9173/Why make enemies...

Why make enemies...
Date of Scene:	19 December 2021
Location:	Old Gotham - Founders Island
Synopsis:	Clint and Helena get coffee
Cast of Characters:	Helena Bertinelli, Clint Barton

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Helena Bertinelli has posed:
The holidays are in full swing, even here in Gotham. While many hurry about on their quest to complete their shopping. Others are simply hurrying because they are on a quest to get from Point A to Point B, whereever those points may lay.

Serenading their fellow Gothamites, as they hurry to whatever desintation they may have, is a group of twenty men, weomen and children gathered by a small street-side green space to sing carols and songs of the season. Their voices carry well in the canyons formed by buildings new and old rising up within Old Gotham.

Emerging from a coffee shop a stone's throw from the makeshift choir, Helena Bertinelli holds a custom drink in one hand and a slice of some sort of seasonal spice cake that was being promoted. Dressed for warmth, she has a knit cap tugged down over her dark hair, a heavy woolen winter coat in purple, black denim and rugged hiking boots.

Turning toward the choir, she found a spot in the green space. There are concrete benches in number, but who would want to park on one of those when it's this cold out? Standing to the side she takes a bite of her snack, munching while she listens to the songs.

Clint Barton has posed:
Clint doesn't often come to Gotham City.

But even Avenging Archers need a 'vacation'. So Clint is here, wearing a black shirt with a dark sweater over that, some simple blue jeans and some running shoes. Simple gear, probably the least nicely dressed out here in the cold Gotham weather. Regardless, he seems to have been slightly distracted by the sudden group of carolers that serenade the people.

As for who would -dare- to sit on those benches, one o them apparently would be Clint Barton.

The Avenger takes his seat on the bench with a bit of a groan, the relaxing kind. He never really minded the cold, and honestly? The Russian winter was much colder. Now -that- you need the gear for.

"Purple's a good color on you, lady." It's unknown if Clint is giving a genuine complement, trying to flirt, or simply making an observation.

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli was listening contentedly to the songs. It was actually setting a welcome tone for the holiday season. Almost like childhood. Except that thought connected the dots to the rest of her childhood which was decidedly not positive or welcome to dwell upon. The almost-smile on her features fades in that instant. It also happens to be when she is spoken to by the man nearby. The crazy man sitting on the nearly frozen cement bench. She looks at him sharply for a brief moment as if she were going to blow up at him in a typical East Coast style. But she manages to bite her tongue. It wasn't his fault bad memories had chosen this moment to surface.

Managing a smile, she nodded to him. "Thank you. Green and Red always seem to be over done this time of year. Though I'd start a movement. Holiday Purple" she quips.

Clint Barton has posed:
"Green and red is a bad color combination. Purple is like warm life, in that way I guess. You know?" Clint turns his head to look at Helena with a frienldy smile on his face. Clint doesn't seem to mind the frozen cement bench, though he briefly manages to spot that moment of divine wrath coming from Helena, though the fact that she's not quite destroying him verbally makes Clint seem a bit more comfortable.

"Holiday Purple. Maybe minty purple?" Clint jokes, though he eventually offers her a hand to shake. "Clint." His introduction is blunt but straightforward.

"Listen to Carolers often?"

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli says, "Definitely Holiday Purple. Anyone who would wear purple and mint?" she asks open endedly with a shudder. She sips at her coffee just before he introduces himself. The introduction doesn't bother her, but the hand shake? That caught her only a little off guard given her hands are both full.

"Hello Clint. Umm..." She looks around and briefly sets her cup on one of the benches before shaking his hand, ".. I'm Helena" she offers with a smile. She glances to the carolers as the next song is beginning, "No. Not usually. But I had time and it seemed like a nice way to get into the holiday spirit?""

Clint Barton has posed:
"Holiday purple." Clint repeats with a bit of a chuckle. Though the handshake is given and he gives her a good, firm shake. "Nice to meet you, Helena. Pretty name. Italian?" Clint asks her, then lifts a hand. "If that's a little bit too personal, you don't have to answer it." Clint answers with a bit of a nervous laugh, though he nods. "That makes sense. They sing anything good or just this song?"

Though with his attention back to the carolers, its swiftly returns to Helena.

"So, you live here in Gotham or are you visiting? I'm mostly visiting from New York, but it is what it is." Clint seems to be making conversation, uniquely by continuing to talk even if its likely not too necessary.

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli smirks, "What is this? An investigation?" she retorts. "Yeah Italian."

She shakes his hand and then turns to reclaim her cup for a sip from its warmth. "Mmm, yeah. They were singing Silent Night when I went into the coffee shop. Good harmony I'd say. I'm no musician but they sound good together" SHe looks over, "Ah, more interrogations..." she jokes "Yeah, I'm local. So I get why I'm here. But why would you leave NYC to come -here-. The worst burrow of NYC is better than the best of Gotham. Seriously."

Clint Barton has posed:
"Not yet."

Clint smirks at her. "If I wanted to investigate you, I'd ask you out to dinner." Clint retorts with humor, but there is some honesty in his words. Maybe its the SHIELD agent aspect of him, but he's not above using seductive techniques to gain information. "Fair enough. Its been awhile actually since I just sat down and listened to the music of the choir."

He chuckles a little bit. "Just curious." He hears her mention the burrows of Gotham and Clint winces. "Yikes. Don't you guys have Batman or something? Thought he was making crime go down not make the best of Gotham still shit." He best not invoke the name of the Bat.

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli arches a brow, "Smooth.." she smirks as she sips her drink and glances to the group of singers as a new song is started - Jingle Bells. At least it's lively.

"Sure. And all the other Capes and Masks. Gotham isn't like any other city. It has its own rules I think. It lives and breathes differently." She looks up, "It has a darkness to its soul that, for all the lights, seems to swallow most of it. Even on sunny days. But.. it's home. You learn to move with the ebb and flow. Just going to catch a show at the Theater could end up getting you shot..." She glances around, "This is probably one of the better places a person could be at night. Comparatively speaking."

Clint Barton has posed:
Clint chuckles a little bit. "I haven't heard a no." Clint suggests to Helena as she comments on his capability to be attractive, or act like he is. Though with Jingle Bells starting to go, he's reminded briefly of the first Christmas he spent with the Avengers. Good people.

Though her comment on the Capes and Masks. "Has its own rules? Its a city, isn't it? Unless there's some ancient monster sleeping beneath it thats trying to eat you all." He teases her, which is probably a little bit mean.

"Heh. Well, You do have an Avenger with you. Though honestly, people dropping like flies and its normal is a little...concerning."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli glances over, "Don't discount that. They say the deeper you dig under the city into Old Gotham? The more unpleasant and strange it gets. So.. there could be some sort of monster down there, sure. No one's ever confirmed it of course."

She looks at him, "I haven't said no because I'm considering if a dinner invite would be any warmer than standing out here.." she comments dryly, but she's smiling. Then she looks at him sharply, "Avenger. Right.. now you've crossed into the land of trying too hard to impress the girl."

Clint Barton has posed:
"Clint Barton. Hawkeye? No?" Clint shrugs.

"It was more of a tactic to help you feel more relaxed, though I can see that you have Gotham 'I can kick anybody's ass' spirit going about you. Its a pretty good quality, if you ask me. Though honestly, I'm not expecting to impress the girl. But, if you want to get warmer, there's a great steak place down the street." Clint suggests with a bit of a smile.

Though either way, she seems to be smiling, though her sharp look at him has him on the defensive. He'd hate to piss her off.

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli tilts her head, thinking, "Oh... the.. arrow guy. Right? Green outfit and all?" She looks at him questioningly as she tries to place him. "Sorry. I'm just a teacher. I don't get drawn into all that save the world stuff. It's a bit out of my league." She nods, "I know the place. I hadn't planned on dinner out but sure, I think I can work it into my budget for the week if I get to pick on Arrow-guy for another hour when it isn't stupidly cold out." Her dark eyes seem to be glinting with humor.

Clint Barton has posed:
Clint looks a little bit defeated. "Damn...that's cold. Nah, I'm the guy in the black and purple. I think I'm a better shot than him though." He gets up from the cold bench, brushing off his pant legs as he turns to look at her.

"You're a teacher? Well, I now feel out of my league." He smirks at her. "Hot and smart." He then goes quiet. "aaaaaand I feel like a douche. I should buy you that dinner before you change your mind?" Clint asks with a little bit of a smile. "But, you get to pick on me, which is a good part of the deal." He chuckles.

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli grins, "I'm not totally oblivious to the news. But I didn't make the connection between your approval of Holiday Purple and that your first name was Clint, that it meant you were an Avenger. I admire what all of you do but I'm not exactly a groupie? I don't have the collectible cards or subscribe to the Avengers Sightings newsletter or whatever it might be" she laughs.

Shaking her head, "No, the place down the street really is good. I just wasn't planning to go there tonight. But I don't mind" she says with a smile. "But I'll buy my own dinner and enjoy the company. I'm not looking for a first date tonight."

Clint Barton has posed:
Clint smirks. "Well, at least I'm decently known. But that makes sense. Not expecting you to fangirl about it but-wait, there's an Avengers Sightings newsletter? Man, Stark never tells me about these things. Oh well." he shrugs.

Though he seems amused. "Fair enough. Though who knows, you might change your mind about the first date." He offers Helena his arm, as if to play coy.

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli grins, finding some pleasure in having teased him. But she wasn't trying to be mean. Not really. She tosses her cup in nearby trashcan and smirks, "Just can't help yourself, hmm?" she observes as he offers his arm. She shakes her head, "Thank you, but let's just keep it casual for now." She sticks her hands in her coat pockets with a smile. As she begins to walk along beside him, she glances over, "So.. the world doesn't need saving during the holidays? The Bad Guys take a break? Or are you on vacation or something?"