darkness is a lover when you live undercover (
assassinat) wrote in
thecapitol2014-05-10 10:48 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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.
no subject
And again, switching into Russian. 〈"I'm an eleven. Steve's a ten. Natasha, he was afraid I would attack him. He comes from a world where I'm still the Winter Soldier, and there's no cosmic cube to give me back my memories. I'm going to have to watch out for him here. It's the least I can do."〉
Even if it means not being able to watch her back when he should. His gaze falls to the stitches on her shoulder again. "I'm sorry. This isn't where we should be. This isn't where any of us should be."
no subject
Honestly, it was coming. Steve and James were close in a way she could never be with either of them, despite Steve holding her hand and James holding her at night. Envy doesn't spring forward, nor does any other negative emotion.
She's neutral to the idea. 〈"Do you think you can protect him?"〉 Natasha asks honestly, already knowing what there is to know about them. Not unexpected of her to stay a few steps ahead of the boys, but she's already made mistakes.
"But it is where we are so we need to jump when we're told and play along, James."
no subject
It was one thing in the gulag, where he knew that not only were all his opponents miserable and nasty souls as bad as or worse than he himself, but they'd be patched up again after he beat them down. Here, if he leaves someone injured and disabled in the middle of the Arena, he'll be dooming them to a slow and painful death, either because of the elements or because of someone else who happens along next. He doesn't have any illusion that he's likely to escape doing some killing.
But he has another thing to worry about now. 〈"I've always protected him. I've always been the one who takes the shot he can't bring himself to make. Who puts the knife in the back of the guy trying to take advantage of his good nature. Natasha, he may never get his friend back. I don't think any version of me is strong enough to find myself again without the cosmic cube to see to it. So as long as I'm the one here, I'm going to be the knife in the dark for him again while he's the shield. That always probably suited both of us better anyway."〉
He's a mess, a haunted mess with fingers curling into fists and eyes heavy with old guilt that isn't his to bear in the first place.
no subject
The other Tributes will come for her. Isn't it better she does this alone?
"I know." She says even louder, keeping up with the dual conversation easily enough. "You will no doubt be successful in the Arena."
Steve has other friends. Stark and Thor both are from his world, they both think highly of him. The Avengers will form a powerful group between themselves and she'll be on the outside looking over them. The shadow they won't even acknowledge they have.
no subject
He lifts his right hand and touches her cheek. 〈"We will both fight, Natalia. Do you need me to fight with you?"〉 A question, an honest question. 〈"You don't have to tell me the truth, but do it anyway."〉
He leans forwards till his forehead almost touches hers and waits for a response.
no subject
The words are a harsh reminder that they are supposed to be enemies when they step into the upcoming Arena and coming from her, they aren't a lie. They don't need each other when it comes to an unnecessary bloodbath. Killing is instilled within both of them and if need be, they can fight each other.
It's the truth. She went so long without him that she can do it again, but can he?
There's something broken inside of him, something she can't quite place a finger on. Steve? It has to do with the fact there's no cube in his world which meant that the Winter Soldier was doomed? Is that what he's thinking? Natasha's hopeful, perhaps a bit too much considering their grim circumstances, that Steve can find a way. That she can find a way.
〈"Kiss me, James."〉 After she tells him she doesn't need him, she asks for him in a different way. Typical.
no subject
He just had to be sure, this time.
But there are ways in which they do need each other--
He grasps her uninjured shoulder with his left hand, takes hold of her chin with his right, and kisses her.
no subject
She doesn't stop kissing him for a long time.
She can't, not when she needs him like this.
no subject
Finally, he murmurs with some regret, 〈"They're watching everything, you know."〉
He wants more. He wants to lose himself in her arms and forget that he's less than human to the people in command of him here, as he always has been to so many people who've commanded him. When he's with her he can forget things like that because he's never been anything less than human with her.
But he stops himself for the moment, his mouth still close enough to hers that she can feel his breath.
no subject
〈"Right now they might have the opinion that I prey on men and I rather they keep that thought. That way no one is targeted individually other than myself."〉
Just what did she do with Stark again?
If she was going to tell him, she opts not to in favor of dipping her head down towards his neck to kiss him there not softly, but with the desperate passion that flares up when she feels out of her element.
And she was. This is a world where everyone else had information on her, a world where her name and deeds will be public. It's the worst kind of environment for a woman who thrives off of information and secrecy.