un: scarlet

[divulsion]

[ooc: This post takes place on the second day of Sampremi. A log for the feast can be found here. Characters do not have to respond to this post before attending but they can if they like!]

[Between the storm preparations, the monsters at the borders, and exploratory teams trying to get to the bottom of everything, all on top of the strangeness of being pulled into an entirely new reality, Wanda is more than ready for something lighter to focus on. She's been through so much recently both back home and here in Riverview Quarantine that it feels good and fulfilling to come up for air again.

While video posts are not typically her style, it seems the best course for what she has to talk about now. The video opens to show Wanda holding her phone out in front of her. What can be seen of her dress is a dark but colorful floral pattern that contrasts well with her paler skin tone. Her hair is pulled up and away from her face, though a few tendrils escape and dangle down from beneath a thick crown of flowers resting atop her head. With a smudge of flour on her cheek, she offers the camera a faint smile.]

Hello, everyone. For those of you who haven't met me yet, my name is Wanda Maximoff. I'm from Earth, originally from a country called Sokovia. By some coincidence, it's not only a holiday here today but also back home as well. The Feast of Saint Nikolina is a celebration of those who we share a community with. People join their family, friends, and neighbors all throughout the city, bringing homemade dishes, drinks, and flowers to share. I've been cooking and baking since last night, and some of the local restaurants have donated drinks and flowers for the occasion. Anyone who would like to celebrate and feast today is welcome to join. You can bring additional food and drinks if you like, or even just your appetite. I promise, no one will be turned away.

I'll be down in the park just next to the community housing in an hour or so, and will be there until dusk.

[With nothing else to say, the camera jostles just a little as Wanda frees one hand to cut the feed.]

Comments

[ikols]

Oh, yes, she's quite infamous.

[ His smirk is a playful veil, translucent over the truth. ]

[divulsion]

Is she? Is there any specific reason why?

[It's probably a terrible idea to ask, but she can't stop herself.]

[ikols]

I wouldn't want to give you nightmares, little witch.

[ On some level, patronising as he sounds, he really doesn't. It's not fair to compare alternates of the same person, something Loki knows better than anyone.

Besides, the unkind truth in his hinting says enough. ]

[divulsion]

Is that the truth? Even if I believed it, I think there's little you could tell me that be worse than what I've already seen.

[She already has nightmares aplenty, dreams of losing her parents, of what it felt like to lose Pietro, and inside the mind of Ultron. On rare nights she imagines herself being the subject of Hydra's experiments once more--with a scepter one wielded by his counterpart in her world.]

[ikols]

Alright, if you insist ...

[ Which is when Loki changes the call to PRIVATE. ]

She's a reality-warper, as is one of her sons, they've the abilty to literally alter it. Wanda Maximoff spoke the words 'No more mutants' and erased the livelihoods of millions by taking away their powers. She tried to set it right, but ...

The Scarlet Witch is an on-and-off Avenger.

[divulsion]

[With more context, with a better understanding of the world he comes from, his words may have had a little more impact. Not that erasing the livelihoods of millions and taking away the powers of others lacks some oomph, but the mention of mutants and reality-warping raises more questions than it adds depth to his statement.

At least it isn't such a shock to hear that the other Scarlet Witch isn't always a member of the Avengers, in light of her own standing with the team. After the last several days in her world, she can understand very well how situations can spiral quickly and unexpectedly. Sometimes there's no other choice...]

It's always easier to break things than it is to mend them. [It had been easier to join HYDRA, to ally herself with Ultron than to fix what had been set into motion as a result of her actions and Pietro's.] Do you know why she did it?

[ikols]

I don't think she meant to.

[ Which says more than he could embellish on his own. ]

Anyway! Looking forward to working with you. I'll be keeping an eye on your alternate-universe son, as I've done in the past.

[divulsion]

[She did that by...by accident?

It's hard not to look troubled by that information, and all the more wary when Loki once again mentions her son. That he'll be keeping an eye on him as he's done in the past. It's so much information in such a short period of time and rather than ask more questions she simply wants to retreat to absorb it all.]

What is his name? This...the son of the other version of me?

[Had Loki mentioned it before, earlier? She can't recall, not while getting the sense that she hasn't navigated this conversation nearly as well as she'd hoped.

Whoever this son is, he isn't her family, not really, but she can't ignore the connection simply because of the oddity of the situation. Having lost all of her family now she doesn't want to, but neither does she want to take on the role of a mother, especially since he already has one.]

[ikols]

Two sons, twins, souls wished into a whole and then divided, scattered until they reformed. [ It sounds like he's being cryptic but that's the best summary he has for the rebirth of Wanda's sons. ] Tommy the speedster and Billy the witch. Billy is the one of whom I speak, he's usually to be found hanging out wherever the Avengers are.

[divulsion]

[A speedster and a witch.

Like she and Pietro. Wanda's expression softens somewhat, wondering what Pietro would have thought of this. If he would be pleased to know that one of her sons in another world has his gifts.

Of course, the question is if such things are passed on...but these aren't things she wants to ask Loki.]

I'm not his mother. Would he event wish to meet me?

[ikols]

Yes, Billy's familiar with the Multiverse, like me, and the variations of people we know. I'm sure he'd be happy to meet you, Wanda.

[ Why is Loki so helpful, so chatty? The divulging of information is a mild power trip, one that makes him feel like a good person for sharing. ]

Is Magneto your father, as in our world?

[divulsion]

[Wanda's not certain yet when she'll be comfortable meeting this alternate universe son but she appreciates the fact that she has the option. Something resembling family in the worlds beyond.]

Who? No. Who is Magneto?

[ikols]

A supervillain, a mutant like you. Probably best if you don't meet, honestly.

[divulsion]

My father was an ordinary man, not a supervillain and not a mutant. I'm not a mutant.

[ikols]

You're not human, evidently, so you're something if you're not a mutant. Heven help you if you're part of Medusa's clan of Inhumans.

[divulsion]

And if I told you that I am human?

[She has powers but it hasn't changed what she is, not really.]

[ikols]

I'd ... say 'okay'.

[ But his scepticism could move worlds, his arched eyebrow implies. ]

[divulsion]

[Be skeptical all you want, Loki, it's the truth as far as Wanda knows it.

She's just, not going to mention her world's Loki or how his staff had a hand in her gaining her powers.]

Then I suppose I have my answer. Come to the feast if you'd like something to eat.

[This is about all she can handle for one conversation.]

[ikols]

Too many people make for too many problems, I'll pass. But I'll be seeing you around, Scarlet Witch, one day to another.

[ Picking up on her too-polite dismissal, he outs himself from their meeting in person just yet. ]