Sibling Rivalries: Chili Edition

[brave_heart_verity]

Flyers have been going up around the Forum and Commercial District for the last week or so. This morning,the lights in the VSW Meadhall came on. By noon, anyone getting close enough to an open door would know: chili's on!

Inside, everything's set up and waiting for the hungry and the curious: Clint's cooking in one corner, and Verity's in the other. Between them, tables are laid out with the necessities: bowls, plates, spoons, and plenty of napkins. There's beer and iced tea, some lovely tres leches cakes provided by the Nexus' favorite Japanese detective, and various toppings for the chili: bottles of sriracha and sweet Thai chili sauce, red pepper flakes, green onions and red, lime wedges, diced bell peppers and jalapeños, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream. Cornbread and tortilla chips round things out.

Long tables with a mix of benches and chairs fill the hall on either side of the fire pits. One has board and card games stacked neatly at one end (they were neat when they were put out, at least). Another has two boxes, one wrapped in purple paper and one in pink, for depositing voting slips.

Poll #17301 1st Annual Chili Cook-Off

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 7

View Respondents

Who gets your vote?

View Answers

Clint--Avengers Assemble!
3 (42.9%)

Truthfully? Verity.
4 (57.1%)

The fire pits are lit, the food is waiting, and there are games in want of players. What are you waiting for?
((There will doubtless be further Cupid-based shenanigans, but this weekend, it's all about the platonic relationships. Bromances, BFFs, and family ties rule the day! Let's celebrate! Threadhopping, tangents, games, and mischief are all encouraged. Just don't start a food fight or Verity will have to yell.))

Comments

[red_room]

"No." She answers too fast, but it's already out of her mouth. "We're not." There had been hope, for a time. But it's clear that the choice he made didn't include her. "He's part of the team. Obviously we want him to come back, and you and I are typically the ones sent out to do that kind of looking."

Don't touch that subject, Clint. Not while she's sober. Her thin lipped expression says all it needs to say. It didn't work out if there was more to tell.

"You as good at the grill here as back home? I have to admit I'm kind of curious."

[aw_hawkguy]

Yeah, Clint knows better than to grab that third rail, so he focuses on the question instead. "Am I? Nat, this chili impressed Thor. The guy eats whole roast cows on tables made'a gold, and I knocked his socks off." He points to her bowl. "Eat up and find out."

[red_room]

"He's also that impressed with Pop Tarts, so that's not really a fair claim." At least hers is. Thor's a decent guy, but not a whole lot of common sense when it comes to Earth yet. He's learning.

She'll roll her eyes either way before adding a bit of sour cream to her bowl and leaning against a nearby counter while she digs in. It's times like this her poker face really comes in handy.

This is seriously good chili, and pretty familiar too. Natasha shouldn't be surprised, but in a way she is. How many ways are these versions of her friend similar? She won't keep Clint waiting for a response forever though. Just long enough to make him squirm the slightest bit for some kind of feedback.

"You always did make the best cookout food." She admits with a faint smile. "Just as good as I remember."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Hey!" Clint is indignant, as that is an unfair comparison (it's not, and it's also true). He stirs the pot and grumbles good-naturedly as Nat holds on to her poker face, but he grins again when she gives in and admits how good his chili is. "Damn right I did. Y'learn some secrets at the circus."

[red_room]

"How to feed the scary ex-cons so you stay on their good side." Natasha gives a faint nod. "Good life lessons to have, if you find yourself in that niche environment."

Witty banter is slowing down somewhat as spoon is continually put in face. Barton's chili special in mid winter? She's not complaining. This is seriously good eating.

"So..platonic love holiday, huh."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Hey, hey, c'mon," Clint grumbles in mock-irritation. "Not everyone at the circus is an ex-con." He holds the straight face for a long moment, then adds, "just the folks who got caught."

Spoons and faces are meant to get together like that, banter can wait. "That's the idea. A day for pals."

[red_room]

"Got any plans for the actual day next week then?" It's kind of nice that the Nexus isn't full of hearts and glitter and all that crap. Natasha likes the simplicity of this made up holiday. And the food.

"Because I need to be in Beirut next week, and I couldn't think of anyone else to bring to what is likely to turn into a shootout at the OK Corral." She's still eating her chili, leaning casually against the counter.

[aw_hawkguy]

Give it time, Natasha. Maybe there'll be a pink kryptonite LOL, or someone'll bust open those Cullen kids like glitter pinatas.

"Well, I'm not busy," he admits. "Your Clint's not going?"

[red_room]

"He's got a wife and kids, one of which is a newborn. We're trying to...give him some time. He's earned it." It's not a lie, not the way she smiles when she says it.

She's hoping he doesn't think to ask if she's got clearance for this. Because 'sort of' isn't the sort of answer she wants to give. She trusts this Clint, even if she's still supposed to be treating the Nexus as a threat. And wanting to go do what she does best with someone she trusts is as close to a friendly outing as Natasha is comfortable asking.

[aw_hawkguy]

"Then I'm in. You wanna be Butch, or Sundance?" He grins, teasing. "And what's the objective?"

[red_room]

"And here i pegged you for a Bonnie and Clyde kind of guy." Natasha tsks, but she's got that grin on her face. The one that says somebody's going to have a very bad day when she gets to Beirut.

"Extraction. Had some operatives miss their check in."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Oh, so we gotta go in careful, in case they're in the middle of something? Or do we know for sure it's gone bad? Also, who're we extracting, and from who?" It's from whom, you barbarian.

[red_room]

"If it was sure to be gone bad, I'd be there already." Natasha points out. Literally pointing with her spoon even. That's rude Nat.

"Couple of girls I trained in before SHIELD went to hell. Looking into a human trafficking ring that happens to be suspected as happening pretty high politically. Not to mention the whole having he funds traced back to HYDRA cells. Not sure if they've been outed, or if they're just stuck undercover at the moment. Giving them some extra time while we gather some more intel, and then they send me in."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Human trafficking? I'll bring my nasty arrows," Clint concludes grimly. Sure, he's Mr. Goofy Happy Fallapart most of the time, but every once in a while something like this comes up and he pulls it together in a terrifying way.

[red_room]

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Clearly that was the answer she was looking for, judging by the slight nod she's giving him. "Hell of a distraction from the usual Valentines Day hubub, huh?"

Bowl now empty, Nat sets it aside carefully.

"That's seriously good, by the way."

[aw_hawkguy]

"You kidding? I'm gonna be cupid for these guys. Hook 'em up with the explosions and jail cells they really deserve."

He grins. "Thanks. Make sure you try Verity's too. It's good. It's not four-kinds-of-meat good, but she's rockin' a serious flavor game today."

[red_room]

"You always did play matchmaker better than I ever could." She gives Clint one more enigmatic smile before straightening up and nodding.

"I'll head over there now. Have fun in the meantime. I'll see you later."

[aw_hawkguy]

"You've got your own way of setting people up," he points out. "See you later."