First Entrance: Maria Hill

[holds_her_own]

Great, more paperwork.


A woman of average height and medium build, wearing a blue uniform and sidearm, walks in. Her eyes shift around the room, hand darting for her weapon.


"Anyone mind explaining what the fuck is going on? I'm armed, and extremely annoyed."


It's worse than dangerous.


Welcome to Milliways, Agent Hill.


[OoC: Eventually, Hill will make her way to the Bar and receive the note Clint left for her, so if you'd prefer to skip past the Welcome To Milliways chat, I'm cool with that! If you have any questions about Hill, see here, and I'm also on AIM and in crackchat as LordoLorien. Thanks! ETA: As of 3am EST, I'm heading to bed. Consider this post open to new tags indefinitely. Thank you, everyone! ♥]

Comments

[redintheledger]

"Maria!"

It's not actually a shout. It's just a very emphasized name that Romanoff is using to get Hill to not call her Romanoff.

(She's wearing dark grey suit pants, a blue blouse, the kind of sensible and boring heels that Agent Romanoff only wears with sensible, boring clothes when she's being someone else. Or talking to INTERPOL.)

"So you found Milliways," she continues once she's closer. Despite the quietly pleased note in her voice, her eyes are more resigned. "I can explain, but you might want to step out of the doorway..."

[holds_her_own]

She swivels in the direction of the other agent.

Quick assessment delivers the needed intel. Uncommon first-name greeting, civvies that scream undercover, personality and gait that back up that assessment.

Hill relaxes at once.

"Nadine!" she grins. "You could say I just stumbled in."

The laughter doesn't fit quite right, and in a quieter tone she lilts:

"Explain?"

She does, however, holster her sidearm and move further into the room.

[redintheledger]

"It's a lot to explain, so why don't we grab a booth? Milliways is...complicated."

To put it mildly.

"The boss comes here, too," she adds, still in speaking quietly.

[holds_her_own]

She looks sharp at that.

"After you."

Her hand will stay at her thigh, just in case.

[thebesteverseen]

"Sure." That's a voice off her ten o'clock.

A solid brick wall of a man, who couldn't not look military, even for the relaxed dressed.
"Though I'd advise you don't follow through on shooting lest you want to start out in the brig."

It's a careful statement, nothing like a threat or promise. More like the casual commentary it is here.

[redintheledger]

There are few people she trusts at her back - fortunately, Hill is one of them.

She leads them to a nearby booth, and slides onto the seat.

"First thing you should, we're not in our world anymore. Time doesn't run while we're here, so you're not going to be missing."

[holds_her_own]

"What kind of security threat to SHIELD are we talking about?"

It's the first question on her mind, and until she knows the answer it'll be difficult concentrating on anything else.

"Off-world? Or a disturbance in the space-time continuum?"

[not_his_pa]

William is at a table with a bag of peas over his black eye and sits up straight at her entrance, his tongue on his split and healing lip,

"Ma'am, this is Milliways."

[redintheledger]

"The portals are randomly appearing, although after the initial appearance, they seem to be able to be controlled a little according to intent of the visitor. From what I've heard, that's one way only. The front door will lead back to where a person entered from. Risk is if they bring back anyone with them. And more...off-universe than off-world."

Beat.

"The boss seems to find it acceptable."

[holds_her_own]

Her body swivels to her ten, action ready.

"I'd advise you to hold your advice until you give me a damn good reason why I should take it."

He looks military, perhaps United States Marine Corps or Navy SEAL.

She knows he isn't SHIELD.

"Where are we, and who the hell are you?"

[holds_her_own]

Last time she checked, she wasn't in Hollywood.

In fact, she was just leaving her office for the accounting department.

"I'm going to need more to go on than that, kid."

[thebesteverseen]

The words roll off like water off a duck. The same way everything can after Coronado. Without giving him to need to react to the tension pouring off her like waves, reading like memo the readiness to hit the deck in a second if needing it. He doesn't even really peruse the options filtering through about the table as a shield and the less than seconds it would take to get his hand on his piece.

"Milliways; few clicks from the end of time and space." With barely the tick of nod backwards toward the window, without flinch or glance back. "Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett." Though this one he gives the half pause, flicking his eyes to insignia patches on her uniform, before knifing hazel eyes right back. "Likely not from the same planet as you."

He'd know the insignia if she was. Military, or some derivation thereof. But not from Earth, or his Earth, either way.

[not_his_pa]

"Yes, ma'am, Milliways is the Bar at the End of the Universe. I know it don't make much sense but that's what it is,"

He considers gesturing to the Window but only begins the motion before stopping. She reminds him of Katya and he doesn't want her mad at him.

[holds_her_own]

Her eyes narrow.

"Suggesting a venue sentience?"

Or a consciousness uplink?

"What's the risk of being followed?"

If Director Fury comes here, then there's no chance it hasn't already been vetted. Still, Hill would be remiss not to do her due diligence.

[hasthehighground]

There's a familiar looking guy sitting at the Bar, who turns at her comment. He has a newly opened beer in front of him.

He raises his voice slightly, grinning. "You're letting out the a/c."

[the_man]

Once she's holstered her weapon and taken a seat at the bar, someone sits down next to her.

Fury has always been light on his feet, no matter how big he is.

"So. What do you think?"

[redintheledger]

"Well, the Bar itself is an AI....not the place, the...piece of furniture. Sentience is a possibility. And I'd say the risk is similar to other bars. You just have to be careful."

Her mouth curves wryly.

"Very careful, sometimes things can be released here. Hate to see them in our world."

[holds_her_own]

At no point does she relax her stance or turn her head. He's under the scrutiny of laser-sharp dark eyes, cataloging every flinch and tic of his mouth.

She flicks her sights to the Window once.

Briefly.

She only has one response to that final remark.

"Third generation army brat, highly decorated -- make that Naval Intelligence. Special ops; served at least two campaigns; working local law enforcement with a special detail. Probably high school quarterback, too."

An eyebrow moves.

"Did I leave anything out?"

[holds_her_own]

Oh, look.

It's the Employee of the Month.

"Barton."

She doesn't flick him the bird, but only just because she's still on duty.

Or was.

"The hell?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Neither of those are relevant," allows a slim, black-clad woman from somewhere to Maria's left.

At least she didn't approach through any blind spots?

"You are not allowed to shoot people. Here."

[holds_her_own]

"Could have used a heads-up, sir."

Hill doesn't flinch.

She just swivels vaguely unimpressed eyes his way.

"Am I the last to know?"

Barton's note is lying on the bar in front of her.

[holds_her_own]

Her gaze snaps to his hand.

She judges his threat level to be minimal, and relaxes minutely.

"Any idea how I got to the end of the universe?"

[the_man]

"Last of who? Senior staff? Not even close. Last of my most favorite agents? Maybe."

He meets her...eye.

"No one gets a heads up on this place. We don't want to make anyone jealous. Or hurt feelings."

[not_his_pa]

"You walked through a door, ma'am that opened to Milliways. That's still the best reason I know and I know it ain't much."

[thebesteverseen]

"Only everything else over two years of a sixteen year service record."

He's not picky that all the tour numbers are wrong or that neither his father or grandfather were the same exact field either. He knows everything he's done. He knows he picked a field where he will never be able to or want to boast about his deeds. Being a SEAL isn't about being known, it isn't about getting respect or recognition for his face or name. They are the unsong stories for the right reasons, with ammended constitutional rights and the willingness to do the job, whatever it cost or took.

But as for her? He's actually a fan of someone with backbone. Who'd rather bite out and strike down in an uncertain situation than shrivel in. Danny would hate her. Steve's only actual reaction to her entire score of words is that begrudgingly the corner of his mouth twitches toward an upward quirk. It doesn't move any other part of his mouth, and it's definitely not a smile, but it's definitely a something.

"And yours is." He's not going to call it fair's fair.

Nothing in warfare actually is. But she didn't argue his assessment which makes it right.