Choose your poison

[redledgerdays]

01. I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE Unfortunately, you can't keep lying to your partner/friend/family anymore. You just don't feel the same for them anymore.
02. I WOULD KILL YOU The person who means so much to you has done something completely unforgivable and now it's time to make sure they know where they stand. You would kill them if you ever got the chance.
03. I LOVE YOU, BUT... A bittersweet love confession. You know you love this person more than anything, but you're not sure you can give them what they need.
04. I DON'T TRUST YOU No matter how you feel about this person, you really can't trust them anymore.
05. SACRIFICE You're going to sacrifice yourself, for the person you're talking with or for the good of all humanity. You want them to know the reasons and that there's no stopping you.
06. TROUBLE You're in trouble and you might not make it through. You need to let at least one person know how you feel before it's too late though.
07. BETRAYAL You've betrayed this person and you have to tell them the truth, no more running from it
08. CHEATED You've been unfaithful and it's time to tell your lover.
09. BROKEN That's it. You've had it. You are entirely broken and tired of everything.
10. AFRAID Something has you deathly afraid and you need to talk about it.
11. HELP ME You need someone to help you, bad. You can't do it alone anymore, you've tried.
12. I'M SORRY You said something or did something horrible and now it's time to ask for forgiveness.
13. YOU WERE A MISTAKE Sorry, but whoever you're talking to was the biggest mistake of your life or maybe it was just something you did together.
14. LET'S RUN AWAY You want to just get out, leave everything behind and be with this one person for the rest of your life.
15. ASHAMED Either you're ashamed of something they have done or something you did, either way you need to bring it up.
16. CAN'T REMEMBER The person standing in front of you looks so happy to see you, so relieved, but how do you tell them you can't remember a thing about them?
17. YOUR CHOICE Either choose an option from above, mix and match, or make up your own idea.

Comments

2!

[poisonousdream]

Being well-acquainted with dark magics has its advantages, especially for one demi-god currently on the run from his would-be brother... and with some injuries to repay.

And so, the high security office Natasha's just been ordered to infiltrate and search for the good of S.H.I.E.L.D.? It's got an unexpected guest waiting for her inside, lounging in one of the executive chairs.

"Agent Romanov," he says with decided relish, swiveling around to face her. "Miss me?"

[redledgerdays]

It's a routine infiltration; absolutely nothing Natasha can't or hasn't handled before. The usual suspects haven't shown up yet to slow her down, which is both refreshing and surprisingly boring. Generally these missions have at least one hiccup -- nothing she can't handle, of course, but at least it spices things up.

When she breaks into the office and Loki spins around to greet her, Nat makes a mental note to never want another hiccup on this sort of mission again. She can feel her stomach bottom out and she glances around the room quickly for any accomplices and escape routes, eyebrow cocked and mouth in a hard line, doing her best to keep any fear in check.

"Not really, no," she answers off-handedly.

[poisonousdream]

Oh, they're quite alone. Loki of Asgard isn't about to raise another army to deal with one small girl. This is between the two of them, after all.

He doesn't look to be in much of a hurry, however. Loki leans back in his chair, looking far too smug for his own good, and turns over and over in his hands a small orb that pulsates with a sickly green glow. And why shouldn't he be smug? For once he's snuck up on the bitch.

"It would behoove you to be more charitable. I'd imagine it's not every day your presence is graced by a god."

[redledgerdays]

She watches him, expression hard. Loki wouldn't be here without a reason, and she doubts he's terribly invested in foreign markets. That narrows down the reasons uncomfortably.

He's a god she won't acknowledge or bow to, and her defiance plays out in casual disinterest. Clint would at least have a quip about his godhood; she just doesn't care.

"What do you want, Loki?"

[poisonousdream]

Loki raises his eyebrows in feigned surprise, the movement of the orb momentarily arrested.

"We made a bargain, did we not?"

He rises, then, clutching the orb in the palm of his hand and sauntering toward her.

"I confess that certain events of the past have called for... necessary alterations. What with your beloved archer no longer able to provide his services. But I'm nothing if not honor-bound. And so, the burden must fall upon me to take his place."

He doesn't look all that sorry, really.

[redledgerdays]

Mention of Clint has her eyes going wide, nostrils flaring as she takes in a sharp breath, quelling her anger as best she can. He has no right to mention the archer -- no right to be here, really, bargain or no. She's broken far more promises in her time and Loki's demi-god status does not make him exempt from her tricks.

"That won't be required." Her eyes move between him and the orb, taking a cautious step back. She's ready to pull her weapon at any moment, though she makes no move to call in backup. "I'm not interested in you upholding your honour."

[poisonousdream]

Well, well. His mention of the archer looks as if it touched upon a nerve. Loki purses his lips as if she's personally affronted him by her refusal, but his eyes are twinkling.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. You see, just as my honor matters not to you, your interests do not sway me. The two of you are marked to die."

He pauses in contemplation, rubbing a thumb over the orb. It flares briefly in response to his touch, then settles.

"Though if you'd rather I start with the archer..."

[redledgerdays]

Her guns are out instantly, barrels pointed at Loki's head. "I'd rather you not talk," she says, head cocked to the side, jaw tight. That orb is going to be a problem, particularly seeing she has no idea what it is or what it's capable of doing. Knowing Loki, it can't be anything good.

So she needs to make herself some time.

"We defeated you once, Loki. What makes you think I can't do it again?"

[poisonousdream]

Loki looks delighted rather than worried by the gesture; his words have had the impact he expected. The wench is set to unravel, and Barton appears to be the loose thread to pull.

"Without the remainder of your fractured band of misfits?" he grins. "Tell me, did your keeper intentionally seek out the most damaged of souls when he gathered you together? Those with debts that could never be repaid? Perhaps you and your paramour should be thanking me. Now he fits right in!"

[redledgerdays]

It's a fine line she walks between actual indignation and just acting it. She caught the demi-god off guard once on the helicarrier, but the same trick won't work again. It doesn't mean she needs to give him more information than is strictly required. There is no bargaining here; she won't pay him for nothing.

Natasha removes the safety for show, seeing as the gun was all ready cocked and ready. The sound is loud in the silence, though, a final indication of her intentions.

"You have ten seconds before I stop caring why you're here," she bluffs. She'll never not care about his purpose here with that orb. "And I'm not as gracious as Phil."

[poisonousdream]

"Ah. The would-be hero. He'd all but slipped my mind. But then, he was so forgettable, was he not? And so... gracious to give up his life so easily."

Loki's not a fool. Judging by Stark's words with him earlier, the whelp was esteemed highly. He grips the Norn Stone tightly as he speaks, preparing to teleport elsewhere in the room once the girl snaps.

[redledgerdays]

She didn't give him the luxury of a vocal retort. Natasha tilted her head, standing completely still, then let off three rounds aimed squarely for his head. No warning, no remorse. Loki didn't deserve it, and she needs a distraction if she's getting out of this room alive.

let me know if this is too demi-godmodey

[poisonousdream]

The bullets whiz through now empty air; Loki has just barely managed to shift away in time. The question of where he is soon has its answer when a soft, cruel voice whispers in her right ear.

"You, though, I'm hoping will be more of a challenge."

's good~

[redledgerdays]

He disappears and Natasha has a moment of startled confusion before she feels him against her, breath on her ear. She narrows her eyes, back straight.

"Be careful what you wish for."

Her elbow shoots back in an attempt to connect with his ribs, pivoting on her heel to follow up with a proper punch.

[poisonousdream]

The elbow does connect, and it does knock the breath out of him. For Loki is a Frost Giant, true, but Agent Romanov is something else entirely. However, the punch once again misses its target, as the target is no longer there.

There's a quiet chuckle emanating from somewhere in the darkened room. Guess where, Natasha.

[redledgerdays]

She spins around the moment she realises he's gone, searching desperately through the shadows while she backs toward the door. Her gun remains ready, sweeping the room with expert ease, even if she's chilled to the bone. Loki is beyond her ability and she knows it. She needs backup and she needs it now.

"You won't win this, you know."

[poisonousdream]

"No?" the voice hisses. "I am Asgard's rightful king. Its champion. And what are you? Small. Insignificant. A loose end."

As he concludes his little speech, Loki's voice becomes less diffuse, concentrating in one part of the room more than the others. And at the tail end, Loki himself materializes, dagger in hand, and lunges with it.

[redledgerdays]

"I defeated you," she notes, keeping herself alert, heart racing. His voice grows stronger, concentrated, and she turns toward him in time to see Loki appear out of the shadows, swinging her gun around too late to stop him. "You won't-"

Her words are cut short as the dagger finds its mark in her shoulder, and Nat slams back against the door, grabbing Loki's hand and staring at him in surprised pain.

[poisonousdream]

His grin is nearly ghoulish as the knife slips in and he witnesses that look on her face. Even better than the pain is the surprise, the acknowledgement that he's bested her.

"What was that?" he purrs, and twists the dagger sharply.

[redledgerdays]

Natasha grits back a scream, nails digging into Loki's wrist as she gropes for purchase, gun clattering to the ground from numb fingers. Her face is white with pain, body trembling to keep from giving into it, but she still manages to answer with an attempted headbutt.

[poisonousdream]

All the pleasure he feels from her pain is abruptly lessened by his own: a sudden, white-hot flare of it at his temples. Loki staggers back a step, a hand to his forehead, but when his head comes back up his face is etched in an expression of fury.

"You'll pay for that," he snarls, and raises the hand with the Norn Stone menacingly.

[redledgerdays]

He steps back and it's just enough for her to breathe through the pain, knife still lodged in her shoulder. Natasha grips the hilt with bloody fingers, screaming as she pulls it out, but Loki's back before she can do much more than collapse back against the door, threats and snarls and waving stones.

"I thought I all ready had."

[poisonousdream]

"Did you?" He cocks his head and takes another menacing step forward. The Stone is flaring bright, purplish red, somehow hot and cold at the same time. The color of rage.

"You've no idea the price of your insolence."

Loki thrusts the stone out, then, toward the center of Natasha's chest.

[redledgerdays]

She has no idea what that stone will do and puts her arms up as a shield, gritting as fire lances through her arm and chest from the knife wound in her shoulder. It's too much and her right arm falls back at her side, leaving her with only her left to fend off Loki's attack, whatever it is.

[poisonousdream]

It was meant to be an obedience charm, much like the one he inflicted upon Barton and the others not so long ago... except this time with Loki himself in full command, undiluted by the desires of the Tesseract.

As it is, Romanov's arm dissipates much of the effect, if not all, leaving perhaps a curious numb feeling in her forearm but no other damage.