[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

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[redrooms]

That only piques my curiosity more.

[rubikscomplex]

if you're more curious
that just means i get to up my price

[He switches to Russian. He has some minor grammar issues, but is otherwise fluent.]

a look at your face and tell me how you know rogers or elric
because you know one of them
and just a heads up
solomons can speak russian
you want it private from him, at least
you're gonna need a private filter

video; private

[redrooms]

[Ah, well. Suspicion and pointed questions are more like what she's used to, so she switches to video. She's got her standard issue coat on over her catsuit, so she looks like a normal young woman with shoulder length red hair. She'll respond in Russian, too, her voice smooth and calm. He might find it interesting that she doesn't have an accent in either Russian or English.]

Steve Rogers and I have worked together in the past. I don't know Elric.

video; private

[rubikscomplex]

[She's hot. House runs the comb he has through his shaggy hair a few times, just to look marginally more presentable. She'll see a gaunt older man, scruffy with dark rings around his eyes. He offers her a smirk and a shrug. His own accent in Russian is American. It's not too bad, though, and his spoken language is better than his written.]

How far in the past because I doubt he remembers who you are right now unless you knew him before World War II. His girlfriend is here and he doesn't even remember her. Carter, if you're familiar.

[redrooms]

[Sharon is here. Good. That's something. And... she absolutely did know Steve during World War II, but hey. Details. It's strange that Steve wouldn't remember Sharon, though, and that just puts her further on edge.]

We worked together after. Steve has been around for a long time.

[rubikscomplex]

So I hear. He's used to getting put on ice.

You're the one who knows him, so what do you want to know? He's been very patriotic and noble since he arrived. Took up manhunts against murderers and kidnappers. An all around American hero.

[His tone is just about dripping with sarcasm.]

Seriously, he's too good. Literally too good. It's irritating.

[redrooms]

[That sure sounds like Steve, even down to the ice detail. Natasha's face remains impassive, but it's needling at her. Steve is dead. His funeral was broadcast worldwide. Tony read his last letter to her. Someone must be screwing with her, or... Something. Timeline confusion, maybe? There has to be an explanation.]

I was wondering if he was the same person. Steve Rogers isn't an uncommon name, and it seems strange that someone I know would be here out of all of the other possibilities.

[Steve having been here, sure. Sharon, too, though. She doesn't believe in two coincidences.]

[rubikscomplex]

Not really that strange. I've got a theory about where some of the new people come from, but you're not going to like it. Check the network from six days ago. You'll see people underground facing off against a giant freaking amalgam monster. When that thing first showed up, people we knew appeared in it.

Seemed kind of pissed off all of us were here and it wasn't, too. I'm thinking it's a mess of all the other minds that haven't been given bodies, yet. If they can mess with our memories precisely, then they can see our memories precisely. And grab whoever the hell they want out of them once they know where to look.

[redrooms]

[Number one thing Natasha hates: people screwing with her memories and mind. Great.]

So you're saying... what? Something is making replications of people from our memories?

[rubikscomplex]

Maybe? We're way outside my field. How about yours?

[redrooms]

Tech isn't my specialty.

[What a vague non-answer.]

[rubikscomplex]

What is? No, no. Please, don't evade. Let me guess.

Russian... came to America to work with Rogers... All you guys are walking cliches. So, spy? You worked with him after World War II. KGB? Worked for the baddies, but you got flipped to work for the good guys and now you and Rogers are buddies, fighting supervillains together with your super team? And you're hot, which tells me you're the sexy fighting type of spy. Love them, leave them, kill them. Just like a spider.

[redrooms]

[Alright. House is immediately on her shitlist. Natasha's voice is still calm, but there's a tone there, something harder, almost a warning.]

Are we playing this game? You like puzzles, yes? You throw yourself into your work, but you hate people, or you tell yourself you do. You say it saves time if you don't care for anyone, and you expect others to dislike you, but it bothers you, doesn't it? Gets under your skin. I haven't figured out why you push people away, though. Childhood trauma? Horrific accident? Abuse? Blanket trust issues. It doesn't really matter.

[rubikscomplex]

[Oh, she's good. A small smile curls up one side of House's lips, rather than remaining impassive.]

Doesn't bother me at all. But what I said bothers you. That's interesting. So am I 80 to 90%?

[He switches back to English.]

And I told you to just give it time, ruskie. Thank you very much for the information, though.

[redrooms]

[Natasha smiles back, her head tilting. It's almost a challenge.]

You don't know as much as you think you do, House. Arrogant. I'll add it to the list.

[rubikscomplex]

One of my many flaws, you'll discover. So, just to save us some time, I'll add a few others: addict, liar, bastard, and childish. Think that covers the major points. See ya around, Nat.

[redrooms]

I look forward to it, Doctor.