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

[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. ]

[krasnayapautina]

[Grabbing a couple of bottles from a shelf, she's in and out pretty quickly -- and glad for the fact that everything looks to be in order. Walking back into the room, she sets the bottles on the floor by the table.]

What'd I miss? [She takes her seat again.]

[jotun]

Nothing of import, my dear.

[ That night, after further celebrating, they're invited to stay at the President's home as guests. The mansion is three stories, filled with elaborate artwork and intricate architecture from the baseboards to the winding staircases. Loki and Natasha are housed in the guest wing, in adjoining rooms.

When they retire, Loki strips off his battle armor in the darkness of his room. ]

[krasnayapautina]

[In her own room, Natasha goes for slipping off her dress that she's been in across a party, two countries, and causing a whole lot of trouble in a government building, and starts to lounge around now just in her strapless bra and panties. She isn't sure if she's ready to consider sleep or not yet, or if she should just stay up and see what happens tomorrow. One thing she is sure of, however, is that her feet are killing her and she regrets leaving her shoes at the party in India.]

[jotun]

[ bad news & clean cup move down ]