in his own little room again ((nexus_crossings continuity, for chatnerd, but open))

[shieldborne]

God's righteous man, Ultron had mocked to his face a few years back. Pretending you could live without a war. Steve had to acknowledge he wasn't wrong. The vision Wanda pulled out of his head, it wasn't wrong either. He is half strung-out, bone-weary, combat fatigue personified. Half of him wants to go home.

The other half? Will never be able to stop fighting, because that means having to face what's left.

Visiting the Nexus has only driven that point home, in some ways. No matter how much people encourage him to expand his horizons, take time to relax and recover, to be Steve Rogers, he's restless and adrift there, friendly with everyone but not, in the end, all that close to any. But there is one idea that's caught at him relentlessly since his arrival there, and that's the inescapable visual of kids fighting wars.

Most of them probably don't see it that way. Friendly neighborhood Spider-Men, just doing what they can, what they innocently assume any good person would do. Every time he thinks about that, it hurts. And he has plenty to do in his own world, collecting the proliferating alien weaponry across the planet, breaking up and hunting down remnants of HYDRA, and ducking the law. But here there's an opportunity for something more, something gentler, something that's not fighting and might, in the long term, keep people from ending up in the psychological catch-22 he's gotten himself into.

There's no Nexus real estate office, but there are people who have a clear idea of what land and buildings can be claimed and what can be done with them. Steve has somehow, through funds scraped together, favors called in, and contacts made, become the proud owner of what was once some kind of diner or restaurant. The building is a decent size, two floors, with a lot of the appliances and furnishings still inside it and still working. Including a jukebox, which is what he's looking at right now, outside the front of the building. He's got most of it taken apart and spread neatly on blankets on the grass, and he's methodically cleaning it bit by bit.

The long term plan is a safe house he can set up for the costumed-hero types here that have nowhere else to go if something goes wrong. The kids, specifically. He won't be able to be here all the time, himself, but he can put it together and give what he can. Fill it up with food and medical supplies, maybe put in some bunks, some security--

Well, the plans are still evolving, but it's something.

Comments

[chatnerd]

Adrien might be from France, but he's aware of American holidays. So, he's taking the chance to slip away while he's technically supposed to be practicing piano, a covered dish tucked safely into the bag he was carrying.

It was a simple thing, that he thought might be nice as a way to thank Steve for his kindness before. It took some time for the teen to track him down but soon enough he was peering over the project the man was absorbed in, head tilting curiously.

"..Need a hand there?"

[websnextdoor]

Thanksgiving is always a modest affair in the Parker household. Every year Peter and May head down to their local soup kitchen and volunteer to make and serve meals. It's never been a mandatory thing in the Parker household-- Peter is happy to give back and help out those in need.

It does, however, mean he's a bit scarce for a few days. Especially from the Nexus. He won't see Steve's text for a bit, but once he's back to routine Peter will be dropping by the Nexus pretty quick. Or at least, Spider-Man will be. His PINpoint pings him when he's hit the coordinates Steve gave and he drops down from his web with a little flip outside of a slightly run down building. He tilts his head to one side, then the other before pushing open one of the doors.

"Knock, knock?"

[juststeverogers]

Steve's still not sure what to think, getting a text from himself. Well, the other Steve Rogers, at any rate. His older self? Every time he tries to contemplate what it could mean for their worlds--either of them, really--he starts to get a major headache. Steve's pretty sure Natasha does too but she's encouraged Steve not to overthink it or waste time worry about it more than necessary.
The Nexus will be what it always is. A convenience and a pain in the ass at the same time. They don't talk much and that suits Steve just fine. Less chance of messing up timelines and worlds that way.

But he can't not answer an invitation. He'd like to think he knows himself well enough to assume there'd be a damn good reason Steve's counterpart would call him out here. A reason that only grows more sobering when a familiar shock of blonde hair comes into view when he rounds a corner.

[pirateangelbaby]

Talk about late to the party.

Thor had intended to visit after Yule was done, he really did. But when his PINpoint had stopped working, and all access to the Nexus seemed lost, he was left without a way to even reply to the captain's message, which has frustrated him to no end these past few months. (And sure, he's gone without contacting his Midgardian friends for far longer than this, but that's different.)

Now that's changed, and Steven had said he could show up anytime. Not that Thor is very good about calling ahead anyway; it's always seemed like a waste of time to announce his arrival if the message is going to get there when he would've been if he hadn't delayed in the first place.

There's a kind of fresh dampness in the air that smells of snowmelt and chilled earth, evidence of the deep freeze he's been told about beginning to melt away in the fairer weather of spring, though the snow and ice themselves seem to have beat a hasty retreat. Thor vanishes his cape so it doesn't drag in the mud as he approaches the clubhouse, carrying what looks an awful lot like a paper grocery bag with something heavy in it. Not food, sadly, and as Thor catches sight of the captain's humble lodgings, he rather suspects the offer of pancakes is going to have to wait, too. The building looks like it's seen heavy use - and abuse - recently, its exterior ravaged by wind and ice, and from the sound of tools being used and heavy objects being moved around, the inside's not much better.

It's proof enough that someone is home, however, so Thor pushes the door open and raps a knuckle on the frame. "Is this a bad time?" he calls out.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Aal scents the air and squints with a slight frown as she hums trying to keep taps on either the scent trails or something.

As she reshuffles one of the baskets of goodies to her other arm.. She could have swore one of the Steve's had come this way.At some point. Dang nab it. This place could be worse then Wonderland.

Dor's taking a turn at pulling the wagon at the moment. Keeping his eyes peeled for any one they know. As well perhaps a bird or some critter who could maybe send a message or show them the way.

Aal only knew some basic things with these PINpoint things. Though they did have their cells and other means if necessary though right now they figured it best to save their energy. And try and find folks the old fashioned way.