rightfootforward | File #002 audio;

Well, there's no reason it should adhere to Earth time.

Want me to meet you?

[Guh, right, the whole "other worlds" thing also means other times, dates, hours, everything. What a headache.]

Does make one wonder what other time scales are out there, doesn't it?

If I had an idea of where I was, I would take you up on that offer. As it is, asking you to come would only resort in two us being lost in the cold.

I try not to think about it. I'm just glad that there's some normal way of tracking time here. Captivity really sucks without it.

...well, it makes it marginally more bearable and less mind-screwy at least. Captivity is generally pretty terrible.

[But tracking the time is something he can appreciate. Stops people from cracking.]

I'm very good at spotting things.

At least the captivity here comes with some mocking semblance of freedom. [albeit not much]

Found a large river, mostly frozen. I'm tracking it upstream to find the village.

There is that I suppose.

I know where you mean. I can meet you at the edge of the village. [Because he doesn't quite trust that she's as okay as she claims.]

Bring a coat if you can. They found it amusing to also leave me without the proper clothing.

Will do. The Malnosso are assholes like that.

[And he'll be waiting for her near the river close to the village, one of Natasha's spare coats in his hand.]

[It's unspoken that she agrees with him, but it isn't necessarily proper to say it just like that. She appears, dressed in her New Feather attire - a bit grungy after her stumbles through the ice and snow - and sporting a makeshift crutch made out of a fallen branch. Cold and more than a little beaten up, she's favouring her left leg heavily, but moving forward with as much pride as she always has.

When she spots Clint at the edge of the village, she straightens a little more and conceals her limp as best she can.]

Agent Barton.

[Yeah, trying to conceal that limp is not going to work. He looks her over critically, lips pressed into a tight line. He doesn't know her well, but she's from home and she's friends with Steve, and he doesn't like the thought of what the Malnosso could have done to her.

He holds out the coat.]

Welcome back, Agent Carter.

Thank you, Agent Barton.

[Both for the welcome and the coat. She gratefully slips it on and pulls it close, replacing the crutch under her left arm afterward.]

And your worry is clear, but I assure you it isn't necessary.

[He shrugs and passes it over, giving her a minute to gather herself. He's not sure that his worry isn't necessary but if she's determined, he's not gonna make her lose face unless he really has to.]

I don't leave Agents behind. Not unless there's no other option.

I suppose there have been times when there are no other options.

[Grateful then, that this isn't one - not that she thought it would be, but she knows what it's like. Bracing herself with the branch, she starts forward, heading for the clinic in town since that was who she spoke with.]

Anything to report while I was gone?

Organisation like SHIELD, there's always gonna be times like that.

[It's horrible, but that's how things work.]

You missed Christmas. There was mistletoe. Just getting a group of New Feathers arriving.

Never been much in the holiday spirit, I'm afraid. Anyone interesting in the New Feather bunch?

[It is disappointing that she missed her first holiday where she didn't have to work, but well, seeing how she's almost always worked on the holidays, missing another one isn't that big of a deal.]

Not usually my thing either but having people here to spend it with helps.

Thor. He's one of ours, the Avengers. Norse god in the flesh.

[...yeah, that's her problem with the whole holidays thing.]

...A Norse god?

Your team is called the Avengers?

Yeah. They're... aliens, technically. Practically immortal. Powerful. 'far as we know, they came to Earth back when the Vikings were around and were worshipped as gods.

It is, yeah. The Avengers Initiative.

...

[No stranger than a mystical cube of power that not even Howard Stark can figure out. Alright. Aliens. Sure.]

So the "Norse god" label is simply our ancestors' misunderstanding. I see.

[She may remain sceptical for awhile, but she figures she will eventually find out about these "gods" or whatever they are.]

Another part of Stark's legacy?

[Well, y'know. If Odin had been less careless...]

Yeah, that's what our people believe. Don't get me wrong, they're very powerful. Thor can summon lightning. They're strong. Stronger than most humans. And some of what they can do is pretty much magic, even to us now.

It's the pet project of SHIELD's director, yeah. A group of extraordinary people who can fight the battles that SHIELD and Earth's armies just can't.

[Summon. Lightning. What.]

This is someone I'll have to meet then.

[Fight the battles they can't... Interesting. Which means Barton is one of those extraordinary people. Even more interesting.]

...But please tell you aren't one of the aliens, are you? I'd feel rather foolish if that were the case.

Probably worth it. He's a pretty nice guy.

[That earns a soft laugh and he shakes his head.]

Hell no. I'm 100% normal human. No serums or radiation or multi-billion dollar suits of armour.

[Which means the others have radiation or armor; the serum must refer to Steve...]

Most impressive then. Your aim must be spectacular.

The best. [And that's not arrogance, just fact.] Any kind of projectile, I can make it count. I can use most anything as a weapon.

You'll have to show me once I'm released.

[She stops as they come up to the door of what she's pretty sure is the clinic.]

Especially now that I'm low on ammunition.

I'd be glad to.

Ah well, that's one of the problems here, yeah. Not many people up to making bullets.

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