nexus_sages | Hello Soldier

There is a man in the Nexus. Standing tall, he is cut like a champion athlete or a Greek god. The uniform he wears proclaims him to be proudly American - a star emblazoned across his chest - and the shield that hangs on his back should leave no doubt as to who he is. He pores meticulously over one of the brochures, brows furrowed as he reads the strange information it provides. Having finished it, he shakes his head in disbelief before sliding it into a pocket and looking up to pay more attention to his surroundings.

"First a robot tries to take over the world and now this," he mumbles to himself. Passing a hand across his eyes he lets out a quiet sigh before straightening his shoulders and turning to the the Nexus at large. The instructions are to ask a question, and he seems to wrestle for a moment with his thoughts. Captain America has no room for doubt, but Steve Rogers? Well, he could use a fresh viewpoint, and if he's lucky this will all be some strange dream and he'll at least wake up with a little clarity.

"Duty entails sacrifice. That's a pretty cut and dried concept. How do you know if you're sacrificing too much? Is there a too much?"

((And we'll just keep this spoiler free!))

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Oh, the sniggering.

"I. Um. Usually that makes them more awkward. Maybe I've just got lousy taste in boyfriends."

It's a credit to Steve that he's quite as oblivious as he is. It takes him a moment to catch the joke, and even when he does all he can do is cough embarrassedly.

"Wouldn't know much about that. Never was too good with the ladies."

"Now that, I find hard to believe. Unless the problem was picking one."

He touches his right hand to his heart before raising it in the air, still smiling. "Honest Abe. Time was I didn't warrant a second look. Can't learn to talk to women when you don't get the chance to practice."

That and he's a massive dork. But he doesn't know that.

An eyebrow rises, not in doubt but in disappointment. "Then you're looking for the wrong kind of woman. We're not all that shallow."

And some girls like geeks.

He shakes his head gently, remembering some of the women Bucky had tried to set him up with. "First impressions are important. People measure you at first glance. I suppose nowadays it's easier, what's inside matters enough to people most'll take the time to find it. Back in my day it was a little different."

A geek is exactly what Steve happens to be. Added Super Soldier muscle mass or not.

"Yeah, first impressions are important. But I'm going to make a wild assumption that you bathed regularly and dressed appropriately, so it can't have been that bad. And getting to know someone is more important." She is very determined he understand this.

He gives her a good natured shrug. It's not something he spends a lot of time thinking about.

"Times were different. Most women valued different qualities back then. I didn't exactly fit the 'macho man' bill. Getting to know someone's important, last lady who gave me that shot's going on a hundred these days though."

She sighs. He could just say he doesn't want to talk about it, instead of pulling out the "dying girlfriend" card.

"I'm sorry. But she's not the last one unless that's your choice." Because hello.

You'll have to excuse him. This is all part of his 'bad at talking to women' schtick. Also, he may or may not be rather oblivious.

He offers her an apologetic smile, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry. But yeah, I know that, been a little busy since I was thawed is all."

"You're stuck in the middle of everywhere and might not know how to get home. I'd say you've got some free time," she points out. She might sound a little hopeful because she's a little hopeful.

"One way to look at it. I should probably try and find a way back though. One of those sacrifices I was talking about. Not much time to spend talking to charming young women." And you know when Captain America says it, it isn't so much a line as it is a simple fact, Verity.

And there she goes blushing again. How the hell can he compliment her and let her down at the same time and not be pissing her off, and still think he's no good with the ladies?

"...yeah. Probably."

Maybe this is why she's friends with Loki. He understands the importance of personal time.

Wait, no, not like that.

Years and years of practice, obviously. That and the fact that he just radiates real-ness probably helps as well.

He pauses a moment, looking around at the assorted people and portals scattered around the Nexus. Pulling in a deep breath, he lets it out in a slow sigh, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again. "But I'm thinking I can spare an hour. To be honest, this is the first time I've been anywhere but at the tower or on a mission in months. Seems like a good chance to catch my breath."

Personal time may not be high on his list, but Steve knows when to stop for a moment. After all, burning out isn't going to help anyone.

Someday, someone's going to explain to him why stringing girls along like this is wrong. But it's not going to be Verity, and it's certainly not going to be today. (Okay, it might be Verity, but still not today.)

"Sounds like you need to learn to take care of yourself. Super soldier serum doesn't last forever."

And when it's explained to him, he'll be the first to apologise and repent his ways. Not that he's at all aware of this deficit in his behaviour. He's just an open kind of guy.

"So I've been told. Wouldn't really know where to start." Like he said, he's been busy.

"Well... before you were Captain America, what did you like to do?"

"You know, I remember spending a lot of time drinking coffee."

"Well... that's always an option. Coffee is still very popular. You've probably noticed that."

"I have. Apparently they're making it out of... pre-digested beans now. Can't say that sounds too appealing though."

"Uh... we don't all drink that," she promises. "Or we could get hot chocolate and try to pretend we didn't know about that."

"Sounds like a great idea. I'm down for forgetting poop beans." Yes, Captain America just said poop.

The idea of his saying anything like that is enough to get her giggling. The fact he actually does...

"Okay. Hot chocolate it is. And then we can talk about some of these pop-culture things you're working on?"

He's not really about to use the sort of language that Tony would, and feces just feels too scientific. And gross.

"Sounds like a plan." He holds up his arm, offering it to her politely. "Shall we?"

She'll take his arm, although it takes her a moment to figure out quite where her hand goes. It's just not something people do for people like her anymore. "Yes please."

((Good place to end scene? We can handwave that they have a lovely time?))

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alwaysdramatic - 2015-06-03 04:53 (UTC) - Expand