Merry Christmas!

[juststeverogers]

It took an awful lot of work to track down everyone and get their gifts in order, but Steve's going to be running around the Nexus giving out presents to all of his friends. Or inviting them over to his apartment. Whatever works for them!




((Stealing verity's setup--please go to the top level for your character and begin commenting as you like. Feel free to make Steve work to find you, he's got gifts for you all!))

Comments

[juststeverogers]

"It's a nice feeling, to be thought of, isn't it?" Steve stares down into his mug. "It's weird for me to feel that way too. I'm not terribly used to it, yet."

For all its beauty, home isn't as kind as this place has been.

[brave_heart_verity]

"It is. I have a feeling you're going to have to get used to it." He's too likable to not have piles of friends wherever he goes.

"You okay?" His expressions have not gone unnoticed.

[juststeverogers]

"...Nah. Just, talking about the art and home. Realized it was my first Christmas away from home." And that there's a present wrapped under his tiny fake tree that isn't going to get claimed.

"It just feels more real when there's a milestone to put by it. But I'm lucky to have met so many great folks here."

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity sets the picture aside to slide over to him and wrap an arm around his shoulders. Just friendly-like. "Yeah. It gets harder sometimes. But it'll be easier sometimes too. That isn't a bad thing. It doesn't make us bad people." They can commiserate about first Christmases away from their worlds, and about best friends who change and don't come for the holidays anymore. Or they can decide to ignore all of that and eat too many cookies. Up to him.

[juststeverogers]

Cookies and warm drinks and not-being-alone area all wonderful things. Steve wants to enjoy the holiday to the fullest he can.

He chuckles slightly and pulls something out of his pocket.

"Nana says this is your present. I didn't peek." It's a folded up sheet of paper that has a couple recipes jotted down onto it. Verity's favorite dish, as well as the hand pies she always shovels into Jim's face.

[brave_heart_verity]

There's nothing wrong with that, either.

The change in subject is a little abrupt, but she'll roll with it, taking the paper and reading it over. Her smile grows with each line. "Ah, she's going to spoil and ruin me. Thank you for bringing this--I'm guessing it's a hint I need to visit more often?"

[juststeverogers]

"Sorry--I forgot to give it to you earlier." Steve rubs at the back of his neck for the non sequitor. He sets aside his empty mug. "I stopped by to give her a present yesterday and she gave me that for you."

She'd have given it to Jim but somebody hasn't been around lately. Ah well. Steve's a good guy. He got it to Verity.

"She said to make sure Jim's eating enough. She said the same thing to me, but I told her, this is how I always look." He laughs. "Not for lack of trying, believe me."

[brave_heart_verity]

"You remembered before you left, that's timely enough." She gives his shoulders a gentle squeeze before releasing him. "She would. And I'm trying. But either of you make it very easy sometimes..."

[juststeverogers]

"Hey, I eat as much as I can! There's just not a whole lot of place to put it." Steve gives her a look. "I went hungry enough before. I'm grateful not to have to, now."

"Speaking of food....would you mind awfully if I got some more?" He points to the kitchen.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I thought young men were all supposed to have hollow legs or something," she points out, teasing gently. "Did they forget to give you one?"

Then she grins and gives him a nod. "Sure, have whatever you'd like. Speaking of, is Nana's going to be closed for Christmas? I should send you home with something to tide you over."

[juststeverogers]

"Wouldn't be the first time I got a bunk part." Steve laughs at his own joke and gets up. There are cookies in the kitchen he passed by the first time.

And..another blueberry muffin.

He doesn't have a problem he can stop anytime he wants.

"I think so. I should really look around and take some classes." Steve sighs. "I love eating at Nana's but I should also learn how to cook for myself." Especially if he's going to stick to Samus' food regimen.

[brave_heart_verity]

She makes it all to be eaten. If blueberry muffins are his favorite, she'll make them more often. Nothing wrong with having a favorite, and heavens know, he could use the fuel.

"I could teach you some basic things. Eggs, rice, pasta, how to prepare different kinds of vegetables and meats. Pretty soon you'll be able to impress your friends with home-cooked meals." And there's no need to pay for lessons when she'll teach him for free. "I'm sure Nana will understand wanting to eat in sometimes."

[juststeverogers]

He likes them the best because they're familiar to him. Comfort food, huzzah.

"You would do that?" Steve bites at his lip, but he can't hide the eager look on his face. "I mean, if it wouldn't be any trouble, I'd love t'learn. Plus, you know all about the things Smaus wants us to eat and all."

[brave_heart_verity]

Nothing wrong with comfort food, either.

"Sure. It wouldn't be any trouble." Who could say 'no' to that face? "It'll be fun. Just let me know when you want to get started, and get ready to learn a lot about eggs."

[juststeverogers]

"Sometime after the New Year? Would that be okay? That should give me enough time to track down all the different folks I need ot give presents to."

He laughs, shaking his head.

"It's surprisingly hard to track down some of them!"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Yeah, that'd be just fine." She nods thoughtfully as she moves around the kitchen to gather supplies to box up his treats. "That'll give me time to find the equipment you'll need."

Or, more likely, look through what she has and figure out how much she wants to upgrade right now. No reason to give top-of-the-line tools to someone who's very likely to accidentally wreck something in the learning process.

[juststeverogers]

Considering he only owns one pot and one pan, yeah. Yeah he's going to need more than that. He doesn't know these things! He's a bachelor out of time. Toast is his friend and Nana's is a several times a week trip.

"Are you going to spend Christmas with your family?" He takes a bite of his muffin, finishes, and then clarifies "Your new family, I mean."

[brave_heart_verity]

That pause was long enough for her to get misty-eyed, but she's trying to blink it away.

"No. I don't think so. Jim doesn't like Christmas, and Clint will probably spend it with his superhero friends like usual. Which is fine." It's not entirely fine, but it is what it is. She'll deal with it.

[juststeverogers]

"Aw. That's too bad. Can't imagine a guy not likin' the holidays this time of year. It's always been something to celebrate, for me." Jim isn't someone Steve's met, but he assumes the man must have his reasons.

He can't be a bad guy, if he's related to Verity.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Not everyone has happy memories of the holidays. We'll celebrate plenty of other things together, and anyway if he did celebrate he'd have to go to the holidays parties with his crew. It'll work out in the end."

And it's not like Ver's going to be great company on Christmas. She'd rather think about what she's doing, which is packing up food to keep him fed for a day while Nana's is closed. Four of each hand pie, in case he has company, most of the blueberry muffins, and about a dozen cookies. That should keep him and whoever stops by to see him happy.

"Here you go. Think that'll be enough?"

[juststeverogers]

"That'll be enough for me for a week, easy." Steve laughs and then gives Verity's shoulder a squeeze. "I really appreciate it. Are you sure you wanna part with that much?"

And you know, it's not going to last a week, but it is way more food than he was expecting.

"I'll try to make a list of what all I DO know how t'do in the kitchen for next time, yeah?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"I'm sure. It's for eating. And it's nice to have someone to try out new recipes." He might be her little culinary guinea pig sometimes, but how bad can anything she makes really be?

"Yeah, that's a good place to start. Good thinking."