[Natasha was chosen carefully for this. He had been thinking about it for a while. He hadn't been sure he'd want to go through with asking, but just in case, he'd whittled down his options. Steph had been a possibility, but he'd already asked her some things, and right now he doesn't really want to double-dip the same source. Watson was also out - he knows Alfie too well. House, no, for obvious reasons. Zach and Nathan are young and sort of silly. Tony is a bit of a bleeding heart like Watson, and England seems invested in him as his citizen, neither of which Alfie wants for something like this. He wants to find out a bit more about what happens to London and the rest of Europe, but he doesn't want follow-up questions; he doesn't want are you all right.
So that leaves Natasha, Charles, and Wilson. He goes with the one he knows is an information-gatherer.]
Natasha Romanov. When you have a moment.
[He knows it's early, but he hopes she replies back soon. He wants to do this when he's still sitting here with Fiona, not when he's out walking.]
So that leaves Natasha, Charles, and Wilson. He goes with the one he knows is an information-gatherer.]
Natasha Romanov. When you have a moment.
[He knows it's early, but he hopes she replies back soon. He wants to do this when he's still sitting here with Fiona, not when he's out walking.]
Edited 2016-08-06 23:48 (UTC)
[Punctual as ever, Natasha will receive a text just after 8 in the morning, when Steve has finally made it to the gas station.]
Hoping you found Clint.
All is fine here.
Cold.
Hoping you found Clint.
All is fine here.
Cold.
Ms. Romanov. I believe I promised you a package.
[And indeed, there follows an attached document, mostly text with some images and videos embedded. The building numbers are labelled according to House's map. In addition to the notes on interesting features and phenomena, Beckett has also made some notes on how (un)comfortable different buildings are to sleep in. Some of them use very creative language to express his displeasure.]
Have you given some more consideration to my proposal?
[And indeed, there follows an attached document, mostly text with some images and videos embedded. The building numbers are labelled according to House's map. In addition to the notes on interesting features and phenomena, Beckett has also made some notes on how (un)comfortable different buildings are to sleep in. Some of them use very creative language to express his displeasure.]
Have you given some more consideration to my proposal?
[It's actually quite some time before Kesara finally makes up her mind to contact Natasha, and about what she means to say when she does. For her it's a big thing. All her notes, her precious exploration logs... she has made a deal with the woman and she is not going to renege on it. But as she composes the message in her mind, she thinks to herself that she actually got very few real answers to all the questions she'd asked.
Well. She knows what to do about that.]
Miss Natasha, this is Kesara, I have my notes for you. [She puts on her best polite, attentive child voice.] Can I only ask one more question before I send them? It's not about what we talked about before.
Well. She knows what to do about that.]
Miss Natasha, this is Kesara, I have my notes for you. [She puts on her best polite, attentive child voice.] Can I only ask one more question before I send them? It's not about what we talked about before.
I'm so sorry about Clint, Natasha. Are you alright?
[After the disaster they had earlier, Tony has been pretty quiet. He recovers from his shock later, approaching Natasha when they've settled in some. He knows she isn't going to want to talk, but she can't go on like this forever.]
Are you all right? It's just us. You can talk to me.
Are you all right? It's just us. You can talk to me.
[Natasha has been very quiet since that thing dragged Clint away. She got Tony out of there, made sure he was okay, and hasn't said much since. The truth is, she's shaken up and furious with herself for being stupid enough to trip, and furious at Clint for pushing her out of the way when he should have just ran. The fact that she would have done the same thing had their positions been reversed doesn't really matter to her. Her walls are all the way up, and she walks with her hands in her pockets, her jaw set. She's got an impressive poker face, of course, but Tony knows her well enough that he might see through it.
That night, she sets herself up in a corner of the house they're in, forces herself to eat something, and pretends to stalk the network. And, of course, he guesses correctly. She doesn't want to talk about it. She doesn't even look up at him when he finally approaches her.]
I'm fine.
[It's brusque, her tone flat, and it's a complete lie.]
That night, she sets herself up in a corner of the house they're in, forces herself to eat something, and pretends to stalk the network. And, of course, he guesses correctly. She doesn't want to talk about it. She doesn't even look up at him when he finally approaches her.]
I'm fine.
[It's brusque, her tone flat, and it's a complete lie.]
[ There's - a lot of panic, and a lot of struggling to get out of a body bag, and all the trauma associated, but he's died before. It's not quite as traumatizing as it should be. Yet. Maybe it hasn't sunken in yet.
The second that he gets out, he gets his tablet, he tries to call Natasha. Tries. No sound. Good, that's... unexpected, but okay, look on the bright side, Clint. At least all of your fingers are okay.
Natasha gets a special message, because she's Natasha. But he sends off the same text to everybody else he thinks might care. ]
nat
I'm okay
what day is it?
The second that he gets out, he gets his tablet, he tries to call Natasha. Tries. No sound. Good, that's... unexpected, but okay, look on the bright side, Clint. At least all of your fingers are okay.
Natasha gets a special message, because she's Natasha. But he sends off the same text to everybody else he thinks might care. ]
nat
I'm okay
what day is it?
[And Clint gets video, because he's Clint. He also gets the most honesty—Natasha doesn't bother trying to hide her emotions from him, which means she looks very relieved and very, very upset.]
Clint.
[She takes in a breath, just sticking to the facts again.]
It's 154. We haven't been able to move all day. Where are you?
Clint.
[She takes in a breath, just sticking to the facts again.]
It's 154. We haven't been able to move all day. Where are you?
[She's the only one that Luna knows would have seen the information John provided before the screening went up. Though she doesn't know details about them individually, Luna had to be aware enough of 2010-2020 culture for the sake of deceptions back home. Natasha, Clint, Tony... they're familiar enough. The Avengers were too hot of a topic to directly ignore.]
Miss Romanov. I need to address something from earlier today, when you have the time.
Miss Romanov. I need to address something from earlier today, when you have the time.
Hello, Miss Natasha! It's Hange Zoe. I have an update for you about our findings in the tunnels. I've included everything in my notes, so here's the new version!
[Attached is a copy of Hange's Field Notes.]
[Attached is a copy of Hange's Field Notes.]
[Infoscout reporting for duty!! The video opens with Charlie looking quite pleased with himself.]
Hey! I found one of those sealed doors that you were talking about in your notes. The one in, uhhhh... [He checks the guide again.] House 105. In like the southern part of the residential stuff. Anyway, uh, I tried monkeying with the door but nothing happened. Not sure what to do next. It's like, super sealed up, dude.
Hey! I found one of those sealed doors that you were talking about in your notes. The one in, uhhhh... [He checks the guide again.] House 105. In like the southern part of the residential stuff. Anyway, uh, I tried monkeying with the door but nothing happened. Not sure what to do next. It's like, super sealed up, dude.
time to guess if i am wrong about any of this chalk it up to charlie being a dumb
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mightyratslayer
- 2016-09-11 06:47 (UTC) - Expand[He needs a moment of levity after everything that's been happening, and he's been holding this in reserve. So he contacts Natasha.]
Um, hi! You might not remember me, my name is Alphonse, I was wondering if I could talk to you about renting Mr. Barton? He said I should talk to you and the fee was a nickle and some pocket fluff.
Um, hi! You might not remember me, my name is Alphonse, I was wondering if I could talk to you about renting Mr. Barton? He said I should talk to you and the fee was a nickle and some pocket fluff.
[He listened in to the conversations with Winter, each one disturbing, but the one with Natasha the worst. Mind control, alteration, the Russians. It was all pieces of his worst fears chipping away at him, though he tried to keep calm.
Tried and failed.
As the morning went on, those niggles at the back of his mind became shouts. He was in a simulation, he was being controlled again, he was the only real one here in a town of hallucinations, a puppet on a string. It's pointless to call her, she's not real, just-- But he does it anyway, desperate for grounding.]
Do you r[Static.]trolled?
Tried and failed.
As the morning went on, those niggles at the back of his mind became shouts. He was in a simulation, he was being controlled again, he was the only real one here in a town of hallucinations, a puppet on a string. It's pointless to call her, she's not real, just-- But he does it anyway, desperate for grounding.]
Do you r[Static.]trolled?
[By the time Bucky calls her, she's mostly calmed down, thanks in large part to Clint. She's hallucinating, she tells herself. The nanomachines in her system are screwing up her sensory input, and that's it. It's easier to ground herself with other people around—she can hold Clint's hand or touch Tony's shoulder, and they're solid, they're there, even if they're distorted when she looks at them. It keeps that strange sense of unreality at bay, although this entire thing, conversation with Winter and all, has made a sick sense of dread settle in Natasha's stomach, and she can't shake it.
His message comes through garbled, of course, because that's just what they need right now. Luckily, hers is short and mostly clear, if a little fuzzy.]
What? You cut out in the middle of your sentence.
His message comes through garbled, of course, because that's just what they need right now. Luckily, hers is short and mostly clear, if a little fuzzy.]
What? You cut out in the middle of your sentence.
[ The obituary sucks, today. Steve and Dave. Both, Clint spoke to before they died. He's not handling it super well - when he first sees it, he punches a hole in the wall.
It hurts, but - it feels real, which is something he needs after all day of floating, the day before. It settles him down a little. He says his piece on the obituary, and then he goes to the bedroom to curl up on the bed.
Napping helps it hurt less. ]
It hurts, but - it feels real, which is something he needs after all day of floating, the day before. It settles him down a little. He says his piece on the obituary, and then he goes to the bedroom to curl up on the bed.
Napping helps it hurt less. ]
[The obituary sucks, and it's just one more thing on top of everything else. Steve is gone again, Bucky still doesn't really trust them, and some poor kid wandered off into the snow and died of exposure. The revelation that the nanomachines they've all been injected with could potentially be used to control them is still rattling around in Natasha's mind, too. She doesn't like feeling out of control, and that's already how she feels here. Just the thought of someone or something being able to mess with her head for the millionth time makes her furious, makes her a little desperate. Mostly, though, it scares the hell out of her.
It's impossible to miss Clint punching the wall, and Natasha sees his message on the obituary, too. She stays on the network a bit longer, giving him some space, but after a while, she follows him into the bedroom. She sits beside him, leaning back against the headboard and stretching her legs out, but she doesn't say anything. Instead, she just reaches out to run her fingers through his hair. There really isn't much to say.]
It's impossible to miss Clint punching the wall, and Natasha sees his message on the obituary, too. She stays on the network a bit longer, giving him some space, but after a while, she follows him into the bedroom. She sits beside him, leaning back against the headboard and stretching her legs out, but she doesn't say anything. Instead, she just reaches out to run her fingers through his hair. There really isn't much to say.]
[Kesara's voice is sober, serious - almost older, somehow. She's speaking slowly and clearly, as though hoping that would help get over the static, though that doesn't work very well.]
Miss Nata[static]'m sorry for giving you trouble before. I'm sen[static] notes I have and I'll send the ones about the Pass soon. I wa[static]spies. It's just a childish game. I'm much better as an explorer.
[Attached to the message is Notes_on_Explorations_in_Norfinbury.txt]
Miss Nata[static]'m sorry for giving you trouble before. I'm sen[static] notes I have and I'll send the ones about the Pass soon. I wa[static]spies. It's just a childish game. I'm much better as an explorer.
[Attached to the message is Notes_on_Explorations_in_Norfinbury.txt]
[Kid has a bad habit of not realizing how late it is when he messages people. He is a poor sleeper on a good day, and nerves have kept him awake the better part of the last two nights. Sorry, Natasha. At least it's not the middle of the night and just a bit too late to be polite.]
Miss Romanov? I was wondering if you had found use of the notes on anomalies I had provided you. [He pauses, hesitating.] I am aware we did not get to discuss them due to Mr. Solomons'...intrusion...on the conversation.
Miss Romanov? I was wondering if you had found use of the notes on anomalies I had provided you. [He pauses, hesitating.] I am aware we did not get to discuss them due to Mr. Solomons'...intrusion...on the conversation.
[Davesprite sends a series of pictures: Charles and Bucky squared off, a hatchet and a shard of glass in their respective hands; Watson hopping between them; Bucky walking around him; Bucky hauling Watson off like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder. They are glitchy and static-marred, but he sent the best of the bunch.]
[In audio, he squawks annoyance. Do you see this shit, Natasha? This is awful. This is totally awful. Fuck his life, Natasha. He wants to tell her the things he heard too, that not only was Watson lying about Bucky mistaking him for an anomaly, but that Bucky attacked someone else, too. Unfortunately, that will have to wait.]
[In audio, he squawks annoyance. Do you see this shit, Natasha? This is awful. This is totally awful. Fuck his life, Natasha. He wants to tell her the things he heard too, that not only was Watson lying about Bucky mistaking him for an anomaly, but that Bucky attacked someone else, too. Unfortunately, that will have to wait.]
[Davesprite sends a doodle a little after of him and a kid with terrible anime hair (Sora) heading north along a path from the aquarium to the hospital.]
[Message 1]
Okay, so that was stupid.
[And a few hours later.]
[Message 2]
Come on. Aren't you awake yet?
[Message 3, afternoon]
Damn it, Widow, answer me already. I'm not kidding here!
[Message 4, night]
Report back when you get this. And you're going to. I know you. A little cold weather has never been enough to keep you down before. Aren't you naturally immune to snow and ice?
Look, if you don't respond back, I can't apologize, and I know you really want to hear me say I messed up. You'll get to gloat and everything.
You get up and you get back to me, you hear? You have to.
[And a bit later.]
The insulation in this place sucks.
Okay, so that was stupid.
[And a few hours later.]
[Message 2]
Come on. Aren't you awake yet?
[Message 3, afternoon]
Damn it, Widow, answer me already. I'm not kidding here!
[Message 4, night]
Report back when you get this. And you're going to. I know you. A little cold weather has never been enough to keep you down before. Aren't you naturally immune to snow and ice?
Look, if you don't respond back, I can't apologize, and I know you really want to hear me say I messed up. You'll get to gloat and everything.
You get up and you get back to me, you hear? You have to.
[And a bit later.]
The insulation in this place sucks.
[Charlie has way too many friends on the obituary this time around. With Cecil and Natasha both down for the count, he's out two jobs, and that just will not fly. Also his friends are dead and he's upset about that but what he's supposed to do if Natasha's gone? And how did she die, anyway? She's like, so super badass...]
Hey, boss lady. You're not dead, like, permanently, right? And how do you know when people are dead permanently? That, um, seems kind of relevant. But I got info for you so you better not be extra dead. I don't think we like, established a chain of command. There's no succession plan, so you gotta come back or else this whole system falls apart and that would super suck. So. Uh. Get back here, okay?
[He sounds ever so slightly personally offended by her going and dying but it's only because he's scared okay?? Stop being dead, Nat. We ain't got time!!]
Hey, boss lady. You're not dead, like, permanently, right? And how do you know when people are dead permanently? That, um, seems kind of relevant. But I got info for you so you better not be extra dead. I don't think we like, established a chain of command. There's no succession plan, so you gotta come back or else this whole system falls apart and that would super suck. So. Uh. Get back here, okay?
[He sounds ever so slightly personally offended by her going and dying but it's only because he's scared okay?? Stop being dead, Nat. We ain't got time!!]
[Natasha doesn't get back to him for a few hours, after she's spoken to Clint and Tony.]
I'm fine, Charlie.
[Her voice sounds clipped and a little annoyed, because she's very rapidly realizing there's something wrong, something off, but she can't place it.]
We don't need a succession plan. I'm not in charge.
I'm fine, Charlie.
[Her voice sounds clipped and a little annoyed, because she's very rapidly realizing there's something wrong, something off, but she can't place it.]
We don't need a succession plan. I'm not in charge.
Edited (SHHHHHHHHH) 2016-10-02 04:49 (UTC)
ive been told that you expertise in information.
i arrived this morning and i seem to be relatively caught up on the situation.
but i would like to offer assistance in finding a way out of here.
i have important things to do elsewhere.
i arrived this morning and i seem to be relatively caught up on the situation.
but i would like to offer assistance in finding a way out of here.
i have important things to do elsewhere.
[Davesprite is outside when he messages Natasha, though unless she's listening for the acoustics it may be hard to tell. No footsteps, after all. His voice is a fairly neutral shade of 'drained, but trucking along anyway'.]
Hey. Talked to Jade about Brian. It didn't work.
Hey. Talked to Jade about Brian. It didn't work.
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