13831/The King of the Grill

The King of the Grill
Date of Scene:	13 January 2023
Location:	Avengers Mansion - Back Yard
Synopsis:	A conversation is had, though wether it or the steak was better is anyones guess!
Cast of Characters:	T'Challa, Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova

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T'Challa has posed:
It was a cold afternoon in New York, but those were the best days to stand around a fire so this particular afternoon T'Challa had left work early with a plan. He had hidden the meat from the others, by keeping it at a Freezer at the Embassy, as he did not trust Thor, or Banner to not sneak in a midnight stack even if it did have his name on it.

So as he was dropped off at the Mansion he left the car with a large plate with several smaller bags on it nicely stacked and balanced. He looked in, to the woman still in the car, and spoke Xhosa quickly to the person inside, though he smiled a bit as he did as he was explaining there was no need to guard him inside, as he grabbed a bag of charcol to rest on his other shoulder. Turning again stands the six foot well dressed T'Challa this time his black suit with gold designs along the colar and down the middle where the black buttons met. His nice designer black pants, and shiny black shoes showed he put great effort into keeping his look prestine, as he put on a pair of small sunglasses looking up a bit.

Walking down the drive careful to not step into the yard, even in the winter it could be damaging to the folowers that would bloom only in a few more months, as he skipped going inside moving around to the back of the house instead. His goal was the Grill in the back, as he needed to set all this down to get started, and while he had hopped he had brough enough as there were a lot of bags, he doubted he could feed everyone so would quietly add what was left later to the Fridge if there were left overs.

And so that is how he approaches the back yard this cold afternoon in New York, armed with food, and charcol, and ready for cooking as the heat would warm him up again after the cold walk back here.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff is currently in the backyard reviewing files from SHIELD and from the Avengers. There are various flashes over as a series of holoscreens flash in front of her with recent events. Files on Malekith and the Kursed and Scourge, ones on the alien troopers that have been attacking various locations, summaries of events at the Starport.. And so many things with Hydra. There are definitely many things afoot that it's difficult to keep up wtih. A summary of AAR's and reports fill the screens as she commits them to memory, filing away them as she looks for patterns, strikes, and other things that could be used to identify then.

As T'Challa approaches she goes to stadn up and put away the datapadds, even as the screens fade and the datapadds flash as they go to an encrypted status. "Your highness, good to have you with us. I hope that all goes well in your country." She doesn't ask if there have been any incidents in Wakanda. IF there have been and T'Challa feels like he should share them, he will.

Yelena Belova has posed:
'Alien troopers that have been attacking various locations' is actually right up this particular Black Widow's alley. At least it would be if she knew about it. It'd give the devil may care Yelena something to latch on to; something that'd get the adrenaline pumping.

Today, however, Yelena Belova doesn't resemble anything that might even vaguely resemble a highly trained assassin. She's wearing a plaid coat, a black leather midi-skirt with black fishnet stockings and a pair of black Doc Martin boots. On her head, she has a bright red wool cap, her blonde hair spilling out in a couple of longer braids.

This is her first foray to the Avengers Mansion, that is, the yard, and she's walking the perimeter slowly, her head canting, her step something of a jaunty, casual air. "Hey!" is called over to Natasha, "Did you know-"

There is interruption, however, by the arrival of T'Challa, and she pauses in her step, her words turning more into a 'Whooa..'. It's a king? A real one, not just some fake thing that people pretend is a king, but.. very much alive and working one. She begins a path towards Natasha, and T'Challa as well.

T'Challa has posed:
T'Challa smiles with a nod over at Natasha as she says something to him. "Thank you.. Shuri is watching our home, and it seems even as King anything I do is interfering. And please we are not in Wakanda, T'Challa will work just fine." though he chuckles at that as his sister was rather independent and did the job well though he did wish she would listen to him a bit more. He keeps approaching the grill setting down the charcol on the ground, and the large dish next to the grill itself focusing on the current task as he contimues to talk to her, his accent still very thick as despite how much time he spent in New York he would not lose it. "I do nott know if you eat meat, but I have had these marinating for several hours in spices you can only find in Wakanda." he grins a bit, "It is very good. Though very spicy." he lifts the top of the grill hoping they had cleaned it since last time. Proper maintenece was a pennacle of sucess so he would look at the inside before attempting to refil anything. "Oh yes.." he pulled the top bag off the top and it was a bag of a white powdery substance, though he just smiled at it. "Sugar for the ants." he nods back to the lab also in the backyard. "I try to bring them something whenever I can.. We understand each other well."

T'Challa rubs his hands together to keep them warm and nods to Yelena as well as he is now starting to reach for the bag again. As he thought Tony was a perfectionest in everything including Grills so it was good for him to start. "That goes for both of you.. If you are hungry as well." speaking to Yelena though he wasn't sure who she was he knew that if Natasha was relaxed around them, or well as close as she got, then they should be here and he assumed part of the Avenger group. Though he does ask directly, "I am sorry I do not reconize you. I am T'Challa as you may of heard" he looks over at her putting a hand on his chest he gives her a formal nod. "It is a pleasure to meet you." then turns again to address the grill.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would glance over at Yelena, "Oh? You look like you're trying some new outfits. Or do you have an operation coming up?" Yelena does look like more the prep boarding school type now. Natasha goes to put away her things and glances at hte girl that could best be called her protege. "And what do you think is up this time?"

At the point Yelena's full attention is over on T'Challa, Natasha goes quiet to let the two introduce themselves. Yelena's never met true royalty before. SO it might give her a chance to learn something.

"That sounds lovely, Your Highness. It's been a long time since I've had something properly grilled." Her lifestyle gives very little oppotunity for that, even when she's doing something undercover that relies upon playing a high class role. Operations rarely permit such indulgences. A low nod is given over to Yelena to let her introduce herself to T'Challa. This is something that she gets to do herself - first impressions are very important.

Yelena Belova has posed:
"Aw, Natasha has not spoken of me?" There's a hint of petulance in that thick Russian accent of hers, complete with something of a theatric pout. "I am hurt. Very much." There's that moment as Yelena switches gears, straightening slightly as Natasha does make comment about her current clothing. "Is nice, yes? They call this 'goth', though I do not know if is Visigoth or Ostrigoth. Does not seem to be gothic period of England." There's a shrug in her tone, and she turns to face T'Challa once more.

It is a strange introduction, certainly. A woman born under Soviet rules, strict adherence to the politik line, meeting, essentially, a Tsar. Some //one// who had direct control over their people, apparently. (She reads the news!)

"I am Yelena Belova. Natasha Romanoff is someone to .." there's a pause as she looks at her sestra's face, and she straightens slightly, her shoulders rolling forward a little, ".. make sure I do not hurt anyone."

Heh.

T'Challa has posed:
T'challa smiles over at Natasha as she calls him highness again, while it was true and he was used to hearing it he considered Natasha a peer, and would never ask her to call him that unless it was a formal affair. Though Nat, was Nat and she had her own way of approaching things. As he dumped in the charcol he evened it out prepairing it as every part needed to be properly set-up for the final product to be properly done. He listens to Yelenda carefully though as he keeps himself busy. He smiles a bit, "I find she does not speak about those who she trusts. For you to earn such a thing is rather special." he answered honestly as he didn't get the joke taking her words seriously.

He is quiet for her introduction and thinks about it quietly, as he pulls a simple match out of a pocket. Putting his thumb ontop of it as holds it in the same hand, he glances at Natasha for a moment and nods, turning to look at Yelena directly. It might seem like is staring the emotion hidden behind an even face not happy nor sad, but he quietly takes her in visually before his thumb moves, and *Spark* goes the match.

Finally he nods to her, "You may of taken the wrong profession if you do not wish to hurt anyone." though he nods, "If she trust you I do as well.. Welcome to the Manson, if you need of me just ask." turning back he places the match inside letting it slowly spread the accelerant being in the charcol itself, perhaps technology wasn't so bad. "That is if I am not burried by paper-work." and chuckles a bit again, as being embasary did keep him a bit busier then he had hoped.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Protocols were protocols. And they were drilled into her from the time she was a teenager, reinforced and reinforced again throughout her life. Some thing were just a part of her programming. Difficult enough to override and if not necessary generally accepted. She would glance over at Yelena and give the girl a gentle correction.

"You are past the point where you require monitoring. You are a full field agent and capable of independent operations and assignments as you are tasked with. You had proven yoursel sufficiently." That was about the closest Natasha could give to approval. At least when others were around. Some things were kept over in private.

She would turn her attention over to T'Challa, "It is something that we are tasked with. Duty. Obligation." Blood. So much on her hands from nearly a century of life. That to her she had to make up for. Though no matter how long she lived she would never begin to wash it off. Some penances were personal and burned over to the soul, never to be absolved of.

Yelena Belova has posed:
And therein lies the difference between Yelena and Natasha. Yelena has blood, certainly, but in her mind, it's transferred to those who had done such things to her. To her, there had been no choice in the matter.

Yelena casts a glance towards Natasha, and there's a rather open, theatric 'I was kidding' that resides in her expression, complete with eyeroll.

Yelena approaches the grill slowly, her head canting as she does so, brows rising, "Thank you for such warm welcome," the blonde offers, "If you ever have need, tell Natasha. I am certain she can find me." There's the Russian lilt that tinges her words; there's no escaping it. Once again, however, she proves that perhaps she has a little more than just 'a little' ADD.

"Ooooh.. grilling food? It has been long time since I have had anything that did not taste like charcoal from fire. Black, burnt and utterly disgusting. I should go and buy burgers?"

T'Challa has posed:
T'Challa focuses on the fire now starting as he warms up his hands infront of it enjoying the heat a bit before he gets cooking. "Duty, Obligation.." he says to himelf thinking about his own though to him his people deserved the best he could do because he was their king, and the duty and Obligation of that role. He looks over at Yelena, for a moment then puts the metal grill back, on and starts working on getting started. "Could do a lot worse. Though she looks a bit on the thin side." he nods to the food he is putting on the grill. "Perhaps I should put an extra one for her." and chuckles a bit. He takes a pair of black gloves from his pocket and opens one of the bags. The smell would be immeditite, strong, though nice as the spices smelled as good as they tasted.

He glances at the approaching Yelena, "It is a pleasure, I did not think I would hear Natasha talk so highly of anyone, the surprise is worth more then the welcome." and chuckles a bit. He lays the steak evenly on part of the grill, and then moves to the next one repeating the process. Yelena would see there are at least six or seven different bags all with the same thing inside of them as she approached.

T'challa nods to himself, "I will remember that, if you are as efficent as Natasha I do not think criminals standing a chance." the sizzle of meat in the background as it cooks not that loud as he tries to keep what juices he can inside of the steaks for flavor. "Come I will show you.." he waves her closer to look at the grill, as he is putting a third, and fourth one on. "The trick is to be gentle as the more you press it the more you are shoving out the flavor." he notes pointing to one of the stakes. "How do you like yours? I prefer a rarer meat then most, so if you preferred.... charred.." he says the word almost as it was offensive, "I will be glad to do so... of course."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha's life is what it is. She has her atonement. At least after however many decades she's done things there is still at least enough of a conscience left now to try and make up amends for it. But perhaps at some point it will all catch up for her and she will have to pay the price. She in turn accepts it if that is the case.

"And yes, Yelena. Let's enjoy it. The King is an excellent cook so do appreciate the opportunity while it is available." SHe would turn to T'Challa. "Thank you for it. I'm surprised more members of teh team aren't here and present. All the more for us, it is." She doesn't correct T'Challa that Yelena is an agent. The two can be entirely separate things than a hero. And for Yelena being a graduate of the Widow program.. He can figure out that point on his own.

Yelena Belova has posed:
Yelena makes it closer to the grill; close enough to get a good wave of the fire's heat, anyway. She twists around to look at Natasha and clucks her tongue, "She is too thin." The blonde has a little more weight to her, though undoubtedly the way she moves, it's pretty much all muscle. "Poor Natasha." The word 'poor' is drawn out as if the redhead is something of a street waif. There is that grin that lies just beneath the surface, however.

"I am not too bad," and Yelena gives a one-shouldered shrug as if to dismiss the idea. "I am still here, anyway." Very Russian outlook!

"I cannot believe that a king is cooking food." Heh. Yelena's obviously on her manic swing up, and hands are out to bask in the warmth of the grill. She's watching the technique and nodding slowly as he instructs. "I like my meat to be able to graze on vegetables on my plate."

T'Challa has posed:
T'challa continues cooking, the meat and watches it carefully as sooner or later he is going to need to flip it. "Thank you Natasha, but I only wish to fulfill my role, even if it is only cook for a while." and smiles at her with a nod. "I was going to ask about the others it seems so.. quiet." he notes looking around a bit. He remembers the sounds especially the snoring, and grins to himself a bit as he watches the meat cook. "Do not worry I brought enough for left overs so I plan to fill the fridge before I go." he turns to at Natasha again and says seriously, "Some at the house do not have a taste for good food, just quantity. It is nice to be appreciated."

But then is right back at it he looks around the plate to find the spatula.

T'Challa smiles and looks at the meat as he tells Yelena about Dora Milaje.. "In Wakanda we have the Dora Milaje, you would think them royal guards." he smiles a bit warmly as he lifts one of the steaks carefully flipping it over. "They are women warriors, and they are not skinny, their muscles easily as large as my own" of course showing his own large tattooed arm for refrence. "They eat well, but do not worry. You stay around we will feed you right." and grins a bit. He didn't know she was part of the agents thinking she was just part of the group he had missed. It was hard to tell which was was, as if Clint could do it he believed someone hand picked by Natasha could as well. "So tell me.. what is your.. thing?" he asks curious as most the Avengers had one, "Bows? Knives? Or are you like Natasha and just generally don't mess with?" and chuckles a bit as only a fool would take Natasha lightly.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would chuckle, "Kings can be many different things. T'Challa is one of the most honorable men that I have ever had the privilege of meeting." SHe uses honorable. Not necessarily kind, though his sense of charity and efforts to see to the well being of everyone have no boundaries. But as a King, duty is in the end likely paramount above all others.

"Then you are to receive a unique experience, Yelena. Treasure and appreciate it. And the food will be almost to die for." She would give a rare smile - not just in front of Yelena, but in front of someone else as well. Not the normal types wehre it would be there and gone before anyoneelse could acknowledge it. It lasts for a few seconds, even, and can be seen by anyone that might be in the area.

She returns her attention over to T'Challa. "OF course. One cannot starve themself while building up muscle mass. It requires intense focus and nutrition." Well, unless you were like her necessarily that had the super soldier serum. The Soviet version, at least. It made it ever so easier to enhance her body. A cheat, as with almost everything else she did.

Yelena Belova has posed:
Yelena glances back at the Mansion, that inner sanctum, as it were, that she hasn't yet gone in. That's for a different day. She's fine with being in the yard. Being outside is (sometimes) good for the soul, particularly in winter when that soul is so very Russian.

Looking down at herself, there's a hint of theatric petulance that rides into her thickly accented words once more, "I am not too skinny." Still, she takes it all in good humor.

When T'Challa begins to explain the makeup of his retinue, those that would guard him, Yelena listens intently. Old habits die hard, after all. She nods slowly before she barks a laugh, "There is good food in city. In carts, you can get almost anything." She's ready to list them on her fingers, but is forestalled by Natasha praising the Tsar's.. the king's cooking prowess. Craning her neck at the progress of the steaks, listening to that wonderful fat-laden *hiss* as the flames kiss the meat, she offers a single shrug once more. "I let people die for their cause." It's underscored by a smile and she shifts slightly to check on the progress of that burning fat on the edge of one of the steaks. "I am very much like Natasha."

T'Challa has posed:
T'challa smiles about honorable, "I long ago realized my responsability to my people. What kind of king would I be to them if I acted dishornable?" he shakes his head, "No a head of lies only ends in misfortune." then chuckles a bit looking at who he is talking to. "For a King at least." he adds with a nod. "And I do not mind cooking, while yes I am king I am also." he nods to Natasha "T'Challa, or Black Panther, part of this team. I must do my best to see that we succeed at whatever we do.. part of that is eating well. Now grab a dish." he is pulling the first one off for Yelena, as she wanted one rare so he gave it to her the rare he likes it.

Does it bleed a little still, well of course, but as he had learned what he liked during his trial alone in the plains he tended to like it this way best. "For the guest first of course." meaning Yelena of course as he put the meat on the plate. "Knives, and forks should be inside if they have not changed everything. You should try it without sauce.. see if you like it."

He looks at her seriously though as he is getting the second one ready to go as he will make sure it goes to Natasha. "We all must make hard decisions. Sometimes it is even as serious as death, but if that happends while we are sticking to what is right then we have done our best so that death is not in vein."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would glance at Yelena, and shrug. She would evaluate the girl, "I think that you're fine." She would switch over to speak in Russian for that. The language came easier to converse in and let go along for just a few moments. Before looking back at T'Challa. A slow nod is given in agreement to Yelena's words. If they believe in it so much, then take them upon the offer.

She would cross her arms and listen over to T'Challa, "ANd ultimately at times while our goals align, we do have different obligations that we must follow." Ultimately, if it comes to SHIELD and the Avengers pursuing different paths.. Her loyalty to SHIELD and it's agenda will supercede that. I tis something that while she might have regrets on the possibility, she will do what she has ot do. She is a creature of the shadows, not the light.

Yelena Belova has posed:
"Then you are good ruler," Yelena states. "And I swear that I am not just saying that to get food. Really." There's a moment when she grins broadly and makes an 'x' across her heart. "Swear." She makes a soft, 'Whoo' sound soon after, her head canting, "That must get really, really tiring, though." She likes not having to worry about anyone but herself. She knows Natasha can handle herself, and pretty much anyone else. She'd never, ever admit, of course, that she might actually look out for someone.

Like Uncle.

The plate is gained; don't have to tell her twice, and Yelena underscores it with a quick, humorous, "Yes, your Majesty," before it's held out. Eyes of blue look to Natasha and linger there for a long moment, the smile moving to something a little more inscrutible. Everything is dependent. While goals align, paths may lead the same direction. While Widows sometimes work together, ultimately they may very well work alone. Easier then to not hold any true alliances.

"I think my goal is same as everyone else's. Good meat, maybe vodka?"

T'Challa has posed:
T'Challa chuckles a bit at thinking about who really works for who while working for who. "Now you see why we are isolationist." he grins a bit "Everyone so distrustfull.. For good reason, but it leads into a bad cycle." he walks over bringing the plate to Natasha. "I know my people are doing the right thing, because I am doing the right thing, and they would not want to be cast out in the eyes of their king. So I trust them, and they trust me.. A proper cycle" he notes as he heads back to the grill to take the last one off to put on a plate as well as grab his that has been cooling. The whole process was way more complicated, but he would spare them the goverment rhetoric.

He looks back over at Yelena, he adds the other meat to the grill, and closes it so they can cook a bit more as not everyone liked it rare. "The work load does, as there is always more to do, but trying to do the right thing and lead my people through not only words, but actions. Never." and he grins a bit. "It is not a curse, but great opritunity. and one I thankfully get to share with my family." he nods to her. "Though I do not drink. I prefer to keep my wits as if I were to relax and go with it, I have more then myself to think of."

Yelena Belova has posed:
Yelena finds some utensils, and sets her plate down on something that vaguely resembles a table, at least enough of one in order to cut her food. She eats rather Europeanly as well.. knife in one hand, fork in the other, and they don't switch hands to eat. "You are 'tsar batyushka'," comes after a couple of thoughtful cuts, chews and swallows. "It is such shame there is no vodka, however. We would drink toast to you."

Instead? She'll enjoy the food, absolutely. "Workload for whole country must be.. paperwork. Bah." There's a hint of amusement at that; given the prevailing attitude regarding that particular necessary pasttime. "Do you not have others to do such for you?"

T'Challa has posed:
T'Challa sits, after grabbing a pair of utinsles himself. He sits upright, and cuts the meat several times before he takes a properly sized bite of it. He doesn't speak until he is done with the piece, and nods. "Perhaps?" he had never heard those two words together so wasn't sure exactly what that ment. Though he chuckles a bit, "I know, but there is no reason to toast me. I already have the trust of my people and they have mine there is nothing I really ask more then that." he considers seriously.

After a second bite much like the first he smiles. "I see why Natasha chose you. Controling the conversation, though maybe curious, a lot about me." he looks at her again with a nod of appreciation in her craft, "You are very good." he adds, "But how about yourself Miss Belova. Let us see what mysteries you may hold hum?" and chuckles not really intendending an interrogation or anything. He thinks about his first question for a moment. "Are you happy where you are at, or do you wish to earn more?" he asks first then smiles as he was interested in seeing how exactly she was going to answer that one.

Yelena Belova has posed:
"It means 'king, dear father'. It is what Russians called our Tsar. Well, the Tsarists. We had culture where all is family; uncle, cousin, and Tsar is father." Though it's a very patriarchal system, Yelena seems to not mind it too much. It is all she knows; other than Ohio, it is 'home'. (Even if it doesn't have macaroni and cheese!)

The steak is finished, complete with her dragging bits of meat through the juices that swell on the plate. She's >< close to actually licking the plate, it's so good. Once finished, she sets the plate back down, and goes to set it aside. Leaning now on the table's edge, her hands drop deep into her winter coat.

"Natasha is legend in my country. Those who know of her, that is. Every little girl wanted to be like her; move like her, kill like her." Her head cants to the side, and she shrugs lightly, "I was closest to her scores in .. school." There is that pause just before the word 'school'. "She has taken liking to me, though I do not know why.." and it's an honest statement. Still, she shrugs and takes a deep breath before chuffing it out to release any tension.

And it's back to her more manic, slightly more shallow place. "I make enough money to live," Yelena begins again, "If Uncle does not try and eat me from my house." She actually laughs and shakes her head, "I get paid well for what I do, so.." there's a light shrug, "but now is joy; I can decide in if I want to change my mind." She sounds absolutely secure in that; not afraid of consequences.

"So, tsar-batyushka, tell me more of your country." She'll remain as long as he wants to talk of his home; his people, the stories of the land..