( closed )

[araneidal]

Who: Natasha & Steve, later, Evelyn.
Where: Training room and the library.
When: 22/10.
Rating: PG
Summary: Natasha challenges Steve to a sparring match, and later meets a nice librarian. All in a day's work.

Comments

STEVE ROGERS;

[araneidal]

[ Natasha leaves Steve a different note with the glass of juice in his room: Training room. 0900H., signed with her usual red hourglass. She's already there when he arrives, in light-coloured workout clothes, stretching. She gestures him to the mats. No better measure of a man than how he fights, where he will hit and how hard, and they've both waited for this too long. She hasn't told him about her version of the serum, but like all truths Natasha wishes for people to understand about her, it's better shown than told. ]

A few rounds, Cap?

[ She smiles; almost friendly. ]

[assembles]

[ This isn't quite the same as going for a jog together, but it works. In some ways Steve had been waiting for this invitation. His own Natasha had sparred with him on a regular basis. In fact, she's partly responsible for the way he fights now. SHIELD had sent them on a number of stealth missions during their time working under them (before they knew the truth). Steve's usual methods wouldn't have worked in those situations, and so Natasha had helped him brush up.

So this, more than anything else that this other Natasha has done so far, seems right.

Steve shows up in a pair of sweats and a tanktop, his hands already wrapped and a large bottle of water in tow. He nods to Natasha in greeting and then sets down the bottle on a bench, heading over to the mats where she indicates. ]

You gonna go easy on me?

[ It's only half a joke. Steve knows this Natasha is older, more experienced, that she's worked with the Avengers for years. He won't underestimate her. ]

[araneidal]

Not a chance.

[ She smirks, taking position. No stance; Natasha's reactive, she's waiting for him to dictate the attack. ]

Don't hold back.

[ It's the only warning he gets; he's entitled to it. ]

[assembles]

[ Even though Natasha says that, Steve intends to pull his punches somewhat. She may be one of the best, but she's still human at the end of the day, and if he gets a lucky shot it could end up breaking a bone or at least leaving a really nasty bruise.

Still, he isn't exactly taking it easy either. He rushes forward, his right arm shooting out so that he can aim the heel of his palm for her clavicle to potentially throw her off balance. At the same time he kicks out for her ankles, looking to trip her up. He moves fast and with confidence, but he isn't making use of the serum yet. ]

[araneidal]

[ Natasha sighs, inwardly. She catches his hand, looks at him only reproachful enough to make her point. ]

I warned you.

[ Then, she attacks. She holds back only enough — her reflexes as fast as his, almost as physically strong, but she rarely faces a threat head-on. Natasha weaves in and out. When his blows connect they hit nowhere that pushes her off. And keeps pushing forward until he's flat on the mat and she's leaning over him. ]

Dead. Try again.

[assembles]

[ Natasha manages to catch his hand as if it had been moving at a snail's pace, like it was nothing for her to anticipate and then intercept. If anything, she seems bored with his first attempt, and when she strikes back it's as fast as a snake. Steve's on the ground before he's even aware of what hit him.

It's not like his Natasha hadn't done similar to him in the past, taking him down with such efficiency that it made his head spin, but it hadn't been quite like this. There's an effortlessness to Natasha's actions that gets the gears in Steve's head turning.

Either way, it looks like he's in the clear to take the kids gloves off. Without any warning, he lunges upward to grab for her shoulders, aiming to fling her clear over him and onto the floor. This time he allows his strength and speed to exceed human levels -- time to see if she can get out of this one. ]

[araneidal]

[ He doesn't hesitate to shift gears. Interesting. ]

[ She can't pull away or block, so Natasha takes the flip and rolls, getting to her feet. She smirks at him, the only outward sign of approval, and then lunges at him again, with full force, expecting full force in return. ]

[assembles]

[ Steve manages to get back to his feet by the time that Natasha is on the offensive again. He lifts his arm up to block her punch and feels the full brunt of it -- that's definitely not a human level of strength.

He pushes back with his arm, aiming to throw her off balance, and then ducks down to rush forward in a tackling move. It's not often that Steve is allowed to go all out in a sparring match. Thor's usually the only person who can handle his strength without blinking. He can't help but enjoy himself as a result. ]

[araneidal]

[ And not a human level of speed. Natasha gives him no quarter, but she's not trying to kill him or end the fight quickly. The first real round is always about finding the limit. ]

[ She does not let him get to a straight tackle, but he connects with her side and she brings them both down, rolling again and getting to her feet. ]

[assembles]

[ Natasha's back on her feet faster than Steve, but not by a large margin. He doesn't really want to hurt her either, nothing beyond a bruise here or there, but someone watching them might think they were going full force. This is beyond what Steve usually allows himself in a spar, since he's generally more focused on control, but actually using what the serum has given him feels good. ]

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like you must really eat your Wheaties, Natasha.

[ She wouldn't have been so obvious about her strength if she didn't want him to know, so why not comment on it? He'd like an explanation eventually, but for now he dances away from her on light feet, toward the wall. He's curious to see what she'll do on the offensive. ]

[araneidal]

[ Natasha's default setting is not attack. It's stay quiet, strategise, out-think the enemy. She might have her own augments but she's still far smaller and easily crushed in a head-on fight than most of the other Avengers. But the offensive is expected of her, and so she seamlessly fits into it, going for his chest to make him block her precise blows. One hit and she could stop his heart. She isn't going for that. The thing is: she could be. ]

Perhaps we shop at the same grocery store.

[ Explanation later? How about now. Multi-tasking at its finest. ]

[assembles]

[ If she wants to talk and fight at the same time, that's fine by Steve. There might be a little bit of a delay in his response, though, since concentration is still needed to block all of her attacks. His bruises heal in a matter of hours, but he's going to have some scattered over his forearms at this rate.

He backs up as she advances on him until he's against the wall. Usually that's not a good place for anyone to be, but Steve lifts up a leg and then kicks off of the wall, giving him some height so that he can come down on Natasha with a punch to her shoulder. ]

Do you buy the serum-laced kind?

[ It's hard to imagine, but there's not any other explanation that makes sense. ]

[araneidal]

[ Natasha smirks. ]

What do you think?

[ He's not naive, and he's not stupid — well, not this particular kind of stupid. ]

EVELYN O'CONNELL;

[araneidal]

[ The library is empty this time of day: deliberate. Natasha is dressed in casual clothes, long sleeves that hang down to cover her Widow's Bites still strapped to her wrists. She has a Glock tucked away in her clothes, and several knives on her person. This is a library. Approximately ninety percent of the threats she can conceive of wouldn't care about that. She approaches the counter quietly, but not silent enough to be silent, and offers the woman there a polite, neutral smile. ]

Good afternoon. I'm looking for Evelyn O'Connell.

[nascensibility]

[Evelyn, doer-of-largely-thankless-work and self-appointed bookkeeper for Wonderland's immense collection - it took at least two years to learn how to manipulate the idiosyncratic system to her advantage, mind - looks up from a text at the desk she rarely tends to, no thanks to severe understaffing.

Budget cuts. Frequently-changing populace. Take your pick.]

You've found her.

[She shuts the book (a beaten copy of Des formes de la conjugaison en égyptien antique that has clearly seen better days) and returns the smile. It is a face she cannot place, but one which seems oddly familiar.

Sadly, almost every resident who comes through now seems oddly familiar in some way, but Evelyn attributes that to Wonderland's turnover rate.]

But you have me at the distinct disadvantage of not knowing who you are.

[araneidal]

[ Natasha's gaze lingers on the book long enough to be curious. It's a worn copy: well loved. Then it flits back to Evelyn. Up and down, precise and assessing. ]

Natasha Romanoff. A pleasure.

[ Like all things, pleasantries are knives in her hands, perfectly placed and strike home. It's always better to apply social lubrication and then go straight to the point. ]

A colleague of mine mentioned you keep extensive notes on Wonderland's events.

[nascensibility]

[Natasha. They knew each other briefly, once, but it seems to have been forgotten. Evelyn is unsurprised by this and moves brusquely past it - she can't tear herself up over lost memories. It isn't worth it.

Straight to the point indeed Natasha must have been referenced by another more recent library patron. Being English, Evelyn is accustomed to "pleasantries" being strung along for at least a good half-hour.]

I do, yes. Do you have a particular point of research, or a general interest?

[araneidal]

[ She could push it well over a half-hour; Natasha is nothing if patient. But she's not here to waste anyone's time. ]

The events, please. If they're not compiled in one volume I can do it myself, provided it doesn't interfere with your existing classification system.

[nascensibility]

[Not intentionally wishing to sound redundant, Evelyn realises belatedly that asking someone new what their focal point is for an extensive series of events with diverse thematic elements probably comes across as sounding pretentious. Events in general, crumbs, Evie. Not every scholar passing through these doors will be so specific.]

They're in a series of files all their own - new events every fortnight tend not to lend themselves well to binding, but they're chronological starting six years ago.

[Sliding around the counter and abandoning Maspero's 1871 text Evelyn moves to lead the way to the records room.]

If you don't mind my asking, are you looking for something, or is this just...personal edification?

[araneidal]

[ Natasha shadows her, distracted only by the need to count her steps to the record room and estimate the time needed to take it at a run. ]

[ Lightly, ]

I don't suppose you'd believe me if I said a little bedtime reading?

[nascensibility]

Probably not,

[she replies airily, taking the requisite number of walking steps needed to get to the records room and no more, each footfall familiar in its normalcy.]

But I tend to read very dry material in my spare time, so I wouldn't put it past anyone else.

[araneidal]

That's subjective.

[ Natasha gives her space as Evelyn looks around the room, careful not to touch anything. ]

Egyptology can be quite fascinating. Is yours a passing interest, or...?

[nascensibility]

[Oh. Very observant. Evelyn doesn't let it bother her - she's dealt with worse tact. Sherlock Holmes was never so polite in his inference.]

I'm an archaeologist, actually. I specialise in ancient languages.

[Stooping to the lowest drawer in a filing cabinet against the wall, Evelyn draws it out and begins rifling through the folders.]

Which colleague of yours recommended you see me?

[araneidal]

[ Archaeologist. Natasha breaks the word down to its components: determined, curious, and won't stop digging if they think they've found what they're looking for. ]

Sharon Carter.

[ She has no idea if Evelyn knows Sharon's real line of work, but either way it doesn't bother her. Avenger is enough of a telling job description. And if what Barnes says is anything to go by (he isn't lying) — this place might take it out of her. Natasha would rather control what people know and when. ]

[nascensibility]

Ah.

[Which could be interpreted as either a reference to her familiarity with the name, or her simultaneous finding of the comprehensive event list she's been keeping these last four years.

Or both.

Sharon Carter, spy-by-her-own-open-admittance (which really has Evelyn questioning espionage in the future), was friendly, likable, and competent. Certainly any person closely acquainted with her must be cut of a similar cloth.]

Here you are. [She stands, extending the folder.] Most events are themed, they tend to appropriate aspects and elements of memories from residents.