Giving back [for Verity]

[juststeverogers]

It's not as though Steve had forgotten his rather specific and unusual commission request from Schon. On the contrary--he'd been thinking about it all the time. His landlord was a peculiar sort, asking for things Steve was already planning on doing. Making the odd remark or comment when he came to collect his monthly rent pieces. February's piece is halfway finished, a pan shot of the park district divided into four and cycling through the seasons across the piece.

He's been trying to stick to very specific realism style pieces for a while, now. And for a very good reason. Steve has to be familiar with all aspects of it if he can even hope to try and teach it, right?

I'm done washing dishes and tidying up the apartment, Verity. Were you still interested in coming over for a bit?

Steve sends his text feeling quite pleased with himself and goes to start a pot of coffee.

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

It isn't long before she replies.
Sure, since you've been a good boy and finished your chores. Should be there in fifteen?

The quiet and solitude offered by the tower are lovely, but it makes last-minute social engagements a scramble to get out the door. But the duel lessons in navigating and running have made it easier in ways (those braids make so much more sense in context), so she doesn't keep Steve waiting too long. The bread would even still be warm if it weren't so freakin' cold out. Such is life. Knock knock.

[juststeverogers]

Someone should really have a word with Reynard about toning it down a bit. At their own peril. Which explains why no one has, actually.

Steve answers the door in what must be his 'art clothes', a pair of jeans and tshirt woefully stained with all sorts of supplies that won't come clean now matter how many times it's been washed. He smiles big and bright when he catches sight of Verity, even though he knew it was going to be her at the door.

"Anything I can take while you unbundle?" Steve shifts to the side to allow her to begin the process of unpreparing for the cold weather. He keeps his apartment nice and toasty, thanks. "Coffee's ready too, by the way."

[brave_heart_verity]

Her smile is similarly warm when she sees him. He just has that affect on people. Once she steps inside she offers him the basket she's carrying. "This is for you. I tried a new bread recipe and ended up with way too much, so please help make sure it gets eaten?" There's a loaf of fresh honey buttermilk bread for him, and a small jar of homemade blueberry preserves. Practically not even a gift, given it's her.

"Coffee would be great, thank you." She unbuttons her coat and starts unwinding her scarf; it, her hat, and her gloves get tucked in pockets before she shrugs off the coat to hang it up. Then she changes out of her wet boots into some ballet flats she keeps in her bag. So considerate. Under all that fuss she's dressed simply; black skinnies and a long ombre tunic that melts from black to cream.

"How are you feeling after everything?"

[juststeverogers]

"Aww, you really didn't have to..." Steve peeks into the basket and then gives Verity a sideways grin. "But bread and home made preserves are way above my cooking lesson level, so it'll be nice to have a change."

Steve's been very dedicated to his cooking lessons from Verity, for a number of reasons. But since his skillset is still pretty limited, there isn't an awful lot he tends to make when he does cook for himself. He'll busy himself slicing and preserving a few pieces of the bread to put on a serving plate, as well as pouring the two mugs of coffee for them to drink before moving all of it to the coffee table while Verity shucks her winter wear.

"Mostly just relieved." He gives a shrug of his bony shoulders. "I got reminded of all the things I like about my body, imperfections and all. It's kind of weird for me to feel any sort of self esteem when it comes to my physical traits, but not at all undesired." Steve takes a seat at one end of his couch and tucks his feet underneath him to keep his toes warm.

"Have things quieted down for you since?" Lord even getting a glimpse of the drama between Naugus and Mr. Kirk was enough for Steve. He can't imagine being Verity.

[brave_heart_verity]

"You'll get there. Bread is a matter of patience. Making preserves... well, that's something to save for the summer when things are in season." She's been enjoying their lessons. Surrounded by amazing people, heroes and magicians and artists, she doesn't feel very useful most of the time. Knowing she has a skill worth sharing has done a lot to lift her spirits.

"Sounds like it turned out well in the end. I'm glad you're feeling better." As for his self-esteem, she does worry she and Samus haven't been exactly helping with that. She makes a mental note to be gentler about it, and also about those cold toes of his don't think she didn't notice that mister. She'll sit on the other end of the couch, one foot tucked under her leg so she can mostly face him.

"It's nice to not have Naugus and Jim arguing all the time," she admits, "but it'll probably be a while before things get back to what passes for normal." Her shoulders droop slightly when she thinks of what's happened and what still needs to happen. Oh, coffee. Save her from her woes.

[juststeverogers]

The bread and preserves are calling to him, so Steve gets busy munching on a slice and nodding along while Verity talks. He hadn't expected the bread to be slightly sweet, but it's a good surprise! Mmmm blueberry preserves are so tasty.

What? He has poor circulation and no insulation. Even with the apartment decidedly warm, Steve has to work a little harder to keep his feets warm.

"Going back to my bad back and hearing was a little jarring, but I'm used to it. It's home, strange as it feels to think about my body that way. I sure wouldn't have before this happened." Steve brushes a bit of blueberry preserves off the side of his face with a thumb before moving onto the coffee.

"Well, you always know where to find me if you need to get away from it all for a bit. I'm usually here working, since it's been so dang cold outside. I've become something of a shut-in."

[brave_heart_verity]

He should know by now, she's got a sweet tooth the size of the Empire State building. And she'll be joining him in trying the bread. It really is a new recipe for her and she's curious.

She's going to make him some socks. Adorable slipper-socks.

"Sometimes it's easier to deal with the things you know?" Something something God doesn't give more than we can bear, but she's not one for religious quotes. Matt can handle that stuff.

"Thanks. I think I might need to do that. I didn't want to intrude when you had guests." Especially since she knew she wouldn't be welcome. It's a little ironic, that she was nudging V to make more friends, and now she's keeping away from her friends because she doesn't want them feeling like they're stuck in the middle.

"And I like watching you work."

[juststeverogers]

"Yeah the Christmas thing was a little scary, and then with the whole swapping thing..." Steve sighs and shakes his head.

"I pretty much only go out these days to play pool, go to church with Matt, or to Samus' lessons. Any shopping or work deliveries I need to make get roped into that." Steve chuckles and shakes his head before returning to his coffee. Which tastes loads better now that there's been some TLC on that poor machine.

"Mm, yeah I've been trying some different stuff, lately." Steve's glad Verity's the one who brought up the subject of art. He sets down his mug and retrieves a purple ombre tote bag in nice horizontal stripes and sets it at her feet. Sure looks full, too. "I've been thinking a lot about that offer I made you at Christmas. And I've made a decision."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I don't like being out in the cold much either. I've started planning my days to try to avoid going out in the dark. I feel so... weird." Manhattan was a city to be enjoyed at night. Bright lights, dark alleys, and the ever-present danger of running into a costumed villain. Or a mugger. Those were the days...

"Oh?" She looks at the tote bag, then back to him curiously. "Decisions are good..." Decisions are historically bad news for her, but she can't hold that against him. "This is for me?"

[juststeverogers]

"Because you're staying in more?" Steve tucks himself back into his corner of the couch. "It's pretty normal in winter, isn't it?" Safety shouldn't be a concern. It's the Nexus. So why avoid the dark other than because it's colder.

"I realized I'd made a mistake." Steve starts, to answer her question. "I can't give you back your home, no matter how good my pieces are. The thing is, I can't recapture your memories for you. But I can show you how to." Steve points at the tote bag. "I've put together a starter kit of sorts for you. We don't have to draw metropolitan pieces if you'd rather not yet. But I do want to give you the skills to be able to do so if you ever decide to preserve something, to help with coping and to preserve the good."

He's been remarkably nervous about breeching this topic with Verity. He doesn't consider himself good enough to teach anyone anything. But with taking up tactile art to teach Matt, and Verity asking him for pieces...Steve wants to try for Verity. He wants to be able to give something back for all she does for him.

"If you'll let me....I want to try teaching you some techniques..."

[brave_heart_verity]

"It's not really possible for me to stay in more than I used to," she points out quietly. "But yeah, I think it's probably normal for winter to curtail people's impulses to go out into the world. Except those weirdos who like to ski." She feels, and is, much safer in the Nexus. It's not the dark she's avoiding, it's the cold and desolate streets. So many people hurry inside to avoid the chill; empty streets are as foreign to her as the concept of sweet dreams.

She listens to his explanation without interruption. Her first instinct is to protest because she's not good at art and doesn't want to disappoint him, but it's clear he'd be more disappointed if she refused. And she wants to try, for him and for herself. "That's sweet of you. Thank you, Steve. I can't promise I'll be any good at it... but I'll do my best."

[juststeverogers]

This is something Steve can relate to, but he's also one of the people scurrying to stay inside. Unless someone needed him, he can't even imagine choosing to go out at night in this weather.

"Well, that makes two of us." Steve actually laughs slightly. "I can't promise I'll be any good as a teacher, but I've done a lot of reading on it so I can try." He rubs at the back of his neck sheepishly. "I think my style is probably the most compatible with you? Because I like to draw what's there. It's less making up idealistic scenes and much more finding intrigue in the world around me. So...that's a plus?"

He pauses to point down to the tote again.

"That's why there's a variety of supplies in there. I don't expect all of them to be to your liking, but I'm hoping you'll find a medium that works for you."

[brave_heart_verity]

It'd be funny how easily they've both adapted to their new lives here if they weren't so depressed about it.

Her smile is one of relief; if he's uncertain too, it'll be okay if it doesn't go perfectly. Right? "I'm sure you'll do fine. You're patient and not expecting too much of me, everything else we'll figure out as we go." Or something like that. She has faith in him.

The tote gets another glance, then she picks it up to look through what's inside. "After I've made a complete mess with them all, you mean? I'll need to get a drop cloth for my living room." White upholstery and artistic exploration do not go together.

[juststeverogers]

"Probably a good idea" Steve is quick to admit. Art can be many things, but neat isn't usually one of them. Even when Steve sketches he ends up with graphite smudges everywhere. His face, the walls, really anything he touches.

He's trying not to overwhel Verity with too many choices for now. There's a small sketchbook similar to the one Steve always carries around, as well as a couple pencils of varying thicknesses. A small pack of colored pencils, markers, and just a few charcoals. He'll put together another kit if painting or something else is more her style. For now, getting the layout for skecthign images she brings to mind is what he'll attempt.

"I'm not trying to turn you into a Monet, no. I wouldn't be qualified for that kind of thing." Another laugh and shake of his head. "This is just...for fun, and expression therapy, mostly."

[brave_heart_verity]

Not overwhelming her is a good first step. He remembers how that trip to the art supply shop went. Verity looks everything over carefully, feeling the texture of the paper in the sketchbook, looking over the colors in the pencils and markers, getting a feel for the pencils. The charcoals are staying in their box until she's prepared.

"Fun sounds good. Therapy sounds... necessary." That's the first step toward actually getting some. "You're sure it won't take too much time away from your commissions?"

[juststeverogers]

"No, since I'm basically a shut in with winter going nuts in the Nexus, I have a lot of free time on my hands these days. I figured out that coin trick Samus was showing us first, and she gave me a real swell pool cue for Christmas, so I've been braving the elements every once in a while to go teach myself how to play. So aside from seeing friends, I've been pretty bored, honestly."

Steve pulls his own sketchbook open and flips to the last page. The ever important List with a lot of lines drawn through it.

"I've been working on this, mostly."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Pool? Sounds like fun. I bet you'll be hustlin' kids for their lunch money in no time." The only tell that she's teasing is the slight arch in one of her eyebrows. Otherwise, her expression doesn't flicker and her tone is level. "Can't have you getting bored, after all."

She shifts slightly so she can look over the list. "Ah, you've been busy. Have you enjoyed it?"

[juststeverogers]

"There's not a whole lot of kids in the Nexus to hustle." Steve replies just as easily, shrugging in a 'what can you do?' sort of way. But at least the regulars aren't creaming me every round anymore. I'm learning a lot from watching folks, but there's only so much I can gather from watching."

It's a lot of books, for the most part. Though there isn't much in the way of books in his apartment. The ones Verity gave him and a few art books sit on a far shelf along with a very old and worn family bible Steve borrowed from a friend.

"I've enjoyed most of it. The pacifist's book you gave me for Christmas was a very interesting read, and...one I rather agreed with in many respects. Others I feel like I'll understand better on a second or third read through, after I've learned more about the world." There's an entire corner of the page listed under '???' that is mostly untouched.

The Beetles? Queen (Which queen? When?), Star Wars (Moon landing maybe?), NASA (related to star wars?)

and so on and so forth.

[brave_heart_verity]

"There are further away from the Forum," she remarks absently. "There's villages and towns a few days out where people live perfectly ordinary lives. I don't think most of them realize where they are anymore; they may all have been born here."

Libraries were invented for a reason. Like she'd fault him for taking advantage of the big gorgeous library here? "I'm glad you liked it. I think, with philosophy, it's a good sign that you need to revisit it to fully understand it."

Aw, some people haven't been super helpful with their suggestions, have they? Poor Steve. "The Beatles, with an 'A', are a band. So is Queen I think. Star Wars is a series of movies" that she will not watch with him don't ask "and NASA is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency in charge of our space program."

[juststeverogers]

His phone, really. He doesn't know where the Nexus library is, and Miss Siri is really helpful at finding him tutorials on installing applications on his phone like an electronic reader.

"It seems so bizarre to think that people are born and life here their whole lives." Steve admits. "Though I suppose it's natural enough. I'm living here now..."

Most if it is things he's picked up in conversation or hanging around in the forum. But some of them are suggestions or talking to Harrowheart for any amount of time ever.

"Oh! Bands, okay. So..is Star Wars about the space program or different?"

[brave_heart_verity]

Nothing wrong with a e-reader either. Portable and convenient. 'Miss Siri', though. So precious.

"Everything seems natural to people who've never known anything different," she muses. It's sort of been on her mind a lot lately. "It's about people in space. I didn't watch past the planet blowing up."

Awkward.

"There are laser swords or something, you might like that part. I like the one with the archeologist better. Indiana Jones I think he was called?"

[juststeverogers]

"Oh..." He sounds a bit disappointed, actually. "Well, I'm sure they made movies about the moon landing too. I'll I've seen so far are pictures, and I tell you, it looks amazing. I can't believe we did something like that! And not so long after I left, either."

Steve wishes he could have been home to see it, but it's a brief pang. He can see so much more, here. "And there's pictures of Mars too and--honest it's real something to see. Was nothing but fairy tale fodder before. To find out we've done that, we've been there....it's pretty inspiring."

He shuts his sketchbook and takes pause to have another slice of bread while he thinks.

"Did you want to start now? With the art I mean? Or did you want to try some on your own time at home before we tried any formal lessons?"

[brave_heart_verity]

Aw, no being disappointed. She can't have that! "There's video footage. From the actual moon landing. Would you like to see that?" It shouldn't be hard for 'Miss Siri' to find, once he knows what to ask for.

"Yeah, space is awesome. Beautiful and desolate." She's... seen things, and heard things. And Grooted them, a few times.

"Actually, there was some business I wanted to discuss with you. Something to see you through the cold season, perhaps. Schön's opening a museum, and asked me to be the business manager. One of the many things we're going to need is a logo. Something for the signs and stationary, and all that sort of thing. You are my best artist friend, so, if you're interested, the job is yours."

Now it's her turn to give him something. Contracts aren't as fun as art supplies, but they come with promises of money.

[juststeverogers]

"There is?" Oh boy look at him light up like that. So excited about his country's awesome forays into space.

Steve pauses and then breaks into a huge grin. "You got a new job? Awesome! I'm super glad for you. I'm sure you'll be wonderful at it, too." The commission stuns him speechless and for a moment all he can do is blink at her.

"Wh..I mean...Sure, I'd be happy to try and...are you sure? That's an awfully big responsibility. And I don't really have that much experience in trademarking or logos. Are you sure?" He's afraid of letting her or Schon down.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Mm-hmm." She's already got her phone out and is Googling it.

"Thanks! I'm enjoying it. It's much easier on my head than document verification. And, honestly? It's a lot of fun." She's pretty excited about it. "I feel like a real grown-up with a real job now. It's crazy."

A secret about Verity: she kind of really loves doing that to Steve. She probably shouldn't, it's probably bad for his health or something, but it's so cute making that face. "I'm sure. We're sure. Schön's a big fan of your art, after all, and I'm a big fan of you, so, we're entirely biased. I doubt you could disappoint us."

[juststeverogers]

"I know that feeling. Being here and you helping me get work has made me feel like that a lot these last few months." Steve rubs at the back of his neck self consciously and tried to hide the embarrassed chuckle he gives in reply to her assessment of his talents.

"Well, don't say that until you've seen it." No pressure or anything, right? "We'll have to sit down sometime and discuss what sort of feel you want to elicit from folks, and what style you'd like me to take. I'll prepare several and we can try shaping it from there." It's different from the farmer's market, where all he had to do was draw some still life agriculture and stylize the name of the market. This is a logo all by itself. He'll have to read up on branding.

[brave_heart_verity]

"You got that work all on your own," she's quick to protest, "I only mentioned that they were looking for someone." Sharing useful information isn't the same thing as calling in favors or pulling strings. She doesn't have any strings to pull, for one thing. Stop smirking Schön.

No pressure. She knows it'll be good. "Okay. I'll schedule a meeting. I'll make the muffins if you'll host?" That way he doesn't have to go out in the horrible cold. And also, she gets to feed him. "I know Schön will be so pleased you're working with us on this."

[juststeverogers]

"I'd be happy to. You and Schon both know where I live, so. I'll put that on the top of my to-do list."

It feels a bit weird to be agreeing to meet with Verity and Schon in a businesslike setting instead of as friends. He hopes they're not going to show up with briefcases and suits or something. Stop fretting so much, Steve. It's just nerves talking.

"And I"m not going to argue about a meeting that lets me stay inside where it's warm." He didn't miss that point, either.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you." Like he's doing her the favor. He kinda is, in ways. Her life is complicated.

No briefcase, but she wears suits when she's working. Sorry, Steve. But she won't wear them to their lessons? She's not all stuffy and formal. She wears suits with a touch of irony, a sartorial roll of the eyes.

"I had a feeling," she admits finally. "But it's easier to not need to carry all your stuff around, too, so."

[juststeverogers]

Well, he'll just have to be sure he wears his too. Not that his growing collection of Avengers t-shirts (all tucked in) and jeans isn't a good look on him. But it's hardly professional.

"Actually, I'm just picturing my portfolio blowing away in the wind and I think I might cry if that happened." He shakes his head. "Good call, then, at any rate." He's also excited by the prospect of muffins. Verity makes amazing muffins. The only batch he tried turned out all small, flat, and dense--not in the good way. Not at all like hers were. So sad.

[brave_heart_verity]

He's an artist. He can wear whatever he wants! He could answer the door wearing nothing but splattered paint and Schön would probably shrug it off.

"I think I would too," she commiserates with an embarrassed giggle. "You've worked too hard. We'll get you one of those nice portfolios to carry things in, hmm? No worries of wind gusts then."

They can work on muffins next time he has a cooking lesson if he'd like. She can show him a couple basic batters and let him experiment with the flavors. She has a feeling he'll be starting with blueberry.