useofaswhat | 007 ✫ Voice

[Is there a reason Mal is hijacking the network to publicly ask something he could just bug the Avengers about? Why yes, yes there is, and once again it comes down to the fact that he is a terrible warden. He doesn't know Natasha's room number, he can't reach her by communicator, he's hardly met half the Avengers, and thanks to reading through the logs he knows some serious shit went down that he was and remains helpless to deflect. She's given him no choice; he needs to get in touch with her, so he'll do it. He'll call her out.]

Anyone seen Nicole lately? You might know her as that crazy redhaired Russian killing machine? If anyone's talked to her or knows where she is, let me know.

I'm kinda worried about her.

[Private to Tony]

Hey you, loudmouth. What happened with your friend?

[Private to Simon]

Saw what you looked like as a kid. [Note the barely-hidden amusement. To his childlike mind, young Simon had registered as a sentient punching bag.] How bad didya get worked over?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

You checked her room?

[Well that image will forever be associated with Zac Efron, thank you for that.]

Not at all? I was mostly made fun of for wanting to get back to school.

Son, if I recall right you know her well enough. I'm her warden. You think she'd let me know where she stayed?

I've not seen her, but I'll tell you if I do. [She kind of feels bad for her, even if she was brought up for something completely different than what Zev was.]

Have you tried checking your item? Might be helpful.

Seems like it's something you should make a point of figuring out anyway.

No one jumped you on the walk home? Don't worry, doc. You can tell me.

[He's on the verge of saying she's been staying in his room, sleeping in a cot but he doesn't and besides some nights she's not there. Past few nights she's not there so he says.]

She gave you the run around huh?

[the most mild amused expression on his face]

You're actually sticking with the Nicole thing? [p a u s e] No idea, haven't seen her since we stuck her in Zero. [Well, Bruce did. Tony watched.

And yeah, that's the most obvious refusing to actually answer your question ever, have fun with that.]

I was fine. How did you turn out?

Xie xie, Zev, appreciate it. If you do see her, no need t'tell her I been looking for her.

[Tā mā de, the way she was brought up. Gorram inhumane. As bad as what Natasha or even River went through, but in an entirely different way.] You gettin' along all right?

Right.

[Private]

See, here's the thing about that.

[As useful as that information would be Mal needs to know where she is now and if she isn't curled up on that cot in Clint's room he doesn't care.]

You surprised? I figure if she don't, something must really be wrong.

Good point.

I'll go check on her.

I'm not the one that picked it, I ain't gonna pick when to end it.

You know who let her out of Zero?

Yeah, and I'm workin' on figuring it right now. That woman can figure how to stay hid when she wants.

I had a wonderful last few days, but I just discovered Jefferson's room is empty and he was gone. I have his hat.

I'm trying to tell myself I'm not responsible. [But she's mostly sad he's gone, despite his faults and instability.]

My ma never raised no fools.

Wonderful as in better'n a regular day here? [The Barge is no picnic but he has to imagine nearly anything would be better than that.] Your inmate? He – was that hat special to him?

He might not be gone, is what I'm sayin'. Not for good, that is.

[Oh. Right. That whole respecting people's privacy and decisions and stuff.] Probably Bruce. Dunno, though.

[He's just shrugging.] Wasn't actually invited to that awkward party.

You know where she is? [Which means one of two things, according to her file...] Your codename in that little knitting circle, what is it?

[Life lesson, Tony: Always respect privacy and life decisions when the person in question is capable of killing you with her pinky.]

No, don't imagine you were. Didn't end up dead, did you? [He's sure she wouldn't have been let out of Zero if that was the case.] You're doin' all right?

It was his hat. He was trapped in Wonderland with it, but because of his lack of magic he could never make it work. It drove him mad.

[She has 790 with the hat right now. And she's considering something; Mal has made no sexual overtures toward her; not that she's opposed to those, but he seems very wary of women. He keeps a wall between them and himself.

And that makes her feel as though he'll actually try to see the real her, that's neither pristine nor overweight with bad skin. This may be a misguided conclusion, but it wouldn't be her first.]

Would you mind spending some time with me when you've discovered where your inmate is? If you have the time, anyway? [A little tentatively.]

I've noticed.

I can't say I'm surprised.

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007 ✫ Voice

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I will be assuming this thread is timed to his disappearance.

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