driftfleet | An Incomplete Homecoming

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An Incomplete Homecoming

Who: Wanda Maximoff
Broadcast: Yes; Network-wide
Action: Starstruck
When: Now

[The scene that appears as the communicator's video feed clicks on is that of a dimly lit bunkroom aboard one of the fleet ships. The crew of the Starstruck, and any of Wanda's friends who have visited her room, will recognize the space rather quickly as the young Maximoff girl's own. What may be surprising, however, is that, what had been an empty room for over a month, now contained someone sleeping on the cot. Wherever Wanda had gone, it had been clear that the Atroma had not exactly sent her home and out of the fleet. All of her belongings had remained in her room, and her name never left the Starstruck's or Fleet's registry. Still, she'd been absent for some time, seemingly having vanished into thin air. But now, the communicator's feed was showing her asleep in her room as if nothing had changed at all.]

[However, it soon becomes clear that something has indeed changed about Wanda. As she begins to stir, the young woman sits slowly up in bed, stretching her arms overhead as she starts to awaken fully. Her eyes spread wide in a look of first confusion that begins to seem more panicked. She looks about her own bunk room as if she's never seen it before. The note of fear in her eyes makes her seem not like someone who has spent over a year in the fleet. Instead, she seems more like --]

This... this is not where I-- What- what is this place? Did the Avengers... did they move me here in my sleep? But how could they have...

[Her voice is quiet, believing she is only speaking to herself. She seems unaware of the communicator recording all of this. Though, it is now rather clear that Wanda does not recognize where she is at all.]

[She swings her legs out over the edge of the cot, slowly getting up, and measuring the size of the room. As she studies the small interior, her eyes stop on the occasional picture or keepsake hanging on the walls. Various trinkets she's collected from the planets visited during her time in the fleet. There's a look to her eyes as if each item kindles a flicker of recognition that is then almost immediately snuffed out. Each time leaving her looking more and more bewildered and frustrated.]

[She shakes her head. Whatever was happening clearly was proving to be a lot to process. She then spies the communicator out of the corner of her eye. She takes a step over and picks the device up. Holding it out in front of her now, she stares at the screen for a moment. She looks as if this is her very first time ever handling the device. But then, in an instant, she seems to suddenly recognize what exactly it is that she's holding. She then addresses the screen with a calm, yet slightly edged tone.]

Whoever is watching this, I do not appreciate being toyed with. I did not think the Avengers were ones for such games. If this is some kind of test, I expect an explanation. Now.

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[Yes, Wanda had already had the news broken to her about Vision. Again though, she's not certain why the lady, Wrath, and now her brother think this of such concern for her. Her brow furrows as she wrestles with that thought and the memory of how she'd first reacted to the news. The crying, so sudden and so much... why?]

[Without seeming a conscious thought from her, Wanda's hand reaches up and delicately touches one of her necklaces -- a chain with a yellow gemstone ring dangling from it. Wanda looks down, surprised at herself. Why did she-- Her confusion quickly switches to frustration. More of this -- more of this strange, involuntary behavior. She decides to ignore it. Instead, focusing on the first of those two names.]

Stark... the Black Widow said he was been here, but now no longer. I'm sorry I left you alone with him.

[Yeah, she's still bitter. Probably will carry a chip on her shoulder forever when it comes to Tony Stark.]

[ Everything will come back to her eventually. When it does, Pietro isn't looking forward to it. For Wanda's sake, not his own. It will be heard for her to carry the way he knows she will.

He gives her knee a squeeze, leaning into her side a bit more to offer a solid weight. He's here for her, even if she doesn't need him to speak or explain a thing. Pietro huffs, offering a brief smile. ]

What, you think I cannot handle someone like Stark on my own? It is like you don't even know me.

[ He clicks his tongue, chiding. ]

[She snorts, gives her brother a light nudge with her elbow. Of course she would never doubt her brother's ability to handle Stark -- at least if it ever came to a fight. His patience for dealing with Stark day-to-day, however, that was more of her concern. Not that she could blame her brother. Stark's arrogance grated severely on her, too. Even if they were "allies" now, she still did not like the man. Nor does she completely trust him.]

And Rodgers? How has it been with him?

[Steve had been the first Avenger to trust the kids at a time when they'd really done nothing to deserve it. He'd somehow convinced the other Avengers to let the twins fight alongside them against Ultron, offering them a chance to redeem themselves. She doubts that now would suddenly be the time he'd turn on them. That didn't mean though that he wouldn't necessarily keep them at arm's length, perhaps concerned the two of them would again seek to cause trouble.]

It has not been so bad. He is not an annoying shipmate, at the very least.

[ All things considered back home and in the fleet, it could be worse. Living under the same roof is interesting. Pietro has even found himself relaxing as time goes by. ]

[The smile on Wanda's face takes on a clear note of relief. It was seeming Steve Rodgers was more and more a man who could actually be trusted, and not at all the imperialistic figure that Hydra had painted "Captain America" as.]

I am glad to hear it.

[There's a slight tweak in her expression. As if she's just now noticing something about her brother. She begins to look and sound more worried.]

Pietro, you... did something happen to you here?

[It's hard to put the sensation she was feeling from him into words. It was like part of her brother was missing, or as if it was being restrained.]

[ Now that is a difficult subject. Watching her die had been.. A piece of him had shattered, though he has her back now. To him personally, though? Nothing more than a long sleep. ]

No more than anyone else here.

[She studies his face, their bond feeding her his worry, concern... and even some fear. All of these emotions are mirrored in Wanda's expression when she realizes what has happened to him.]

You-- your speed-- they-- how did they? How could they?

[There seemed to be more, too. Something, deeper and more terrifying for Pietro that sort of surged up momentarily in response to her question, but it does not provide a clear enough picture to distract from this more easily perceived concern.]

They can do anything they choose. I am still quite fast, but nothing like as much as back home.

[ Where things had made sense and they had direction. Then things had all gone to shit and the Avengers came and things made more sense. And now they are here.

He takes her hand, lacing their fingers together. This way, they're at least together and it makes things a little less intense. His sister has always been the best way to ground him. ]

["Anything they choose." Pietro's words unnerve her. Their abilities... while acquiring and coming to control them had been incredibly painful and miserable for the both of them, they had each come to view their powers as blessings. Something that is a part of them. That their abilities can somehow be affected, changed, supressed here... it was hard not to be scared of the thought.]

[She wraps her arms around her brother, clutching him extra close for a moment. She's here now, Pietro. She's not going anywhere.]

[ They've always helped solidify their bond with touch. An extra tether for their shared mental space. Pietro doesn't take the ability for granted, though it has been tainted by the Atroma's meddling. It's what he blames, though there is likely another reason for it. He would rather not acknowledge that just yet.

Helping soothe his sister's worries will do for now. ]

Come now, it's not so bad. [ He prods gently at her side with a sympathetic smile. ]

It's not like you to be the first one sniveling.

[Wanda immediately pulls back and punches him the shoulder. That one may have had a little more strength behind it than she intended.]

I was not sniveling!

[There's a pause as the two of them process that little, seemingly involuntary, outburst. When their eyes meet after the moment passes, Wanda descends into a fit of giggles.]

I- I am sorry. I didn't mean to hit you that hard.

[Even when they were little, Pietro had a talent of knowing just the right words to push her buttons. Wanda's little outburst a practiced reaction to whenever this would happen. She reaches out her hand and gently rubs the spot on his shoulder where she slugged him, hoping the comforting gesture might somehow counterbalance her earlier act of sibling aggression.]

You most certainly were, sestra.

[ His flinch when she punches him is involuntary, she always did fight dirty when they were quarreling. Not that this is anything like a quarrel. It certainly helped to lighten the mood, didn't it?

He grins through the wince that's there, shoulder throbbing. Hearing her laugh does help. It doesn't patch everything, but it helps to soothe. ]

Yes you did. [ The briefest pause and his brattiest brother expression. ]

I'm telling the Captain.

Oh? And what is she going to do? Send me to my room?

[Wanda, in turn, dons her best nagging little sister impression. No more gentle shoulder rub for you then, brother.]

She very well could.

[ He is perfectly fine with the change, so long as Wanda's mood was lifted. Even temporarily. ]

Not that we would be interested in listening to the order.

[Wanda snorts at that. Pietro had the right of it. There was little chance either of them would listen to someone telling them to "go to their rooms" at their ages.]

Why start now?

She is not going to be a nag, is she?

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An Incomplete Homecoming

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