Return of the Blind Ninja

[he_put_the_devil_in_me]

Ordering clothes and equipment from the internet is all well and good, but after Matt's entanglement with the FBI several years ago, the idea of completely untraceable gear has been a tempting prospect. Today, he's browsing the shopping district, rubbing fabrics between his fingers to test its properties, in search of something that might deflect bullets or knives.

It's the Nexus, you never know.

Unfortunately, despite his enhanced senses, there is at least one important factor in purchasing clothes that he cannot overcome on his own. Footsteps mark the approach of someone else, and though Matt keeps his white cane tucked close to his feet to be out of the walkway, it's visible enough to be obvious if you know what you're looking at.

"Excuse me, what color is this?"



[ooc: usual disclaimer - Matt is blind but his other senses are enhanced to superhuman extremes. Feel free to add nonvisual sensory details in your tags that might help him get a better idea of who your character is or what they've been doing recently.]

Comments

[smartass_captain]

"I mean sure, some. But I've got so many side projects going on that actual free time is kind of rare. I've been running studies where I can at one of the research labs in the Nexus trying to suss out scientifically what the hell magic is. Or at least the variety my husband uses. He's teaching me their version of pharmacology as well as their language. I'm teaching him how not to die in space....." Jim sighs after a long moment.

"And all of that's on hold until he recovers and we deal with the shit that got him injured in the first place." But at least while he's stuck recovering Jim can maybe find him something soft and cozy to lounge in. Jim's going for the door to pull it open for Matt but freezes when he feels the man grab the end of his shirt.

Another thing Matt may have a difficulty with is finding much in the way of seams. The Replicators don't have to sew anything so much as create the matter from the blueprints that have been programmed into the system. Jim waits until Matt seems to be satisfied before taking a step toward the door.

"It's structurally identical to the organic based fabrics made on Earth these days but I can't technically call it natural since it came out of the Replicator." Even a cursory glance around seems a lot more promising than the last shop they were at. Everything on display certainly seems to lean toward the warm and cozy end of the scale.

[he_put_the_devil_in_me]

Ah, magic. Matt's lips twitch a little at the mention of the word. He's still not certain how he feels about it as a whole - it sounds ridiculous but he's experienced things he can't explain that nevertheless can't remotely be confused with divine miracles - but trying to quantify it and define it sounds a lot more reasonable than just smiling and nodding and accepting it, if you ask him.

That sentiment passes, however, cleared with the more sober reminder of why Jim is shopping for softer clothing in the first place. "You've got quite the full plate," Matt says, sympathetic. "Best wishes for a swift recovery."

The texture of the shirt is interesting, and the lack of seams does not pass unnoticed. It's like Jim said, a 3-D print of fabric, smoothly transitioning from sleeve to torso with nary a stitch to separate the pieces. He mulls that over as he drops his hand and steps into the store, looking thoughtful behind his wine-dark glasses, cane tapping at the floor tile. "It almost feels like a cotton blend, but... slicker, somehow. So it's not just recycled thread, it's built from the ground up. That's impressive. I don't think our three-D printers can do that yet."

[smartass_captain]

"Might as well be busy though, right? Only so many hours in the day to not fill them with what's important to you." Matt's likely got quite a bit on his plate too given the kind of clothing He's in the market for and how much at odds with the ordinary suit and tie office type he presents himself as.

"There is a recycling system to cut down on waste and supplies needed to be housed on site, but..." Jim rolls his head with the trailing off word from side to side while he tries to fish for the best way to explain it. "It's pretty new tech yet, even for the Federation."

Even still replicators need a program to follow to make anything. Jim glances around a few of the sweaters on display at the window front. Everything here does look really comfortable.

"And I can't get anything printed on the ship like this." Jim follows Matt inside. He's eager to poke around.

[he_put_the_devil_in_me]

"I can't disagree with that," Matt admits, a quirk of his lips to say that he understands the sentiment all too well.

He nods a little, hearing that hesitation in Jim's voice. Either it's too complicated to explain to a twenty-first century human, or the captain doesn't know all the finer details himself. Which is fair enough; even if he could read his microwave's user manual, Matt could not explain how it works either.

Trying to locate specific kinds of garments like this is a challenge for him, their outlines fuzzy and soft and indistinct, even moreso with the cashmere and other soft wools that stock the shelves and racks here. This is no obstacle for Matt, because the tactile experience is such a pleasant one. He folds up his cane and tucks it into his pocket, freeing up both hands to explore what the store has to offer. At least the footprints of the display units are clear to his senses, and he navigates around a freestanding table with little trouble, lightly running a hand over the fabrics on it. "I'd start with sweaters, but if they have robes, that might be a good call."

[smartass_captain]

"How cold is your world? You're from one of the Earths floating around, right?"

No matter where Jim turns the clothing on display is pillowy soft and so Warm. He may be here looking for something light and delicate for Felix to wear but Jim's first officer is also coming to mind as someone who might want to take a look at everything that's on offer.

"I'm trying to imagine a blanket made of this stuff and I think I might need a nap already." The captain gives the tiniest chuckles at his own joke while he makes his way back to study a display of mens' robes. It's more breath than it is sound. This is not at all dissimilar to some of Felix's lighter casual wear while he's meditating. He could probably really use something like this.

"Don't think I've ever seen anything this cozy before. You've got really good taste."

[he_put_the_devil_in_me]

"That's right. Manhattan, New York specifically." Matt's pretty sure that Jim is also an Earth man, so hopefully that means something to him. You can never tell in a place like the Nexus. "It gets down below freezing in the winter, but there isn't usually as much snowfall as I hear they get upstate. A good coat and boots are a must-have, especially if it's icy out."

The side of his mouth quirks up in a smile at Jim's commentary, not disagreeing in the slightest. The fabric under his hands is soft and promises good insulation, and he pulls out a sweater, carefully feeling the length of the sleeves and the shape of the neckline. A new sweater like this smells fresh and new, the faint scent of lanolin still clinging to the fibers. "It can be pricey sometimes, but it's worth it. I'm more sensitive to texture than most. Even cotton can be too rough unless it has a high thread count. Cashmere and merino wool are going to be your best bet for comfort. Angora's good too, but it's much more delicate and not very elastic."

[smartass_captain]

"I've only been up that way once or twice myself, and it wasn't even on my world. Used to go get coffee with a guy who did one of those...special defense force? Kind of jobs. They called it super hero stuff but Barton claimed he was as normal as I was despite being able to break me in half if he wanted to. We lost touch when he stopped coming round to the Nexus but I remember two things about New York: the smell, and falafel carts. One of those is significantly better than the other."

Jim mentions it as casually as he can because he's had his suspicions about Matt's side work ever since he showed up keeping up with Natasha. That was a woman he Knew was involved in all sorts of stuff so it served to reason that not many people would be up to her standards for running jobs with. But the blind lawyer from Manhattan who needs combat-capable coats somehow was one of the few.

"It's not something I've ever had trouble with but Felix is really suffering for it right now. I'm just glad maybe I'll be able to help him get a full night's rest finally."

[he_put_the_devil_in_me]

What are the odds that the Barton that Jim is talking about would be Hawkeye? In the Nexus, it's hard telling. Seems unlikely, if Matt understands the reality of how infinite this place really is. And yet there do seem to be odd... trends, at times. He tilts his head in interest. "Superhero is a somewhat... loaded term," he agrees, just as casually. "Legally, it's only what they call 'enhanced individuals.'" Which.... technically applies to himself, much as Matt prefers not to think of it as such. And to that end... "The truth is a bit more complicated, if you ask me."

New York, though... the corner of Matt's mouth quirks up in a smile. "I hope it was the falafel," he says lightly.

He may not know what injuries this Felix may be recuperating from, but Matt knows all too well how hard it can be to get quality rest when you've been injured. "It should definitely help. I can recommend a good tea, too, if you want. It doesn't fix anything, but it can make the whole process a little easier."

[smartass_captain]

"Right? I never understood it much." Hangars clink and slide on their rails while Jim continues browsing the robes he's looking over. "All I knew was that Rogers' crew, those kids in the onesies, and a few other people we worked with during the storm...didn't seem much like the others. Neither did Quinn, come to think of it." Her experiences seemed to line up closer than Jim would like with Jim's own though and Jim sure as hell isn't anything other than normal.

Well, save for the whole dying thing. Man, the universe is a messed up place. Easier to talk good food. "I didn't know what falafel was before that field trip, and I'm telling you I would do an awful lot to get my hands on some as good as that again." Jim outright chuckles.

There's one here that looks to be the right size and the color would fit Felix well. Jim hums thoughtfully as his thumb traces over the sleeve before he picks it off the rack.

"Yeah? I'm not really much of an expert where tea comes in. Never drank the stuff until I became friends with folk who prefer it. Felix doesn't much like coffee though so that might be a good route to take."

[he_put_the_devil_in_me]

Ah. Matt's expression clears slightly, that little furrow between his eyebrows smoothing out. "They weren't," he agrees quietly, somberly. He hadn't known Natasha long, but they'd connected, kindred souls of a sort. "It takes a special sort of person to do what they did, and it doesn't have much to do with whatever abilities they had. Or didn't have, as the case may be. I don't know if 'superhero' is the right term, but I'm not sure 'vigilante' is any more accurate."

Food is definitely easier to talk about, and Matt is more than willing to pivot to accommodate. "You can't go wrong with New York street food. I hope you had it in a pita. Falafel in buns is just wrong."

Matt carefully folds the sweater he's holding, placing it back on top of the stack and shuffling down the display to seek out another. "They both have their upsides," he says with a soft chuckle. "Oolong with ginger and tumeric is my go-to recovery blend, but if you want to keep it caffeine-free, look for an herbal blend along those lines. If he needs a hand sleeping, lavender isn't a bad idea either."