2nd Shot [action/voice]

[tryit]

[Okay, kidnappings on top of kidnappings? Seriously? To say that wasn't cool would definitely be the understatement of the year. One she wasn't going to touch with a ten foot pole. It would, she told herself as she trekked from the edge woods to her building, be best to just forget the whole matter. Maybe pretend that the past month was just something out of a crazy, deranged nightmare.

Because, holy shit, had she really been dating Clint Barton?!? God, was it too much to just wish it was all a dream? But no. Those stupid purple wings had been there when she had woken up in the woods (again!). And plucking a feather from the wings had hurt far too much.

First stop, shower. Second stop, Billy and Teddy's apartment to play the good friend card and announce her return in person. Thirdly? Something - anything - to blow off some steam.



Later that day, Kate can be found at the Battledome shooting arrow after arrow at stationary targets. And missing every time. When she's finally had enough, she makes her way over to the coffee shop. It's there that she takes out the journal and begins to talk:]

Someone tell me they've considered revolting. Because I'm starting to get really tired of this place and our damned keepers. Y'know, I don't care if I'm preaching to the choir, but shifts seriously suck. Actually, everything here kind of sucks right now.

How long do these kidnapping effects last anyway?

[Because not hitting the target from five feet away? She hasn't been that bad since she was a child. Forget about the fact that maybe, just maybe, she shouldn't have met those robots that came for her with explosive arrows. Call it habit. Or something.]

Actually, forget that. If it's more than a day, I really don't want to know right now. Someone want to go dancing tonight?

Comments

[Voice]

[generalflirt]

Oh, I am, I am!

[Willing to go dancing, that is. he says this with an upbeat tone, ignoring that this woman's voice is in his memories]

[Voice]

[tryit]

[Huh. That was surprisingly easy. Maybe there's more to do in this prison town than Kate initially thought. Nooot that she's complaining much. Given that non-stop ride of chaos her life's been since arriving here, she needs a little bit of fun.]

What's a good place to go around here?

[Voice]

[generalflirt]

There... should be! That place called "Cloud Nine" was a thing, but I've not been in months. Failing that, the goth woman at the Item Shop normally rocks out and failing that, I'm willing to whip out a boombox.

[wildbluevagner]

It's hard to see. Most of them last a good week... [He's only experienced one so far that he can remember.] But I hear that sometimes they kick around for long.

[Then, a double take.]

Did you say dancing?

[tryit]

[A week. A week of being total crap at something that's been her hallmark for the past two years. She didn't have magic or alien abilities or any kind of superpowers. Archery was her thing.

And now, she was worse than a novice.

Fleeting constraint kept her from swearing aloud, limiting her response to a roll of the eyes. Focus on the good bits, Katie.]

I did.

[wildbluevagner]

What kind of dancing? What, was the cheesy 50s version a the other month not good enough?

[action]

[selfhelp]

[And guess who's behind door number one? Well, probably Teddy. Billy's actually in the kitchen, in the middle of making some coffee, so technically he's behind the first doorway. And he happens to spot her as she's on her way to the apartment itself.]

Kate?

[action]

[tryit]

[As much as she's eager to see her boys again, it's hard not to get distracted by the lovely aroma of coffee. Caffeine withdrawal has been a goo ever since her second day with the Malnosso. But the grin widens when she sees just who it is making that coffee.]

Oh my god, Billy. [She walks over to hug him tightly.] You have no idea how good it is to see you right now.

[action]

[selfhelp]

Oh man, ditto to that. [He returns the hug easily, relief flooding his expression, and he can't help but hold her back good and tight. He's been worried sick since she vanished.] Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt at all?

voice;

[trashed]

Not like it'd help a whole lot to rebel. But yeah, everything always sucks.

[And then there's Mr. Optimism here...]

voice;

[tryit]

How bright and cheery of you.

Why wouldn't it help?

voice;

[trashed]

Think about it. You can't be the first person who's had the idea. If anything had worked in the past, would we be here right now?

[Voice]

[maximoff_girl]

... Dancing?

I... Don't think we've met, but-- I do like dancing. What kind? And-- where? I didn't know this place-- even had dancing.

I'm Wanda, by the way.

[Voice]

[tryit]

[They had met briefly during that shift when Wanda had been dating Teddy. Oh god, Wanda had been dating Teddy. Billy's mother. Talk about all kinds of gross. Not that she's exactly one to talk.

...Kate's never going to be able to look Clint in the eye again, is she?

But none of that seems all that important right now as she replays the response again. This girl is nothing like the Scarlett Witch Kate remembers meeting nearly two years ago.]

That's what I'm trying to find out. [Play it cool, Bishop. She doesn't know anything. Doesn't need to.] There's got to be some place we can go.

[Voice]

[maximoff_girl]

[Wanda is oblivious. She's doing her best to not think about the shift, so this is her first time talking to Kate, as she will continue to forcefully tell herself, should she ever try to think otherwise.]

Ahh. I thought maybe there was a place... and I had just-- missed it.

... If there's enough interest, all we need is... music-- a DJ, maybe-- and a room, really.

voice;

[ex_tessen852]

The kidnapping affects don't last that long. Did they get you with something bad?

voice;

[tryit]

Guess it'd depend who you asks. [Because Kate's almost certain that the Malnosso have done worse to people. Between conversations she's had with other people and her own experiences, she has a good hunch that their captors really don't care for their comfort. Let alone happiness.] Ask me and I'll answer with a resounding yes.

voice;

[ex_tessen852]

The affects can be horribly annoying. I know that when I was affected I hated it, but now I just look back on it and kinda laugh about it.

[snikting]

Revolting? Can't say it ever occurred to a single one of us, kid.

[tryit]

[Maybe, maybe she should be just a little bit politer to the Wolverine. But...]

And, of course, the sarcasm is so appreciated.

[snikting]

Sarcasm's best when it ain't wanted. Kinda like me.

[Action; Coffee Shop]

[widows_kiss]

Our hosts have been messing with you, have they?

[The voice comes not from the journal Kate had just been speaking into, but off to the side as Natasha approaches bearing a drink for her, something similar to what she'd ordered last time, and finding the girl here like this is beginning to come habit.

Not to mention there was still the strange lingering insistence of false memories and the fact that when Natasha looked at her, the first word that popped into her head was sister. It was entirely disconcerting, although she was careful not to show anything but commiserating friendliness as she sank down across from her.]

Let me guess. They took you after the Shift as well?

[Action; Coffee Shop]

[tryit]

[At first, Kate glances at the journal. Most of the responses have come from there so far, making her feel a little guilty for holding these discussions in a public place. Really, these journals need headphone jacks or something.

But she does look up a second later, lips splitting into a wide grin at the first smell of the latte. It has nothing to do with lingering memories of older sisters. Really.]

Thanks. [Said as she holds up the mug in a mock salute before taking a long, grateful sip.] They got you, too?

[action]

[halfnhalf]

[And behind door number one is Teddy, and he so would've been first if Billy wasn't behind door number 0.5. Goddammit Billy.

But once they're done and Kate decides to see Teddy, he opens the door, and - well, the sight of her gets him to smile.]

Oh, Kate - [And he immediately leans in to give her a nice, good hug. He's missed her, and maybe he's still feeling something from the experiment, when they weren't just close friends, but best friends, childhood friends.]

[action]

[tryit]

Missed me?

[As much as it's good - no, make that great - to see Teddy again, it's kind of weird. Because even with time passed outside of the Luceti compound, there's still some inkling of those memories left. Those memories of Teddy the confidante overlay the memories of Teddy the teammate.

Man. As if meeting people from all these other universes isn't strange enough. Actually living through one? Yeah, thanks but no thanks. She'll pass the next time something like this comes around.

For now, though, she just hugs him back tightly.] Billy said you'd be here.