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

[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.

[outstandingbalance]

Well, those options certainly run the gamut.

[takingkarabusiness]

I have depth?

[outstandingbalance]

And range.

[takingkarabusiness]

I don't know what you're into.

[outstandingbalance]

I'm into a lot of things.

[Natasha lifts her chin, considering what she can offer.]

Don't suppose we have popcorn and movie night around here?

[takingkarabusiness]

I think we can find some corn to pop somewhere, and I spied both Anastasia and The Princess Bride on the network. Unless you're more of An American Werewolf in Paris person.

[outstandingbalance]

Oh, you were prepared.

I think I could be tempted by some of that. Does Anastasia still have John Cusack in it?

[takingkarabusiness]

I hope so! No one else would be able to do it justice.

[outstandingbalance]

We're on the same page there.

That sounds like a good distraction.

[takingkarabusiness]

Great!

We can head back to the Tourist, if you like.

[outstandingbalance]

You might want me to get cleaned up first.

[takingkarabusiness]

Okay, yes, fair.

I can meet you back at the Tourist, then?

[outstandingbalance]

Sure. Where should I look for you?

[takingkarabusiness]

Oh, just come over to the Tourist. I'll come get you when you dock.

[outstandingbalance]

It's a date.

I'll meet you there, fresh and clean.