I'll follow behind you on rainbow road

[paragon]

Who: CAPTAIN AMERICA WANTS YOU
Where: The Baromanogerneson Residence (i.e., 5031)
When: May 9th
What: Mario Kart and subversion, two great tastes that taste great together.
Warnings: Please warn in subjects as needed!
[Open]

The thought had formed pretty much as soon as he'd opened the box that was left on the front porch. The people here need a way to talk. There are two rooms in the house where they would be free to do so. He'd come home one day — not long after the body had disappeared from the upstairs bathroom and all the cameras he'd ripped from their wiring between there and the garage had been put back in place in their absence with a friendly maintenance note left behind that all fixtures in need of repair had been seen to, along with a bill for the expenses — to find Natasha sitting on the bed, writing a note in Sharpie. He'd leaned against the door frame and watched her hold it up to the cameras and make a deal: Steve wouldn't break any more cameras, if they give them the privacy of their bedrooms. As there had only been the three of them at the time (despite the insistence in his head that the house has always been filled by his teammates, just as he remembers of the last few years before Wayward Pines), that had meant the master bedroom downstairs, and Bucky's upstairs.

It had actually worked, though Steve wouldn't have trusted the word of whoever's behind the cameras himself if it weren't for Natasha's daily inspections, and so far the deal's held.

But it's not — can't be — a luxury only afforded to them, for their own sakes. He's told others here and there, and he knows his friends have, too. It's not enough, but nor does he have a way to get people over without arousing suspicion. But then there's the Nintendo system. A little unorthodox, as far as his own methods go, but he'll work with anything he has.

He doesn't put it down anywhere in writing, letting news of the party travel by word of mouth and hoping that's enough to keep it out of the wrong ears. At least for now. There's a chance — a good chance — that it will eventually get the Sheriff's attention, but by then it will have had the effect it's supposed to and given the people here the chance to speak to each other truthfully. And if that comes down on anyone, it's gonna be the people prepared to deal with it.

The day of the ninth is a rainy one, a good day to stay inside and play games with friends. It also provides a good excuse to use the master bedroom just off the end of the foyer as a temporary coat room. Straight ahead in the living room, Mario Kart is all ready to go, and in the kitchen next to that, snack food and drinks are available.

((ooc: THIS IS A MINGLE POST. While I will be tagging around with Steve a bit, this is mostly to give people a chance to chat with each other without the cameras watching. Per Natasha's deal with the powers that be, the cameras in the master bedroom and Bucky's room upstairs have been removed. Natasha will be greeting people at the door and taking them on a "tour" (i.e., to the master bedroom to explain the camera situation, why the party's really happening, and that they are not to discuss the lack of cameras while elsewhere in the house). Feel free to wander in there any time for a chat, or simply enjoy some Mario Kart and refreshments! Commenting around is encouraged, and please note in your top-levels whether they're open or closed. If you have any questions for me I can be found on plurk (jeeps) or discord (jeeps#9644).))

Comments

[futureserialkiller]

[ Carl sucks at video games, but he has a very good excuse why.

His lack of an eye, of course. Carl tilts his head and squints at times, but he still keeps hitting the walls, other players, or the banana peels and turtle shells. After only having eleventh place for the bazillionth time, Carl gives up and hands the controller to someone else. ]

Someone else can play.

[ He needs a snack to take his frustrations out of. ]

[arcum]

[ As a man with excellent depth perception he can't help, but feel bad for the kid. But he can compensate. He'll just have to work on it. It's not gonna be easy, but that's part of what makes the world difficult. Sometimes it deals you a raw hand and you have to make it work.

Clint takes the controller and passes it back. ]

Nah. Give it another shot. [ He knows it's all about practice. ] I'll tell you when to shell 'em.

[futureserialkiller]

[ There's a small moment of hesitation and he takes the controller again. ]

Alright.

[ He picks a character at random and tries again. Carl is bumping into other karts again, and is starting to veer into the grassy areas. ]

[arcum]

[ Clint leans forward a little. Watching the kid trying to drive. He's not sure how he can physically compensate with just the one eye. Other than just practicing. Staying alert. Waiting for other stuff to make up for it. ]

Let it rip right--[ He nods. ]--now.

[futureserialkiller]

[ Carl manages to get out of the grassy patch and onto the road. He's doing okay now - still behind and not making much headway. When Carl got a shell, he waits until the moment is right. At the man's suggestion, Carl send the shell rocketing out, hitting the wall or other characters.

Carl speeds up, going past several of the spinning drivers. ]

[arcum]

[ Clint looks damn proud when the kid manages to nail them. When he speeds by them. He tells him when he might need to ease off the gas for a turn. Advises him on when to speed up. When the round finally does end and Carl isn't last he's pretty damn pleased for him. It isn't easy to take that kind of direction so smoothly. ]

Look at that. You kicked loads of ass that time. Good job, man.

[futureserialkiller]

[ Carl leans back on his rear, satisfied. ]

Yeah.

[ It's a small victory, but dammit he's gonna take what he's given. Not dead last, that's for certain. ]

Thanks, man.