001 > TEXT.

[hydraated]

[Ward's throat still feels like shit and a half, but he's managed to process the following. He's no longer in jail (that's a plus), he's got super powers (he's unsure if that's a plus or minus) but he arrived and avoided the network for a few days out of fear of breaking the damn thing. He's decided long since then that he can't let Skye intimidate him.

She's here. And she's been here for awhile. She has home team advantage.

The only problem is they have a record of him. This whole registering thing was crap - what was the point of being given a second chance if he really couldn't leave Grant Ward behind? For the first time he wants to.

So time to test the waters. He's been to the ceremony, he's been sworn in, he's had a dramatic reunion with the woman he'd thought he cared about.]

New arrival here. Roomba salesman and repairman. Anybody else get a completely shit job? I know nothing about Roomba's.

Assuming Roombas here are the vaccuum robots. Y/N?

Also feel like shooting myself in the foot here, but is there some kind of a "so now you have super abilities" support group? Any help or advice appreciated.

[Reading over it two or three times he nods, satisfied that it's not incriminating, that it's blaise enough that even if people decide to ask him questions he can think up enough to talk about without screwing up.

He'd been in worse situations.

His roommates might have noticed that his doorknob on the outside was significantly bent and someone has been closing doors in their apartment very, very quietly.]

Comments

[hydraated]

[There's another couple of minutes that pass before he responds.]

He's dead now. So it doesn't matter.

[sofentheblow]

[ That is a confirmed HYDRA member. The opportunities to work out one's anger on a public network and get hero brownie points doing so are so rare. And she's either hitting nerves or he's suddenly become much less competent at responding.

It's not even my birthday, she thinks. ]

Are you sure it doesn't? To you?

[hydraated]

[Ward switches to video without a second thought. Sitting there with the lights on, he's in a dark black shirt and his gaze is deadly.]

...What's this really about?

[sofentheblow]

[ Her video feed flicks on, too; he'll see Karla in an undecorated government housing room, no mask, with a cat-that-ate-the-canary smile on her face. ]

I told you. You're terrible at angles; I was becoming embarrassed just watching.

[ So no, not answering that one, then. ]

[hydraated]

I'm thrown by my location. And my situation. Give me time and I'll come up with a suitable cover.

[will he?]

Are you really that bored?

[sofentheblow]

You do realize this is a public network.

[ Also not answering that one!! ]

[hydraated]

when in doubt work with what you have.

[Everybody knows he's a spy. There's no point unless he can figure out a way to spin it]

...Want to go get a drink?

[sofentheblow]

[ She's not unaccustomed to pulling out that tactic herself -- one has to be open to at least a degree once everyone's learned not to trust one.

What's unclear is to what degree this little disaster he's erupted on the network is a smokescreen. ]

Oh, that wasn't a hint after a less public setting.

[hydraated]

[Just the slowest, smallest hint of a smile]

...I'm new in town. I'd love to make friends.

[sofentheblow]

He taught you that one, too?

[hydraated]

[his smile's just plain nasty]

No. I taught me this one.

[sofentheblow]

[ But is it overcompensation, or were the shows of vulnerability a minute ago the manufactured part?

Could be interesting. Not for Karla -- she's here to work out some anger, enjoy the cathartic elements of this guy's train wreck -- but, you know, abstractly, if you're interested in delving into the troubled young male fresh out of a villain organization psyche. Chilton will have fun with this one, she thinks, until she has to explain to him what HYDRA is back home. ]

Well. That's a relief. I'd hate to hear your organization was losing its touch on the creepy mindless brainwashing front.

[hydraated]

I wasn't brainwashed.

[Wow touchy.]

You keep talking like that I won't buy you a beer.

[sofentheblow]

Yes. That was what I was getting at.

[ Breezing right past the other comment. ]

Were you kicked out, or simply brought here before their training became effective?

[hydraated]

[That's cold]

... Are you asking me if I buy into the ideaology or if I'm just some kind of LMD?

[sofentheblow]

[ Slowing her speech a little -- for clarity, or to drill in the insult? ]

I'm suggesting that your verbal clumsiness, while delightful to watch unfold, is atypical of someone who has spent significant time or been successful in groups like HYDRA. But you went straight to LMD regardless; is that what you're afraid people will think of you?

[ Correction -- mostly not interesting. Old habits die hard. ]

[hydraated]

If you were perfect when you first got here in terms of social interaction, completely at ease - then I'll pay you a hundred dollars.

[pause] or whatever kind of money people use here.

People are allowed to have bad days.

[sofentheblow]

Ah, you want to be -- cut some slack? See, this is what I mean, that doesn't sound very HYDRA. Unless they're that different in your world.

[hydraated]

...You know what? I don't have to explain myself. At all.

[He could think of explanations til the cows come home] Unless you're interested in that drink.

[He doesn't mean it. His smile is nasty and cold and mean]

[sofentheblow]

I can think of some root canals I'd rather have.

[ There's no break in her composure, no sign of actual anger or indignance. Just a gently condescending smile. ]

You show up somewhere new, you keep bringing this woman up and attempting to convince people who know her better than they know you that she's unstable. You don't see how this is perhaps not the smoothest way to go about an introduction?

[ Except this is all still public -- wow Grant it's almost like she's trying to draw more attention to this than give you advice ]

[hydraated]

[He hasn't. His mun hasn't.

He's reading over all this again before he decides - abruptly - to end the conversation. Click.]