Planning for the Inevitable [for Jim]

[aw_hawkguy]

Clint has learned something, and it's important he and Jim discuss it at the earliest possible opportunity. To that end, he's been combing the Nexus, looking for that familiar gold shirt, the cocky smile, or anyone arguing with Naugus.

Comments

[smartass_captain]

Hey, Jim isn't the only one in the Nexus who fights with Naugus. Schon doesn't like him either. Or Malekith. So Jim and elves of some variety. If a Legolas ever shows up we'll know if its all elves or just darker variants.

The good news is the captain isn't very hard to find. Jim's in the Forum on one of the couches recounting his mission to save earth from the renegade Nero for a couple of ladies he's found. One arm around each. That's how it's done.

[aw_hawkguy]

Clint kinda hates to break that up, but this is important. He waits until he can catch Jim's eye. "Hey, got a minute?"

[smartass_captain]

He's going to get one hell of a stink eye from the redhead he's chatting with, and the other one really just looks put out when Jim shifts on the couch, sees Clint, and is immediately getting to his feet.

"Sorry ladies. A Captain's work is never done." He offers a wink before he heads off with Clint. Disappointing, but Jim knows Clint wouldn't cockblock a dude over nothing.

"Any news on the drive?"

[aw_hawkguy]

"Eh, smart guys're still workin' on it. They're sore about getting reamed out by Cap, too, but at least they've got something to work toward, now. But, hey, did you know Verity's birthday is this week?"

Priorities, man.

[smartass_captain]

"Holy fuck." Jim stops dead in his tracks.

"It is? Her fucking birthday is the same time as her world is exploding? What the actual cosmic fuck?!"

[aw_hawkguy]

"Yeah, life's got one helluva whack-a-mole game going on her right now. I was thinking we ought to do something for it. Take her out to dinner, or somethin'." It's not often Clint even remembers birthdays, he's gotta make this one special.

[smartass_captain]

Okay everything is suddenly way less important than this revelation. No way is Jim Kirk going to let one of his best friends and completely platonic cuddle buddy not have fun on her birthday.

"Okay. What's she like?" Jim knows a few places in the commercial district but it occurs to him he hasn't really had much to eat with Verity that wasn't Nexus pastries from her maybe-boyfriend.

Usually it's just coffee. Or Booze.

"We gotta go all out, man. Do something so good she won't remember to mourn for a night."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Um. Uh." Think, Barton, what does Verity like? "She likes... honesty? And... wine. Crap, I'm bad at this. We could take her out to dinner somewhere? Somewhere nice, not another bumper-pool bar."

[smartass_captain]

"Somewhere nice, with a wine list that won't quit." JIm affirms, looking thoughtful. "I don't think we should take her to your world. Too soon."

Jim's pacing back and forth now while he thinks aloud.

"Somewhere over the top fancy at the Nexus? We could go all out and do a formal wear thing, treat her like royalty. Otherwise, I learned about a crazy upscale place recently on a diplomatic mission. Front row seats to a nearby galaxy that lights up the night sky. Place is built like an old earth Planetarium, complete with a clear domed roof that gives you this feeling of being out under the stars."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Oh, hey, that sounds good. She loved the view on the ship, add in fancy dinner and that sounds like she'd love it."

[smartass_captain]

"It's formal wear. Think you can clean up okay?" Jim grins because really, neither one of them is suit and tie preferable.

But in this case, the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many, and Verity having a good birthday this year in particular is more important than their collective comfort.

"I'll get us reservations, then go get myself something that isn't Starfleet's dress uniform."

[aw_hawkguy]

"Hey, I look great in a tux. Cumberbatch and everything. And I won't be fighting a circus full'a crooks this time."

Clint grins. "Need a tux? I know a place."

What he means is my sharp dressed icons are not tuxes.

[smartass_captain]

"You? In a tux?" Jim laughs. "Shit, I bet you look great, actually." This is going to be interesting to say the least.

"I'll pass on a tux. If we match then I'm gonna look like the scrawny little bro. I got this."

It does not occur to Jim in the slightest that Verity may want..you know...notice? That he's taking her out to a suit and tie affair for her birthday? He is really very bad at this. All Verity will get from Jim is a passing pat on the shoulder next time he sees her in the Forum and the phrase, "Suit up, we're taking you to dinner, Birthday girl."

Just because he's a genius doesn't mean he's smart.

Re: What he means is my sharp dressed icons are not tuxes.

[aw_hawkguy]

Fair enough. "Scrawny? You?" Clint chuckles. "Pull the other one."

Clint has to admit, he wonders what the future does to tuxedos. Are they really timeless, or will Jim's puttin' on of the Ritz be totally out there?

[smartass_captain]

"Not all of us look like we could bench press T-Rexes before breakfast." If Jim is impressed by Clint and Barney, he's going to shit bricks when he meets Steve Rogers.

If Clint is now imagining Jim in some kind of Fifth Element gaudy spacedrag, it is best if Jim never ever finds out.

[aw_hawkguy]

That is exactly what Clint is imagining. And maybe a forehead dome and emo-combover thing, like Gary Oldman had. Don't do it, Jim!

"Heh, I'm not all that buff."

[smartass_captain]

"If you say so." The Avengers regimen is clearly more intensive than Starfleet's.

"What day is it? I'll go grab those reservations now."

[aw_hawkguy]

"October first," Clint answers. "As far away from April Fool's day as you can get, she said. So we probably shouldn't get a birthday clown."

[smartass_captain]

"Pretty sure we're all the clowns she needs." Jim snorts, but he's heading back toward his door. Comms are great, but not so great they work between dimensions.

"The first. Got it. We'll meet at my door around six?"

[aw_hawkguy]

Clint grins as well. "Around six. I'll be there."

[smartass_captain]

"Make sure you bring the guest of honor."

There's work to do, Captain!

[aw_hawkguy]

"Aye-aye, Captain!" Clint throws a mock-salute.