"My mind's like a deadly disease..."

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Who: Wanda Maximoff
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Starstruck
When: Now


Broadcast - Text

[Wanda's presence, both in the Fleet's comms and aboard its vessels, has dwindled, slowly but surely, over the course of the past month. There was period of time, around the beginning of the month, when she couldn't be found or reached at all--save for by Misty, Vision and Pietro. More perceptive fleet members might recall that her disappearance occurred around the time that rumors of a dragon and its rider terrorizing Solrius were circulating about. However, she did pop back up a little while later, seemingly as though nothing was wrong. However, those that know her well may have picked up the subtle tells that there was something she was not saying. Something that she was trying to bury. And so, she became more and more scarce around the Fleet. At least, until now...]

What do you think happens after death?

[The message is short and simple. Anyone familiar with the festivities of the month of October, perhaps this is simply her way of trying to get into the spirit of things?]


Starstruck - Action

[Friends and shipmates of Wanda's, if they want to go looking for her, will find her either holed up in her bunkroom aboard the Starstruck, or in a corner of the ship's kitchen or shuttle bay at times she thinks no one would typically wander in. By the look on her face, it is clear something is troubling her.]

Comments

text

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha had noticed Wanda's absence. She's let the girl have her space considering that they aren't all that close, but when Wanda resurfaces she notices and she responds.]

What brings on that question?

[Natasha doesn't volunteer an answer; she doubts it's one anyone will enjoy.]

text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Just curious.

text

[outstandingbalance]

Okay. Fair enough.

I guess I always just figured the dead were dead.

text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Meaning?

text

[outstandingbalance]

Meaning the living keep going.

text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

But the dead? They just disappear?

text

[outstandingbalance]

I didn't say that.

I guess what I'm saying is that I try not to over-complicate it. The dead are dead, and nothing I do one way or another is going to affect that.

I think that if the living carry the dead with them, that's about the living.

text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[There's a long pause before Wanda responds.]

If you could do something about it, would you?

text

[outstandingbalance]

Maybe. But I can't.

[Which is to say, she tries not to think about it. Usually she succeeds.]

text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[A shorter pause.]

Humor me.

text

[outstandingbalance]

You're asking a lot.

[More than she probably realizes.]

Yes. I guess, if I could, I'd want to do something about it.

text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Another pause.]

If you don't want to answer, you don't have to.

text

[outstandingbalance]

I'm not trying to dodge. Just it's something I find it better not to think about.

Are you all right?

private; text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[After another pause, Wanda cuts the public feed on her communicator, leaving Natasha's question unanswered. Then, enough time passes where it might give her cause to think that Wanda has just dropped the conversation entirely.]

[However, a private line suddenly opens on Natasha's screen.]

No. I don't think I am.

private; text

[outstandingbalance]

All right.

Want some company?

private; text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

I won't make for very good company at the moment.

[It's not an outright refusal. Instead, it seems more like a warning. An "only if you are sure" kind of answer.]

private; text

[outstandingbalance]

Luckily, it's not for me. It's about whether or not you want it.

Might be a better way to chat.

private; text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

And if the topic is something you'd rather not think about?

private; text

[outstandingbalance]

Doesn't mean I have a problem with listening while you you think about it.

private; text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[A pause as Wanda considers. Well, she did try and warn Natasha that their talk might not be so pleasant.]

I'm on the Starstruck. Shuttle bay.

[Whether or not Natasha wants to show up now is entirely her choice.]

text > action

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha is sufficiently warned. On the other hand, she's sufficiently concerned that she doesn't at any point consider not making the trip over. There's a very real possibility that she won't be what Wanda needs right now, especially if the topics of death and the afterlife are weighing on her, but there is some benefit from trying.

There may be ways to redirect the conversation somewhere Natasha has less disappointing opinions.

It's not long before she's climbing out of the shuttle, glancing around for signs of the girl.]

action

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Looking around, Natasha will be able to spot Wanda off in a corner of the shuttle bay. She's sitting on a cargo crate, positioned in such a way to be out of line of sight for anyone that might enter the bay from the ship's hall. Her choice of spot seeming reflecting her desire to keep out of the way, and best be on her own without interruptions.]

[When Nat lands, Wanda looks up. She doesn't give wave, but there is a flicker of a weak smile in greeting. She then goes back to staring, a thousand miles into the distance, at a spot on the floor a few feet in front of her.]

[outstandingbalance]

Hey.

[Natasha joins her, sitting near enough by to be a physical presence in Wanda's space without crowding her.]

Nice spot you've picked out for yourself.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda stays silent. She stays staring at the same spot on the floor, her eyes seem to be searching for something there that Natasha cannot see. She does, however, give a small nod in response.]

[outstandingbalance]

[Clearing her throat softly, Natasha accepts this is going to be every bit as hard as she might have feared going into it.]

I get the feeling you didn't come for the view, though.

[Her voice is gentle as she continues.]

It's been a while since we talked. Maybe a good time to catch up?