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

[bubblegumheart]

Maybe you're just a realist. [And maybe she's just making a snap judgement about someone she's spoken to once. Maybe both of these things are true. Only time will tell.]

I get it. I don't think I'd be able to just sit around waiting either. It's a lot easier to keep busy.

[waytodie]

Isn't that just the nice way of saying you're a glass-half-empty pessimist? [And maybe they're both just talking in circles at this point, really.

She nods.] My life has never been very... still, I guess.

[waytodie]

[You were gone.

It stings for her to frame it that way, but this isn't about their screwed-up family dynamics and Yelena swallows that particular bitter pill for the moment. Instead, she simply listens and tries to really hear what she's saying.

It's hard, of course. She hasn't had anyone like that, someone she could turn to if she needed. Maybe Kate Bishop could become someone like that? But it's... part of a future she doesn't really let herself think too much about. Hope, in her experience, is a dangerous thing.]

You always had me, sestra, and now? You really cannot get rid of me, even if you tried. [She slumps a little, which means she's pretty much sliding to sit in Natasha's lap, which makes it easier for her to put her head on her little sister's shoulder, at least.] I think... no one could really blame you for having a little emotion when you came back from dying... to the person you let go for... only for him to be all wrong.

[And if they did? Yelena would tell them where they could stick it.]

[waytodie]

I suppose that works, too. [She laughs a little.]

[waytodie]

Consider this your sign-up, then.

I will let you know once I figure out where the hell I'm hosting this. Maybe I should have figured that out? But I wanted to be sure there was enough interest first.

[blackhourglass]

[Always had her, except this was during the snap and there was no one returning if Natasha hadn't made her sacrifice. All of that is extremely moot now, isn't it she thinks. It's still a twist in her heart. This is what she gave up. This is the most precious thing in her life, and she knows it. Another wave of emotion forms in the pit of her stomach and she can feel the pain blossom from that fall all over again for a new reason.

Clutching the fabric of Yelena's shirt, Natasha nods. ]

There's no getting rid of me either. You will have me hanging over your shoulder and telling you what to do until you're so sick of me you'll want to pull both your guns.

[There's a gentle sigh as she sits there, holding on tight. It's a strange position, but there's no one to see them, no one to know that both of them have these fierce emotions. None could take from them their hearts, and that's what makes them so powerful. ]

He's only one man anyways. A stupid one. Men are always such idiots. I told you of the one who dumped me in only my robe. I mean, why are they all so fucking stupid. Why would we give our hearts?

[rowd]

Formal training wasn't a thing where I grew up. We'd just break our knuckles on people's faces 'til we figured out how to throw fists without fucking ourselves up.

[bubblegumheart]

I never really thought about it like that. Maybe it is.

[She is curious, though. So-] Do you wish it had been?

[waytodie]

Oh- yes, definitely. I would have given a lot to have a normal life. [She parts her hands in a wide shrug.] But normal was not in the cards for me.

[waytodie]

Do you want to learn anything more formal? You're welcome to the classes, same as anyone else.

[bubblegumheart]

What was not normal about it? If you don't mind talking about it, I mean.

[Maybe it's not really a thing she wants to talk about, and that's fine too.]

[rowd]

Can't see why not. 's not like we've got anything else to get up to.

[plangona]

Yeah, me too— there's no way I would pass this up.

What are you going to be teaching?

[waytodie]

[She wrinkles her nose a bit.] We will save the deep-rooted trauma talks for when maybe we know each other a little more, yes?

[waytodie]

Anything people want to know, but I know several martial arts styles. I’ll give demonstrations so you can if there is something specific. [It’s all very loosey-gooosey, here! She just wants A Project for herself and this doubles as helping arm people in ways that will protect them.] I can teach weapon skills, too, if that’s more important to you.

[waytodie]

Fair enough. It will help you, to have better form and technique in your brawly-boy style. [She says it with a grin, just poking a little fun.]

[bubblegumheart]

You're right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked.

[Chrissy knows better than anyone that some things are just hard to talk about, and now she feels like a total jerk.]

We can change the subject.

[rowd]

People dig the brawly-boy style.

[waytodie]

But then you can impress them even more when you pull out a little Krav Maga they were not expecting. Good to have more techniques in hand. [She nods, like this is very serious business. And, well- to a spy, it is.]

[waytodie]

You're fine- it's a fair question. Just... more than you are ready to hear, I promise.

[It isn't just about not wanting to share, she doesn't want to put her fucked-up upbringing on someone else before they have even a small inkling of what the Red Room life was like.]

I will contact everyone again once I have a place for these lessons figured out. Hopefully, I can find something appropriate soon.

[Little does she know, Steve will be giving her just such a place in a matter of days after this~]

[bubblegumheart]

Oh, well. I can definitely understand that.

[It had taken her a long time to tell anyone the truth about her life, and that had only happened after she'd died, so she can definitely understand wanting to keep things private for now.]

That's good. I'm actually really looking forward to it! It won't be the same as cheerleading, but I need to do something.

[waytodie]

Oh, you were a cheerleader at home? [She grins.] That is excellent and in your favor more than you think. I did gymnastics and ballet when I was young.

[She's not all fists and weapons, okay!]

[bubblegumheart]

Yea! I started in sixth grade and ended up being head cheerleader in junior year. [It might not have been her first choice, but she'd ended up enjoying it quite a bit anyway.]

I did gymnastics for a while before that, but my mom said cheer would be better, so that's what I did.

[anciently]

Hey, Yelena! Glad to see you made it out of the labyrinth in one piece.

[ Or, if she didn't, at least that she's in good spirits? ]

I know we kinda talked about it back then, but I'm good at magic, and would like to get better at other stuff. So...consider me a willing sparring partner, if you still have slots open!

[waytodie]

Hello, darling— [A small wave.] I’m so glad to see you here!

To be honest, our talk is what got me thinking about it. Of course I have room for you!