Sharon Carter | Agent 13 (
agentxthirteen) wrote in
entranceway2017-01-07 09:16 pm
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[video]
[ Only a few of the lights in her room are on, casting shadows onto Sharon's face. If anyone looks closely, they may notice her eyes are dry, but red. She props the comm up, takes a breath, starts to speak, stops. Then takes another breath and tries again. She'd considered doing a text and had decided against it given the discussion that might follow, had considered doing an audio message but had thought people might notice her voice wobbling. Noooooooo. She just had to do video. She takes a deep breath. ]
Tony Stark has left Wonderland. [ She presses her lips together and swallows before she continues. ] He spoke on the network a while ago about creating a version of SHIELD here, I'd like to continue that. Not like he intended, though. Instead, I'd like to get a group together on a voluntary basis to meet in the tea rooms after each event to talk about what we did and things we could have done. This review means we'll be able to act more quickly in future events. We've had at least three zombie-based events since I got here - going over what we did right and wrong can't hurt at this point.
I also think it's important to get together with scientists and other people investigating things in Wonderland to share what we've all discovered. [ She glances away for a moment. ] Neither Tony and Romanoff, who helped him with this before, are here anymore, so it's up to me to get the ball rolling. If you have any criticisms, I'm sure none of you will hold back from expressing them to me. [ At least, she doesn't think they'll hold back given what they put Tony through. And yes, she's a little bitter that people were mean to her fully-grown, avenging, iron-helmeted, not-brother. ]
And just to be clear, since there were concerns about this when Tony tried to get it going, this isn't meant to be a takeover. He was inspired by SHIELD to form a unit to protect Wonderland - SHIELD and the Avengers were the two groups he had the most experience with when it came to protecting people, so he used them as inspiration in Wonderland. But two-thirds of the people who originally worked on the idea are already gone and there's no guarantee that I'll stick around. Ergo, the informal get-togethers to share information. No one really in charge, and an informal group means that the group is more likely to outlast any one person in the group.
So if you can, please get in touch to work with me on this. [ After that, the view further darkens as she reaches over the leans to turn off the camera. ]
Bucky Barnes:
[ She's more relaxed in the private message to Bucky, less concerned about choosing the right words or hiding that she's upset that Tony is gone. This is Bucky. He can handle a woman who may or may not have cried a bit earlier. (Hopefully, he can handle it without slamming her against a table again.) ]
Bucky. I have a proposition that I don't think you'll be thrilled about, but that I want you to entertain nonetheless. About helping to train people here to defend themselves.
Steve Rogers:
[ In the video feed, she keeps her emotions in check and gets down to business. If her hair isn't perfect, and her eyes a touch glassy, that's too bad. For Coraline's sake, she needs to talk to him about this. It's overdue. ] I need a run-down on how to use the holo-room or whatever it is you have in the training center.
[ For a moment, she opens her mouth to say something else, that they should talk, that she thinks maybe they could go to the museum sometime, but then she hesitates. Tony just left. It doesn't feel right to talk about dating so soon, not when she'd just drowned in self-pity on the couch an hour ago. Instead, she tries to keep things light. She hasn't forgotten, she just... doesn't want to push him right this instant. Even though, let's face it, Steve needs to be pushed. ] And I know we need to talk, just... [ She trails off and shrugs. She doesn't know. Steve wouldn't want her crying over him, she's sure. ] I promised Coraline to give her a spy mission a while ago, and I should get going on that.
Shepard:
[ The message to Shep is brisk, all pretense of pretending to be okay gone. She doesn't care if Shepard sees her at less than her best; Shepard understands. Sharon leans forward, looking tired but determined. ] Shep. This is what I talked to you about earlier. Get back to me. Thanks.
Tony Stark has left Wonderland. [ She presses her lips together and swallows before she continues. ] He spoke on the network a while ago about creating a version of SHIELD here, I'd like to continue that. Not like he intended, though. Instead, I'd like to get a group together on a voluntary basis to meet in the tea rooms after each event to talk about what we did and things we could have done. This review means we'll be able to act more quickly in future events. We've had at least three zombie-based events since I got here - going over what we did right and wrong can't hurt at this point.
I also think it's important to get together with scientists and other people investigating things in Wonderland to share what we've all discovered. [ She glances away for a moment. ] Neither Tony and Romanoff, who helped him with this before, are here anymore, so it's up to me to get the ball rolling. If you have any criticisms, I'm sure none of you will hold back from expressing them to me. [ At least, she doesn't think they'll hold back given what they put Tony through. And yes, she's a little bitter that people were mean to her fully-grown, avenging, iron-helmeted, not-brother. ]
And just to be clear, since there were concerns about this when Tony tried to get it going, this isn't meant to be a takeover. He was inspired by SHIELD to form a unit to protect Wonderland - SHIELD and the Avengers were the two groups he had the most experience with when it came to protecting people, so he used them as inspiration in Wonderland. But two-thirds of the people who originally worked on the idea are already gone and there's no guarantee that I'll stick around. Ergo, the informal get-togethers to share information. No one really in charge, and an informal group means that the group is more likely to outlast any one person in the group.
So if you can, please get in touch to work with me on this. [ After that, the view further darkens as she reaches over the leans to turn off the camera. ]
Bucky Barnes:
[ She's more relaxed in the private message to Bucky, less concerned about choosing the right words or hiding that she's upset that Tony is gone. This is Bucky. He can handle a woman who may or may not have cried a bit earlier. (Hopefully, he can handle it without slamming her against a table again.) ]
Bucky. I have a proposition that I don't think you'll be thrilled about, but that I want you to entertain nonetheless. About helping to train people here to defend themselves.
Steve Rogers:
[ In the video feed, she keeps her emotions in check and gets down to business. If her hair isn't perfect, and her eyes a touch glassy, that's too bad. For Coraline's sake, she needs to talk to him about this. It's overdue. ] I need a run-down on how to use the holo-room or whatever it is you have in the training center.
[ For a moment, she opens her mouth to say something else, that they should talk, that she thinks maybe they could go to the museum sometime, but then she hesitates. Tony just left. It doesn't feel right to talk about dating so soon, not when she'd just drowned in self-pity on the couch an hour ago. Instead, she tries to keep things light. She hasn't forgotten, she just... doesn't want to push him right this instant. Even though, let's face it, Steve needs to be pushed. ] And I know we need to talk, just... [ She trails off and shrugs. She doesn't know. Steve wouldn't want her crying over him, she's sure. ] I promised Coraline to give her a spy mission a while ago, and I should get going on that.
Shepard:
[ The message to Shep is brisk, all pretense of pretending to be okay gone. She doesn't care if Shepard sees her at less than her best; Shepard understands. Sharon leans forward, looking tired but determined. ] Shep. This is what I talked to you about earlier. Get back to me. Thanks.
[action]
There probably isn't any easy way to help the mood right now, so Steve doesn't blame Sharon for ending the call on a lackluster note. When he gets a message asking him to meet later in the day, he makes it to the training room as promptly as ever.
When Sharon enters the room, Steve stands from the bench where he'd been seated and walks over to join her, nodding in greeting. ]
So... Coraline, huh? I assume the mission you're planning to give her isn't going to be anything intense. [ More like an obstacle course meant for a kid, right? At least, Steve hopes that's what Sharon has in mind. He only ever interacted with Coraline at Hogwarts, but she'd seemed like a good kid. ]
[action]
She nods back to him and regrets not brushing her teeth before she'd come. Her breath definitely smells of beer. She hopes the rest of her doesn't smell like a bar. She stops a couple feet away from him, just in case. ]
Yeah, I was thinking I'd put her through some sort of paramilitary-style course. She wants the full nine yards.
[ She watches him for a beat before coming clean. ] It's going to be a test of whether she can steal cookies from a cookie jar without getting caught.
[action]
Sharon's clearly finding something else to focus her attention on in the form of a favor for a kid, and Steve can't argue with it. She's trying to distract herself, and who wouldn't in this situation? ] Cute. [ A smile doesn't come with the statement, but it sounds sincere enough. ]
All right, over here. [ He breaks away, heading toward the simulation room. He'd showed Peggy how to use it once, and he wishes he didn't have to think of that right now of all times, but he does. He can't help it.
Steve looks back over his shoulder at Sharon's face, if only to burn Peggy's out of his mind. ] I'm kind of surprised you haven't tried out the sims before now.
[action]
We weren't really at the point where I could ask for a while. [ Hell, part of the reason she'd built the sparring facility was specifically so she wouldn't have to run into him here. They haven't always had the best of relationships. It's been better, lately, though, and she hopes it stays that way. ]
And you might be overestimating how much I used sim tech at SHIELD. It was always easier to find someone to spar with in person. [ When she had the time, at least. And between Oversight and watching out for Steve, she'd been busy. ]
I haven't forgotten about us sparring, by the way. [ She glances out over the facility. ] I figure it's a matter of timing and deciding if we'll do it in my place or yours.
[action]
I prefer in-person too, but the simulation stuff can have its uses. [ Particularly when it comes to creating scenarios that aren't so easily replicated in person, or just for good old-fashioned target practice.
Steve holds open the door for Sharon, nodding her inside and giving her some time to look around. Not that there's much to the room when it's not in use -- just some consoles and a whole lot of space.
He settles against the doorframe and crosses his arms. ] I don't really have a preference, just waiting on you. [ Does he sound casual and confident? That's because he is. And he might be teasing her a little. Scared, Carter? ]
[action]
She pauses to raise an eyebrow at him. ]
Here I was, thinking I'd let extensive age go before beauty.
[ She nods to the control panel. ] Set it up for us to spar. Ooooh. Does it have a hospital setting? That way you won't have so far to hobble for medical help.
[ That may or may not qualify as trash talk, Rogers. Either way, bring it on. ]
[action]
Her tease causes Steve to roll his eyes and chuckle to himself as he starts tapping on the touch screen to bring up their options. ]
Not sure it gets that advanced, but let's see...
[ No hospital setting as far as he can tell, but there is an approximation of the Avengers training room from back home. He glances over his shoulder at Sharon as the holographic structures spring to life around them. ]
Good enough?
[action]
She looks around the unfamiliar room, the paint job, the size and equipment. She can guess where they are.
She nods to him. ]
Good enough.
[ She hesitates. As much as she wants to get to the sparring posts, she knows they both still need to be responsible. ] When do you want to call it? Uncle, time limit? [ Preferably not injury - it's just a friendly sparring session. ]
[action]
There do have to be grounds rules, though, and Steve takes a moment to consider that question as he approaches his side of the training area.
Waiting until one of them gives in, so to speak, could take forever. Sharon's resilient and stubborn and Steve doubts that she'll tap out easily. ]
Time limit is probably best. [ There won't be any clear winner or loser, necessarily, but that shouldn't matter to either of them. ] You should be able to set one on the console, if you want. [ The simulation will end as soon as time is up. ]
[action]
Ten minutes. [ She drops into a defensive stance, already considering how to score some hits on him. All in fun, of course.
But come on. Sparring with a super soldier? How is she not going to try to take him down as much as possible? ]
[action]
Maybe it's all in the past by now, but he doesn't think it's that easy to set aside what he did to her, even if it had been under the influence of a Wonderland event.
He takes note of that defensive stance and shakes his head. Taking the first hit seems wrong, somehow. ] Ladies first. [ He even has the nerve to smile as he waits for Sharon to come at him. ]
[action]
She gives him a smile, too, then immediately drops to kick his feet out from under him, already moving to attack again as she rises. ]
[action]
At this point in his training, though, his body almost reacts without him having to think about it. He jumps backward to avoid her, then lifts an arm up in a blocking motion in front of his upper body as she surges in to double down on her attack. Still defensive so far -- fitting, given his "weapon" of choice.
He wants to see what she's capable of before he really starts fighting back. ]
[action]
He's quick, she'll give him that. She keeps pushing, going for any opening she sees, no matter how slight. He blocks her high-kicks, her punches, her elbows, her sweeps. Blocks, blocks, blocks. He only defends himself, making no move to actually spar. What? Is he afraid he'll hurt her? Is this how he trains people?
Granted, this is more exciting than sparring with the dummies at the facility, but it's not really sparring. ]
Never thought you'd be boring on the mats, Rogers.
[action]
Really, he could tire Sharon out if he kept this up for long enough, but she's right that it wouldn't be very interesting. Now that he's seen the pattern of her attacks and can make some attempts to predict her next move, it's time to shake things up.
The next time that Sharon comes at him with a punch, Steve reaches out to seize her arm. If he's able to pull that off, he'll try to flip her over his back and onto the mat. Even then, though, he isn't putting too much force behind his movements, handling the situation with restraint so that he doesn't hurt her. Which is all to be expected from a friendly spar. ]
[action]
She flips over him as he'd intended and lands on her feet with a grin. ]
I was wondering when you'd get in the game.
[ She already knows that he can block a leg-sweep with ease - well, to be honest, he seems able to block anything with ease. She needs to change her tactic a bit.
So she does, aiming the butt of her right palm to his right shoulder on the pretext of getting closer to him. ]
[action]
They're both feeling each other out, and Steve takes the hit to his shoulder on purpose, wanting to judge the strength behind her blows. He knows that she's holding back, but an attack like that isn't going to have much of an effect on him. Not when he's gotten into fistfights with gods and a certain other super-soldier who also has a metal arm.
He spins around on quick feet and aims a punch at her sternum, moving with a level of speed that's not strictly normal. He wants to see what her reaction time is like. ]
[action]
She doesn't bother blocking it - she knows she doesn't stand a chance of that. Instead, she steps to the side and turns, knowing she's going to get hit in the arm, at the very least. But she plans to use the force to help her spin into a high-kick. ]
[action]
When she pivots the momentum into a kick, Steve manages to get his arm up fast enough to catch her by the ankle, holding her in place in that somewhat awkward position. It grounds the fight to a halt for a few seconds. That's bound to throw Sharon off-balance, unless she can twist her way out of the hold. ]
If I didn't have an unfair advantage, you'd probably be wiping the floor with me. [ He'll admit it. ]
[action]
She grins at him, and some of her hair settles in her face. She blows it away without a second thought. ]
Sweet-talk like that is one of the reasons you're so popular.
[ She lifts up her hands to show she won't try to attack him again, a silent request to have her foot back. ]
If it's any consolation, I'll try to only attack you when you either deserve it or can handle it.
[action]
Since she seems to be asking for a truce, at least for now, Steve lets go of her ankle and then takes a few steps back, giving her some space to regain her balance.
Sharon's sentiment is oddly comforting. Steve smiles a crooked smile at her. ]
Not gonna try and bully me when this place temporarily takes the serum away again? Good to know.
[ If anything, Sharon had been overbearing with her concern for him the last time that it'd happened. ]
[action]
Had she bullied him? And would it matter what she thinks? ]
No. [ Her voice is quiet. She looks away for a moment, and a stray thought of appreciation for the depth of the hologram rolls across her mind. It can't keep her focus, though, because she's thinking of the year she was in Wonderland before she went home, when Hydra's betrayal and SHIELD's downfall had still been fresh in her mind, and the Hydra event had made the nightmares so much worse than she could have imagined. If Wonderland were a crucible, there were times when Sharon had broken instead of hardened. ]
I guess I should apologize for that. [ She manages a weak smile. ] I remember I came on strong, even by my standards. I imagine that would be hard to tolerate.
[ She's always been mission-focused, of course, but with Steve - for Steve - it must have been worse. He was one of her missions. To the her of her past, he'd been one of her missions when the world still made sense. She'd promised Fury to protect him. She hadn't done it back home, and she'd thought she could do it in Wonderland. But Sharon had struggled - and is still struggling - with the concept that she may be even more powerless in Wonderland than she was in the Insight control room. At least there, she would have died for what she believed. Here, she'll come back until Wonderland decides to take something important from her or until it decides she's done with her. ]
But no. I don't want to bully you.
[ She forces a small grin. ] Sparring with you is enough of a challenge.
[action]
When she apologizes he's quick to shake his head and wave her off. ] Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I just get defensive when I'm like that. Old habits die hard.
[ It had been a long time ago, anyway, back when Sharon was still new to this place. Still, it's bound to happen again one day and they may as well be on the same page with how they're going to treat each other. It seems like they can never quite get there.
Sharon ends her remarks on a lighter note, though, and Steve mirrors her smile. ] Well, I enjoyed it. [ He reaches out to offer his hand for a shake, some sort of friendly appreciation shown after a good session. ]