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[deaddrop]

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[deaddrop]

It'd rather you didn't. It'd undo a lot of work I've done.

[But Natalia will have to be the one to judge when. At this point, Natasha is largely in a holding pattern, waiting for the Veiled Order's next move. She doesn't think they need to start blowing her cover.

But the whole point of having someone outside is that they use their judgment.]

When are we ever that lucky?

[krasnaya_smert]

Does this make me my own handler now?

[deaddrop]

If you want to put it that way, I won't stop you.

[krasnaya_smert]

Sure. Why the hell not?

Any plans for the new overlord?

[deaddrop]

[At least Natalia has enough sense to be discreet. Not that it's a surprise, but considering some people's reactions, it's a welcome change of pace.]

Not yet. There could be some coming. TBD.

Meet me for coffee?

[Meaning that's something she'd rather discuss in person—and that there is something else to discuss.]

[krasnaya_smert]

Caffeine sounds perfect. At Hella Shorty's or coffee from home?

[deaddrop]

Hella Shorty's will do. I could stand to stretch my legs.

I'll meet you at the door.

action ;

[krasnaya_smert]

[ Natalia arrives with at least one blade and one gun hidden beneath her innocuous and comfortable outfit. At the sight of her other self, she gives the place a curious once-over and announces -- ]

First time here. And I'm surprised they let us have our own business, while at the same time? I am most definitely not surprised in the slightest.

[deaddrop]

I don't come here often.

[Natasha admits slowly; she tends to prefer the hotel bar when she does drink. And she finds her way to the club when she makes bad choices.]

Seems a little bit like settling in. Which...

[Half a shrug. There's a reason it's not all that surprising. And not unrelated.]

Well. It'll do for now.

[krasnaya_smert]

Somehow fitting that it used to be a warehouse.

[ Natalia locates a place to sit and seeks direction from the veteran. ]

Do we place our coffee request at the bar or will someone be by? Unless you'd rather forego drinks and just dive right in.

[ Not all words are code, after all. She can do with or without said caffeine. ]

[deaddrop]

By all means, order something if you're interested. I'd go to the bar if you want something.

[But while coffee might not have been a code, it's all pretext.]

Or we can chat first and drink later. The advantage of that is if we decide coffee isn't strong enough we have other options.

[krasnaya_smert]

I won't ever turn down coffee and booze.

b>[ Still, content, Natalia sits and conducts the usual inventory. ]

Before we talk about our new friend, I wanted to ask if you were one of those tricked into marriage?

[deaddrop]

No. Luckily. I don't want to know what happens when they're asked to move in together and play happy little union.s

[That's a subject that cuts close to part of what Natasha wanted to discuss here, actually, and a little bit of her tension slips out.]

You?

[krasnaya_smert]

[ She shakes her head gratefully. ]

Praise be, I did not. And so far as I'm aware, neither did Aiden or Ray, so our rooming situation remains unchanged.

[ And as that was the only other topic Natalia wanted covered before scheming and the like began, she leans closer for the semblance of privacy, head canting and eyes narrowing into another level of concern. ]

This is bad. Right?

[deaddrop]

Yeah.

[Catches herself playing with one of her fangs with her tongue as she considers how to say what she's got to say next. The last thing she needs to do right now is develop a tell because of the little distraction in her mouth.

Forcing herself to stop, sighing.]

I can't say for sure. I don't know this guy. But some of what he says... it rings a bell. I wish it didn't.

[krasnaya_smert]

[ She gives Tasha an empathetic look when noticing the tongue prod, knowing she'll need to practice subtly unsheathing her claws, just as she had to learn activating the Bites without notice.

Echoing the redhead's words, Nat's words carry weight. ]

Yeah. Like, Mother Land bells.

[ USSR propaganda. Empty Red Room promises. ]

[deaddrop]

[Natasha nods slightly, a small but weight tip of her head.

She's not surprised Natalia makes that connection—Natasha brings this up with her because she expects her double would.]

Not just that, but here. The one time Lucifer echoed rhetoric like that, we were brainwashed into living these... these twisted versions of suburban life. Families, jobs, lives. They rewrote us.

[She searches the other woman's face for understanding.]

[krasnaya_smert]

[ Cobalt eyes darken into something tempestuous as lips harden enough to drain them of color. She lays a hand on the table, palm up, for Natasha to take. ]

We're not going to let them rewrite us again.

[ Just. Fuck that. Even if Natalia has to sacrifice herself or add more sins, she vowed to protect James's mind, and thus Bucky's by extension. ]

Maximoff did something like that once, to the mutants. Not a pretty chapter for that lot.

[deaddrop]

[Natasha touches Natalia's hand lightly, her fingers resting on the other woman's palm in a gentle but distinct bid for solidarity.

She doesn't like what she's saying right now.]

That might not be up to us.

[She's doing her best to be realistic here, compartmentalizing all the little parts of her that want to scream or cry at the prospect, each impulse boxed up and labeled and put away until she can't avoid dealing with them like so many other traumas.]

It might not be the same. Probably I should borrow trouble, but even if this guy doesn't use the same tactic, I would lay money this is going to be off the same model. Somehow. Whatever that looks like.

You should know it's happened before, and this reminds me of it. I think whatever happens next is going to hurt.

[krasnaya_smert]

Right. Fuck.

[ Natalia's free hand comes up to rub at an eye as a brief but heavy sigh pushes through her nose, and then nestles into her hair. They need to makes lists. To prepare just in case such small graces are granted. ]

Could Loki or anyone like him protect us?

[deaddrop]

Maybe. There's no way to say for sure. I know that Thor was as affected as I was during our last 'lesson.'

[She frowns as she considers the memory.]

I believe he and Loki were married. On the inside.

[krasnaya_smert]

[ Because it's Natasha sitting with her, the Russian has little reason to hide her reaction to such news, and as such, brows pop high into her hairline. ]

If that were to ever happen back home, it would absolutely have to be driven by outside influence.

[ Incest aside (which she wasn't judging, it didn't hurt her so let them be), the two loathed each other far too much. ]

But I'm hearing you; it's possible, but we can't rely solely on it. Which is why we should have Loki do whatever he can while he can. And write a note to ourselves in the event our zombie selves are able to read it and snap back. Hell, we should even consider a trigger word if anyone doesn't get affected, and they can try to bring the others back.

[deaddrop]

The good news is that some of us might be left out. I haven't seen any punishment or event here that at least some people haven't missed.

[Whether or those on the outside of the illusion will be in a position to help anyone inside remains to be seen, but it's certainly an opportunity they should prepare for if it's possible.]

Notes might be good. A network we might be able to remember inside.

[She'd like to believe it might be useful.]

Mostly I wanted to make sure you had a warning. You and Barnes both.

[krasnaya_smert]

[ With a grave nod, Natalia says -- ]

I'll let Pearce know about the note, let him decide if he wants to write one too. The three of us should agree on a word, in case it breaks through. My vote is 'Quetzalcoatl'.

[ It manages to get a slight chortle out of herself. Next to no one will be using that word elsewise. ]

Spasibo, Natasha. If we make a move, we'll want Wilson on our team. He's practically immortal.

[ And the two have gotten close enough to trust the other with their lives. ]

[deaddrop]

I'm all right with looping him in, if you trust him.

[Natasha wouldn't exactly say she'd trust him that far but she didn't have a problem fighting with him.]

Though I'm not sure how much we'll be able to plan or what kind of fighting might be involved.

All of this could be nothing...

[She sighs, thinking back on Hell's various tricks. Not just the suburbs, but other times it has gotten in her head or in someone else's and twisted their perceptions.]

But we ought to have something in place. Something so we can at least try to keep our heads.

ANd Quetzalcoatl isn't likely to come up in casual conversation.