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

[aw_hawkguy]

Steve gets an answer before too long, in the form of a knock on the door. It's Clint, and he brought a six-pack of bottled microbrew beer. Geisterbrau, the label proclaims, with a Scooby Doo-style ghost menacing a sheaf of barley. "Hey."

[juststeverogers]

It's Clint!

Steve answers the door with the knit (naalbound?) blanket Verity made him for Christmas wraped over his shoulders. The apartment's plenty warm, but Steve is enjoying being cozy. He drops it when he sees that it's Clint, and breaks out into a huge grin.

"Hi! Come on in, make yourself at home. I'll get some coffee on." He all but tugs the Avenger into the apartment. "I meant to invite you over sooner, but I got kind of tied up in commission work lately. Sorry eheh. Still, what better time than Christmas to catch up with folks?"

[aw_hawkguy]

Clint's not going to throw shade on being cozy. "Hey, I understand busy, believe me." Looking around as he comes in, he adds, "the place looks great, by the way. Found yourself a good one." Hefting the beers, he adds, "want these in the fridge?"

[juststeverogers]

"Yes, I did. Schon helped me find it, and the rent is very reasonable, too. But it does mean I have to commit a significant time to my art, to keep up with his rent as well as the requests I get from friends."

If Clint ever went to Verity's place, he'll recognize a lot of the kitchenware, as well as a few other objects he received hand-me-down from her. most notably, there's a large charcoal drawing of 1940s Brooklyn at street view hung up on his wall underneath the couch.

"Oh, yes please! That will be good for later heh. For now, I'll get this and get you warmed right up. The weather's been something else out there. Might as well be New York for how it's been."

Tricksy winter spirits and their wants.

[aw_hawkguy]

"Be careful your hands don't cramp up," Clint half-teases, putting the beers away before having a bit of a wander. He'll take the time to admire that Brooklyn street-view, too. "Yeah, it's pretty bad out there. I was in a snowball fight, earlier. Or, well, I wasn't really in it, I made chili, but it was happenin'."

[juststeverogers]

"You made chili outside in this weather? Braver man than I." Steve chuckles and comes back out a few minutes later with two mugs of coffee.

"Sounds like fun though. I've been hiding inside as much as possible. I'm not a huge fan of the cold."

[aw_hawkguy]

He chuckles. "You think New York winters're bad, try one in Iowa sometime." Accepting one of the mugs, he adds, "thanks."

"It was a good time, yeah. Staying warm's probably the smarter option, o'course."

[juststeverogers]

"I don't have a lot of insulation." Steve admits, sipping at his coffee. "And if they're worse than Brooklyn--I think I'll pass haha. Nearly froze t'death enough times in my life."

Oh Steve, you don't even know.

The coffee gets set down a moment later so Steve can go get a fairly large box out from under his bed. There aren't a whole lot of hiding places in a studio apartment. He'll set it down in front of Clint with a grin.

"Merry Christmas." Inside is a bundle of dragonbone arrows that he purchased from Ravari. "I have it on pretty good authority that you like these, and I wanted to get you something unique you couldn't make or get at home."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Yeah, we gotta get you a nice winter coat sometime," Clint agrees. "It's gettin' brisk out there. You can keep this place pretty warm, though, right?" Hawkguy will totally dote on his fragile friend. Steve's a good guy, he deserves to not shiver when he's at home.

Clint chuckles when Steve sets the box in front of him. "Wow, you really went all out for me." When he sees what's inside, he grins. "Aw, yeaaaah! I used some'a these when those demons showed up, they're great! That cat-lady knows her stuff! Thank you."

[juststeverogers]

"If I can't be out there myself, the best thing I can do is make sure those that can have everything they need. Supplies. information. Support." Steve gives Clint a smile.

"I'm doing training on my own, too. So I'm hopefully not useless if anything ever goes down here again." He's no Captain America, but he's doing what he can with what he's got.

"I do yeah, I sort of forgot to buy myself anything when i was out shopping. but I try to keep the apartment nice and warm." Schon is pretty great about his energy bill being nonexistant.

[aw_hawkguy]

"Steve, you have never been useless. But I'm glad to hear you're training. You'll be ready to kick over the Axis in no time."

"Well, you've got a present from me coming--and don't say the beers were it, those're housewarming. If you wanna go pick one out, sometime, my treat?"

[juststeverogers]

"You've known me all of an hour total." Steve reminds CLint, but the laugh he gives shows his gratitude. People believing in him. It's a nice feeling. Bucky would be proud of the friends he's made here.

"You'd do that? W-sure. I'd love to go shopping. If the weather keeps up here, Even my floor's going to be buried soon." Darn those tricksy Winter Spirits!

"And then beers when we get back? You can help me find something worth watching on the TV Amelia got me."

[aw_hawkguy]

"I've known you a lot longer than that," he counters. "Where it counts, you're the same man."

"Wouldn't say it if I wouldn't. Maybe some snowshoes, too. How 'bout a dogsled, you like huskies?" He grins, teasing.

"Oh, you are gonna love Dog Cops."

[juststeverogers]

"Alright, let me get ready." Yes Steve still wears tshirts he tucks into his jeans. He just doesn't look like he buys them three sizes too small when he does. He is literally the same Steve Rogers. Just fun sized! He's got a white 'I <3 NY' shirt Harrowheart got him on, and he is quick to don a red hoodie and hat he pulls down as far as it will go, before pulling the hood up too. No gloves, his hands go right to the front pocket. He's like a tiny, red Clint in his outfit right now. In a tourist tshirt underneath.

"I like dogs, but I don't think I could fit that many in my apartment." Steve laughs along with the joke. "Dog...I don't know what that is, sorry."

[aw_hawkguy]

Yup, same guy. Clint'll get his shoes back on, if he took 'em off, and wait by the door. "Dog Cops," he explains, as they head downstairs, "it's a show. There's dogs, who are cops. They do cop stuff, but they're dogs. It... makes more sense if you see it."

[juststeverogers]

"...That sounds intriguing." Steve wonders if they have to wear dog uniforms and stuff too. "I look forward to it."

What he does not look forward to is outside. He makes the same sort of frown Cap does when Tony sasses one too many times, and pulls his hood down further.

"...Okay. Lead the way. And hell I hope it's close."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Yyyyeah, it wasn't this bad when I got here. Uhh, that way," he points, toward what as far as he knows is the shortest route to the commercial district. They can stop somewhere (or several somewheres) for coffee and thawing on the way, if need be.

[juststeverogers]

Steve's grateful that Clint doesn't make a deal out of his wheezy breathing or shivering while they briskly walk through the Nexus. There is at least one coffee stop needed though, if nothing else so Steve can breathe without the cold hurting his lungs anymore.

Thankfully, the commercial district is full of those nifty outdoor lamp heaters to entice window shoppers even in this weather. Steve will zig and zag from one to the other until they find a clothing store Clint approves of for coats.

There are more than a few familiar brands inside! Score!

[aw_hawkguy]

Victory! Clint's one and only condition for a coat for Steve is that it has to be warm (like that'll be hard). He actively discourages his friend from looking at price tags whenever possible.

I cite his Winter Soldier 'disguise' clothes as proof of this.

[juststeverogers]

Don't let Steve pick his own clothes, Clint. He has no sense of fashion. The only reason he's dressed as well as he is now is because Verity picked out his clothes for him, to match his godawful red, white, and blue hat.

Unsurprisingly, the 'boys' section will have the best fits for coats. Also unsurprisingly, there are very few there that are formal and as old man-esque as what Steve walked into this world wearing. Some of them are downright silly. There's a Hulk coat over there. No, the Hawkeye coat is not in the discount rack. Fear not for your feels, Clint.

"They're all so..colorful?" Steve seems completely oblivious that these are clearly children's clothes. He's pulling on a boring black coat and then taking it off again. "I guess that's more common in the future." Clint's wearing purple, this only reinforces Steve's misconceptions.

Re: I cite his Winter Soldier &#39;disguise&#39; clothes as proof of this.

[aw_hawkguy]

((Shopping in the kids' section, eh?))

Clint's not going to give Steve grief about what part of the store he shops in. If it fits, if it's warm, that's what counts. "Well, you'd stand out against the snow."

If it fits, man

[juststeverogers]

There may have been some prompting from someone who definitely isn't going to own up to this that Steve ultimately ends up in a green Hulk coat with matching fist gloves.

"I really like these. God, everything is made much better than it was in my time. I've never worn anything this warm! He's grinning from under his hood as they exit the store. "This is so much better."

Re: If it fits, man

[aw_hawkguy]

Hawk'mun regrets nothing!

"I dunno," Clint counters, "stuff was made to last in your day. Rock solid." Flashing a grin, he adds, "I'm glad you're warm."

[juststeverogers]

"Yeah, but just because it lasted didn't mean it worked as good. If you put on my suit you'd throw that out so fast." Pause. "I mean, if it fit you."

"Only my nose and legs are cold now. It is definitely a step up." He still has to hurry to keep up with Clint, but there's less need for stopping now. "I had a hard time sleeping for a while, because the beds were so soft. The first night I actually piled up the blankets and slept on the floor. Felt more familiar."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Point. Y'know, they've got ski masks that you pull down over your face to keep it warm, now, too. We could get ya one'a those."

Steve's latter remark gets a thoughtful nod. "A lotta guys comin' home from the army do that, too, I hear."