Naviadna Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: Anywhere on the fleet or in the system
When: The month of June



Welcome to Naviadna! Enjoy the beautiful sights, amazing technology, and all the other wonderful things this system has to offer! Where will you go? What sort of shenanigans will you get up to? How are you dealing with the planet's insistent singing at you?

Have fun!

(( System Info here ))

Comments

[brooklyn_boy]

Him staying and what's good for him isn't mutually exclusive.

[Steve nudges her before letting out a long sigh.]

This whole thing is a mess. Staying and going. I think part of me liked it better when the choice was out of our hands.

[outstandingbalance]

We don't have a choice yet. Could be we're getting ahead of ourselves.

[brooklyn_boy]

It's not wrong to come up with a plan. Who knows how much time we'll have to decide?

[outstandingbalance]

And there's no way of knowing what we won't have accounted for when we were planning. Life has a way of throwing curve balls.

[brooklyn_boy]

[Too soon. Steve winces but nods his acceptance of that.

He exhales then and avoids her eyes.]

I think Bucky is planning on staying. My Bucky...

[outstandingbalance]

[She's not entirely surprised but that, but it raise some questions.]

But you're not?

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve looks up, face pained.]

We don't know what happened, Nat. Your sacrifice can't be in vain...

[outstandingbalance]

I'm not judging, Steve. I'd do the same. I'd do the same now, if I could.

[But she's not coming back. She knows that. It was made very clear.]

[brooklyn_boy]

[Steve rubs his hand over his face.]

God. This is all such a mess. [He looks at Nat with a small, sad smile.]

Just had to be the hero, huh?

[outstandingbalance]

You going to tell me you'd have done anything different?

[Really, Steve. Really?]

It was me or Clint.

[Or let billions stay dead.]

[brooklyn_boy]

No. No, I would have done the same.

[He's half surprised he didn't.]

If it was me or Buck up there. Or me and you. Yeah, I would have done the same thing.

[outstandingbalance]

Bold of you to assume you'd have done any better stopping me than Clint did.

[Giving a little smile herself, weak but with a hint of cocky humor.]

[brooklyn_boy]

He didn't have a shield.

[He pulls her in for another hug, just holding her close.]

You're a pain. You know that?

[outstandingbalance]

You don't have a grappling line.

[Hugging is okay today. Maybe Natasha needs a hug today too. She rests her head on his shoulder.]

Am I?

[brooklyn_boy]

Yeah. But you're also a hero.

[He rests his hand on her half-dyed hair, stroking at it.]

You know they're gonna blame me. Say I rubbed off on you.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha huffs. That doesn't sound real.]

Not if they knew me, they won't. And if they didn't know me they won't say a damn thing about i.

[brooklyn_boy]

Are you kidding me?

[Steve pulls back to stare right in her ridiculous face.]

You died to save the universe. Sorry, pal. You're a hero.

And I'm gonna make sure everyone knows it.

[outstandingbalance]

Everyone who matters will know. I don't need my name all over the news.

There was no one even there to see it but Clint.

[She's okay with that. Natasha's never needed the spotlight. Not like this.]

I didn't do it to be a hero.

[brooklyn_boy]

Real heroes never do.

[He moves a step or so away, scrubbing his hands over his face.]

I guess I should thank you for saving us all. Mostly I wanna punch you.

Barring that, yeah. Yeah I'm gonna make sure everyone knows you're a hero. Everyone.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha pauses, letting him get some space. It's probably better.

It's not like she can stop him saying whatever he wants.]

You can punch me if you want. Take this to the mat. Might be nice to get some of it out.

[brooklyn_boy]

I really don't know if I feel up to fighting you, Nat.

[He gives her an apologetic smile.]

For what it's worth...as much as this place is a prison, I'm glad you're here instead of...

[outstandingbalance]

Me too. Though it's more complicated this way. This isn't a mess I expected to have to clean up.

[brooklyn_boy]

What do you think you'll tell Winter?

[Steve looks at her meaningfully, gripping her shoulder.]

I can be there, if you want me to be?

[outstandingbalance]

The truth, probably. It'll be hard for him to hear, but he ought to know.

[What good will keeping secrets do them now?]

Are you offering to be there for him or for me?

[brooklyn_boy]

Both of you.

[He squeezes her shoulder.]

Only if you want me. If you think I can help...