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.
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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."
no subject
"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.