therearenostringsattached

[Task Master has been through a lot.

He has achieved many successes and many failures. He's won against SHIELD and HYDRA and they are notable enemies but it's owed to his compatriots. The few people he is worked with, the few people that he trusts in the world.

He's not unmindful of that service which is why he'd broken into Madame Masque's apartment to cook her something nice.

This is something he doesn't remember. He doesn't remember she's a SHIELD agent. Not anymore, that he in essence had not told her (really he could have forgotten but he can't recall). What he does know is that she appears during the times when SHIELD needs him and manages his money and resources. Oh she hates him, he knows that much but now, even if she might be one of the right hand people of the new SHIELD, she's still Madame Masque to him. He does remember fighting her, her with a knife to his throat before stabbing him in the shoulder and running off.

(Her face was not his fault)

The last time he'd seen her though they'd fixed it. When was that? She'd had a face. It wasn't that vaguely familiar disquieting face.

He doesn't ask her any questions. Not anymore. She just appears and reappears and vanishes but he's still here and why?...

(Quake.)

His hand stops chopping.

(The woman.)

It keeps chopping. Muscle memory, what task master lives for. Really he doesn't know a thing about cooking but he saw something about Italian/Asian fusion on TV last night and he wanted to cook it for her because-

(The woman stands straight and stares at him. Her features torn between confused and angry, then just anger. He's knocked off his feet and off the building falling into the abyss while the woman runs and stares after him and he feels...

Loss.)

Terrifying loss.

His hand trembles, but he finishes the last bit of carrots and onions and slides it into the water to boil before he sets out the wine and pours himself a glass (she won't drink it if you hand it to her already poured.)

It's so domestic.

It's when he hears her come in behind him that he keeps is hand on the knife at the cutting board.]

...You know better then to come at me with a gun behind me.

[(You don't know what I've been watching on TV)]

You're not allergic to garlic or carrots are you?

[He pulls out a slab of meat that's been dipped in sauce and begins chopping it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

facemyenemy

[She's a little surprised, but then again... if it's been a slow year, maybe she shouldn't be.]

[Turning the wine glass in hand, she sniffed t, head still down enough to let her hair hand over her scar, hiding it. Eyes sharp and watchful. Talking behind the wineglass she said:]

You should remember her. You knew her. Before you were Taskmaster. [She says it flatly, trying to mask the sudden feelings of annoyance. He had been so hung up on Skye before. When she was Skye. Now she was Quake, or Daisy Johnson, Director of SHIELD. Kara didn't mind working for her, but Grant's obsession with the woman, even as he was forgetting her, always irked her for some reason.]

[(It shouldn't bother you, Kara. It's not like you fell for him or anything.)]

[She changed it, sipping her wine, approving silently.] Worked with her before.

From:

wolfintheherd

[He nodded slowly, pacing back and forth.] It didn't go well did it?

[His hand clenched at his side.]

First time I've ever felt like I deserved to have my ass kicked since you and I last...talked.

[Not that he could tell. Meeting her gaze he spoons food onto her plate and offers it to her before he spoons some onto a fork and eats it.]

Try it. It's delicious oh my god.

From:

facemyenemy

Does it ever go well for you?

[When he hands her a plate she takes it, sitting her wine glass down on the counter. She eyed it, then him. Clearly untrusting. Which is sad, because he was the one person she trusted most in the world, for a while. After Whitehall died.]

[Now she barely trusts her SHIELD co-agents.]

[Or anyone.]

[Burned one too many times.]

[Taking a taste though she couldn't help the small mmmm that escaped her lips. Yeah, okay, this was good.]

So you remembered her. But not the details?

[Of course he remembered her. Why wouldn't he. She was just his obsession for as long as she can remember.]

From:

wolfintheherd

Nothing. Just...[He wonders if this was a bad idea. That notion is sudden, leaning against the counter and staring at her. At one point she was his right hand woman, his partner, his confidant.] sadness.

Loss.

[Like looking at her.] There's nothing I can't do in the long run.

[He almost says Madame Masque. Almost. But she's not. His mouth twists into something pained before he starts spooning food onto his plate] What do you want me to call you?

From:

facemyenemy

[It's a bad idea. It's a bad idea. She KNOWS it's a bad idea, because she's still mad at him.]

[(Still scare he's going to forget you completely.)]

[She thought it would be easier, someways, if he did just completely forget her. Then maybe she could pretend she didn't think about him often.]

Loss. Sadness. That's because she was someone important to you. At one point of your life. [Why is she telling him that? She's still mad at him!]

[When he asks about her name she frowned more. Why was he here. Did he forget her name too? Her heart twisted at that and her eyes went a bit more blank. She took another bite of food to let herself consider her words.]

You used to call me Madame Masque. You helped me come up with the name. [she should tell him that he can't call her anything. She feels cross again. She hated his stupid face. Both behind the mask and the mask itself ~~Only she didn't... damn~~]

Kara. You helped me find my name. It's Kara. [(Not that he will remember, and that's what bothers you most. That he wont remember you.0 She wanted to always be remembered.]

From:

wolfintheherd

[Ward, nodding to her, reaches into the pocket of his flack pants, pulling out a small note pad and writing down something.]

It's getting worse.

[his tone is lost for a moment. A woman he'd forgotten. Someone who he'd cared about]

I knew you were Madame Masque. And now you're not. You still have a right to chose what you'll be called.

[He'd just forgotten.]

Try the food Kara, Trust me.

From:

facemyenemy

[as he said 'it's getting worse' there was a small ping of guilt. She should be helping him, but she didn't know how to.]

[Giving a sad nod, she moved, taking her plate and wine glass, and moving to the kitchen table, her bare foot kicking out a seat for him to join her. Then she plopped down in a seat of her own, a legs distance apart, but conversational.]

I am glad I left a lasting impression, even if it was only because of a slow year. And I am trusting you, against all my better judgement. But, let me ask you the same. What... would you rather me call you? Taskmaster, Ward, or Grant?

From:

wolfintheherd

[He sets his own plate on the table, reaches for the notebook.

There is a list, a bulleted list written in clear black ink on the front. It lists his aliases, his locations, the things he can currently do.

He goes through a lot of these. Looking back at her before folding it together and shrugging his shoulders.] Whatever you want.

[He should care.] ...Not...what...that woman would have called me.

[His mouth moved of it's own violation. Speaking. He swallows.]

By the way I raided your first aid kit.

From:

facemyenemy

[He should care. He should care about what she calls him. His reply left her frowning. He seemed to care about what her identity was for her, which... he stressed very hard when they first gathered together. But he doesn't care what she calls him.]

[Jerk, she thinks. She should call him a god damn bastard jerk.]

[No. She just frowned, taking another sip of wine and watching him. Not Ward then.] Fine. Which ever gets your attention I suppose.

[then she raised a brow. Looking him over.] Wounded?

[she had her own bandage wrapped around her upper arm and shoulder. The bottom of the bandage barely visible.]

From:

wolfintheherd

...Seems to be common in Washington today. [He raised an eyebrow.]

By the way SHIELD arrested one of my students. Please, keep him. He's not paying me nearly enough and he's terrible.

[Useless small talk. His mind is still on the woman, the one he apparently felt for. The one that hurt him and it's a slow burning pain. A warm feeling in his left side. Like something that was forgotten.

He sniffs, clenching his hand]

He adds nothing to humanity.

Edited Date: 2014-12-18 08:13 am (UTC)

From:

facemyenemy

These things happen. [she shot back, but softly, a hand reaching up to rub at her shoulder.] Have you taken care of it properly? Or just slapped a bandage over it?

[an arrest, huh.] Which one. We took in a few. I'll be sure to knock his head in a few times for getting caught in the first place.

[she too was curious to what was going on in that head of his. Why he was really here. Just because of Skye? is that all?]

From:

wolfintheherd

You want to take a look at it? [His tone was passive as he took a bite before snorting allowed]

Benjamin smalls. Calls himself the Cobra.

[Truly, it was just about Skye. About Skye, about something else, something he's lost.]

From:

facemyenemy

Is it bad? [She had to ask first. If it’s not bad she won't bother, but if he needs care for it, she’d slip into old habits. Fix him up.]

Cobra, huh. Never cared for snakes.

[She took another bite of food, moving to lean on the edge of the table, watching the other.] What else did you want to know, Grant?

From:

wolfintheherd

I'll be fine.

[He studies her] You answered my question. I knew her. Can't a guy make dinner for a former associate?

[He swallows] You planning to arrest me?

From:

facemyenemy

[Mmm, she nodded. Fine. that means she can’t shove her finger into the wound. Might be better for them both, really.]

[All he wanted to know was if he knew her. Interesting.] You can, but you can’t blame me for being a bit cautious. After all, I tried to kill you last time we met. [yet she only stabbed his shoulder, unable to hurt him more than that.]

I am considering it. For breaking and entering, at least. But dinner is good, so I’m stalling.

[She doesn’t want to admit that she missed him. Huff]

From:

wolfintheherd

[He smirks] being a criminal and having the urge to hold onto something domestic really doesn't jive in my line of work. Can't exactly say "Hey I want to do this" to a bunch of jocks and jarheads who've decided to work out their anger at their parents by hurting people.

[The irony is, that was his backstory. Within reason. The things he doesn't remember.]

Just my luck that I didn't prepare any dessert.

[He'll fight her if he has to, he'll kill her if he has to, but he'll feel bad about it.

That acknowledgement brings his head into his hands for a moment over his meal and he sighs]

From:

facemyenemy

[She smiled, faintly, showing from the shadows of her face. Her hair still keeping her scarred face mostly in the shadows.]

You break into my apartment, make me dinner, and forget dessert? Rude.

[a teasing comment, at least.]

[She’d rather not fight. She’s pretty banged up as it is. And he’s always been better than her. his actions make a brow lift...]

What troubles you, old friend?

From:

wolfintheherd

I'm not troubled.

[So maybe he's troubled. Maybe as he sits there, swallows another glass of wine. He doesn't need anything. Nope.]

...I'm fine.

I swear.

From:

facemyenemy

[She snorted, a clear sign of disbelief.]

You're here. You might as well stall with conversation before I try to arrest you. [ in other words... talk to her.]

From:

wolfintheherd

What's to stall? I remembered things. I've kept remembering things! I...

[He doesn't really realize that he's got his hands in fists on the table, that his face is contorted in anger, that he looks furious.]

...I missed you.

From:

facemyenemy

[she leaned forward on the table, a hand slowly reaching out to rest on top of a fist, gentle and light, just in cas it backfires on her. The Missing her... that surprised her.]

Remembering is a good thing. Remember as much as you can. Even if you only remember the shitty memories.

From:

wolfintheherd

[He doesn't move. He does glare at her, like an angry dog. Like a threatened creature, before he lowers his gaze.]

Not what I've seen.

There are these feelings. [He swallows hard] They came back strongest fighting her. Whatever I did was wrong and I...

[he grimaces and pulls away.]

I shouldn't have come. This was a mistake. I'm sorry. I guess I came to make sure the money's coming through.

Edited Date: 2014-12-19 02:57 am (UTC)

From:

facemyenemy

[When he drew back she drew her hand back, but stayed leaning on the table. Her blank gaze turned to a slight glare.]

A mistake because I'm trying to get you to talk to me? You used to talk to me. But sure, just came to make me dinner and check on the money. To ask about someone you only remember vaguely. You could ask, you know. About her, if that's what you want. Or I can punch you for being an ass. Either option is manageable.

From:

wolfintheherd

[He stands, staring at her, before he sits back down.]

Did I sleep with her?

...Did I hurt her?

From:

facemyenemy

[She watches him, d rawing back to lean back in her seat, frowning. He sat again. She stared. It would always come down to Skye, and while she didn't mind working for Quake, it bothered her that she has such a hold over Grant as she did. Even now when he can't remember her.]

[And yet she just wants to help. To protect him. It's a deep seeded emotion inside. Even if she tried to hurt him.]

We never spoke of the first, so I don't know if it went that far. Hurt her? Who haven't you hurt at some point of another?