[001; video]

[earpiece]

[When the video feed clicks on, anyone paying attention will be treated to the image of a man who looks wildly uncomfortable. He's dressed in local clothes—his options were change into the garb generously offered or sit in the bloody, wet suit that just happened to be his favorite and is now instead draped across the back of his chair and probably ruined forever along with most of his other stuff—and is wearing an expression that's a curious mix of frustrated and tired and dazed. Like he knows what's going on, but can't quite believe it.

He rubs his face before speaking, shoulders rising and falling with an inaudible sigh. Without fully raising his gaze to meet the camera, he says:]

My name is Phil Coulson. I just—

[He hesitates, thinking. How is he supposed to approach this? "Hi, I just died, it's nice to meet you all here in this afterlife I wasn't expecting?" Bright blue eyes flicker toward the keyboard, then dart back up, this time focusing directly on the lens.]

I arrived here a little while ago.

[And there it is, the versatile, thin-lipped little smile that those who know him already know so well. This time, it's meant to convey something akin to appreciation toward those who helped him, but it looks a bit pained. He's not sure he can help that.

Because, you know, his back is killing him. Pun completely intended.]

Just thought I would say hello.

Comments

[earpiece]

...hi.

[Okay, she's... cheerful. And odd-looking. Coulson rubs the bridge of his nose and sits up a little straighter.]

[littlecousin]

[Oops he seems tired.]

Are you okay? Do you need anything?

[She'll bring him soup or something JUST WATCH.]

[earpiece]

[Well he would argue that being dead does that to a person.]

I'm okay, yes, thank you. And no, but... thank you.

What's your name?

[littlecousin]

I'm Namorita Prentiss. Just call me Nita, though. Everybody does.

[She smiles cheerfully.]

[earpiece]

Hi, Nita.

[WH—

IS THAT A REAL SMILE?

MAYBE.]

[littlecousin]

[You have to be a real ass to be immune to Nita's blunt-force friendliness.]

Nice to meet you, Mr. Coulson.

[earpiece]

[Phil is occasionally a legitimate ass, but that's usually reserved for his subordinates, so she has nothing to worry about.]

You too. You can just call me Phil.

How long have you been here?

[littlecousin]

Two months.

[Said in exactly the same tone of voice one would say "forever."]

[earpiece]

[That earns her a slightly sympathetic look, but he's not really sure what to say to that.]

[littlecousin]

Um, so, you know the Avengers?

[Smoooooth subject change oh yeah.]

[earpiece]

[Like butter. Phil eyes the screen a little warily.]

I do, yes.

[littlecousin]

[Her smile's a little rueful.]

They're all from your universe?

[Anyone who knows about the Avengers has to know about multiple timelines, obvs.]

[earpiece]

[Her use of the word "universe" takes him back a bit.



This place is so goddamn weird.]

As far as I know. Why?

[littlecousin]

Just kinda wondering.

[Not being recognized by people who should know her is getting old.]

Cap's an old family friend where I'm from, but your Cap doesn't know me.

[earpiece]

[Her phrasing there makes him look a little uncomfortable, in part because this entire concept is pretty foreign to him, and in part...

Well. Let's just blame Stark.]

Oh.

[littlecousin]

["Blame Stark" is a sound policy in any universe.]

"Oh."

[She's smiling, though, if a little wryly.]

First time with the multiple universes thing?

[earpiece]

...sort of, yeah.

[The Thor and Loki thing kind of counts, but not really.]

[littlecousin]

You get used to it.

[She's not even being sarcastic.]

[earpiece]

I hope you're right.

[Because while she may seem serious, he's kind of skeptical on that one.]

[littlecousin]

I'm serious. There's always time travelers or alternate timelines where everyone's the opposite sex or evil parallel universe duplicates or something.

[The MCU will never be as crazy as its progenitor universe.]