084.1 Video

[vouched]

Who: Lance Hunter and yourself, should you choose to engage!
Broadcast: yes
Action: Marsiva
When: no time like the present!

[ the comm seems to be haphazardly leaning against something, and the image you get is crooked. a sleeping man, who almost instantly awakes with a start. no scream, mercifully, he's quite over screamer videos, and besides, it wouldn't really be that surprising under the circumstances, now, would it? his eyes dart around the room, his feet flying off the cot and touching the ground. the moment he speaks, his accent undeniably and unapologetically identifies him as an englishman. ]

Not again - [ he groans, looking around him. the first time he was knocked out and kidnapped happened because he was foolish, he trusted a friend when clearly he had overestimated the bond, bloody spies, he's had his fill of bloody spies. but this time - he has no idea what happened. one minute, he's in a pod, sailing to freedom and the next - he's in this bed. he must not have deactivated something. do they have a blasted tracker beam on these things? so paranoid! ] Oi, @therealshield, you forgot to paint your eagle - I'm gonna have to deduct your merits - [ no answer. the room really doesn't seem like anywhere his previous captors kept him in, and that's rarely a coincidence. he gets up, and the comm seems to slip off whatever it was leaning against and end up in a new position, one that shows the back of the man, as he walks towards a window. ] ...you have got to be joking.

[ and a moment later ] Bloody aliens!

[ the man comes in and out of the frame, as he's clearly examining his surroundings, before he heads back to check on what he's got by his cot, and notices the comm. picking it up, you now get a close up of his face - ] Little red light - you're either going to explode or - [ that sure looks like a camera, doesn't it? he holds it directly in front of his face. ]

Take me to your leader.

Comments

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[vouched]

That's not surprising in the least, it's your expecting me to believe that stops you that's, well. I wouldn't say shocking per se - more tiring, boring, hashed, been done, giving me battlefield flashbacks to every fight with my ex.

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[outstandingbalance]

What I expect you to believe is that I have limited time and resources, and a lot of things asking for my attention. And who's in charge within SHIELD in its current incarnation falls somewhere below terrorist attacks, the Secretary of State showing up on the front step, and not getting arrested.

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[vouched]

[ well, there's a lot to unpack there. most illuminating he finds the fact that shield is apparently out of the manhunt, making it low priority. he can't imagine gonzales and the frowny faces would cut even the avengers slack but coulson on the other hand -

well, at least that's one thing that might actually work out. ]

What can I say, tag, you're it.

[ while he wasn't a part of shield before its fall he can't say that she hasn't complicated his life. he's not exactly brimming with sympathy for either side, here. ]

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[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha snorts, willing to accept that as a victory. Or at least a truce.]

How about we put a pin in that. Maybe save it for later, when we can talk face to face.

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[vouched]

[ a truce, yes. he's feeling a little better about his chances back home, at least, if he ever makes it back. this whole thing is confusing as hell. ]

When you say 'talk', do you mean with our words? I'm good either way, but some advanced notice would be appreciated, I've had quite enough surprise betrayals for a good long while.

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[outstandingbalance]

When I say talk, I mean talk. Usually that involves words.

[Not something that vague, at least. Not that she doesn't understand his meaning, but she's been clear enough.]

There doesn't have to be a hidden meaning in it.

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[vouched]

No, but in my experience when one of you says that it usually means there're more hidden meanings than usual.

[ he shrugs ]

But please, do feel free to prove me wrong. It'll make my year.

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[outstandingbalance]

Only as many hidden messages as you look for.

[It's his choice if he wants to overthink this. It's also his problem if he misses the point.]

But remember you said that in the future.

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[vouched]

[ that - he doesn't believe in the least. whether he looks for them or not, there are always hidden meanings where spies are involved. ]

I expect you'll do that for me.