001

[avocadoatlaw]

Who: Matt Murdock + anyone!
Broadcast: Video
Action: SS Wonderduck
When: When he arrives after the Shuffle


action

[ Matt hates confetti, there's nothing worse for upsetting his senses than over stimulation. So he stands, waiting for the 'celebration' to pass. He'd only been in the last room (ship?) long enough to be moved along to the next, so now here he was, trying to get his bearing through a snowstorm of flying paper.

Once he does, at least a bit, he can focus on the refreshments. It's clearly party food, which seems safe enough, so he assembles his stick and moves forward. ]

I, uh, hello?

[ He clears his throat. ]

My name's Matt Murdock, and I think you all are expecting me.

video

[ Later, Matt sits in front of the monitor, dark red glasses covering his eyes. He's calm, but it's clear that he's holding back stronger emotions. ]

If anyone seeing this knows me, I need to know you're here. Suffice to say, I have a few questions.

Comments

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt considers this, it's not great news, but not hopeless. ]

How do you know that? Have people here been back home?

[outstandingbalance]

Some have. And people here have come from different times, and never been missed.

One of the advantages of knowing a few people around, it gives you the chance to compare notes.

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt rubs his hand over his face. It's a lot of take in. ]

That makes this sound more like a mass hallucination than a kidnapping.

[outstandingbalance]

It can be both.

[And even that would be less complicated than the theories Natasha finds herself putting together now.]

Whatever's happening here, it's safe to say we're kidnapped. Unless of course you think I'm a figment of your imagination?

[Her voice seems to curl at the end, a sort of resignation tinged with wry humor. If Matt listened to Natasha's appearance on Capitol Hill, it might sound familiar. If not, it might just sound husky and tired.]

[avocadoatlaw]

I don't. Actually, you sound familiar. You said you're not from New York?

[outstandingbalance]

I'm not. Not originally, and I haven't spend a whole lot of time there recently.

[She doesn't always find she gets the warmest welcome there.]

You might have heard me on TV though. I've made the news a couple of times now.

[Not something she likes to admit, but if he is from their world, there's not much of a point in avoiding it.]

Natasha Romanoff. Nice to meet you.

[avocadoatlaw]

[ At the name Matt smiles wryly and nods his head. ]

And here you had me thinking I was famous.

[outstandingbalance]

[Can't say she's surprised he knows of her. Especially a New Yorker.]

I don't usually think of it as famous.

[avocadoatlaw]

Lately maybe infamy... if you believe everything you read in the papers.

[ He grins, because more than most people Matt knows the media doesn't always get it right. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Oh, I think I like that one even less.

[She says it with humor, but the sentiment is real. Attention is the last thing a spy wants, and Natasha bears up because someone has to, but she's not a big fan of the spotlight.]

So... Matthew, right? You probably have some more questions than hat.

[avocadoatlaw]

Just Matt. And yeah, endless ones, but I'm guessing there aren't any answers that get me back home.

[outstandingbalance]

If I had those answers, I wouldn't be here.

[avocadoatlaw]

[ Matt grins. ]

That's what I thought. So then what now? What does an Avenger do in space?

[outstandingbalance]

About the same thins as everyone else as it turns out. Kill time. Wait for the next planet. Try to figure out how to get home.

There's a bar, so there's that.

[avocadoatlaw]

How does that work? Where's the bar in a fleet full of ships?

Clearly I could use a drink.

[outstandingbalance]

I don't doubt it.

There are two of them on one of the ships—the Iskaulit. There's some other common space there too. A garden. Gym. Things like that.

[A pause before she adds.]

If I run into you there, maybe I'll buy you one.

[avocadoatlaw]

Is that so? Then I just might take you up on that.

[outstandingbalance]

Might as well show some hospitality. This isn't the kind of situation anyone wants to deal with sober.

[avocadoatlaw]

Yeah, I'll drink to that.

[outstandingbalance]

[She shrugs, despite the fact it's clear he can't see it. Something of that attitude still carries through in her voice when she responds.]

Are you doing anything better now?

[avocadoatlaw]

I can't say that I am. What do you think the chances are that I can operate a shuttle craft?

[ It's basically a joke, for obvious reasons, but not because he thinks he can't. So far the operating systems have been very accommodating, and he's betting on an autopilot. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Now I think you're fishing for chauffeur service.

[Her voice is light as she responds, teasing. Clearly in on the joke.]

[avocadoatlaw]

If I was, could I blame it on a long day?

[outstandingbalance]

Eventful, at least.

[Pausing a beat, then:]

Sure. I don't have anything better to do. I'll come by and get you.

[avocadoatlaw]

[ He smiles. ]

That is definitely an offer I can't refuse.