4500/Sometimes roads lead to the Avengers Mansion

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Sometimes roads lead to the Avengers Mansion
Date of Scene: 26 December 2020
Location: Avengers Mansion - Second Floor
Synopsis: May visits and drops a grenade that can't be resisted. Not by Wanda, anyway.
Cast of Characters: Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, Melinda May




Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Cold. Cold but clear, what with the wind storm that swept through the other day, everything seems now settled. The snow is all but gone off the yard, all turned to puddles that in turn thaw and freeze, depending upon the time of day.

Within the Avengers Mansion, all is toasty, warm and festive looking. The halls are decked, colored lights blink a bright red and green, and the stair ballustrades are dressed in greenery. Up stairs, in the more personal and private areas of the mansion, it's not hard to remember that the Starks own the building, and that Tony spent his formative years here, in this upscale abode. It's wide, the fire in the marble fireplace burns cheerily, the crackles and pops lending to the warmth and coziness of the room. The Christmas spirit has found its way upstairs as well, but not dressed so gaudily as downstairs. Red bows, ribbons of gold, all hang in delicate decoration, allowing for the day to day living without imposition.

With a tray held in two hands, atop it sits a mug of coffee and a teapot with steeping tea (with two more cups on the side), Wanda sets them down on a table. The coffee mug is slightly larger, and has a purple arrow as its sole decoration along the side. She is dressed down today, in jeans and a red sweater, a pair of low boots completing the outfit. Once done, she settles quietly into one of the large, overstuffed chairs.

Clint Barton has posed:
Clint Barton's whistling is easily heard in the halls of Avengers Mansion, with him slowly coming to a stop as soon as he notices Wanda setting down the coffee mugs and tea pot, with a smile on his face. "Hey babe." He greets her in the same way he always does. Unlike Wanda, Clint looks....well, ridiculous.

But in a good way.

He's currently wearing one of the ugliest Christmas sweaters ever, especially since it just has arrows all over it and is colored in lavish displays of red, white, green, and blue. He walks over to Wanda and leans down to kiss her cheek, if she allows. "Merry Christmas." He grins, before flopping onto the couch. Lazy Christmas for Clint, apparently.

For now.

Melinda May has posed:
SHIELD Agent Melinda May has never particularly had cause to frequent Avengers Mansion before now. Oh, she's dropped in occasionally, mostly to touch base with Barton or Romanova. But it's certainly not her usual stomping grounds.

Today is no different. A day after Christmas -- which she had off -- finds her turning up on the Mansion's doorstep with a package tucked under her arm. She's let in, simply because of her credentials, and eventually (with a little help from JARVIS) finds her way up to where Clint and Wanda relax.

Her attire is casual, insofar as she wears a pair of black jeans and black boots, a dark, teal-blue, scoop-necked tee, and a black leather jacket. There's probably an ICER tucked under that jacket. And her badge is almost certainly in an inside pocket. But it's not a tac suit or a business suit. So... she's as relaxed as she's likely to get.

She pokes her head in the room. "Hey," she greets. "Sorry to interrupt."

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Wanda's got something of a middle distance look to her, as if she's paying attention to something that simply isn't readily apparent. The whistling, however, she allows for that, and when he greets her, brows rise, and her words take an amused-sounding lilt. "That is, I think worse than T'Challa's last night." She shakes her head, though does accept the kiss before, "What is it, this ugly clothes thing?"

In the next second, however, the witch follows up her question with, "You have visitor."

As she speaks, May is coming up the walk, and JARVIS is allowing entrance. He hasn't been too chatty lately; certainly not his 'usual' self, so it's merely the door that *clicks* an unlock sequence and the door opens to the request, closing once again once the guest has cleared the threshold. There is the hint of lights to guide May, a pathway, as it were. It's easy; just manipulate the electrical flow..

When May ascends the stairs, Wanda looks up at Clint once more, then over to the newly arrived with a nod. Soon after, there's a hint of a smile, and she shifts in her chair. "Hello."

Clint Barton has posed:
Clint smirks at Wanda. "Boom. I knew I had a cooler sweater than him." Or in this case, uglier. All the same, Clint turns his attention to the sounds of someone approaching, before he notices its May, giving her a smile.

"Hey May." He rolls himself off of the couch and up to a standing position. "Nothing to interrupt. How's it hanging? Did you get a new ICER for Christmas?" Yes, Clint is poking at May's more serious exterior with his wisecracks, but its worth a try for the sake of fun, right? But Clint knows that May is all business all the time.

"Please tell me something didn't blow up. I was really hoping for a lazy Christmas."

Melinda May has posed:
"Unfortunately, no," May replies to Clint, giving a mock grimace at the thought of being passed over for shiny new toys. "On the other hand, I also didn't have to use one, so..." She accept the trade off.

She gives Wanda a polite nod as she enters further into the space. "Hello," she greets. "Nice to see you." Not that they've ever formally met, but... It's also not like the Field Leader hasn't seen the dossier, either.

She tosses her package on the table near Clint. "Merry Christmas," she says, giving him a tight smile. "Found some stuff you might find interesting." It's a file folder containing some info on some fairly tenacious Middle Eastern warlords who've been harassing a contact of his in the region -- an old woman who's a warlord in her own right, Commander Kaftar (a.k.a. Grandmother Pigeon), and who has been maintaining peace in the region while being pummelled by Taliban and Hydra-backed terrorists cells. "Thought you might be able to make use of this." The pair have funnelled info to the old woman before, to help maintain the region's stability. So, it's not an unusal gift.

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
"That is good thing?" Wanda takes a dubious tone, though with an undercurrent of fond humor. She shakes her head, and goes to rise just after Clint does. Once on her feet, she's just behind him, at his shoulder.

"A pleasure." The soft Eastern European accent is a dead giveaway, even if she hasn't properly introduced herself. There is no doubt in her mind that there is a file on her, dating back //years// before her Avengering, even. The witch with the checkered past, as it were. Now on the side of the 'good guys', as is her brother.

Officially.

Wanda takes a step back, now; it's SHIELD business, of course, and she understands that. She's been in enough organizations not to push, not to inquire unless absolutely necessary, and rather, allow conversations to more flow over her. One learns more like that, too.

Turning away, she goes to the small side table where the tea is steeping, and pours the warm liquid into the two cups that sit there. The teapot is set down, and one of the teacups is picked up, as well as the mug of coffee. Returning, she stands between the pair, off to the side, and offers the coffee to Clint and tea to May. Wanda knew she was coming?

"Please, sit."

Clint Barton has posed:
"Damn." Clint snaps his fingers disappointedly, but he gestures between Wanda and May. "Wanda Maximoff, meet Agent May. Agent May, Wanda Maximoff." He gives formal introductions before he looks at ap ackage that's tossed onto the table. "Oo, I like presents." He takes his seat back on the couch and starts looking at the folders.

"An old woman warlord. Wonders never cease." Clint looks through the file some more even as May continues to brief him.

"So, Taliban and HYDRA have been hitting her hard for maintaining peace." He comments, before his attention shifts to Wanda as she goes to get a drink, before he's being offered coffee. "Thanks." He sips his stylized mug, before he's clearing his throat.

SHIELD stuff on Christmas. Fun.

Melinda May has posed:
"A pleasure, Ms. Maximoff," May says to the storied Avenger. Really? In her opinion, most of the best Avengers have checkered pasts. But that could be because she's partial to Barton and Romanova. They're both in her speed dial list.

Of course, she still thinks Thor is dreamy, but that's a whole 'nother topic. And he's not on speed dial.

She accepts the tea with raised brows, but gives a grateful nod to the woman. Lifting it to her face, she inhales the scent. "Green tea. Thank you very much." She's not sure if Clint told the woman it's her drink of choice or if the witch has other means at her disposal. Whatever the case, she won't ask. She'd sooner not know, if it involves magic.

She drifts towards a seat, simply out of courtesy, though she's not yet decided how long she'll stay. "I don't really want to interrupt the two of you, if..." She glances speculatively between them, unsure.

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
"Ms May," now that she has a name to the face. Once the introduction is made, and the drinks taken, it frees her up to take her cup of tea. Brows rise at Clint's words, and her head cants. "Old woman war-" HYDRA?

Wanda pauses, her expression certainly giving her away in exactly //how// she feels about that particular organization. "What are they doing to her?" Her words are soft, holding that touch of iron beneath. Wartorn Afghanistan, she doesn't particularly care. "For peace?" Green eyes turn to Clint, the tea in her hand forgotten. "You are helping, yes?" If there ever was a touchstone for the witch, it'd be HYDRA.

Now, Wanda's attention turns back towards May, her expression looking serious, and she shakes her head, "No interruption. Please." She gestures lightly towards the chairs, obviously not as concerned about work during Christmas as Clint is. "Should.. should I know of this?" Suddenly, maybe she's touched upon something that really isn't for her ears? Because, there really isn't any love lost...

Clint Barton has posed:
Clint smirks a little bit to May. "You're really not interrupting anything. Besides, I like to think Wanda should get to know one of the agents I work most often with. We're coworker buds, May. Even if you still refuse to archery contest me." He takes his finger and draws downward under his eye to fake a tear.

"But, I'll get in touch with my contact and see what we can do." He smirks, before his attention shifts to Wanda. "Of course I'm helping. Would be a crappy SHIELD agent if I decided to do nothing about it. In fact, if you feel like doing some work for SHIELD, you can tag along if you want." of course, Fury might get really mad at him, but he's been chewed out before.

"After all, she's a friend."

Melinda May has posed:
May snirks at the comment about archery. "I can wipe the floor with you on the practice mats. If I don't let you keep your archery crown, you'll sulk. Consider it a Christmas gift." A beat. "And a birthday gift. In perpetuity." Her dark eyes actually glint some as she says that. Who says the Ice Queen of SHIELD doesn't have a sense of humour?

She takes a sip of her tea and sits down in earnest, now, small body uncoiling in the chair. Her gaze falls on Wanda, perhaps something of the points in her dossier coming to mind. "It was an off-the-books mission," she tells the witch after a moment. "Clint wanted to do the old woman a solid, so we took some heat off of her for a few days. Since then, I've been monitoring for increased movement in the area, in case she needs another hand."

She makes it sound so casual...

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Wanda sets her teacup down once more, back onto the tray. She's no longer interested in the warm drink; she can feel her insides beginning to twist, and sitting down in her own chair seems to help. Green eyes flicker back towards the archer and his attempt at levity, and she offers a quick smile before it's gone once more. She's attentive, listening to every little thing, every nuance, as her brows crease.

Once again, Wanda has her attention refocused as May begins speaking. "I see," she says softly. "'In case she needs another hand'," and apparently she does? Maybe?

Turning back to Clint, the red-headed witch seems to have made a decision, but then again, it was probably made when she'd heard about the woman. Her tones take a half-pleading quality; she'll be okay, really! "I would like to 'tag' along." The word 'tag' is slightly accentuated; there is no way she'd play a backseat role if things were dire on the ground. "I think City is quiet enough for me to leave. Not for long, but for little while.

"Is there increased movement?" Even as she asks, Wanda follows up her own question with a murmured, "Of course there is or you would not be here."

Clint Barton has posed:
Clint laughs. "Okay, I'm near -positive- I can take you down, you just get -really- lucky, alright?" Clint is 0 - 6, so he needs just -ooooone- more chnce to redeem himself. Probably.

Okay, he probably still wouldn't win, but its worth the shot, right? Right? "Not official, yeah. I figured she had a good cause." Clint probably hiding some details, but the fact is that they helped and will be helping again.

His attention shifts to Wanda. "Alright." Clint smiles. "Then we'll go together, and with whoever feels like heading that way too. Looks to be that way."

Melinda May has posed:
Ri-ight. Really, really lucky. May's got more black belts than Natasha does. So, you keep telling yourself that, Barton. May's lips twitch faintly at the man's bravado. She swallows another bit of tea, taking it down to at least half. "You let me know when," she tells Barton, deciding not to answer his swagger, but his mission intent instead. "I'll make sure there's a jet fueled and ready."

Because, really, she's also not going to let anyone else fly the plane if she's able to do so. That's just a given.

She pushes herself out of her seat and sets her tea down. "I need to take off," she tells the pair, then. "Thank you for the tea--" a nod to Wanda. "Have fun with the file--" that to Clint.

"I'll let you know if anything urgent pops up, meantime." With that, she gives them both another light nod, raising her hand briefly, and heads for the stairs. "Happy New Year, if I don't see you before then."

Then, she's down the stairs and back out the door into the New York winter afternoon.