(no subject)

[outstandingbalance]

Who: Natasha Romanoff
Broadcast: Fleedwide
Action: Iskaulit to start with
When: 16 Nov

Video

[The broadcast is brief and obviously accidental. A young girl's face appears on screen, confused and tense, then almost at once her brows draw down and together in an intense frown. Her expression is dark and thoughtful as the feed shakes, then cuts out entirely.

For those paying attention, the corridors off the Islaulit can be identified behind her before the transmission ends.]

Action

[When she wakes up, a young Natasha finds herself in what appears to be a small dance studio. Unfamiliar, but not too shocking. The mirror, the barre, the wood flooring, are all things she's accustomed to. It isn't where she expects to be, but it is somewhere she would expect to wake up in a general sense, in a general way.

Waking up somewhere strange isn't completely shocking either.

It's not until she ventures out into the rest of the Iskaulit that she starts feeling out of her depth. She can't place where she is, even where she might be. There's no outside. The structures are nothing like she's scene before. The computers are completely alien to her. The people are worse. She avoids them, of course. At least at first. Sneaking through shadows and hidden corners, in ducts if she's lucky enough to find access. She observes what she can, trying to work together the situation as she can, applying what training she can. But how much she can do is limited.

Tiny spy is out of her depth.

Which is what forces her to come out of hiding. (Maybe that was the point?)

When she finally lets herself be approached, she's already determined to put on a lost, scared face. It's for the best. That way people will underestimate her. Trust her more. It's a good plan.

The expression might not be entirely fake, though, and she can't entirely hide her suspicious skittishness. The end effect isn't entirely unlike a stray cat begging for food.]

((OOC: Augment glitch? Come play with smol murder ballerina.))

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

I don't think I'll be taking up any harp.

[This is just a momentary curiosity. That's all it can be. Still, she tries part of the scale again slowly, considering how he held his hand to make up for a smaller reach.]

[bythewaves]

It is not for everyone. [ Maglor hums softly ] But you have a keen sense of melody and rhythm, and would do well if you ever find the instrument that speaks to you, I think.

[ He nods approvingly at her attempt ] Better. Now try it at speed.

[outstandingbalance]

I have studied dance.

[That's the first time she's really seemed to brighten, even if it's subtle. It's clear that's something she truly enjoys.

She does as she's told though, repeating the scale more quickly.]

[bythewaves]

A dancer! [ He smiles at her ]

Then the rhythm is in your blood, I think. You might do well with something like a flute, perhaps.

[ He nods approvingly ] You learn swiftly.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha smiles at that, almost shyly. She enjoys dancing in a way that she doesn't assassination. It's nice for a moment to pretend her cover is true.]

Thank you. I should be..

[bythewaves]

[ An interesting turn of phrase, and Maglor crooks a curious eyebrow but does not push ]

One day, perhaps, I will play and see you dancing. [ He smiles at her ]

[outstandingbalance]

I wouldn't mind that. Dancing while you play.

[Not now, though. She doesn't think ever. Still it's nice to pretend.]

[bythewaves]

Whenever you wish it

[ he promises her ] You need but ask.

[outstandingbalance]

That is very kind of you to offer.

[bythewaves]

I love music. [ He says simply ] And clearly, you are fond of dancing, eh? So tis of no great burden, to share those things that we enjoy.

[outstandingbalance]

Not everyone is as interested in sharing what they enjoy as you are, sir.

[bythewaves]

This is true, and a true pity, for joy is oft found to be multiplied, when thus shared.

[outstandingbalance]

[Her hands still entirely.]

Sometimes there's not enough to go around.

[bythewaves]

No. [ Something sad and wistful runs through his voice ]

Which only means that it should be shared freely, and more often.

[outstandingbalance]

[Still not convinced that it works that way.]

Are you truly only a musician?

[bythewaves]

These days, I am. [ He shrugs ]

But I am older than I look, little lady. I have had many roles and many titles in my time.

[outstandingbalance]

[Her frown is more gentle, less suspicious than it had been.]

Just how old are you?

[bythewaves]

Mm, I do not keep very careful track, but I am, I think, roughly nine thousand six hundred years of the Sun, give or take.

[outstandingbalance]

That's impossible. I don't think people have even been alive that long.

[bythewaves]

Humans do not, this is true. [ He smiles a little a her ]

But I am not, and my folk do not wear the burden of time in the same way as you.

[outstandingbalance]

What are you?

[bythewaves]

Our name for ourselves is Quendi, the Speakers, but Men have always called us Elves.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha doesn't believe in elves or fairies, magic. All of that seems unlikely to her.

But what they call themselves, that stirs her curiosity.]

Quendi? [Even at this age, she speaks several languages. She doesn't have a problem replicating the word.] Why do you call yourselves that?

[bythewaves]

[ He smiles approval at her mimicry ]

Because we were the first to speak with tongues, in our world. [ Wryly ] Some say, because we like to talk. Which is also true, if not the inital reason we chose that name.

[outstandingbalance]

It could be both.

[The second seems more realistic to her, though. The first explanation sounds like a myth.]