T'Shan was wandering around the Avengers mansion. He was fairly certain he was alone, which was a rarity. But with Apocalypse showing up people were on edge. But there were still rules about mandatory days off. T'Shan tried fighting it but also knew it was useless, it was an argument he'd never actually win anyways. So instead he had gone on a date. The whole dating thing had been Skugga and JJ's idea, but the rest seemed to agree with it. The problem was that anyone he ended up dating barely even made it to desert, and not for a good reason. Most were only with him to be famous or become royalty. His one tonight knew nothing about him outside what magazines he'd been featured in.

He'd tried to work out and train but his heart wasn't in it. So in the end here he was in a pair of jeans, barefoot and no shirt wandering around with a mug of Asgardian Ale. He couldn't seem to do anything else so he might as well get drunk. Skugga was off, enjoying his night off. T'Shan usually wondered what he did but figured it was better not to ask. Mostly since he'd rather have plausible deniability. He could still hear his phone vibrating, text messages, probably from his failed date. He'd thrown his phone on his bed and left but his senses still picked it up.

He wandered into the living room, commons room, family room, whatever people called it. This time of the year it was decked out in Christmas decorations complete with a tree. Underneath the tree was a little bare, mostly because it was hard for all of them to find time to shop. Sure T'Shan could use his now quiet night to do it but it was too late and he was too drunk. He was better off doing it online real quick, like he usually did. His gifts were never the best, but he figured he was still useful so the team ignored it. Apparently a dragon skull or broadsword weren't appropriate gifts.

He took another swig and sighed as he heard his phone go off again. He figured if it was an emergency his Identi-Card or JL communicator would be going off. With a groan and another swig he headed towards his room in a blur and grabbed his phone.

"Apparently she is quite upset I ended our date. Oh well."

He placed his phone back in his pocket and resumed wandering. He had glanced over at the axes that were laying on his dresser and shook his head. He really should train, it was better for him in the long run. But getting drunk seemed quite nice. As he wandered he glanced over at Ginnie's room which she now seemed to be sharing with James, on occasion. That was really all he wanted, of course he'd never admit that to anyone, well aside from when he was stranded with Lydia. Then again maybe he needed to do something else or look for someone else more accurately. After all why spend all your time focusing on someone who had little to no interest in you? It was insanity. He glanced at the half empty mug of Ale and shook his head. It wasn't often he got depressed while drinking but not unheard of either. He heard what sounded like a door opening, the main door apparently. So someone was here, just what he needed. He needed to try and cheer up. So he threw his smile on and headed towards the door to greet whoever had shown up.

Aileen had tried to go Christmas shopping. She really had. Her usual system was in place: One joke gift, one homemade gift, and one serious, expensive gift. But it was cold. Really cold, and it felt like every store in New York goddamn City had decided to have their central heating break. So after forty five minutes of freezing her metaphorical balls off and only getting her joke presents for T'Shan and Ginnie out of the way and daydreaming of how warm it'd be inside somewhere with the sort of heating you got from a building funded by Ginnie Stark, she'd decided that she could do this another day, and maybe do a lot of it online from under several blankets in a room with a fireplace. 

Still, she had lingerie for Ginnie and a toy, foam Mjolnir for T'Shan, and she'd only mix those up if she was very very drunk. James she'd have to get something else silly. The terrible Captain America video game that had been released, for example. He'd probably appreciate that. And then she determined to sway T'Shan to the wonders of Girl Rock, so for her homemade present she was planning on making a CD of Donnas, Hole, Bangles and Girl School for him. She didn't yet have serious presents for anyone, or homemade ones for the others, but she had a whole nine days to get on Amazon and sort that out. So she felt a little bit better about her present-buying as she got a taxi back to the mansion. 

It hadn't snowed yet, but she was pretty sure it couldn't be that far off. By the time she got to the doors of the mansion from the gate, her face had turned a shade of pink that clashed horribly with her hair, and her breath was curling up in fog from her mouth. She let herself in through the door and came almost face-to-face with a T'Shan who smelt like he'd been enjoying some beer, and her face broke into a smile. She very quickly put the foam Mjolnir behind her back, before realising that left a rather prominent Victoria's Secret bag held out in front of her, which she also hid from sight after a moment's thought.
"Hey there big guy," She said, the smile not shifting, "It's really cold out there. Parts of me could literally cut glass right now."

Aileen didn't need a superhuman sense of smell to tell that he'd been having himself a little party, so she gave a smirk.
"If you're drinking, count me in," She said, "Maybe I'll get really good at online shopping suddenly." Impulsively, she slipped the Mjolnir surreptitiously into the Victoria's Secret bag, set both down, and moved in to hug T'Shan, wrapping her arms around him as far as she could. "Stop working out," She said teasingly, "Too broad to hug."

As Aileen walked in he smiled, taking a sip from his mug. He thought he saw a toy hammer but was pretty sure it was something else. His enhanced senses having been heavily dulled due to Asgardian Ale. When she made a comment about the cold he laughed a bit. He decided not to point out that this was nothing compared to dealing with frost giants or the fact that he'd noticed the whole glass cutting thing. Then again him noticing her curves was really nothing new.

"Aye, they say it will only get colder until the snow comes. Which is fine, I do enjoy snow."

He said with a laugh. As she came to hug him he smiled and returned the hug with his free arm. He was trying to be careful not to hold it too long and get creepy. She seemed jumpy and could be scared easily.

"Drinking and shopping? I am certainly down for that. Perhaps you can help me since apparently my gifts are not the best. Personally I feel the pelt of a three headed wolf is a good gift. But aye you are cold, come, there is a fire going. I shall pour you a drink."

He said as he began walking away from the door. His mug was getting empty anyways and he was definitely down for more drinks. As they walked his phone went off again and he sighed. He grabbed his phone and shook his head.

"She is not used to the word no."

He said pocketing it and walking over to the bar before remembering it was empty. Ginnie getting clean, which was a plus, meant they had to hide the booze. T'Shan had some left in his room and assumed Aileen likely had her own stash.

"Go hide your lingerie and I will make you a drink. What will you have?"

This was what Aileen needed. Not just to help her general sanity while struggling to deal with the horror of Christmas shopping, but just in general. It'd been too long since she'd just hung out with T'Shan, and she couldn't think of a better way to get started again than getting somewhat drunk, doing some increasingly ridiculous Christmas shopping, and then presumably watching some bad movie from James' collection. An almost perfect night. Maybe Ginnie and a hot tub could improve it, but she definitely wasn't about to complain. 

T'Shan had definitely started lifting weights again, Aileen was sure. He'd always been a big guy, but now she was genuinely struggling to grab her own wrist. Still, she leaned into the hug as he returned it, grinning as he asked for her help gift shopping.
"Sure thing, big guy," She said, laughing, "I mean, three headed wolves kinda tend to creep people out. And some people don't like wearing fur." She paused, "Plus, I mean, no offence, but I am not getting you a present that I killed myself, no matter how much you ask." She was keeping up a tone of friendly teasing this entire time, gently ribbing him. 

It was definitely warm in the room as Aileen draped her coat and about two sweaters on the stairs and slumped against the wall.
"Damn that fire is good," She said, standing closer and rubbing her hands together. As he asked what drink she wanted, she cocked her head. "Gin and tonic," She told him, "And don't feel the need to put a lot of tonic in there." After saying this, she darted upstairs and hid the bag containing presents under the bed, before wrapping herself in a robe and her pair of Iron Maiden slipped and making her way back downstairs. It was definitely going to get too hot soon, but for now she was just comfortable.
"So come on, T'Shan," She called, "Let us brave the terrors of Christmas eBaying."

"Do not question a three headed wolf pelt. Not to mention hunting the creature was not easy. I got bit I do not remember how many times, I may have blacked out. After all, that likely has to do with the venom the wolf secreted."

He said with a shrug. He remembered trying to track that wolf and eventually kill it. It hadn't been easy but to see the person's reaction to the present had been a bit of a crotch kick. But he didn't throw Mjolnir at them so there was that at least. As she went upstairs to change or put the presents away or whatever she was doing he went to work on her drink.

"Gin with a splash of tonic coming up."

He said before following her up the stairs. He was going to get his own booze for her. He did have a rather large bar in his room, well, when the lightning from a nightmare didn't smash it. But luckily his room was secured so the fire didn't burn the place down. He opened the bar in his room and poured her a quick gin and tonic, topped off his Ale. He grabbed the bottles of gin and tonic, the small barrel of ale and the two drinks. He carried them back downstairs and set them all down on the desk near one of the many computers that seemed to be scattered through out the mansion.

"Alright Aileen, who is up first? Perhaps you can give me some pointers."

He said taking a swig of the ale and leaning against the wall. He glanced at her with a smile. He had a few ideas for some presents but Ginnie and Aileen were the toughest. James he was fine with, same with Rupert and a few other people. He was a fan of dealing with combat things. Memorabilia, weapons, things like that.

"Well I was prepared to brave New York Christmas shopping for some of these," Aileen pointed out, "We all risk life and limb to get presents for those we love." She was definitely just snuggling onto the couch by this point. "Next year we'll switch. I'll fight the demon wolf thing and you can fight a woman in her mid-thirties who absolutely has to have the dress you just picked up." A situation she knew well, and one she'd had to scarper away from very quickly. "My money's on the soccer mom."

"Just the way I like it," She called as T'Shan snarked about her drink. It wasn't like he wasn't drinking something that was about a million percent alcohol. More than once, she'd tried to sneak a sip of his Asgardian ale, but either him or Ginnie had always stopped her, warning her about things like 'alcohol poisoning' and 'not made for your body' and 'horrible death'. Typical. As T'Shan came down the stairs, he'd find Aileen bundled up on the sofa, her gown practically going over her face as she snuggled into it, leaning into the fire with a happy smile on her face. A joking whine came from her as he set the drink down. "Don't make me stand up to get it." She said, half-seriously. She was comfortable.

But then it was present time, and the bundle that was Aileen did stir slightly to lean over so she could see the computer screen from where she was.
"Well I got Ginnie sexy underwear, so you can't really do that...." She mused teasingly, "And she technically can buy her own small country if she wants..." Pause. "Huh, it must be really hard for people who aren't me to get Ginnie a present." She moved another tiny inch towards T'Shan and the computer, very slowly making progress. "Let's get Ginnie over with, first."

She actually had most of Ginnie's stuff over and done with. Sexy lingerie for the joke present, a photo album of the two of them for the home-made present. Now she just needed a serious present for her. Likewise with T'Shan, but obviously she wasn't going to ask his opinion on what she should get him besides the CD and the toy Mjolnir. 
"Well I know Ginnie likes Captain America, but she already has one of those."

As she complained about having to come over he shrugged.

"I would sit there with you where it is more comfortable but that will not work. Since I would need a phone or tablet and I seem to break those on a regular basis. It is quite annoying."

He said with a shrug. As she then came and looked over his shoulder he smiled. He loved having her close to him but would never actually admit it. There was something about her, the way her scent and heartbeat seemed to calm him. Already he felt better, just know she was here and to help him. He handed her her drink and took a swig from his mug.

"No Ginnie has stopped showing me her underwear since we were Titans. Pretty sure she had a thing for me when we were kids. Probably because JJ and my sister were the famous couple."

He said with a laugh as he began searching. He wasn't sure if Ginnie ever had a thing for him or if perhaps that was one bad decision. Or simply went after him because she thought she should be. Either way he knew it would never work, they were too different.

"Perhaps a new set of tools. I know she can make or buy anything. Problem is I have known her long enough that anything special and personal has already been done. I could get her Vibranium but that is big and may seem more like a wedding present. Which I could see her proposing first."

He said with a shrug. He leaned back and patted the arm rest of the chair.

"Come sit beside me Aileen. I do not like people leaning over me. I find it unsettling and my sense of defense is raised. That combined with alcohol could be dangerous."

He said as he continued to search.

"Ohh, I found Father's gift. He loves stuffed animals, tell no one. Of course JJ does owe me about six favors so I could get him to get a copy of one of her favorite movies signed. What is her favorite movie?"

He had never seen her rest long enough to watch a movie. He knew she had one though, it was obvious. However he had no idea what it could be. She kept that part of her sealed from him. He didn't know why but would never press it, as he never mentioned his.

As T'Shan told her to move closer, Aileen made a lazy flopping motion that could be interpreted as an attempt to get up by somebody who was very comfortable where they were, but then laid flat again. 
"Damn god strength," She muttered as he mentioned phones. Somehow she wasn't surprised he'd break those on a pretty regular basis. Finally she was up and looking over his shoulder, but half-leaning on him. She took her drink from him and then took a sip of it, nodding. "Alcoholic," She said in a complementary tone, "Just the way I like it." She took a longer swig, and set it down on the table again.

As he told her to sit, she rolled her eyes.
"Wouldn't go throwing me across the room now would you, big guy?" She teased, but even so stopped leaning on him and hopped up onto the arm of the chair, leaning back against it. "If you insist." As he revealed that little tidbit about him and Ginnie when they were Titans, she made a mental note to ask Ginnie if it was true later. She'd been late to this generation of hero-ing, not going through the Titans like the rest of them, and she was sure that there was so much gossip she had yet to learn about them. "God it sounds like you all dated each other back then," She muttered, "Sounds like I was missing out."

Aileen snorted as T'Shan brought up Thor's present.
"So when I meet your dad, the king of Asgard and god of thunder, I shouldn't bring up his love of beanie babies?" She asked, and pouted again, "Well that's just no fun." Still, this was getting her in more of a festive mood as she thought about the things to get people. James she was still undecided on entirely. For the joke present, she was torn between the Captain America video game and a calendar of pictures where his and Ginnie's faces had been photoshopped onto the cheesiest romantic scenes she could find from movies. Titanic was absolutely on there. Maybe she'd get both, actually, and save on the homemade present.

"Ginnie goes through favourite movies a lot," Aileen said, "Get her some eighties chick flicks. We keep losing our copies. Probably under my bed or something." And then she snapped her fingers. "I've got it," She said, looking to T'Shan. "On Amazon, there's a sign with the caption 'Get Rich or Drunk Trying'. I'm calling that for Ginnie."

He laughed a bit as he continued to type, absent mindedly examining his free hand with a light smirk. He could feel his usual sense of humor returning, something she'd always been able to bring out in him. It was one of the reasons he liked being around her so much. Aside from the obvious things like her beauty, but she could always keep him grounded and keep him from going too far.

"Oh I do not know Aileen. My strong hands can be quite beneficial."

He said with a laugh before going back to searching. As they continued to search together he heard her comment about the drink and gave a hearty laugh.

"You would fit in just fine in Asgard Aileen. I imagine the Valkyries would find you quite interesting."

He said with a laugh. As she came to sit beside him, or somewhat beside him, he glanced over at her. He couldn't help but make a comment when she asked if that would result in her being thrown across the room. It was a fair question and given that he was drinking it wasn't out of the question.

"Aileen you insult me. Throwing you across the room implies you would stay within the room. If I truly felt threatened you would, at best, end up in the neighbor's new kitchen. Well, supposing you were not just a spot on the wall. Now that would truly be terrible. Where else am I going to find a hot red head who insists she is not into me?"

He knew if he wished to get over it he'd have to begin making jokes about it. It was something a few people had told him. Well actually a decent amount and the list of which he'd never actually share with anyone. As she began talking about his movie idea he raised an eyebrow. He was however also hoping she wouldn't notice that he skimmed over the reports of him dating Ginnie or his father actually being proud of his stuffed animal collection. There are some things he'd rather not drag up for a variety of reasons. Although fear seemed to be the primary reason, not that he'd ever admit that to anyone, especially her.

"Under your bed? How messy is your room? Perhaps for your present I can just clean your room for you."