{The Avengers} Underneath it All {Open Roleplay}

“You have to wonder though,” Bernadette started, turning onto the highway, “What pushes a man to such extremes.”

Finally on the highway, the two would be at S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters in about an hour. Less if the roads weren’t heavy with late night traffic. From the looks of things, they weren’t.

“He couldn’t have always been like that, no one is born evil.”


“Oh you know,” Tony began, smirk fading into a serious expression, “Obsessive, demanding, cruel and unusual.”

He snickered lightly, “To quote the big guy, he’s crazier than a bag of cat. So, just your average vilified exile demigod.”

Away from the two, Coulson spoke a few words of farewell into his phone before closing it and turning his attention back to Stone and Stark. He wandered back within hearing range before speaking, “We should really start heading back H.Q.”

Her expression was relaxed as she continued to watch the endless flow of bright yellow on black. The streetlights from above cast strange shadows over the two as they continued on their drive.

"Of course," She agreed, giving a small smile, "It's just a nice thought that things could be solved so simply."

She pulled off at the nearest exit, traveling down an older road with little to no streetlights. It wouldn't take long now, about ten miles left, "If people are willing to stop and listen."



The two soon joined her as they walked towards the car. Coulson filling Stark in on a little bit of the details, not saying much though.

"Oh, look, someone got an upgrade." Stark commented, opening the passenger door and settling in, "They won't let you drive one of the trucks, huh?"

"No, actually," Coulson replied, opening the back passenger door for Tamara, "Didn't want to grab the public's attention with such a big vehicle."

“From the little I know,” She began, taking a few right turns before heading straight down a desolate road, “We’re expecting all the members of the original group.”

She smiled glancing towards Bruce, “With a few fresh faces, as you can see.”

Off in the distance, large lights were glowing softly. They were extremely close to headquarters now, visible ahead was the security booth that closely resembled a toll booth. Men armed to the teeth standing guard inside.


“Not long at all, Ms. Stone.” Coulson answered, buckling himself up, “I actually just got off the phone with Ms. Romanoff, and she’s making her way to headquarters—“

He was cut off by a low whistle and a snap from the man seated besides him. Twisting in his seat, Tony faced Tamara.

“Wait a minute, rewind that,” He started, voice laced with snark, “Big and Flashy? Oh, Miss. Stone, you underestimate me.”

"Of course," Bernadette locked her car and nodded towards a slender path way.

It lead from the parking lot to the sleek walk way that led into the building itself. The walk way itself was covered by a glass dome that kept the path dry and secluded.

"After the last incident, Fury thought a non-stationary base would be a lovely alliterative."



"Well, there goes my first ice breaker," Tony stated, sarcastically, turning back towards Tamara, "Really though, a suit?"

He turned back around, tapping his hand against his knee before speaking, "No offensive intended Ramsie, but a suits pretty up there price wise. I'm willing to do something simple, though, say belt buckle?" He turned back, "How's that sound, Ramsie?"

Coulson, not bothering to inform the two that they have arrived on S.H.I.E.L.D soil, began the tedious task of getting through security. As the two talked he zoomed through as fast he could.

“It varies really,” She stated, a sheepish smile on her face now that the attention was turned to her. She never really was a wallflower, but something about this man was rather intimidating. Perhaps it was his friendly attitude and piercing eyes, yeah that sounds about right.

“As an agent for Director Fury I do a lot of running around, nothing out of the states though.”

She paused then, curious as to what her involvement for this mission could really be. Her thoughts were interrupted by a feminine voice greeting them.

“Hello everyone,” Agent Natasha Romanoff spoke kindly if not a little distantly, “Glad to see I’m not too late, anyone know where Stark and Fury are?”

“That’s beside the point, little lamb, grounded base means more ease of access for our agents and enemies.” Tony stated, eyeing the interior of the building as he spoke, “Besides, it just isn’t as badass as a flying base, is all.”

“Sometimes it helps to be a little bit more functional, Stark.” Agent Coulson replied, leading the two down the long hall way.

Up ahead was a pair of large double doors, a key pad to the left of it and a rather imposing sign over the door. It read, Conference Room, Do not Enter when Sign is Blinking.

Looks like the three were fashionably late to the gathering.

{{OOC: Oh not at all! I completely understand Hatter uvu take as much time as you need ouo }}

“Patience is a virtue,” Bernadette stated softly, eyeing the two newest arrivals. She’d heard of Stark before, just about everyone knew him, but this woman was new to her. She had to admit, she was feeling a tad uncomfortable around so many new faces and wanted to make a good first impression, “I’m Bernadette.”

“It doubles as a vice,” Stark commented, he seemed confident in his reply, as if he’d know from experience, “Ironman, it’s a pleasure, Bernadette, or as the French would say, enchante.”

“Fury said he’d be coming in once he got more information on the matter.” Coulson spoke calmly to the room of people, ignoring some wide-eyed stare coming from Roger’s direction, “I’m sure he’ll be in shortly to give you all the briefing.”

“What exactly is the matter?” Clint questioned from his perch besides the conference table, “Agent Hill called me saying Loki was back. I started looking forward to some pay back.”

{{OOC: Sorry for delay uvu studies and what not, I did think up a pretty cool force for Loki to control though, I think it would make a really interesting story line c: }}

Steve shook his head. It was good to see everyone back together, even if they had to accommodate two new faces. It didn't seem to be provoking any arguments of the sort, however, so he made no mention of this.

"Well, let's hope Director Fury doesn't keep us waiting, huh?" Steve noted conversationally, sparing a smile towards Bernadette. She seemed a little nervous and he wanted to make sure that she knew there was no need to be, not at the moment, at least.

Rubbing a hand over his mouth, Bruce continued to pace a little. He'd feel better when he was able to put his mind to something productive. Waiting like this? It left his mind open to too many thoughts and possibilities as to what Loki was up to at the moment.

"Yes, that would be wonderful in itself," he murmured, nodding to Steve.

He spared a half-smile around at all of them next. "I can only hope my skills can be useful again and not just the other guy's...."

Tamara spared a glance towards Clint, code-named Hawkeye. She had glimpsed him around before, on guard duty from time to time when S.H.I.E.L.D. was transporting important, dangerous artifacts though this was rare.

"I'm not sure if any of us can really answer that," she said slowly, mulling it over. Her arms remained crossed over her chest. "We were just kind of gathered on the fly it seems."

At that point the door slid open, drawing her attention to it. Inside strode Director Fury, his coat trailing along after him, bouncing along his calfs as he walked.

"Good to see you all made it," Fury started, hands clasped behind his back when he came to a stop. A screen on the wall nearby flickered to life though it had no images to display over it just yet.

"I'm sure you're all curious as to what Loki might be up to."

Fury shook his head, taking to observing everyone in the room as they spoke. It seemed everyone wanted the information that S.H.I.E.L.D. had gleaned on Loki since his return to Earth. Sadly, it wasn't much. Loki seemed intent on being more covert this time around. Whatever he had planned it didn't look like he had the necessary means to put it into action yet.

"All we've managed to find out about him this time around is that he's favored staying near the coast."

There were a multitude of looks around the room at this information. Raise or furrowed eyebrows, inclined heads - everything that they all shared in common was that they were all confused. Why would Loki need to stay near the coasts? It was a little disconcerting to wonder what he might have planned if it involved the ocean.

"So... what? He's got some army of critters under the sea?" Bruce ventured, glancing around.

It was a stretch, though he had to admit that no one knew just what all the oceans held on Earth alone. On top of that Loki had managed to bring an alien race to try and decimate Earth's population the last time around. It wasn't too much to say that he might have done it again.

Bruce's gaze shifted to the brunette stranger, the one that had arrived with Tony. Her head inclined momentarily as she folded her arms over her chest. "So, this creep's possibly got a legion of mermaids on his side? ... Seems legit."

Steve had to resist shaking his head at the mermaid comment. He had expected something like that from Stark though it seemed that the woman that had arrived with him had beaten Stark to the punch. Steve wondered how well it would be to have two callous, snarky individuals on the team. He pushed the thought away as quickly as it arrived, however.

"Do we not know anything else? No obvious movements? No one he's meeting with or searching for?"

They were basic questions but at least it would help them all get more information in the long run. No one wanted a repeat of the last time. It had been disastrous at points.

"I'm afraid not," Fury relented, watching them all carefully.

Many of them had grown as friends in the last instance they had been gathered but that didn't mean that they didn't have a few troublemakers in their midst. Any insufficient data could rub anyone of them the wrong way.

"Whatever Loki has planned he's keeping his cards close to his chest."

"So we're expected to sit back and wait for him to make a move?" Tamara questioned, a brow raised. She had never been one to like sitting back and waiting around for something like this. If she was hired she wanted to get out and get things done. It was how it always had been.

Sometimes she was forced to sit back and do the opposite, however.

"There isn't much we can do if Loki keeps up this reclusive act." Natasha commented, regarding Tamara as she spoke, "Besides try to get as much information as we can."

Frankly, Natasha was a little weary of this agents attitude; she seemed a little to ready to run in to battle, guns a blazin'. A little enthusiasm did have a tendency to go a long way here. She cast a sideways glance at Bruce.

Tony smirked lightly at Tamara's response, who knew she'd have some sass to her otherwise all business appearance. Of course, he personally would have added how Loki himself was already pushing the Little Mermaid bill. Something about all that gold on green and that God awful staff of his.

"So, you're saying Loki's keeping to his shell then, Fury?" Tony added, a little intrigued at the thought. Something seemed dangerously off about that.

"After all that drama for an audience last time? Doesn't seem like him." Clint mused, noticing the oddity of a situation this time around.

He gestured towards Tony, "He went one on one with our self proclaimed fearless leader, he had the balls," Clint nodded to the ladies of the Avengers, "Pardon my French, to verbally and mentally abuse a good handful of us and he managed to make every little thing about him."

"What are you saying?" Natasha asked, eyebrow raised.

"I'm saying I don't buy this act," Clint looked to Coulson, "How did we find this out? We have cameras on every coast, or something?"

"We've asked our Intel about that, they're stumped so far for a motive," Coulson started, "Besides the obvious, of course, hiding what ever he's planing close to the coast."

"The sea though," Bernadette chipped in, breaking her silence after listening intently to everyone, "Who knows what he could have lurking, no one even knows all that live down there."

That thought alone bothered her deeply, anything could be hiding down beneath the blue, and they'd be non the wiser to its existence. Which brings out another question, how had S.H.I.E.L.D. found information at all.

"What if this isn't unlike him? What if he's giving out hints with out spoiling the show." She suggested finally.

"That's exactly what we're worried about," Fury mentioned, glancing between Bernadette and Natasha. Both had picked up on the most worrisome aspects of the entire situation thus far. What was hidden in the ocean that Loki might be hinting at? "Whatever he's got in the ocean we haven't been able to pick it up yet."

"So, we have an enemy who likes to have an audience and he seems to be skirting around something big?" Steve ventured, glancing around.

This didn't sit well with him. Loki didn't seem the type to change his M.O., after all, and it looked like everyone in the room had come to that conclusion. He glanced over at Bernadette. She had a point as well, probably one of the best ones yet.

"Whatever he's got there he must be proud about it if he's already making sure our attention is being set on what's hidden out there."

Tamara shook her head, leaning back against the table. They were running around in circles with their questions. Until they found out what was out there that had Loki's attention on it or until he made a move they would be in the dark on this matter.

"I think it's safe to say that whatever it is it'll be able to come up on land at some point," she mentioned.

Nearby Bruce nodded, still playing with his own hands. At the moment he had taken to tapping his knuckles into the palm of the opposite hand. "Miss.... ah?" He paused, gesturing to Tamara for a name.

"Aries."

"... Aries... then, has a point. I don't think he'd resort to something that would be stuck in the ocean."

Fury was quick to speak up before Stark or Stone could make a comment about a kraken or a giant squid being at Loki's disposal. They didn't need such distractions so often during this conversation. It was a conversation that needed to be taken seriously.

"We have Intel out working as we speak to scan for what's out there but given that we can't scour the entire depth of the ocean we're left blind on this as it is."

As he spoke he was beginning to sound more and more aggravated. He did not like being at a loss for information. The council would be breathing down his neck again soon. That was the last thing he needed. They had nearly taken out Manhattan as it was the last time.

The group was silent for a moment, pondering just what to do with such a mysterious enemy led by a sociopath like Loki. Surely, there was more the Avenger's could do to get more information on the matter.

"This could be dangerous if he can retreat back to the sea," Clint stated finally, "If he sees that we're wiping him out he'll just jump right back in and wait for us to let our guard down."

"He's right," Bernadette agreed, crossing her arms, "If he sees things go sour he'd be foolish not to back down."

"Knowing Loki, and speaking from experience here, he'd be too stubborn to realize when to retreat."

Tony nodded towards Bruce, "Remember the Stark Tower incident? Probably need a repeat of that."

"You really think he'd put himself at risk instead of swallowing his pride and backing down?" Bernadette retorted, lips pursed and brow raised.

"He's done it before, what's stopping him now, French Fry?" Tony looked over towards Fury, gesturing from Tamara and Bernadette, "Question, why are we bringing in new blood anyways? We took him on before, I think I speak for all of us when I say we can tackle him again."

"Fury," Natasha interpreted, fed up with all this going back and forth, "What do you need us to do?"

As far as infultraitors go, Agent Romanov was one of the best if not the best. If they were planning on spending their time wandering about the coast looking for bubbles in the water, she'd have to pass.

Tamara couldn't help but to smirk in Stark's direction. He seemed just a little affronted at the idea of 'new blood' in the group. Perhaps he was thinking that Fury was underestimating their ability and power this time around.

"What's the matter, Stark? Worried I'll step in on your glory?" she goaded lightly, brow raised.

"Can we not have a competition here?" Steve interrupted, glancing between the two.

The last thing that they needed was a new set of arguments arising with Aries and Bernadette on the team. He had to admit that at least Bernadette wasn't so keen on goading others. This Aries? It looked like she and Tony might make some sort of a competition out of things. Something like that could quickly turn sour and Steve would rather it not come to that.

"They are here because they have shown a bit of promise," Fury interrupted as well, his tone of voice not one to be trifled with. They need to stay on track and with this large of a group things could easily be derailed. "The extra pair of hands and eyes might come in handy considering the situation, don't you think?"

He stared around at them all with his one good eye, waiting for any sort of argument. Bruce raised his hand, stepping forward a little as he glanced around at everyone.

"As Natasha asked that doesn't explain what you'll need to have us do," Bruce pointed out, receiving various nods from people.

Director Fury nodded, heaving a deep sigh. "That pertains to your unique abilities and skills." He held up a hand at Steve's confused look. "Granted, some of you might have to sit and wait around until the fight starts. Any ability to track needs to be put to use and I shouldn't have to mention who all can do that."

It grew silent at that. Indeed, many of the group in the room had the ability to track or locate information or a person. The skills were different but with them all combined they might gather various pieces that would lead to the bigger picture. Others, still, would be forced to sit it out until they were needed.

"If that is all...?" Fury prodded, gesturing around the room.