<br/><div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6b/cf/f8/6bcff82044b563dfc1c2cef2e1796e7d.jpg)</div><strong>Character Name:</strong>Steve Rogers (Captain America)<br/><strong>Date/Time:</strong>(20:10 pm), April 19th 2017<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Josie's Bar, Hells Kitchen,  New York City<br/><strong>Wearing:</strong>Pictured<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Ghost Rider, Punisher, Rogue, Shadowcat, Black Knight, Deadpool, Meggan, Ruse, Wasp, Hyperion, Spider-Man, Ant-man<br/><strong>Warnings:</strong>None<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Steve shook Peter's hand enthusiastically as the young hero greeted him. The kid was green, and a trifle headstrong, but he had more heart than a man twice his age. He watched him walk over to where the girls were mingling. He knew the kid had a penchant for witty remarks when he was underneath the mask, and even Captain America had to admit he was curious to see how the kid and Deadpool were going to get along.<br/><br/>Then he saw the other one, Jacob. According to the S.H.I.E.L.D files, he had taken up the mantle of the new Ant-man, and had been spending a good deal of time around Janet. A little something flashed through him as he saw Jacob take her arm, and her lead him around the room, introducing him to the others as they went along. Was it...jealousy? What right did he have to be jealous? Janet was a grown woman, recently widowed, and did have a reputation as a flirt. She had every right to have a little fun. They were just good friends after all...though he knew that, at least on his part, there was the possibility for more.<br/><br/>He closed his eyes and took a deep sip of his drink. In the end, what would be would be. He hadn't called everyone here to play the "dating game" anyway. In spite of the personal nature of the occasion...there was a deeper reason he had brought them all together.<br/><br/>Walking to the middle of the room, behind the table piled with gifts...gifts for<em>him</em>. He had to fight hard to suppress a blush. He didn't like calling this much attention to himself, no matter how long he had been on the planet. There were other people that deserved it more...people that couldn't be here...<br/><br/>He hopped up on a chair, and began to clink a spoon against his glass, calling everyone's attention. When he was sure he had it, he smiled, took a deep breath, and spoke...<br/><br/>"First of all," He said, letting his eyes play over everyone in the crowd, lingering on each person one at a time. "I'd like to thank you all for such a great turnout. It's not everyday that a man gets to spend the night in the company of so many of his friends...especially in our line of work. That being said, thank you all for making this one of the best birthdays I've ever had...and God knows, I've had enough of them." He chuckled nervously, then took another sip from his drink, before setting it down on the table at his feet.<br/><br/>"Now most of you that know me, know that I'm not generally given to parties...especially ones that celebrate myself, so there has to be another motive for me to bring you all here...well, you're right..." He paused for a few seconds, letting the silence grow heavy. "As you all know, it was recently discovered that Earth wasn't exactly alone in the Universe...we have a lot of neighbors out there." He pointed at the ceiling. "And not all of them want to borrow a cup of sugar. The Avengers have done a pretty good job of keeping an eye on the sky...but, they can only do so much." He let his hand drop. "While they focus on the big picture...there are a lot of threats right here under our feet that need looking after...Doctor Doom, Hydra, The Red Skull, AIM...all of them are out there, lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the rest of us to let our guard down."<br/><br/>Looking around once more, Steve stepped off the chair and slowly walked to the front of the table, leaning back against the mound of presents. "Back in my day...I was sometimes part of a group that got together to fight menaces back here on the home front. We called ourselves the 'All-Winner's Squad'." The blond man's lips twisted into an uncomfortable smile and one hand ran up to the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess we were a little headstrong in those days...but the principle is the same. While the Avengers focus on keeping us safe from the Kree and the Skrulls, I propose a team to defend us against the problems we have right here, in our own back yard." He began to walk forward, making his way through the crowd. "And when I mean 'us' I mean everyone on this planet...whether they're mystical beings," He put a hand on Meggan and Johnny's shoulders for a moment, then moved on. "Mutants," He stopped in front of Rogue, Shadowcat, and Ruse, touching Ruse on the arm and Rogue once more on the hip,  before letting his hand hover over Kitty's shoulder for a second not wanting her to instinctively use her phasing powers. After touching her, he moved on to where Janet and Jacob were standing, "Or just regular humans." He reached out and took Janet's hand in his for a moment...before letting it drop.  "Everyone. Even maniacs." He added, giving Deadpool a roll of his eyes.<br/><br/>He stepped away, and walked back into the center of the room. "What I propose is another 'Unity Squad'. A group that works together to handle things that the Avengers can't." He stopped and picked up his drink from the table, then turned back to the assemblage. "Now, nobody here is being forced to accept, but I hope you will. You all have unique skills and abilities that will be crucial in the battle ahead..." He let the silence grow longer again as he took another sip of his drink. "You don't all have to answer right now, and from what I can see...we have the makings for one hell of a party...so, what do you say we humor an old man, and have another drink while we think it over!"<br/><br/>He concluded his speech, then raised his arm and made a circle with his finger, indicating that the bartender should set everybody up with another round.