[He'll send her directions then, to the basement laboratory that seems a bit more well-stocked than the resources most people are working with (surely gained by entirely above-board methods). When she arrives, he'll be bent over a tablet running numbers, his eyes glued to the realtime calculations. Whatever it is seems fairly engrossing; she'll have ample opportunity to poke around unnoticed if she's silent enough.]
The redhead does indeed move without sound, giving the slightest of pauses upon seeing the doctor occupied before gliding like a wraith to take inventory of her surroundings. While the habitual exits and weapons is more so done in her periphery, Natalia pays particular attention to anything that warrants remembering for future use. Anything that raises a red flag and screams mistrust. Though, if she trusted Loki enough to allow him the intimacy to place a mental ward, surely Fitz is less dangerous. In the very least, if he's human, Nat can take him down, should he prove threat. Foe. ]
[For someone with her expertise, the most obvious signs are that he's SHIELD. There are no obvious markers, but some of the loose papers on his desk have the stylized eagle set in the corner, probably as a code of some kind. His is the workstation closest to the door, but there are other desks in the space in varying states of use. His work seems to lean towards the technical, with circuitry and chrome constructing the bulk of his tasks. Beside his space though, the next workstation over is more multicolored and vibrant. His wife has been testing some of the local plantlife for nearly a year, and what started out as squirming little potted succulents has grown into a few plants that like to reach out of their pots and grab things (and people who get too close).
He doesn't seem to be much of a threat, outright. There aren't any visible weapons in the space. And he's definitely not good enough to notice that she's even there yet.]
[ When she's satisfied that the agent isn't pretending to be aloof, Natalia makes quick work of copying the information she came for, thieving files that she'll pour over the moment the redhead is back in her room. As with the others, Fitz resembles his pseudo-twin just enough to be familiar, though she has mostly photos to go off of and the occasional passby through S.H.I.E.L.D. bases. At five, he's below her level, and has ties to Wiccan and Mockingbird.
The nonagenarian moves into the middle of the room once everything has completed transferring, and with hands in mercurial pockets, she raises her voice just loudly enough to announce her presence. ] Considering my moniker, you should really be more vigilant, Fitz; I could have killed you twice over by now.
[ It's not quite a threat. Not truly. Though here of her own volition to freely offer up her first Hellish alteration, she means to practice caution. Familiar is not the same as known. And considering the proof, it would be foolish for Natalia to attack the scientist. Foolish and utterly unwarranted. ]
[For this Fitz, the idea of "levels" stopped existing two world-ending threats ago. They'd started with numbers, and then the Hydra dissolution happened and sent them all below ground to regroup. When they went public again, it was under the guide of equity and specialization, with a number of color-based barriers obfuscating them from getting efficient work done. They've since returned to black ops. Fitz vastly prefers it the lack of red tape.
But when she speaks, he's startled enough to bump against the table and scatter a handful of papers. The sound he lets out is somewhere between a yelp and a shriek, high pitched.]
[ The ghost of a smirk hinting on her lips, Natalia makes a lackadaisical walk backwards and gives as deliberate, obnoxious knock three times on the nearest table. ]
Is that better, Doc?
[ It's not Doctor Fitz, so it's absolutely not the same thing as using his title. ]
[His lips go very tight as he recovers, jaw clenching at the sound of each condescending knock. It's like a magnified version of the Natasha he knows, down to the little mannerisms that slide under his skin.]
It's exactly what I'd expect. Now what is it you'd like help with?
[ She taps a finger against herself, making a show of debating telling him things she already chose to share earlier, and then releases the hold on herself in a clear sign of resignation. ]
I have my own alteration to add. It occurred on the first of the month.
[ She's adjusted to the change by now, knew that such an occurrence was inevitable. But at the latter remark, Talia gathers her lips to one side while raising a hand, teetering it from side to side. ]
About that; I have the Russian version of the same serum running through Rogers and Barnes. I was born in 1931.
[at that, something tightens in his grip. Is that so? Is it possible, then, that the Natasha from his world has been keeping a similar attribute hidden. That would be useful to know when parsing the mess of unknowns that tend to show up in her bloodwork. But this could just as easily be an ancestor and not a direct copy. There are too many variables. It's still something to look into later.]
That will be valuable data to take into consideration. Thank you for letting me know.
If it's something physical, it would be useful, yes.
[ he reaches for a pad to jot down notes. ]
Generally, we've been working on this through blood testing. We've been able to isolate the genomes that appear to cause the demonic transition, but it's less clear how they come into contact with us in the first place.
[ Natalia takes up a stool for the moment, perching delicately and lifting her hands like she means to play some schoolyard hand clapping game. Instead, she protracts her claws, light filtering through the scarlet swirls, their macabre dance akin to a lava lamp.
Natalia observes her new weapons with pursed lips. ] They appeared at the start of the month. I experienced pain preceding the change but foolishly thought it was just Hell damping the serum, as it is wont to do. It took several hours before I could retract them, and they remained sensitive up until that same evening.
[When she unsheathes her claw, he takes a visible step back, startled.]
It's -- fortunate that you were able to pull them back eventually. Something like that could make things difficult for you otherwise.
[And then he'll work on fussing with his equipment, hesitant to come any closer to what is obviously a biological weapon. It'll take a bit before he's steeled himself enough to handle this without Jemma in the room.]
[ Amusement mixes with pity as Natalia reacts to Fitz's alarm. ]
You do realize the time for attack or murder has already passed, da? That even if I still had odious intentions, it's unlikely you would see me coming?
[ She doesn't know Fitz well enough to add further "comfort" by expressing confidence in his inability to defend himself, either. However, for the sake of the doctor's stress levels, the Widow retracts the claws, knowing that she just bring them back out when, or if, Leo requires such things. ]
[ It's difficult to miss even for an eye that isn't as trained as hers. With a pointed look between Fitz and his hands, she gently asks: ]
Is it Hell shenanigans that has you bothered, then? You are, of course, more welcome to tell me to fuck off, it being none of my business. Only, if you're about to draw blood, a steady hand is preferable.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action or log, m'dear?
action is fine and easy <3
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The redhead does indeed move without sound, giving the slightest of pauses upon seeing the doctor occupied before gliding like a wraith to take inventory of her surroundings. While the habitual exits and weapons is more so done in her periphery, Natalia pays particular attention to anything that warrants remembering for future use. Anything that raises a red flag and screams mistrust. Though, if she trusted Loki enough to allow him the intimacy to place a mental ward, surely Fitz is less dangerous. In the very least, if he's human, Nat can take him down, should he prove threat. Foe. ]
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He doesn't seem to be much of a threat, outright. There aren't any visible weapons in the space. And he's definitely not good enough to notice that she's even there yet.]
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The nonagenarian moves into the middle of the room once everything has completed transferring, and with hands in mercurial pockets, she raises her voice just loudly enough to announce her presence. ] Considering my moniker, you should really be more vigilant, Fitz; I could have killed you twice over by now.
[ It's not quite a threat. Not truly. Though here of her own volition to freely offer up her first Hellish alteration, she means to practice caution. Familiar is not the same as known. And considering the proof, it would be foolish for Natalia to attack the scientist. Foolish and utterly unwarranted. ]
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But when she speaks, he's startled enough to bump against the table and scatter a handful of papers. The sound he lets out is somewhere between a yelp and a shriek, high pitched.]
Normal people knock.
[Hello to you too, Other Widow.]
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Is that better, Doc?
[ It's not Doctor Fitz, so it's absolutely not the same thing as using his title. ]
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It's exactly what I'd expect. Now what is it you'd like help with?
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Instead, arms are casually crossed beneath her breasts. ]
The data you collect on the ways in which this place is altering our makeup, is it secure?
[ She asks after having stole it. ]
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[He squints suspiciously. That sounds like a loaded question.]
Do you have particular questions which might violate the trust of participants?
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I have my own alteration to add. It occurred on the first of the month.
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I'm sorry to hear that. It tends to be more common among humans lacking supernatural abilities.
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About that; I have the Russian version of the same serum running through Rogers and Barnes. I was born in 1931.
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That will be valuable data to take into consideration. Thank you for letting me know.
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I am assuming you would like to see the alteration, but what else is required? Bloodwork? Some survey of questions you need to ask?
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[ he reaches for a pad to jot down notes. ]
Generally, we've been working on this through blood testing. We've been able to isolate the genomes that appear to cause the demonic transition, but it's less clear how they come into contact with us in the first place.
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Natalia observes her new weapons with pursed lips. ] They appeared at the start of the month. I experienced pain preceding the change but foolishly thought it was just Hell damping the serum, as it is wont to do. It took several hours before I could retract them, and they remained sensitive up until that same evening.
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It's -- fortunate that you were able to pull them back eventually. Something like that could make things difficult for you otherwise.
[And then he'll work on fussing with his equipment, hesitant to come any closer to what is obviously a biological weapon. It'll take a bit before he's steeled himself enough to handle this without Jemma in the room.]
precious bb
You do realize the time for attack or murder has already passed, da? That even if I still had odious intentions, it's unlikely you would see me coming?
[ She doesn't know Fitz well enough to add further "comfort" by expressing confidence in his inability to defend himself, either. However, for the sake of the doctor's stress levels, the Widow retracts the claws, knowing that she just bring them back out when, or if, Leo requires such things. ]
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It isn't my intention to make you feel uncomfortable. I apologize if that's the case.
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[ Though, considering his line of work, it's possible that is a lie. ]
I don't know how much the word of another Widow means to you, but I'm not exactly looking to add another murder to my list.
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[Even though his left hand is trembling enough that his right hand catches it and squeezes it still.]
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Is it Hell shenanigans that has you bothered, then? You are, of course, more welcome to tell me to fuck off, it being none of my business. Only, if you're about to draw blood, a steady hand is preferable.
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[And so he'll take a series of steadying breaths as he pulls out needles and vials. This is fine. He's done this before. It will be fine.]
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If Fitz is your surname, what's your first?
[ Perhaps the subject change will be an easy enough distraction, she thinks, blue eyes returning to the doctor and his ministrations. ]
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Lion* in Russian c:
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If there's no ring, I'll edit.
No need! There's a ring there
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sorry about the wait
/hugs I was recovering from my second vaccine, so not a problem.
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