I'm forever yours, darling please believe me

Xanthippe Botev | Naive ✘ Empathetic ✘ Fickle


The weekend, it was a welcome refuge from her demanding job at the animal clinic down the block from her shabby Brooklyn apartment. It was time to get work around her apartment done, and mostly binge out on Netflix for a couple days. Today was no exception, and it found Xanthippe in the communal laundry room, guarding her laundry like a hawk. Finding a cheap place in Brooklyn was pretty impossible. So this apartment was pretty much the best she could do, even with it's dimly hallways and the front door that never locked. People here were the ones hardened by life usually. Single parents, broke college couples, drunks and addicts. There wasn't much violence here, most people at least respected one another. But Xanthippe feared if she wasn't careful about her laundry someone else would either snatch things from it, or leave it out which was equally displeasing to the sylphlike blonde. So she sat on one of the many washers, cross legged and staring down her phone as to be expected; mumbling occasional greetings to other's coming in and out of the place.

She hadn't been there very long, so she wasn't too terribly familiar with many people. So, when her clothing was done she hurriedly scooped them into her basket, happy to get out of the musty, dank basement laundry area. It was a wonder that musky scent didn't seep into her clothing. The laundry machines, probably older than her, rattled as Xanthippe determinedly held the laundry basket against her hip. She'd made one large load, to avoid having to go down to the basement more than once and her frail arms nearly quivered as she started up the stairs to her floor. She lived near the top, the sixth floor and that trek seemed even longer with her heavy basket. A few people were laundering on the stairs, though they weren't causing any harm so she simply offered a small smile while continuing on her way. The raucous fluorescent buzzing of the lights which flickered above the woman, casting her in paisley light made her head spin. She couldn't wait to get back to her cozy place and get back to her American Horror Story marathon.

Perhaps if she had been in less of a rush, if she had been able to see over the heaping pile of laundry in her basket that Xan hadn't the energy to fold in the basement, she would of seen the dark-haired male, ducking out of his apartment. The one next to her's. If she hadn't been so eager to curl up on her couch until Dalia, the leader of the apartment committee Xanthippe was technically part of mostly for the free food came to bother her about this weekends petition (as Dalia always without fail managed to catch Xanthippe on the start of the weekend with some new demand from the apartment building's owner) she'd of noticed her surly looking neighbor. Alas, Xanthippe was ready to curl up on her couch, with a cup of coffee and finish the show she'd started. So it was with utter surprise did the petite blonde run into what felt like a wall. With a dull thud! Xanthippe stumbled back, and her already tired hands from hauling around her basket went slack, dropping her laundry basket in the middle of the hallway floor. Articles of clothing went spilling everywhere, and color flushed her high cheekbones. "Oh!" She gasped, momentarily stunned.

She wasn't hurt, and glancing up to check if the other person was she found herself faltering. Before her stood a disinterested brunette. His dark locks were a little shaggy looking, and his jawline was beginning to sprout a bit of stubble. Beneath his piercing gaze of stone colored orbs resided an air of subtle surprise. Full lips parted slightly as he moved, reaching out as if to steady her though before his hand could do little more than twitch, he stilled again. Taking a moment to catch her breath she offered an apologetic frown. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there." It was then her gaze flickered behind him, to the door he'd come out of and put two and two together. This was the newest resident on the sixth floor? And her neighbor? She hadn't gotten a chance to stop by and introduce herself, though with her clothes splayed in the hallway floor Xanthippe's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.

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Steve Rogers| Intrepid ✘ Altruistic ✘ Willful


The thing about waking up decades after being a Capsicle as Tony affectionately put it; was effectively nearly everything was different. Different clothes and slangs; social norm, and even the food tasted different. Music and dance, cars and airplanes- and of course most of Steve's friends and those he held dear were dead. Peggy was still alive, Steve visited her time to time but he thought it did more harm than good. The woman he once loved was just a shell of herself, she could offer no comfort to Steve. Just that beguiling sense of guilt always rolling about his stomach. A few kids he grew up with were still alive. A couple guys from the Howling Commandos as well, and of course Bucky. But much like Peggy the Bucky he knew had partially died that day on the train. Nat tried to help, at first it was dragging him around New York nightlife. Teaching him the in's and out's of society by showing he supposed. He tried to appreciate her efforts, but he'd rather re-learn the world around him on his own.

When Nat seemed to realize this, she backed off. And a few weeks ago when a file of people whom Steve grew up with still alive was deposited on his desk, Steve pretended to look the other way for the spy. At first he was admittedly hesitant about it. Were they all in as bad as shape as Peggy was? Could he help himself adjust by reforming some familiar faces as anchors to this new time? A few nights ago Steve thumbed through the file for the hundredth time, though a single name in particular caught his attention. William Carter. He'd been one of the boys on Steve's block, a little younger than him, but tougher than nails. He, Steve, and Bucky used to get into all sorts of trouble- well as much as Steve could manage before the serum. He was a good kid, a little quick with sticky hands; but Steve couldn't ever of blamed William for that. His father had died in a factory incident, and his mother worked herself to the bone trying to feed William and his six siblings. It was the depression though, and the kid only really ever took food. It wasn't any different when Bucky did it for him or his own family. Just a way of life.

Steve had sat on his couch, a bittersweet smile tainted upon his lips as he smiled down at his hands. He must be pushing ninety about. It was easy enough to look up the man's information in the file, and as luck would have it- he was in a nursing home that wasn't too far from his apartment. That night he went to bed with the promise to at least stop by and visit Will. That's how he found himself today; sitting on his parked motorcycle staring apprehensively at the nice senior building. In a different world Steve would either be in there- or already dead. Nervously he ran his tongue over his dry lips, his dark cobalt blues locked on the front door. Would William even remember him? Was his brain in a good state? "Man up. Go and see him." The more logical part of his brain pestered- even though it was riddled with trepidation. Sighing, getting up and fixing the cap that obscured most of his face Steve continued onwards toward the door with a confidence in his step he didn't feel. The faded gray tee with a Dodgers logo was obscured by the simple spring jacket he wore as he stepped into the building. The lights in here were dim and a few elderly people with walkers roamed about accompanied by either family or nursing aids. The musty scent that all nursing homes carried hit Steve like a wall making his nose crinkle as he stepped to the front desk signing in. The woman didn't seem to question his motives, rather when she realized who she was talking to grew quite quiet and ushered him to go on in and which floor and room William was in.

The energy levels were pretty dismally low from the elders, but they seemed to mostly be in a generally okay state of mind. No one was staring blankly out windows or at walls in diapers. He quickened his pace regardless, taking the stairs to William's room, 309. The floor was pretty empty, most doors were closed though some were open and the soft sounds of television or music drifted out. Upon reaching 309 the muscular blond paused, taking a deep breath and steeling his nerves for whatever became of William. Gently he raised his hand knocking, and stepping back waited a moment. "Come in!" A perky, bubbly voice called, and figuring it was a nurse he did as he was told. Pushing the door open, ducking in and shutting it behind him Steve turned to find two unanticipated things. The old withered man which had become William Carter was firstly, sitting upright and having himself what looked to be a late breakfast. The same sharp, shrewd gaze Steve remembered was still there; and a young woman sat by his bedside. However she wasn't dressed as a nurse so Steve assumed it was family. Flushing, he offered a small apologetic smile. "William Carter? It's Steve Rogers. We grew up together, I just wanted to see how you were doing but if you're with your family and it's a bad time, I can just come back another day."

James ‘Bucky’ Barnes | Loyal ✘ Mischievous ✘ Affable


James had been inside the small apartment for a few days but he still wasn’t comfortable in his new surroundings, not only was he utterly confused about the world he had been living in since he was brought back by HYDRA. But he was very slowly becoming his own person, which he hadn’t been since he had fallen from the train all those years ago. However, no matter how confused or unsettled he felt about the whole situation, he knew this was for his own good. He now had people who willingly wanted to help him and letting him stay in this apartment was part of that, it was a way to keep an eye on him and also keep him away from any violence that could pull him back into being the Winter Solider. Which is something he never wanted to be ever again, it wasn’t the person he was in his heart nor was it how he was brought up by his parents. Although he was beginning to feel like he was suffocating inside that room, the apartment was small and needed a paint job but other than that it was enough for him. The water was hot and he had a television, which he had been watching a lot of and was beginning to enjoy the mid-day shows that played across the screen.

But he wanted to get out, thankfully not many people living on the same floor had come over to meet him. He wasn’t sure how he would do in meeting strangers, but he knew that it would most likely happen sooner or later. He was currently sitting on the couch, a soft couch that was covered in dark brown fabric but it was comfortable enough for him. He was wearing plain dark wash jeans and a simple black v neck t-shirt, black socks covered his feet so he reached down to where his boots were left and pulled them on. Quickly making a knot in the laces, James stood up and smoothed down his jeans with his hand. Which brought his attention to his metal arm, something that he had been told to cover when going out as it wasn’t something common among people in the area. Glancing around the main room of the apartment, his stormy eyes finally landed on a thin black jacket that was hanging over the back of a dining chair. Stepping over he slipped his arms into the sleeves and headed over to the door, he grabbed his key from the kitchen counter and made sure to lock the door once he had stepped outside into the corridor.

However he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings, or to who else may be in the corridor at the same time as him. So when he turned around to head over to the stair case, his eyes hadn’t met the petite blonde before their bodies were connecting and her laundry basket was falling onto the floor. There was something deep inside of him, an instinct that he either hadn’t felt for a long time or felt before. His hand was immediately moving from his side, towards the blonde in an attempt to keep her on her feet even if she wasn’t falling. However he managed to catch himself before he actually touched her, did men even act like that anymore? Would she panic if he did touch her? He honestly had no idea but he didn’t want to scare her, his eyes peered at her from beneath his hair which had fallen over his face. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there." Her voice hit his ears and he was startled, the sweet melody floated from her pink full lips as her big innocent eyes focused on just him. Even from where he stood he could see how clear her blue eyes were, he couldn’t count the different shades of blue but he wanted to. Shaking that thought from his mind, he realised he hadn’t answered her yet and that was plain rude of him.

“No, miss. It was my fault, I wasn’t watching where I was going. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He asked as he wanted to be certain that she wasn’t harmed, he would feel horrible if he had even if it was an accident. His eyes did shoot down her petite body, which then landed on her dropped clean laundry. James instantly bent down as his hands reached for the clean dry clothing that laid on the floor, he shook off a few items as he couldn’t tell when the corridor flooring had been cleaned last. He placed the laundry back into the basket and easily lifted it as he stood up, “I can carry this for you.” He offered her as it was the least he could do after knocking it from her hands, “I’m James.” He spoke in his quiet deep voice, his voice was a little on the rough side and didn’t hold any of the charm that it once had. Although he still couldn’t remember much of that life he had, he would have memories come back to him every now and again but he still wasn’t sure how to deal with them. His eyes stayed on the beauty that was standing across from him, he waited for her to decide on what she should do. Whether it was because he was acting like a creep or because she wasn’t used to a man offering to carry her laundry, James had no clue but he hoped it was the latter.

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Eleanor Carter | Gracious ✘ Sensible✘ Determined


Eleanor always had the weekends off work, unless it was a busy time of year or she needed to cover another shift. Not that she minded because she did love her job, she worked in a wonderful flower shop which really let her be as creative as she wanted to be. But today she had decided to visit her Grandpa, much like she did whenever she had the chance which was more than William liked. He continually told his granddaughter to go live her life or to spend time with her boyfriend, Luke, whom he didn’t care for. William may be in his nineties but his mind was still alert and he could see how unhappy his sweet Eleanor was in the relationship, although he didn’t mention it as it just upset his darling granddaughter. William did whatever he could to keep his mind going in his old age, he also kept himself busy and active although he knew he needed to go into a place where people could care for him. He did have a few falls and didn’t want his family to feel like they needed to take care of him, he was stubborn and could be a pain in the ass but his family meant the world to him. Sadly his wife struggled to fall pregnant, but they were blessed with a son who they adored which in turn gave him and Dawn a beautiful granddaughter. His nature black hair had thinned dramatically and turned grey, his body had turned fragile although he didn’t notice most of the time and his tanned skin was covered in wrinkles.

Eleanor was currently telling her Grandpa about her week, in which she really just worked and she could tell that William wasn’t impressed with what he was hearing. He was about to tell Eleanor that she worked too much, but couldn’t when a knock sounded on the closed door of his room. “Come in!” Eleanor called out sweetly as she sent her Grandpa a smile, she glanced over expecting to see a nurse step in but she was pleasantly surprised when a man stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. "William Carter? It's Steve Rogers. We grew up together, I just wanted to see how you were doing but if you're with your family and it's a bad time, I can just come back another day." The man spoke as a little embarrassment settled across his strong features, apparently he hadn’t been expecting to find her there. His blonde hair was slicked back and his baby blue eyes were filled with kindness and honesty, his name did cause Eleanor’s dark eyes to widen slightly as she never thought this day would happen. Captain America was in her presence and she couldn’t think straight, she didn’t know what to say or do as the hero stood there before her. He was way more attractive then she had thought he would be, but he was only there to see a friend and she knew seeing Steve would do a lot for her Grandpa. William had lost Dawn two years ago, she was the love of his life and it had been hard on him but he knew she was waiting for him.

“Steve Rogers? Little Stevie… It’s about time you came to visit me, what took you so long?” William grinned as he looked at his old friend, although no one would believe they had grown up together because of what happened to Steve. Which is a topic that William paid very close attention to, he couldn’t believe it when Steve was found and was thawed from the ice but William couldn’t be any happier. He always knew deep down that his friend was out there somewhere, he had never stopped thinking nor speaking about Steve. Which his family put up with, he knew but he couldn’t help himself. He was so proud of everything Steve did for the country, he wouldn’t allow anyone to forget about the solider that saved the country he loved. Eleanor smiled widely as she stood up and moved the tray of breakfast away from the bed, her Grandpa always got dressed everyday so she helped him when he went to stand up from his bed. She moved his walking stand closer to him although he often said that it was stupid and he didn’t need it, William waved Steve over as he wanted to make sure his friend was truly there. Once the hero had stepped closer, William pulled his friend into his arms and patted Steve’s back. “How are you? You’ve have one hell of a time lately,” William smiled pulling back from the hug that he had been wanting to share with his good friend ever since the world lost the Captain, “Sit down. You will be coming back to visit me, but it’s too late to leave now. So sit,” William moved over to the recliner chair that his son had brought in for him, “This is my beautiful granddaughter, Eleanor.” He introduced them as he waved for Steve to sit down on a chair, he wanted to catch up with his old mate.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you, Grandpa doesn’t shut up about everything you two did.” Eleanor smiled as she sat back down on the chair she was just sitting on, she was surprised that she had managed to actually form a sentence. Steve was just so handsome and she was star struck, this was Captain America and he was sitting in the same room as she was. She was trying to act as calm as she could but she was anything but calm on the inside, she just couldn’t think straight and butterflies were filling her stomach. She had never reacted this way before when meeting a person, not even Luke had caused butterflies to erupt in her stomach and there were times when she thought she loved Luke. But things had just gotten worse between them recently, he was always working and never seemed to have time for her. Or he didn’t want to make time for her, she was lucky if she saw him a handful of times a week and they didn’t have much in common these days.

Xanthippe Botev | Naive ✘ Empathetic ✘ Fickle


Not wanting her freshly washed clothes to remain on the floor any longer than they already had been, Xanthippe gracefully dropped to her knees to hurriedly pick up what she could, around the same time as the man in front of her. For a moment she nearly missed him speaking in a surprisingly soft voice, a innate gentleness that was imbued with a fine roughness. “No, miss. It was my fault, I wasn’t watching where I was going. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Smiling, dumping her clothes into the basket she held up an arm, jokingly flexing. "I'm alright. I may not look like much; but I'm tougher than leather." It was true, just a little bump, and most of the damage had been absorbed by her laundry basket. Besides, being a single woman in Brooklyn- you learned to at least act tougher than you were. Picking her things up out of the grime, Xanthippe made a mental note to talk to Dalia about it. Her last petition had been for better cleaning staff here after all. Xan had expected this dark-haired man to flee the moment she assured him she was alright, so it was to her surprise he stuck around until the last wrinkled dress was put back into her oversized laundry basket. About to thank him, the man spoke first in that same almost shy manner, “I can carry this for you.”

Normally she would of brushed his offer off. She was a capable woman, had been raised unintentionally to be so. But, there was nothing dubious about his offer, nothing sinister and he didn't carry a threat. "I live right across from you, but sure." Her words were velvet and silver, honeyed and sweet. "I'm James." He introduced, hefting the basket up rather effortlessly. She took that as a mental note to try to work out a little more. "Xanthippe, but everyone just calls me Xan. I think we're actually neighbors. I was gonna stop by at some point to say hi, but work just keeps me so busy." She chattered making her way to her faded, thin door which could do with a new layer of paint. Too bad that wasn't allowed by apartment regulations. Hurriedly pulling out the key from her patterned romper, she was suddenly all too thankful she'd at least dressed somewhat nicely before stepping out to do laundry. Xanthippe hadn't gone out this weekend yet, she was scheduled to go out to some club tomorrow night for a friend's twenty-sixth birthday, but as of today her hair was lazily pulled back into a messy bun, while she was dressed in her favorite romper. A lazy outfit, but an acceptable one.

Luckily, Xanthippe didn't live too messily. When her door opened, it revealed a mostly clean apartment. Her floors were devoid of clutter, her blanket was still folded over her small, white couch while the black pillows were still neatly propped up against each corner. Stepping aside to let James into the apartment her gaze flickered towards the table where her breakfast dishes were still left out, the only real viable mess. "Um, right if you wouldn't mind just putting that down next to the couch?" What better way to multitask than watch American Horror Story and fold clothes? As James set the basket down she graciously thanked him. "Thanks, I hate laundry. But there's no room up here to do it and the idea of each floor having their own laundry was shot down pretty quick by Mr. Tully. I guess it builds character having to lug your stuff up and down stairs. My dad would of said that anyway." Remarking that last part almost to herself the young woman crossed her arms, fixing him with a curious gaze. "You just moved in right? How're you finding it so far? For a cheap price it's alright. The water and heat works and it's close to work. So I guess I can't complain too much about it." The last neighbor that Xanthippe had were the Parton family. A single father of three, rowdy incredibly rambunctious boys.

They were nice people sure, but at three in the morning Xanthippe liked to sleep, not listen to boys fighting their father about bedtimes. And so far, the few days that James had been in his apartment- she hadn't heard a peep out of him. In fact, it took her a couple days to realize that he'd moved in. She only noticed because she'd seen him going back to his apartment a few days ago. A glint caught her eye, shaking Xanthippe out of her thoughts and it was then her gaze was drawn to his left arm. It was mostly covered by the jacket he wore, but she could see where an arm was; metaled glittered coldly in place of flesh. For a moment she was startled, though did her best to keep the surprise from bleeding onto her face. "What has this guy been through?" She wondered, brows furrowing together. It would be unsavory to question him on it, so she refrained from doing so. "I was about to put on a pot of coffee if you weren't doing anything, you're welcome to a cup." Xanthippe offered shyly. There was something different about this man she couldn't quite put her finger on, and it wasn't just the arm. There was almost this... This haunted air about him that made her want to reach out to him. Besides, it was always good practice to know your neighbors. And since she'd moved to New York City, Xanthippe was admittedly a little lonely. It'd be nice she supposed, to make friends with the mysterious neighbor as most her old friends had dispersed widely after college.

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Steve Rogers| Intrepid ✘ Altruistic ✘ Willful


“Steve Rogers? Little Stevie… It’s about time you came to visit me, what took you so long?” The tall blond chuckled with relief as William fixed him with that steely gaze, warmth in his words as Steve held a hand out in an apologetic manner. "They keep wanting me to fix the world. I've hardly had time to sit down." He joked, approaching a little closer to William giving the woman beside him a respectful nod. Steve was normally pretty respectful of people; but even he noticed beauty when he saw it, and that's exactly what this woman was. She had William's sharp gaze of gray and blue, and his smile but that's about where the similarities ended. She possessed far more feminine features than William, a heart-shaped face, a delicate nose, large rounded eyes, and thick brown hair. Her skin was fair, though not sickly so. For a moment he was almost caught staring though William spoke again, and Steve turned his attentions back to his old friend. Almost immediately he was wrapped in a hug and for the first time since arriving the man beamed happily, returning it; careful not to hurt his longtime friend. “How are you? You’ve have one hell of a time lately,” He started, and Steve had to willfully chuckle at that. SHIELD, or he supposed what was left of it, had him running about like a chicken with his head cut off. That much was true and as much as he may joke about retiring- Steve loved his job.

“Sit down. You will be coming back to visit me, but it’s too late to leave now. So sit, this is my beautiful granddaughter, Eleanor." Putting a face to the name Steve smiled warmly at her. William wasn't kidding when he said she was beautiful and teasingly Steve countered, "She must of gotten her looks from your wife's family. Dodged a bullet." There was a playful note in his voice as he turned to Eleanor and held his hand out, gently giving her a handshake. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you, Grandpa doesn’t shut up about everything you two did.” There was an air of excitment to her voice and the super soldier chuckled, though it held tones of abashment. "Steve Rogers, it's nice to meet you. I hope he left out the parts where I used to get my ass handed to me." At this William snorted, a faraway look in his eyes. "Those were the days... Even if the depression was hard we always made the best of it. Huh Steve?" For a moment his smile sobered as he nodded his head. Back in those days he had to worry about Brooklyn bullies. He got to go home to his mom, and spend his days running amok with his friends. It was a world he knew, a world he missed, and one that was lost. "Yeah... They tell me these days aren't so bad though."

It would do him no good pining for the past. For whatever reason Steve had lived through that ice. The world still needed him- and that's what they had to focus on. "You know, maybe one day I'll bring Buck by." He mused, an impish edge taking hold of his smile. "Get us all back together- though some of us have aged better than others huh?" He and Will had always had a banter. All the boys had, and Steve was just relieved to make his friend laugh. And for the briefest of moments it felt like nothing had changed. If Steve closed his eyes he would of almost expected to open them back in 1939, back in his own bed with his mother waking him for school. Before he was a super soldier. Before he'd lost Bucky and Peggy. Before he'd crashed that damned plane... But that was all fantasy. "Come on, tell me what I missed while I was under. What have you been up to? Couldn't of been here all this time." Steve asked, leaning forward in the chair he'd taken, the one next to Eleanor. This was the best and hardest part. Listening to what the other's had done, had made of their lives. To hear how the world went on without him. The wars he missed, maybe could of helped stopped, and the love he'd missed out on that they found.

But in the end he was happy for them. He was always happy for them. He loved seeing the joy as William recounted his victories, the sorrow of the things he lost. It struck a chord in Steve when Will swore that he never for a moment thought Steve was dead, and had been waiting all this time for his friend to be revived, to be brought out of that ice. Because just like Peggy, here was a person that Steve had lived on with. Had influenced in some way or other. As they sat and chattered, he'd shoot Eleanor small gazes when he thought she wasn't looking, and small smiles when she was. The hours he sat there passed by like minutes as the two chattered, catching up. This had been the right choice after all. Steve had been scared coming here. That yet another anchor to the world he fell asleep in, and the one he woke up in, wouldn't remember him. That it'd be a blank mind inside a fading body. Thankfully, Steve found what he was looking for with William and his granddaughter. A sense of comfort, familiarity. Someone who didn't just see Captain America; but people who knew the true him. The him before the serum and war. And that was something Steve had sorely needed.

James ‘Bucky’ Barnes | Loyal ✘ Mischievous ✘ Affable


James had to hold back a chuckle when he watched the pretty blonde flex her muscles, although he didn’t actually see much of a change in her arm. But he didn’t want to laugh, he didn’t want to offend her even though he could actually tell that she was joking with him. “I’m certain that you are tougher than you look, but I still would have asked.” He told her as he watched her lift the laundry basket back up into her arms, which didn’t sit well with him because he still held the old fashioned manners that he was taught by his parents. He did know that these days, many young men didn’t care that much about being a gentleman but James was still one even after he was turned into a villain. The blonde had carried the basket all that way already and she was almost at her apartment, but yet he still offered to carry the basket as that is who he was as a person. As she handled the basket over to him and he introduced himself, he was surprised when she followed and he heard her name for the first time. "Xanthippe, but everyone just calls me Xan. I think we're actually neighbours. I was gonna stop by at some point to say hi, but work just keeps me so busy." She spoke and he was taken aback by her name, it was so unique and different but it did suit her. It was elegant and he found himself saying her name over and over again, thankfully it was inside his mind so she didn’t overhear him.

“Xanthippe… I’ve never heard that name before, but I like it. It suits you… Xanthippe,” James spoke as her name seemed to roll off of his tongue perfectly, as she unlocked the door to her apartment it didn’t occur to him that this wasn’t something that happened often in this day and age. Back when James was younger, it was just something that happened without any harsh intentions in anyone’s minds. If he had realised then he would have just offered to carry the basket over to her door, although that would have been useless because Xan was actually in fact closer to her apartment then he was so it wouldn’t have made any difference. But he was reverting back to how he was before being turning into the Winter Solider, "Um, right if you wouldn't mind just putting that down next to the couch?" Xan told him once he had stepped into her apartment and he nodded at her request, he moved over to the couch and set the basket down onto the floor. “This is a nice apartment,” James looked around the neat room, it was pretty much the same as his but it was still nicer. It was more like a home, Xan had imprinted her life onto the space while James hasn’t had the time to do that yet as he hadn’t even been living there for a week. And on top of that, he had no idea how long he would be staying in the apartment. He thought it would be for a while, unless something happened of course and he was forced to move.

"Thanks, I hate laundry. But there's no room up here to do it and the idea of each floor having their own laundry was shot down pretty quick by Mr. Tully. I guess it builds character having to lug your stuff up and down stairs. My dad would of said that anyway." Xanthippe told him which caused him to look over at her, “I could always help you. I can carry your laundry whenever you do it, it would give me something to do. I don’t do much with my days,” He admitted to her and it was true, he didn’t do much with his life right now because he wasn’t sure what he should do with his life. Which is the main reason why he wanted to get out of his apartment today, to get out of his comfort zone and see the world that he was now living in. "You just moved in right? How're you finding it so far? For a cheap price it's alright. The water and heat works and it's close to work. So I guess I can't complain too much about it." The beauty asked him and he was curious about where she worked now, “It is very nice. I haven’t met many people yet, I haven’t even explored my new surroundings either. But what is it that you do for work?” James asked as he looked at her, his stormy blue eyes stayed focused on her. Her slender face reflected innocence to James, small strands of her blonde locks had fallen down around her face and her pale skin was like porcelain but still looked bright and healthy. There was a glow and light about her, which may have just been seen by James or by everyone that looked at her.

Nodding his head, James agreed to stay for a coffee before he asked for a black coffee with one sugar. “Have you always lived here?” He asked as he wandered around her apartment, he was currently looking at some photo frames that held many different memories of Xan’s life. Her smile in the photos were what captured his attention, her smile was beautiful and reached her stunning eyes. Her smile was true and he knew it would brighten any room that she was in, a small smile formed on his own face as he looked at her photos and he hadn’t even realised that he was smiling. He wanted to know more about the gorgeous blonde which was something that he didn’t feel often about people, at least now as he couldn’t remember much about how he was before HYDRA got their hands on him. Some days he felt okay, but other days he did feel like he was a shell of the man he used to be.

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Eleanor Harris | Gracious ✘ Sensible✘ Determined


The air in the room changed, it was much lighter since Steve arrived. William was happy to be in the retirement home, but having an old friend visit him was exactly what he needed. He hadn’t seen Steve since he was found and thawed out, but he had watched his friend on the television and read articles in the newspaper but it wasn’t the same as being there with Steve and being able to talk to him again. The solider hadn’t changed a single bit, he was the same kind hearted man who put everyone before himself. But William could see a change in his eyes, he wasn’t as bright but William knew what had caused that. A lot of their friends had already died or were very close to passing on, he had heard that Agent Peggy Carter was in a home similar to his. "You know, maybe one day I'll bring Buck by. Get us all back together- though some of us have aged better than others huh?" Steve bantered with William and he couldn’t hold back from returning it, “I’ve been waiting for a visit from Buck. You two will have to watch out, I may be the oldest one now but I was always faster and that hasn’t changed a single bit.” Will chuckled softly before a cough followed and he had to clear his throat before speaking again, "Come on, tell me what I missed while I was under. What have you been up to? Couldn't of been here all this time." Steve asked and that was all Will needed before he started to talk Steve’s ear off.

“Well I married the beautiful Dawn Ryan, you remember her right? The foxy little brunette army nurse, that I was always trying to take out to dinner. We found the perfect little house and had a wonderful son, Adam.” William smiled fondly as he glanced over at his granddaughter, he had missed Steve and Buck but he wouldn’t have changed a thing that happened in his life because his grandchildren were the light in his life and his pride and joy. He continued on telling Steve about his life, how he decided to stay in the army and went off to a few more wars before he retired when Dawn finally did fall pregnant. He then applied to be on the police force and he worked hard to work his way up the ladder, but he still managed to travel the world with Dawn and Adam as he wanted to give his small family everything that he possibly could. He barely stopped to breathe as he told Steve about his life because he wanted his friend to know everything, luckily Eleanor knew how he could get so she just let him speak as there really wasn’t any way to stop the old man now. After a few hours there was another knock on the door, but this time it was a nurse who entered the room. “I’m sorry to do this, but William has a few appointments. But you two are more than welcome to come back after in a few hours,” The nurse spoke kindly as William had some activities that he did every day, today he had a game of lawn bowls which tended to take a while as the elderly did need to take their time when playing.

“Of course, I’ll see you soon Grandpa.” Eleanor stood up from the chair and kissed William’s cheek, the old man didn’t look that pleased that Steve had to leave but he knew his friend would be back to visit him again. “I apologize Steve, maybe you could spend some time with my Eleanor? If you aren’t busy,” William suggested rather quickly as he knew Eleanor didn’t have any plans for the day, as he looked at them there was this cheeky spark in his eyes. There weren’t many years between them and Will wanted the best for his granddaughter, if she wasn’t going to go out and get it for herself then he wouldn’t stop trying to give it to her. Eleanor looked at her grandpa as warmth settled across her cheeks, not that she was against the idea but it was just the way Will had said it that was causing her to blush. “Only if you want, you can say no. Grandpa is just sticking his nose into my life, again.” Eleanor grabbed her handbag and placed it over her shoulder as she looked at the handsome man, he had stood up as well when William did as the nurse was waiting to take him outside where the bowls team were meeting up. William bid Steve a goodbye and had told him to visit whenever he had the time, before he left the room with his walking stick in his hand to keep him steady.

Eleanor stepped out with Steve behind her, they walked together through the corridors of the retirement home and used the elevator to reach the ground floor. She signed herself out and waited for Steve to as well, “There’s a nice coffee shop just down the street. We could grab a drink?” Eleanor asked as she looked at him, they hadn’t had much of a chance to get to know each other as Steve had been there for William. “That would be really nice, actually.” Steve replied with a small smile gracing his lips, a smile which Eleanor couldn’t help but return as she looked at him. So she lead him outside into the car park but the café wasn’t far so she figured they could just walk there, “Thank you for coming over today. I haven’t seen him that happy in a long time, I just wanted to thank you.” She couldn’t thank him enough for visiting her grandpa, but she wanted him to know how much she did appreciate him coming by. Especially since he was most likely always busy saving the world.

Xanthippe Botev | Naive ✘ Empathetic ✘ Fickle


Xanthippe was quick to head over to her coffee machine, fiddling about with the controls as she refilled the pot. It was lovely to have company around, and while she was meeker than some; she still appreciated having someone around to talk to. Once everything was set and the coffee machine was happily gurgling with the sounds of brewing their drinks, she relaxed a little leaning against the counter. “I could always help you. I can carry your laundry whenever you do it, it would give me something to do. I don’t do much with my days,” Again that air of mystery seemed to thicken around him ever so slightly, but she didn't pry. "Really? You wouldn't mind?" James shook his head, that soft demeanor of his never wavering. "That... That would be really nice." She admitted, a rosy hue to her cheeks. Sure people in this apartment weren't cruel to each other for the most part, save for the quarreling college couple, but they sure as hell weren't this nice to her. Conversation carried on as the coffee was nearly done brewing, and reaching up on her tiptoes took two mugs out of their place in the cabinet. They were a present from her younger brother a few years ago, one of the rims was chipped and they were decorated with transformers.

Her last roommate had left them with her when he moved out, and hadn't wanted them back. “It is very nice. I haven’t met many people yet, I haven’t even explored my new surroundings either. But what is it that you do for work?” She was in the middle of pulling milk out of the fridge for her own drink when he asked. "I work at the vet clinic a couple blocks from here. A veterinary technician. I pretty much do everything except make official diagnosis and surgery without the vet." Growing up her life hadn't been easy. A father who was always gone for business and an alcoholic mother with a younger sister who grew up far too fast and got tangled up in all the wrong things. The only time she was truly happy, was working at the local shelter- a job she had taken up to help bolster her college applications. Clearing her throat, ridding herself of these worries the blonde carefully began to fill each mug. "And you? Do you work from home or something?" She didn't see him leave very much, not that she made an effort to track his movements. Just noticed that usually when she came home from work there was a light on, and his earlier statement of he didn't do much with his days. Xanthippe was just a naturally curious creature, and he was no exception to her curiosity.

A cheerful light poured in through one of the windows in her small dining room area, making her home seem more vibrant than it probably really was. She could hear him wandering about behind her, which was fine. There wasn't anything she wanted to hide. Just a few high school pictures before she hit puberty and looked like a baby horse. “Have you always lived here?” Carefully she picked up the mugs, setting them down on the island before shaking her head. "No. I'm actually from Vermont pretty much. Right on the border. I still get lost around here sometimes. In college I lived in off-campus housing with a few friends and then when I found a job out here I moved out. This is my first place on my own though. It's different than what I expected." She admitted, a soft sigh in her words. Xanthippe had always enjoyed being with her friends. She did not enjoy the drama and the catfights that came from constant living with one another- not that she really ever partook in that. So what if Danny used too much hot water, or Serene brought too many boys over? At first it was nice to get away from those two always yelling at each other, but these days she found she oddly enough, missed it.

Bills hadn't been so stressful, as there were three to foot it. And Xanthippe didn't feel so much like a hermit when she was living with her roommates. Sitting on the island stool, she carefully blew on her drink, though it probably wasn't really needed. Half her drink was milk anyway, and three sugars. Xan always did have a bit of a sweet tooth. Outside the sounds of the city trilled on, cars honked, people shouted, and music blared from other cars. If nothing else life around here was busy. It wasn't an exaggeration when people said this city never slept. "Have you always lived around here?" The question was once again turned back to the man as she regarded him through crystalline eyes of aquatic blues. His voice... Well she could faintly make out traces of an accent that sounded like at some point he'd been here long enough to pick one up. But it was so faint that she wasn't sure. Taking a careful sip, finding the drink to already be tepid to her pastel pink lips Xanthippe deepened her sip, now past the worry of burning her mouth. Glancing up to find his steady gaze on her, Xan's heart skipped a beat a moment under the unintentional intensity of his gaze.

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Steve Rogers| Intrepid ✘ Altruistic ✘ Willful


This day had gone much better than expected. By the time that nurse came in to shoo them out for Will's appointment, the blond was grinning ear to ear. He was glad to hear one of his dearest friends had made so much with his life, even managed to find the love of his life and marry her. As he stood, gingerly hugging William again Steve's brow wrinkled at his friend's request. “I apologize Steve, maybe you could spend some time with my Eleanor? If you aren’t busy,” His granddaughter was quick to protest, heat pooling he cheeks as well. “Only if you want, you can say no. Grandpa is just sticking his nose into my life, again.” He wasn't and there was some roguish spark in Will's gaze that made Steve nearly blush. "Of course, don't worry about it. Next time I come, I'll bring you something." He additionally promised, turning to Eleanor and offering a small grin. If this was kin of Will's then she was a friend of his. And as long as he didn't focus on her beauty, Steve wouldn't come off like an awkward fumbling mess. Giving Will one last ginger hug he turned following Eleanor to the elevators. It was a beautiful day out for a late May. It wasn't too terribly cold and the snow had all melted. The city was coming back to life as it had been frozen over the past winter.

And Steve always hated the winter. The snow and ice... It reminded him too much of being under. Shaking his thoughts the man quietly leaned against the wall of the elevator, trying to pick out something to do with Eleanor. What did women these days like to do? The kind of dancing Steve would of done wasn't really a thing anymore. A museum? He was pretty much a walking one. “There’s a nice coffee shop just down the street. We could grab a drink?” For the first time she spoke up and Steve nodded enthusiastically. Coffee tasted pretty good these days, most things tasted good these days. Being raised in the depression- Steve had an appetite for pretty much anything. “That would be really nice, actually.” He agreed, verbally for her. Stepping off the elevator after her, Steve nodded to the woman at the front desk, following Eleanor outdoors. Closing his eyes for a moment as a stray beam of sunlight fell onto his face the man held back a contented sigh. Since getting out of that ice, Steve couldn't get enough time in the sun. Back home he'd even set up his easel and artist tools in the window that allotted for the most sun. “Thank you for coming over today. I haven’t seen him that happy in a long time, I just wanted to thank you.” For a moment he was quiet, thinking over her words. Hesitantly he shrugged. "Honestly... I was pretty scared about coming here."

The admission of his fear was honest, far more honest than he would of been with someone else. Seeing her brows furrow with confusion as they joined the main street, bustling with life and activity Steve elaborated. "When I woke up, I might as well of woken up on a different planet. Everything is just... It's just overwhelming sometimes. I try to make the best of it- at least I'm alive. I have really good friends, I do good. And that's important. But most of the people I knew from that time... Well they're either dead or are just dead minds in withering husks waiting to die." It was a little dark, but truthful. "I remember your grandfather a very certain way. Just so alive that I was afraid that he wouldn't be the person I knew back then. But I'm glad that wasn't the case. Besides a couple friends from the commandos, I haven't been able to connect with anyone like that in awhile." As he spoke, trying to avoid a woman who had stopped to yell at her son, he accidentally brushed his arm against her's. However she didn't seem to mind so Steve didn't fret very much over it. He also didn't mention how much it would hurt when William inventively passed away leaving just one less anchor for Steve to hold onto. True to Eleanor's words, the coffee shop wasn't too terribly far away from the nursing home, which Steve was thankful for.

Even with his cap the man was attracting too much attention to feel comfortable. He was always a humble man. He did what he thought would be good for the people of this world. He tried to help and save them, in Steve's eyes he wasn't a hero. Just doing what he was created to do. Holding the door open for Eleanor, he followed her to the counter waiting for her to place her order, and fishing his wallet out of his pocket scanned the menu. He tried to order something different every time but so far his tastes had leaned more towards an Americano, espresso, or caramel latte. This time though after a split hesitation he ordered a mocha latte, something Thor swore up and down was astoundingly delicious. Before Eleanor could pay for her own drink, Steve was waving it off. "My treat." He promised, handing over the card that SHIELD had given him. Tony gave him some quick financial lessons, helped him set up a bank account- and from there Steve figured it out pretty much. Once their drinks were handed to them, Steve picked out a table tucked away in the corner to avoid being seen and approached by civilians. "So, Eleanor what about you? What do you do?" Steve asked kindly as he took a sip of the coffee, his nose wrinkling with surprise. It was pretty good, he'd have to add this to his list. The blond knew plenty about William, but his quiet, beautiful granddaughter was still a mystery waiting for him to unravel.

James ‘Bucky’ Barnes | Loyal ✘ Mischievous ✘ Affable


It was settled within seconds, James would help Xan with her laundry whenever she wanted to wash a load. He actually felt better once she had agreed to let him help her, he didn’t like the idea of her struggling to carry a heavy load of laundry up and down all of the stairs that were in the apartment complex. "I work at the vet clinic a couple blocks from here. A veterinary technician. I pretty much do everything except make official diagnosis and surgery without the vet." Xan told him about her job and he could imagine her helping sick animals, she had this graceful air about her and he could already tell that she was a kind hearted person who obviously put herself last and just wanted to help those who couldn’t help themselves. “That must be an exciting job, it would change daily but I can imagine it would keep you very busy.” James looked over at the blonde and noticed that she had placed two mugs of coffee on the counter, stepping over he joined her at the breakfast bar as he sat down on the other stool and wrapped his hand around the hot mug. His dark coffee steaming as he allowed it to sit in the mug to cool slightly before he took a sip, he frowned when he saw the strange looking pictures that covered the outside of his mug. He hadn’t seen the characters before but he didn’t want to mention it, he wasn’t ready to tell Xanthippe who he was or what had happened to him just yet. He was sure that she wouldn’t judge him or tell him to leave, she didn’t seem like that kind of person but at the same time he didn’t know her that well. He didn’t want her to be scared of him, he would eventually tell her if she wanted to know but right now he kept it to himself and tried to keep his metal hand out of her view.

"And you? Do you work from home or something?" She asked him and he hesitated because he wasn’t sure what he should tell her, he wasn’t currently working and didn’t know if he ever would again. The only thing he has been is a solider, but after being an assassin he knew not many people would be giving him another chance to be a solider. “I’m looking for work, I went through an accident. I’m just getting back onto my feet,” He spoke quietly as he took a sip of his hot coffee, the bitter liquid flowing down his throat as he set the mug back down onto the counter. He thought it would be best if he was honest with her and he was being honest, he wasn’t working from home or working at all. He asked about her more as he truly was curious and wanted to know more, "No. I'm actually from Vermont pretty much. Right on the border. I still get lost around here sometimes. In college I lived in off-campus housing with a few friends and then when I found a job out here I moved out. This is my first place on my own though. It's different than what I expected. Have you always lived around here?" Xanthippe spoke and James couldn’t stop listening to her soothing voice, he never wanted her to stop speaking as her voice seemed to keep him calm. When she asked about his working situation he didn’t feel his body tense up, he wasn’t thinking up a lie that he could give to her. No, he was able to think and tell her the truth which hadn’t always happened since being taken away from HYDRA.

James hadn’t been to Vermont before, well he was pretty sure that he hadn’t visited Vermont before. “I’ll need to visit Vermont then, are your friends still living there?” He asked as he had no clue what off-campus living was like, he had tried to attend college when he was younger but it didn’t suit him but even then he still lived at home with his parents. “I was born here in Brooklyn, but I moved around a bit. I always missed it here, so I thought I’d come back. It’s still home for me and it’s where I’m the most comfortable,” James spoke as he sipped his coffee again now that it was cooler and wouldn’t burn his tongue, turning his head to look at the blonde he noticed the sun that beamed through the window had caught onto her golden hair and made it shine as she moved. When her stunning baby blues locked onto his own eyes, he couldn’t look away from her even though nerves were quick to fill his body. His mind went blank and everything surrounding Xan disappeared from his vision, all he could see was her and James was fine with that. “It’s changed a lot around here for me as well, if you have some free time one day, we could explode the area together. So we don’t get lost,” He wasn’t sure where that came from, but the words tumbled from his parted lips and it was too late to take any of it back. He was surprised that he hadn’t stuttered with how nervous he was feeling, there was something about Xanthippe that put him at ease but made him nervous all at the same time.

However he was expecting her to brush it off or tell him that she was busy with her boyfriend, in that case he would understand and wouldn’t suggest anything of that nature again. Xan had to have a boyfriend, she was so beautiful and sweet that there had to be a man who treated her like a Queen because that is what she deserved. Although he hadn’t seen any photos of her with a man, it was just her with her friends but that didn’t mean anything.

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Eleanor Harris | Gracious ✘ Sensible✘ Determined


Eleanor walked along the sidewalk with Steve and she looked at him when he admitted to her that he had been scared to visit her Grandpa, a confused frown crossed her face as she didn’t know why he would have felt like that. "When I woke up, I might as well of woken up on a different planet. Everything is just... It's just overwhelming sometimes. I try to make the best of it- at least I'm alive. I have really good friends, I do good. And that's important. But most of the people I knew from that time... Well they're either dead or are just dead minds in withering husks waiting to die. I remember your grandfather a very certain way. Just so alive that I was afraid that he wouldn't be the person I knew back then. But I'm glad that wasn't the case. Besides a couple friends from the commandos, I haven't been able to connect with anyone like that in a while." Steve explained to her so she could understand where he was coming from, and she did understand to an extent because she’d never completely understand what Steve has gone through. But she wasn’t confused anymore about why he was scared to visit her Grandpa, “It would have been a huge shock. One minute you have a life in the time that you know and the next minute it’s all changed, no one can possibly know what you’re going through. But if you need help, you just need to ask.” She told him sweetly, he was a friend of her Grandpa’s which meant she would do everything she could to make Steve feel comfortable.

“Grandpa does have his bad days, his memory is slowly fading and he has had a few falls. But I’m glad that you did come to visit him, he follows everything you do and tells whoever will listen that he knows you. So if you need help with anything or just want to talk, I’m always around.” Eleanor promised him as they neared the café, the street was busy will people rushing past them and she did notice a few people here and there would stare at Steve. But thankfully no one stopped him, she could tell by his body language that the stares and whispers were something that bothered him. William had always told her how humble Steve was, he wanted to get the Super Solider Serum so he could truly help and save the world. Not because he wanted attention or fame, that seemed to have stuck with Steve after all this time. “I’ll give you my number, so you can call me at any time and I expect to hear from you. You shouldn’t have to go through all of this on your own,” Eleanor would have to make sure that he knew how to use the phone as well, so he could contact her whenever he wanted.

Once they reached the coffee shop, she thanked Steve for holding the door open for her which is an act that Luke hardly ever did for her. She walked over to the counter and ordered herself a latte with two sugars, she was fishing through her handbag for her purse when Steve stopped her. “My treat,” He told her as he handed over a credit card so he could pay for their drinks, she thanked him again and again realised that her boyfriend never paid for her these days. He used to when they first begun to date, but now he expected her to pay for herself which she didn’t mind because she had the money. But not having to pay for a date here and there would be nice, although she never mentioned it in fear of another fight breaking out between them. They didn’t have to wait long before they were handed their drinks and Eleanor followed Steve over to a table that was tucked away in a back corner, she sat down on the chair and set her bag down onto the floor by her feet. "So, Eleanor what about you? What do you do?" Steve asked after having taken a sip of his hot drink, “I work in a flower shop. It’s nowhere near as important or impressive as you, but I love it. My Grandparent’s lived outside of town as I grew up, a cute little cottage that had the biggest garden. My parents always worked so after school I’d go to my Grandparent’s house with my brother and we were there every weekend, Grandma loved gardening. She grew vegetables and fruits, but her flower beds were my favourite. I just loved seeing them grow, I’d pick them and make my own bouquets.” Eleanor smiled warmly at the memories she held of growing up with her Grandparents, she held so much passion for her job and to her it wasn’t even a job because she loved it so much.

She had an older brother who had his own life now with his own little family, she was still close with him and her Dad. But her Mom had wanted a career and Eleanor had been a surprise baby, so her Grandparents did so much as she was growing and most of her childhood was filled with her Grandparents. “I have a couple of friends from school that I see all the time and then there’s Luke, but… I don’t know anymore, he never seems to have time for me.” She shook her head lightly as she didn’t want to think about Luke right now, he had changed over the years and Eleanor didn’t seem to be important to him anymore. Moving the mug to her pink lips she took a mouthful of her coffee and focused on the taste, her eyes moved over to Steve and instead focused on him. “I don’t really do much else,” She shrugged her shoulders slightly, but she just didn’t like talking about herself. She didn’t think she was interesting in the slightest.

Hello?