OOM: afternoon coffee

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Even people who pride themselves on supporting independent shops end up at Starbucks sometimes.

There's one within walking distance of Steve and Orpheus's apartment -- there are more than one if you're up to walking a bit more -- so Steve brings Felix there, so he can see what it's all about if nothing else.

It's a quiet Sunday afternoon. Steve has his sketchbook, but he hasn't opened it yet in favor of looking through a copy of the Express someone left on the table instead.

Comments

[mr_gaeta]

"Yeah," says Gaeta with a faintly wistful sigh. He takes another sip of his drink; now that he's expecting it -- and has classified the drink away from coffee and more toward dessert -- the sweetness is much more tolerable. "We didn't have anything quite that diverse where I was from. I mean, it was a nice neighborhood, but not exactly cosmopolitan."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"New York is the world in miniature," Steve says fondly.

He sighs. "I like DC but it's not the same as Brooklyn."

[mr_gaeta]

"What are some of the big differences?"

Curious.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"It's a lot more formal," Steve says. "The way the city is laid out, the way people dress -- so many people work for the government it's like living in a one-industry town."

He huffs. "Of course, technically, so do I."

[mr_gaeta]

He studies Steve.

"Still adjusting to the job?" Quiet.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve nods.

"I thought it would be a lot like being back in the army. But it's more clandestine. A lot more...picking up the pieces."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus generally does not support Starbucks, but he knew Steve and Felix were going to be there, so after an early morning set on the corner nearby, he makes his way in, glancing over the shop until he spots them and giving a brief wave before heading for the counter to place his order.

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta smiles, returning the wave before glancing back to Steve.

"Any chance of a reassignment or promotion eventually?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve waves too.

(Yes, he still get the "I'm so ridiculously in love" look after all this time.)

"I don't know if that's the answer. I'm still a captain -- that's a pretty high rank. As for reassignment...I don't know where I'd go."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus just gets a drip coffee, so after a quick stop to add sugar, he brings it over to their table and sets his guitar aside.

"Why are you going somewhere?"

[mr_gaeta]

"I was just asking him about reassignment options," says Gaeta. "If there are even any to take. Hey, Orpheus."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Hey, honey," Steve murmurs and gives Orpheus's hand a squeeze.

"I'm just venting my disillusionment at Felix. How was busking?"

[golden_lyre]

"Ah," Orpheus says, nodding his greeting to Felix before squeezing Steve's hand in return.

"It was...profitable." Which is a fairly bland description of what his work generally is.

[mr_gaeta]

"Better than the alternative," offers Gaeta, gesturing to Orpheus with his frappucino.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Pull up a chair, set a spell," says Steve, snagging one for Orpheus.

He tells Felix, "He makes money even when he doesn't put a hat out. People just flock to him. It's amazing."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus laughs softly as he takes his seat, setting it up nearish to Steve, coffee resting on the table for the moment.

He shrugs at the description of his playing, not shrugging off the compliment, just showing it a fair assessment. "I could not make money if I tried," he says with a faint smile.

[mr_gaeta]

"But only if you actually tried?" asks Gaeta, clearly amused. "What would you have to do, physically beat them back with a stick?"

He gives his drink another stir; everything's starting to melt a little, making it a hell of a lot easier to combine.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve leans back in his chair, smiling, and has a sip of his coffee.

"Pretty much what it takes," he remarks with a glance at Orpheus, and he flips another page of the Express.

[golden_lyre]

"Hey, now," Orpheus says, mock offended. "I can play them to stinginess if I want. I don't have to resort to violence."

He grins then, and takes a sip of his coffee. "Though the stick option is far more entertaining. Maybe I should hire you for that, lovely."

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta hides a snicker behind his drink.

"Your own personal bodyguard," he deadpans. "How romantic."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Wasn't there a movie about that?" Steve says absently, frowning at the magazine.

He hands it to Orpheus. "What d'you make of that?"

[golden_lyre]

"Possibly?" He didn't see the movie, at least.

He takes the magazine and glances over the article. "Well," he says after a moment. "That's...new."

[mr_gaeta]

The humor fades from Gaeta's face.

"What is it?" he asks.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"There's a museum called the Smithsonian," Steve says. "It holds...pretty much everything that Americans find important.

"They're going to do an exhibit about Captain American and the Howling Commandos."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus reaches over a hand to lay it on Steve's thigh, squeezing a bit. "Eventually, being the subject of exhibits becomes less odd," he says by way of comfort.