View source for 14245/Put on your war paint

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2022/03/30
|Location=R and D Labs, The Triskelion
|Synopsis=Clint and Nick get a personal arsenal upgrade, and try to recruit Bucky for Team Bird. Shenanigans ensue.
|Cast of Characters=137,229,9039
|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:137|Clint Barton (137)}} has posed:'''<br>The R&amp;D at SHIELD is rather quiet at this time of day, which is in the evening. A few agents and operatives are busy looking over blueprints, others are actually trying and testing new equipment.<br><br>Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, is in a serious conversation with one of the top engineers and both men are examining the latest piece of equipment, placed on a metal table, to be added to the archer's personal arsenal. This should improve the overall capacity of the quivers.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:229|James Barnes (229)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"... which they tell me is some sort of dendrotoxin, whatever that is." The voice is unmistakable as it drifts down the corridor into the labs. Along with the steady footsteps that seem to tick out a metronome pace, and the way the unlocked door is casually opened so quickly the hinges protest, all hint that a certain soldier has decided to pay a visit. And this time, he's not alone. He is, in fact, keeping the door open for a visitor. "All I know is it knocks people out. Just don't get Fitz or Simmons started on the details, we want to be out of here this week."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's only when he has properly entered that Bucky can see the well known archer extraordinaire among the living and those present. Although he had no doubt about the former, he had all but given up on the latter. "Clint! Goats finally let you go?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9039|Nick (9039)}} has posed:'''<br>Stepping through the door held by Bucky, Nick glances to the taller friend. "I think 'dendro' means tree so I'm guessing that's where they got the toxin from?" Nick susses out. He starts looking around the lab, and in the oft story manner, he starts looking in the wrong direction. <br><br>Hearing Bucky's greeting, Nick turns his head in the direction he sees Bucky looking. Recognizing the archer, Nick's curious neutral tone lightens a bit as he gives a smile of greeting and a half wave. "Hey, you feeling better?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:137|Clint Barton (137)}} has posed:'''<br>The conversation is suddenly interrupted, when Clint hears a familiar voice calling him. A large grin appears on the archer's face, as he looks over his shoulder, nodding at James Barnes.<br><br>While he's used to working and fighting along all sorts of heroes, Hawkeye finds that working along the Winter Soldier is amazingly efficient. And usually funny, once you disregard the bloodbaths left behind.<br><br>"Hey, I don't want to /know/ what's your thing 'bout goats, but it's good to see you, brother in arm."<br><br>Now turning to face the entering men, the archer motions for them to come closer. "Hey Nick, yeah, I'm A-1, I mean, apart from some bruises and cuts, I should survive. Again."<br><br>Clint keeps toying with a small piece of equipment in his hand. Looking at the archer's face, you'd think he just opened a real cool Christmas gift.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:229|James Barnes (229)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The oft grim features of James Barnes split into a warm smile as the joke is returned. Yup, that's Clint alright, and in fine fettle by the sounds of things. And, it seems, finally getting an upgrade. Which, of course, draws Bucky's attention. How could it not? "What you got there? Double stack quiver? Finally going high capacity?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And while a lot of people would joke about someone bringing a bow to a battle, most people have never seen just how effective Hawkeye can be with one. A mistake most people only make once... and Bucky has spent enough time by Clint's side to dismiss the notion. "Good to have you back, man. Place was getting to be drab without you." It's said at the same moment Bucky's right hand lands on Clint's shoulder, a companionable gesture.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So drab, in fact, they've green lit an op I've put together. So, watch out later on for flying pigs."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9039|Nick (9039)}} has posed:'''<br>Hearing Clint's greeting to Bucky, Nick's lips tighten as he works to suppress his laughter. He opts not to look directly at Bucky, or the shining example for Clint's exclusion of the plural. He glances down for a moment before looking to Clint again, urge to laugh now suppressed. "Was the Tylenol and Coffee enough? Oh did you encounter Diablo again on your own terms?"<br><br> Nick steps closer, looking over to the item in the archer's hand curiously, glancing back to Bucky as he guesses to what it is that Clint got. "...or Ravens." He tags on to Bucky's comment.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:137|Clint Barton (137)}} has posed:'''<br>"And it's good to be back, you'll have to tell me about your next ops, I might be interested," Clint replies, visibly meaning it. "And yeah, on my way back, I kind of ravenbacked it." He chuckles, nodding at Nick, unsure of how much James knows about Drago. "Tylenol and coffee did the trick, Nick. No Diablo, but some companionship that's worth more than Stark's empire."<br><br>While speaking, the archer keeps rolling the small piece of equipment in his hand. As for many specialized arrow heads in his arsenal, the archer came up with the basic idea, then the engineers - as usual -brought it to reality.<br><br>"Naw, the quiver is already at full operational capacity," he says, "Which is the problem. So I came up with this idea."<br><br>As he speaks, Clint holds the piece in his hand so his friends can see what it is. The thing really looks like the fletching end of an arrow, and nothing more. Then, hitting one of the extremities of the piece against his free hand, the fletching suddenly extends. In a split second, an automated telescopic arrow emerges from the fletching end. "See? Now, I'll be carrying way more arrows. We just need to fix everything together."<br><br>Clint then turns a moment, to place the arrow on the table, then faces his companions. "So, what brought you here, guys?" he wonders.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:229|James Barnes (229)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's no look of surprise or even one of incomprehension when Clint mentions traveling via raven. But some explanations are best given over a few beers. It'll keep. "Good, 'cause I'm going to need the best team we can get. Going after one of HYDRA's recruiting operations. I'll send you the details." Tylenol and coffee? There's one for the notebook... just when he thought he'd caught up with all the modern euphemisms.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is, however, a look of surprise when the flights turn into a full blown arrow, and a whistle at the ingenuity of it. "You know, I don't know how they come up with these things. These people..." and he actually gives a look around the lab, pointing a nigh accusing finger at all the technicians in a sweeping gesture "... have way too much time on their hands. Keep that up."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His own reason for being here? That's to be found on the gun rack, a fairly normal looking pistol, just fresh off the assembly. Complete with a rack number etched into the slide next to a small stylized raven. He picks up the ICER, and three magazines, then spins the weapon around in his hand and offers it to Nick along with the magazines in his other hand. "Here. If it's tree toxin, you'll feel right at home with it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9039|Nick (9039)}} has posed:'''<br>"Ok." Nick opts not to pry any further to the alternative to running into Diablo. He is quite certain he doesn't need the details. And him getting the details will likely end Clint.<br><br>So when Clint holds out the piece of fletching to demonstrate what they did, Nick watches curiously. Brows raising as it expands, Nick tilts his head a bit. "That's interesting. But does that affect how the arrow flies at all?"<br><br>The movement of Bucky away from the other two causes Nick to look back over to the soldier. Watching him bring the weapon back. Nick doesn't reach for it. Instead looking to it as Bucky holds it to him. He glances up at the Tree toxin joke. "Ha...ha...ha..." Joke aside, he reaches over to take the offered item, taking a moment to study it. "...A raven mark? Really?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:137|Clint Barton (137)}} has posed:'''<br>Sighing, the archer nods at Nick, who just pointed out the small remaining detail to be worked on for the telescopic arrows, "Yeah, there's still some tweaking to be done on the balance and general weight. But we'll fix it. Hydra's recruits will make perfect target practice."<br><br>Ah, so Nick is getting his own weapon, which makes sense if he's going to join in missions. The actual status of Nick Drago within SHIELD isn't quite clear yet in his mind, and, a hand scratching the back of his head for a moment, Clint makes a mental note to read - not just pretend to -the danged AARs of the last six months.<br><br>"What about toxin?" the archer inquires, "Good ol' bullets won't do?" He looks between his two companions, eyebrow raised. "I hate guns, but yeah, that's a nice-looking peashooter. With a raven to boot." And then a large grin slowly appears on his face, and try as he may, Hawkeye can't but add. "Now, all SHIELD will call us the Birdies: the Hawk, the Raven? and you," he turns to James, trying to look serious, "I dunno. Would anyone try to call you Tweety?"<br><br>At that, Clint slightly steps back, just out of reach of the Winter Soldier, because, friends or not, James' punches leave marks, and the archer already has enough bruises.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:229|James Barnes (229)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For a moment, it's as if nobody dares to move, while Bucky stops looking at how Nick is handling the ICER, and slowly swivels his head over towards Clint. The rest of him follows about twenty degrees behind, until a pair of icy blue eyes are looking at the archer, with an unreadable expression. Uh oh... was this a step too far? "I can say, with all honesty, that so far in my entire life, nobody... and I do mean nobody... has ever called me Tweety." And just as slowly, he reaches into a pocket, withdraws his notebook, flips it open to a fresh page, and makes a notation. "Note. Beware of puddytats..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The notebook closes with a snap, and the icy expression turns to a smile. "Now all we need to do is get the Falcon involved and we've got ourselves a whole aviary."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9039|Nick (9039)}} has posed:'''<br>"I don't like guns as is." Nick says in response to Clint's question regarding 'good old bullets'. He tilts his head towards Bucky in indication, "But he seemed insistent on it. And-" <br><br>The question about about bird names causes for him to look towards James curiously, quietly watching as Bucky gives Clint that stare. But once that's settled he considers actual possibilities. "Well, he can't do anything owl related. That one's used too. And Gotham's kind of cornered the market on some bird names too. Maybe Vu- No. Taken. Goshawk seems a bit close to Hawk in terms...Eagle's kind of reserved too."<br><br>He's spending way too much time as it is on this topic. "Oh. He could be an Osprey."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:137|Clint Barton (137)}} has posed:'''<br>The archer follows suit with suggestions, "Hrm," he starts, faking intense thinking, "Whatabout, Vulture?" Then, Clint seems to freeze for a moment, as it hits him. "Buzzard! Yes, Ol' Buzzard! What do you think?"<br><br>Feeling that testing the Winter Soldier's sense of humour might soon reach its limit - if not already done - Clint raises a hand, as if to ward any retaliation.<br><br>"Serious, man, it's good to see you," he says, and looking at Nick, adds, "You guys should come to my place some day, to have a beer and relax." Then, he gets serious again, remembering what Winty said about the ops, "Any idea when we'll go at them?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:229|James Barnes (229)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Beer forgives many sins." And with that, Bucky seems to draw a line under the attempt to recruit him for the bird folk. Sometime in the past that might have worked, but all the birds of prey have been taken, and he's too proud of his non-regulation haircut to be a Bald Eagle, the only bird he'd ever think to represent. And it seems his sense of humor has held, testament to his far more relaxed attitude to life these days. Must be all the therapy... or most likely Lilli. Lilli would disapprove of him having a sense of humor failure. "Op's a go soon. Need to get the last of the ducks in a row. You don't just raid the Department of Homeland Security without a really good plan." Wait, what?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It seems there's no further details on that, and instead he watches Nick handle the pistol. "So, when's the last time you fired a handgun, Nick? What's your best group?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9039|Nick (9039)}} has posed:'''<br>"I'd have to know where the place is to come by some day to have that beer." Nick returns back with a smile, repeating the issue that led to Nick compromising on where he dropped Clint off last time.<br><br>The jaw clenches to the mention of DHS but when Bucky inquires to his experience with a gun gives a sigh, shifting the gun in hand to hand it back to Bucky properly. "Never." He answers, "So...guess that makes the group question a bit hard to answer. So. If you really insist on me having that, I'm probably going to need a lot of practice."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:137|Clint Barton (137)}} has posed:'''<br>All jokes aside, Barton can stay quiet - at times - and keep his mouth shut when required. Especially when classified information, or plans details are mentioned. Of course, he got it. Dang, the Homeland Security. What the hell is going on? He'll have to do some digging around to get the fine details about what's going on.<br><br>At Nick's mention that he never used a gun, the archer whistles softly, considering the practice time Drago might be forced to do.<br><br>"We have the best to teach you, Nick," he says, then looking at James, "Winty here can teach you like no one."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:229|James Barnes (229)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blink. Slowly, sloooooowly, Bucky reaches over with his left hand to gentle take hold of the pistol he'd just given Nick, and carefully lift it away from the drummer's grip. "Yeah, maybe I'll hang onto this for a little while until we got you some time on the range." And he nods at Clint. "As long as people have half a brain, I can teach 'em."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Does he eye Nick speculatively?<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He eyes Nick speculatively, while also going through a pistol clearing drill at the same time.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Tomorrow, bright and early, I'll book the range for a day."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9039|Nick (9039)}} has posed:'''<br>Nick smiles, giving a nod at Bucky's assessment as he takes the gun the musician offered back to him. "Yeah." Nick replies giving a quick nod. <br><br>"I'm not sure what you were expecting when I told you several times that I don't like guns but there..." He pauses, "You might want to show me where the hell the range is around here too."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:229|James Barnes (229)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, don't worry..." and at that, Bucky grins. "I'll come find you. Bright and..." significant pause. "... early."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9039|Nick (9039)}} has posed:'''<br>The musician nods. Ok so a jam session only instead of music it's with guns.<br><br>Gun Jam.<br><br>Ok bad choice of words. But at least it wasn't said out loud. <br><br>Either way, weird sleep schedules does not phase Nick for Nick- Is an entertainer.<br><br>"Alright." Nick agrees, giving a nod, "I'll have the coffee ready."<br> <br>
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