(no subject)

[outstandingbalance]

Who: Natasha Romanoff + you?
Broadcast: Fleetwide, text
Action: upon request
When: now

[If Natasha thought she escaped the rumors, she's going to be disabused of the notion. The notes start appearing here and there—short and anonymous. Things like:]

Natasha has a cat named Boris.

Natasha Romanoff once killed a man in Vegas just to watch him die.

Romanoff has been lying about about her age.

[And—]

Nataasha is a lingerie model.

[That last one, it seems, comes with some evidence. Sponsor drop? Either way, a few files seem to have been uploaded to support the case.

file1
file2
file3
file4

She shouldn't be surprised those came back to haunt her, should she? The real question is if anyone will dare to comment on them.]

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

That kind of intelligence gathering isn't so much your style, is it?

[revengeofthemordsith]

No.

[ She has no problem admitting that. Cara knows what her strengths and weaknesses are. ]

I'm better at forcing information out of people.

[outstandingbalance]

[It wasn't meant as a slight. Natasha's glad to see it's taken in the spirit it was said.]

A good skill to have, especially if someone actually has an answer.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Unfortunately, no one does. I have no direction I can pointed to.

[ Another reason she misses Richard. He provided clarity. ]

[outstandingbalance]

You and the rest of us. It's all speculation.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Indeed. Until then I'm not much help.

[outstandingbalance]

When we get there, I'll make sure to call you.

[Because what else are they supposed to do?]

Have you been staying busy otherwise?

[revengeofthemordsith]

For the most part. I managed to win back my agiels.

[outstandingbalance]

I'm glad to hear that. I remember it was a concern.

[She remembers more than that. Enough to wonder if it's actually for the best that Cara got them. But they're here now, so she might as well work with what she has and if it puts the other woman's mind at ease, it's not without some merit.]

[revengeofthemordsith]

It is my weapon. I feel more comfortable holding them than knowing they were drifting aimlessly in this . . . space.

[ Cara says "space" like it's alien. Which it really is. And she had worried about it landing in someone else's hands. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Better to have them and not need them than not have them when you wish you did.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Precisely.

[ She rests her hands on her belt. ]

What about you? Do you have a weapon like that?

[outstandingbalance]

Nothing quite like that. Plenty of tricks. Toys I'm attached to. But end of the day... nothing irreplaceable.

[revengeofthemordsith]

These weapons made me. I do not know what I'd be without them.

[outstandingbalance]

[There are a couple of ways to read them. Natasha doesn't bother to clarify which Cara means, since at he end of the day, they're probably both accurate.]

What will you do now that you have them?

[revengeofthemordsith]

Do? I suppose I will wait for the opportune time to act. Which might be never since the Atroma will not deign to appear.

[outstandingbalance]

You know, I'd like almost like to see what you'd do if you got the chance.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Hmm. It'd hardly be pleasant. I doubt I'd make it quick.

[outstandingbalance]

Oh, I'd be counting on that.

[revengeofthemordsith]

It'll be the work of legend.

[outstandingbalance]

Just as long as you get some answers out of it before end the story.

[revengeofthemordsith]

I'm well-practiced in that. I don't need agiels to make a man talk.

[outstandingbalance]

Assuming it's a man.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Women do have a higher pain threshold. But I have never had problems making them talk either.

[outstandingbalance]

I was thinking of something a little more exotic. Who knows what the Atroma really are?