "I understand there is a showing of Big Trouble in Little China tonight." Which since Jarvis probably has a copy, would be true anytime someone wanted to watch it. "It has been a very long day," he say softly. "I was hoping you might be willing to relax with me. Watch it, and enjoy the popcorn," he says, offering the big tub to her for proper inspection.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Well...I am not usually subjectable to bribes...buuuut..." She picks one piece of fluffy popcorn off the tip of the pile and crunches it. "I think I could make an exception, just this once. You're new in town, after all, and you probably don't know anybody who can appreciate the classics like I do." There's a haughty little sniff, not unlike Janet when she's feeling lofty. "But you have to let me break out the lemonade. Because movie and sacrificial popcorn night just isn't the same without the sacrament. "

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther smiles over to her and says in a warm tone, "I do not know anyone who appreciates /life/ as you do, Jessica." He smiles at her agreement to the idea. "Lemonade. But of course, I cannot believe I failed to bring it myself," T'Challa agrees. He looks about to see where she'd like to sit, assuming there's a TV in the room. It's Tony's mansion, there has to be a TV in the room, right?

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Well, it just so happens, I have...." Jess opens a minifridge at the end of her desk, and pulls out two unlabeled glass bottles of lemonade. "Homemade lemonade and..." She hops without a second thought over the bed and lands lightly on the wall, pulling down a mandala tapestry that covers an 55-inch television set into the wall. She hops down again and folds the tapestry exactly four times and lays it in her desk chair to put back up later. Then, she pulls the throw pillows out of the double recliner in the corner and tosses them carelessly on the bed "Tadaaaa! Now....where the devil is my remote...."

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther slips out of his shoes, leaving them over by the door, and then moves over to join Jessica. "I have not seen this movie in many years. The people in the apartment beside mine? They played it /constantly/," he says. "I bet I have seen it twenty times at least. If not all the way through." T'Challa picks up the one bottle of lemonade. He takes a small sip of it, seeing if she likes it sweet or tart, or somewhere in the middle. He picks up a bit of popcorn and tosses a few kernels into his mouth while he waits for her to get situated before he joins her.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica sets about tossing covers and pillows haphazardly on her bed, diving under some and reaching out beneath them blindly with both hands, effectively burying herself in fluffy things until at last there's a muffled "AHA!" Then she calmly retracts herself from the mess and leaves her bed more or less the way it was to begin with. "Now then." She sits down on one half of the oversized recliner and slips off her mismatched slippers, setting them to the side and drawing her feet up onto the chair to sit cross-legged. "I hope the lemonade is okay....I like to strike a balance with it..."

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa takes a seat beside her. The Wakandan is not Thor, but he's still quite a bit larger than the young woman is as he settles into the recliner. "I think it is very good. Very sweet I could at least handle. And I enjoy tart. But it usually needs a little sweetness to reach its best." T'Challa settles in and brings the popcorn tub over to rest between them, half on her leg, half on his. He gets a few more kernels and munches on them. "I did not think the reporters were ever going to go away," he says with a sigh. By far this is the most drained that Jessica has seen T'Challa.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Narrowing her eyes and shifting her gaze sideways toward T'Challa, Jessica hmphs. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you came over here to get outta that stuffy royal lifestyle so you could do stuff like THIS." She tilts her head and turns the television on, so that it emits a blue glow. "Jarvis, T'Challa came to New York just to watch 'Big Trouble in Little China.' Wanna help him out?"

"Of Course, Miss Drew," comes Jarvis' cheerful voice.

"He's just so damned personable..." Jessica says, reaching over and turning off the floor lamp beside the chair.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa sinks down into the chair a little bit more, getting comfortable. "I am afraid that you are wrong on that, Jessica," the well-groomed black man says of why he came over to New York. His eyes go to the video screen as Jack Burton's monologue starts up. "Getting to do stuff like this, with you, was quite unexpected." T'Challa gives a small, pleased smile as the movie that is so bad it's good gets underway. "A very unexpected pleasure," he says as he gets some popcorn.

T'Challa draws a slightly deeper breath than normal, though just sitting as he was before. "Interesting how Jarvis and Tony differ. Though I like them both."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Jarvis is a people-pleaser," Jessica says of the AI that runs throughout the mansion, and Stark Tower. "He can do no wrong, right Jarvis?"

"Right as rain. As always, Miss Drew," comes the response.

"I taught him that..." Jessica says with a grin as the movie starts. Jessica joins in partaking of the popcorn, and smiles sideways at T'Challa. "Well, I'm glad you came over. And I'm glad you can find some peaceful moments like this. They've been good for me, too." She pops another piece of popcorn into her mouth and turns to watch the movie start for what is probably her twentieth time, too. Except she's seen it all the way through, every time.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa crosses his legs, relaxing as he smiles and says, "I suspect Jarvis is your favorite person in the entire mansion." He gets another small handful of popcorn to munch on. The movie reaches one of the many points where the most unbelievable lines get delivered with such zest by the actors. "The thing I always wonder," T'Challa says of the movie. "Did the director tell them to do this? Consciously?" T'Challa waves a hand like he is impersonating the director. "In this scene, I know that your dialogue is beyond belief. But deliver it, like it is the most important set of words uttered. Ever. In the history of the world." He smiles again. "So had I not interrupted you with," T'Challa says, motioning to the movie, "... the most important words ever uttered. How were you going to spend your evening?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica laughs at the director's impersonation. "I'll bet that's exactly what the director did," she agrees. Then she looks up to the ceiling, as if Jarvis mysteriously resides there. "Who's your favourite, Jarvis?"

"You are, Miss Drew," comes a chipper reply.

"And who's my favourite?" Jessica asks.

"I ammmm." Jarvis sounds unnaturally cheerful.

She gives T'Challa a little lifted chin tip. "He knows what's up..." Then she shrugs. "I was just reading, probably would have passed out on my book at some point, then wake up around 3am to go downstairs and investigate a noise that turns out to be the refrigerator, drink a glass of milk, and run back upstairs in the dark like that sound is gonna bite my feet, and lock myself in my room." This is clearly something that's happened before.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa turns on his side a little to face towards her. "You are reading an inspirational self-help book then?" he asks her, nothing in his voice or expression suggesting that he is teasing. Nothing other than the context. "My sister loves scary movies. She always has. But when she was young, she would get too scared to watch," T'Challa says. He starts chuckling at the memory, and getting one of his lopsided smiles. "She would cover her eyes. And listen. And make me watch and tell her what was happening."

T'Challa keeps that warm smile and shifts onto his back again, sinking fully back into the recliner. One of those memories that can keep you warm on a cold January day.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Aww...That sounds just adorable," Jess replies, practically melting at the thought of the little future king narrating the movie to his terrified sister. "I have never been able to get into scary movies. There's something in me that resists the suspension of disbelief. I can't see the characters as anything more than actors." She presses her lips thoughtfully together. "I think maybe it's a self-defense mechanism against fear..."

Then, she reaches over and picks up the novel off her desk. "It's self-help...in a way, it is." She holds up the book, titled 'The Handmaid's Tale,' written by Margaret Atwood. "It's more dystopian...But it's about strength and perseverance. Survival, against all odds, and in the most abysmal of circumstances. The survival of the self, when your self isn't even yours to own."

Black Panther has posed:
He looks at the novel as Jessica grabs it and starts explaining what it is about. "Interesting," he says of the book. "I find less and less time to read," he says with a sigh. "That was one good thing about college. There was so much time. Fewer responsibilities," he says.

T'Challa gives a small shrug though. "But I would not change how I spend my time. Wakanda is too important. And these are trying times."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica nods slowly as T'Challa speaks. "I can definitely understand that. I think if more people who had time to read would read stuff like this...it would avoid a lot if what you fight against. It reveals the dangers of apathy and inaction as a direct cause of the enslavement of people. It happens gradually. Bit by bit. Then one day something breaks and people never saw it coming..."

Black Panther has posed:
"Sometimes I feel it is not even that subtle," T'Challa says. "That we can see what is coming. But we get so caught up in... jealousy? Blaming?" He gives a little shiver. "Now I will want to go check what that noise is with you," T'Challa says, smiling over to Jessica and turning back towards her a bit more. He looks thoughtful as he regards the beautiful young woman, and then suddenly breaks out in a wry smile. "I just had a thought. One I believe we might both find disturbing. Yet true."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Ohhh..." Jessica breathes the conspiratory word and turns a little toward T'Challa, eyes wide. "Disturbing, huh? This ought to be good." She settles in a little, rocking the tiniest bit with excitement. "Okay on a scale of 1 to Richard Simmons, how disturbing are we talking, here?"

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa has to consider that scale for a moment. "I would say... probably only a five," T'Challa replies. "Plus or minus one." Because, hey, he is a scientist after all. He takes a sip of his lemonade as he waits to hear Jessica's decision on whether she wants to risk it.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Wow, good thing I didn't take the scale all the way up to Deadpool..." Jess boggles for a moment, then narrows her eyes, trying to guess what it is the king has in mind that could possibly be mildly disturbing. "I'm game. Hit me with it..."

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa clears his throat. "These three days have been wonderful. You have been a large part of them, Jessica. I arrived, not knowing some of the newer Avengers, including you. Some I have not met yet. Others, like Drake Winters only briefly," T'Challa says. Where is he going with this anyway? "Had we not met when I arrived? I would not have had those three wonderful days. I might not even know you yet. We met because you were in the hall as I landed. And you were in the hall... thanks to Wade's visit."

T'Challa stops and shakes his head. "Part of me wants to think I owe Wade, for his role in putting you in that hallway. But only a TINY amount," he says finally, chuckling.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Ohhhh GOD, you're right. Whatever you do, DON'T TELL HIM THAT. It'll go straight to his head, and he'll never let either of us live it down." Jessica considers for a moment. "Huh, maybe I /should/ have made it a scale that went up to Wade. It would've suddenly scored much higher on the disturb-o-meter." She grins and eats another cluster of popcorn. "Well at least that night served /some/ purpose other than giving me nightmares..."

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther chuckles warmly at Jessica's reaction. "My lips are sealed on the matter," T'Challa promises Jessica softly. "I still have not met him. But it is not something I will rush toward." T'Challa takes a handful of the popcorn, eating it slowly. "May I ask, are you and Janet particularly close?" T'Challa inquires as they lie there together talking.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"We're...close, I guess. Yeah. She's not anything like me. I don't know much about fashion. I don't know what /she/ sees in it. But she's nice. It's good to have someone like her on my side. And she seems to have a much different reaction to my pheromones than other women. She is actually /attracted/ to them, not repelled. Seems strange, but I suppose...chemistry plays a large role in how people respond to one another, hmm?" Jess sighs thoughtfully and turns back to the television.

Black Panther has posed:
He seems pleased to hear that. "She can be exuberant. Though in a different way than you," T'Challa says as he gets more popcorn. "She and Captain Rogers both, I am fond of. They help make this team what it is." T'Challa doesn't seem to just be talking about their effectiveness as super heroes there at all. "I was surprised by a newspaper article, about them dancing. Was that merely the press trying to be salacious?" he asks.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica laughs. "I have to wonder if Janet herself put someone up to that article." She shakes her head. "Janet has an interesting fixation on Captain Rogers. He's a good man. A very good man. I am not sure he has any concept as to her infatuation. But the two of them together are entertaining. And they are a dynamic and effective part of the team. They are part of what brings the whole team together." She turns to T'Challa. "Like you said." She gives a half-grin and eats a little more popcorn. "And I'm glad you came by tonight. This is far more entertaining than reading about some horrific alternate future in the United States."

Black Panther has posed:
"I am just a few doors down the hall now. If you ever wish a companion to check on the refrigerator at 3 am? You know which door to stop at," he tells her with a soft smile. "Though we have a training session tomorrow. Maybe make it 2 am so there is time for sleep?" T'Challa suggests. He looks back to the movie. The big show down. The best lines of the movie.

Kurt Russell saying in a cocksure way, "Well, it's at times like this Jack Burton says-"

Another character cuts him off with, "Who?"

Kurt Russell responds like the man asked a silly question. "Jack Burton!" After the other man has no idea who he means, Kurt Russell responds bumptiously, "Me!"

T'Challa breaks out in giggles. Yes. Giggles.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess nearly falls over laughing. Whether at the lines, or the idea of the director, or T'Challa's gigglefit, it's hard to say. Maybe all three. Maybe the way the night has gone, and the relief of relaxation and letting herself laugh. Whatever it is, she's thankful for it, and she laughs until tears stream down her cheeks. "That sounds good, but what if the monster bites your feet instead? He already got Lefty Blue." She says, nodding at her mismatched slippers.

Black Panther has posed:
The young woman's laughter is infectious to T'Challa, and he laughs harder. Thankfully the giggles give way to slightly more masculine sounds again. When finally they both are relaxed again, T'Challa tells her, "I would think you would hop on the wall. And avoid it." He looks down at his own feet. "I will risk my feet, if it means saving your own," he tells her with a chuckle. T'Challa closes his eyes, a soft smile on his face.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica blinks at the thought, and splutters. "Buh I..." Why didn't she think of that first? She could crawl along the ceiling and avoid the imaginary darkness monster who's always inches away from her heels as she sprints back up to her room in the dark. "YOU..." She points a finger accusingly, directly at T'Challa's nose. "YOU need to stop being logical. It's debunking all my awesomeness. RIGHT Jarvis?"

"Right as rain, Miss Drew."

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther laughs warmly. When Jessica points the finger at his nose T'Challa tries to reach out and take hold of it. If he manages, and he doesn't feel Jessica try to pull it back, T'Challa will end up gently holding her hand, just letting both their hands rest together between the two of them. If she does pull back though he lets her go. "Jarvis. I was thinking of upgrading your CPU. With Vibranium processors. That would appeal, would it not?"

"She's still right as rain, your majesty."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica blinks at the sudden shift between T'Challa and herself. Everything in her, indeed, tells her to flee.

<He's not under any influence.>

<He's still a man.>

<He's a king.>

<Doesn't mean anything...Do you want to end up broken again?>

The two sit quietly for a few long moments, then Jess gasps and sits up. "Did you hear that?"

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa rested there beside Jessica, not looking directly at her. But hearing the change in the beating of her heart. Subtle changes to the woman's scent as strong emotions pass through her. Even those who read his file and see "enhanced senses" likely do not realize how much the Black Panther perceives.

T'Challa sits up as well, head canting to the side to listen. Tonight, for her, he will hear something else. "I do. I think prudence demands we investigate," he tells her quietly. Lest they be overheard.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I swear to the gods, that fridge is haunted," Jess says softly, slipping off the recliner and toward the door. She flips up a lens cover and peers through the peephole out into the hallway. "It never makes that sound in daylight..."

Then, Jess returns to the chair and plops down on the overstuffed brown leather cushion. "Just wait. It'll get louder. It always does." She yawns and settles back against the back of the recliner. T'Challa may have overlooked a small part of her routine. First, she has to pass out on the book. Jess blinks once, slowly, staring at the television screen. "Maybe it won't get as loud tonight..." She stifles another yawn and sleepily roots into a warmer position, leaning against him. She doesn't know if the movie's still on, or if it's over. If the refrigrator is going to wake her in a few hours, she'll need some rest...

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther relaxes back in the chair as well. He doesn't try to put his arm around her, but lets her lean there against him. With the blessings of Bast he is probably rather pleasingly warm most of the time, and with the sweater tonight even more so. He is a Black Panther after all. "Go ahead and sleep, little spider. I will make sure it stays away in the meantime," he tells her quietly.