tushanshu | video;

[Wanda learned years ago how to hide her true feelings behind a calm, almost bored expression. She knew how to control her body language to seem relaxed when she wasn't, and how to rely on subtle nuances of tone to get her point across. So it's not difficult to hide the anxiousness and tension she feels in her Water sector suite. She's separated from her brother, really separated, for the first time in her life, and also from the team she's come to trust and rely on. In some ways, she even considered them her friends.

Lips pursed, she flips on the console in her suite and leans back in her chair, by all appearances entirely unruffled by her current circumstances. Dressed in her Ultimates uniform, she crosses one leg over the other and periodically takes sips from the glass of water in her hand.

Those familiar with her alternate universe counterpart might notice a striking resemblance to the Scarlet Witch they know. Though she's at least ten years younger, her hair darker and straighter, and her uniform entirely different, her face and bearing are remarkably similar.]

As it seems highly unlikely that our hosts have provided full and completely honest details about our situation here, I'd appreciate any insight you all may have, or information they may have neglected to to give me during their orientation.

[After a brief pause she continues, though the words are completely foreign to Wanda.]

It also appears to be required that I find work as well. Unless anyone's spoken to a man by the name of Fury recently, recommendations as to where I might begin looking would also be welcome.

[She ends the transmission without offering her name or listing any of her affiliations save that of Nick Fury. Those who know her will contact her, she's certain, and perhaps those familiar with Fury will as well. Anyone else she has no intention of enlightening any more than is absolutely necessary. Not until she gets a better impression of the climate of the city and the other foreigners living in it.]

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[Wanda has never been the big name that Captain America is, or Iron Man. To be recognized twice so quickly, and by those so young is surprising.

The cat is all but out of the bag, it seems. Wanda sips from her water.]

That is probably because I am the Scarlet Witch. I've heard of the X-Men before, but who exactly are the Avengers?

[And what do they think they're trying to do, give themselves positive CR with trading cards and other useless paraphernalia?]

Woooh, really? That's so cool!

[ wait, hang on. ] Um. You're not gonna take away all the mutants' powers again, are you? 'Cause I like being a mutant.

The Avengers are like the biggest superhero team. Captain America and Iron Man and a lot of people who aren't mutants. And some mutants I guess 'cause Wolverine's one, and so were you! Only I guess maybe you're not one yet since you don't know who they are. Which is totally okay, because Captain America and Iron Man and Wolverine are huge jerks.

[Wanda doesn't really register a lot after that question, because it's like being blindsided with 3.905 and the square root of V + eggs benedict = purple. The immediate questions are of course A: Why would she think she would take away the powers of mutants and B: What does she mean by "again" and of course C: What on earth could possibly prompt her to betray the mutant population that way? The consideration that she could even be considered capable of doing such a thing is immediately chilling.

And so Wanda misses everything about who the Avengers are. She hears Captain America and Iron Man, and might consider it relabeling, and in the end all she can do is nod that yes, Steve and Wolverine are jerks, and Tony has his moments too. Staring at Molly, she tries to find her words once more.]

Why would you think that I would, or even could take your powers away?

[She is not looking forward to this answer. She really, really isn't.]

[ Oh, whoops. Molly realizes that she's really kind of messed up, timeline-wise. Buuuuut maybe she can make it so Scarlet Witch never does that, that'd be cool, right? ]

Weeeeeell, 'cause you did! You wanted to make there not be any more mutants. I think 'cause people were awful to us or something. But lotsa people didn't want you to and I think some people died.

[ Molly shrugs ] I just like being one, so I don't wanna be not a mutant, ok?

[Wanda sounds strangled. She can't not because the idea of taking away the powers of all mutants is horrifying in the fullest sense of the word. She was raised to believe mutants were homo superior. They were better than humans. They were the next step in evolution. Everything she'd done for her father had been for the good of mutantkind. To be known as the woman to take that all away is staggering. Awful. It feels worse than being known as Magneto's daughter.]

I assure you, you would sooner find me protecting a mutant from losing their power than taking them away. I have never done such things in the past and I will never do so in the future.

Perhaps the woman you're familiar with is...from your timeline but not mine.

[Alternate timelines are a thing she's been quickly learning about.]

[ Molly purses her lips thoughtfully, then nods ]

Yeah, that's probably it. She always wore this head thing, and a cape.

[ she smiles a little ] So that's cool that you're not her. I don't know why she would've taken them away anyway.

[Wanda is still troubled by this information, for as much as Molly says that they dress differently, she can think of her old uniform, another that had come with her, that matches that description.]

I haven't the faintest idea, but if you learn more I would appreciate the information.

[If there was something she could do to prevent something from happening in the future, that would be good.]

So, may I ask what powers you have then?

Probably one of the grown-ups knows. It's just kids talked at X-Corp when they made me stay there after our parents got exploded.

[ Molly shifts around in her chair. ] I'm super strong and invulnerable!

[Parents got exploded?

Good lord, is this why Wanda doesn't speak with children often? Oh, Clint's were sweet enough, but this one is making her head spin.]

Invulnerable? Really? How did you discover that?

[Super strength seems so common, but there aren't as much who can claim to be invulnerable.]

[ No, Wanda, that's just Molly. Trust us on this. ]

Somebody tried to knock me over the head with a shovel. [ Said so matter-of-factly. ] It broke.

[Wanda grins despite herself.]

It serves them right for trying such a thing.

Totally. I punched him across the street after that.

Have you ever had the limits of you strength tested? How much you can pull or hold, how hard you can punch, or how far you can throw something?

[She has to admit to having a certain level of curiosity.]

[ Molly ponders this ] Not like trying to test it or anything. I dunno how far I could throw things, but there was a godzilla-sized monster that stepped on me and then I tipped it over. So I'm pretty strong, I think.

[ It's an understatement and she knows it. ]

Yes, it certainly sounds that way. Perhaps sometime you could show me in person.

[She admits, she wants to see, and Molly's company wouldn't be intolerable, especially compared to some others.]