℗ oo1. an elevator teeming with confusion

[quits]

[There's a redhead in the elevator. Barefoot and standing there wondering when ...]

Phil...? [She turns to look at Phil, but he's not there and the floors have definitely been reduced and renumbered. Plus, the elevator has changed and there's a book on the floor.]

Well, that's not right. [She goes to press the button for the lobby. The doors open and - oh. Nope.]

Clearly, something has gone wrong. Tony? [Where is the call box?] Okay, it's funny, but really what's going on? Is this payback for the elevator thing, because you know that wasn't really my fault. [Seriously. Where is the penthouse button on this thing and how did he manage to build an entire floor that looks like a castle without her remembering it?]



((ooc: step onto the elevator! talk to her through the journal on the floor! All she wants to say is FIRST to Tony!))

Comments

[quits]

[It does, but Pepper knows better than to just discuss a covert branch of the government with a stranger on an elevator. Phil would be so disappointed in her.]

As a defensive item? [She'll lift her arm, gesturing outward. As if she has a shield on her arm.

Then a beat.]

I'm sorry, but who are you? [Because, really... this is too weird.]

[compromisedarrow]

Clint Barton. My name's Clint Barton.

[A pause... He might as well.] I'm an agent of SHIELD.

You are Miss Potts, right?

[If she wasn't, he'd deal with any backlash later.]

[quits]

Yes, sorry, I am. [She clutches the journal to her chest, grateful for Crowley for explaining it to her before an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. was in the elevator. That would've been awkward.]

This is just all a bit new to me.

[compromisedarrow]

[And Clint notices that, making sure his own journal was closed in his back pocket, still.]

You know about this place?

[quits]

That feels like a loaded question.

I just showed up. I'm not sure I know much of anything. [She's heard things, from others in this elevator, from Crowley over the journal, but -- does she believe it? Not entirely.]

[compromisedarrow]

[Barton leans against the wall of the elevator, making sure his journal is pressed against the wall, keeping it shut.]

Well, I'll give you the brief low-down. We're in a castle. We don't know how we got here, why we're here. It's called Cair Paradisa. It's some form of technology, or magic, we're not sure.

You know about the journals. That saves time. You also lost something. An ability, or a memory. Something important. You might not know what it is right away.

[There's a seriousness in Clint's tone as he says all of this.]

[quits]

[She nods, listening to what he tells her. It seems impossible. It seems like she had something slipped into her glass of champagne to give her these vivid hallucinations.

It's a plausible thought.]

How did you learn all of this?

[compromisedarrow]

I've been here nearly a month. I was told all this when I first arrived. [After the whole pointing-an-arrow-at-random-people thing.]

Time's a bit screwy here. Some people are from the past, some the future, some from different places entirely. Alternate worlds, stuff like that.

[A pause.]

What do you remember last?

[He's not having another Steve moment.]

[quits]

[She's not really sure why she would tell him what she remembers last... she's never met him before in her life. She looks at him as if he just asked her what her social security number and mother's maiden name is.]

Is there a reason why you have to worry about when I'm from? Is it Tony? Is he okay? [INSTANT WORRY. Just add Tony.]

[compromisedarrow]

What?

[Confused for a second.]

No, no. Tony's fine. He's fine. [Granted, flying towards a nuke last he checked, but fine.]

I just want to make sure we're on the same page and don't end up telling the other something they don't want to hear.

[quits]

I take it that's happened? [Why else would he be concerned? She wonders if she doesn't make it to DC.]

[compromisedarrow]

Not that I know of.

[A sigh.] Look... The reason I ask is more out of politeness than anything. We've got Captain Steve Rogers here. He's from the 1940's, and, well... I kinda said a bit too much about the future, and it was pretty... Awkward.

[quits]

Oh. I can see how that'd be awkward. [She nods, wringing her hands a bit.]

Well, I was on my way to DC and I don't believe I've ever met you. I think you're in the clear of telling me weird things about my future.

[compromisedarrow]

Okay. Well, the last time I saw Stark he was fine. But I'll warn you, there's nothing stopping this place from pulling him from a point when it isn't.

[quits]

That's good to know. [She's fairly certain she can handle whatever her dream will throw at her. She just hopes she wakes up sooner rather than later.]

[compromisedarrow]

Okay. Well, you've got a room here. I'd settle, go exploring, find your way around. You might be here a while.

[quits]

A room? Oh, okay. I'll -- I'll look into that. [That doesn't sound foreboding at all.]

[compromisedarrow]

[Pressing the "Door Open" button.]

If you need anything, give me a shout over the journal.

[quits]

[She'll nod and shift the journal, indicating that she understands.]

Right. I'll be sure to do that. [Dream S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.]

[compromisedarrow]

[If you're dreaming about Barton, he doesn't blame you. But he gives a wave as the doors close.]

[quits]

[She's just convinced this entire thing is a dream. It's the only thing that makes sense. I'm sure she's seen Inception. She doesn't remember getting here!]