6312/Web runners

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Web runners
Date of Scene: 29 January 2019
Location: Avengers Mansion
Synopsis: Jessica and T'Challa training together
Cast of Characters: Black Panther, Spider-Woman (Drew), Wasp (van Dyne)




Black Panther has posed:
Maybe the trip downstairs to deal with the refrigerator monster never materialized. The body that she had slept against was quite warm and maybe even in sleep there might have been comfort drawn from it.

There were moments of half-waking for the young woman. Finding that warmth was still there, the night still dark, until she sought sleep again. Perhaps even once with the first hints of light starting to come in the windows.

Though when Jessica did wake fully to full morning light, she found herself alone in the reclining chair. Her blanket from her bed was tucked in about her. A little tray was set nearby, left within reach of the chair, holding a pair of muffins and a bottle of juice. One muffin was blueberry, the other was heavily speckled with melty dark chocolate chips. Beside the food was a note on a folded piece of paper, reading simply: Jessica, thank you for the movie.

Now it is later in the day. The appointed time for working out in whatever facility the Avengers have for practicing super powers. T'Challa is there already, warming up and doing some stretches. Jarvis speaks to him, saying, "The training scenarios have been prepared and are ready to go at your signal, your majesty." T'Challa smiles and says, "Thank you Jarvis. We shall let you know when we wish to start." T'Challa is wearing simple clothing, a dark cotton shirt and slacks, though one of his necklaces is worn prominently atop the shirt.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica slept well enough. She woke consistently, every half hour or so, so she never descended into dreams. If the refrigerator got uppity, you couldn't prove it by her.

Breakfast was divine, and slipped right past Jessica's willpower: a blueberry muffin trumps a protein bar any day of the week.

When Jessica arrives, she is wearing her Spider-Woman bodysuit: crimson gradient, brilliant gold webbing, and a silvery gliding apparatus tucked discreetly down her sides beneath her arms. Best T'Challa gets used to fighting alongside her as she will appear on the battlefield...Her hair is not tied up quite yet, though. And her mask is tucked into her belt. "Good day to you, Your Highness," she chirps with a buoyant smile.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa looks up and over to Jessica as she walks in. "And a fine day to you, Jessica," he tells her. The man's dark brown eyes light up as he shines a soft smile her way. He takes in the sight of her outfit with a brief look, pausing longest on the gliding apparatus. An approving nod is given. "Janet must approve of your costume, I think," he tells her.

His own outfit expands, quickly covering his body. T'Challa leaves his face exposed as they talk. "How would you like to proceed?" he asks her. "Spar each other to experience our styles? Plan some joint moves? Or just give it a go with opponents. Maybe find out where we would do best to focus?" T'Challa asks her.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess grins. "Well Janet doesn't have much say in my suit...I designed this, but she hasn't made a comment one way or another on it..." She tilts her head and looks down at it thoughtfully.

"I think we should work on teamwork before ever going toe to toe. I don't really want any surprises for either of us when it comes to battle, and I think this would help. What d'you think?" Jessica is tying her hair up in a neat ponytail and wrapping it into a knot around the tie. Bobbypin. Bobbypin. Bobbypin. Bobbypin.

Bobbypin.

....Bobbypin.

Black Panther has posed:
"That is a fine idea," T'Challa confirms. A little technical talk commences about general combat styles, the types of martial arts that both of their combat skills are based on. Afterward T'Challa says, "I train extensively with my guard. We anticipate each other. Assist one another. Covering an ally's flank or back. Deflecting an attack made on them. Providing leverage for their strikes in some cases."

"I find the results well worth it," T'Challa says. He gives a chuckle and adds, "Though it takes time to develop. There is a 'blooper reel' of training moments. They tell me as monarch that my own failings are not included. I find that highly unlikely though," he says through a small grin.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica laughs. "Somehow I don't think you have so many bloopers, but perhaps you've made a mstake somewhere...sometime...along the way." She narrows her eyes and pulls her mask from her belt, tossing it over a bar on a weight bench, for now. "I don't wear it much unless I need my comm to be instant," she explains. "I don't think I need a communicator for the moment." And she moves into the center of the matted floor, looking up to the apparati above her head to get a feel for the room. "Oh yeah, plenty of stuff to dangle you from in here..." She grins mischievously. "Ready?"

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa walks over to Jessica, letting his mask cover his face. "I was reviewing your file again. I did not see any mention of webs," he mentions. Black Panther rests a hand on her upper back briefly. "Though somehow? I suspect you will still manage your 'accidental on purpose'," he says. She can't see his face, but Jessica might suspect from his voice exactly which of T'Challa's smile is being given behind the mask right now. The lopsided one.

"If you are ready," he agrees then, nodding. Black Panther takes a few steps away, to about the spacing they might have if investigating a place together. There are several encounters programmed in that Jessica can choose from, including ones with randomizations done by Jarvis.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"What can I say? I'm full of surprises," Jessica replies with a grin, shooting a web skyward and using it to lift herself, swinging to the top of a pully to stand balanced above T'Challa's head. "It probably didn't even mention I'm a smartass in that file...Or if it did, it was wrong." She buffs her nails on her suit indignantly. "I'm SO misunderstood."

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther breaks out in warm laughter. He shakes his head and says, "It seems snatch phrases is not all you taught Jarvis." Panther looks at Jessica hanging overhead and says, "Help me cross the room?" With that he runs at the wall near to a corner. He's accelerated to car-like speeds by the time he hits the wall, running up it and then pushing off to the other side of the corner, going ever higher. Though there is nothing in that particular corner for him to grab, no obvious way for him to cross the room should Spider-woman not intervene.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Letting instinct take over the moment T'Challa takes off running, she estimates where he's headed before he even gets there, based on his rate of acceleration and angle of trajectory. She reaches out with one hand and fires a web toward the ceiling about ten feet the other side of where she stands. Then with the other, she shoots a filament toward the spot she expects that he will end up, and pulls herself deftly to reach it just a split second before he arrives. With that, she snatches him out of the air, and releases her web in that corner, swinging and carrying him with ease, caught beneath one arm. But she's laughing as the two soar through the air to the opposite side, and she lands them both on a platform of the catwalk above the gym. "Okay...okay. So that wasn't how you MEANT for me to get you here, huh?" She's got a huge, self-satisfied smirk on her face and she's flushed with the sudden rush of air.

Black Panther has posed:
The sound of the first web drew Black Panther's attention to where Jessica is indeed changing up what he had expected. Though he adapts, reaching out a hand to her as she comes swinging through the air with grace that would leave a circus performer envious. Jessica can feel T'Challa let go of his grip he took on her arm at first, trusting his teammate to release him at the appropriate time.

He lands as smoothly on the platform as the cat which is his namesake. The mask retracts and T'Challa is chuckling behind it. "As long as it is practical. I put my trust in your judgment," T'Challa tells her. "Are you able to vary how adhesive your webs are?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica nods, looking up at the web attached to the ceiling, and gives it a little flip. By the time the ripple reaches the ceiling, the web falls away. "It takes more focus. They aren't /just/ sticky....in fact they aren't /as/ sticky as Spidey's webs. They're sticky, but they're far more reinforced by my static abilities. Once I release the focus on it, it can be pulled away and released without much effort. Which comes in handy sometimes. I can make nets, and ladders. Retrieve and reuse webs, if it suits my needs. It's a bit more of a weaver's skill, and less of a spider's..." she shares thoughtfully.

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther will reach out a hand towards her arm, asking, "May I?" Assuming she allows, he holds her arm gently so he can examine her fingertips. Both visually and touching them. "Remarkable," he concludes after a few moment's examination. "I am intrigued on many levels," T'Challa tells her. He turns back to the room, surveying the view from up here. "Not the first time I have thought this, either," the Wakandan says, glancing his eyes to the side towards her briefly without turning his head. He motions towards the training room as if for her to proceed with something. Lady's choice.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica steps to the edge of the platform and quickly thwips out a handful of lines, in rapid succession. As she releases the end of each, she gives it a flip that repels the end from her fingertips and out to attach to various pieces of equipment. Without her reversal, the webs hold tight, and within moments the center section of the gym is a network of webs stretched tight between apparati. Then, Jessica turns to face T'Challa and grins with a wink as she does a reverse swan dive off the platform, reaching with ease for first one web, and then another, swinging through the labyrinth like an Olympic gymnast, until she reaches the ground, touching down lightly and looking back up to T'Challa. "Your turn, Your Highness..." The webs await.

Black Panther has posed:
It is a joy to watch Jessica swinging through space. Not just the gracefulness of her movements, but her understanding of the space. The placing of her webs. Hand extending and the web just being there at the right moment and time. T'Challa looks down to where Jessica lands lightly on the floor, giving her a bow of his head and the Wakandan crossed-arm gesture. He then falls out in the same reverse swan dive. Swinging through the webs one after another, circling over this one like it was a gymnast's bar just as Jessica had done. The only deviation from her path is he swings up at the very end, all the way to almost brush the ceiling with his feet. He falls to earth, rotating slowly like a diver until he touches down on both feet, sticking the landing as lightly as if he'd only fall a foot or two, not thirty or forty.

"I believe the Russian judge was particularly appreciative of the landing," he comments.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Yeah, but the French judge is just pissed off by how easy you made it look. I wouldn't bet on a decent score from that one." She grins in appreciation of the Black Panther's descent, and she turns and runs the gauntlet of webs in reverse, releasing each as she swings away, and taking each one with her. Once she lands on the platform again, she looks down at T'Challa and lays the webbing over the rail like silk ropes. "Now then, for something more challenging? Not that this height is particularly a challenge for the likes of you, but let's try something. Go to the far corner and run toward me?" If he does so, she'll be waiting. As he runs toward the corner where she stands, she sends out filament after filament, weaving them over and under one another to create a ladder, trying to keep up with his tremendous speed as she builds it up toward the platform.

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther does indeed follow Jessica's direction. He backs up and begins running forward. As the webs start to appear before him he runs up them. Sometimes his foot is already reaching for the next one just as Jessica puts it in the right place, T'Challa trusting his teammate as he climbs into the air towards her. "Around the top again, and faster," T'Challa calls to her. He begins not just running, but bounding. There might be a moment to get their timing down, but if Jessica keeps the webs coming, he is able to circle the room and join her on the platform needing a small fraction of the webs he did while sprinting. "Most excellent. I see what you meant the other day. You excel at support roles. And other roles as well, I suspect."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess is flushed with excitement. It's been a while since she really had to push herself. But she looks a little pale, as well. While her cheeks are painted with a pink blush, the rest of her skin is pallid, and she laughs breathlessly. "That was...amazing. I think...maybe a moment to breathe, though. Yeah?" She swings down without waiting for an answer, and she drops from the web ladder to the ground, her knees nearly buckling beneath her when she does. She doesn't wait for T'Challa to follow her, though she is certain he will. Instead she moves with intent straight toward her gym bag, and she pulls a large stainless bottle from it, giving it a vigorous shake before opening it and gulping from it until it's about half-full.

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther steps off the platform and drops straight to the ground. It's a perfect moment to do a super hero landing, maybe. Except he doesn't, just lands on his feet like a cat and walks over to join her. T'Challa's mask is still down. He gets himself a drink of water as well. "It was indeed," T'Challa agrees as he takes a sip from his water. "Does it take much out of you? Or anything. Making webs like that? Do you run out after a time?" he asks her with true curiosity. T'Challa moves over to lean against one of the consoles for running the training room.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess, still a little pale, nods. "Too much too fast can cause a surface depletion of protein, and a rapid buildup of lactic acid. Too much for an extended period of time, and I could risk losing the ability to spin webs altogether until I've replenished. I try to be careful in training, so I don't cause unnecessary injury. It could endanger others just as easily as myself." She tips the bottle up an empties it, chugging it rapidly. "That's why I keep the blood of my enemies in a bottle nearby at all times. Keeps my protein levels up, and enables me to keep moving...it's the fastest way to metabolize protein."

Jessica licks the rim of the bottle and caps it. "Just kidding, it's a strawberry protein shake."

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther appears to just have water, sipping it as he listens. He ends up with a soft grin. "Ah, for a moment I held you in the highest esteem," T'Challa kids after the revelation that it is truly not the blood of her enemies that she is drinking.

The pair are in the training room, the Avenger's equivalent of the X-men's Danger Room. Though right now there are not threats in it. Just a few webs that dangle from the ceiling and walls. Actually, a lot of them. What have they been doing in there, anyway?

T'Challa is in his Black Panther suit, but with the hood down. Jessica is in her Spider-woman costume, sans mask which might be seen stuck in a pocket. The Wakandan asks her, "Is your shake a special mix? If not, we could experiment. Try to find one that is the most restorative. But still tasty."

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
There's a *puft* of displaced air and Janet van Dyne appears at the third point of a triangle with Jess and T'challa. She's not one for announcements-- she just 'shows up' when she feels like it.

"The *one* day I need to use the training room, and you two have it booked," she says, her tone much less severe than it sounds. Light glints off the gold plating of her superheroic attire as she twists and examines the area. "What... why are there *webs* everywhere?" she asks, rhetorically. She points an index finger at them and looks askance at Jess. "Those will come down on their own eventually, right?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"No, I'm trying out a theme. I call it decrepit chic. You likes?" She looks around, following Janet's gaze. "Far as I can tell, you can add the word 'chic' to the end of anything and it's instantly a fashion statement..." She grins and takes out a water bottle, downing half of it without blinking, and capping it again. Then she looks to T'Challa and replies to his question. "It's something Jarvis came up with. I know it's better than a regular protein shake, but I don't even know what all goes into it. He tried telling me once, but it was just a bunch of words with the "ide" sound in them. And the Ides are something to beware of, from what I've heard, so I just leave it up to him." She half-grins and shrugs. "I'm sure it could be improved upon, especially with your knowledge and that of your sister."

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther looks over towards the doorway. Janet would likely have realized some time ago that he seems to know when she's coming. She pops into existence, from their standpoint, and T'Challa gives the woman a warm smile. "We made sure to book it /just/ when you would want it, Janet," T'Challa says, the words teasing even if he says it with a fairly straight face and gentle smile. "You did not know that precognition was one of our powers?"

T'Challa chuckles as he glances up at the web. "You know, I believe you are right about that, Jessica," he says, agreeing with the observation about 'chic'. "Jessica and I were working on our teamwork. I think she must add greatly to the team's mobility."

The Wakandan nods to Jessica and tells her, "I will start with Jarvis. See what his mixture is. Then some tests to see which proteins you use." He leans closer to whisper, "There may be needles."

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
"Ooh, see-- you're backsliding a bit," Janet tells T'challa, finger lazily gesturing at him. She shifts her weight over her right foot, hip lazily cocking sideways. "It's all 'we' this and 'our' that. Not in Wakanda at the moment, your Highness," she reminds him. "The royal 'we' is totally not a thing."

"I was gonna say 'shabby chic'," Janet tells Jessica. "But 'decrepit' sounds so much better." She laughs with the dark-haired woman. "As long as they'll come down eventually, I don't care. But if you hear a high pitched 'help meeee' in the middle of the night, *do* check on me, okay?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Pfft...I'm not afraid of a few needles. I'm an Avenger, and I eat needles for breakfast. Not like I'm gonna be afraid of a few little pricks, in the grand scheme of things, when there are bad guys to catch, and webs to sling. I mean, what's a little blood spilled? For me that's like...Tuesday, and omygod it just -appens to be Tuesd-" The last of the word doesn't come out, as Jessica has run out of air to nervously ramble with.

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther hides most of his grin for Janet, before saying, "I meant Jessica and myself. But I appreciate you keeping me on toes as always, Janet." His eyes shine warmly at the woman. She's always had a way of putting a smile on the Wakandan's face. "Perhaps the webs are there for you? An obstacle course that you can fly?" T'Challa suggests to the lady known as The Wasp.

His eyes swing back to Jessica and finally he just breaks out laughing. Dark eyes take on a particularly appreciative light. "Perhaps just a very small needle? And it can wait until Wednesday. No, wait. Monday," he offers, trying to compromise for the young lady.

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
Janet hugs Jessica's arm comfortingly. "It's okay honey, I think we've got those new sonic dealies that don't even require needles for blood draws anymore," she assures her. "And if we don't, well, there's a lot of rum in the world and I've got some--" she mimes taking a hit from a joint-- "in my room, so we can like, chill out, order some Chinese food, and watch cartoons afterwards. Wouldn't that be better than cookies after giving blood?"

She blinks. "Actually that sounds like a good idea even *if* you don't need a blood draw. What're you up to later?" she inquires of the raven-haired spiderling.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica blinks as Janet hugs her arm. Hugs aren't Jessica's strong suit, but she doesn't flee. She just tenses. "Speaking of which, did you know you can't run through a campground? You can only ran, because it's past tents."

That sounded better in her head.

"Nah I'm not scared of needles. I'm just a little allergic to them. They make me break out in a run. In the opposite direction." Comedy: also not her strong suit.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa frequently tends to lapse into quiet periods when groups of others are around, only interjecting in appropriate moments. This seems to be one of those as he doesn't say anything just now. There is a brief raise of his eyebrow in surprise at Janet's invitation to the other young woman. Though just surprise, not disapproval. The subtle change in scent as Jessica tenses is noted most likely. Added to the catalogue-like memory the Black Panther possesses when it comes to identifying such.

But then one of the appropriate moments comes. T'Challa grins softly as if he enjoyed the jokes. "Perhaps there is another method," he suggests. "As Janet says. I will investigate," he tells her.

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
Janet doesn't pick up on Jessica's tension for a few seconds, and by then, damage done. She pats the other woman's arm and disengages politely. "Offer stands anytime you want to just kick back and chill," she tells Jess. "And don't listen to the *squares* who lecture otherwise," she says. T'challa's shot a look that clearly lumps him in with the likes of Captain America and Carol Danvers, bastions of law and order.

"Listen you two-- hate to scoot but I gotta get through this training today. I'm overdue for my workout. I'll see you two later though?" she offers, smiling bright at each in turn.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"So ya later, Bug," Jess replies affectionately. "I'm sure I'll see you later on..."

Jess turns again to T'Challa and tilts her head. "So...what've we got in mind next?"

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa lightly touches a hand to his chest as if to question Janet's inclusion of him. "I said nothing, Janet," he protests. He inclines his head deeply to the lady then. "It will be a pleasure to see you later. I am sorry our use of the room interfered with your schedule."

T'Challa turns back to Jessica then as he looks about the training room. "Do you wish to try a few more moves together? Or shall we have Jarvis start up a program? See how we work together when we have opponents?" T'Challa asks the brunette.