maskormenace | ☇ f i r s t

[ The alias attached to the entry reads only Scarlet Witch, no name given. The alias is a relic, a token from the old days when she and Pietro shouted revolution from the rooftops. After HYDRA, Wanda didn't think she had anything to fear anymore. No cell could hold her, no bullets could touch her. Together, she and Pietro were invincible. No one could hurt them again.

Then, she came here. ]

today i have learned that in america, a hero is someone who grows fat and lazy off the praises that are given to him, but he has not earned. for this, a hero will give away his freedom.

[ Though she does not fear as she once did, Wanda doesn't accept the tattoo on her wrist easily. Rather than being gunned down in the streets, the masses of "imPorts" allow themselves to be cataloged and controlled -- even those that profess to be unhappy with their enslavement. They say things like, "it could be worse," using that to justify their own slothfulness.

It could always be worse. That doesn't make it right. ]

where i am from, the avengers are so high in their tower that humans appear to them only as little ants. the complacency i see here is worse, i think.

where do i find a true hero?

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[ Hell. He's got to be more careful with this. His lips purse together. ]

I know.

[ He offers that as sincerely as he can -- because the person she is right now won't be an Avenger, so it's not really a lie. He breathes out, trying to speak as carefully as possible. ]

Listen, I know... I get how you're feeling about this place, and what's going on. I understand. But I'm not your enemy here. We're on the same side. We both wanna go home, and we both feel like something's up with the way things are being handled here by the people running the show. Just... hear me out?

Please.

say what you will, steve rogers. i cannot promise that i will listen.

[ All right; that's better than nothing. God, what does he even say? For a moment he just sits there, before finally pushing forward. ]

What you said, about complacency, about the way things are here -- I agree with you. I might not go about it the same way, but I don't think that anyone should be letting themselves get branded like livestock and made out to be criminals for not wanting to get treated like they're less than human. That's not freedom; that's oppression. It's wrong.

You fought against things like this in Sokovia. I respect that, and I respect the things you did for your country. I'm not asking you to trust me, or even like me -- but we're a long way from home, and I want you to know that I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to find out what's really going on, because everything the people on high are telling us? I don't buy it. And I'm pretty sure you don't, either.

[ Despite herself and-- everything, really, Wanda listens. She doesn't like him-- or the Avengers. But she volunteered once for HYDRA for the sake of her country. She can listen to an Avenger for a moment for the sake of returning to it. ]

how will you start?

[ The fact that she hasn't just cut him off is encouraging, and gives him that extra lift he needs to keep going. To sound like the soldier he is. ]

I'm not sure if you've heard the same thing I have, but apparently a version of me's been here before -- and he had some connections. Good ones. People who feel the same way we do, and want to do something about it. I'm still working on figuring out what's what and who I can trust; how I proceed depends on just how many of these other ImPorts are on our side.

One thing's for sure: I'm not just gonna roll over and let the folks in charge strip me down to something less than human in the eyes of the law. I've seen where that ends up; it's not pretty.

so have i.

there is no "our side." you asked that i listen, steve rogers, that is all. this changes nothing.

[ Frustration rises -- but no matter how it seems, he's made progress here. It's maybe only a couple steps forward, but that's better than nothing. ]

All right; I won't push it. If you want me to keep my distance, I'll drop it.

[ He pauses before deciding to press things just a little further. ]

Just know that no matter what you think about me, I don't think of you as an enemy. So if you need me, I've got your back.

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