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[This is the first time that Steve is making a video like this to everyone, but he has used this feature when talking to others on this network at least. So, he doesn't look too awkward as he talks into it.]

Know that this is a bit late, but wanted to thank the people who gave me these items for Christmas. [He shows a rather famous red, white and blue circular shield and a Captain America costume that was used during the USO tours.]

It's real thoughtful of you. [He smiles a little, completely honest in his words.] However, the outfit is a bit too uh- big for me. Couldn't get it on without drowning in it, to be honest. So I'm wondering if anyone wants it, don't have much of a use for it myself and I wouldn't want it to go to waste.

[He looks down at the shield for a moment, feeling somewhat attached to it despite himself.] I'm keepin' the shield though, never know when something like this could come in handy...

[ooc: Feel free to fourth wall him or point out that those are Captain America stuff. Tony has already spilled the beans about it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Got my own, thanks. But I might see if I can steal a design feature, there.

[It looks well without a cape. He hates wearing a cape.]

Maybe you'll grow into them. I know my knees start getting cramped every other year or so.

Wanna add a cowl to your uniform? Maybe with some wings that go on top. [He's not sure why there are head wings on this outfit, but guess it's just the design.]

Think I'll need more than just a few growth spurts to fill this out. The arm sleeves alone are twice the size of my arms.

[Snickers derisively.]

Ew. No. Cowls are awful. Sweaty. And you have to turn your head an extra, like, twenty degrees if you want any kind of peripheral vision, if it's too bulky.

[He tilts his head at that.]

It's not impossible. I mean, you're a little old to get started. But it's not impossible.

Haven't thought of it that way... sounds like it can be disadvantageous in battle. [Although Steve doesn't think he'll be wearing cowls in battle anyway, they do have helmets and such in the war.]

Guess I could start by eating more protein, huh?

Nothing's a disadvantage if you train yourself to compensate.

[Rote recitation, entirely inflectionless; he's heard that one many times before.]

Just... sweaty.

[He throws his cape back off his shoulders, giving Steve a nod of assent.]

Light exercise, too. Gotta give your body something to do with that extra protein. Pull-ups or something.

[Note that his background as a lifelong circus acrobat and veteran crimefighter skews his perspective of "light."]

If I may ask, how long have you been training? And worked as a superhero?

[He looks pretty young, but he definitely sounds experienced.]

Right. If I ever fit the costume some day, I'll show you. Cowl and all.

Training? [Taken simply:] Long as I can remember. But I've been doing the hero thing for... closing in on five years, now.

[A third of his life, wow.]

Shield, too. I like the shield idea. It's a little too big and clunky for my fighting style, but it's innovative.

[Wow, that long...] Did you always want to fight crime and become a hero? [It's definitely not a standard way to fight crime, but sounds like he's been doing his best to help, even if he is really young. Steve was still tied to a bed and barely getting through the Depression at his age.]

It's definitely not a conventional weapon nowadays. [But he still likes it quite a bit.] To be honest, I'm not sure what it's made of though. Doesn't feel like steel, too light for it.

[That's a difficult question to answer. Not because he doesn't know the answer -- the answer is "no" -- but because the hows and whys are so personal. He doesn't want to lie to someone who seems so... what, eager? Earnest? Genuine? But he also doesn't want to invite the inevitable "so what happened?" reaction.

After a second, he just decides, whatever.]

Nope. Does anyone?

[Come what may.]

It's not a weapon at all. It's a defensive... thingy.

TungSteel? I know the military's working on something like that.

Sure there are some folks that always wanted to fight crime. [Wanting to be a costumed hero is less common though.] Was there something that changed your mind?

[And Steve's probably being a bit nosy now.]

Haven't heard of that before. I could test it out, but I'd hate to accidentally break this...

[Well, not as invasive as it could be, he supposes.]

Let's just say those people are a lot more altruistic than I am naturally, but I learned from the best.

[Part of him is morbidly curious as to how nosy Steve will get. He doesn't seem like a bad guy. He reminds Robin of someone, but he hasn't quite put his finger on who yet. ~~IT'S PROBABLY SUPERMAN~~

...did you say test. The slow grin that appears on Robin's face would not look out of place on a mad scientist.]

If your shield breaks, it wasn't a very good shield to begin with.

I'll be gentle.

Same person that taught you to fight? [Steve assumed that someone has been teaching him how to fight, especially if he started so young.

And boy, that's a grin that Steve wouldn't trust on any other person. He doesn't want to potentially ruin the gift that he's received, but... he should know how reliable this thing is, especially if he wants to lug it around.]

What's gentle in superhero terms?

Edited 2014-01-16 00:26 (UTC)

Brilliant deduction, Sherlock.

[But back to the interesting thing!!]

No explosives. And no fancy alloys-- my toys are mostly made of average steel.

[Lack of explosives sounded good. Very good. Steve fiddled with his shield a little more before answering.]

Long as I'm there to see you test it out.

Set the time and place.

Hey, I'll even let you play with some of my toys. Fair's fair.

This weekend works? At the park?

Gonna show me any of your favorites? [He's interested in looking at new stuff.]

Sure. I make the rules, though, same as you do with the shield.

Did I mention no explosives?

Sounds fair to me.

No explosives. [Maybe the park isn't a good idea, since things can catch on fire... but they'll be careful. Hopefully.]

All right. See you there.

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