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

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Even with Steve's acceptance of her apology, it doesn't fully diminish the guilt she feels over her actions.]

Ultron... He may have been the one who told me to do what I did to you. But I- [Her voice catches. She swallows and tries again.] I wanted to do it. I wanted to hurt you. To break the Avengers.

Yet, you... you still allowed Pietro and I to fight alongside you. You then took me in, gave me a home, a team... a family... why?

[She then shakes her head. She isn't trying to make things about her again. Right now, she wanted to be there for Steve in the way that he had just been there for her.]

You know... As much as I am loathe to admit it... perhaps this place is not such a bad one to call home.

We have each other, and we have those we love and care about here. Isn't that what a home is?

[She then lets out a deep sigh. Not quite believing herself that she just said all that. She really hopes the Atroma weren't watching, slim a chance as that was...]

I've been here for over a year. If time is a factor, then yes... this place has basically become my home.

You thought we hurt you. In a way we had, we made mistakes, you and Pietro made them too but we could either fight each other or we could give each other a chance. We gave you one but you took it, you proved yourself.

[ he meets her gaze, offers her a smile. ]

You know for the longest time, I didn't even know where home was. After the ice, it all felt different. I think you're right.

[ it is a home, in a way. ]

I think there's more to it now than there was when I first came here.

[Wanda smiles weakly back at Steve. She is unquestionably grateful to him and the other Avengers, though other than Vision and Steve the rest were slower to come around, for giving her and Pietro the chance to redeem themselves. However, there seems to be some doubt behind her eyes as to whether or not she believes she has done enough yet to deserve that chance.]

I can understand the feeling. Not exactly knowing where home was. The only place that mattered was wherever Pietro was. Along as we were together... that was our home.

And now it seems that applies to even this place.

[A small, wry grin on her face as she shakes her head again. She really, really cannot believe she's admitting it out loud. She then adds with a bit of that signature playful, teasing tone of her's:]

It's nice that you and the others are around too, I suppose.

[It's been a while since Steve's last heard it. A good sign that Wanda's starting to turn herself around.]

Oh, you suppose, do you?

[ he smiles, tugs her in to another quick hug. they're more alike than he could have imagined, she and him, lost and found as they are. perhaps that's part of why steve could always understand her better than the rest of them. ]

here.

[ he takes off his jacket and puts it over her shoulders. ]

Want some coffee?

[She giggles softly at his response and the quick embrace. She gives him a little squeeze of thanks before they part.]

[As he drapes his jacket over her, she pulls it in a little closer around her shoulders. Her smile grows a little stronger, a little warmer. While she's not exactly a coffee drinker--Steve can thank Peggy for turning Wanda into a fellow tea lover, she'll still take him up on his offer.]

That sounds nice.

[A pause before she adds:]

Thank you, Steve.

[There's a certain emphasis and earnestness to the way she says those three words. As though trying to convey a gratitude to him that equates to about a whole two years worth.]