6673/Sentinels: Taco Monday

Sentinels: Taco Monday
Date of Scene:	26 February 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Tony and Steve discuss upcoming missions, and Janet.
Cast of Characters:	Iron Man, Captain America
Tinyplot:	Sentinels

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Iron Man has posed:
Invitation extended, the tower is expecting Steve Rogers. The security staff is polite and efficient, and he'll be directed by one of Tony's assistants, Marjorie, to the elevator that will take him all the way to the top. Marjorie is a young, lovely brunette, though she is very clearly very good at her job, and doesn't treat Steve as a celebrity or anything else. She's polite and efficient!

The elevator will go all the way to the very top of the tower, and open into the expansive and ridiculous Penthouse that Stark himself occupies. The place is a lavish explosion of tech and money. Tony is home, and is directly visible from the elevator, because he's relaxed on one of the large couches, with several of the televisions on around him. There's a scent of mexican food, and clear taco related fixings on the counter in the huge, brightly lit kitchen.

"Hi," Tony calls without turning. "If you're hungry, I had taco Tuesday early," Tony says, extending a hand towards the kitchen.

Captain America has posed:
"'ppreciate that, Tony, I might have to make myself one or two." Or four. After all, the serum does burn calories like chaff in a wildfire. Steve continues further into the Penthouse suite after exiting the elevator and shucks out of his winter coat as he goes. Beneath it, a simple steel-blue cotton long-sleeve. Otherwise, jeans and understated sneakers speak to a day bereft of SHIELD meetings and world events requiring Avenging.

"Anything interesting on the television?" Not the TV, he hasn't gotten that shorthand stuck in his vocabulary just yet. There's the sound of scraping and plastic lids removed as he dishes up a trio of beef tacos, slathered heavily in hot salsa, sour cream, and a judicious sprinkling of mixed shredded cheese. Presuming there's a beer to be had in the Penthouse fridge, this is grabbed up and the lid removed by a controlled flick of Steve's own thumbnail. He wanders over with plate and drink and takes up a place on a couch opposite to Tony.

Iron Man has posed:
There'e enough food to feed two Steves, so there isn't any lack; Steve can probably have as much as he wants. Tony usually gets more than enough, at least when he's expecting company. Not that he's even the one ordering: JARVIS made the decision for amounts, Tony just directed the particular choice!

"If you define interesting as depressing, yes. Our Sentinels have been busy; but it could have been worse, if I'm being honest; it only deserves one or two drinks, not eight," Tony says, yawning. He turns to look at the beer, and looks at his own empty glass and plate: clearly deciding if he wants to get up or not. He decides that he does, and rolls to his feet with a clear relaxed manner; no attempts to impress or posture. He's dressed in a dark gray longsleeved shirt, thin enough to show the very clear pulse of arc reactor, worn jeans, and light gray socks.

"I looked at that enormous ass you left me," Tony smirks over his shoulder as he crosses back towards the food.

Captain America has posed:
There's a muffled sound of acknowledgement from Steve at the report requiring less than eight drinks. He's //almost// chipmunk-cheeked from his first bite of taco. Leaning over his plate, the bits fall left and right. From his actions, he appears ravenous -- and he might be. It is possible for him to forget to eat and realize later that he's going to need to refuel at superhuman quantities later.

A swig of beer and Steve then points the neck of the bottle at Tony. "Stern," he argues with no real ire. "What'd you find? You didn't take it down to component parts, did you? My friend might be concerned if you did." Regardless, the Captain appears resigned if so. He takes another huge bite of taco.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony could care less about how Steve eats, and doesn't comment about it, though he does smirk a little, before he turns away to get an additional taco. And to refill his drink; he's enjoying wine, and there's a lot of it yet to consume, happily.

"'Stern'? Come on, that's an ass, and we're going to be adults about it," Tony chuckles. "I didn't have to take it apart, no. I did some scans. I expect you'll want to return it. It was useful, but the head that I have was more informative overall. I was able to deduce that it was a different model, though: so they're going through iterations pretty rapidly. I'd guess that some AI is involved with it, based on the trajectory." Tony shrugs, "It's going similar to what I'd have expected for specifically trying to counter mutants."

Captain America has posed:
An eyeroll from the Captain still chewing through his mouthful. He can't spare a good rejoinder about the titling of the robot butt...for now. However, by the nod and flick of brows, he's silently pleased to hear that the butt remains as it arrived -- good. Wade will be pleased as well.

"I agree," he says before sipping at his beer again. To the Captain, it's more like water, but at least the taste compliments the food on his plate. "New mutations show every week, I'd hazard, even if we're not kept in the immediate loop about them. Technology would have to evolve alongside them." It's a bitter truth given the pull of his lips to one side in a grimace. "Not long before they start rolling out the latest iteration, I'm sure."

"I do need to return it, yes. Thanks for not taking it apart," he adds, lifting the beer to Tony.

Iron Man has posed:
"I'd like to stay ahead of mutation," Tony teases. "It's these other people that generally don't keep up." Tony's arrogance is smooth and relaxed. "They're doing some big steps here. They must have somebody with a big brain on their side. That's it's own puzzle: of figuring out who that is." He lifts a hand a little, after he returns to relax into his couch once more. "Everybody's got a signature. I'd be the first to say I've got some; but I don't have to be. It's well known that I have some clear indicators in Stark tech." Tony winks. "In addition to the obvious branding on everything."

"Yeah, take that 'posterior' anytime. No sense giving anyone more excuses to hang out," Tony remarks, with one of his patented Tony eye-rolls. He should brand THOSE.

Captain America has posed:
"Hey, I borrowed it in good faith. Gotta return it," replies Steve drily to that eye-roll. One taco down, two to go. Man sure can tuck food away. "I haven't caught any signatures on any of the Sentinel robots themselves, so it can't be branding. You mean something like...how people prefer certain numbers of over others and group things in threes -- or wear a certain color over others. They don't appear to have a specific way of acting to my eyes, but I can always review the footage and see if there's a way they've programmed the AI to walk, maybe."

A little shrug as he knows he's grasping at a few straws before he tucks into the second taco. At least there's no shredded cheese or crumblets of ground beef escaping onto the nice couch.

Iron Man has posed:
"Nah, what I meant is more like, the style of how they're made. Somebody clearly liked pink and purple, at the most obvious," Tony laughs. "NOT my aesthetic." Tony likes to talk, though eating slows that down somewhat, as he actually eats. "Mmmm. The chicken's great today. Sometimes it's lackluster," Tony comments, distracted by the food: but not for long.

"Another example could be the extreme focus on senses of biological things. Somebody is really paranoid about 'human' pure genetics, and who doesn't care a lot about their robots. These things reek of just being disposable. We have somebody that's very means-to-an-end. There's no polish."

Captain America has posed:
"Sounds like that's a clue, Sherlock," Steve quips after his mouth is clear. "Narrows the field a little. There are some extremist groups out there where, if they got the funding, they could churn these things out like tokens out of a penny machine. If anything, we should probably touch base with Xavier's unit. I thought I heard that Natasha spoke to Logan lastly, so there's a loose end to tie off."

He looks thoughtfully down at his plate as if considering the existence of the last taco. It's doomed, however, given how he picks it up rather calling it quits. Apparently, there's still room in his stomach. He sits back more comfortably in the couch now that his immediate need for food is satiated. The beer is left tucked against the couch's base on the floor, out of immediate accidental kick-reach.

"If they're disposable bots, with a cost I bet you can give a rough guess about, then..." The Captain pauses, frowning at Tony. "Something else could be in the works."

Iron Man has posed:
"Yep. Second coming of Ultron," Tony says dryly. He works on the dryness by drinking most of his wine that he'd picked up. He'll have to get up again soon. The rate of consumption, particularly considering he didn't just start when Steve arrived, might be a little impressive. Or awful. Tony doesn't notice, he's busy.

"By the way," he says, snapping his fingers and pointing across at Steve, "I've got some tech glasses for you. I can track Sentinels and feed the information into a HUD - A head's up display. We should give that a shot."

Captain America has posed:
Rather than chide Tony about the lackadaisical reference to a very real problem in the Ultron bots, Steve simply snorts. He does so carefully as not to scatter taco shell bits and innards from his mouth. The beer is scrounged up again for a quick swig before being tucked aside again on the floor. The inventor's imperative snappoint gains the Captain's attention.

"Sure, Tony, as long as they don't get in the way of my field of vision." He doesn't sound overwhelmingly enthused by the concept, but he's good-natured enough not to outright deny the chance to test what could be incredibly useful technology. "Could use 'em during the extraction. There's enough of a whiff of the Sentinel machinery around this 'scientist'." One can almost hear the air-quotes. "Any forewarning against those robots is better any none."

Iron Man has posed:
Tony's grinning over his wine glass, eyes a bit narrowed in one of his very self-satisfied expressions. Times like this reveal that Tony really doesn't put on a show in public: he really is like that, just about all the time.

"Wouldn't dream of that," Tony says, in such a way as suggests he'd be amused to do it. If Steve ends up with inappropriate porn playing in the sides of his vision, he just about asked for it, didn't he? "I figure I'll stay mobile, leave you and your team to it. I should be able to assist from a distance, but it isn't too far to fly in if you /need/ me." Tony sets his emptied glass aside, relaxing further into his couch, one arm draped lazily on the arm, fingers brushing the edge of glass, shirt open at the neck. He's a picture of opulent, self-satisfied billionaire. He just lacks a few supermodels massaging his shoulders.

"We know this 'scientist' supposedly doesn't like them, but I don't trust that he's going to come with US willingly either. He might have had his mind jumbled pretty well," Tony says, his drinks making something rather tactless, but honestly direct.

Captain America has posed:
"Disorientation happens in instances of unconsenting experimentation." For all the Tony's a vision of indolence, the soldier sitting across from him has withdrawn and lost a modicum of volume to his speech. A shadow passes through his eyes even as he sighs and looks beyond the man towards the windows, with their view of the expanse of city beyond in rows of lights and rises of buildings. "We'll get him out as safely as we can manage. If he won't talk immediately, he might when he realizes that we aren't the enemy. Got a good team lined up as is."

Steve shifts on the couch and places aside his plate, now devoid of taco save for crumblets of ground beef. "Carol's embedded. Both T'Challa and Thor will be there, for muscle. Wanda's got defensive magics in hand." He doesn't seem to realize the pun as he continues speaking. "Jessica will be able to extricate him and Janet's got sentry duty. She can hold her own." The beer is raised to his lips as if he means to kill it.

Iron Man has posed:
"I'm keeping Banner here; you have more than enough destructive capability in that group," Tony assures Steve. "I think we'll get to see exactly how much the weight of leadership of his people has tamed our mighty Thor." Tony plays with his glass with his fingers. "I suspect not at all: some electrocuted mercenaries, no doubt. Think you'll end up with Deadpool there, too? I don't envy you the potential mess. But we do have a good team formed up. If Jessica does well, I think we should promote her. I keep forgetting I hadn't done it already."

Tony smiles a little bit, "She's like Janet, feels like she's been with us a long time. Speaking of that, I've heard you've been /feeling/ up some Janet?" Tony asks mildly.

Captain America has posed:
A little cough at the mention of the Merc with the Mouth breaks through Steve's attempt to drain the bottle of its beverage. "Don't think Wade's going to show up, no. He has his hands full of...robot stern." That's about all the Captain's going to say in regards to the Sentinel hindquarters.

With bottle lifted again to his lips, Steve nods at the potentiality of promoting Miss Drew. It seems that he feels the motion might be enough to prove agreement to it. However, Tony scores with his quip.

A much louder hiccup follows his insinuation of wandering hands and Steve covers his mouth against a resounding, chest-thrumming cough, holding the bottle off to one side. "Stark -- Tony!" He's not laughing -- no, wait, he is laughing? Cough-laughing, and turning pink at his ears rapidly. "No, it's -- " Pause for another helpless hiccough. "It's not like that."

Iron Man has posed:
"I didn't need the mental image of his hands full of anybody's ass, but thanks for that," Tony says, with a dismayed shudder. He then grins into the mess he's made of poor Steve's ability to drink. He did partially sit up, though, when it looked like Steve might actually be choking: he does care!-- but relaxed again when it wasn't truly a problem.

"Oh, my mistake. It's you she's felt up?" Tony asks smoothly.

Captain America has posed:
"No, it's not like that either!" Giving Tony a flat look, Steve sets down the empty bottle and coughs one last time in an effort to completely clear his throat. "Dunno where you got that idea from, but it's neither of those things. I mean..." He winces and then chuckles to himself weakly, his chin tucked now with eyes averted. "You saw the tuxedo incident...and y'know, thought she might want to go to dinner a few nights ago. Didn't feel like eating by myself."

The man's broad shoulders shrug. He tries to assume that same level of uncaring relaxation that Tony had on display minutes ago and achieves it...mostly. He's unable to fully shed the circumspect attention he gives the inventor across the way.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony chuckles, rolling to his feet, and passes by his friend, attempting an easy rough pat on Steve's shoulder. He's just giving him a hard time. "What really amuses me is you think I'm judging you. I mean. Think about who you're talking to for a minute," Tony suggests, easygoing. "I'm proud of you. Go for it," Tony encourages, openly, wandering across towards the kitchen area to get his refill.

"Beer?" he offers, gesturing at Steve's, offering a second one.

Captain America has posed:
With a slap of his hands on his thighs, Steve rises to his feet in the wake of the inventor. He takes up the empty plate as well as bottle and glances up towards the man. "Sure, I'll take another. Palate cleanser," he jokes ruefully, knowing that he's not going to feel even a hint of a buzz from the two volumes of alcohol. He sets the plate in the sink and scans the kitchen for a recycle bin or clue as to where one might be.

"'nd thanks, Tony." Pausing in his hunt to discard the beer bottle, he looks at Tony with a wry half-smile. "Appreciate the feedback." The second beer is then snagged and opened with another display of Steve's thumbnail in action.

Iron Man has posed:
Steve may not feel it, but Tony's having a good time. It's made him more prone to doing things like patting Steve's shoulder, and being louder and a bit more fun. Among other things. He winks as Steve thanks him for his approval. "Anytime. I'm always available to give opinions; eventually the rest of you will realize I'm always /right/, and we'll all be better for it," Tony says, starting back towards his couch.

"Come pick a movie. Pepper's out tonight, and I'm behaving," Tony comments grandly. He gestures, but doesn't spill his wine refill. That's a special skill: not spilling. "Tell me about Janet if you like. Or not. I'm being a good friend." Yep, there's been a lot of wine.