video;

[doesthemath]

[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.]

Comments

encrypted 45%

[beganwithamask]

[Yep, hasn't heard of her. Maybe he'll ask Carol or Nita, see if they have...]

Bucky. Tried layin' low already but I got made, so. [Waves a hand vaguely.] Still rather keep it on the quiet side.

encrypted 45%

[doesthemath]

Bucky?

[Now that's a surprise. Wanda blinks, leaning toward her console though video isn't on.]

I know you. Or at least, a version of you and your wife. Steve brought you to a function...

[Despite the differences in age, Steve seemed most at ease among his friends from before.]

encrypted 45%

[beganwithamask]

[Ugh he hates hearing about other Buckys. It's kind of a blow when being Bucky is basically all you have, but he keeps the discomfort off his face and shrugs casually.]

Different one, then. I don't live long enough to get hitched. ...Who'd I marry?

encrypted 45%

[doesthemath]

A woman by the name of Gail. She was Captain Rogers' sweetheart, as I understand, before everything happened. The Bucky in my world married her, and decades later they are still married, still happy so far as I know.

[Wanda watches his expression carefully, but as subtly as she can manage.]

I'm sorry to hear of your...circumstances. May I ask how you became aware of that information?

encrypted 45%

[beganwithamask]

[Bucky just curses quietly at that. Still not Gretchen. That's not what he wanted to hear. Maybe it would have been nice to hear that at least one version of him out there got to go back to Germany for her, got to make whatever they had briefly into something real, but...] I guess I'm the only Bucky in the damn multiverse who doesn't steal Steve's girl. Am I just the only one who can get a girl of his own? Criminey. We didn't know a Gail though, he had a different sweetheart.

[He just shrugs.] I was riding a bomb right before I showed up here. Basic math.

encrypted 45%

[doesthemath]

[Well that's quite the reaction. Wanda raises an eyebrow, one he can't see, and takes a deep breath.]

Basic math, of course.

As to the matter of Gail and your alternate self, I don't have a lot of other information. I don't know how it came about that Gail and the other Bucky came together but one can only assume that they developed feelings separate from her previous relationship. As I said, they have been happily married to each other these many decades.

encrypted 45%

[beganwithamask]

I guess good for him, then. Got off easy, seems like one of us should. [You can practically hear the shrug.] It just seems... weird to me. I dunno.

So how're you settlin' in so far? [Because talking about his alternate selves is still weird and uncomfortable.]