hadriel | Video

[The video opens with Jack crouched on the beach, a handful of sand trickling from the gaps between his fingers. He's staring at it like he's trying to find the catch, something that would prove that it's counterfeit.

After a moment he sighs and dusts his hands together.]

Am I the only one who liked the city better the way it was? Or does that make me a blasphemer? [Wouldn't be the first time. He glances back, eyes lifting in the direction of the skyscrapers.] This looks a little too much like the city I came from.

[Everything clean and shiny and fake. Jack sighs before he speaks again.]

I'm looking for something that I lost recently, something that I was hoping someone might've found. [Jack chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment.] It's one of those hairless little...things. I haven't seen it in days. I don't think it could see very well, and I doubt it could swim. If anyone has seen one wandering around-

[He doesn't know how to finish. He cares, and that's never been an easy thing for Jack to show. He takes another deep breath, forcing a smile to his lips.]

Return it and I'm in your debt. Maybe we could even roll around on the beach together, make memories, get sand in our underwear. That sort of thing.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sounds like there's a story there.

[Not quite asking for it, but if he wants to explain then she doesn't mind listening.

As for his question, lifts her chin slightly.]

Of course there are people I miss. I'd rather they weren't here, though.

And I'm lucky. Turns out, I know one or two people here already.

My father was the king, chosen by God, crowned by butterflies. [jack doesn't roll his eyes physically, but there's one in his voice.] There's no shortage of stories with him at the center of them.

Good people?

It it the wrong time to mention I was raised communist? [She says it lightly, a wry joke, but it is probably a good thing he sounds so disenchanted with the situation, because Natasha can't entirely hide her skepticism.]

Good enough. [That's almost funny in a way too.] Actually, one of them is... sort of an ex, and the other one shot me twice. But I'd say we're all on good terms.

[Good enough, though.]

Communist? [it's a foreign word to him.]

[jack laughs softly at those descriptions.]

I'll take the person who shot me twice any day.

[at least over an ex, not that he's had many real relationships.]

Ooh. [That's a long explanation. And it says a lot about what things are like where he's from—mostly that it's more different from where she's from than she'd have guessed at first blush.] Let's just say not big on kings. Or religion, for that matter.

[Not that she has any personal ideological investment in it now, a fact clear from her tone. Safe to say Natasha is just as cynical about the party as she is about monarchy.]

He's... an interesting case. Looks a lot like you, actually.

Sounds like my kind of thing.

[these days. he spent his entire life looking up at a crown that would never touch his head.]

Barnes? [jack frowns.] Why would he shoot you?

So you do know him.

[That doesn't tell her how much he knows, and it isn't Natasha's place to explain his past.

So she keeps it simple.]

The first time because I was sent to extract an engineer he was sent to kill.

I think we have a date to play chess.

[jack knows enough about him that hearing that he was sent to kill someone isn't much of a surprise.]

You got in his way?

In the most literal sense. Shot his target right through me.

[Nothing personal.]

The second time, I was one of the targets. Lucky for me, not a mission he was as successful with.

And you survived?

[one time, both times. he's impressed.]

Remind me to stay on your good side. Right now I find you far scarier than him.

Oh yes, nothing scarier than someone who manages not to bleed out.

[Which isn't exactly the same as saying that she's not frightening. There are plenty of people who think she's scary. Maybe even scarier than the Winter Soldier, if you're more afraid of having your secrets stolen than being killed.

But she'd rather not build up her reputation here.]

Twice.

Someone who refuses to die seems capable of anything. [a corner of his mouth quirks.] For what it's worth, I'm glad that you didn't. Twice. There would be one less interesting person to share this place with.

That's a real compliment coming from a prince. [Don't think she missed that detail. She isn't exactly overwhelmed—not her first time speaking to royalty. But that doesn't mean she doesn't respect it.] And considering there's more than a few interesting people here..