14177/Rec room follies

Rec room follies
Date of Scene:	10 March 2022
Location:	Recreation Room, The Triskelion
Synopsis:	Tony and Steve wander into the rec room and add a third to the conversation.
Cast of Characters:	Phantasm (Drago), Iron Man, Captain America

---

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
It is currenly one of the quieter times in the Recreation room over at the Triskelion. Most people are off doing this thing called 'work' which makes this an ideal time for Nick, who has been a guest for the past few months to pop in and grab a chair. In his hands is a worn looking book that does not appear to belong to the library offered to the room's visitors.

Granted, Nick could have just stayed in the room he was given to read but, sometimes one needs a change of scenery. Even if the scenery is the TVs being tuned to various games featuring the local sports teams getting their butts handed to them by visiting challengers.

Yep he'll just keep reading his book.

Iron Man has posed:
"So, Pepper's on this kick.." Voices sound in the corridor, just beyond the door to the Rec room. It's a voice that is seldom heard in the hallowed halls of the Triskelion, and the fact that he //is// here should put a few key people on edge. Or, perhaps he's here at someone's behest? Personal invite, that is. A request that even Tony Stark couldn't refuse.

Part of the 'why' could be in the form of the man with whom he is speaking. The golden boy of America.

Tony rounds the corner to the rec room, "Tell me there's more than just stale danishes. If there is, I will personally go on a run to get something that doesn't taste like stale, dried husks of pastry." The genius, playboy, philanthropist billionaire inventor is dressed down; cotton shirt with a sport jacket over, a pair of jeans and high-top sneakers are his 'go to' at the moment. Sunglasses sit atop messy, windblown hair, and he's talking animatedly, his hands joining in to underscore his words.

"Anyway, trying to get some semblance of balance is near.."

Captain America has posed:
    Whenever there is a Tony there is often a chaperone. And the list of people willing to be said chaperone isn't an exhaustive one. A handful of people really, and one of those just happens to be that same golden boy. Though it's perhaps at his behest too that the Stark scion is here to offer insight into what passed some small time ago with regards to one Ms. Potts.
    "There are a few stale muffins too if you look hard enough," Is Steve's offer of rejoinder in return to the impugning of the quality of baked goods available in the Triskelion. He doesn't seem too terribly perturbed, but also doesn't know of any other fine comestibles available nearby save for...
    "Think they have some Twinkies in one of the vending machines." Which likely won't fit the bill. Though it does bring them to that rec room where Steve lifts a hand in greeting, "Heya, Nick."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With the quieter time in the room making it to where sound travels a bit easier, Tony's voice ends up reaching Nick's ears. Curious, Nick lowers his book, turning to look over to the incoming source.

The talk of the quality of the baked goods in the Trisk does get a bit of a half smile from the musician.

"Hey Cap." Nick replies back, lifting a hand to return the wave him and the billionaire, "Hey Tony."

A finger threads between the pages he was on as he ends up focusing on the newcomers "I get the same feeling with the food here too." He admits. Just flat out giving an admission to overhearing the not so secretive conversation that was occuring on the way in. "A week of the food here and I was wanting to go out for pizza."

Iron Man has posed:
    As Tony enters the rec room, he's spinning around and walking backwards for a couple of steps, his hand out and gesturing, "I'll forget you even mentioned 'Twinkies'." There's the theatric pause before his expression shifts to considering, adding, "Wait, were they actually around when you were looking for those sugar highs?" Anything to gain those extra pounds!

Tony turns back around in order to actually walk forward, finally looking in the room proper. No, no one he has to give autographs to, no selfies.. and he waves, "Hey, Drago." Brows do rise in question, and without skipping a beat, Tony continues, "A week of food here, and I'd be calling the Red Cross and invoking the Geneva Convention. Not to mention the media outlets and a good team of lawyers."

Captain America has posed:
    "The cafeteria's not all that bad," Steve says in response to Nick, though the way he defends it one might more get the vibe he defends it primarily because... of how bad things were at Camp Pendleton's foodwise. Which has him then looking at Tony as he adds, "Really it's not."
    But then he's being confronted by a curious Tony Stark and he spreads his hands wide, "Yeah, we had Twinkies even back in my age. Even had little ads for them in comic books." Which was true. He continues into the room, but at Tony's railing about the food he just surrenders the topic with one of his patented half-waves to the side as if brushing it out of the way. Unworthy of discussion.
    "In any case," He concludes, "Where do things stand now with all of what happened?" He glances toward Nick, as if considering whether or not things should be said in front of the fellow. But luckily it's only a momentary hesitation as he voices no exception.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Seeing the expression from Tony, it occurs to Nick that Tony may not have been aware he was staying there or the why. Hmm. Guess it was only coincidence he got pulled into that side mission with him.

Being the answer would be too long to the unspoken question would be too long, Nick tilts his heat to the side, giving a shrug, mouthing the words 'Long story' instead.

He looks over to Steve, listening to the defense of the cafeteria, "Well, it'll do but it doesn't compare to the pizza I can get outside." Even if it does come with unwanted photo ops with Lex Luthor when you're trying to lay low.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony isn't always privvy to the bunking habits of others outside his particular sphere of influence, and contrary to popular belief, he doesn't have as much pull in SHIELD as, say, his father did. He's a legacy member, as it were. And, well, who wouldn't want him as a contractor? He's a commodity!

"Comic books," Tony deadpans as he shakes his head. "Why didn't I even consider that?" He resets and is off to a chair to sit down. Coffee's probably horrible, and he's not going to hit the vending machine. Yet.

"Pizza is the best in New York. Don't let those folks from Chicago tell you otherwise." Pearls of wisdom. "I have been known to ship pizzas to the far flung spots, just for a morale boost."

It's the coming back around that Tony's gaze swings to Cap, to Steve. One of his few friends. Sitting gracelessly, he fidgets, looking for something to occupy his hands as he talks, "Right now? I've got Romanoff, and Pepper has everyone else. Things have been radio silent, so figured I didn't need her to stay put in the Tower." He smiles tightly, though there's something there behind dark eyes, "She's not used to spending her life in there. Me, I could stay in for days and not blink an eye." Then, of course, fly to Vegas and PARTY.

Captain America has posed:
    "Chicago has pizza?" Cap asks as he walks after, following along in the wake of Tony Stark, though he looks over at Nick and gives a half-smile. That oh so subtle signal that Steve is going to try and tell a joke that likely Tony can read coming a mile away.
    "You mean that town where they half bake dough and dump a can of tomato soup on it and call it pizza, that town?" Steve says in that wry tone of his that is not so terribly common. Even as he's pulling up a chair and turning it just so, so that Nick and Tony and himself create the three points in a triangle.
    But then the topic of Pepper comes up and he nods, "I spent several days with Pepper, she started to get antsy, gave her what she thought was some breathing room but I stayed close just..." He tilts his head slightly, "More out of sight."
    An upnod is given, "How did things go with Nat?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"That's the one. Chicago-" Nick answers, lifting up his hands doing air quotes "Pizza."

As the two older men set up chairs near him, seemingly including him on the next round of topic material, the musician feels compelled to listen in. But the momentarily confused look on his face is more than enough to betray the fact that he has NO clue what they're talking about now. That is until Cap mentions Pepper starting to get antsy and needing space. Nick blinks, looking over to Steve. Is this some sort of Protection detail discussion?

Iron Man has posed:
Tony can actually read Steve most times; it's how he knows how and when to push buttons for that appropriate rise. It's like his mutant ability, if he had one. With a snap-point, he offers up, "Main reason why I don't have a secondary HQ there. Weather is horrible and the only thing they have going for it is the Loop, which is only so much fun as a few runs, and the rare bit of barbeque. It's why I took Dallas instead. And, of course, San Diego. The bay is a nice view." Of course, he also has another house there.

To hear first hand that his friend did him such a solid, Tony's expression shifts to something a touch more.. personal. Something never seen on camera or in the news. "I appreciate that. I do. She's kind of mad at me right now, but that'll pass." He chuckles, and there is that wall that rises again; ever the actor, and he shrugs, adding, "When isn't she?"

For explanation, then, Tony looks to Nick. Doesn't hurt; couldn't hurt, and the worst case is that he's got another set of ears on the ground. "Met up with a widow, and she told me someone was gunning for me personally. Didn't want a show, and didn't want notoriety. Just, my head on a platter." Tony recounts it as if he's reading it from a novel, and he sits back. Steve, however, knows some of those 'tells' and he's concerned. Not afraid, but on alert. "Which, by the way, makes it harder to find them. No blustering, no noise."

Captain America has posed:
    "That Widow is gonna take some doing to puzzle out her intentions in full." Steve says by way of comment, giving a look at Tony as he nods about what had passed. Though he seems about to say something else as he starts to lean forward, one hand lifting as if about to make a point...
    Which is when the tell-tale sound of a buzzing cell is heard from his own back pocket. A quick check and he frowns a moment, then gives a nod to the other two there. "One sec,"
    That said he pushes up and out of his chair, turning away and holding the phone to the side of his head as he answers, "This is Rogers."
    Which has his focus on the call for the moment.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Getting the explanation, Nick's expression darkens for a moment. "Ah so, you're concerned that Pepper could end up in trouble, which is why she's got people watching her." Nick surmises, he gives a nod. He pauses, watching Steve looks away. "Well...That really sucks."

Iron Man has posed:
"She and Romanoff are going to have a little chat." He smirks and sits up, looking for something to occupy his hands with. Finding nothing in his immediate area, Tony rises to his feet to cross towards the coffee pot and those wrapped muffins. "I'd love to be a fly on the wall there. Or, better yet. I'll host it."

Steve's phone call, and subsequent departure to take it gains a look over his shoulder. He watches his friend leave the room before he turns his attention back to the coffee pot and is working out the way to best not only brew a cup of coffee that won't suck, but possibly improve it.

"Yes," Tony's voice sounds distracted, but the man can honestly multitask. "That sort of person wouldn't blink an eye at taking out soft targets, or using them as bait. I've always had a target on my back for one reason or another, including who my father is. But I'm not going to let Pepper get hurt. She's the one innocent in all of this, and she deserves better."

Captain America has posed:
    Taking a moment to look back into the room, Steve gestures with the hand that isn't holding the phone to his ear as he says, "Tony, give me ten to field this. Stay here, I'll be along directly." Which has him giving the billionaire a sort of emphatic look as if telling him to stay put for the moment. But likely knowing that may not be enough to keep the flighty fellow in place for too long.
    Then he looks to Nick, "Keep an eye on him, Nick." Which might be amusing on several levels.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick is quiet for a few moments. The mention of his father being another reason ends up getting another look, "I understand. I wouldn't want to risk it either." He admits, "It's one thing when it's just you but when they go afer family and friends..." He shakes his head.

When Steve tells him to keep an eye on Tony, the musician tilts his head. "Oh THAT'll go over well."

Nick looks over to Tony, "...I don't work here."