fifteenth bite | video.

[redhourglass]

( oh, look! it's natasha in the bar. as usual. it's kind of where she hangs out (which might be a moot point, considering the rations). she's standing behind it, leaning on the counter, throwing a knife up and down in one hand. she doesn't seem to be paying a lot of attention to it, but the hilt keeps thwacking into her palm, so she's clearly paying enough attention to not lose a finger or two. )

Steve Rogers and Bruce Banner have been returned home.

( her voice is quiet. dangerously so. she's not brooding the way she was when tony left, but she's definitely .. not ok.

just before the video turns off, her face twists slightly and when the knife comes down in her palm again, she throws it, right at the camera - or just off to the left where it buries itself in the table, quivering slightly.

the video cuts. )

( ooc: all replies will either be text or voice. feel free to have your character be concerned and come to the bar (in loki district) to confront her directly, particularly if they have prior cr. )

Comments

[secondborn]

It's nothing to be ashamed of. It certainly isn't weakness.

[He's met a fair amount of people who felt that giving into suffering was weakness, and it never did anything but hurt more.]

[redhourglass]

( she shrugs her shoulders, unwilling to admit that there was still a part of her that insisted it was, despite knowing and having examples otherwise. )

In this place, it's practically normal.

[secondborn]

That doesn't mean we have to be callused to it.

[redhourglass]

It doesn't seem to you that it'd be easier if we were?

[secondborn]

Of course it would. But lose touch with one set of emotions and you start to lose touch with the others.

[redhourglass]

( she shrugs, eyeing the knife again. he's right, she knows he is. but admitting it? )

They get in the way.

( emotions, that is. )

[secondborn]

They keep us human.

[He knows the struggle, and he knows how important it is to recognize how necessary emotions are to life.]

[redhourglass]

So do other things.

[secondborn]

[He smiles.]

Well, yes.

[redhourglass]

You're taking the brotherhood thing seriously, aren't you?

( you know. assassin family. whatever. aka why she thought he was here. )

[secondborn]

Again, yes, but that's not really the reason I'm here.

[redhourglass]

What is, then?

[secondborn]

You're my friend, and I wanted to make sure you were all right.

[redhourglass]

( she watches him for a moment, face impassive, and then nods. )

I'm not. But I will be.

[secondborn]

[He could tell. He nods, sitting quietly for a long moment.]

If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. There's no reason to bear your burdens alone.

[redhourglass]

Thank you.

( and she finds she means it. )

Relying on others.. it's not my strong suit.

[secondborn]

[He nods again.]

I understand. But there's always things that are too heavy to lift alone.

[He shrugs.]

If you want to think of it like that.

[redhourglass]

Maybe it will make it easier.

( probably not. )

[secondborn]

Something to think about, anyway.

[He knows exactly how hard it is to carry things like this. Even with help, it can feel impossible.]

[redhourglass]

I'm always thinking about something.

( or a million different things. )

[secondborn]

Hard not to, usually.

[redhourglass]

I wish it was just from being here. But I'm normally like this.

[secondborn]

[Alastair sighs.]

You're not the only one, believe me.

[redhourglass]

I'll need a long vacation after this.

[secondborn]

[He smiles sadly.]

I hope you get one.