entrancelogs | [OPEN] Ready or Not...

Entry tags:

[OPEN] Ready or Not...

Who: Natasha & whichever unlucky souls stumble across her!
Where: the kitchen
When: evening of 4/21
Rating: PG-13ish? There might be cursing but hopefully no violence. Probably. Maybe? >.>
Summary: Hello, Wonderland! There's a spy rooting through your drawers. Wait, that didn't come out right...
The Story:
Natasha knows something is off before she even opens her eyes.

She's slumped over a solid surface, her head cushioned on her arms, toes just barely reaching the floor beneath the stool or whatever it is she's perched on. She goes from the unawareness of sleep - or unconsciousness? - to high alert in the span of a heartbeat, although visibly she doesn't so much as twitch. Her breathing remains calm and even as though she were still deeply asleep, but she's already cataloging what her senses can tell her without the aid of her eyes.

This is not her sofa, where she's fairly certain she'd drifted off a short while earlier. Her thoughts are clear, not clouded or foggy, no telltale traces of a foreign agent responsible for missing time and changed locations. She's unhurt except for the lingering ache of still-healing injuries and as far as she can tell there's nothing restraining her. It's quiet - no hint of anyone else around, although she waits almost a minute to be sure before letting her eyes slide open.

The kitchen's unfamiliar. Large, well-equipped, tall windows letting in the warm rays of a setting sun. There's a bowl of fruit at the other end of the counter, simple and unassuming. Nothing is familiar and nothing stands out as obviously out of place, other than her. It's just a kitchen. One she's got no idea how she arrived in, but at least she's apparently been given the freedom to look around.

Natasha slides off the stool to prowl around the room, checking the windows first but there's no one in sight, just an ornate stretch of gardens outside. Her second task is rooting through the kitchen drawers in search of a knife or anything else she can use as a weapon.

She's not sure why she's here, if she's in danger or not, but she likes to be prepared for anything, just in case. And call it paranoia but waking up somewhere strange and unfamiliar - no matter how pleasant - rarely results in anything good.

On second thought, maybe she'll borrow a few knives...

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"...You know, they're gonna notice."

There's only so long that Selina can stand playing at Holly - the girl is too sweet, too naive, and probably the worst idea for a cover in the history of histories. All the same it seemed to keep people off, except Blake.

Still, you can only play innocent to a point, which is why she's leaning against the fridge wearing a dior dress and a necklace. Anyone with an experienced eye can tell that both the diamonds and the ruby are real. Very real.

"It's a communal kitchen."

Edited 2014-04-22 02:47 (UTC)

Natasha glances up at the arrival, nothing about her giving away that she was assessing for threats with an intent gaze. Her pose and expression is purposefully casual and not at all like she just got caught red-handed attempting to steal the cutlery. She takes the speaker in with a glance before straightening with a smooth grace, one eyebrow arching upwards in inquiry.

"Communal for who?"

Since that seemed the most relevant question at the moment.

"Everybody in the land of misfit toys." She gestures, indicating the mansion as a whole, "There something...stressing you out darling?"

She could relate honestly, if her own instincts weren't going off five alarm.

"Besides the fact that I don't know where I am or why?" Natasha shoots back, folding her arms over her chest as she regards the woman intently. There's a shadow of a smile on her lips, patient, curious. "No, not at all. Are you the welcoming committee or are you just here to be distressingly vague and mysterious?"

Selina laughs at that. Genuinely laughs, it's warm and almost friendly, "...Okay, okay. I'm not playing fair but in all seriousness don't take the knives, the closet in your room when you find one will give you whatever you want. I mean take one if you want but..."

Shrug. She somehow feels like she doesn't need to give that kind of advice, looking her up and down she nods mutely. After encountering Hannibal, will, and others... not to mention meeting some people face to face, there are certain people that "Holly" won't work on. In a way it's a relief."

"Look, the majority of people here are saps, who'll fall for the first routine that somebody gives them but everybody's off their game. Ever read Alice and Wonderland? Watch the Disney movie?"

She gestures around, "This is it. Or a piece of it. We're either guests or captives, or captive guests. It's a nice place to be if you're looking to get away for awhile. If you're not, good luck finding a way out going too far off the grounds...bad idea."

There's a lot of information in that answer that doesn't make logical sense but Natasha files it away all the same. She taps her fingers against her arm, letting the silence linger for a moment as she waits for a punchline that doesn't come.

"We're being held captive in a Disney movie. That's certainly one I haven't heard before. And not what I had in mind for a vacation. At the very least, I would have picked one with a beach. Say I believed you - which I'm not saying just yet - why are we in Wonderland? And what do you mean about the closets?"

Edited 2014-04-23 13:22 (UTC)

"Something bad happen back where you came from?"

"Have you picked out, found, or grabbed a room yet?" She just sort of took hers when she arrived, "

Start with the basics Selina. Start with the basics, "I think once you...see it in action what I said might make more sense. Go find a room, picture whatever it is you can think of in your mind, then ask the closet for it. I mean..."

After a moment she removes the necklace she's wearing, "You know anything about gems at all?" She offers it to the woman, holding it out with the tips of her fingers like she doesn't want to touch her, or perhaps she doesn't trust her. (Who would trust someone who grabs knives when they first arrive?...People like Selina Kyle.) "

"That's a brilliant cut natural ruby the size of my thumb with eight brilliant cut diamonds. This necklace's retail value would probably be..." she blows, "Fifty K? Maybe?"

Natasha lets the question about home pass unanswered for the moment, because that's complicated and she'd rather focus on the here and now instead. Especially when it's starting to sound much more complicated.

"No, I only woke here in the kitchen before you came in. I haven't ventured elsewhere yet." She reaches out and snags the offered piece of jewelry to inspect it, because she knows enough, even though that's not exactly her area of expertise. She's picked up useful knowledge here and there, though.

"Pretty," she compliments in an understated fashion, her lips quirking as she holds it out to return it to the woman across from her. "So you're telling me you wished this into being in a closet."

"Don't judge me too hard. I've got other things too." Like say her military grade night vision goggles that she stole from people that Natasha might have worked for once upon a time.

"It's ... easier if you see it first hand but be reasonable, can you really see how you might have woke up here, without any memory of how you got here - in a house - sans restraints? It's what do you call it. Occam's razor."

Leaning back against the fridge she shrugs, "Take a minute. Don't stress yourself out and you'll see I'm right."

"I call it really really annoying," Natasha answers, rolling her eyes. And... it's not the first time she's come out of something missing a few memories. Or not knowing why she is where she is. It never gets less disconcerting. It's not something one gets accustomed to.

"I think 'reasonable' might be stretching things a bit after telling me I'm in Wonderland. Doesn't that make us all mad here?" she counters, a flash of teeth accompanying the expression. "If it's easier seeing it first hand, why don't we go see it then?"

"Pick a room."

She gestures at the area, "...It really is a trip when you think about it."

"And I haven't even met the caterpillar yet," Natasha drawled, pushing away from the counter and sauntering towards the door. The kitchen emptied out into a hallway and she paused, glancing either direction as she stepped out. "Alright, I'm assuming you know this place better than I do. Where do we go from here?"

"I have yet to see the caterpillar." She shrugs, "Or the cat. Unfortunately. I ended up with one, but nothing so....magic yet." She shrugs her shoulders before gesturing for her to follow. Walking down the halls she picks what looks like an abandoned room before leaning down to pick the lock...and stops short.

She settles back on her heels, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't share that I can do this little trick with anybody." looking up at her she shrugs her shoulders, "...Right?"

"Ask it anything. Ask it for anything."

Natasha follows and watches with a curious look, although when the woman glances back over her shoulder at her with that request, Natasha can't help but grin. "I'm not in the business of spilling secrets, don't worry. It's a useful trick to have." Because she could appreciate the skill all too well.

When the woman gave her that odd instruction, Natasha cast the door, then Selina a skeptical look. "Ask what? The door? What am I supposed to ask it for? A person? A place? Maybe a nice bottle of vodka?"

"Vodka is actually a great idea." Selina taps the closet, "...Can we get a bottle of the good stuff?"

She smirks at the wood, "Don't stiff me baby, make it the goodstuff."

Counting off on her fingers, Selina opens the door and removes a bottle of Vodka, and it's casing with a smirk.

"Stoli. Not bad buddy." She patted the wood, "Not bad at all. Believe me now?"

"Maybe."

Natasha reaches out and snags the bottle, popping the top and taking a swig directly from the bottle, relishing the smooth burn of it before smirking and handing it back.

"Well, it certainly tastes real enough."

Selina offers a ladylike sip in response, but wow. Wow wow wow. That stuff is good.

"...It took me almost have a day to actually try anything from the closets but by that point..." She shrugs, "You can literally ask for anything. Including small weaponry if you're interested. No cruise missiles and it's not going to deliver a destroyer to you but what would you do with that?"

She sits, falling into a relaxed position, "...So I've bought you a drink. Now's the part where you tell me your name."

And now, a subtle hint, "A name. Any name will do so I don't just say "The red head."

Natasha shrugs, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she folds her legs beneath her and sinks down to sit on the floor across from the other woman. She snags the bottle again, because sharing a bottle of expensive vodka between them seems a good enough plan for the moment, especially when she's still getting answers from her.

"I could probably find a purpose for a destroyer or two, given enough time," she quips before taking another swallow, humor bright in green eyes. as she offers the bottle back. "And what if I like being called the red head?"

Her lips twitch upward again at that but she tilts her head in concession, holding out her hand to the woman. "Natasha. Natasha Romanoff." She doesn't bother with an alias. It's not like her name is a secret back home anyway these days, especially not now. She'd meant to go find herself a new one, just in case, but that plan had gotten interrupted before it could even begin. And now this.

"...So I made a good call with the Stoli." She watches her features, "It's nice to know that I can still call it as I see it."

Silence. So much silence. She's so bored, and so tired and clearly hesitating before well fuck it. Bane's not here right?

At the thought of Bane however here's a real twist of fear across Selina's features.

"Selina."

It's spit out, but when she says it she relaxes visibly, "...Selina Kyle." Why was she saying it? Recognizing a kindred spirit? she does look uneasy a moment later, "...I was kind of looking for a new one but I wasn't kidding when I said that this place is full of saps who'd believe everything. so if you're looking to play the hapless damsel in distress they will eat. that. up"

"Well you and I have something in common then," Natasha answered, eying the woman curiously, because she's shaken, Natasha can see that. And afraid. She was all too familiar with the feeling. People in their line of work did not particularly enjoy being exposed. Vulnerable.

So she goes with some of the truth, which isn't that hard. She's all about knowing what truths to reveal and which to keep to herself. Besides, surprisingly enough, Selina's been a lot of help so far. And there's vodka. It's a marked improvement from ten minutes ago. She gives her a wry smile, her own posture relaxed and easy, as if that alone might rub off on the woman across from her. She looked like she needed it.

"So was I, to be honest. Of course, this place picked me up before I could even slip the city, so apparently this works as a new cover story now. Although I'm not sure how much the people back home will buy 'I was held captive in Wonderland' as a valid explanation for my whereabouts."

"Gotham? Were you in Gotham too?"

It's nice, to be able to talk to someone. She can't talk to Blake he arrested her, she can't talk to anyone else, they'd say something or do something, "...After Bane took it over and decided to play "Let's turn America's biggest city into a third world country?"

Natasha gives a slow blink and shakes her head. "Nooo," she drawls out, looking a little confused as she answers carefully. "I've... never heard of Gotham, I was in Washington DC. Somehow I don't think we... came from the same place."

She slides the bottle back towards Selina. "You sound like you need that more than I do at the moment." And considering the state she's left parts of DC in behind her, that's saying something.

"....Hey it's not like I can't handle it." this stoli is fantastic, "I mean it's good. You know, back to the masses, anti - proletariat and all that. The people instead of the upper classes. I stand by it."

Lieees, but.

"What happened in Washington DC to make you look like you needed a drink?"

Natasha pauses a moment but then shrugs because its not like its a secret back home anymore, that would have been terribly hard to cover up, considering all the burning piles of rubble currently littering the Potomac. She steals the vodka back all the same, taking a long swallow before answering.

"I may have had a hand in blowing up the government's intelligence agency when we found out that a terrorist organization had been hiding inside it for decades."

Edited 2014-04-24 23:49 (UTC)

Selina listens to this, quietly, then, "....See it was kinda the same in Gotham? Except it was like, in the city instead of the country. These guys called themselves the league of shadows and they were trying to stem a global tide of capitalism and consumerism by putting power into the hands of the people."

She shrugged, "...I mean it's not as big as the ...government intelligence agency. I had you pegged for some kind of fed."

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**SPOILERS FOR CAP 2!!**

YES SO MANY SPOILERS.

SPOILERS FOR CAP 2!!