Between Ray and his whiskey and my vodka, feels like our room doesn't either, despite him drinking enough alcohol for the whole suite plus yours.
[ With a raised glass in gratitude for not being held accountable, Natalia finally takes the delayed sip. She moves closer to the middle of the living space, throwing glances at each visible door. ]
Speaking of too sweet for this shithole...
[ Nat gives Butcher a pointed look then, a level of sadness hovering beneath the surface. She wasn't nearly as close to Hughie, but his departure is still hitting. ]
[ Nat drifts close enough to place a hand on his bicep, her smile too sad to be anything joyful. ]
I've discussed it with others. That it's selfish and fucked up to want people from home here with you, but it's a difficult thing to not want. And sometimes the people I wait for, I know that they've done things to land them here. I don't wish for the others all that often. And...I like to think between the two of us that we could keep Hughie grounded and as whole as anyone can be here. We'd be his support system.
[ It's implied that she means to Butcher's if he'll have her, the hand on his arm squeezing supportively. ]
[His eyes trail to her hand as it drifts to his arm briefly.]
I don't know what I bloody want anymore. [It's a soft admittance. To make Homelander suffer like the cunt should? Even that doesn't hold quite the same amount of pleasure when the cunt doesn't even know him past the bastard with a grudge, know everything that happens after.
Still, he's not about to sit here in a nice puddle of self pity, so he gives a shake of his head.] Yeah, well... Hughie is easier to keep in line. One of the best. I know what I am.
[And he knows she might not want to get involved in it, so the best he can do is give her an out while there's still a chance.]
[ Having not released him, Natalia shifts her hand along the lines of Butcher's arm and crooks her pinky with his. From over her vodka, she hums thoughtfully, like she's heard this line numerous times before. ] And what's that, Butcher?
Didn't you see enough with the sharing and caring experience? [He was more like his dear father than he ever cared to admit. A monster. Nothing at all like Hughie, nothing at all like his brother...]
I saw someone being tricked into a situation they clearly chose to never be in again. People can't choose blood, but they sure as hell can choose their family. [ Read: Hughie. ] I saw that same someone thus promptly triggered by past traumas that haven't been properly worked through. So, if you're trying to say that you're some dangerous monster, I call bullshit if that's my only evidence to go off of.
[The shite he did for Becca, nearly to Becca... all because he wanted her back. The shite he put his so-called mates through. He might not regret doing it, but that doesn't mean he can't recognize it makes him a bit of a fucking cunt.
Still, he doesn't want to get into it. Instead, he leans in a little bit closer to her, meets her eyes.] But you're a bloody adult, eh? Won't say no if you want to stick around... especially right now. Got a few drinks to finish off and I won't do it alone.
I said I was here for you. [ Though he has some height on her 5'7 stature, she doesn't take the positioning as anything worth being nervous or fearful about. She simply meets his gaze and doesn't retreat. ] However, I feel it's only fair that you know a few things before I stick around any longer, given your attitude towards humans that aren't strictly human.
Nyet, that's someone else's forte. My abilities are more subtle; there's a serum in me similar to Captain America's, if you've had a run-in with Rogers yet.
[ As Butcher has yet to react drastically, Natalia takes it slowly, her body discreetly poised to deflect an attack should things dive in that direction. Hughie made his distaste rather clear, after all. ]
[And has been a cunt ever since actually. Can't say he's impressed with many of the supes he's met down here. Still he's not attacking yet, but serum leaves a bad taste in his mouth.]
[ She can't help it; Natalia releases something akin to a bark of a laugh at the image playing out in her mind. ]
Whatever did you to deserve that? Rogers isn't one to attack civilians. ((pauses)) At least, not the one I know. The Steve here, he's different.
[ Talia shifts to rest the small of her back against the counter. ]
Something too complicated to repeat in Russian, but in English, it has the not-so-clever name of the Super Soldier Serum. It's one reason why I may look as though I'm in my thirties, but in actuality I'm ninety-two, because I was born in 1928.
[ She doesn't know just how similar her story in particular is to that of Starlight, of Homelander. Of the babies who received V. ]
He didn't like that I said cunt. [He finds it hard to believe that Steve isn't as big of a cunt everywhere, but-- he's willing to accept different world and all that.]
Jesus fucking Christ. [How many worlds does this shite happen in?] We've got a little something like that back home. It's not as surprising as you might think.
So, I'm learning. There are additional alternate universes where I'm from that have a darkness staining everything. [ She waves her free hand dismissively, it's neither here nor there. ] Hughie didn't say a whole lot, just enough for me to want to be upfront with you about what I am. And that there are no hard feelings if you've changed your mind about drinking alone. Or, at least, without me for company. Because I don't think being alone right now is the wisest of decisions.
[ Natalia may not be knowledged in the extent, the bond, of their relationship, but she's picked up enough tells to confirm Butcher's been affected by the young man's disappearance. ]
they're put on pedestals like fucking gods. People sit around worshipping them and ignoring all the shady shit that comes along with them. The lives they ruin along the way... Somebody has to do something.
[He refills both their glasses.]
There's no sense in getting into it.
[He's not talking about Becca and how her story ended bloody and unnecessarily soon.]
[ Natalia reaches for Butcher's free hand and lures him towards the living area. ] You know, we tried registering super powered individuals once, making them less freelance and to have them act under official regulation. It resulted in a civil war amongst ourselves, the teams obviously for and against, national security versus civil liberties. If you make it back, maybe you could try for something along those lines?
[He lets her guide him for now, giving a thoughtful hum of noise at her suggestion.] Don't know that I'm ever leaving here without a bloody miracle, but... we've made some progress back home.
[Not as much as he'd like, but... at least Homelander is effectively neutered a fair bit against doing too much.]
Should have known it'd be fucking Homelander I'd get stuck with indefinitely, and so many people would be his number one fan down here too.
[What was it about the cunt that drew people in anyway?]
[ Natalia releases him and gracefully lowers herself onto the sofa, drinking more before speaking. ]
There's quite clearly a story there, only I'm not sure which pieces you feel like sharing with me. Like, how is Discount Captain America not a good guy? Or is this just personal bias speaking ill of the supe?
That happens, sometimes. The power gets to you or the pressure of the role. We're better in some ways, but still human in others; prone to certain vices. Emotions. [ Variables of the past and present, and in some cases (like with Cable or Strange) the future too. ]
A bloody stupid and inaccurate one, since he was invisible. Not translucent at all. Mind, not everyone in my universe has the move cleverest of names, but at least they're on point?
[ Beast comes to mind. ]
Why don't you tell me your version and we'll compare notes? Two sides and all the shit, da?
[ Because the narration and Hughie's handwaved their interaction after a few tags and details were reduced to bullet points. ]
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[ With a raised glass in gratitude for not being held accountable, Natalia finally takes the delayed sip. She moves closer to the middle of the living space, throwing glances at each visible door. ]
Speaking of too sweet for this shithole...
[ Nat gives Butcher a pointed look then, a level of sadness hovering beneath the surface. She wasn't nearly as close to Hughie, but his departure is still hitting. ]
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[That Hughie's out. So why the fuck doesn't it feel like it right now?]
He'd have not lasted a fucking day down here, some of the shite that happens. And if he did, he'd--
[Be broken, changed. Hughie didn't deserve that.]
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I've discussed it with others. That it's selfish and fucked up to want people from home here with you, but it's a difficult thing to not want. And sometimes the people I wait for, I know that they've done things to land them here. I don't wish for the others all that often. And...I like to think between the two of us that we could keep Hughie grounded and as whole as anyone can be here. We'd be his support system.
[ It's implied that she means to Butcher's if he'll have her, the hand on his arm squeezing supportively. ]
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I don't know what I bloody want anymore. [It's a soft admittance. To make Homelander suffer like the cunt should? Even that doesn't hold quite the same amount of pleasure when the cunt doesn't even know him past the bastard with a grudge, know everything that happens after.
Still, he's not about to sit here in a nice puddle of self pity, so he gives a shake of his head.] Yeah, well... Hughie is easier to keep in line. One of the best. I know what I am.
[And he knows she might not want to get involved in it, so the best he can do is give her an out while there's still a chance.]
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[The shite he did for Becca, nearly to Becca... all because he wanted her back. The shite he put his so-called mates through. He might not regret doing it, but that doesn't mean he can't recognize it makes him a bit of a fucking cunt.
Still, he doesn't want to get into it. Instead, he leans in a little bit closer to her, meets her eyes.] But you're a bloody adult, eh? Won't say no if you want to stick around... especially right now. Got a few drinks to finish off and I won't do it alone.
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[He doesn't sound like it'll be surprising, not with all the supes he's met.]
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[ As Butcher has yet to react drastically, Natalia takes it slowly, her body discreetly poised to deflect an attack should things dive in that direction. Hughie made his distaste rather clear, after all. ]
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[And has been a cunt ever since actually. Can't say he's impressed with many of the supes he's met down here. Still he's not attacking yet, but serum leaves a bad taste in his mouth.]
What's this little serum of yours called?
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Whatever did you to deserve that? Rogers isn't one to attack civilians. ((pauses)) At least, not the one I know. The Steve here, he's different.
[ Talia shifts to rest the small of her back against the counter. ]
Something too complicated to repeat in Russian, but in English, it has the not-so-clever name of the Super Soldier Serum. It's one reason why I may look as though I'm in my thirties, but in actuality I'm ninety-two, because I was born in 1928.
[ She doesn't know just how similar her story in particular is to that of Starlight, of Homelander. Of the babies who received V. ]
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Jesus fucking Christ. [How many worlds does this shite happen in?] We've got a little something like that back home. It's not as surprising as you might think.
[He wishes it was though.]
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[ Natalia may not be knowledged in the extent, the bond, of their relationship, but she's picked up enough tells to confirm Butcher's been affected by the young man's disappearance. ]
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You might as well stay, have a few. Drink a few to Hughie. [She seems to have known him. She seems to like him... so why the hell not?]
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Do you want to explain what has you so hung up against enhanced humans? Or do I need to get more alcohol in you for that one?
[ She speaks slowly, tone laced with doubt that Butcher will actually explain the source of his animosity. ]
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[He refills both their glasses.]
There's no sense in getting into it.
[He's not talking about Becca and how her story ended bloody and unnecessarily soon.]
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[Not as much as he'd like, but... at least Homelander is effectively neutered a fair bit against doing too much.]
Should have known it'd be fucking Homelander I'd get stuck with indefinitely, and so many people would be his number one fan down here too.
[What was it about the cunt that drew people in anyway?]
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There's quite clearly a story there, only I'm not sure which pieces you feel like sharing with me. Like, how is Discount Captain America not a good guy? Or is this just personal bias speaking ill of the supe?
[ Jealousy tained glasses and the like. ]
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Not only that, but he's not a fucking hero. He's a fucking celebrity that plays as one.
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That Translucence or whatever, him too?
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[He tilts his head curiously, watching her.] What did Hughie tell you about the cunt?
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[ Beast comes to mind. ]
Why don't you tell me your version and we'll compare notes? Two sides and all the shit, da?
[ Because the narration and Hughie's handwaved their interaction after a few tags and details were reduced to bullet points. ]
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