closed ♔ i've lived a lot of different lives, been different people many times

[jotun]

WHO || Loki Laufeyson & Natasha Romanoff
WHAT || Kidnapping.
WHERE || Moscow, Russia
WHEN || Night of June 7th onward.
HOW || Actionspam

[ The teleportation spell brings them to a chilly, but recognizable destination. Though it isn't exactly the same as the city that Natasha may recall, the Kremlin is impossible to misidentify, and that's precisely where Loki is headed.

Natasha's free will is returned to her the minute they arrive, leaving her slightly disoriented, and potentially questioning why she had even listened to his demands (pending a reasonable wisdom check). They touch down 500 yards from the front of the Kremlin. ]

Comments

[jotun]

Ah, yes, you'd have forgotten that as well.

[ He seems entirely amused by that fact as he waves a hand to cast something over those working in the entrance. They all slump over, unconscious. At least he's paving the way for them. ]

I do have a penchant for sending a message.

[krasnayapautina]

I'm both ... extremely curious and extremely horrified to ask about what you know about us that I don't. [Good thing there's a time and place for everything, and both the time and place to ask that is not here and not now. Otherwise she would probably risk the "being horrified" part of that equation and ask.] Though, if I can offer you some advice while we're en route to your final destination: This is a terrible 'first date' and I would highly recommend many, many other courses of action. With anyone else that is not me. [No but really.]

[jotun]

You think I mean to court you, Agent Romanoff?

[ He looks positively amused by the notion. At this point, he's hanging back to offer color commentary while he waits for her to do what she does best. There's a reason he chose her to come along.

The interior of the Kremlin is being entirely made up by Tiffany right now because I don't think anyone in this game has been inside. SO surprise. There are five guards staggered down the hallway towards an elevator that requires a keycard. Behind the call desk, there are two more guards. ]

[krasnayapautina]

I was hoping not. [A beat.]

Before we get all stab happy from the start, give me a chance to mix it up. [Noting the elevator, she puts her hands behind her back so as to hopefully obscure the dagger in her hand from immediate view, and walks over to the nearest guard.]

So, what about a quick tour of the place for my very intelligent and curious friend and myself? [She speaks in Russian, and also leans forward ever so slightly because boobs/cleavage always work, right??? Also, on that note, thank god she chose a strapless dress for the party all the way back in New Delhi -- good job past Natasha, A+. (charisma 18) If it works, it might get them to wherever they need to be in the Kremlin because Loki sure knows a lot more about that than she does right now, because someone hasn't been read fully into this and spoilers: that someone is Natasha. Or maybe she'll get a chance to spot and swipe a keycard off one of them should all of them have one on their person. However, if it fails, well, that's exactly why the dagger is still in her hand.]

[jotun]

[ With a will save of 12, the security guard is definitely wavering in Natasha's presence. He gulps. 'W-We don't really give tours.' Loki glances away, bored half to death and intimidating the nearby guard out of saying anything that might interfere (intimidate 31). When the guard that Natasha is plying looks over to try and check if he's being policed, he notices that the other guard isn't even worried about what he's doing. So, he straightens up contentedly and adds, 'But we can maybe make an exception.' ]

[krasnayapautina]

Excellent. I believe my friend probably knows where he'd like to start already. [She smiles at the guard again, keeping it up. (charisma 16).
She's not really all that sorry she took away your killing fun for now, Loki. At least it's less messy this way. Also less bodies means less explaining ... and she just doesn't want to have to explain back with the Knights why and how she killed basically everyone in Russian government.]

[jotun]

[ Loki has the gall to actually look interested in her methods, tilting his head just slightly as he considers her with careful neutrality schooled into his expression. Even at her current disadvantage, she’s turned the tables to a degree by preventing him from continuing the bloodbath—he’s not remotely fooled into believing she has any other intentions.

Quite the application of skill.

After a beat, he nods, moving to meet them. ]

The rulers of this foul, pitiful kingdom hold their offices here. Bring us to them.

[ The guard doesn’t look like he wants to give into Loki’s request, so here he is looking over at Natasha like really, this guy? This does not seem on the up-and-up. ]

[krasnayapautina]

[yes really this guy.] Oh he's been grumpy all day; I don't think he got his nap. But we are curious and eager and under time limits, so, lead the way? [she is apparently running out of steam here because charisma 12]

[jotun]

[ about that.

The guard looks irritated, as if he has stopped believing that he has a chance with Natasha and now realizes she is trying to use him to get her and her tourist boyfriend upstairs!!

He steps in front of the elevator. ]

No civilian access.

[ Loki doesn't seem particularly bothered. Tough luck, 'Tasha. He raises a hand, and each of the guards in the area fall into a deep slumber, slumping instantly to the ground. ]

I do believe an exception can be made.

[krasnayapautina]

Well that works too. [she blinks a couple of times, staring at the now sleeping guards.] Maybe they needed the nap. [at that, she takes a couple of seconds to readjust her dress.] After you.

[jotun]

[ Loki continues to show off in that he levitates the key card from the unconscious card's body into his hand and then swipes it through the elevator, holding it for Natasha to step inside. ]

[krasnayapautina]

[tbh she would also probably never pick anything up like a normal person ever again either if she could that. so it's not like she can say much about his showing off there.] So... how much time exactly do we have before they come to and realize where we've gone, and then we have to deal with them and whoever is on the floor we get off on?

[jotun]

Ten minutes, but let's not fuss over the details.

[ Gosh Natasha, don't be a spoilsport. ]

But I wouldn't worry about that. Once we're where we need to be, we won't have to stop them.

[krasnayapautina]

Right. [She nods once. It sounds simple enough, but today's been kind of interesting so who knows tbh.] Well let's hope that's as simple as it sounds.

[jotun]

[ And she isn't disappointed.

The lift brings them to an executive level, where Loki leads the way to a board room full of the top political leaders of Russia. Once one is under his magical suggestion, the others follow suit and seem to believe that Loki is a personal friend of the President.

It's once they are all settled around on couches that Loki sits forward to grab the pitcher from the glass coffee table. The pitcher, of course, is the one he had brought in with him—from the party. Some time during the conversation, Natasha may notice he found the opportunity to transfer their liquor from its crystal decanter to the enchanted pitcher.

From it, he pours them all drinks, smiling. ]

Yes, I confess, though I haven't seen a great deal of your land, I'm quite enamored with it. You see, I've always enjoyed the cold.

[krasnayapautina]

We just got here, really. [close enough? She's still unsure about any food or drink in this outing, after the warning before the party, so none for her thanks. She decides to not speak more than that for now, just going on to silently observing the start of this meeting.]

[jotun]

[ The Russians look confused for a moment but then they laugh particularly loudly as if they want to just feel like they're in on the joke.

Aca-awkward.

Loki will just slide the glasses across the table and settle back like :3 and wait for them to drink. He doesn't look particularly bothered by Natasha declining, either. Rather, he watches with great satisfaction as the President and his fellow politicians toast to the motherland and begin to drink from their glasses. ]

[krasnayapautina]

[oh boy. Well, she's not all :3 about this, but she tries her best to keep a straight face about it (will save 16) and offer a small smile at the laughter to seem more in place, nothing to see here kids move along. Plus, as one herself, she knows that finishing the drink first before talking is very important to Russians, don't interrupt the drinking is basically rule one.]

[jotun]

[ Settling back in the chair, Loki stretches his hands to the edge of the arms, curling his fingers over the seam and spreading his disposition like it's a throne beneath him. ]

Quite new, it's true, but I think it will suit us quite nicely.

[ He raises his own glass, considering the liquid sloshing around in it and smiling fondly. ]

I think we can agree it's time for a regime change, wouldn't you say?

[krasnayapautina]

There's one every few years here, it seems. [Might as well chime in there, with a shrug. As she's done a decent job so far of pretending to go along with his plans when they're around others thus far -- which granted, have included just guards to get around -- but still she's 40% joking and 60% serious with that statement in a context not related to Loki's plans. Only because yeah look at where they are. She almost holds her breath as she waits for the opinions of the rest of the room.]

[jotun]

[ Deja vu, much?

The shift in Loki's smirk is barely perceptible.

And after a beat of pregnant silence, the president stands and crosses the room to clap his hand on Loki's shoulder, nodding enthusiastically. ]

We would be honored.

[ Judging by the bright, burning loyalty in each of their eyes, the matter is settled as simply as that. The President looks up to Natasha, giving her a nod of acknowledgment before drawing his hand back from Loki's shoulder. ]

The appointment can be made tomorrow. Tonight, we will celebrate!

[ He raises his arms, turning to his colleagues and cheering. ]

[krasnayapautina]

[Talk about drinking the kool-aid. Yikes. And even as she tries to keep a better face on about this, she isn't nearly as good at it as she was a few minutes ago (will save 6).] Great, we'll make a party out of it. I'll ... go get the vodka. Wherever it is? [That is more a question to the room, directions pls.]

[jotun]

[ The President offers her directions down the hall to the left and inside of a cabinet in a storage room, though he seems confused because they have booze right here. He thinks nothing of it, and goes back to his celebrating. Loki watches with all the detachment of an observer, giving the uncanny impression that he is elevated above the room, despite the fact that he is the only one sitting by this point. He continues to stir the glass in his hand, sloshing the liquid in circles, a hypnotic movement that mirrors the chattering of the government officials.

He's too busy surveying his conquest to spare Natasha a look. ]

[krasnayapautina]

[she responds with a small nod of understanding, then glances back over towards Loki who is probably pretty damn pleased with himself right about now.] Thanks. [For one, she thinks they could always use more -- and two, perfect chance to see more of what's around here. So she slips out of the room to go off on her booze collecting adventure, and takes a spot check of 10 along with her as she follows the directions given to her.]

[jotun]

[ There's nothing in the Kremlin that Natasha would find out of the ordinary. A series of armed guards litter the halls, as it is a government building that's currently occupied by top officials. She does manage to find the vodka that the President directed her to. No signs of particular unpleasantness. If anything, this Russia seems to be a kinder one than the one of the world she left. ]