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alwaysactive (alwaysactive) wrote in snapthread,
@ 2019-10-03 17:17:00

Entry tags:

eddie kaspbrak, natasha romanoff (mcu)

Who: Natasha Romanoff and Eddie Kaspbrak
What: Handbook for the recently deceased.
Where: Around town
When: Today

Her arrival in town had been a quiet thing, which Natasha preferred, caught up in the arrival of a few others, so she managed to slip in a little bit more easily than if she'd arrived on her own. And she'd been taking the time since she arrived to get as much detail out of Tony and Steve both about what had happened, and her previous selves that had been in town. She wasn't sure she liked the idea of some other her being here in the past, not some other her from a different dimension, but a her from her own death. It was strange, and it didn't help her shake off the idea that this might just be some sort of purgatory.

But she kept that theory to herself for now, Tony had made a life for himself here, with Steve. In a way that she'd never thought they'd ever actually manage back home, so she didn't want to take away anything from that, even if it was just her own personal doubts about what all of this meant.

The town was interesting though, far smaller than she'd have guessed on her first day, and no amount of going through the woods managed to get her away from the town. So instead she was investigating houses, Steve and Tony had been more than kind enough to let her stay with them since she'd arrived but she would want her own space in time. And she'd heard you could just pick an empty house, so there she was wandering through the little rows of houses peering in the windows when she came across someone she didn't know from home. She didn't often forget a face, and even if he was some other version of someone she knew, he didn't carry himself right.

So she put on her friendliest smile, warm and easy going as she relaxed the set of her shoulders and lifted a hand to wave. "Hi," She said while there was still a little bit of distance between them so neither one of them were taken by surprise. "I'm new in town, I'm still getting my bearings." She explained, "I'm Natasha. I don't think we know each other?" She offered him her outstretched hand.

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ekaspbrak
2019-10-13 10:40 pm UTC (link)

He was still pretty sure she was going to regret this life choice but he was pretty sure anyone who'd spent enough time with both Richie and himself wound up regretting it after awhile. Stan certainly had as a kid no matter how much he loved them. The jokes, the bickering, the way the two of them couldn't seem to leave each other alone and, frankly, didn't want to was probably infuriating. She seemed to be the sensible type. Maybe they'd win her over but she'd definitely question why she'd ever thought hanging out with them was a good idea. "Well, you're always welcome at the Loser house." He decided. "You might want to wait until we get furniture and plates."

With that invitation out in the open he could go back to focusing on doors that lead to serene pink fields and whole entire cities. This was probably magic. He didn't want to believe that. He spent so much of his normal life working with statistics to try and predict trends. It was all very grounded in reality and what could, realistically, happen. There should've been no way he could open a door in a house and find an entirely different world. It was probably best to just turn the logical part of his brain off, the same way he basically had to in Derry. If he could accept a space alien clown that ate children every 27 years then magic doors should be a piece of cake.

He glanced towards Natasha when she asked if he would've rather been presented with a closet and shook his head. "Last time it was Richie and I were attacked by a severed set of legs." Because that was the logical explanation for it. A closet wasn't scary because he was dealing with some internalized issues that it pointed out in a glaringly obvious way. Nope. Not at all.

It actually was nice of her to ask his opinion and let him look at both doors and attempt to try and predict what could happen. Neither of the doors were completely free of danger. Even the seemingly harmless looking field could hold something terrible hidden among all that swaying pink grass. Cites, however, meant hospitals and hospitals meant medication, medical supplies. Things that were always useful no matter what the situation was. Sure, they had a nurse but they may have only had one.

"Neither option is ideal." He admitted. "However, I would prefer the city." Because, yes, the idea of finding medical supplies was great and all but there was a whole fucking city behind a door. A door that didn't look any bigger than the one that lead into his closet in the house he shared with Richie.

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alwaysactive
2019-10-14 10:48 pm UTC (link)

"I'll give you guys a week to get things together then, and then we'll see about it." She agreed with a smile, she'd ask him about the Loser house thing then probably, for now she'd let that go and instead focus on these doors and the house and the seriously baffling turn this had all taken. And as someone who had time traveled it took a lot to throw her, but this had done it.

Of course Eddie seemed to be pretty good at throwing her for a loop too, first when he told her what he'd just come from and now this, being faced with a pair of severed legs. She blinked at him for a moment and then shook her head. "I can't say I'd want to encounter anything like that if I ever had a choice about it. They attacked you?" She asked again, "Really? I thought I had it bad facing down an alien army. But I think I'd go with that over the severed legs." Because well - she could handle a fight, but some things were just creepy as hell and she'd just rather not.

So some of Eddie's jumpiness made more sense now the more she learned about him, the way he clutched his fence post and his sort of wariness about doors to other realms, well she could understand him not being eager to try it. And the fact that he was there with her was incredibly brave in her estimation. She'd been brought up for this kind of life, trained for it for years, she knew how to handle it. But Eddie? Well he certainly hadn't been trained.

"Maybe we can find you some of those dishes," She suggested too when he mentioned preferring the city. And probably any number of other things that he might need in point of fact. She supposed this was how they kept the town stocked too, finding cities like this one and bringing things back. It made sense, even though it didn't really make any sense. "Guess we're gonna try this one then, she pushed the other door closed, leaving behind the open field and instead opening a bit wider the door to the city. And because Eddie had made the choice, Natasha decided she'd step through first, just in case there was anything on the other side they weren't seeing from their vantage point, but it really did just seem like a city street, people walking back and forth paying them no mind.

"Seems normal?" She said looking back at Eddie on the other side. From her side of the door it looked like they were coming out of the side of a building where there had been no door before.

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ekaspbrak
2019-10-15 10:06 pm UTC (link)

"Generous of you." He said and, really, that seemed like too much time. If Richie decided to keep being completely unhelpful then Eddie would just fill it with whatever he liked. The comedian would just have to deal with it. Until he could find something to do he had all the time in the world to furniture shop. Or figure out where people actually got furniture from. He didn't expect there to be much of disruption to what was slowly becoming routine here.

He nearly laughed at what she said. Obviously, yes, he believed she'd fought down an alien army. That wasn't hard to believe after the fucking clown. It was just the idea that she might decide fighting an alien army was better than having a set of severed legs charge her from inside a closet. Nevermind that Natasha probably wouldn't have seen a closet. "Remember that child murdering clown I told you about? Yeah, he liked playing head games with us. Psychological torture bullshit. When you come over I'll tell you about the time I froze up and Richie nearly died." Because now was not the time to discuss spider-head Stan. These stories could be saved. Parsed out through their relationship.

He hadn't been trained for anything. He'd been a sickly child with an overbearing mother and had grown into an overly cautious adult. If anything, his upbringing had taught him to be afraid. Everything could hurt him. Everything would hurt him. It wasn't worth the risk. Sure, he was afraid of a lot but he was brave too. That bravery hadn't been taught at home though. If he was brave it was because of the friends he'd managed to make as a child. Because of the Losers and, yes, Richie Tozier. Some things were worth it even if there were risks involved.

"Oh I hope so." He chuckled because coming back with dishes for the house would be great even if that wasn't what he was hoping to find there. Medical supplies. He needed bandages on hand even if it was only for his own peace of mind. He'd probably be a little more than impressed by whatever he managed to find in there.

So, maybe he should've felt a little worst about letting Natasha go first. He had a weapon, after all. Even with that weapon, however, he was certain Natasha was the one better equipped to protect herself if something went horribly wrong right from the start. Besides, this wasn't the first time in his life a woman had shown more bravery and courage than him. Beverly had been the first to take that plunge into the waters below while they hung out at the quarry that day. The boys had just followed her lead. Eddie had no problem following Natasha's lead.

"Well, here goes." He said before stepping through. She said it looked normal and, yes, it did. It looked just like they'd stepped through a door and onto any other city street. The only difference was that this whole city was behind a door in a house in a town that was, decidedly not this city. "Do we close this one?" He asked, looking back at where they'd come through and wondering. If things went bad how did they get back out? Would they be able to find the door? If they left the door open could something get through?

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alwaysactive
2019-10-16 06:18 am UTC (link)

"And that right there," She said shaking her head as Eddie explained the severed legs a little bit more, "Is exactly why I'd prefer the alien army. I'm not a big fan of psychological torment, so if I have the choice to avoid it?" She lifted her shoulders, it wasn't really much of a choice. And she hated that it was something Eddie had to face, or anyone for that matter. It was never a good thing when something like that was in the world, she knew, and people who weren't trained for it having to endure it? Just made it that much worse.

"Yeah, we're going to have to trade war stories one of these days." She agreed, because she had a feeling he had a couple whoppers, and well it would be new for her to talk about some of what she'd done with someone who hadn't already lived it. But that's what all of this was for right? Figuring things out? Trying new things? Making new friends? At least that's what she told herself, she wasn't totally sure it was, but she was going to try it at the very least.

For now though there was the city on the other side of the door, and maybe dishes for Eddie and whatever else the might find that seemed right. For now they were just on the street, looking around and taking it all in. Eddie there beside her after he'd come through too. She looked back at the door again at his question, pursing her lips for a moment. "I think," She said after a moment, "Maybe we close it," She didn't like the thought of an unguarded opening into their world, it felt too peaceful there to invite that kind of thing into it, but closing it and closing themselves into this world was a risk.

"I've heard that nothing has come through the doors yet that someone from town hadn't brought on purpose, but it feels like on a street like this maybe we shouldn't test that theory." People didn't seem to be paying either of them or the door much attention at the moment, like they couldn't see it, or they were just too busy with their lives to pay it much attention. "Maybe we do a sort of mostly closed thing, and we don't go too far." Which would limit their options when it came to dishes, but she thought might make the idea of the door being sort of closed easier to bear too, so they wouldn't have to worry about getting lost either.

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ekaspbrak
2019-10-19 06:56 pm UTC (link)

Psychological torture was just par for the course at this point in any of the Losers' lives. Eddie included. Though, yes, if he had his choice between being tormented by a leper, his dead friend's severed head, severed legs, a closet, or a Pomeranian and an alien army he'd probably take the army too. That was just the most recent shit too. He hadn't even gone into the horrors the Losers had seen at 13. They'd have to trade war stories eventually. He'd like to hear more about the army she faced or whatever she was willing to tell him and it might be nice to actually talk about some of this shit with someone who believed him. It might be beneficial for both of them.

Right now, however, the entire fucking city on the other side of the door was the priority. Along with whatever they were going to find. Dishes maybe. Bandages and gauze, hopefully. He'd settle for a large bottle of hand sanitizer at this point. Just... anything that might settle his mind on the who germ front or the household. He'd already decided that Richie wouldn't be much help when it came to filling their place. It really would be up to Eddie.

Seeing her look back to the open door and consider the dangers just made him like her more. Natasha was practical. She was brave but didn't seem reckless about it. She looked at the situation they were in and considered the variables. It was something most of his friends didn't do. Something they should've done a little more of.

He didn't worry too much when she said they should close it because he could still see the gears turning in her head. He, too, didn't really like the idea of leaving the door open and risking setting something free in the world they'd just stepped out of. He also didn't like the idea of possibly losing this door and finding themselves trapped here with no means of escape if things went bad. "I agree with you." He said. "Just because nothing has come through yet doesn't mean it'll never happen." The risk was probably minimal but still there. There was no way of knowing just how aware of the doors the inhabitants of these worlds were.

He could deal with mostly closed. If they did it right then no one would become aware of it and they could still find it if they needed to make a quick retreat. He nodded and reached for the door, pulling it mostly closed. Taking a step back he inspected the building they had just come out of and nodded, seemingly satisfied with what he saw. "You know... this does make me wonder where the door would've been in that open field." A tree? Randomly out in the middle of a sky? Would there be a building that was sitting there just for the door? Someone else would have to figure that out later and tell him. He still preferred the city.

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alwaysactive
2019-10-20 08:21 pm UTC (link)

Natasha nodded, it wasn't that she was the only one to ever stop and think - but often she was the only one to take a step back and consider what their actions might lead to. So it was nice to see a little bit of that in Eddie too - this was a situation with a lot of possibilities for how it might all play out in the end, there was no way to know for certain if any one option might be more realistic than another. In truth, were she not already dead, she might just have been a little bit more skeptical of a place that had so many variables to deal with. But there they were, dead and in a city that they'd stepped into through a door in a house in a town that would fit in a space less than half the size of one of these city blocks.

It was all more than just a little bit crazy. She knew this, and she was running with it. There hadn't been a lot about her life over the last decade that hadn't been more than a little bit crazy.

But here they were looking around and trying to decide their next course of action, she closed the door, slowly, watching as she did to make sure that she knew exactly what they were dealing with and that they'd be able to get back again. But in the end it closed just like any other door and remained there looking not quite like it belonged, but not so out of place that it drew attention to itself.

"You know, I hadn't thought of that." She admitted when Eddie mentioned the door into the field. "Maybe it would have been one of those free standing doors with nothing on either side of it. Like you see in movies." Well she thought maybe they were in movies, that seemed like the sort of thing that would be. "Next time it opens out into a field I'll have to go through just to see how it looks." Though she guessed any other field might handle it differently than the one they'd just seen.

"I see a couple drug stores around," She pointed out after she felt settled enough about the door and the reaction of people on the street to it and them. "Want to start there and then see how we feel after?"

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ekaspbrak
2019-10-31 09:40 pm UTC (link)

There were a lot of variables. A lot of unknowns and, really, it would be hard for him to try and predict what would happen and what action was the best without more information. That would involve talking to more people or becoming acquainted with individuals who had gone through the doors before and who were willing to talk about the experience. The fact that he didn't and couldn't know the risks involved with any of this was a little worrying but, maybe, it didn't matter. He'd already died. The worst had happened. He should probably just move on and worry about the doors and what could be set loose into their sleepy little town when he wasn't stuck inside one of the doors.

The field and it's door was definitely something to be revisited but not by him. This was a little much even for him, even if he was dead. Hell, thinking about how he was dead was a little much for him. So Natasha could revisit the pink field whenever she liked and just tell him about it. He'd love to hear about it.

The mention of drug stores perked him right up though. Maybe he couldn't get an inhaler or any of his other drugs (because they were all prescription and he doubted he could have his doctor call them in here)but he could get a few other supplies. Eddie had been in drug stores and hospitals so much as both a child and an adult he knew a thing or two about playing medic. Not enough to take care of himself, obviously, but he might need a few things. Just in case Richie injured himself or for when he needed to change the bandage on his face. "You know what, I'd love to start at a drug store." He said a little too easily.

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