◉ Video + Action

[vagabond_code]

Who: Clint "a Hawkeye" Barton and yous guys
Broadcast: Fleet-wide
Action: Marsiva
When: This evening

[Clint begins his broadcast with his hearing aids in, but the result is a series of false starts where it’s obvious from the wincing and the head-turning that he’s dealing with some sort of loud or high-pitched feedback. It isn’t long before he ditches them - rips them off and pockets them - and starts over again. lips it is, then ]

Alright this isn’t going to be a big thing - I just want to put my face out there.

[And he pauses, counting out the seconds for whoever might be looking to take a look at their beep-machines and catch sight of him.]

Oh, and to whoever brought us here, nice ship. Also, you’ve got some balls, kidnapping someone who carries one of these in his wallet:

[Casually, meaningfully, accidentally, he produces a blockbuster membership card, with the printed name Clinton F. Barton and a signature. When he catches his mistake he tosses the card down out of frame and the camera catches him thumbing through the inside of his wallet. Following that, the sound of him mumbling:]

Futzing Avengers ID, never around when you… [He trails off. The feed doesn’t.]

[A little later, sitting wherever there’s a seat to be claimed aboard the Marsiva, he’ll be found picking cards out of his wallet and tossing them down onto a table. Reorganizing, dismissing some, yet the cards that he doesn’t tuck back into their leathery hideaway are all landing corner-to-corner in a perfect even pile.

A little later, you might catch him sprawled out and napping. Because he naps. He’s a napper.]

Comments

[vagabond_code]

[Uh-huh. Well that was easier than he expected.]

A twisty stretchy green shape-shifter alien. They have mean little eyes and pointy ears - at least when they aren't in the shape of someone you trust.

[Or love.

Although it was obvious to Clint that he wasn't talking to Captain America, he'd expect a Skrull to be sneakier than this. Which begged the question -- who was on the other end of the device?]

[enshields]

[-- Okay that's.

Deep breath. He pinches the bridge of his nose.

That's fair. And he's still irritated, but.]

Different timelines. Or alternate realities. You're [tact, Steve.] different ['blonder'. among other things.] than the Clint Barton I know.

[vagabond_code]

[Which might be all well and good for the Cappleganger over there, but Clint faced the prospect of taking orders from this guy. The stakes were just -- higher. And with higher stakes came a vested interest in knowing who exactly was drifting around here in space taking advantage of everyone's vulnerability.]

That's funny, because you read just like mine.

[Commanding, entitled, self-important, yadda yadda yadda.]

[enshields]

When did I come out of the ice? How long ago, or the year.

[Because if Clint's not going to be helpful then the least he can do is establish a baseline.]

[vagabond_code]

Decades ago. I don't know the year.

[enshields]

[Decades. Steve rubs a hand across his mouth and sits back in his chair. He owes Clint Barton very little and this man less than nothing, but there's also no point in alienating a potential ally. His irritation wars with his overbearing sense of duty, and he gets up to get himself a cup of coffee in the interim. If not for the shield and all it entails, he'd have already hung up by now.

His reply comes several minutes later:]

Three years for me. 2012.

[It costs him nothing, as far as admissions go. It's the truth and only that.]