IC Voicemail, Driftfleet:

[tothefly]

[There is no recording, just a few clicks and a beep.]

[Leave any IC voice messages or texts for Natasha here.]

Comments

voice, after the npc announcement

[redactions]

Somebody's bright idea to promote me to Captain.

[ Again. The tone carries both joke and not-joke. ]

Re: voice, after the npc announcement

[tothefly]

[The reply comes later, with a trace of ironic humor in her voice:]

Atroma does seem to have a sense of humor. If you could call it that. How's the title feel?

text;

[proudlywehailed]

From now on, my name is Orion.

[without warning, without context, just. this text.]

voice, after he contacts tws

[redactions]

​​​​[ His voice is uncharacteristically brusque, and even. ]

We need to talk. Where are you?

voice

[tothefly]

[Her own voice, by contrast, is slightly strained. Tight, even.]

A little busy right now. I should be back in my office in half an hour.

text;

[redactions]

Talked to him. Not dead.

[ in another life, it's funny. ]

text;

[tothefly]

[So very funny.]

Seems like everyone's getting to be pals with him. Maybe Atroma gave him a personality adjustment.

[Her own version of a joke.]

text;

[redactions]

I need a favor.

Re: text;

[tothefly]

I need a change of scenery.

[Snarky, but the invitation is there.]

text;

[redactions]

[ This comes in about 3 in the morning, relative to space-time. ]

nat

asha

h

[ the rest is a keysmash, because someone was typing too fast and forgot about using the correct pressure on the keys. ]

HE MADE A JOKE

action; post-calibrations

[redactions]

[ So there is one (1) shadow lurking in the room when she visits the gym at the oddest hour of the night — with no one else around. The smell of apple pie wafts through the room; it's coming from a brown paper bag next to him. A peace offering, insofar as he does those. He says nothing; just waits for Natasha to approach him. ]

action; post-calibrations

[tothefly]

[She's not at all surprised to see that shadow lurking, and she's not at all surprised by who it is. It had to happen eventually, right? He's got a good memory, after all, especially where she's concerned. So she heads over, taking her time, stops facing him. Nods to the bag.]

You actually manage to find apples in this place, or are you just trying to break my heart?

baaaaaackdated;

[enshields]

[Okay, so. His tone is a bit. Well, it's brusque, the tiniest bit wary. He's Steve, of course he's wary, and all he has to go on that this is her is the word of a man that wears the face of his best friend, whose soul has been fettered and foundered by seventy years of ice. Steve likes to think he'd trust who Bucky Barnes became yoked to the name of a nation, but his trust has always been hard won. You're handling him, Steve had told him, he doesn't think he's ever felt colder.

So maybe the wariness is warranted, and maybe it isn't. He'll know soon enough.]

Romanoff. It's Rogers. The [a humourless twitch to his mouth.] Captain America model. Can we meet?

[It's can we meet and not where are you? because he knows her well enough by now to recognize the fact it's always a good idea to give her an escape route, conversationally or otherwise.]

forever

[tothefly]

[There is no responding voice message. She doesn't trust a voice. Not here. Not with him. There's been too many false alarms. Too many faces and voices that don't belong to whom they're supposed to. Instead, just text, as she prepares:]

Gym. Ten minutes.

[She's already there, but he should expect that, if he's really Steve.]

[dancingmd]

Can you meet me in the gym on the Iskaulit in an hour? I have some things I need to work out.

[aka she really needs to fight someone.]

text to action

[tothefly]

I've got some free time. One hour.

[That text doesn't sound like Beverly at all. She's there 45 minutes early to warm up and wait.]

text;

[redactions]

he said

[ illegible keysmash. a few texts later: ]

said his real name was james barnes

[ text ]

[touchofrogue]

Dear Natasha,

You are invited to a Christmas Eve Eve gathering at the Iskaulit from 5 to 8 pm. Let’s make some new memories while trying to hold onto what was good about back home. If you agree to come, please:
- Bring a White Elephant Present
- Any food that you’d like to have that you think won’t be there
- Agree to take any fighting outside
If you do come, be aware that there will be punch, alcohol, jazz, and a ridiculous amount of salted foods will be served (we work with what we’ve got). Feel free to invite anyone you like who you think will appreciate the same and agree to abide by the same conditions.

Happy holidays,

Rogue

PS: Who knows, you might even like it.

action;

[redactions]

[ A week from Christmas, he counts. They have a Russian lesson scheduled that day, and after it he cants his head lightly and looks intently at Natasha. ]

Can I ask you a personal question?

[tothefly]

[He's been doing well with their lessons. Still has an American accent, but it's improving. It's a little uncanny at times, but it helps that she's had more than a few months to get used to the differences that define him. Which is why she just lofts an eyebrow at him in response, amused.]

Asking before you ask? It must be serious.

[Backdated to 12/25]

[geonomy]

[When Natasha comes out of her room for the day, she'll find a gift waiting for her in the hallway! Carefully laid out on the floor are rose themed wind chimes, and unlike the picture, everything has a warm-toned theme. The chimes are red, orange, and yellow salt crystals with a protective outer coat so that they don't shatter when they collide with each other, and the fabric for the roses are a deep red color. Attached to the wood is a tag that reads:

"To: Natasha
From: Clay ☆

Merry Christmas, Natasha! Thank you for being such a great friend."]

audio;

[redactions]

Hey.

I have an idea.

Audio;

[tothefly]

Sounds dangerous.

action

[experiencepoints]

[Surprisingly literally no one, after that that thread, Nightingale is waiting on the Iskaulit, near the bars.

She also got there hella early, so there's that.]

action

[tothefly]

[Natasha at least doesn't look at all surprised to see it's Nightingale when she makes her way up the hall. Stopping near her, she motions further down towards the rear of the ship.]

Studio's down that way. Unless you'd rather get a drink.

[audio]

[imahologram]

I'm sorry to say that I've had to put in transfer paperwork from our ship. Circumstances beyond my control have arisen, and my presence is needed elsewhere.

[Grats, Natasha, you get formal!Leia. Apologies are important.]

Needless to say, I wanted to ensure you'd have a replacement Communications officer before I transferred elsewhere. I apologize without reservation that I can't do that in this case.

It's been a pleasure serving aboard the Windrose with you.

2/6

[pain_train]

Sir, FYI I'm going to go explain the chain of command to a problem crewman on behalf of Captain Russo of the Paisley. In pursuit of that I've requisitioned ten feet of chain form the hold. Wanted to let you know in case someone notices it's missing before I get back.

text;

[redactions]

He's gone.

Re: text;

[tothefly]

I know.

[Wanting something to not be true rarely prevents it from being so. Still--]

Went by his ship this morning. Do you know when?