· OPEN ·

[carmesi]

Who: wanda maximoff and YOU
When: days prior to event
Where: around town, flophouse
Summary: doing a little exploring, some housekeeping, meeting people
Warnings: none atm!

A. GOOD HARBOR BEACH

[so they can't use magic.

ever since she came to learn to use her powers, magic was like second nature to her—it just didn't feel right to not be able to have the swathes of red fulfill whatever she commanded it to do.

now, she's been here for a few hours in quiet contemplation, until she got the urge to hop her way towards salt island, using the land bridge formed because of the low tide. this, however, she did not realize was because of the tides. now, annoyance has her squatting on the edge of salt island, hugging her arms around her knees, waiting for the tide to lower again. if only she could do magic without restriction, she would fly back to the beach, or even will down the tide.

hopefully no one shows up to witness her current problem. and yes, she would rather wait for the tide to lower than to swim, thanks.]

B. BONNIE'S FLOPHOUSE

[what bonnie wants in exchange of not having to pay rent is, actually, pretty sensible. wanda has no problems with that, and although she would rather just have a place of her own—she can't exactly twirl her fingers and have it happen—the flophouse is growing on her. even with all the little flaws it has.

not really wanting to worry about the cleaning or repairing, she sets about in helping with the cooking. it's a little bit of a relaxing, mindless activity, and although she has little to work with, wanda can think of a couple of dishes from her home that could feed plenty.

soon, the smell of food wafts throughout the floors of the building. as wanda's finishing up and setting plates down for anyone who would like to come down into communal area to get themselves some early supper. it's not much, really, but she's managed a pot of beef and onion stew and several stuffed cabbages filled with minced meat and rice. she reclines against the counter with a bowl of soup in her hand, and keeping an eye out for anyone who ventures in.

easy way to meet the neighbors, right?]

C. MIDNIGHT CINEMA

[the cinema does catch her attention almost immediately. the architecture of the place is rather difficult to ignore, and there is some kind of allure to it. and though it seems inviting and wanda has seen people go inside, she doesn't know if she wants to go in.

when is the last time she even saw a movie?

as if changing her mind halfway through her walking up the path to the entrance, wanda abruptly turns around to head back into the street—]

Sorry.

[—and walks right into someone.]

I didn't see you.

Comments

[carmesi]

[suddenly, wanda is a little concerned. she tries thinking of places where this woman would know of her. westview? no, the accent gives her away. not quite sokovian, but somewhere close.

she worries, frets, wrings her hands together.]

Listen, [it's an attempt to appease whatever will come next—to see her as someone to be feared; that's what she is so used to.] I'm not sure what you think you know of me, but — I don't want trouble.

[musicdied]

[Yelena lifts her hands, not quite a universal gesture for 'I come in peace', but close enough.]

I'm not planning to cause you trouble.

[A moment's hesitation. She's unknown to the Avengers. Given the intelligence she'd received very shortly before her arrival in the ADI compound, maybe it would be best for her to stay unknown to the Avengers.

And yet...this woman had known Natasha. Could maybe tell her things that wouldn't ever make it to the news, hadn't made it into the too-brief and too-rare correspondence that followed their reunion.

It might be good to get to know one of her sister's friends.]

I'm Yelena. You worked with my sister, as an Avenger.

[carmesi]

[something heavy plummets through her core. there comes a clarification, a name, and words that resonate to something so close to familiar. my sister, as an avenger. there is only one person who fits the bill.

it feels so long ago, and natasha's death had hit her hard. another person she loved, gone, without a body to bury.

wanda stops wringing her hands and instead clasps them together to stop the light shaking from showing.]

I didn't know Nat had a sister.

[but the accent, now, makes sense—russian, isn't it?—and wanda searches yelena's eyes for something more, something that would clue her in that this is all a big joke or an attempt to manipulate her... except there's none of that.

instead, she unclasps her hands and puts one on yelena's arm.]

I'm sorry. I... I can try answering any questions you have.

[musicdied]

I don't think many people did. It was safer that way, maybe. For both of us.

[Natasha had been on the run when they reunited, and she'd been intent on her own mission. They'd both had enemies who would certainly leap to use any connections they could dig up as leverage.

And okay, it probably would have turned out poorly for those enemies, but why chance it?

She glances away, down at Wanda's hand resting on her arm.]

I never even - I found out about her death later, on the news. Were you there when it happened?

[carmesi]

[there is a story here that wanda is not privy to. although natasha was open, to an extent, there was always the correct assumption that whatever she gave was barely scratching the surface of her life. wanda had picked out a few things from when she had infiltrated her mind, back when they were in opposing sides, but it never felt right to ask.

but natasha had always been wonderfully warm and welcoming, despite the chill that pooled around her. wanda would hardly be where she is today without her tutelage.

at the question, she shakes her head.] I wasn't. It happened after The Blip, and I was one of those who was gone. [she lowers her hand and, looking around, decides to take a couple of steps away from the house, to lean against a nearby wall on the sidewalk, just about the inside of a lamp post's inner ring of light.] Clint told me about it, though.

[...would yelena know about hawkeye, and the kind of familial relationship both him and natasha had? quietly, she gives a condensed version of what happened.]

I don't know what the official report says about her — but Nat, she... sacrificed herself so that we could all be brought back.

[musicdied]

[Yelena shifts towards the wall as well, leaving room for anyone else coming up to the theatre to get by without difficulty.

There's a flicker of recognition in her expression when Wanda mentions Clint. Just that. She's not quite Natasha's equal when it comes to obfuscation - no one is Natasha's equal when it comes to obfuscation - but she's better than most.]

He was there, then?

[She smiles, small and tight and unhappy - gratitude for the information doesn't outweigh the grief.]

That is about what the official reports say. That she is one of the heroes who died making sure what happened to us was undone.

[carmesi]

[wanda nods—eyes locked on a spot on the sidewalk, lips into a tight line. talking about it doesn't make it any easier, and wanda has been so tired of her losses and the grieving that comes with it. keeping up with the world after stark's funeral had not been, in the end, something she had cared to do.]

She cared so much for everyone.

[crossing her arms, she can't help tightening the curl of her hands. she turns to look at yelena.]

If it was to take back an Infinity Stone... [as she knows it was, as detailed by those involved in the mission through time.] There would have been no other choice. [she swallows, remembering vision's face as she destroyed the stone—and when he was returned, to die afraid and confused—] The sacrifice would have been inevitable.

[musicdied]

Finish the mission, no matter the cost.

[She takes in Wanda's posture, her expression. It's the look of someone wounded, and all too familiar.]

I'm sorry. For the people who were taken from you.

[She sighs, and gives her head a shake, as though she can throw off her own heartache anywhere near that easily.]

Come, let's get some coffee. We can share some of the good memories - tell me a funny story from your time with the Avengers, and I will tell you about the time Natasha and I hunted a monster in the woods behind our house.

[carmesi]

[as yelena talks, wanda wonders why natasha never brought up the fact that she had a sister; was it conflict, something that made it difficult to broach the subject at all? certainly, the former black widow had been so quiet about her past, so evasive, and wanda started to suspect that perhaps it had nothing to do with being a spy at all.

she eases her tense shoulders and hands, allowing herself to afford the company.]

It is hard to remember any funny story when most of them are gone. [though there were certainly moments of levity. she bites down on her bottom lip and starts walking, setting the pace for this 'coffee'.] I think I would prefer tea best.

[but it's not disagreement in taking her up on this conversation. it feels infinitely better than to possibly watch a movie; through this connection with natasha, it feels like she knows yelena, just slightly.]

Must have been a memorable hunt. [with a knowing smile—] Is it a true one?

[musicdied]

[Yelena falls easily into step with her. Nothing to see here, just two women out for a bit of socializing, no despair or loss weighing anyone down.]

It's maybe a little embellished.

[She shrugs, an easy roll of her shoulders, and flashes a quick smile.]

But mostly true.