Just off the plane, with two large suitcases in tow, a tired looking professor is at the front reception desk at the Watchtower. He pats down his tweed jacket, finding his wallet, shaking his head.
"Dr. Bill Foster," he repeats for the receptionist. "Yes-" he hands over his ID. "I was assured I would be added. No, no appointment. No, I'm not part of the press. My daughter-" yes he's getting a bit impatient now. It's been a long travel day from San Francisco and he's a bit old and has too much luggage.
There was some needling involved in order for Alexei to find out about Ava's father. Bill Foster, that is. Maybe not a father in the biological sense, but a father in the way that it matters most, just as Alexei himself is to Yelena. Even so, it completely slipped his mind that the man was supposed to be visiting. Not until he passes through the lobby by sheer coincidence (and overhears the conversation) does that particular memory fall back into place. He stops in his tracks near the Watchtower's main entrance, whirls around on the spot and heads back over towards the receptionist, curious gaze fixed on the professor.
Bill doesn't look at all like the sort of father figure he'd expected Ava to have. Still, looks can be deceiving. Alexei's looking far from his usual abrasive self these days too, beard far more neatly trimmed and most tattoos hidden by a black uniform with red detailing. Just another one of the attempts to get Alexei to fall in line with the rest of the New Avengers. He has notes on it, though. He doesn't like the placement of the A on the left side of his chest, the logo's not shiny enough, he wants some white trim in there somewhere, not enough pouches, etc. There's a reason the various departments involved with super suit design still haven't settled on a final version, and Alexei's notes are that reason.
"Hey hey, be nice to our guest," he says to the receptionist once he's standing right by Bill's side. "Do you not know who this is? He was personally invited by Ghost. I will vouch for him."
Looks can be deceiving indeed, and though Bill has gotten quite a bit softer and slower in his advanced age, he is just as bit as observant as his SHIELD days. Research is his speciality, and he's done quite a bit of digging into Ava's new teammates. Beyond just the fluff pieces the newspaper articles have put out.
The Red Guardian, standing before him now in a decidedly less red uniform, was perhaps a bit more difficult to find information on. Most sources in Russian, and disappeared into obscurity with no reference at all to his fate. Until now.
And some limo service.
But Bill smiles in relief at the intervention of this whole tiresome check in process.
The poor receptionist does look apologetic. She's had a rather busy day of warding away every kid claiming to do a podcast, every tiktok 'influencer' with 10k followers asking to do a collab, and three different costumed weirdos (one missing a tooth) asking if there was an audition process to join. "Sorry about that, sir," she hands over a keycard and visitor badge to Bill, who examines it carefully before clipping it to the lapel of his jacket. "Your room will be on the 14th floor, and will be ready in about... 30 minutes. We can have your luggage brought up-"
"Be careful with it, expensive equipment," Bill notes, as she wheels it behind the desk, clearly surprised how heavy the one suitcase is.
"Ava warned me she'd be a bit busy until later," he tells Alexei. So he knew ahead of time it wouldn't be her running down to greet him. Still, he's a bit nervous about this reunion. "If you don't mind giving me a tour."
Alexei doesn't blame the receptionist too much for her mistake, if only because he knows her. He's had a few friendly (one-sided) chats with her and likes to think they're on good terms. Maybe she's even a Red Guardian fan! Who could blame her? So he stays ever pleasant, grinning even as she takes the suitcase behind the desk. And oblivious to how she struggles with the weight, of course. His attention goes right back to Bill himself.
"Oh, no! No minding! I will give you the tour," he says, slamming a hand down on the man's shoulder in a chummy manner. "Is there any location you would like to see first? Some of it is off-limits to non-Avengers, but I can try to sneak you in."
It should be clear right off the bat Alexei isn't the smartest bulb in the box, since he hasn't even asked for any kind of identification from Bill, let alone done some kind of test to make sure he's not looking at a Skrull.
Alexei, I'm not trying to trick you. I'm just curious. Because I asked Yelena and she said you only ever talked about her mum. But then she pointed out the whole prison thing. And so I was kinda just curious if maybe you were a little queer or maybe just prison gay?
Literally not what I said. But no doubt there are people who go to jail who fuck people of the same gender purely because there's no one from the opposite gender and they crave the intimacy.
Also. Don't think I haven't noticed you're specifically not answering.
[Give him a second, let him look at those descriptions again...]
alright so somewhere between 1 and 2
I was in for almost 20 years it was a lifetime sentence but yelena and her sister broke me out and then in the chaos of the blip I got to ease into american citizenship without anyone asking any questions but in my defense my only crime was insulting superior officer and flipping his desk he had it coming
well let me put it this way if it is choice between asshole belonging to asshole and my own hand, hand is the better option
(do not share my texts with yelena please because she will not think that was funny)
well he was leader of red room and he was very bad person with very fragile ego I guess when super soldier came into his office and started yelling at him he felt VERY threatened easier to just put red guardian behind bars than dealing with what would happen if great hero of Russia told everyone government's dirty secrets
There is no part of me that even considered anyone being anywhere near your asshole, tbh. Well... maybe your wife, actually.
Oh, she doesn't wanna know anyway. So this is just between us.
Yeahhhhhh. Red Room is just like... Russian HYDRA, yeah? Human experimentation, torture, generally horrible people doing their best to turn not horrible people into horrible people?
winter soldier was already made by russian faction of HYDRA i am pretty sure siberia I think is what bucky said so winter soldier is already kind of russian winter soldier except he is not real russian (do not ask bucky about it he is very sensitive about HYDRA things)
and red guardian is meant to be russian CAPTAIN AMERICA government sponsored super soldier fighting country's enemies out in public!
Wait, really? I didn't know that. I mean, we don't talk about it, I mostly just know what was in the files Natasha released when she revealed HYDRA was hiding in SHIELD. I do recall the Siberia thing though. Sam told me about it. There were more soldiers there and Zemo killed them all.
Oh, that makes sense. How did they get your serum?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Fathers day...
"Dr. Bill Foster," he repeats for the receptionist. "Yes-" he hands over his ID. "I was assured I would be added. No, no appointment. No, I'm not part of the press. My daughter-" yes he's getting a bit impatient now. It's been a long travel day from San Francisco and he's a bit old and has too much luggage.
Dads...............
Bill doesn't look at all like the sort of father figure he'd expected Ava to have. Still, looks can be deceiving. Alexei's looking far from his usual abrasive self these days too, beard far more neatly trimmed and most tattoos hidden by a black uniform with red detailing. Just another one of the attempts to get Alexei to fall in line with the rest of the New Avengers. He has notes on it, though. He doesn't like the placement of the A on the left side of his chest, the logo's not shiny enough, he wants some white trim in there somewhere, not enough pouches, etc. There's a reason the various departments involved with super suit design still haven't settled on a final version, and Alexei's notes are that reason.
"Hey hey, be nice to our guest," he says to the receptionist once he's standing right by Bill's side. "Do you not know who this is? He was personally invited by Ghost. I will vouch for him."
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The Red Guardian, standing before him now in a decidedly less red uniform, was perhaps a bit more difficult to find information on. Most sources in Russian, and disappeared into obscurity with no reference at all to his fate. Until now.
And some limo service.
But Bill smiles in relief at the intervention of this whole tiresome check in process.
The poor receptionist does look apologetic. She's had a rather busy day of warding away every kid claiming to do a podcast, every tiktok 'influencer' with 10k followers asking to do a collab, and three different costumed weirdos (one missing a tooth) asking if there was an audition process to join. "Sorry about that, sir," she hands over a keycard and visitor badge to Bill, who examines it carefully before clipping it to the lapel of his jacket. "Your room will be on the 14th floor, and will be ready in about... 30 minutes. We can have your luggage brought up-"
"Be careful with it, expensive equipment," Bill notes, as she wheels it behind the desk, clearly surprised how heavy the one suitcase is.
"Ava warned me she'd be a bit busy until later," he tells Alexei. So he knew ahead of time it wouldn't be her running down to greet him. Still, he's a bit nervous about this reunion. "If you don't mind giving me a tour."
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"Oh, no! No minding! I will give you the tour," he says, slamming a hand down on the man's shoulder in a chummy manner. "Is there any location you would like to see first? Some of it is off-limits to non-Avengers, but I can try to sneak you in."
It should be clear right off the bat Alexei isn't the smartest bulb in the box, since he hasn't even asked for any kind of identification from Bill, let alone done some kind of test to make sure he's not looking at a Skrull.
a super important question;
Hey, hi! Alexei.
It's Joaquin.
Falcon.
You probably know that.
Anyways, I have a hella important question for you.
But it's also kinda personal.
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i did know that yes
it is good to hear from you I hope you are well
what is the important personal question?
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I hope you are too.
Okay so, feel free not to answer, but I know you had a wife. Yelena's mum.
But like...
On a scale of 1 to 6... how straight are you??
1/3
2/3
3/3
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like I need to consult with new avengers PR team before I answer
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I'm just curious.
Because I asked Yelena and she said you only ever talked about her mum.
But then she pointed out the whole prison thing.
And so I was kinda just curious if maybe you were a little queer or maybe just prison gay?
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not everyone who goes to prison is GAY!!!
[Still masterfully dodging the actual question, this one.]
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But no doubt there are people who go to jail who fuck people of the same gender purely because there's no one from the opposite gender and they crave the intimacy.
Also.
Don't think I haven't noticed you're specifically not answering.
He's onto you, Alexei.
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if 1 is straight and 6 is very very queer, maybe 2 and a half??
but just to be clear i did not fuck anyone in prison
they were all terrible douchebags and i would never give them the satisfaction
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But so like... kind of a little bit into dudes but mostly women?
Got it.
I'm probably like a 4 on the Kinsey scale, for what it's worth.
Wow... how long were you in prison for?
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[Give him a second, let him look at those descriptions again...]
alright so somewhere between 1 and 2
I was in for almost 20 years
it was a lifetime sentence but yelena and her sister broke me out and then in the chaos of the blip I got to ease into american citizenship without anyone asking any questions
but in my defense my only crime was insulting superior officer
and flipping his desk
he had it coming
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TWENTY YEARS?!
That's nearly my whole life?
And you never?! Not even once??
Wait... is that actually all you did?
Sounds like someone was a little sensitive tbh.
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if it is choice between asshole belonging to asshole and my own hand, hand is the better option
(do not share my texts with yelena please because she will not think that was funny)
well he was leader of red room and he was very bad person with very fragile ego
I guess when super soldier came into his office and started yelling at him he felt VERY threatened
easier to just put red guardian behind bars than dealing with what would happen if great hero of Russia told everyone government's dirty secrets
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Well... maybe your wife, actually.
Oh, she doesn't wanna know anyway. So this is just between us.
Yeahhhhhh.
Red Room is just like... Russian HYDRA, yeah?
Human experimentation, torture, generally horrible people doing their best to turn not horrible people into horrible people?
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BASICALLY russian HYDRA
but they knew HYDRA had the better stuff so that is why they would always try to steal from them
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I'm taking that to mean that you have absolutely been pegged by your wife.
Oh.
Wonderful.
Another HYDRA.
Is that why they made you??
Are you just the Russian Winter Soldier???
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siberia I think is what bucky said
so winter soldier is already kind of russian winter soldier
except he is not real russian
(do not ask bucky about it he is very sensitive about HYDRA things)
and red guardian is meant to be russian CAPTAIN AMERICA
government sponsored super soldier fighting country's enemies out in public!
no subject
I didn't know that.
I mean, we don't talk about it, I mostly just know what was in the files Natasha released when she revealed HYDRA was hiding in SHIELD.
I do recall the Siberia thing though.
Sam told me about it. There were more soldiers there and Zemo killed them all.
Oh, that makes sense.
How did they get your serum?
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