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Post by Ray on Jun 29, 2014 17:21:11 GMT -7
Okay. This looks bad. There's a lot to be expected from beach towns in Texas. There were about as many churches as there were bars on every street corner, and someone was always either selling half-priced margaritas or a ticket to heaven. During the summer, the streets were packed with college students from as far away as Canada and high schoolers with plenty of time to waste pretending to be college students. Keggers were a norm, lost families from Minnesota were conned into buying cowboy memorabilia, and everyone had two trucks and a kid on the football team. It wasn't Miami with its flashy Latinas in tiny feathery costumes, because everyone here was Christian. It wasn't Brazil with its soccer, because soccer didn't get you scholarships. And it wasn't really Mexico despite being about a fifty-yard pass from its borders, because everyone here was white, moderately wealthy, and Republican. To be fair, Corpus Christ was about the blandest beach town Clint Barton had been to in a long time, which is probably why he was getting weird looks as he strolled along the business district with a bandage across the bridge of his nose and a quiver slung over one shoulder. What? He needed tape. And his car crapped out on him, again, before he'd even left his driveway. That's probably what he got for buying a 1970 Dodge Challenger impulsively from a redhead with great everything. Also, the arrow still sticking out of the front bumper might have something to do with it. He whistled a tune under his breath as he walked up and down the aisles of the craft store, one arm holding his stuffed quiver steady as he scanned the shelves for anything usable. How many kinds of sequins did one person need? "Hey you got any tape?" He asks the middle-aged woman behind the counter. Her hair is dyed blonde and permed, and she stares at him as if he's a ruffian and thug here to steal her cattle and take her innocence. To be quite honest, she doesn't actually look all too scared by that prospect. In fact, she's eyeing him like one of her romance novels which actually scares him a little. Texan women were weird. He could probably get the tape for free if he started talking longingly about his tractor. He wishes he was joking. "Sorry, hun. We're all outta tape. They got some next door, though." She tells him with a toothy smile, pointing a long manicured nail to the wall behind her. "Next door was closed," Barton frowns a little. "Well you're free to wait here if you want. We have some sweet tea on ice in the back of the shop." She replies, all southern hospitality. "I hate waiting." He sighs out, scratching at the short scruff along his jaw. "What you need tape for, hun?" She asks, lacing her fingers together. "Sticking stuff." "What kinda stuff?" She says it like its a dirty little secret. "Little labels on the nocks of-" Barton explains, and her eyes glaze over like he's just explained quantum physics to her. His lips remain rounded around the word that never falls free, realizing that it was hopeless. "Never mind. You said you had sweet tea?" He leaves five minutes later, slurping down tea through his straw as he strolls back down the street, wondering if there's an Office Max in town somewhere. Two years he's lived here, and he still doesn't have this place figured out. Nat would have had the entire city canvassed four minutes before she even stepped foot into the place, and would be able to give him directions to an underground black market shop selling tape that's illegal in ten countries. Rogers would have already made friends with every small business owner that could get him any kind of tape he wanted with a flash of his award-winning smile. Barton...well, he was Barton. He couldn't even remember to tie his shoes. God, it was hot. Even in a grey t-shirt, he feels like his sweat is sweating. And all he needed was tape. This was too much work. Nothing good ever came from leaving his house on a Monday. He sips more at the icy sweet tea as he halts at a crosswalk, thumbing the button to cross the busy street. He already knows he's going to be waiting for a few hours most likely, a point only made exceedingly better by the kid staring at him with his mouth hanging open as he clutches to his distracted father's hand. Does he really look that bad? Its only a little scrape across his nose, hidden beneath the bandage, and he did shower that morning. His quiver is even zipped closed, making it look more like he's hauling a particularly rectangular guitar rather than a bunch of trick arrows. Barton gives a tight-lipped smile, but the kid just continues to stare. "What?" He blurts out, before he can stop himself. "Are you Iron Fist?" The kid asks slowly. Barton blinks. "Who?" "C'mon Jeremy." The kid's father suddenly barks when the crosswalk light turns green, and drags the poor kid across the road. Barton decides to take a detour, and goes to the left rather than following after. Like he said. This place was weird.
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Post by Snowglobe18 on Jun 29, 2014 18:04:08 GMT -7
"So, wait a minute" Lexi said and glanced over at her cousin. "All of this is just to get away from your dad?" she asked and then pulled her lip in between her teeth before sipping on her drink that they had got from Starbucks. It was actually her favourite place to be, in fact she would live in the place if she could. "Why don't you and Graeme just move to Canada or even England, that's all the rage now" she admitted and then smiled. Teresa scoffed. "I'm pretty sure that my dad would make sure any border was closed so that we wouldn't get into the country" she shook her head before making sure that they were walking in the direction of whatever place they were going too. In honesty she really wasn't sure where that was but it was better than just staying in the house at her aunt and uncles.. Even if they did have a pool. "You're lucky" Teresa admitted before smiling. "What you mean?" Lexi pushed her eyebrows together and pulled her bag back across her side. It held most of her stuff and right now that was given especially when she was wearing shorts and not a long pair of jeans. "Well your parents have a pool and a pretty nice house" she sipped at her cold drink before nudging her shoulder. "Want to trade?" Lexi laughed and then shook her head, her dark hair falling into her eyes. Which she reached up and moved away from her eyes before she finally spoke. "God no, you won't get me in Connecticut, I like Texas. Even if I spent most of my life trying to get out of it and then coming back into it a couple of years ago" she shrugged up a shoulder. "Although I'm sure that my dad won't mind you staying for a little bit, after all you are his full blooded niece" she nodded and smiled. Lexi and Teresa were pretty much alike even if they weren't actually blood related. Both lots of families had history with the supernatural and that's why she found it easy to speak to her when Lexi was feeling like there was a pressure on her shoulders that she would keep pushing her down. "Why do you think I'm here?" she teased before smiling. To be honest she actually jumped at the chance of getting away from Mystic. Not having been to Texas in a while, especially after her mom died, she decided that maybe now was the time she would escape the town that she had spent a bit of her life living in and swapping the small town for beaches and Texan accents. The one thing that Teresa could never get over was the fact that Lexi was the splitting image of Katherine, the town's local vampire. They had different personalities, sure, but everything else was the same and sometimes that actually spooked her out a little bit. In fact she was sure that at some point Teresa was happy to have seen her cousin in Mystic, only to find out that it actually wasn't her and there was a word that she had never heard before. Doppelganger. "So, you want to tell me about this Sam?" she asked and then sat down on one of the benches. Lexi rolled her eyes. "I knew that we were going to eventually get to that" she sighed and then licked her lip. "We're friends, and now we hang out" she shrugged up a shoulder. That was pretty much how she was going to say when it came to Sam Wilson. "You like him, huh?" Teresa raised her eyebrow and watched Lexi. "Yeah, he's a good guy and not in the way you're thinking. We're just friends and to be honest I need male friends more than I need boyfriends. They're too complicated and no I like Sam just not in the way you're referring too" "Uh huh, what ever you say" Teresa smirked before she looked out ahead of them. "But you're right" she admitted. "Guys are complicated and hopefully that's the last thing I see in Corpus" They both laughed before shaking their heads. Boys were pretty much a big thing in Corpus as girls, especially when it came to the beach and all the parties that were held there. But for Teresa it was actually good not having to run into anyone that would judge her for her relationship with her step brother. Her father who wanted to push her into hunting at all costs. Or the ex boyfriend who probably pretty much hates her. So all in all. Corpus was the perfect place to be. It was far away from any family drama, even if it was far away from Graeme. They needed the break and this was the one thing that she had jumped at the chance of doing. Getting out of Mystic for a while so she could sort herself out.
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Post by Ray on Jun 29, 2014 18:46:47 GMT -7
"Tape, tape...tape tape tape. Ooh, margaritas." He's been wandering around town for about ten minutes now, his sweet tea long gone as well as his general patience for this place. For this week. For this heat. Barton's willing to bet half his yearly salary that he would be able to find tape in the Bahamas, but between the youth groups having bake sales and tourists needing their daily fix of bad southwestern art and the girls in their skimpy little bikinis -wait, why is he complaining about that?- finding anything resembling an adhesive, tactile substance meant to stick to damn things was impossible. He was able to find a life-sized, plastic surfer girl in at least three different stores, but not even a roll of scotch tape. Everyone was conveniently out or never even had any in stock in the first place. Supply store, his ass. Barton pauses in front of the glass window of a bar, open 24 hours, and feels his dry mouth get even drier at the sight of a giant poster displaying free margaritas every Monday at six. His kind of place. He doesn't like bars, mostly because they are crowded places and someone is always looking to get into his face after two beers and a shot of Jäger, but right about now he could use a stiff drink. Too bad it was only one, and he didn't feel like buying a ten dollar drink just because it came with a pineapple slice and a little fancy umbrella. He might be rich and dumb, but he wasn't that dumb. But he stares at the poster for another second, one blonde brow cocked upwards and a miserable little sigh falling free from his mouth. Mental note; buy margarita mix and tequila. Also dog food. He turns on a heel away from the bar and steps back down the street, shoving his hands into his pockets and shrugging his shoulder once to get the strap of his quiver higher up. Barton passes by a bench right as the two girls sitting upon it release a breathy laugh. He glances, briefly, in their direction, glad that at least someone is enjoying themselves in this humid heat, and continues on a few steps. And then stops. There was much to be said about Barton. Much his ex-girlfriends have said, but one thing that couldn't possibly be denied was the fact that of all of his senses, his eyesight is the keenest. His hearing is fucked most days, especially after long nights neck deep in a bottle or on the firing end of a bow, and he generally had learned that being eloquent was best left for someone else, and about the only thing he could smell a mile away was a freshly cooked pizza, but his eyesight never failed him. Not once. So when he gave a half-turn back towards the bench and its occupants, it wasn't really all that surprising that he had seen right. A smile cocked at the corner of his mouth. "Lexi." He called out, turning around completely and taking the two steps back towards the bench and the dark haired girl seated there. "Fancy meeting you here." Barton comments, deciding to ignore how stupid that sounded. Its hot. Give him a break.
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Post by Snowglobe18 on Jun 29, 2014 19:07:14 GMT -7
Lexi was going to say something else when she heard someone call her name. She moved her dark eyes away from her cousin and then looked up to see that it was Barton or macho man as she used to call him. Of course it was the joke that her and Sam shared. To be honest she wasn't sure that she had actually ever told Baron that's what she called him, and maybe still called him, when they first met. Of course being in the bad ass group that they were in now, she wasn't sure that anything really got passed any of the others. She watched as he walked back to where her and Teresa was sitting before she smiled. "I'm usually down on the beach" she said and then glanced over to see that Teresa was looking at the blonde haired man. But it wasn't in the usual way a girl might check out a good looking guy, not that Clint Barton was good looking of course. "But we decided to actually come up and get a drink" she held up the plastic Starbucks cups that they usually sold the cold drinks in before smiling once more. Then it came to Lexi that she hadn't actually introduced Teresa. "Barton, this is my cousin Teresa Atwood, Teresa this is Barton" she nodded and smiled at him. Teresa had a friend when she lived back in Massachusetts called Amber Barton but that was a long shot from them being related, but she pretty much knew Amber's family anyway. Her eyes moved passed him and to what he had on his back. Was that a quiver? She pushed her lips together before putting her dark eyes on Barton once more and smiling. "Hello" she said and held her hand up in a slight wave. To be honest she had actually needed the drink that they were holding. The one thing she had forgotten about Texas was the heat. It could be insufferable sometimes and even those that lived in Texas for years, like Lexi and her family, didn't even get used to the heat. There was no way that she would be able to either. "This is probably rude of me but um" she said and then pointed to what he had on his back. "Is that by any chance a quiver?" she asked and then put her eyes back on his face. He was a good looking man but for some reason she was trying to keep her eyes off the bandage he had on his nose. Teresa was probably failing but at least she was trying to hold back the laughter that wanted to rip through her. She cleared her throat before looking back over at Lexi once more. There was actually a reason why Lexi had brought Teresa here but it was one that couldn't be spoken about outside, mostly because people would think they were insane and as much as she cared about Teresa, Lexi wasn't sure what her reaction would be to hearing about their group. Teresa's father had been a hunter too and as much as it pained him to realise that his daughter had her own life. Scott Atwood really did want to push Teresa into the family business. Where as Jo wanted her children to be as far away from it as they could get, Scott wanted to push his only daughter into the dangerous world. It really goes to show just how different two hunting families could actually be. She put her eyes on Barton and pulled her lip in between her teeth. If anyone could recognise a quiver then it would be Teresa especially when she lived for archery.
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Post by Ray on Jun 29, 2014 19:38:06 GMT -7
"Ditto." Barton replies with a slight nod. After all, he lives on the beach. And as this day's outing proved, he very rarely spent any real time in the city itself. If he wasn't at home, he was working, and working usually meant a plane ride god knows where and a dozen more bandages in places he didn't even want to think about. Any other time, he was passed out on Sam's couch with four beers warming his belly. That happened more than he cares to admit. "I'm looking for tape." He said, for what felt like the dozenth time that day alone. But a drink sounded good too. Just not Starbucks. Okay maybe Starbucks, but only if they've suddenly started putting shots of vodka into their coffee. That sweet tea hadn't been all that bad actually, and if he wasn't sure that returning to the store might end up with the owner trying to reenact her favorite cowboy romance, he might actually be tempted to go back for more. It was going to be a long walk in the bright sunlight back to his place. Maybe he should just invest in a helicopter. Rich guys have those, right? Upon Lexi's introduction, Barton shifts his blue eyes towards the second dark haired girl sitting beside Lexi, who smiled at him and waved. He smiled back. She was pretty, it was hard not to. And her dimples were about a mile deep. "My first name's Clint." He told her with a slight shrug. "I'm not like Madonna or something, with just the one name." Clint you dummy. Madonna? His blonde brows dart upwards upon her question, the smile dropping a little out of surprise. "Uh...yeah," He replied, huffing out a slight laugh, another smile ticking at the corner of his mouth. About damn time someone asked him a question like that without looking at him like he was off his meds. Texans could conceal carry all they want -concealed, his ass; these guys just walk with their revolver's like tumors on their hips- but as soon as he carries his arrows out into public, nooooo. "I'm trying to organize the damn things a little. Hence the hunt for tape. Not going so well." He admitted. He didn't even want to have to explain that the reason why he was out of tape is because he thought it would be a good substitute for bandages when he ran out of those. They're not. Don't do it. "You..." Barton starts, lifting a hand to point a little loosely at Teresa. His wrist is wrapped in white bandage as well, including his pinky and ring finger. "Shoot?" He asks, arching a brow once more. "Or are you just a Lord of the Rings fan?" The amount of Legolas jokes from Sam alone was nauseating.
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Post by Snowglobe18 on Jun 29, 2014 19:57:45 GMT -7
Lexi pushed her eyebrows together when Barton said that he was looking for tape. "All the stores should have it" she admitted and then pulled her lip in between her teeth and bit on it. She then looked over at Teresa when he introduced himself as Clint and not Barton. She was sure that no one in the group actually used his first name. It was always Barton. Or to Lexi it was Macho man. A smile pulled at her lips at that thought and she brought her straw up and took a sip of her drink. It was nice to know that he wasn't like Madonna. She wanted to snort at that but the last thing she wanted was Barton on her case. He always did seem to tease her about her and Sam's relationship. Even if she was more than happy to tell him that they were just friends. He never did believe her though. As if Lexi needed to get laid by Sam Wilson. She cleared her throat once more at that thought before she looked between Teresa and Barton. "I'm sure there is some tape around here somewhere, I mean the whole of Corpus Christi can't have actually ran out of the stuff." Although that was probably more than likely when it came to something that they really needed. That was the same back home, although her stuff was mostly books that was needed from the local library for her courses. God, even that felt good to not have to think about just yet. Barton then started to speak once more and he pointed at her. Teresa saw that his wrist and two of his fingers were wrapped in a bandage. Either he was the kind that was really clumsy or he just liked to where a bandage as a fashion statement. Like that singer who used to wear a band-aid on his face. She pushed that thought away because that was the last thing she needed to be thinking about right now. "I do shoot" she admitted with a smile. "Since I was seven years old and I am sort of a Lord of the Rings fan" "Stiles?" Lexi asked out before glancing over at Teresa once more. "Pretty much" she chuckled before putting her eyes back on Barton. "I would ask you the same but it's very clear that you're into archery too" she smiled before then licking her bottom lip. "She's really good too" Lexi put in and then looked up at Barton. "I mean.." now she was trying to do some damage control but she really didn't know what to say so instead she just grinned and continued. "I really think she would be good enough to have as a side-kick or whatever" she nodded once more before toning her grin down into a smile. If Teresa was more than willing to join their group of, whatever they were, people. It was hard to really think of what they actually were especially when Natalia was a Valkyrie, Sam was immune to a werewolf bite, Bucky was the Winter Soldier and as for Steve.. He was Bucky's boyfriend. Or at least that's what they were calling him anyway.
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Post by Ray on Jun 29, 2014 20:32:04 GMT -7
Barton gives Lexi the same incredulous look he would have given his past self for being so naive. Granted, he's only really been looking for about fifteen minutes for tape, but ten stores advertising crafts and supplies and hardware had all failed him in those fifteen minutes. Ten stores. It was practically an epidemic. "I'll probably just have to head to Walmart." Barton comments in a grumble. Walmart is like cougar town. But not the kind of cougars that are shown on daytime TV with great plastic surgery and tight dresses made by God himself. These are the kind of cougars that want to convert you to Jesus by stuffing you full of cakes. Cake: good. Beehives so high they can probably touch heaven: bad. And the employees always looked so dower... Barton lets out a low whistle when Teresa admits to having practiced since she was seven, his hand falling back down to his side. He'd picked up a bow for the first time when he was twelve, though that was a long, ridiculous story that would take a lot of tequila to worm out of him. Especially on a street corner when people were already giving him weird looks. By now he was used to it. "Sorta my job." Barton admits, cracking a smile when she states the obvious. "Do what I do best." He shrugs with a slight smirk planted on his mouth. Which seemed to be exactly what was on Lexi's mind. He shifts his blue eyes towards her when she comments on just how good Teresa is at archery, her smile a little too proud and her words a little too hinting. No one ever mentioned side-kicks so casually. Especially around him. He arches a blond brow at her, wondering what game she was playing. "Riiiight." He replies, drawing the word out slowly. "Sooo," He continues on, shifting his eyes back towards Teresa. "What kind of bow you use? Compound, recurve, or long?" It wasn't every day he actually met someone that could speak his language. Occasionally, he'd meet someone who mentioned they went bow-hunting once. Most of the time, people just asked why he even bothered with a skill that died in the paleolithic age. As if guns were somehow more superior just because they went bang. For a while, though, he had the Hunger Games to thank for everyone thinking they were suddenly an archer. Goddamn ridiculous.
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Post by Snowglobe18 on Jun 29, 2014 20:52:17 GMT -7
Lexi scoffed. "Good luck with Walmart" she admitted and then nodded. Walmart was the one place that she didn't like going to. There was just something about the place that made her want to stay away from there at all costs. Even when she was younger, she never would go shopping with her mom there. Although if the stores there didn't have anything then Walmart really was the only place to go to if absolutely necessary. Teresa smiled when he let the whistle out. It was actually thanks to Graeme that she had started learning. Watching him practice in the back yard on a Saturday always made her want to use a bow and then one weekend when both her parents were busy and it was just her and her brother in the house, he had taught her how to use one. She was seven and he told her there and then that she was a natural. The proud smile on his lips was one that she would never forget. And now it seemed that she was even better than him. Of course for a while she couldn't pick up a bow without wanting to smash it in half but then she got back into using the bow and it was as if she had never been away. It was like riding a bike. Every memory had slipped back and she remembered smiling and saying 'Hello old friend'. She smiled once more when Barton started to talk. "Wow if it's your job then sign me up for whatever it is you actually do" she teased before letting a laugh out. Anything with bows and arrows and she would be there waiting to take her place. She just loved the feel of them in her hands and that's why she was glad to have driven to Corpus because it meant that she could bring her bow and arrow with her. Teresa looked between both Barton and Lexi when they spoke and couldn't help but raise her eyebrow at what was going on. She cleared her throat before shaking her head. No doubt her cousin would tell her exactly what it was. "I use a compound" she smiled with pride. Hers was state of the art and perfect for her. Of course her dad would prefer if she stuck a .45 to her thigh and took out every supernatural thing she could get her hands on, starting with the vampire and werewolves that took up residence in Mystic. But that was another thought for another time. "Maybe while Teresa is here, you two could actually pair up and have a competition or whatever" Lexi said and shrugged up her shoulder once more. In honesty she really wanted to bring Teresa into the fold but at the moment there was only so much she could really say without the others. They would explain it better than she would've. So maybe it was better to have them explain just what they were doing in the group. "Oh, I don't think that would be necessary" Teresa said and then shook her head. "Plus, I doubt you really want to see how I shoot" she said and smiled at Barton. But that didn't actually mean that she wasn't going to use her bow and arrow. It just meant that she wasn't sure if he would want to watch her. He seemed like a busy person anyway and the last thing Teresa wanted to do was take up any of his time. She took a sip of her drink before glancing over at her cousin who seemed a bit too smug for her liking. So Teresa decided it was better to get even. "So, if you know Lexi then does that mean you know Sam Wilson?" she asked and raised her eyebrow before grinning when Lexi started to roll her eyes. Now she was feeling a bit too smug.
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Post by Ray on Jun 29, 2014 21:23:29 GMT -7
Barton smirks a little. Somehow he has a feeling that signing up is precisely Lexi's intentions for Teresa, especially with that smug smile still curving her mouth. She's about as sneaky as Steve and Bucky's love life. Not that he's actually complaining about the whole thing. If the girl actually has some talent, she might come in handy. Even if the idea of a side kick made him a little nauseous. That was just as bad as S.H.I.E.L.D scheme. While he couldn't honestly say that he worked better alone, especially when he got his ass handed to him more times than he could count when he rushed headfirst into shit situations, he did have a knack for getting himself out of those situations. Doing so with someone else riding shotgun, someone else that wasn't Nat who knew what she was doing, was a little daunting. Being responsible for someone else was hard when he's barely responsible for himself. But what the hell. A little competition couldn't hurt. "Why not?" Barton comments with a shrug of a single shoulder as he looked down at her, slipping one hand into the pocket of his faded jeans. "I've got time to kill. And you know I'm like...crazy rich, right?" He jabs a thumb behind him the general direction of where his house might lay. "I've got a range in my basement." It's one of the many alterations he made to the beach house after buying it. The lower level, once upon a time, had been a luxury living room/bedroom combo. Needing only the one bedroom for himself, he'd ripped all of the useless crap out and rebuilt the entire first floor just the way he likes it. Complete with bulletproof glass, stone walls to minimize damage, and enough targets, obstacles, and high places to make it a practical playground. His basement was his real home. Which is probably why the main level always looked like a tornado had surged throughout it. Which reminds him; he also needs dish-soap. A grin sprang across his mouth at the mention of Sam. "Oh yeah, I know him." He turned his smile on Lexi. "How is he, by the way? Doin' good?"
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Post by Snowglobe18 on Jun 29, 2014 21:39:37 GMT -7
Teresa raised her eyebrow when he said that he had time to kill and why not about doing a competition. The only two people she went up against was Graeme and her cousin Cameron. Of course not at the same time. It was like they couldn't be left in the same room either. While Cameron was nothing like Scott, he could still be a smug dick when he wanted to be and getting on Graeme's nerves was the one thing that never failed him. But just because she never went up against any one else that didn't mean she wanted to actually go up against Barton but then he said that he was rich and that he had a range in his basement. "I'm in" she muttered and then let a grin pull at her lips. In honesty it was never about money, it was about the fact that he had a range in his basement which had actually sold her more than money. That never fazed her, especially when Lexi's side of the family was rich. "We definitely will have to have that competition" she admitted before smile. Then Barton said that he knew Sam and her own grin pulled at her lips. So he did know him. Lexi sighed and then rolled her eyes once more. "How am I supposed to know how Sam is? It's not like we live in each other's pockets. He has stuff to do and I.. have work" she shrugged a shoulder. It wasn't as if she rang him up in the middle of the day and asked him how his day was going. That was boyfriend and girlfriend stuff. Sam and Lexi weren't even on that level but of course no one in the group actually believed it at all. Like a guy and a girl couldn't possibly be friends because they were sleeping together. Although she did have to admit, and not around Barton or the others, Sam was a good looking guy but she had enough with dating guys for a while. It wasn't as if he was interested anyway. "But then again I'm sure you already know how Sam is plus you're more than likely to speak to him more than me" she muttered and then cleared her throat. Lexi could see Teresa sitting there looking a bit too smug. She guessed Karma really was a bitch. Especially when she had been smug only moments before until Teresa had brought up Sam. The one topic that everyone seemed to want to involve her with when it came to asking just how he was. As if she would actually know personally. He lived in his place and she had her own apartment not far from her old job. Other than that she really didn't use his number as much as she thought she would especially when he seemed to have the habit of just turning up on the spot. Her and Sam's friendship had really happened all at once. They teased and laughed with each other and that's as far as it went with them. But the most important thing was who was she trying to convince more, herself or the others? She cleared her throat at that thought before shaking her head once more. That was thought she didn't even want to be in her brain. "So, they are dating then?" Teresa teased before looking over at Barton. Lexi grunted. Oh, they definitely would get on better than even she imagined. They seemed to be each other's other half. Or at least that's how Lexi was starting to see them right now.
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Post by Ray on Jun 30, 2014 12:02:03 GMT -7
Barton snorted. They might not live in each other's pockets, but for a short time there, they had practically been connected at the hip. She had known more about what was going on in Sam's life than Barton had even been smart enough to notice, and when secrets starting spilling out right and left, she had been there being all judgy right with him. Though to be fair, Barton had been wearing his black and purple gear with his bow pointed right at Bucky's thick skull. Awkward didn't even begin to describe that situation. Especially when it seemed as if Bucky still held that minor grudge with him. But when Steve does it, oh no, then its all right. "I think doth protest too much." Barton replies with a smirk. Which is true. He'd seen government officials deny their affairs less than Lexi was trying to deny any slim chance of feeling for Sam. Soon she was going to start over-zealously shouting out all of Sam's faults in the midst of conversation. She would be lucky if she came up with ten. One, he likes baseball. Two, he was still in DC training with S.H.I.E.L.D. Yeah. Barton was holding it against him. "Well, y'know, not publicly." Barton says to Teresa, glancing back at her with a shrug. "But we do have a running pool on when Saxi becomes canon." He teases, his sarcasm as thick as Texan rib-eye. "Or is it Slexi?" He asks, looking back to Lexi for clarification. Doesn't really matter, Barton had come up with both of them anyway. "Sexi?" He ponders, scrunching up his nose a little. "Anyway, I have fifty bucks riding on the fourth of July." He also had a hundred concerned with the matter of when Steve and Bucky actually became official. Their flirting was almost more nauseous than Sam and Lexi's, but at least they weren't denying the huge hard-ons they had for each other. Bucky practically lives with Steve. Which reminds him; three, Sam thought that coming up with a bet that Barton and Nat were secretly dating was a good idea. Barton almost burst a spleen at that one. Nat had been ready to burst someone's spleen.
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Post by Snowglobe18 on Jun 30, 2014 14:06:55 GMT -7
Lexi really wished that Barton would stop talking, or that Teresa would shut up too. But it seemed as if that wasn't going to be the case at the moment. They would go on and on about her love life even though she didn't have one. Sure working at Flynn's guaranteed her nights of flirting with guys who thought that buying a drink was the biggest way into a girls pants. Some girls maybe but definitely not this girl. She only ever had three proper relationships and while that probably made her sound worse than she was, she enjoyed Sam's company and wasn't ready to make him boyfriend number four. "He's in DC anyway" she grunted but that didn't seem to be enough for Barton who continued to carry on with shippers names for her and Sam. He thought it was cute. She thought it was annoying. Teresa laughed and then bit on her lip as she glanced over at Lexi. "I like Sexi better" she smirked before looking back at Barton. "Well tell me who I can pay the money too and I'll take a bet out aswell" she admitted. Teresa had heard about Lexi's latest crush and it didn't take her long to put two and two together. Lexi rolled her eyes and then shook her head. She knew that at some point she was going to regret bringing Teresa to Corpus Christi but she didn't think it would be that quickly. She knew that once Barton and Teresa were in each other's company then there was a chance that no one would be safe again. It was going to be rather annoying. "I really wish that you wouldn't put a bet on" she said looking over at Teresa before putting her brown eyes on Barton. "You do know that he's not going to be the Fourth of July, right" she sighed. "In fact it's going to be the twelfth of never, so maybe you could use that for your bet instead" she grumbled and then finished off her Starbucks before putting the plastic cup into the trash bin next to the seat. Teresa grinned over at Barton before laughing once more. With Jake or even Gabe it had been easy because she was interested in them and wouldn't care what anyone said but it seemed as if she was keep quiet on this whole thing with Sam just in case she actually cursed it or something. Teresa was all for taking a chance with things. Hell she was sure that she wouldn't be where she was if she hadn't take a chance at her own love life. "It's okay" she sat patting her leg. "I'm sure Sam will take it slowly with you" she teased before smirking and then watching at Lexi huffed out a breath. "I'm not going to live this down, am I?" she muttered and looked between Barton and Teresa and already knew that the answer would be no. "Not really, but it's nice that you have a new boyfriend"
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Post by Ray on Jun 30, 2014 15:17:54 GMT -7
"In DC until the fourth of July." Barton corrects, feeling a little smug himself about the whole thing. Despite popular belief, he isn't that big of an idiot. With the fourth of July just at the end of this week, he definitely wouldn't have been spouting out about the fifty bucks he was going to lose if Sam wasn't going to be in town. He'd thought this through. Which says a lot about his current state of affairs. God, he needed a hobby. A better hobby. His mind wandered when he was making trick arrows far too often. Maybe he needed a girlfriend... No. Definitely not. "Not just a hat rack, my friend." He teased sarcastically, tapping his cranium with his forefinger twice. "Anyway, I gotta find that tape." Barton sighs out, looking back down the street and adjusting the strap of his quiver on his shoulder. He'd already spent much of a day he'd sworn would be productive standing on a street corner talking about relationships. Probably a good idea he escapes before someone decides to bring up the fact that he's awful at them. Just...awful. "Lexi knows my number, I...think, if you actually want to take advantage of that archery spiel." He says to Teresa as he takes a step backwards away from them, heading in the direction he'd been intent on going minutes ago. "And I'll let Natalia know you want in on the pool. She's the only one smug enough to bet against them hooking up." He admits, snorting out a slight laugh. God, he was going to hate himself if Nat actually won, which she did far often than he was willing to admit. He definitely needs a hobby. Barton gives the pair of them a two-fingered salute before turning on a heel and walking away from them, whistling under his breath as he trudged back through the heat.
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Post by Snowglobe18 on Jun 30, 2014 15:50:23 GMT -7
Lexi hated how smug Barton was being. She sighed under her breath when he said that Sam was in DC until the Fourth of July, and didn't she know it. "Maybe he's going to spend it with his family, or better yet a girlfriend that he's already got in DC" she shrugged up a shoulder and tried not to let them know that the latter of those two options had left a bitter taste in her mouth and she hated it. Their friendship had pretty much taken off the moment that they had met. Now they just teased each other and was comfortable in each other's company. She wouldn't deny that she didn't miss him because in honesty she did. Being stuck in Corpus Christi was no fun. This time, normally, she would've been in New York but sadly she hadn't been there for a couple of years and just the thought of actually going there made her want to cry and eat chocolate ice cream out the tub. It was a terrible feeling and one she had to get over quickly. "Have fun finding that tape" she said and smirked as she sat back in her seat before she looked over at Teresa who seemed very content in listening to just what Barton was saying. Yep she made the right decision in bringing her into the fold, or at least she would when she got hold of the others to tell them what she was doing. At the moment she felt like that could wait. "I'll definitely consider it" Teresa said with a smile. In honesty she had already done that and probably was going to be heading his way in the end. She loved archery. There was just something about it that made her feel good. Even since the moment she picked up a bow for the first time when she was seven years old and training in the back yard with her older brother, she just felt like her and the bow just belonged together. "How can I deny that I have your number?" Lexi mumbled. She was sure that they were all made to keep each other's number in their cells just in case they actually needed something. Of course she had Sam's number in her head and pretty much could dial it blindfolded. Lexi wasn't going to say that because it would start another round of teasing and in this hot weather, the only thing she wanted to do was go back to her parents house and lounge in that pool that she had been considering going in since 7:30 this morning. It would be quite a shock to her parents if they woke up and she had been there in the pool just trying to keep cool. "And Nat has the most common sense out of everyone in the group" she called to Barton as he started to move back. At the moment the Fourth of July couldn't come quick enough but right now she was going to just spend some time with her cousin. She held up a hand and gave a slight wave as Barton walked away. "He seemed nice" Teresa said and glanced over at Lexi who then scoffed. "What?" "Nice?" she asked. "You've definitely been hanging around werewolves and a vampire for far too long" she muttered and then watched Barton. "Macho man" she said and grinned over at Teresa who was now chuckling. "He did give off that impression" She said around a laugh and then shook her head. Maybe Corpus Christi wasn't going to be that bad after all.
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Post by Ray on Jun 30, 2014 16:21:24 GMT -7
He found tape, eventually, and all the other odds and ends piling up on his to-do list only after relenting and waiting for an hour in line at Walmart. The entire time -standing there with his head thrown back and one hand gripping to his quiver and the other clasping onto the handles of a basket- all he could think about was how he had too much money to be stuck in this hellhole. He wasn't a poor ten year old living in Iowa anymore. Walmart wasn't God. And there was nothing heavenly about a kid spitting up red drink all over the counter in front of him. He hated Walmart. From now on, he buys everything online like a real millionaire. Barton finds his way back home, feeling like the creature from the Black Lagoon with the amount of humidity sticking his clothes to his body. His car remained dead in the driveway with its hood still propped open with an arrow. He was going to have to call a mechanic. He knew a little about cars, mostly because that's what his dad did unhappily for fifteen years, but not enough to really risk the chance that he'd break it even more. Especially when it was broken enough. Sometimes he wished he was one of those rich guys with pristine Cadillacs that never saw the sun, but Barton had a unfriendly job with unfriendly complaints, and sometimes his car got the brunt of it. Another reason to avoid girlfriends. Lucky's tail wagged back and forth happily when Barton pushed his way through the front door, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and his missing eye making him look like he's always winking. Best flaw ever. "Good boy." Barton smiles, dropping down to a knee and letting Lucky slobber all over his chin. The dog starts chewing, and Barton groans. "Okay, okay, you made your point. I got you those pizza rolls you like." Lucky's ears perk right up. Barton clamps both hands on either side of the dog's face, staring straight into his eye pointedly. "But you gotta promise to stop chewing on my bow." Lucky gives a confused little "Rawrf?" Barton snorts, scratches at his fur, and rises back to his feet. He carries the bag of groceries, and his quiver, to the kitchen, and Lucky trots after him. "You ever had a margarita?" He asks teasingly.
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