voice;

[kneecaptain]

[The voice is coming into and out of focus, but it doesn't seem to care. It's clipped, and determined.]

They really know how to roll out the welcome mat, don't they? I feel— [buzz and static] ain't the Blitz, but— [more of the same]

I heard the Avengers were here, and I wanna sit-rep. This is [more static] Captain America. [While the reception ain't great, anyone who knows him can tell this is Not Steve.]

I need to know what I'm dealing with.

Comments

voice;

[chelicerata]

[ she might've played a different card under normal circumstances, perhaps let him continue to talk without questioning his identity to collect information, but they're under attack by the united earth and there are more important matters that require their attention. ]

He is.

I take it you're not claiming to be Rogers, then?

voice;

[kneecaptain]

Of course not.

He was the one who put me up to it. [Not really true, but Bucky likes to give Steve all the credit.]

voice;

[chelicerata]

[ noted. ]

With that out of the way, maybe you can answer my previous question.

voice;

[kneecaptain]

You first. [He wouldn't care but apparently Steve is with you and wow he's kind of weirdly overprotective, there.]

voice;

[chelicerata]

[ she's not going to insist, because clearly you're doing a great job on your own, making things more difficult than they have to be - all she wants is a name, mister not-captain-america. even though titles such as 'agent' mean very little when you're on a foreign playing field ... ]

Agent Romanoff.

[ and ... ? ]

voice;

[kneecaptain]

Bull. I [some static] Natalia, and I'd know her even through the crap reception.

[If he were thinking straight he could probably figure out this was alternate universe hi-jinx. He's not unfamiliar with the concept. But it's hard for him to think straight about Natasha.]

voice; crying over this jdsklfsjkldasd

[chelicerata]

[ . . .

this is either a mix-up (she doesn't appreciate being called a liar about it; natasha knows who she is) or the initiative's fault. she's very much willing to bet on the latter, mainly because he just called her natalia. ]

Perhaps you should listen in again, a bit more closely.

[kneecaptain]

[For a second, the device is transmitting clear as crystal.] This is James Barnes.

[Then it's immediately all fritzy again.] I've [static] since 1956. Don't try it.

[chelicerata]

[ natasha knows a few things about james buchanan "bucky" barnes, one of them being that he was reported MIA in 1944 and hasn't been heard from since. at the moment, that seems most important. ]

1956. You've what? [ static ] -- can't hear you.

[kneecaptain]

I've known her since 1956.

[chelicerata]

[ no matter if she particularly likes the idea, it's not that difficult to put two and two together ... ]

You seemed well-informed [ static ] -- alternate timelines and universes.

I'm suspecting this would be one of them.

[kneecaptain]

[He's familiar with the concept, but he didn't like it before and he definitely doesn't like it right now.]

[convenient static]— crap.

[chelicerata]

[ ... agreed. ]

That's one way to put it.

[kneecaptain]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't— [more static]

[chelicerata]

[ no apology needed. not that she heard all of what he said, thanks to the static, but now's not the time for it -- for any of this, really, because natasha's mind needs to be elsewhere. ]

How about talking when we're not caught in the middle of an air strike?

Make sure to catch up with Steve, first. I have reason to believe he'll be glad to see you.

[kneecaptain]

Are you kidding? Air strikes [static] best</em: time.

[chelicerata]

Perhaps I'll just see you out there, then.

[kneecaptain]

Nah. You won't see me unless I want you to.

[chelicerata]

That goes both ways.

[kneecaptain]

I bet I could make you. [He forgets himself, a bit.]

[chelicerata]

[ well, that could be an advantage. ]

You could try.

[kneecaptain]

Do— [static static] — do you want me to?

[chelicerata]

I would make it very clear if I didn't.

[kneecaptain]

[That surprises him. And now he's gotta ask himself: does he want to meet her? There are parts of him leaping up at the chance, and other voices saying it's a big tangle better left alone.]

Okay.

[Such a way with words.]

the thread has been going on for a long time now orz, i'm not sure how (and if) you want to do this?

[chelicerata]

[ she gets to find out more about this natalia, bucky's natalia, whose existence she's not sure what to make of. at the same time, he gets to know enough about her to at least confirm that they're not the same person. she sees no reason why she shouldn't. ]

I'll keep my fingers crossed, then.

[ that's all she's going to say, because he might not show up. or as it is - let her know he's there. ]