net.

[Natasha Romanoff]

When you defected, why did you keep your name?

So. --

Well, I'm--

Sorry I shot some of you. I'd go into how I didn't mean it but I'm sure we both have places to be. --

This place is a lot quieter than I thought Las Vegas would be.

[Filtered to Natasha Romanoff (Canon)]

So if you've ever wondered if I was born yesterday?

Today you'd sort of be right.

I just don't see how someone loses a door. But then, I've known people who were definitely not me who have lost entire boats before. So maybe it's not that inconceivable.

[Filtered to Peggy Carter + Natasha Romanoff]

So I found that door people were talking about when I first got here. And I marked around the door. It was in the Mandalay Bay, but I can't seem to find it again. I have been combing that damn hotel since. But, NG. If you see a floor or ceiling or wall in the Mandalay Bay (I'm pretty sure) that is marked 1194 in purple at the bottom left outer jamb. That's our door.

Or it might be a different door, that's not the one where you go home, get new experiences, and then probably get shot. Because I only got stuff. But on the plus side:

( cut for image )

Benjamin Franklin once said that energy and persistence conquer all things, and that's something that I've always believed. That if you put your mind to something, if you fight for something, if you invest yourself, then you will succeed. Then, you can do anything.

When I arrived here, I went to work as quickly as I could with Director Carter, trying to establish an organisation to help all of us, to protect us, and to work tirelessly to figure out what it is that is keeping us here, and what we can do about it.

In the last few weeks, we suffered irreplaceable loses. The men and women that were here and who contributed to our efforts were important, skilled, dedicated and fantastic individuals and they will be missed, but we can't be beaten down by our losses, and we can't give up.

And that's why I'm asking each and every one of you, personally, if you'd like to come into the fold and lend SHIELD and the Avengers your strengths and talents to serve the community we've built here in this artificial Vegas, and help the efforts to send us home.

Any questions, or concerns you might have I'll try my best to address. If I can't then I'm sure Director Peggy Carter, or Howard Stark will have the right answers.

So.

Who wants to tell me why I'm here, and why I can't seem to leave?

It's rather unusual for me to find myself in a tight spot I can't worm my way out of.

FILTERED TO BUCKY BARNES:

How's your head?

FILTERED TO CLINT BARTON (CANON):

Best breakfast food in fake Vegas?

FILTERED TO STEVE ROGERS:

So give me the run-down on everything you see. Any fits? Any headaches? Anything out of the ordinary?

FILTERED TO LOKI:

Want to tell me about the procedure?

[Filtered to Loki (Canon), John Gray, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff]

How different should I feel?

We lost a lot of good people, these past few nights. Some of them were my friends, and others -- I know -- were the friends and family of the people who are still here. I know it's hard, when someone you care about is taken from you and it's completely beyond your control, and I hope each and every one of you has found a way to cope, to raise your chin, to keep going.

Because the truth is we still don't understand what's happening here, or why people come and go when they do -- the truth is we still need to work together to find a solution, either to go home or at least gain the control over our destinies that we deserve. And the only way we're going to solve this, is if we don't let it beat us.

[Thor]

Your brother thinks he can get Bucky's memories back. Has he talked to you about this?

FILTERED TO LOKI (CANON):

What game are you playing with the Winter Soldier?

[Filtered to Natasha Romanoff]

Have you ever made a deal with the devil?

How like a winter hath my absence been
From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year!
What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen!
What old December’s bareness every where!
And yet this time removed was summer’s time,
The teeming autumn, big with rich increase,
Bearing the wanton burden of the prime,
Like widow’d wombs after their lords’ decease:
Yet this abundant issue seem’d to me
But hope of orphans and unfather’d fruit;
For summer and his pleasures wait on thee,
And, thou away, the very birds are mute;
Or, if they sing, ’tis with so dull a cheer
That leaves look pale, dreading the winter’s near.

[Natasha Romanoff (canon)]

So.

What happened?

TEXT TO THE WINTER SOLDIER:

» First thing first:
» Do you need anything?

[Natasha Romanoff (Canon)]

Don't worry about Bucky, he's with me.

He came to see me, apparently Loki said some things to him? I still don't know what. But it rattled him. Anyway, I told him the truth. I told him that SHIELD didn't really betray me; that I knew going into that warehouse what was waiting for me. That you and I did, and plan to do everything we can to protect him.

He was pretty angry, but we talked. We worked it out. He believes me. He believes that he used to be my friend -- he still doesn't think he can get that person back, but I do. I don't think he's really as gone as Bucky thinks he is.

[Peggy Carter]

It's probably a good thing I was in ice through the Cold War. I'm the worst spy. The worst.

An entire race arrives at your door, confused, lost, frightened. They, like each of you, were kidnapped and brought here against their will -- like each of you -- but somehow they are different, the Jotuns, and instead of being welcomed -- they are attacked without mercy.

You say you stand for justice, SHIELD, that you wish to protect -- yet you chose as will who deserves it and who should fall to your efforts.









[OOC Note: Loki really, really doesn't give a damn about the Jotuns. Or the fact they're being beaten up, subdued, injured or killed. But you know, rare is it that what he says is what he means or that his motives are as clear as he states them to be.]

[ Filtered to the Cold War Kids ]

We did pretty-- I guess that's one way to get back in the saddle.

How many more of those do you think are out there?

ENCRYPTED TEXT MESSAGES TO NATASHA ROMANOFF (CANON):

-- I have something for you
-- I will be back shortly

[The Winter Soldier]

I have to tell you, I did expect you to kill him. Really. I did.

But this -- Oh, but this is so much better

[Natasha Romanoff]

There's something different about you. Oh, but don't tell me, my dear, let me guess

[Thor]

I'm sorry your friend, a man you loved and respected, has ultimately betrayed you. I'm sure you must be stunned, as nothing like this has ever happened to you before.