darkness is a lover when you live undercover (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
assassinat) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thecapitol2014-05-10 10:48 pm
assassinat) wrote in thecapitol2014-05-10 10:48 pm
seemed easier than just waiting around to die; (OPEN)
Who| Nat and YOU!
What| Another newcomer and the fronts she puts on
Where| District 8 floor, shopping area, wherever else
When| With the rest of the newbies
Warnings/Notes| #comics (N/A)
Whoever her abductors were, they were good enough to capture the Black Widow without it being a part of her plan and therefore in doing so have earned themselves her temporary cooperation. It isn't that she wants to rebel (because she does), but there were more important matters to tend to other than pointlessly question those who will deny her significant answers. That and she's had decades of experience when it came to asking questions: these goons aren't going to tell her what she needs to know.
The next best thing is to experience it herself. The first chance she gets to peel away from the other tributes and those watching her, Natasha takes it and explores to her heart's content. If there's something or someone out there she needs to find, she'll be sure to do it before entering a death arena.
➊ (DISTRICT 8 FLOOR)
Natasha's time here is minimal. Just enough to memorize faces, to pick apart those who might seem familiar and those who aren't, and to identify who may be trouble later on. There's no hint to what her skill set may be when she's around others, choosing instead to feign ignorance and charm others with a smile that shows her discomfort. The role she plays today is that of a scared woman, who has just been ripped from an everyday life to participate in a bloodbath. A woman who is petrified of death, but attempts to face it with a brave face.
It's a flimsy mask and Natasha already fears something may slip through the cracks. Her thoughts are elsewhere, but she remains focused on her role until she leaves the Training Center building.
➋ (SHOPPING)
It isn't so out of character for a woman to take up retail therapy when something devastating happens to her, so Natasha lingers in this area for a good amount of time. There's a lot to take in, but more importantly the people are vocal with their conversations so there's plenty of information to be found. This is what she thrives on, the good honest speculation is more reliable than any book she can request at the Training Center.
There's also no harm in looking at what's for sale either. What better way to understand the culture than to look over the absurd things they value?
➌ (OPEN)
OOC | Have an idea or already coordinated something with me? Feel free to hit me up with anything.
What| Another newcomer and the fronts she puts on
Where| District 8 floor, shopping area, wherever else
When| With the rest of the newbies
Warnings/Notes| #comics (N/A)
Whoever her abductors were, they were good enough to capture the Black Widow without it being a part of her plan and therefore in doing so have earned themselves her temporary cooperation. It isn't that she wants to rebel (because she does), but there were more important matters to tend to other than pointlessly question those who will deny her significant answers. That and she's had decades of experience when it came to asking questions: these goons aren't going to tell her what she needs to know.
The next best thing is to experience it herself. The first chance she gets to peel away from the other tributes and those watching her, Natasha takes it and explores to her heart's content. If there's something or someone out there she needs to find, she'll be sure to do it before entering a death arena.
➊ (DISTRICT 8 FLOOR)
Natasha's time here is minimal. Just enough to memorize faces, to pick apart those who might seem familiar and those who aren't, and to identify who may be trouble later on. There's no hint to what her skill set may be when she's around others, choosing instead to feign ignorance and charm others with a smile that shows her discomfort. The role she plays today is that of a scared woman, who has just been ripped from an everyday life to participate in a bloodbath. A woman who is petrified of death, but attempts to face it with a brave face.
It's a flimsy mask and Natasha already fears something may slip through the cracks. Her thoughts are elsewhere, but she remains focused on her role until she leaves the Training Center building.
➋ (SHOPPING)
It isn't so out of character for a woman to take up retail therapy when something devastating happens to her, so Natasha lingers in this area for a good amount of time. There's a lot to take in, but more importantly the people are vocal with their conversations so there's plenty of information to be found. This is what she thrives on, the good honest speculation is more reliable than any book she can request at the Training Center.
There's also no harm in looking at what's for sale either. What better way to understand the culture than to look over the absurd things they value?
➌ (OPEN)
OOC | Have an idea or already coordinated something with me? Feel free to hit me up with anything.
➌ TRAINING CENTER ➢ BUCKY BARNES.
No, these guys weren't going to bother with that. Most of the people she's seen couldn't take a punch from her, much less a kick and screaming is so unlike her. If anything, they'll make the same mistake of showing her how they took her down the first time and then she'll learn from it. Adapt. Turn it back around on them.
Show them what it means to stab the Black Widow in the back.
Anger isn't like her and it contradicts the current persona she's going with, in hopes that maybe they have failed to learn everything about her prior and so she walks around with an uncomfortable grin. Heh, yes, this is all so funny and she's going to put on her brave face because who is going to ask a woman to give her life for no reason? If every person she met was a possible Tribute, then there was the inevitable possibility they will have to kill each other.
And Natasha's not too keen on the idea of dying just yet.
Stepping into the elevator, she stares at the buttons for a bit longer than any other person would. There's a roof she could go to for fresh air, but dangerous. What if she gets thrown off or more importantly, runs into someone who wants to throw themselves off? It'll be awkward and troublesome, so maybe she'll head downstairs for a possible exit. A reasonable thing for any Tribute to do, so she won't stand out against the crowd.
Punching in the button, she leans back on the bar and shuts her eyes, taking in all the sounds she can hear. The humming of the elevator is pristine, the technology matching with everything she's seen so far--and stopping suddenly? Peeling a lid open, she stares at the floor number.
Seven. A number often associated with luck, none of which Natasha has today.
So what's behind door number seven today?
no subject
But it's not this man's feet that should concern her now: it's his familiar face.
Bucky steps into the elevator, then freezes as he sees the woman in front of him. His breath steals right out of him. He wants to say something furious, but he can't. He can't say a damn thing. He just stares at her, stricken.
no subject
Natasha just bounces back better. She's the lighter one of the two, it should be no surprise she's quick to get back on her feet.
"I was wondering how they managed to take me with you by my side."
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When his words do return to him, he spits them out like they're fire. "Natasha, let's go kill them now."
no subject
She recognizes this part of him and while any other person may fear it, she views the flaw as endearing. Only she can have this kind of taste in men, she's concluded as her fingers grip the bar a bit more.
That's it. Her silent resolve to kill them when given the chance, but the timing is off. There's just so much they don't know yet.
"Sometimes it's best to not bite the hand that feeds, James."
A phrase with a second meaning, one she knows he can read once he lets go of his anger and focuses on her voice. 'We don't know how to return home.' Killing them without answers will only screw them over.
no subject
"You're right. Of course you're right. You always are." Another breath, deeper this time. "But you know we can't let them get what they want from us."
The reminder is as much to him as it is to her. The Gamemakers want to see both of them kill and be killed. They can't give into that. Not yet. Not till they know their true target and its weak spots.
no subject
"Still not convinced they're going to do this to us." Natasha admits, sighing deeply.
no subject
"You're not? Come on, Nat. We both know this kind of person. We know how they use human beings." The anger has drained out of him now, or at least drained down, down, down into the dark spaces inside him where he'll keep it for now. "And you must have seen it in their faces when they made you perform for them in that goddamn gym. They're used to this."
The doors start to open. He hits the button to close them, and then hits the button for the top floor.
no subject
Time to do what she does best. Pretend that she has all the answers. She has approximately zero of them right now, but there's no need to make him think otherwise.
"If you think I'm going to allow some no name to use you..."
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If he repeats it enough, maybe he'll believe it. Maybe the metallic taste of guilt at the back of his mouth will go away.
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She pushes herself up fully.
"You're not returning to the past."
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Bucky steps forward and puts his hands over hers on the bar. "Natasha. You're right. We're both going to get through this."
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She's trapped in more ways than one and the gesture only reminds her of what's to come.
"What were you planning to do before you stepped on this elevator and saw that I was here? Would you have still stepped inside and--"
Done as they asked? Killed everyone in hopes of surviving to return home to her?
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For a moment, his eyes are clear. He's thinking of Steve Rogers and Remember who you are.
"I wasn't planning anything until I saw you here. I couldn't think. But we'll figure something out."
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Another burden tossed onto the weight that her shoulders carry, but she doesn't complain about it. Never had to when she was around him, so why pick up the habit now that they're ripped away from everything they've known?
"Good." Relief slips out at that single word as she silently admits she thought he might have. "There must be exceptions to their twisted rules. If there are, I'll uncover them and use them to our advantage."
no subject
The elevator reaches the top floor. He reaches out to hit the button to keep the doors closed for a few more seconds, but he doesn't push one for another floor. Instead, he just says, "Natasha." And he leans forward and quickly kisses her.
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Losing James after getting him back again was something she couldn't handle. Not yet, at least.
That's why she falls into his kiss without concern for who saw. Let them have this moment of womanly weakness to judge her character by and let James know that everything was going to be okay in the same breath. Letting go of the metal bar to grab onto a more familiar metallic piece, her hand squeezes him firmly, not wanting him to pull away.
Not yet at least.
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The elevator door slides open again with the two of them still kissing.
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Her voice is quieter than usual as she dips her head in closer towards his. Pulling away is difficult now more than ever before and she can't figure out why. Is it because she only knows he was visiting District 7 (or possibly a Tribute for it) and will have to compete in the upcoming Arena along with her?
Lessening her grip as she taps her fingers along his forearm. "Enjoy being on top while it lasts."
A hint to her district number, as she doesn't have anything that shows it physically.
no subject
But they're going to have a mission here, and their work as partners comes before their play as lovers.
He steps out of the elevator, then turns to look back at her. "Natasha...if they do get us into the Arena--"
no subject
Natasha knows exactly where the end of that phrase will get them and she's moving quickly to strike at the panel of buttons. It might come off as desperation to keep the door open, but no.
They're closing much quicker than they should.
Being in the Arena is inevitable for the pair. They were brought here and placed in different districts for purpose, for sport, with every intent of being enemies.
That's just her luck. First Clint, now she has to think about what's best for James. Being able to finish that thought won't be good for him, but maybe it's due in part to her own selfishness that causes her to abruptly cut their conversation. The doors shut without another word from her.
The loud thud that comes after isn't part of the mechanism that powers the machine, but from that of a passionate woman with no other way to release what's on her mind.