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Post by Kristi Lynne on Aug 28, 2021 16:39:46 GMT -8
"The other guest room. It's practically a closet since we don't have many guests."
“Ohh-kaaay,” Sophie said in hesitant agreement. She’d been given a guided tour by the lady of the house so she was fairly certain she’d seen every room of interest, at least on this level. She remained dubious as Zemo led the way into another room and paused at a bookshelf. He pulled upon one of the volumes, which apparently triggered a secret door in the wall. Like something out of an old movie or a Scooby-Doo cartoon.
“So you’re the Sokovian Bruce Wayne?” Sophie remarked, as Zemo swung the bookcase away from the wall. Rich, secretive, and seemingly in favor of vigilante justice – the label did seem to fit. What other secret passageways might there be? Did Oeznik even know about them? It was a safe bet that Helen didn’t, as she would have been too proud of her husband’s ingenuity not to share it.
Sophie followed him through the hole in the wall that opened out into a larger, almost bunker-like room. Once the lights were turned on, her jaw dropped at the vast chamber of secrets she now found herself in. There was a large table of expensive-looking dark wood at the center, its surface covered with various maps scattered with markers. The perimeter of the room was ringed with metal file cabinets and shelves laden with boxes. And where there was wall space, there were photos and news clippings, charts and diagrams, all of which seemed to display a similar theme.
“Blimey… nice bat cave,” Sophie uttered in astonishment before taking a closer look. An etching of a Scottish castle, a painting of a church in Norway, photos of Dr. Werner Reinhardt and the Nazi Schuttstaffel, Arnim Zola and his involvement in Operation Paperclip, Wilfred Malick and his sons Gideon and Nathaniel, a drawing of something called The Obelisk, and far more beyond that. It was a finely curated collection of everything HYDRA.
So her host already knew. Must have known, for years. It was she who’d been in the dark all this time, and now suddenly her eyes were open. “Some of this stuff goes back decades, centuries even. How long have you been tracking them?” she asked, turning her focus back to him.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Sept 6, 2021 5:27:06 GMT -8
“So you’re the Sokovian Bruce Wayne?”
A smirk, hidden behind his back, appeared on Zemo's lips at that comparison. It didn't last there for long, though. Everytime he set foot into his secret little chamber, he was completely focused on his special task and the importance of it. As soon as they were standing in front of the wall space with its photos, news clippings, charts and diagrams, the features of the Sokovian soldier hardened even more, didn't even ease at her next joking comment.
“Blimey… nice bat cave,”
Zemo nodded slightly in response while giving her time to take a closer look.
“Some of this stuff goes back decades, centuries even. How long have you been tracking them?”
"A while," Zemo answered only vaguely. After a little pause, he added hesitantly and with his eyes still glued at the wall in front of them: "But you're the first person I bring here."
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Sept 6, 2021 16:03:01 GMT -8
"A while … But you're the first person I bring here."
The statement, and the gravity of its meaning, pulled her attention away from the photo she’d been studying and placed it squarely on Zemo. She could tell by his expression that he was being both sincere and serious. She had been afforded the honor and privilege of entering this sacred space, and she wouldn't dare take it lightly. This was the passion she’d been curious about, the compulsion that drove him. Everything in this room was the reason why he’d chosen the life of a soldier instead of a suit.
“So HYDRA is real,” Sophie concluded. “And they’re everywhere. Government, intelligence agencies, diplomatic corps, international media. I mean, this is massive!” She scanned the room once more with an awestruck exhale before approaching him. She set her computer and collection of papers on the center table, before studying him intently. There seemed to be another storm gathering in those hazel eyes and though he’d proven perfectly capable, she didn’t want him to face it alone.
“I gather the import/export family business is a cover for your intelligence work, which is a cover for your HYDRA-hunting. Pretty complicated life you’ve got there, lieutenant,” Sophie observed. She honestly admired his ability to compartmentalize and yet continue to function. Not just function but keep and maintain a loving family. Though her instinct usually ran to a joke or self-deprecating remark in order to keep herself at a distance, she chose instead to be as open as he was allowing himself to be in her company.
“And a pretty big leap of faith inviting me into that life. You would trust me, Zemo?” she asked. “With all this?”
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Sept 19, 2021 11:35:01 GMT -8
"So HYDRA is real,""And they’re everywhere. Government, intelligence agencies, diplomatic corps, international media. I mean, this is massive!"
The name alone was enough to send another frown upon his face, another moment of almost angrily staring at the wall in front of them, not even turning his head aside when Sophie intently eyed him. Only his eyes were watching her from out of the corner.
"I gather the import/export family business is a cover for your intelligence work, which is a cover for your HYDRA-hunting. Pretty complicated life you’ve got there, lieutenant,"
At that, Zemo's head turned around after all, before, almost unnoticeably, a slight smirk appeared on his lips. She was the right person to team up with, that he felt. Smart, ambitious, and discreet. And on top of that, good company.
"And a pretty big leap of faith inviting me into that life. You would trust me, Zemo?""With all this?"
"I do," he answered truthfully, the smirk growing a little. Then he turned his whole body back in Sophie's direction. "If you were not to be trusted, you would have had a lot of possibilities to stab me in the back. Besides," Zemo added with a casual shrug, "you survived a couple of days with my wife. You're stress-resistant." Despite his economic way with not only words but also emotions, it was obvious that this had been a joke. Then Zemo became more serious again, finally asking her the one crucial question. "Are you in?"
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Sept 20, 2021 3:25:23 GMT -8
"If you were not to be trusted, you would have had a lot of possibilities to stab me in the back. Besides, you survived a couple of days with my wife. You're stress-resistant."
Sophie laughed, grateful to share a joke with him in the midst of this serious situation. “I am not going to tell her you said that,” she countered. “And do give me some credit, Zemo; I’d be courteous enough to stab you in the front.”
She threw another smirk his way before turning her attention back to the briefing wall. Was she really ready to commit to this mission? A mission that was more like a personal vendetta, and one whose origins were still unknown to her. There could be no question that HYDRA were the bad guys and any effort to thwart their rising influence would be a noble one. After all, wasn’t that why she’d signed up to join Mi-6 in the first place? To stop the spread of a poisonous, destructive ideology that threatened to consume the world.
She couldn’t lie, it had been a thrill to search out all those loose ends and use them to connect Nasim al Zarif to HYDRA. A personal project that would have been discouraged or handed off to another department if she were back in London. But what would be the rules of engagement? Her potential partner did not seem to be bound by borders or governments. Was she getting in over her head? And how much of her desire to join this venture was the appeal of the mission, or of the man himself?
"Are you in?"
When Zemo faced her and offered the invitation, her instinct was immediately to agree. That was going to be a problem, if she allowed it to be. Sophie took a couple of contemplative breaths, lest he think it was that easy to earn her agreement. “Ah, what the hell, I’ve got plenty of vacation time to burn,” she finally said. “My CO would have me on desk duty anyway, while my leg heals. And I do owe you one, perhaps two.”
She faced him with the same serious expression and extended her hand in an official gesture of partnership, careful to choose the one that he did not have bandaged. “I’m in. So where do we start, Boss?”
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Oct 1, 2021 14:24:24 GMT -8
Zemo was not at all surprised, or disappointed even, to see her hesitating. Honestly, he would be if she wasn't. At the same time, though, Zemo dared to say that she had been going to take the offer as soon as he had submitted it; probably long before. As far as he could tell, Sophie was a smart and analytic person, but also an intuitive and passionate one; A combo that reminded Zemo of someone else. Himself. Without wanting to sound arrogant. He simply was aware of his strengths.
"Ah, what the hell, I’ve got plenty of vacation time to burn,""My CO would have me on desk duty anyway, while my leg heals. And I do owe you one, perhaps two."
Zemo smirked in silence. Of course, she put it that way. He liked that.
"I’m in. So where do we start, Boss?"
When, suddenly, her hand was reaching out to him to seal their partnership with a handshake, he took it without hesitation, still that smirk on his face. "Spain," was all he said. More explanations and instructions would follow later, probably not even before they would be on the actual flight. At least, not all of it. Not only was Zemo not used to work with somebody, as for these missions at least, he also didn't like to get asked too many questions beforehand: questions that could lapse anyway, as soon as they were on site.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Oct 2, 2021 10:16:41 GMT -8
"Spain."
"Ah, okay, I've never been to Spain," Sophie replied, still unsure of how to react to his matter-of-fact declaration. It seemed as if the plan was already in Zemo's head before they'd even hit the road. Yet one more thing that he would choose to share with her in due time, she hoped. "So I will take a closer look at the Barcelona lab to see if I can find a way in. Oh, and I need to deliver this info on Abrams and Zarif to the commander. I'll pick up my stuff at the barracks while I'm there. I'm sure Helen will be glad I no longer have to raid her closet."
She again gathered the laptop and her papers, noticing that Zemo was content to stand there, hands casually placed in his pockets, while he observed her somewhat manic preparations. Perhaps it was the yin and yang that would actually make this partnership work. "Also, I'm a bit low on cash," she confided. "That whole 'freeezing my assets due to suspected treason' thing. So if you could float me a loan for the trainfare to Spain, I promise I'll pay you back."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Nov 1, 2021 10:43:07 GMT -8
Zemo observed her preparations in silence, his hands casually placed in his pockets. At some point then, she looked back up at him.
"...""Also, I'm a bit low on cash,""That whole 'freeezing my assets due to suspected treason' thing. So if you could float me a loan for the trainfare to Spain, I promise I'll pay you back."
"Let that be the least of your worries," he replied with a slight smirk. Zemo had no intention to make her worry about their first mission already now, though, so he quickly added: "You take care of everything you need before we leave while I attend to our flight and hotel." At least the flight won't be a problem due to Zemo's possession of a private jet. "How long do you think you'll need?" he then asked rather formally while gesturing Sophie outside the room to turn it back into the hidden chamber behind an ordinary guest room.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Nov 1, 2021 15:54:18 GMT -8
"Let that be the least of your worries. You take care of everything you need before we leave while I attend to our flight and hotel."
"Okay, great," Sophie beamed, more than happy to leave the travel arrangements to him. As well-traveled as Zemo and his wife seemed to be, he likely already had a favorite hotel, restaurant, and rental car lined up. She led the way through the secret doorway and back into the ordinary room. Still clutching the computer, she stayed quietly contemplative while he maneuvered the bookcase back into its hiding place. She hated to take him away from Helen so soon after he'd just returned, but she also couldn't wait to start her own adventure by his side. Wait, 'adventure'? No, more of a serious, highly risky, not even remotely government-sanctioned incursion into foreign territory. But he made it seem so appealing.
"How long do you think you'll need?"
"Well, since I'm British, I can be ready in about...five hours," Sophie teased, recalling his earlier insult of her fellow countrymen. "Actually, I think we can both use a good night's sleep, and I could use a little more time with this intel, so wheels up soon after sunrise?" she offered.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Nov 12, 2021 13:41:09 GMT -8
"Well, since I'm British, I can be ready in about...five hours,"
The stern expression on his features vanished for a moment, gave way to another of his famous smirks. He liked her sense of humor. Zemo had been, admittedly, hesitant about the idea of working in a team at first, but with Sophie on his side, he had a feeling that they would have good times.
"Actually, I think we can both use a good night's sleep, and I could use a little more time with this intel, so wheels up soon after sunrise?"
"I'll meet you at eight," Zemo then stated rather formally, looking like he was going to leave her to herself for now. He, as well, had a lot of things to take care of; Especially one that he wasn't looking forward to. That was lying to Helen.
With a slight nod and a last, still formal yet not as much as before, "Goodnight," Zemo took his leave towards his own bedroom, hoping that his wife was still awake.
*** Zemo exits ***
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