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[deaddrop]

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[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.

[krasnaya_smert]

I'll get a feel for where he stands. Draw a conclusion based off that. But I can't see him being on Team Overlord.

[ Natalia slumps down, temporarily drops her head back and falls silent in contemplation. After a moment she looks at her other self and somewhat groans. ]

Why can't Hell just be Hell?

[deaddrop]

[Natasha rubs the bridge of her nose with her free hand, willing back a headache.]

Well if it is Hell, then probably because it is Hell. Otherwise...

[Natasha shakes her head, just once, a little sideways move.]

Either way, for the time being we're stuck here.

[krasnaya_smert]

[ Not wanting to risk injury, Natalia opts to press a thumb onto Tasha's hand, versus the normal squeeze, and she gingerly slides free so that she may give an enjoyable graze of claws as well. ]

At least we have damn fine company and aren't doing this alone?

[ Though strained, and slightly sad, she manages a smile just the same, genuine in nature as Talia means what she said. ]

[deaddrop]

You know what they say. Heaven for the weather, Hell for the company.

[Natasha curls her finger slightly in response as Talia withdraws her hand, not shying away from the claws.]

And you know, some of them here will probably be into those.

[Just a little flippant.]

That still leaves what we want to do with the new boss otherwise. Recon. Organization.

[krasnaya_smert]

[ Flexing her hand, she cants her head and wears a wicked smirk. ]

Some will also love those.

[ She both nods and pointedly looks at Natasha's mouth. Between biting and scratching, she herself tends to prefer receiving teeth and using nails. How very fitting, then. ]

Anyone we could use to make chummy with him? I'd suggest going double agent and trying to get an assistant position, but that's not a viable option anymore.

[deaddrop]

[Natasha quirks a quick eyebrow in response. She can't disagree with that.]

Hard to say. I intend to try to talk to him if I can, one on one.

[She's thoughtful a moment.]

Not well, but I've talked to the girl who worked as Lucifer's assistant before, and she's looking at helping Lilith now. She might be one to tap. I'm not sure she's entirely reliable, but...

[She still might be a resource.]

[krasnaya_smert]

I can't offer any input, having never met her. I could tail her, though, for the next few days if you think it's worth it.

Do you need backup with Overlord? We could send Liho wired in with you.

[deaddrop]

I don't think a tail could hurt.

[For the other part, Natasha pauses. She can see the value, but... after a brief consideration, she shakes her head.]

I don't think that will be necessary. I'd rather not get outed by a wire. It would just be trying to pump him for information, not planting a bug in his office. Low risk.

[Probably.]

[krasnaya_smert]

Consider it done.

[ Eyes unfocused while Natalia weighs other options, and she perks up, tossing out -- ]

Now that Stark's here, we may be able to use his tech brain. Something to keep in mind.

[ For the potential House of M repeat or with getting the cat in as a decoy. ]

[deaddrop]

That's another option, potentially.

[One she's considered but hesitates to leap into.]

There's no faulting his skills, but he just got here and he's about ten years behind me. He might have a little catching up to do.

[krasnaya_smert]

Ten?

[ She blinks rapidly, stunned not at the possibility, but at the shock of such a gap in timelines. At least with the people from her universe, it's been a handful of years (or so they've said - James's behavior still manages to irk her whenever she's reminded of the Thing Left Unsaid).

There are only one or two others left here, now, from home, and she's yet to make contact with the mutants. ]

[deaddrop]

He and Steve aren't all that far apart in the timeline. The rest of us...

[It's been something to navigate. Especially since Natasha's strategy for dealing with it has not been complete transparency.]

We're from a little further along. It's been an eventful few years.

[krasnaya_smert]

Have you had to deal with anyone being dead from your time but not theirs?

[deaddrop]

A few, though I generally avoid that problem by not talking about it.

[Natasha almost stops there, almost leaves it. That's what she usually does, even with people who do know what happens. People like Barnes.

But this time, she does add something.]

Mostly it's just me.

[krasnaya_smert]

[ Natalia averts her gaze onto her latest weapons, observing the claws' blood dance. ]

It would be easier to tell others about your own death, but informing them that they're the deceased one, that's messy. Because where do you draw the line? They're bound to want details - I sure as fuck would. When, how, who. Why, if there is one. Do you just say "You're dead and it's because of this, but I'm not revealing the date or time or what lead up to it"? Do you remain steadfast in that decision if they demand more answers, if they try to play some card of loyalty, lover, family?

[deaddrop]

That's why they don't need to know in the first place.

[She shakes her head slightly.]

It's easier that way. They do find out, sometimes. They know something or someone lets something slip. But they don't need to know what happens or how.

Either they'll go back and live it, or they won't.

[krasnaya_smert]

A mess.

[ One she's happy to have avoided, thus far.

Lifting those blue eyes to Natasha, she softly tilts her head. ]

I realize how this could almost be construed as hypocritical, but. You only ever said it was a nasty fall and a necessary one.