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video | un: Barton

This is gonna piss off Ross and I'm all for that, but even after all the shit that's gone down in the last six years I don't know how I'll explain this.

[The video had opened on what there is to be seen of a partially overcast sky between two of the taller buildings of Dualis before tilting down; obviously whoever's broadcasting is walking along the road, because the picture continues to move at a steady pace down what looks to be a slightly less metropolitan-city-ish shopping district. Part of the hand holding the phone is visible, but nothing else about the person speaking can be seen yet.]

And my limit of pissing him off got blown by about the time I woke up in cyberpunk Egypt, so I've got two questions for anyone with any kind of answer - how in the hell do we get home, and does anyone have some tools I can borrow so I can break some sensitive electronics?

[...yeah, that's all he's volunteering for now. Sorry about that.]

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Wouldn't say I'm a hero. Hero babysitter until two years ago, maybe, but not a hero

[The reference to Westchester does nothing for this person, sorry, David. He's definitely familiar with upstate New York, but for him the connection to anywhere in New York not New York City is an association with S.H.I.E.L.D locations or the Avengers compound. And one weird mission that involved a sudden knife fight in an Italian restaurant, but that was a singular situation. The last time he was in that area was when he and Scott had the ankle monitors locked on them before they were taken home. The lack of ping on that will undoubtedly clue David in on the Institute not being a thing.]

I'd rather save my money until I know more about this place. I'm Clint Barton, but you might've heard more of Hawkeye

Ah, my second favorite Hawkeye. If you want, come up to 401 in the dorms. I'll take care of it. Kate would expect me to do so, since she's not here to make sure you're succeeding at life.

[The fact that Clint hasn't commented on Westchester makes him wonder.]

[And Clint's response would make him wonder even more.]

Second favorite Hawkeye? I'm the only one, unless you count the teams over at UoI. And who's Kate?

I'll be there soon, gotta turn around

[Well... that wasn't expected. At all.]

Interesting, you don't know Kate Bishop. Hmmm, that raises some questions. Ever hear of Charles Xavier?

And don't hurt yourself getting down from your nest, archer.

I don't even know you and you're already making nest jokes. They're really too easy

[Clint, of course they're too easy. It's ridiculous how easy they are.]

Name's not ringing a bell, no. And I've heard a lot of names in my career

Well, I do have you at a touch of a disadvantage, Clint. But yes, they are quite easy. I have a few in my back pocket because I went to school with a guy with wings who liked to perch places.

I do have news for you. Multiverse is real, there are definitely alternate realities. A lot of them. Tons.

Guess so, if you got that association for me already. And I've probably heard them all already

[The "guy with wings" bit doesn't make him blink, because he knows Sam. Yet another thing to clue him in on.]

[There's a long pause after the multiverse comment - clearly, Clint's doing some thinking.]

...okay. I know there was some research going on with that kind of stuff in the R&D labs, but I'm pretty sure they were looking at or for or whatever other dimensions. What's the difference between that and a multiverse?

Okay, the best way to compare is to look at clothing. Alternate dimensions? Different places. Like Hell versus Earth. they aren't the same places. So Hell would be a shirt. Earth a pair of pants. Sure, they're both clothes, meaning they're both places. And they could have things in common. Color, material. Those things are like basic rules. Gravity existing for example. Or the same label, which could be key individuals.

The multiverse? It has more that just that connection of being clothes. It can be two timelines that are VERY similar but not the same. Two different pairs of pants. For instance, in my dimension, there are two Hawkeyes. One is Clint Barton, the other is Kate Bishop. They work together as a team at times. They both like purple. They're both archers. But there are alternate dimensions where there's a Hawkeye and there's a Kate, but he's an Avenger and she works for Shield. Or she never got into heroics. So those are pants that are the same size but different colors?

Does that help?

[Again there's a break before a response comes; nearly five minutes, as Clint sorts through a lifetime of exposure to media to try and sort out what he remembers versus what David just said. But the metaphor works, and eventually Clint resumes typing.]

So there's probably a Kate Bishop on my world, but I've never met her and she may not even be into archery. That makes more sense. I've been a lot of places and met a lot of people, but there's no way to meet everyone. Sounds like I'm not a lot like the guy you know, though

Five minutes out

It's possible, either way. Or it's possible that her parents never met or never had kids. I've been to parts of the multiverse like that.

And yeah, you might not be wrong about being different from our Hawkeye. I mean, there are a few things. Have you died before? Or are you deaf? Both of those things have happened with our Clint Barton. However he is a practical man, from what I understand. Perhaps you two have that in common.

That's good to hear. I'll be ready for your arrival.

So it's basically the whole "alternate universe" theory split into an infinite number of paths, and the ones closest to your path are gonna be the most like yours. I feel like I should have a migraine with all this but at this point, what's the use

Never died, but came close on more than one occasion. You can't come back from death. [There's a brief flash across his eyes - not now, you punk.] Deaf, yeah, got that. Bomb blast over two decades ago. But I've got implants so pretty much no one knows unless I tell them or they see my med file. Doesn't hold me back now

See you in a few

Not sure how infinite they are. I've only traveled through a few hundred. But yes, the closer ones are more similar. And it is definitely a headache.

And yeah, with the right circumstances, people can come back to life.

[David knows this better than most.]

I'm sorry for bringing it up. That sort of injury must have been traumatic.

Don't be, it was a long time ago. It sucked when it happened and for a long time after, but I got out of that hole. Had some good help to do it. Can't argue with where it got me, either

[Except the Raft, but that's a whole different conversation.]

You're gonna have to explain that "come back to life" thing but I'm almost there so hold on to it. Sounds like a long one. One minute out

[Yeah, the Raft definitely isn't a good thing. David would understand not wanting to talk to that either.]

The way the Hawkeye returned to life in my world? Honestly, I couldn't explain it. I don't know how it worked.

Should I open my window?

I'll take the stairs

[For all the jokes people make about him, Clint rarely does anything just for dramatic effect (unless it's for or to his kids, then all bets are off). Why climb the outside of a building when there's a perfectly good staircase?]

[So a minute and a half later, after scrolling back through the texts to make sure it's the right place, Clint's knocking on David's door with three solid thumps of his fist. After that, he'll wait.]

[Well, the clear answer for who is there doesn't request him asking, so David flips on the lights, heads for the door, and shortly has it open, stepping aside for Clint. He's definitely on the younger side, but with the way he dresses, very business casual, he looks a touch older than he is.]

Feel free to have a seat on that bed. May I call you Clint?

Sure, whatever you want. Just don't call me "Mr. Barton."

[It's a weird thing, but there is a reason for that. He was only ever really "Mister" Barton to figures of authority back in his teenage years, most of which he didn't like; since he immediately went into the army after high school, he pretty much skipped the "Mister" portion of life. With S.H.I.E.L.D., of course, he was "Agent," and at home he'd lived under Laura's name, not his own. It just sounds so weird to him to hear those combination of words now, so he more or less heads that off at the pass with new acquaintances.]

[David's age is noted along with the dress; an attempt to seem more adult, possibly, in order to be taken seriously, or someone who had been forced to grow up too quickly and so was more echoing what they'd been taught and not their own style. It's not immediately clear which is right, if either, but if he can do what he says he can, it's really none of Clint's business. Instead he's got his left foot pushed forward a little, the tracker undoubtedly obvious strapped over his black jeans and above his brown work boots. It's blinking and still giving that quiet beep and Clint is about ready to smash it against the wall because that sound is annoying.]

Think you can get it off?

I'd have a hard time doing that, seeing as I knew a Hawkeye.

[But they've already covered that. he moves his rolling chair near the bed and sits down to get closer to his target. Puts his hands around the thing and regards it carefully before rolling his seat toward the desk and coming back with some tools.]

I can. Question is how many pieces you want it in, and whether you care if it goes off in protest. Quickest way is to burn through it. I may be able to short out the lock mechanism if I can get the cover off. If that doesn't work, we'll move to hacking. That's less fun.

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video | un: Barton

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