catching up with friends

[outstandingbalance]

Who: Natasha + Wanda, Natasha + You
Broadcast: Nope
Action: SS Starstruck, SS Vanquish, Iskaulit
When: Now-ish?

Starstruck

[With Pietro showing up, it seemed like the thing to do to check in on Wanda. Natasha had kept an eye open for the girl, but unsurprisingly their paths hadn't crossed by accident since then. She could have sent a private message—maybe should have—but the kind of distance that talking to someone through a screen would hide clues to Wanda's emotional state that Natasha would rather not miss.

It made the most sense to drop in. Have surprise on her side. See Wanda face to face.

That's how Natasha found herself on the SS Starstruck, standing outside her younger teammate's door like she belonged there and knocking confidently. Will Wanda even be in? On the other hand, would Natasha be here if she weren't?]


Starstruck - later

[It's a less confident Natasha who slips off of the ship after her meeting with Wanda, a Natasha with new memories and nursing a stabbing headache. She'd just as soon sneak off the ship without running into anyone else at this point; she could use a little time to herself to recover and regroup.

Even a spy might have a hard escaping a spaceship unnoticed, though.]


Vanquish

[Back on her own ship, Natasha retreats to her bunk almost immediately. She lays down for a bit—but she doesn't stay down long. After enough time to push aside the worst of her nagging headache, she throws herself into activity. Nothing useful. Nothing that takes focus. But empty action, something to work off a little energy while her thoughts are elsewhere. Pushups. Sit ups. Lunges. Whatever she can do with the space she has.

Eventually, the workout might spill out into the corridor...]


Iskaulit

[But after that, her workout will take her to a real gym, somewhere she can actually open up. Anyone who finds her here might run into Natasha taping up her hands before laying into a heavy bag. Or they might run into her working her frustration off on the bag itself. Spectators might be impressed—if they don't know her, and if they don't know people with superpowers. She's stronger than most people take her for, though, and her form is more or less flawless, if you notice those things.

She stays in the gym for a long while, until she feels herself back on top of her emotions. All of her reactions have been identified, categorized and compartmentalized.

That's when she she finally wanders over to one of the bars.

She's earned a drink.]

Comments

[takingkarabusiness]

Great! I'd love that.

Thanks.

We don't have to start now, though.

[outstandingbalance]

No, I figured it would be sometime later.

Let's say, you do your rounds with Steve, then Barnes. Then you come to me and we'll see if there's anything left I can do for you.

[takingkarabusiness]

It's a deal.

Is everything all right with you? You seemed to be in the zone.

[outstandingbalance]

About as all right as it can be, all things considered.

It seemed like the time for a workout.

[takingkarabusiness]

All things considered? Is something going on?

[ i mean, obviously they're stuck in a reality show in space but that's just normal now ]

[outstandingbalance]

Isn't something always?

[takingkarabusiness]

Well, when you put it like that.

[outstandingbalance]

You have to admit I have a point?

[takingkarabusiness]

I guess the constant state of "being in space" gets pushed to the background for me. I just wanted to make sure everyone was okay.

[outstandingbalance]

[Funny enough, being in space isn't even on Natasha's radar as weird today.]

That's very thoughtful of you.

[takingkarabusiness]

Well, I care about people here. And I figure I should use my augment for good at some point or another.

[outstandingbalance]

How do you mean?

[Natasha still feels the shadow of a headache from her augment's earlier malfunction, and she frowns at the mention even while she understands that augments serve a number of other functions.]

[takingkarabusiness]

Oh, mine is a "personnel" augment. Basically I think I'm meant to be like the ship counselor or something. I don't know if that's the brightest idea but it probably can't hurt.

[outstandingbalance]

Oh, believe me. Counseling us would be way more than they pay you for.

[takingkarabusiness]

Well, I'm not saying I'm qualified for much, but I am a pretty reliable listener.

[outstandingbalance]

I don't doubt it. Another good egg, hm?

[takingkarabusiness]

I'll leave that up to others to decide...

[outstandingbalance]

It was rhetorical, anyway.

[takingkarabusiness]

Right, yeah. Of course.

[outstandingbalance]

...Sorry. Still nursing a headache. I might not be in the best mood.

[takingkarabusiness]

It's all right. I feel like I'm probably bothering you anyway.

[outstandingbalance]

No. You're about the last thing bothering me.

Just bad timing.

[takingkarabusiness]

Yeah, I do that sometime.

The offer's open, though. Sometimes it's easier to talk to people you don't know well.

[outstandingbalance]

I'll keep that in mind.

For today, though, I think the therapy will be between me and the bag.

[A pause, then she softens it.]

I wouldn't mind a distraction, though.

[takingkarabusiness]

You got it. "Let's play tag" distraction or pint of ice cream distraction? Or some other third option? I think I know where some puppies are staying.