'cause it's better than nothing

[thespaceopera]

[ Calibration Rooms ]
( for N-Z characters )

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ROOMS BY CHARACTER

N - P Otono-Tachibana Makie Pavel Chekov Peter Parker Pidge Gunderson Prompto Argentum Psycho Mantis

Q - S Randolph Lyall Remy LeBeau Sandalio "Biffy" de Rabiffano Sanza Stark Shin-Ah Sorey Steve Rogers

T - V Taako Thor Tim Drake Tyrion Lannister Ulaz Vash the Stampede Victor Frankenstein The Vision

W - Z Wanda Maximoff Zaveid

(last updated: 1/25/19)

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

I hope so too. [They couldn't assume, though. There was no way to now if one or both of them had been casualties. But Natasha does hope for the best.] Maybe some day we'll have time to visit again.

[seeingscarlet]

[She looks down into her own hot chocolate.]

It was my fault. I should be doing more.

I should have made time.

[outstandingbalance]

It's not your fault. [Wanda takes too much on herself. It's not the first time, and Natasha doubts it will be the last.] One of the few things we can't make is time.

[seeingscarlet]

[And Natasha's about to meet the embodiment of the reason why.]

All that power and she never can save the ones she cares about.

[Wanda stiffens, eyes wide with fear. It's Ultron, but...twisted. Even more sinister-looking, if that's possible. He's taller, animated with shadow energy that looks like the dark twin to Wanda's own powers, and his eyes are a burning red. Runes and sigils are scored all over his metal body.]

You know she'll fail you too.

[outstandingbalance]

[That took an unexpected turn. Normally these environments are museums in their way, archives collecting all of a person's joys and trauma and holding them in various symbolic organization.

Which has been true of Wanda too, so far, and Natasha imagines still is.

This symbolism is a hell of a thing though.]

Maybe.

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda's felt fragmented ever since the fall of Novi Grad - her powers a strange alien thing sharing her body and her guilt and self-hatred constantly dogging her steps. Here they are all separate entities: the girl and the dragon and the evil force keeping them here.

But Wanda's used to arguing with this part of herself, not Natasha's vague dismissal. Ultron-Koschei gives the pair of them a look and vanishes in that strange shadow energy.

He isn't gone, of course. But Nat's bought them a moment of peace.]

You don't sound worried, [Wanda says quietly. Even in her head her voice sounds small.] It doesn't frighten you?

[outstandingbalance]

Of which part? [She manages to sound flippant, but she still relaxes very slightly when the thing is gone.

She's still tense, but—well, she's been tense this whole time.] Of Ultron, or failure?

[Though on both counts, she'd say the answer is no. At least no for all practical intents and purposes.]

[seeingscarlet]

[Look, she's not judging. Her fear and negative self-talk wouldn't be manifesting as Ultron if he didn't still frighten her.]

What I might cause again.

...what if he's right?

[outstandingbalance]

[That's a complicated question. However, it has a relatively simple answer. She shrugs.]

Not really frightened of that, no. I know you. I trust you.

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda's expression turns pained and she looks away, unable to meet Natasha's gaze. But then again, if it was that simple, her self-doubt wouldn't have manifested in such a disturbing way.]

...I'm sorry. About Johannesburg.

[outstandingbalance]

You don't have to apologize for that. [It's not much of a struggle to shake off her own hesitation about the apology. Not that she's comfortable with what she saw in her own mind, but because she's made peace with the fact it was Wanda who dug it out.] You were doing what you thought you had to.

[seeingscarlet]

I still hurt you.

[Which was the point. She could have just knocked the Avengers out, but she'd chosen to make them hurt instead.]

A lot of people got hurt because of me. Ultron couldn't have done it without us.

[outstandingbalance]

Probably. Or maybe he would have found another way. Wanda, I'm not going to say it was fine at the time, but I let that go a long time ago.

[They all could have done a lot of things differently in their pasts.]

You can too, as far as I'm concerned.