7418/Vigil...

Vigil...
Date of Scene:	06 May 2019
Location:	Dining Room - Avengers Mansion
Synopsis:	Pepper and T'Challa have a chance dining encounter, and discuss concerns about Tony's recent behavior.
Cast of Characters:	Pepper Potts, Black Panther

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Pepper Potts has posed:
Sentinel have been keeping vigil at the Avengers compound for...days. As much as she is concerned for those involved, Pepper has kept her distance, instead haunting the Avengers' mansion as a means of keeping abreast of the situation. And keeping tabs on what Tony is doing (and not doing) throughout the ordeal. An unpowered human has little purpose to serve where the sentinels are, so Pepper instead keeps her own vigil from a safe distance.

Today, she can be found in the dining room, picking at a salad she made hours ago, but has had no stomach for. So instead she is watching a holographic news report above her laptop on the table - an interview with some official or another over the attack on Trask, as she picks at the salad.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa comes into the dining room. He has been involved in some of the activity with the Sentinels, such as freeing Janet. But when it comes to John Doe, T'Challa has left that matter to other Avengers. In large part to try to keep his vibranium-based technology away from the cyborg's scans. With one misstep that still causes his jaw muscles to tighten when he thinks of it.

So instead T'Challa has taken on extra sessions on monitoring duty, and responding to crises that do not require a full-team response. Just back from one such, he stops in to grab some food on the way to his room. There are scorch marks on his armor, and there's a bit of a smell of smoke from him. Not strong enough to be too unpleasant to someone else in the room, but enough they might notice it eventually.

As he sees Pepper across the room, T'Challa raises a hand in greeting, then returns to getting his food.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"T'Challa," Pepper offers in greeting as the Avenger enters to forage. "You look like you've seen better days. How is the defense going on your front? Is everything all right? Adequate support for what you've been doing?" she asks, turning down the volume on the newsfeed.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa receives a plate with a metal cover on it, lifting it to check the steak and vegetables that it contains. A much more pleasant smell from the cooked meat than that left from the roasting that he took. He smiles to the staff and then gets himself a beverage as Pepper greets him. "Hello Miss Potts. Yes, a little run in with some sort of demonic entity. Thankfully, religious artifacts turned out to be a weakness for it," he says.

Glass filled with iced tea, he walks over nearer to Pepper. "Though I'm afraid the church on Fifth Street will need its entryway completely rebuilt," he says with a sigh. He'd managed to get it inside without any damage. He just hadn't expected it to explode while he was still dragging it towards the holy water.

"We have been spread thin as a group, but everyone is pulling their weight," he confirms at the latter part of her question. "I hope you have been well? I imagine Tony has been putting in many late night hours of late?"

Pepper Potts has posed:
"To a great extent," Pepper replies. "But that's just who he is." She smiles, but then sighs, looking a little troubled. "Tell me, have you noticed anything...different...about Tony lately? I'm concerned for him. I don't get all of the information, of course. Least of all from him. But I have had some concerns of late about him."

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa gets a thoughtful look. "I really have not," T'Challa says. "Though I rarely see him these days. The one charity benefit. A handful of other times. It's mostly just communicating over comms," T'Challa says. He sets his covered plate down on the table and asks, "What is it that is concerning you? How hard he is working himself? Or something else?" T'Challa inquires curiously.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Well...I understand that he has been...drinking, sometimes, while he is working. JARVIS has confirmed it on at least one occasion. That isn't like him. He is usually so focused, when he's working in that capacity." And then there was the doctor's visit where she was warned that he needs to control his alcohol consumption. But maybe that isn't quite mentionable at this point.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa considers. "I believe I noted something of that when I was reviewing the mission logs," the Wakandan says. "Though I do not know that the incident in question was expected. There might have been others though. Steve might know more, though," T'Challa offers.

He gives Pepper a supportive look. "I realize the lifestyle he has led. If this has become an issue for him? And you wish our support, you will of course have it," T'Challa offers. "Including if you would like anyone there should you wish to ask him about it."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Thank you," Pepper replies with a sincere smile. "Right now, I know everyone is spread thin. I will talk with him. If I feel others need to become involved, I will let you know. I appreciate your support more than you know." Pepper finally rises, resigned to the fact that her salad will simply go uneaten. "Just, whatever you do, please be safe. I'll do whatever I can to make sure you have unclouded support from this end, too. We're all so grateful for what you do. And that goes for everyone. I suppose...I should probably get back to the office." Not that she will be doing anything more from there than she is doing from here. The vigil, of late, never ends.

Black Panther has posed:
"The same goes for you, Miss Potts. It may be easy to think that what you do, for Tony and for us, goes overlooked. It does not. Even if it might not be expressed as often as it should," T'Challa says to her. He holds up a hand for her to wait and then heads back over to the kitchen staff.

The man goes in back to get something, and returns with a to-go container. A small one, which T'Challa brings over. "There is a frozen ice cream truffle in it. I highly recommend it," he tells her. "I'd claim it clears the mind or the spirit or something. But honestly, it just tastes good. And we can all use a bit of that now and then."