un: vdova | video

[waytodie]

[Enter: cute blonde woman on your feed. She has an vibrant energy about her.]

Helloooo! [She gives the camera a short wave. Her Russian accent shines through in her words clearly.] Some of you may already know me, but for those who don’t: I am Yelena. And given the circumstances of these “missions” [Yes, she did just make air quotes with her fingers as she said that word.] I would like to offer to anyone who wants it either—

[She ticks options off on her fingers as she goes—] A sparring partner, for people who already know how to fight OR—

Lessons for those of you who either [She lifts her hands and teeters them like a see-saw.] don’t know how, could use improvement or need to learn basic self defense.

[Her hands drop back to rest in her lap.] Anyway— I wasn’t sure if something like this has already been started sooo… let me know your thoughts, I guess?!

[Though technically a good age bracket for it, Yelena did not grow up with social media as a part of her everyday so her ending comes a little awkward and abrupt with another quick wave and an even quicker— ] Bye!

Comments

[waytodie]

See, we find an agreement, it's fine. I would love to try your grandma's fire sauce, it sounds ama-ayzing. [She might know what she's doing, just a little bit.]

Bring her with you, then. My sister is going to help me.

[Whether Natasha realized that yet or not was debatable, but Yelena had already decided for her sister what was happening with this project of hers.]

[blackhourglass]

Right, choice. Silly me thinking I might get a say in what I do. You're getting really good at this little sister thing, you know.

[There's laughter, because Natasha loves it, loves this. The ability to have someone around that's close to her, that she never had walls against is absolutely new for her, and yet it's suddenly a reality. There's an undeniable bond that she has with Yelena. They haven't let one another get very far since finding one another. In this place there's no reason to, and there's no reason to even live apart. ]

Obviously. Good. Let me know when this thing is happening then, yes?

[waytodie]

I have al-way-ze been good at it, you just were not paying attention.

[She's glad that they've been on the same page about it all so far; Yelena is perfectly aware that won't last forever. Natasha will get bored and want to venture off, and Yelena won't be able to begrudge her that. But for now, she's just going to make sure nothing happens to take her sister away from her again.]

Of course. I will text you details later. If there is anyone you want to invite, I don't mind. [She pauses for a moment then tilts her head a little, lips pursed in thought.]

You know, there is a Clint Barton here. He's not the one you knew, I don't think, but... [She gives a bit of a facial shrug.] close enough, maybe?

[her_own_rules]

Color me interested. Whether I just watch or have some people to spar with— [ Or she gets right in on helping these kids. ] —I'm not sure yet. But I'm interested, and I think I could bring a few friends who've taught self-defense classes before and might appreciate some partners for practice and helping others, too.

[ If it is as legit as it sounds, she bets she could drag Steph and Cass into it. Maybe Dick, too, since he ran that cross-fit place in the past. ]

[blackhourglass]

What are you saying. I pay the closest attention. I think we merely needed more time and now we're getting it.

[Right now there's a lot of things that Natasha's unsure about and after having all the doubts thrown in her mind from the doll, it is a good thing to have Yelena around to lift her spirits and remind her of the better things she's done. It also takes her mind off the last thing that happened before she ended up here.]

I- Um, No. He is not close enough. He's not even in the same arena of close enough. He and I don't communicate well. I -

[There's a long sigh on her part, and she runs her fingers through her hair. It's not her proudest moment, one she doesn't want to admit to or really talk about, but if not with Yelena, then who.]

He was the first person I spoke with after... well, when I got here. I was reeling. I'd just left, him. I'd just thrown myself off a cliff to save Clint. I know it's not what you want to hear, but I loved him enough. He has a wife, children. He was there, in my mind. To see the other Clint, they are so different, but I can see it in the eyes, but Yelena. They are SO different. I fucked up the entire discussion. I doubt he'll ever want to talk to me again. I was a mess. I'm never a mess.

[It was exceptionally difficult for Nat to admit such things, to speak her feelings with such openness, but she had just died and the entire experience had been traumatic and she didn't approach anything well, truly feeling like she'd ruined things when she'd spoken to the other Clint.]

[bubblegumheart]

I know some people who'd disagree with that. But it's okay because none of them are here. [Chrissy's not a spy, but she is curious about people.]

Well, I'm glad you've got someone to help you! Putting together something like this seems like a lot of work.

[littlestderolo]

Well they should! [It's just teasing, joking, but the fact that she can is... certainly a sign of her coming to find it easy to be comfortable around Yelena.] I can certainly try, at least.

[killer]

Your sister knows how to fight too?

[ Sam and Tara get along but they are different in so many ways. It's surprising to find a pair of sisters with shared interests. ]

[waytodie]

Oh yeah. She is one of the best. [If there's a little bit of baby-sis-hero-worshipping in there, she would never own it.]

[waytodie]

Perfect. I will get you the details when I figure out the rest. [She grins at the idea of more people getting involved. It's so nice to have people interested in a thing she wants to do!] Oh, absolutely. If you want to invite people or direct them here, feel free. The more the merrier, I suppose you could say.

[waytodie]

[She laughs softly.] I like your attitude!

I was not sure if many people would be interested, but I am glad to see it is something people are into. [Feeling useful? Excellent. 👌]

[waytodie]

I agree.

[She's glad that Cassandra has started coming around. Yelena knows what it's like to be distrustful of strangers, suspicious of what may seem like a hand-out, assuming any offers to help or aid are simply ways to use you. But she's stuck it out, let her work it all out on her own that Yelena never outright makes promises, but she does keep her word.]

I look forward to it.

[bubblegumheart]

[That makes her smile.] I try to see the positive. Sometimes it's easier than others.

And, hey. I think it's really kind of you to do all this for people.

[her_own_rules]

I look forward to hearing more about it.

[ Also, marking it down as another small tally she's been keeping about Yelena. For reasons. Even if Yelena has no clue she's the same girl from the maze. Or that someone who is neither of them might reach out to her soon. ]

[skaikru]

( oh she can hear it and... honestly the hint of praise feels a little weird? or at least enough to evoke a subsequent explanation, promise she's not out here daydreaming about knife fights any more than 10% of the time. )

All I'm thinking is there's no armory here, but a hell of a lot of kitchen and steak knives. And after — ( especially last month, but more broadly ) — everything, everyone should be better prepared.

[waytodie]

Not very many people do. We need more of it in the world, there are enough of us cynics. [Yes, she includes herself in the cynic side, even if she can be a cynic with a smile on her face, the outlook is still bleak.]

Aww- [She presses a hand against her chest–] that is so sweet! I just cannot sit around waiting for every next mission, you know? I need something constructive to do.

[waytodie]

It is better to know ways to make weapons of everyday items, yes, I agree. [But maybe that's the assassin training in her talking. Oops?]

» to action

[waytodie]

Maybe... [Her voice is a little softer, not quite wanting to think about all the time they've lost with each other. How much anything here is just borrowed time for them.

A slight frown etches into her features at the slightly abrupt insistence that, no, that is nowhere near her Clint Barton.] Oh- uh-

[But it seems like Natasha needs to get this out of her system, so Yelena lets her. All the while disconnecting the feed around the time she walks into the room her sister is in, in their now-shared flat. Because fuck being alone, they did that for years.]

Hey- [Wherever Natasha is sitting, she now has her baby sister pulling her into a sort of haphazard hug–– it's really more like she's hugging Natasha's head to her stomach than a real hug–– and carding her fingers in her hair.] you are not a mess, okay? No. Okay?

[It isn't the best pep talk, she'll admit, but there are so many different feelings for both of them revolving around Clint Barton. Yelena may have relented before she killed him... but there's still some bitterness there that he got to live. Wife and kids or not. Yelena is just so tired of losing.]

[blackhourglass]

[The very last part of her confession is given live to her sister's ears rather than over the device which feels so much better and far safer than speaking into something that reeks of being monitored. It's obvious that Natasha's plush has left her with more on her mind than the guilt that she experienced over the things she'd done in her life.

It had also been tightly wrapped around the voice of the person who had spoken all that. Clint had been such a force in her life for so long that the emotional impact of what she'd done, and their relationship in comparison to the Clint she found here was a huge slap in the face. Natasha knew that she should have treated him more like a stranger, but coming straight from her death had made it near impossible. Now it felt like she'd lost Clint all over again-- even if they weren't alike in the most notable ways.

Tucking her head into her sister's stomach Natasha shook her head and sighed. She tried to swallow over the thick lump in her throat.] I - all my life I didn't have friends. You were gone. He became my very best friend, my family. I know he's not you, but I loved him in a way ... I could have ...loved him possibly, but he needed a family, children. So he was the person I knew would always back me. He didn't care what I'd done.

I know, I know I have you now. I know that. You are my heart, my dear sister. I just, I messed up. I don't mess up like this. I was so.. so damn emotional. I reacted instead of being who I was trained to be. I wasn't in control.

[Lifting her head, she laid it softly on Yelena's shoulder now. It let her run her fingers along her sister's back, along her hair, making her feel more at ease to be doing something. Until now, Nat felt like she'd been too long stumbling in the dark. The blip had taken a lot out of her, and in giving her life she thought she'd done the greatest thing. This world-- this was not in her plans. ]

video | un: samil

[rowd]

I can fight, if you need a hand. Or just someone to spar 'round with.

un: k7

[seenitall]

[well.

he recognizes that name.]

what kind of combat are you experienced in?

[waytodie]

I know several different fighting styles. I was trained quite thoroughly as a child.

[Which is maybe not the flex she presents it as, but hey, what're you gonna do? She is technically the greatest child assassin ever known. At least according to her dad.]

Kali, Krav Maga, Judo, I know a little bit of a lot of things, if that helps?

[waytodie]

Whatever you like. I could use sparring partners. [She grins.] What kind of fighting you like to do? [Color her curious. There's a pretty high chance she knows it, or at least enough in passing to get by. The Red Room was very thorough in their training.]

[rowd]

I mostly just throw shit around until something sticks.

( is there a thing you're supposed to call that. )

[seenitall]

[So... it is very possible the he a) met her sister, and b) received accurate intel about her at that time. Huh.]

I might be interested in those.