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Ava made an "arrangement" with the director. As long as she didn't go in alone, she could continue to operate as an undercover agent, making contacts with some investigators as well as others in the city. And then Ava promptly got Barney to pretend to be supervising her and continued doing her own thing on her own. She hasn't checked in with the director in a few weeks, though, which means it's time for her to visit HQ.
She may be eighteen, but she passes for sixteen, especially in her oversized coat with a knit cap pulled down over her head. She could be some kid off the street who somehow wandered into the basement of the restaurant, except that no one actually seems to be chasing her out. But she's standing outside of the director's office looking in, a faint frown furrowing her brow.
Clearly things have happened since the last time she checked in.
*
At a desk not too far away from the Director's Office, there's a somewhat harried woman doing paperwork. But, now, at least there appears to be more in the Out Box than the In. At least there's a typewriter that she managed to find buried beneath all the files, which helps things go faster… even if the woman is a practiced hunter-and-pecker in her typing style.
As she glances over at the child by the Director's door, she ahems, "Um, did you need help with something?"
*
"The director is not…in." Ava's lips purse with a frown, arms crossing over her chest before she turns toward Carol, chin rising slightly. Stubborn little thing. It's as though she realizes she looks like she's puffing herself up though, shoulders falling a bit as she pulls off the cap and ruffles a hand through her hair, trying to straighten it.
"I have a feeling that I have missed something." While she doesn't exactly have an accent, there's something about the way she chooses her words that suggests English isn't her first language.
*
Carol hrmms, "Well, since I just got back from an extended leave a little while ago… you and me both kid." She gives Ava a curious look, "So what exactly kept you out of the loop?"
She finishes typing up this last report, then places it in the Outbox with a grin of satisfaction, "I mean, I've been working with NASA the past few months, so…"
*
"NASA?" Ava stuffs her hat into her pocket, peeling off a pair of fingerless gloves to go with it as she leans against the side of Carol's desk. "That must be interesting right now, with the aliens. Did the director bring you back to keep her updated on how the space program is dealing with the alien issue?"
She glances at the papers in the outbox, but offers over a hand as well. "I'm Ava," she introduces herself.
*
Carol stands up and grins, "Carol. Good to meet you." She smiles a bit, "That's probably what it was. Had a close encounter with some that were impersonating SHIELD officers." She shakes the offered hand, then nods, "I imagine that's why she brought me back here, but…"
*
"But she is not here now," Ava finishes, that frown crossing her features once more. Not promising. She sits on the edge of the desk, crossing her arms over her chest as she works through some possibilities. "I suppose the next person I should check with is Barton. Or Coulson."
But they aren't here, and Carol is. And she's been working at NASA. "What did you do at NASA?" she asks, glancing to the typewriter, then back to the other woman. "You don't look like a secretary."
*
A soft chuckle at that, "Well, before I got transferred from the CIA, I was in the Air Force as a pilot." Carol grins at that, "So I naturally fit right in as a security consultant over at NASA. But yeah, Barton or Coulson would be good to check in with. Not sure where they are right now, though."
*
Ava tilts her head, brows rising slightly. "I…didn't realize the US let women fly," she admits, a glimmer of respect in her eyes. Pilot. CIA. "Were there aliens there? I was on the mission where we found the ship with the things for the prison," she admits. "That was very strange. It was under the church, though, so I have to assume it had been there for a very long time."
*
Carol hmms, "There were some aliens there, I think. Though I never had a chance to actually catch them, they were very clever if they were there." She snorts, "Don't be too proud, they let me fly, but I could never fly in a combat situation, even if I was better than most of the boys." She gets a wry expression on her face at that.
*
"Ah, yes. That sounds more like it." Ava smiles ruefully, shaking her head. "Whatever Americans say about communism, and whatever the regime has done in Russia that is not good, at least the Russians recognize that women can be just as capable as men. More, in some situations."
Her smile fades a bit at that before she clears her throat. "Still. It sounds like something you must have worked very hard for." A glance around the office, then the desk. "This must be…boring? After that."
*
Carol nods, "Yeah, I have to admit, Russia doesn't seem quite as backward about /that/ at least. My father's still upset I didn't just become a housewife immediately after high school." She wrinkles her nose a bit.
Then Carol hmms, "Well, I don't know about boring… I mean, I'm a field agent by trade, but right now I just had leave for personal reasons, which means the paperwork built up and up and up."
*
Ava wrinkles her nose as she looks at the paperwork. "It is a lot of paperwork," she agrees. "And the world has plenty of housewives. You would think they would stop pushing for them." A tilt of her head, curious. "Personal reasons?"
She's certainly nosy enough to fit in with the spies.
*
Carol grins, "Yeah, personal reasons. It's a bit complicated." Which is about all she's about to explain, at least to someone that she just met, even if they are another agent. "So, how long have you been in the field?"
*
Ava is quiet for a moment, staring, but settles on not pushing. "That…is a loaded question," she chuckles, a lopsided smile curving. "Just a few weeks since my last check in. A few months with SHIELD. On my own for about four years. Before that is…" She trails off, smile breaking into a grin as she wiggles a hand from side to side. "Complicated."
*
Carol laughs a little, "Touche. It's almost like we're in a business that's prone to keeping secrets." She shrugs a bit, "Personally, I still haven't had a chance to check in with Coulson about things, though I'm hoping that'll change over the next few days."
*
Ava considers the woman for a moment, weighing. "There are some things that Russia does that are an improvement on the American way," she says after a moment, choosing her words carefully. "But there are also many things that are not as good. It's…something I've reminded the director of recently," she admits, looking back to the office. "She was involved in the mission that brought me here."
*
Carol nods, "Yeah, I've been over to Russia quite a few times on missions, along with Eastern Europe, so…" She hmms, "A few times I even went over to China, though those missions were a little more interesting than most." A wry smile at that.
*
"You see, that is what I like about SHIELD," Ava smiles faintly, looking around the office. "There is a woman director. One who has female agents. But not only female agents. And they aren't limited to the typing pool, or supporting male agents, or seducing people." She looks around before leaning in a bit. "That doesn't mean I always trust the agency," she shrugs. "But we are spies. Trusting is not for spies."
*
There's a rueful nod from Carol at that, "You can say that again, Ava. Trust is something that can be in short supply around here. Though, if you /can/ find it, best to hold onto it as long as you can."
*
"That is the truth," Ava nods, stepping away from the desk. "Well. If I can't find Barton or Coulson, then I might as well check in with science and medical. It was nice to meet you, Carol," she smiles faintly. "I hope that you get through your paperwork soon."
*