oo1; video

[redhourglass]

[ you know who has two thumbs and is over this? this girl. it hadn't been the first time she'd woken up in a hospital bed with a dim memory of the last twenty-four hours, but natasha had to admit it was a little unique to be told that she was previously fictional and now she'd somehow become real. right. let's talk to the nice people and see how this goes. ]

I was looking forward to a long island vacation, but this wasn't quite what I meant.

[ a long sigh. mostly a put-on, but hey, some of it is actual exasperation. she wanted to be on a beach somewhere far away from space aliens. ]

Is there anyone around here who actually knows what is going on? Who hasn't just arrived, but who's been here and has some solid information?

[ she'll address the whole 'fictional' thing later. when she's not managing her temper underneath the surface of collected calm. ]

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[redhourglass]

I'll be there.

[swordhappy]

[It's hard to miss Sif. It's hard to miss her in a crowd, where she towers head and shoulders over just about everyone. It's hard to miss her brilliantly red clothing, or the cape, or the four feet of steel strapped to her hip. Especially in Conrad's bar, where she also puts away more than all the other patrons combined, if she gives license to let herself completely let go.

But tonight is not that night. She knew the other Black Widow well enough to feel more or less unthreatened by her immediate presence; Brunhilde spoke highly over her, she was an Avenger, they knew where they stood. This one does not. Poor Conrad will have to settle for slow drinking from her tonight.

Of course, she'll still order two of the famous concoction she made the bartender give her last time she drank with Black Widow. It's frankly probably disgusting; it combines the four most singly alcoholic liquors in the place. It was kind of a test. A very Asgardian sort of test.

It doesn't bother Sif at all.]

[redhourglass]

[ this woman is probably the largest woman Natasha has ever seen - and that's saying something, given her past history. in contrast, Natasha is doing her best not to stand out, slipping into the bar and surveying it quickly for entrances and exits (just in case, it's a bad habit of hers), before making her way to the bar. ]

Are you Sif?

[ sliding into the seat next to her, she eyed the drink that was already sitting on the counter, lifting it to smell it and then blinking. what on earth---? ]

You're kind of hard to miss.

[swordhappy]

[Sif will say absolutely nothing about the drink, but she's tossing it down like it doesn't bother her at all. ~Asgardians~. Give them a keg and they'll drain it dry.]

I am Asgardian, Natalia Romanova. I have no reason to hide myself, no secret identity and no other person to be. I am no-one but Sif.

[redhourglass]

[ maybe that's why Natasha likes them, for the most part. or she's ambivalent, which is more can be said for her opinion on Stark. picking up the drink for another smell, she tossed it back, hissing through her teeth.

not that bad, actually. ]

Why do you call me by that name?

[ 'natalia'. ]

[swordhappy]

[It could be much, much worse. Conrad could tell her. Sif delights in tormenting him about his drinks.]

I know no other that is yours, except for Black Widow. Or if I did, I have forgotten it.

[redhourglass]

[ if natasha seems surprised by this, she doesn't show it; just taps the bar for another drink. ]

The .. 'other' Black Widow. She allows you to call her Natalia?

[swordhappy]

She did not say anything about it, nor ask that I not. We are-

[She stops to think about this, her fingers absently tracing patterns in the condensation on her glass.]

It was the name she gave. I did not think anything of it. As far as I know she has ever been a friend to Asgardia, battle companion to Thor and to Brunnhilde, who you call Valkyrie. But I am not an Avenger, and never will be, nor do I fight first and foremost for Midgard. Perhaps we are not friends, and I think I would never claim her as such. But she understood all of that, and I trust the judgment of Thor and Valkyrie both. I understand you know none of this. If there is another name I should use, then I apologize. Why she gave it to me, or said nothing herself, if it means so much- I do not know.

[redhourglass]

[ Natasha is perfectly happen to down another drink and just listen. The names are unfamiliar - Valkyrie, Brunnhilde, apparently the same person - but the gist doesn't sound like something she couldn't recognize. Finally, she nods. ]

No. Natalia is .. my name. From a long time ago. It's possible that she still goes by Natalia.

I think we will get along well, Sif. You have a good head on your shoulders.

[ you know. your very, very high up and large shoulders. ]

[swordhappy]

[It's true, she cannot exactly avoid dominating a room. Even out of her armor, she would be taller than most everyone. Most superheroes, too.]

I try. Someone must. [Whether or not she succeeds all the time is another matter entirely. Sometimes she just wants to solve the problem by hitting it- but at least she knows that isn't always a viable solution, and can restrain herself from doing it. For an Asgardian, this is incredibly advanced.] And I apologize if I have compromised you. But you must understand: I do not know that most have endeavored to remain...circumspect, about what might have been secret elsewhere. And there have been questions of control, and power. [She means Tim, of course.]

[redhourglass]

[ Natasha's eyes flick over to the other woman and there is a long moment. Then she downs another drink and pulls up one shoulder in a shrug. Sif was not the first person to compromise her identity. It seemed there were less people here who didn't know who she was than did. ]

You haven't done anything wrong. It may have come out eventually and apparently .. other versions of me have been a bit more forward than I might have been. [ besides, the fame from the saving of NYC seemed to follow her everywhere. she'd never asked for that. ] Maybe you did me a favor.

[swordhappy]

Aye, possibly. The Avengers do not hide themselves here. [Which, maybe it's better she tells her all of that now?] Carol Danvers has been zealous about their formation, and public. In truth, if it were not me, it would have been someone else.

[redhourglass]

I've never heard of this Carol Danvers, back home. But I've spoken to her here. [ and she's reticent to trust her. ] I'd prefer it if .. I wasn't so widespread. But I can't change things now.

[swordhappy]

She is well-intentioned, I am certain. [She's an Avenger, after all. Thor's comrade in arms. They've proved themselves worthy of respect and the benefit of the doubt.] And she is stubborn. [Pot calling the kettle black.] Thor could tell you more. But I have no doubt you will be able to handle it without aid or advice.

[And now she needs another drink.]

[redhourglass]

Well-intentioned doesn't always translate so well. [ do you see this face, Rogers? this face is all for you. you and your patriotism and old-fashioned ideas. well-intentioned indeed. ] I'm sure I'll speak to Thor at some point. We have ... something in common to discuss.

[ and mentioning Loki definitely deserves another drink. she taps the bar to order one for Sif and one for herself. ]