002 ✪ [Video -- thoroughly accidental video]

[notmyfirstrodeo]

[Coulson is staring intently at the computer screen. Very intently. In fact, this may be the most serious that he's ever looked -- which is saying something. The man doesn't do much that isn't serious.]

Almost...

[The word is muttered to himself, brow furrowed.] Just about... There!

[And now, seriousness is replaced with absolute triumph. A kid who just got exactly what he asked for from Santa. Fiddling and a sheet prints. It's an order confirmation, straight off of eBay, winning bid. As he holds it up to the light read it's quite visible: Complete series: Captain America trading cards, original printing, near mint condition.

There's a bit of a grin starting on his face as he suddenly realizes he's sharing this. The expression fades entirely, and he pauses.]

...this is research. [And then he hurries to turn the video off.]

Comments

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[tenminutes]

[ OKAY. Yuri doesn't know you, but she does know Steve, and you have trading cards and that just isn't fair. But wait. This man's logic... it doesn't make sense to her. She just asked Steve to get her a comic book. So have a confused looking magenta-haired girl. ]

Why didn't you just get him to put some aside for you?

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[notmyfirstrodeo]

[...ahem. Give him a second here.]

I couldn't trouble Captain Rogers for that. [Oh and also? ALSO. ...he doesn't want him to know he's his biggest fan ever, all right? Except apparently too late for that.]

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[tenminutes]

Why not? I had him take Ange and I to the movies and get us comics a while back. [ Nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh. ]

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[notmyfirstrodeo]

[So much jealous all of a sudden. So he's quiet a loooooooong moment.] I see. Well, that does sound like a nice outing. Captain Rogers is generous sort of guy.

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[tenminutes]

Well I don't have any money otherwise I would've paid for that and the comic and stuff myself. Are you some kind of fan or something?

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[notmyfirstrodeo]

What? Me? No, this is, ah, research.

I mean, Captain Rogers is a hero, that's just fact. You can't argue with it. And a role model.

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[tenminutes]

He's- [ Uhg, there's no way around admitting that he's like her best friend is there? Let's just phrase it differently. ] He's a pretty okay guy to talk to too, outside of being a hero, even if he gets pissy about certain things. How do you do research with trading cards?

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[notmyfirstrodeo]

They're pieces of contemporaneous paraphernalia and propaganda. It's an original source.

[AND THEY'RE NEAR MINT.]

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[tenminutes]

They're trading cards. Seriously, if you want to go poke him in the side let me know I'll worldhop you over. [ There is nothing researchy about trading cards and grinning like you won the lotto jackpot. ]

[ video ]

[denies]

[ oh, hey, it's that guy she spoke to before and-- ... Captain.. America.. trading cards.. give her a moment to just blink and try to gather her lineface again after the surprise, because what. ]

'Research'?

video

[pikapikapikarin]

What hero is that, can I ask? [Yayoi had noticed that the person on the front was of a suited man in American colors. So naturally she was trying to get a better look.]

[baaaaseball]

Ahaha! I can't remember the last time I bought cards like these.

[piercethecharts]

Well isn't that just precious! Does Steve know?

[yumadbro]

Research?

video

[notmyfirstrodeo]

I don't want to poke Captain Ro- I mean Steve. He has important things to take care of. [He totally wants to go poke him in the side.]

[ video ]

[notmyfirstrodeo]

Research. [That's his flimsy and not very believable story and he's sticking to it.]

About Captain America. Which is,,, important research.

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[notmyfirstrodeo]

Captain America. [...he'll even turn the printout so the images of the cards are more visible. Because everyone should know Captain America ok?]

...he's the best really. A real war hero.

[notmyfirstrodeo]

They're hard to track down, in good condition.

[Wait. He means.] What cards were you buying?

[makewayforroze]

Who are on them?

[mightletyouknowme]

He has cards now?

[notmyfirstrodeo]

[...damn it.] It's not precious. It's... research.

No. Steve doesn't know. ...there's no reason for Steve to know. Yet. [Until someday he can ask for autographs. Pardon Coulson while he chinhands on the inside at this idea. BUT ONLY ON THE INSIDE.]

[notmyfirstrodeo]

That's right. Research. Primary source material and everything.

[notmyfirstrodeo]

Captain America. If you've never heard of him, I can explain a little.

[notmyfirstrodeo]

Of course he has cards. He's Captain America.

[wormhole]

Research, huh? Darcy is going to have a field day with this one.