6329/Maybe some olives

Maybe some olives
Date of Scene:	31 January 2019
Location:	Avengers Mansion
Synopsis:	Pizza and hot chocolate after being Big Damn Heroes
Cast of Characters:	Black Panther, Spider-Woman (Drew)

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Black Panther has posed:
The team was in high spirits on the flight back from Minneapolis. The usual banter back and forth, and Steve and T'Challa probably got some grief for having been cold. As the others talk, T'Challa had leaned over to Jessica to say, "I plan to get the fireplace as hot as it will go. Until I am thoroughly thawed out." He sat back in his seat, and asks, "The protein was not much. Would you dine with me tonight, Jessica? My treat, but your choice."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess thinks a moment, furrrowing her brow. One might think she is considering the invitation carefully. But in reality, the mention of food has flooded her mind with a million possibilities. Each sounds more delicious than the last.

Finally, she seems to have an answer. "Deep dish pizza. All of the meats. Maybe some olives...." It seems her answer to an offer to dine together was a foregone conclusion. Either that, or she just can't stop thinking about food....

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa leans back in his seat, glancing over and wondering why the plane's heaters are not on high. But not saying anything about it. "Deep dish pizza it will be," he agrees. He pulls out a phone and glances at their location on the plane's instruments, punching out something on his keypad. "It should arrive shortly after we touchdown," he tells her. T'Challa doesn't mention whether he got it with olives or not.

Once they are landed, the team depart, heading off through the various hallways to their rooms. "I will start the fire. And then clean up quickly. Feel free to come right in when you are ready," T'Challa offers before he'll continue past her room and on to his own. The fire will be started and then he heads off for a quick wash and rinse off in the shower, putting on slacks and a long-sleeve shirt before heading back to the living area of his suite.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Of course!" Jess chirps as she lets herself into her room. Once inside, she rushes into a hot...HOT shower, trying to get circulation back to her toes. She is DEFINITELY going to have to get a warming suit to wear beneath her spider suit it it's going to keep up these subzero temperatures. Once she's out, a quick blow-dry, a pair of fluffy light blue pj bottoms adorned with puffy white clouds, and an Iron Man tee shirt are her outfit. Chosen for comfort, not for fashion. She slips on her mismatched slippers and slips out of her room and down to that of T'Challa, with the promise of a warm fire and food. She knocks lightly and opens the door. "I'm heeere, hope you're decent!"

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther is just walking out of the bathroom, still dabbing a towel at his hair to help it dry a little quicker. "I always try to be a decent man for you, little spider," he says in a teasing voice. He returns the towel to the bathroom and then comes back out. He's barefoot but otherwise fully dressed. "I thought we worked well today," T'Challa tells her as he takes a few large throw pillows from the couch or window seat, relocating them by the fire for lounging. "Is hot chocolate to your liking?" he asks as he goes over to the kitchenette. The pizza was just delivered, piping hot within its box. He got an extra large from the looks of it.

T'Challa brings it over and sets it down on the coffee table where it will be in reach of the rug in front of the fireplace. He brings plates and plenty of napkins as well. Should she open up the pizza she'll find it is indeed covered with meat. And there's a container full of olives beside it so they can be added if she likes. Maybe some olives.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Ohhhh my god yes..." Jess swoons over the very idea of hot chocolate. "You fit in SO well with the team, T'Challa." She is sniffing the pizza, her mind still clearly on their efforts earlier in the cold. She takes a plate and helps herself to a corner piece. Because crispy burnt cheese. "You've made such a good choice in coming to the team, if you ask me. You're already making a difference."

Black Panther has posed:
The soft smile that this gives T'Challa could probably get Jessica out of a week's worth of Purgatory. He crosses back to the kitchen, heating up milk for the hot chocolate. "I am glad to help," he says as he checks how much mix to add. "We worked well together today," he comments. "I will need to go back to Wakanda for a day or two. Maybe next week. I need to be seen. So the people know I am still guiding them."

The hot chocolate is made. T'Challa carefully checked the instructions and then almost doubled the amount of mix. Resulting in rich chocolatey goodness. He brings the two large mugs over, sitting down on the rug by Jessica and passing one over. "That looks delicious," he says with a sigh, getting himself a slice of the pizza. "Excellent choice."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica sips her hot chocolate the moment it's delivered. "Mmmmm....best hot chocolate EVER..." She looks all dreamy, enjoying her hot chocolate. Then, setting it down carefully, she takes the little cup of maybe some olives, distributing them across her slice of pizza, before diving in with a bite that leaves sauce at both corners of her mouth, and her tongue darting out for every drop before she wipes her mouth with a napkin. "It's a good idea, going back to be seen. And though I'm sure you're keeping abreast of the goings-on there, it will be good to keep yourself immersed there, too. Lest you get too grounded here. I'm sure they'll be really glad to see you back home, hmm?" She sips her hot chocolate again, looking back up to him.

Black Panther has posed:
"I hope they will," T'Challa confirms. There's a simple joy for him, watching the zest with which Jessica lives her life. Even just eating. Or maybe, /especially/ just eating?

T'Challa takes his first bite of the pizza and lets out a sigh as if it is hitting the spot. When he's finished the bite he says, "I am spending hours on the holographic system each day. Attending meetings. The day to day needs to not stop in my absence." T'Challa picks up his hot chocolate and takes a sip. "Mmm. That warms me down to my toes," he says. And wiggles said toes. The Wakandan king turns to lie on his side, feet towards the fireplace which is roaring beautifully. "If you were not in the Avengers, Jessica? Where would you choose to live?" he asks.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica blinks once, slowly. "There is a little town called Villa Altagracia, in the arroyos of the Domican Republic," Jessica says with little forethought. It's beautiful there, the way the sun paints the desert at sunset, but the sunrise always paints the skies. She closes her eyes and squeezes them shut a little tighter, as if the mere action alone could press the image more clearly into her mind. "They are so poor, they live meager lives off the land. But after sunset, they gather around the bonfire and sing songs, and the children play around the fire and dance into the night. The need is so great there. I go to Villa Altagracia, when I need to recharge." She breathes a laugh. "I know it seems strange, but that is where I go. It's what I need. To be able to help them, in any way that I can. I cannot pay for a school, but I can help them build it. I cannot buy the town food, but I can help them cook it, and allow the women to rest for once." She smiles and looks back up to T'Challa. "I can't buy them cars, but I can carry the children on my back and let them fly."

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther takes small bites of his pizza as he listens to Jessica. In addition to the meat, there's heavy sauce on it as well, making a crusty, saucy, cheesy, meaty bonanza for the taste buds. T'Challa is enjoying the pizza, though his attention is more on Jessica.

T'Challa's head tilts to the side as he listens, having set the pizza down. When she looks back to him with that smile, he has one to match it, one side of his mouth tilted up a bit more than the other. "It sounds like a wonderful place," T'Challa tells her. "When we have some free time from the team? When we could take a few days to get away. Would you be interested in showing it to me?" T'Challa asks her. "I would like to see you take the children flying."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I'd love that," Jess replies with clear and heartfelt joy. "It would mean a lot to me. And it'd mean a lot to them, too." Jess pulls her knees up to her chest and rocks a little as she chews another bite. The food dance. "Sooo delicious," she coos quietly.

Then, Jess is focused on T'Challa again. "So they know you come here, and seem all right with that choice. But if you go someplace like that, are your people as supportive? Certainly there'd be no hiding it from them, even if you desired to. Which I'm sure you don't. I mean...I don't publicize my time there. But they know who I am. There, I'm called Araña. But when I go, no one knows but them. It would be far different for you."

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther considers her question thoughtfully as he takes a sip of his hot chocolate. "If I wished to go anonymously? Hopefully I could manage it. Panthers are supposed to be stealthy after all, yes?" he says with a soft smile and a warm chuckle. "And I do go places. Without anyone knowing. That was how the truth of Wakanda went unknown for so long. Yet we dealt with issues just the same."

T'Challa seems to understand there is a lot more to her question. "I would not frequently jet set around the world. Not for my own pleasure. No. My people might resent that. With good reason. I am trying to change Wakanda though. To look outside our nation. At how we might be a part of the world community. That goes against our historical isolationist nature."

He looks over to Jessica and he reaches over to softly touch the back of her hand with his fingerstips. "I would like to see Villa Altagracia. But first I want to see it how you do. See it through your eyes even. Just as a man who accompanies you. Not as a visiting monarch. They sound like exactly the kind of people I would like to see Wakanda help. But I would like to get to know them first, just as a man. After, then maybe we can talk to them. I do not want to take a place of simple beauty, and change that. Not in ways they do not wish. Finding that right balance. The harmony in these things is important to me," he says.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica nods slightly, her cheeks flushing pink. She tenses, but doesn't move away from his touch. "It's wise to go that way. As a man, and not as a king, or a Panther. You have to learn a place and understand it as a human being before you can understand it as anything more." She slips her other hand into her pocket, and seems to be contemplating something for a moment longer, before she takes a deep breath, pulling her hand again from her pocket, and reaching again for her pizza. For tonight, this is enough. Learning, dining, enjoying warmth in so many ways. "Today has been a good day, T'Challa," she finally says definitively. "I'm thankful for you. I don't ever want you to change."

Black Panther has posed:
Black Panther leaves his fingers there upon her hand while he is speaking. When she reaches for the pizza with her other hand, T'Challa's touch slips away and then he reaches for his own slice. "It has been an excellent one," he agrees. He looks across at her with a soft smile. "If there was danger of me changing? I think being around you would me avoid it," he tells her. His smile grows warmer for a moment and then he focuses on his pizza, finishing off the last bites of the slice.