tushanshu | 001 [video]

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001 [video]

[Aaron had spent the last several days exploring Tu Vishan with Marta, making mental notes of places and things they might need in the future. He was thorough with his recon, going so far as to even map out everything they'd seen, the crude yet detailed drawing on the table of he and Marta's shared suite. It marked not just Sectors and their boundaries, the shops and local drop ins, but also ways out of the Sectors.

Some of those were main thoroughfares, but most were back alleys that he had explored during at least one night of unrest. If something happened, he knew no less than six ways out of their own Sector and atleast as many in the others. He hadn't gotten as far as exploring the castle at the center, but he intended to.

For now though, he wanted to get a tab on the local neighbors in his own Sector and without. So, he opts for a video post from his own console, making certain that little enough is in the image to give any more indication of their whereabouts as any other residents room.

He might look familiar to some of you, but he's not who you think he is. His left shoulder, where visible beneath his t-shirt, is newly bandaged and he looks a bit worse for the wear and banged up. If only you guys knew...]

Hey... [He raises a hand and gives a half wave.] I'm James... from Earth. [He shakes his head laughing softly at himself. Superspy? What superspy? Look at this unassuming nice guy!!!] Man, please don't let that sound as crazy as I think it does.

I've been here a few days now and as fun as this little trip into Wonderland has been, I was hoping someone could point me in the direction of something at least vaguely resembling a beer. I'm not picky, honest, but if I'm going to be stuck here I'd at least like some of the comforts of home.

Anyone else brought here from Earth?

[Even with so simple and seemingly innocent a series of questions, it was a definitive way to start figuring out who, or what, was here.]

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[Aaron will experience very much the same thing when he gets a proper look at you, Clint. You ever get that niggling sensation in the back of your mind that something is going on, and youre the center of it without either planning to be or knowing you are? Yeah, Aaron's feeling that way right now.

Outwardly, however, his brow quirks and he snorts softly, a smile touching the corner of his lips. There really is absolutely no sign of a trained killer in this man, but then he'd been trained to hide it as well.]

Martians, huh? Well at least they seem to be speaking with a fair understanding of both English and sarcasm.

For all you know, we invented both.

_{( Yup, this isn't getting any less weird. But showing his face on these things is not something he's going to do. )}

[Clint, you'll be happier once you accept that it will never stop being weird. Aliens and Norse Gods were really just the start of it.

Aaron wasn't sure where this was leading, but he was happy enough to play along for now; it couldn't hurt to humor what was likely another refugee from the ocean.]

Mmm, could be... Could be you're responsible for a lot more or a lot less. [That arched brow again as he shifts in his chair.] Did Elvis really just go back home?

Definitely. Blue suede shoes from the red planet.

_{( It's a cover, more than anything; using the blandest of tones and the most inconsequential of statements to cover the onset of... panic, really. Because identity issues are totally what he needs right now. )}

But Earth, that's a pretty big place. It doesn't really narrow down much.

I'd question the mans' wardrobe, but I feel like I'd be breaking any number of unspoken codes in doing so. Not that I have anything against a good spangly jumpsuit... but I can't say it'd be my first choice from the closet.

[There is an almost bored quality to the voice Aaron is speaking to. It could be that the individual on the other end really is that bored, or that they're covering to seem like they are. He gives a casual shrug at the last.]

What can I say? I'm on some kind of super sized alien turtle... I'm not going to be too picky with someone's country or state of origin.

You're right, you are breaking unspoken codes. The man's called the King for a reason.

_{( And then, a little more earnestly: )}

You might want to try and narrow it down. There's a couple different Earths at play here. Plus you don't want to end up making friends with someone who doesn't support your baseball team.

_{( And if he eggs this guy towards something specific, he can try to figure out... something. He hasn't ruled out long-lost twin, yet. )}

Well, I don't recall tossing in my vote, but I'll give him credit where it's due. He can sure as hell sing a lot better than I can.

[Not that Aaron had any issue with Elvis, but it amused him in that moment to contrary. He could remember listening to the crooner on and off again over seas, and the King was certainly known wherever he'd gone on a mission before.

And then, however subtle he intended it to be, Aaron notes the change in Clint's voice and his smile fades ever so slightly.

A couple different Earths? Well, that was mildly unsettling and surprising...]

A couple different Earths, huh? I don't see the ball team being an issue... never was much of a baseball fan.

Alright... Year is 2012 and Barack Obama is the president of the good old U S of A... The economy is shit, but it falls back into line every few months... just to go to hell again shortly after. Don't even get me started in the idiocy that is gas pricing.

[His own expression is curious, but wary as he continues.] Should I ask how different this varies from you, or dare I hope it's even remotely similar?

[The notion that people here have never been exposed to Threadstone or Blackbriar by name is a fleeting hope to Aaron, and it's not something he's expecting.]

_{( Clint mulls this all over, not giving any audible reactions. When Aaron’s done, however, he says— )}

That sounds about right. Don’t know how much that means, though. If some worlds are wildly different, it stands to reason some could be pretty similar.

_{( And it also stands to reason that the his face could end up on someone entirely different? Okay, no, it really doesn’t. That’s one pill that is forever going to be difficult to swallow.

Clint’s patience, which has never been the best, just about wears out. )}

Say—you’re not a life model decoy, are you?

[Just as Clint takes in Aaron's responses, it happens the other way around too, Aaron listening to what is both spoken and unspoken. He frowns slightly as Clint says that it is still possible that, even with so many similarities, people could be from different places still.]

I suppose different timelines are another thing I should take into account, hmm? People popping up from the past or future seems about as likely as people from other worlds, and yet, here we are.

[The thought of running into some of the people from his past made Aaron's stomach clench, but he focused instead on the shift in Clint's voice. His tone flattens at the question, a certain level of wariness entering his posture.]

Life model decoy?

[The notion of cloning was certainly not unknown to Aaron, but he'd never thought that the Project might include it. To this point, he'd taken it at face value that it was genetic engineering... but cloning was just around the corner from that, wasn't it?]

Not the last time I checked... but then maybe I wouldn't know it even if I was. There a reason you're asking?

[Suspicion is go.]

Oh, definitely. But then the question becomes if they're really from the future or the past, or if they're from a world so similar to yours it only seems that way.

_{( Clint runs a hand through his hair, unsure of what to do with the last bit. Finally he bites the bullet, encrypts the feed, and opens the video function. )}

...does this answer your question?

Or none of the above and just rather good at lying... yeah, i see the problem.

[There is a beat and then Aaron sees the encryption click into place. His expression remains fairly flat until Clint's face pops up on the audio turned video feed; then his eyes widen.]

What the hell...

[He searches Clint's face... his face... it is identical to his own.]

Answers that one, but brings up a good number more.

[Excuse him while he tweaks the encryption here, Clint. Being a spy has it's benefits when in any situation and locking this conversation between them down entirely is one of them. His stomach is tight and his heart is racing, even if his expression is relatively calm. This man could mean everything or nothing, particularly with other worlds and timelines in play.]

Do you known anything about the Beta Projects? Threadstone, Blackbriar... Outcome?

[His gaze is steady, all hint of humor gone from his voice. If this man was part of the Project, then he and Marta's safety was at risk.]

_{( Clint, grateful to have someone else be disoriented for a change, has to resist the urge to laugh. It’s a high-pressure situation, to be sure, but at least he’s had a few moments to adjust. Since he hadn’t planned on using the video feature at all when he turned on his console, he’s still in his training gear—the SHIELD insignia present but slightly obscured on the shoulder of his shirt, his mismatched gloves visible as he rests his head against one hand. He listens to Aaron rattle of names and buzzwords, then just shrugs. )}

Nope. Never heard of them.

And I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if I asked you similar questions, you’d give me the same kind of answer.

So maybe we’re just going to have to deal with the fact that fate is screwing with us.

[Disoriented was quite the way to put it. Although Aaron has no idea about anything Clint himself has been through, he's had one hell of a time recently himself. He can't help but study the other man as he speaks, looking for any hints or clues in his dress.

Nothing he wore look to be issued from HQ and the insignia he was wearing on his shoulder patch didn't look reminiscent of anything he'd seen before.

The shrug and dismissal could be a ruse, but Aaron was taking a risk in thinking that this man wearing his face was speaking the truth. His hands, white at the knuckle, clutch at the edge of the table where it sits out of sight.]

I'm willing to say that you're right, even if I could do with a bit less of the fate screwing just now. [He swallows, sitting back in his chair again as he tries to gain some manner of composure after this shock.]

You got a name?

_{( That gives Clint pause. He's said his name a few times over the network, sometimes his codename. But it seems more invasive, now. Eventually he just shrugs it off. )}

Barton. Clint Barton.

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001 [video]

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encrypted like 75%

Encrypted 100%

Encrypted 100%

Let's pretend that Aaron's encryption was a more realistic 80% from the get-go, shall we? ORZ

right-o o>