pursuitofcappiness | inbox

[ She'd meant to do this sooner and then everything had kind of fallen apart and she felt guilty if she'd inadvertently caused Steve any grief. Once things were about as handled as they could be in the other aspects of her life, Julia adjusting to having magic again with a barely formed clear purpose and direction... She'd set out to correct some unintentional wrongs.

With a lot of help, she'd put together a somewhat over the top basket of art supplies - covering multiple mediums and weights of paper. She'd been able to put together some of it, the memories of when she'd thought she was an architect bubbling up. But, blueprints and renderings for building designs left her knowledge of the more colorful elements lacking. She ends up with charcoals, pastels, acrylic paints, oil and watercolor paints, pencils, varying sizes of paint knives and brushes, palettes, and one box of cheap markers she'd thrown in to be a smart ass. Honestly, if she'd been able to find one of those containers ever kid in the 90s had with the super cheap art supplies, she absolutely would have thrown it into the basket. Lastly, she includes an assortment of teas and coffees as a final nod to how they'd met. The package is delicately wrapped and bundled for transport, having had it delivered to him after doing some investigating of her own and asking very sweetly around town. Amazing what a library manager can track down when she puts some effort into it - especially when she shared what she wanted delivered. Attached to the basket is a handwritten note, finding it more personal than a text. ]

Thank you for being a very good friend to a total stranger when I needed one. Meant to send this sooner, but I got sent home for a little bit. [ And that had been a lot. Putting together the basket had honestly been a welcome distraction. ] Hope you enjoy and if you're willing to meet me at Jane Dough Bakery and Cafe tonight, I'd love the chance to talk. As us.

- Jules

[ Steve isn't expecting to find anything on his front porch, but definitely isn't expecting to find a basket full of art supplies. It's all stuff he could put to use, too - even the cheap markers. He could make paint if he really needed.

He expects it's from Sodder, and eyes it suspiciously, but then smiles when he sees that it's, in fact, actually from Julia.

He doesn't have the heart to tell her that even though he'd gone to art school, he'd joined the military instead and his life had gone on a completely different trajectory, one that he supposes never happened had he been on the Titanic.

Before he sends the picture in the envelope, he handwrites a letter and drops it off in her mailbox. ]

Julia -
No thanks were needed, but the gifts were appreciated all the same. I'll make sure they're put to good use. What time is good tonight? I'm free after 4 so my schedule's pretty open.

See you later tonight.

If it's more convenient, here's my number. [ Insert a number here ]

- Steve

[ The thought had struck her in Rapture, once she’d had enough time to stop moving and breathe as herself. Once the final clouds of confusion had faded, she’d put the pieces together of who’s room she’d all but invited herself into - even if she’d been too busy to try and introduce herself formally. Q was probably going to freak out when she told him, though. Even if comic books weren’t his big thing, it’d be pretty hard not to have a moment about Captain America here and very real. Smiling at the note, she almost sends him a letter back, but Julia isn’t sure how he’d feel about it magically finding him to make sure he gets it in time. Or if she sent a rabbit. That one definitely needed a little warning.

So she texts, the letter tucked under her arm as she stands outside her house. The upside of her work here is some flexibility with her schedule, considering she’d basically dedicated her life to work while she’d been powerless here, the only contribution she felt she could make being research availability. ]

Hey, it’s Julia. Glad you liked them. I could do 4:30 if that works. I’ll let you know if something changes, but it shouldn’t be an issue.

[ She honestly never knew with her friends, everything seeming to be one crisis after another. But, if she gave Margo a heads up, she might be able and willing to run interference just in case it’s needed. Not that she really wanted to drag Margo into this and give her the wrong ideas. Alright, maybe not. It’ll be fine. ]

[ He fires off a quick text that 4:30 is fine for him, and practically runs into the bakery as he'd been running late from grading papers. He looks to be in a rush, but pauses when he sees Julia. His mouth spreads into a smile as he makes his way in. ]

Can I get you something? Coffee? Pastry?

The danishes are good.

[ Returning to the 2020s, Steve feels like one of the main sellers of this decade, aside from the technology and social advances and everything, was the food. It might not have been true for the first-class passengers, but Steve was definitely in the mood to indulge in pastries, and he'd be happier for the company in consuming them. ]

[ Julia had managed to stop at home and drop off a stack of books, not wanting to bring them with her to the coffee shop. She'd also had a chance to change, with some input from Margo. It's been a minute since she's met up with anyone for coffee, even if this is just casual. Her enchanted black heels give her some height while feeling like tennis shoes. Without the spell, she'd still have managed a full day in heels considering her life before she'd found out about magic. But, it was so much easier this way.

She'd gotten there a few minutes early to collect herself and peruse the menu before spotting Steve. The lack of corsets and return of technology and her memories has been... It was good to be back. Relaxing a little when she sees Steve, she matches his smile - her hands slipping comfortably into the pockets of her sweater. ]

Coffee and a danish sounds perfect. Should I grab a table for us? [ It wasn't crowded, which is something Julia was grateful for -- not wanting to have to shout to have a conversation. There were times when busy coffee shop energy was a welcome escape, today wasn't it. She was ready to sink into a comfortable chair and spend some time getting to know another person without the burden of fake memories and an outside pressure driving her to speed things along to keep them both safe. ]

Yeah, sounds good.

[ He does notice that she's dressed nicely - he isn't sure if she is just like this, or if she made an effort for him, but he appreciates it all the same. Having just come from work, he's still in a pair of slacks and a shirt that's barely caging in his chest and shoulders, tie tied around his neck. Hard to believe he teaches health class of all things. ]

Do you prefer cheese or cherry?

[ He's got a better idea. ]

--Nevermind, I'll get both. We'll split.

[ Steve hasn't had time to do any preparation but to spritz on a little cologne, which, also being a gym teacher, he keeps a bottle in his desk.

Since nothing needs to be heated, he brings everything quickly to the table and takes a seat opposite her. ]

You look-- you look good. I uh, guess I couldn't picture you not wearing one of the big dresses.

[ Can you tell he doesn't often talk to women like this? ]

[ There were pieces of the life she'd lived on the Titanic that had held some truth. She has an overbearing mother with enough power to ruin her life over and over if everything wasn't perfect from the outside. Being concerned about her outward appearance has been second nature since high school - getting into Ivy League schools, having the perfect apartment, going to all the parties, family dinners... She'd relaxed a lot, though. Since everything happened. Now she took the time dress however she wanted, even being seen in sweatpants around the house with Margo.

She grabs a table as he makes the decision about the danishes and she can't help but softly laugh as she watches. Before she can offer to help, he's back and she takes a moment to admire the spread before she's caught off guard by the compliment. She'd be dumb to not have also appreciated his work outfit while he was ordering for them. If she hadn't, she's pretty sure Margo would have felt a disturbance in the force.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she can't help but return the kind words. ]

Thanks, you look good too. [ The slightest hint of a dewy forest scent follows her motions as she wraps her hands around her cup of coffee. Something that had been masked on the Titanic. ] This is all much more my speed. I do what I can to break the expected Librarian look. [ While she disliked that word because of back home, it wasn't the same here. It didn't carry the same weight and the more she used it, the easier it was to continue working on re-associating the word with positive memories. ]

Stairs are also way less hazardous without the extra layers.

I can't imagine it. Especially not on a boat.

[ And particularly not with those fabrics that are essentially plastic - especially at the end, when everyone went into the water. No, best not to think about that too hard. ]

Good to see you're doing okay.

[ After Rapture? Yeah, it had been a rough few months for everyone, he thinks, even considering the usual effects of Deerington. But they're all back now, more or less, and hopefully things calm down so they can get back to the important stuff. He knows it won't last - it's the eye of an eye of a storm, and no one's even been able to figure out what sort of things are possible or impossible here.

He can afford to take the night off. ]

Didn't know you were a librarian.

I teach, at the high school. Get most of my books from the school library, or I would've dropped by.

[ Yeah... That had been a new level of horrific. She almost asks how it worked out for him, but that suddenly felt far more personal than she was ready to get. Especially if he didn't make it off the ship. ]

You too. Felt weird to be away from this place for two months.

[ She'd missed it. Which felt wrong. But, it had thrown her off to not remember her life again - living a lie. Part of her wonders if Rapture would have been easier to deal with if she hadn't been herself again. Probably not.

Picking off a piece of the cheese danish, she smiles - a lift to her eyebrows at his job title. They haven't exactly had a chance for her to confess just how much she actually knows about him, how much of it is true... But, if he's happy with working at the High School, that's all that matters. This place gave her a chance at trying to find some normalcy when circumstances at home were out of her control. Her job had been a saving grace when she was powerless. It gave her something to do to help people. She wasn't going to judge anyone else for what they did in between the shitstorms around here, Superhero, Former Goddess, Magician, or whatever. Before she can stop herself -- ]

Well, now that you know I'm there, maybe you'll come visit me the next time you need something. Or if you just want to stop by and chat.

[ Not the boldest thing she could say, but it's out there. Popping the danish bite into her mouth, she doesn't hold back the small sound of happiness at the flavors. She might have to make a point to stop here more often for more than just coffee. ]

Good call on getting both danishes. [ Because she's coming for the cherry one next. ]

[ No, he hadn't made it off the boat but it's not the first time that he'd knowingly drowned in the ocean, in the freezing cold. He also assumes that as a first-class woman that she'd made it out alive, but he'd also chosen to go down with the ship.

That's over now, anyway, and he'd rather move on, because despite all the flaws of this place, he didn't hate it here.

Mostly it was the knowing that the world behind didn't move while they were here that kept him going. He opens his mouth as if to make comment about the same thing, how this place had almost felt like home in comparison, but-- ]

I-- sure.

[ He pauses holding a piece of pastry in his hand as if he's not sure that he heard her correctly, because it seemed like she was shyly trying to offer him another chance of seeing her. ]

Yeah, maybe we could. Talk.

[ He can feel how awkward he is. ]

And you know, you can always come to me if you need anything. We all kind of have to deal with this place together.

[ He cracks a smile. ]

Maybe this time we won't need to sneak around.

[ Did anyone overhear that? ]

[ She'd gotten a spot on one of the last boats or more accurately, had been shoved onto one of the last boats after spending too much time running around trying to help other people. The guilt of taking the spot stuck with her, part of her wishing she hadn't had to witness it going down.

Just something else to add to the vault of things to keep her up at night, honestly.

And then as suddenly as she feels like she can see the Captain peeking through, he slips back into Steve and her lips curve up into a smirk, easily falling into the playful banter - grateful for transition once again towards something lighter than where this all could have gone. She understood protectiveness through and through, appreciated the words - but she was in a better position to take care of herself now than she was two months ago. But, there were still some things that having some help would be great for... She didn't want to only reach out to him for shit like that, though. Just have some fun and keep things casual - keep it from suddenly changing the dynamic between them. ]

It'll certainly be easier to see you without having to peek around corners or listen for certain voices. [ The stakes are just so much lower now. It wasn't a big deal anymore if someone saw them together and jumped to conclusions because she didn't care what other people thought of her. She leans in, acting like she's sharing a secret. ]

The whole thing was a little thrilling, though. [ An adrenaline rush without it being life or death. A nice change of pace. ]

[ He thought that maybe her being so close to him would be uncomfortable, but he finds that he looks her in the eyes and just, trusts.

There had been a sort of air of danger to the situation, and a romantic sort of tone, but in the most foolish way. Because as much as it'd felt like a game, it hadn't been. But in knowing now the inevitability of the sinking, it feels like such a small thing to have ever been worried about. He wonders if he'll feel this way about Deerington someday.

He wonders if he should maybe stop worrying so much about little things. ]

I could throw pebbles at your window.

[ If she still wanted to play like they were kids sneaking out of the house after dark. He used to, with Bucky - okay, he still does, but there's less being clandestine and no rocks being thrown, more like texts being sent and locking up the front door and climbing over the fence between their houses. He does admit, there's something nostalgic about the way it used to be.

Then, cracking a smile, definitely joking, he offers: ]

I could put on the accent.

[ The stakes had been incredibly high and they all came crashing down around her in a very horrible way that had left her reeling. And then she'd snapped out of it all and the ship had quickly followed suit. Literally. Julia wasn't mad about the romantic air their first exchange had taken on, even if she'd only imagined it. It felt electric and captivating and she'd wanted a chance to try again without the illusion of status standing in the way. Even if nothing comes from this coffee meeting, she was done with missed opportunities - part of her new resolution after losing Q back home... She was taking control of her life again.

And that was going to happen here, too. Julia was going to take the proverbial bull by the horns and see what happened.

The nostalgic suggestion has her previously conspiratorial smirk softening. ]

We could also write letters. In case the pebbles don't work. The windows to my bedroom may be a little hard to reach. The room in the attic had the most space for a growing book collection. [ Not impossible for the most determined, but her room had its downsides for late night romantic moments. Besides, she liked the tactile idea of letters, having something tangible to collect soothed the book lover in her. ]

As for the accent-- [ A highly inappropriate comment almost slips out, one that might've made a few of her friends proud. Instead, she shakes her head - taking a sip of her coffee before finding a different direction for her response. It's gentle, easily picking on the joke. ] I'll leave that up to you.

[ Alright, maybe not the accent. And, letters? He hasn't sent one of those since he woke up out of the ice. Actually, despite how much of his life had been analogue, and how determined SHIELD was to keep it that way, he modernized sufficiently well and is even coming around to the whole emojis thing.

But, letters, he could do. He remembers not having anyone at home for when he went off to war, and no family left; all the envelopes had turned into bills and notices and flyers; but before that he remembers being a kid, and getting a letter was sometimes the most exciting thing that could happen in a day. He would sit down when his feet would barely touch the ground, and sound out all the words, following the loops and whorls of his grandfather's script.

Now that was a lot of nostalgia he hadn't been expecting. ]

Guess your alter-ego was a little more different to you than mine was to me. You never mentioned you like to read.

[ He doesn't realize that he's also leaned in a bit so they're sitting closer together in this booth, easier to hear, more able to drop their voices and keep the conversation intimate while being surrounded by other patrons; it was almost like they didn't exist at all. ]

Let me guess, you're a fan of... historical fiction?

...Serial mysteries?

[ One day she'll send him the crab with knife gif reaction in honor of Fen, but it'll have to be just the right moment. Her head cants to the side for a moment, thinking about the other Julia she'd been so sure was real. ]

It was like pieces of my life had been blown up to outrageous levels. Although, I have a hard time believing that my mother wouldn't have been too different from what I remembered when we were on the ship if she'd been alive in that time period. [ The woman wasn't a saint and while Julia had lived a privileged life, it had come with a personal cost. Her mom had just been elected to the board of the Met when she'd gotten in trouble with Marina, with the hedges. Having to lie so she wouldn't have to explain magic to her family. It was easier to hide away a problem in a rehab facility in the name of protecting a reputation.

But then, any tension she might've had at the thought of her family melts away as he starts to guess on her favorite books. Offering a hum of approval, she lets her gaze drop to her cup before lifting it again to meet his. ]

Historical anything, honestly. I'm a sucker for dead languages. [ She'd accepted that about herself awhile ago. And once she'd found out what her discipline was, it all made sense. ] Serial mysteries, high fantasy -- anything that involved world-building. It used to be an escape for my best friend and I at home - Quentin. [ She can't remember if she'd mentioned the name when she'd basically broken into his room on the ship, ready to expand on Q further if he asks. But what she was saying now was true. It had been the healthiest coping mechanism for both of them. She just grew out of it a lot faster than Q.

Giving a soft laugh, she almost feels ridiculous sharing any of this with someone who was still basically a stranger to her... But-- ] We both had shitty home lives and books... We'd re-create places from the stories in my backyard, running around pretending we were the Chatwins from this one book series, Fillory and Further. Fighting The Watcher Woman or sneaking past Trolls or stealing a pirate ship to go to the Secret Sea.

[ And it had been an incredible fantasy story until it wasn't. Until it was very real and very dangerous and heartbreaking. Not ready to go down that road, wanting to enjoy the little bit of blissful nostalgia - she lets her brows draw in curiosity. She wanted to learn more about him, the real him and not what was portrayed on the screen or in comic books. ] Any favorite books or authors for you?

I can understand that, my best friend and I were the same way.

[ He listens to her, rapt in attention. He hadn't expected her favorite books to be high fantasy, and he finds it cute that she used to play pretend with Q. He had a whole shoebox underneath his childhood bed, full of sketches of him and Bucky on adventures; he was going to write a comic one day-- but maybe that's a story for another time. ]

And I... really love Tolkien. The Hobbit's a favorite of mine, and the other ones are good, even if the Silmarillion reads like a textbook.

Did you know he studied linguistics? Made a bunch of languages, based 'em off of Finnish and Welsh, but they didn't make sense because there was no history, right? So he wrote the whole world full of books just so... he could have a whole language tree.

[ He only says that because he thinks she might be interested, since she likes dead languages. Though, well, Steve had never had the talent for learning those - he only profited on the work from others' passions. ]

--I've never heard of Fillory and Further. Is it at the library?

[ He thinks he might pick it up and do a little light reading. If they're drawn to the same sorts of fiction, he'd trust her recommendation. ]

[ She hadn't been sure what to expect, but it wasn't for him to say Tolkien. Julia finds herself stunned in the best way. This is why she'd wanted to sit down and talk. Just talk like they weren't a superhero and a former goddess meeting up for coffee. And then he's talking about the linguistics behind it all and she's pretty sure if she hadn't been crushing on him before, she was now.

She really should just have 'talk nerdy to me' stamped on her forehead. ]

The imagery in his books can be really beautiful. [ Sometimes more than she'd wanted. But, it all tied together and the attention to detail was insane. Enviable, really, if she'd ever had any aspirations to become an author. ] And sometimes that's all it takes. I'm glad he created that world so he could share it all with us.

[ As for the Fillory books... ]

They're not, but I have a copy of the set from home that you're more than welcome to borrow. Turned out that Fillory is a real place and -- [ She shakes her head, not wanting to ruin the moment by mentioning that Plover wasn't as noble as Tolkien in his intentions with sharing this alternate universe with the world. ] It's complicated, but the books lived up to what we'd dreamed of the first time we set foot there.

[ Everything else fell under the category of 'never meet your heroes'. ] The reality of it all was just a bit darker than we'd expected.

Oh?

[ He looks at her as if she has just told him there might be a possibility that Middle Earth is also real, which he wouldn't have believed until he came to Deerington. ]

I guess it's like fairy tales. They have to change something to tell kids, right?

But I'm happy you got to go see it, even if it's not what you expected.

[ He would love to lose himself in the pages of the books he'd read as a child, maybe he would've been a ward of Gondor, or a dwarf under the mountain. Somehow, he can see Julia's drawing underneath the table with Quentin, somewhere no adults care to look. He feels that. ]

Wonder if we'll do the same thing about this place.

[ His brows furrow a second as he considers something, now that he's realized there are other worlds and that some of them have been fictionalized. Hell, his own story had been written down in comic books and shown in old war films, though little of it had been exaggerated. ]

--Do you think there's a book about this place?

[ And if someone from Middle Earth does show up here... she'll make sure, if she sees them first, to text Steve and tell him. Especially with that look he just gave her. It's endearing and encourages her to live in the nostalgic whimsy for a moment longer. ]

Yeah, it was really magical for the first few moments.

[ And then Umber had removed the patch and she'd kind of gone off the deep end. But, that wasn't a conversation for right now.

She smiles softly, sucking on her lower lip out of habit as she thinks it over. ]

I think there are some truths better left unsaid until everyone's ready. And some that are unavoidable. [ She knew there were kids here and as much as she'd like to be able to find a way to shield them from the horrors, protecting them from the truth wasn't going to stop the horrors from finding them. This place was different, though. It was darker and preyed on weakness like a three-course meal. ]

If there is, it probably won't be that easy to find. Some of the books are pretty garbled so if we were to come across it in the Library, I don't know that we'd recognize it right away.

[ It's more of a royal 'we', not that she'd turn down book hunting with Steve. She's been scouring plenty on her own, though. Slowly. Trying to build a personal catalog of the books with notes for the ones that are more garbled than others. ]

[ He enjoys this chat about literature, but the fact that she seems to know about the book interests him and steers him in a way that he can't ignore. ]

But maybe there's someone who can help look over them; there are so many people here from different backgrounds, maybe we just need more eyes on it. I might know a guy.

[ He might or might not be talking about The Hulk. But he thinks it would be rude to just namedrop someone that Julia clearly doesn't know, right? ]

I'll have to ask him if he's tried. He's a lot smarter than me.

[ Which isn't to say that Julia is not, but he currently is still under the impression that the two of them fit into the category of normal, or roughly fit anyway. Banner, on the other hand? Not remotely. He files that away for now, as he rips off more of the pastry and eats it. ]

[ She doesn't know him, the real him, well enough to dispute what he says about himself. Just taking a sip of her coffee as she watches him over the rim of her cup.

She wasn't quite as much of a social butterfly as Q, doubtful that she'd met whoever Steve was talking about, especially if it was someone from Steve's life at home. ]

That'd be nice, to have another set of eyes or at least another opinion. If you can send me his contact information or give him my name, I'd appreciate it.

[ She'd heard rumors about F.E.A.R. and knew if she did some digging, she'd probably hit a wealth of resources she had no idea about. But, there was also a commitment with F.E.A.R. and risks if things go wrong that she might not be ready for. Not so soon after her encounter with Sodder's Subconscious in Rapture.

Putting down the cup, she props an elbow on the table - resting her chin on her hand. ]

It'd be nice if this was something we didn't have to worry about.

Sure, I-- think I can do that with the device.

[ He pulls his out and knits his eyebrows before sending a contact card over to Julia with Bruce's name on it; if her device isn't on silent, it pings a second before he slots his back into his coat pocket.

He might be kind of a grandpa, but he did at least learn how to use one of these things. ]

I wish we didn't have to deal with any of this either, but... the sooner we figure this out, the sooner we get everyone back home who needs to be.

[ Steve hasn't decided, if the threats were gone with Deerington, whether or not he'll stay. He supposes right now it rests on Bucky - at home, Bucky's a mess, it'll take years before he's stable, and Steve's a fugitive. Even if time moves on now, the Avengers can handle threats without them.

And if time stands still outside, the way that it currently does, then he imagines a lot of people might stick around, at least a little while.

He's not fussed. ]

[ Her device pings from her purse, confirmation that she definitely got it. ]

Perfect, I'll reach out to him and see what we can brainstorm.

[ It wasn't her first time basically cold-calling someone because she was given a name and was pointed in a direction. She sighs, a bittersweet emotion washing over her at the idea of home. Home didn't have her best friend. Home had a string of its own messes, including them figuring out how the fuck to move the moon. Breaking off another piece of pastry, she pops it into her mouth and chews for a moment - debating how to respond. ]

It came up while we were in Rapture, a discussion for people to have the option to stay if they wanted. Once everything is fixed and we're given a choice in the matter. Being here is kind of a blessing of its own. I get to spend time with someone I'll never get to see again once I go home for good.

[ It feels like a big confession, almost a little worried she might scare him off with showing a little more vulnerability than she'd planned over coffee. But, it really felt like it was just them in the coffee shop, the rest of the world kind of tuned out around them. ]

[ He is really dumb when it comes to women, but Steve can read the lines between what Julia says and what she means. He's flattered, more than anything. And - it's true, he probably wouldn't have stopped to talk to her at home, and their social circles and lives would never have otherwise crossed.

It was serendipitous that they met, and pure chemistry that they keep meeting. He'll allow himself to admit that.

Yes, it really would be a shame that they wouldn't get to see each other, but-- ]

--Well, I wouldn't want to keep you from home. Maybe... there'd be a way to travel in between the dimensions.

Maybe I could even come visit your homeworld sometime.

[ If that isn't enough confession that he'd like to just retire and let the world carry on and do whatever the hell it wants with his legacy, then so be it. The world survived for seventy years without him, and it sure doesn't need him now - especially not if they have Tony back, or Bruce, or Thor. Whatever happened to him.

As long as Steve knows they're safe and they're where they belong, that's what matters. ]

[ He technically wasn’t wrong in his assumption, the guess going a happier direction than she’d originally intended. It’s enough to catch her off-guard, a rare blush creeping into cheeks. She was typically way more composed than this. Really.

The thought of being able to jump between dimensions appeals to her. They could create portals in their world between locations, could go to other planes of existence… Hm. ]

That actually seems feasible with the magic from my world, at least. There’d just have to be a way to stabilize it here so circumstances or a surge wouldn’t impact it and send someone off to a place they don’t want to be. [ There were so many pieces that went into a spell, it really could make things unpredictable and dangerous. And she wasn’t sure if there’d be rules placed on people who’d passed away in their own worlds to keep them from returning, that particular bit far beyond her understanding. Even if she’d like to throw a curveball at Hades and see how he likes her creating more chaos. There’s a pang of guilt over Persephone, even if she wasn’t the one in control, having to take a back seat to watch the horror show. She pushes that aside, though. Thinking it over with having Steve in her world. ]

I wouldn’t say no to you coming to visit. [ She leaves that open, meaning both here and in her own world. She doesn’t mention how much people might freak out if he just showed up, real and breathing in her world - that maybe it wouldn’t be the most relaxing retirement plan. ]

A little before he sends the portrait, after she's back from canon update

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