* DISCLAIMER *
          This is a non-profit work of fan-fiction involving
         characters created and owned by Marvel Comics Group.
                  This story contains MATURE CONTENT
  (some adult language and graphic discussion, but no explicit sex)

                            * WRITTEN BY *
                     Samy <samerc@mash.yok.utu.fi> Merchi

                           * ARCHIVED AT *
                  http://mash.yok.utu.fi/corona.html

                           * INSPIRED BY *
                          Alicia McKenzie's
                            #OFFTHERECORD

                             * STARRING *
                THE AVENGERS: World's Mightiest Heroes
                                  in
                           ***************
                           * BEING THERE *
                           ***************

                            * CONTINUITY *
                        This story takes place
              * after HEROES FOR HIRE #19
                The Heroes For Hire have been disbanded,
                leaving She-Hulk and Black Knight solo.
              * after AVENGERS (vol.3.) #7
                Carol Danvers has been kicked out of
                the Avengers for her alcoholism.
              * after IRON MAN (vol.3.) #11-12
                Iron Man, who lives in Seattle, has
                met Carol, who has also moved there.
              * before MAGNETO REX #1
                Quicksilver has not taken up a
                political position in Genosha

                                 ***

*** Connecting to port 6667 of server irc.avengers.org
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*** Welcome to the Avengers IRC server
  Vic!~vision@mandelbrot.avengers.org (from irc.avengers.org)
*** Your host is irc.avengers.org[@0.0.0.0], running version
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*** This server was created Tue Aug 10 1999 at 09: 59:37 CDT
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*** NOQUIT TOKEN WATCH=128 SAFELIST are available on this server
*** There are 3 users and 9 invisible on 1 server
*** 1 IRC Operators online
*** 6 channels formed
*** I have 11 clients and 1 server
*** Current local users:  11 Max: 561
*** Current global users:  11 Max: 561
*** Notice -- motd was last changed at 5/8/1999 21:46
*** Notice -- Please read the motd if you haven't read it
*** Mode change "+i" for user Vic by Vic
*** - irc.avengers.org Message of the Day -
*** - 9/10/1999 0:38
*** -
*** - You are now connected to irc.avengers.org, a server in
*** - Avengers Mansion, Manhattan, NY.
*** -
*** - Server Staff:
*** -   *  General administration issues: Marauder (fabe@avengers.org)
*** -
*** -   *  Operators: Cap, GypsyGirl, Iron_Man, Panther, Just_us
*** -
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*** - --
*** Vic (~vision@mandelbrot.avengers.org) has joined channel #avengers
*** Users on #avengers: Vic @Cap @GypsyGirl Pietro
*** #avengers 939448506
<GypsyGirl> You'll live, Cap.
<Pietro> Certainly.
<Vic> Greetings.
<Cap> hello, vision...
<Vic> How is everyone doing?
<Pietro> So-so.
<GypsyGirl> Doing great!
<Cap> the yankees lost...
<Pietro> Will you SHUT UP about the Yankees already!
<GypsyGirl> LOL!
#avengers  Vic       H   ~vision@mandelbrot.avengers.org (Vision)
#avengers  Cap       H@  camerica@america.ccpub.helicarrier.un (Captain America)
#avengers  GypsyGirl H@  ~wanda@chaos.avengers.org (Yes, I am)
#avengers  Pietro    H   pietroma@crystal.palace.at (Pietro & Crystal)
<GypsyGirl> You've exhausted Pietro's patience, Cap.
<GypsyGirl> The world must be coming to an end.
<Pietro> Very funny, Wanda.
* Vic smiles.
<Cap> sorry, pietro. i won't bring it up again, then...
*** Starjammer (~cdanvers@209.201.121.175) has joined channel #avengers
<Starjammer> FUCCK TOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* Pietro rolls his eyes.
*** Signoff: Starjammer (Quit: FUCK YOu AL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
<Pietro> This is getting ridiculous.
<Pietro> I think we should ban her.
<Pietro> I am getting tired of her complaining.
<Pietro> She should get a hold of herself.
<Pietro> Her behavior is absolutely unbecoming of an Avenger.
<Pietro> If I was in charge, she would have been banned long ago.
<GypsyGirl> PIETRO!
* Cap sighs.
<GypsyGirl> We get the point. Slow down.
<GypsyGirl> Vision: Call Iron Man and ask him to go see if Carol is
all right?
* Vic nods.
*** Galactus (~galactus@hotrod.ff.org) has joined channel #avengers
<Pietro> Very funny, Storm.
<Galactus> I HUNGER!
*** Galactus is now known as Torch
<Torch> gee, thanks for spoiling my joke, pietro
<Pietro> What joke?
* Torch slaps Pietro with a large trout!
<Vic> Iron Man is on his way to Carol's residence.
<GypsyGirl> Hi, Johnny. How are things with the FF?
<Torch> oh, same ol', same ol', saving the world twice a day. you?
<Cap> the yankees lost...
*** Signoff: Pietro (Quit: Not AGAIN...)
<Torch> what's his problem?
* Cap sight.
<Cap> sighs
*** Iron_Man (iron_man@ironman.starksolutions.com) has joined channel #avengers
*** Mode change "+o Iron_Man" on channel #avengers by AESOP
<Vic> Greetings, Iron Man.
<Iron_Man> Hey all. What happened?
<Iron_Man> I'm on my way to Carol's as we speak.
<GypsyGirl> Carol showed up, used some profanities, and left.
<Iron_Man> I see. I hope she hasn't been drinking again.
<Iron_Man> Was she making any typoes?
<Vic> Some. It is quite likely she may be inebriated.
<Torch> ...i missed something, didnt i?
*** Pietro (pietroma@crystal.palace.at) has joined channel #avengers
*** Pietro is now known as crystal
<crystal> what happened here?
<Cap> the yankees lost...
<GypsyGirl> Cap, you know I love you as a friend and respect you...
<GypsyGirl> ...BUT SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT THE YANKEES ALREADY!
* Vic restrains a smile.
<Torch> lol thats one pissed woman
<Torch> you might wanna shut up cap
<Iron_Man> Whoa. Wanda, you okay?
<GypsyGirl> Yes.
<Iron_Man> You sound tense.
<GypsyGirl> Iron Man, just shut up and get over to Carol's.
<Iron_Man> Yes ma'am.
*** Signoff: Iron_Man (Quit: PMS? Didn't know it ran in the family.)
<Torch> lol
<crystal> laughs
<GypsyGirl> I'm gonna kill him.
<Cap> pms...in the family...?
<Vic> Pietro Maximoff Syndrome.
<GypsyGirl> Pietro Maximoff Syndrome
<Torch> lol! wacky!
<Vic> It was first diagnosed by Dr Samson some years ago.
<crystal> what happened here?
<Vic> Crystal: Pietro was annoyed by Captain America's repeated
comments regarding the Yankees' defeat today. Is he still there?
<crystal> no, he went out for a run
<Torch> why am i not surprised? hehe
<Torch> so youre all alone crys?
* Torch waggles eyebrows
<Torch> maybe i should plan a trip to attilan
* GypsyGirl hexes Johnny into impotence.
<Torch> HEY!
<crystal> lollllllll!!!! go wanda!!!!
<Torch> that wasnt fair
<GypsyGirl> Neither is you trying to get into my sister-in-laws pants.
<Torch> i was KIDDING
<crystal> giggles
* GypsyGirl smirks faintly.
<GypsyGirl> Someone remind me I owe Dane one too when I next see him...
*** Pendragon (~dwhitman@56FE9A27.ipt.aol.com) has joined channel #avengers
<Torch> speak of the devil hehe
<Pendragon> Hey all
* GypsyGirl hexes Dane into impotence.
* Pendragon blinks.
<crystal> dumps a bucked of cold water over wanda. give it a rest
<Pendragon> What was that for??
<Pendragon> Crys!
<crystal> hi dane
* Pendragon hands Crys a rose. "Haven't seen you in a while."
<Torch> smoothie
<crystal> blushes
*** Pendragon has been kicked off channel #avengers by GypsyGirl (Dane.
The other Whit meat.)
<Torch> lol
*** Pendragon (~dwhitman@56FE9A27.ipt.aol.com) has joined channel #avengers
<Pendragon!> Hey! What gives, Wanda??
* GypsyGirl smiles sweetly.
<Torch> i think shes pmsing or something
*** Torch has been kicked off channel #avengers by GypsyGirl (Men suck.)
*** Torch (~galactus@hotrod.ff.org) has joined channel #avengers
<Torch> testy tonight arentcha wanda? hehe
<Cap> you are being a bit unreasonable, wanda...
<GypsyGirl> You want unreasonable, Cap?
<Cap> not really...
<GypsyGirl> You can TAKE that big-ass shield of yours, TAPE all your
baseball cards onto it, and SHOVE it up you¡å°^©F¤°
*** Signoff: GypsyGirl (Connection reset by peer)
<Torch> lol!
* Pendragon looks at Vizh.
<Vic> Next week's weather forecasts appear most promising.
* Pendragon snickers.
<Torch> hehe
<crystal> i'd better go
<Pendragon> You okay, Crys?
<crystal> yeah
<crystal> smiles
<crystal> thanks
*** Emerald (~jwalters@dcx-gw.uscourts.gov) has joined channel #avengers
<crystal> hi emerald
<Pendragon> Jen!
<crystal> bye
*** Signoff: crystal (Quit: Leaving)
<Torch> im gonna go too
*** Signoff: Torch (Quit: Flame ON!)
* Emerald grabs Johnny and strangles -- DRAT!
<Emerald> He left.
* Emerald collapses onto the floor and wails.
<Emerald> This case is driving me CRAZY!
<Cap> what case, jennifer?
<Emerald> I don't wanna talk about it.
<Cap> all right
* Emerald grabs Cap's shirt with one hand and Dane's with another,
yanking them down to join her on the floor.
<Pendragon> Whoulff!
<Emerald> I need a snog. This case is stressing me out of my mind.
* Emerald sniffles pathetically.
* Cap runs!
<Pendragon> Well, I'd love to help you out, Jen, but I'm on the other
side of the Pond right now, unfortunately.
* Emerald wails. "Why are there no cute guys in Washington?"
<Cap> i could give namor a call and tell him to visit you
<Pendragon> He wouldn't care about fish smell, at least... :)
* Emerald breaks Dane's legs.
<Pendragon> Ouch.
*** Thundergod (~thor@galileo.avengers.org) has joined channel #avengers
<Emerald> THOR!
* Emerald jumps into Thor's arms!
<Emerald> TAKE ME NOW!
<Cap> oh no!
<Cap> thor, don't touch the keyboard!
<Vic> Too late.
* Vic winces as he watches Thor throws his computer to the wall.
<Cap> vision, remind me to ask iron man for thor-proof keyboards...
*** Signoff: Thundergod (Ping timeout)
* Emerald pouts.
*** GypsyGirl (~wanda@chaos.avengers.org) has joined channel #avengers
*** Mode change "+o GypsyGirl" on channel #avengers by AESOP
<Emerald> Wanda!
* GypsyGirl grumbles. "Stupid computer. Finally got it working again."
<GypsyGirl> Jen!
<Emerald> Wanna come to DC and have some wild monkey sex?
<Emerald> I'm dying here and the guys are too gutless to come help me.
* GypsyGirl blinks.
<Pendragon> Hey, I'm across the ocean, not gutless...
<Emerald> Shut up, Dane, I'm trying to seduce Wanda.
* Cap coughs.
<Pendragon> Jen: Subtlety never was your strong suit... :)
*** Pietro (pietroma@crystal.palace.at) has joined channel #avengers
<Pendragon> Wow, sibling synch strikes again.
*** Pietro has left channel #avengers
<Pendragon> I don't think he likes me. :)
<GypsyGirl> Jen: Uhh...thanks, but no thanks...
* Emerald pouts.
<Emerald> You have any idea how long it's been since I've gotten laid?
<Emerald> Over half a YEAR.
<GypsyGirl> TMI, Jen. The guys didn't need to know that.
<Pendragon> TMI?
<Cap> too much information
<GypsyGirl> Too Much Informaiton
<GypsyGirl> Jen: They'll probably spend the next month having wet
dreams about you now that you admitted you're sexually active.
<Emerald> And this is a bad thing?
* Emerald grins.
<Emerald> Hey, if I'm gonna be condemned to eternal frustration, you
guys might as well suffer along with me!
* Emerald smiles sweetly.
* GypsyGirl snickers.
* GypsyGirl pokes Vision. "Awake?"
<Vic> Yes.
<GypsyGirl> Oh.
<GypsyGirl> ...
* GypsyGirl drops a pin.
* Emerald I'm bored.
<Emerald> Whoops.
<Emerald> I'm getting almost desperate enough to call Johnny...
*** Torch (~hotshot@hotrod.ff.org) has joined channel #avengers
<Cap> heh
<Pendragon> LOL!
<Torch> hey wanda
* Emerald glares at Wanda.
<Emerald> What'd you do, use your powers?
* GypsyGirl grins.
<GypsyGirl> Just a simple spell to bring the phone to me. =)
<Emerald> You're evil, Wanda.
* Torch looks confused
<GypsyGirl> Only on every alternate February and during family reunions. =)
* Emerald grits her teeth.
<Torch> whatd you want me here for, wanda?
* GypsyGirl points to Jen.
* Emerald glares at Wanda.
<Emerald> Uh, Johnny?
<Torch> what?
<Emerald> You feel like a trip to DC?
<Torch> when?
<Emerald> Right now?
* Torch blinks
* GypsyGirl giggles hysterically.
<Pendragon> Go for it. :)
<Cap> i'm not sure this is a good idea, jennifer
* GypsyGirl tapes Cap's mouth shut and continues giggling.
<Torch> oooookay, whats the gag here?
* Emerald shrugs.
<Emerald> No gag. You wanna come or not?
* GypsyGirl bursts out laughing.
<GypsyGirl> Nice double entendre, Jen. =)
<Emerald> Wanda: Shut up.
<Emerald> So?
<Torch> theres something hidden in here
<Torch> youre trying to pull some practical joke on me :)
<Torch> find somebody else to laugh at :)
*** Signoff: Torch (Quit: Flame ON!)
* GypsyGirl laughs!
* Emerald pouts.
<Emerald> You KNOW you're getting old when you can't even get JOHNNY
to sleep with you...
* GypsyGirl awws and hugs Jen. "You're not old."
<Emerald> Well, I feel real old now.
<Emerald> Either that, or tired.
<Emerald> Actually, it might be the latter.
* GypsyGirl grins. "Go get some sleep, Lawyer Lass."
* Emerald whimpers. "And the batteries on Wyatt are dead, too."
<GypsyGirl> TMI again, Jen. WAY TMI. =)
<Pendragon> Hey, I don't mind... :)
* GypsyGirl looks over at Vision.
<Vic> What?
<GypsyGirl> He's being so quiet.
<GypsyGirl> You just KNOW he's scribbling all of this down somewhere... =)
<Vic> I don't resort to archaic physical modes of transcription, but
the premise of your assumption is correct. I always log everything.
<Emerald> I'd better not find all this revealed in PLAYBOY, Vision...
<Emerald> Remember, I'm a LAWYER.
<Vic> I assure you that if there is someone you need to worry about
revealing things, it isn't me.
<GypsyGirl> Clint. =)
<Emerald> Clint
<Pendragon> It'd probably be Clint. :)
<Pendragon> LOL!!
<Emerald> Hey! Watch it, Dane, or I'll sue your tight ass for
copyright infringement! :)
* GypsyGirl hexes some more energy into Jen's Wyatt.
<GypsyGirl> Go sleep, Jen. Or go to bed, at least. =)
<Emerald> That trick of yours better work, Witchie Woman. =)
<Emerald> If it doesn't, you'll owe me for the disappointment. >=)
<GypsyGirl> Oh? HowEVER will I be able to pay you back?
* GypsyGirl wiggles her butt and flutters her eyelashes at Jen.
<Emerald> I'm sure we can make some...special arrangements. >=)
* GypsyGirl giggles girlishly and kicks Jen's butt. "GO TO BED!"
<Emerald> wobbles off channel...
*** Signoff: Emerald (Quit: Wyatt season! Johnny season! Wyatt season!)
<Pendragon> I'm gonna head off too now that I've had my laughs for the year. :)
<Cap> yeah, me too
<Cap> nick and i have to be up early for the assault on hydra island
<Pendragon> Hey, good luck, Cap! Kick some HYDRA butt for me too!
<Cap> will do. sleep well, dane
<Pendragon> You too, Cap.
*** Signoff: Pendragon (Quit: This 'second coming of Arthur' gig
really doesn't land a lot of chicks. They all want that Lancelot guy.
Damn you, Richard Gere!)
<Cap> night wanda, vision
<Vic> Good night, Captain.
*** Signoff: Cap (Quit: Leaving)
<GypsyGirl> Night Cap!
<Vic> No thank you.
* GypsyGirl blinkblinkblinkblinkblinks.
<GypsyGirl> Was that a joke, Vision?
<Vic> Yes. A poor one.
<GypsyGirl> It wasn't THAT bad. =)
<GypsyGirl> And it feels good to see you trying.
<GypsyGirl> ...? Vision?
<Vic> Yes?
<GypsyGirl> Nothing.
<GypsyGirl> Vision?
<Vic> Yes?
<GypsyGirl> Considering we're the only ones left online, does it make
any sense for us to stay at the computers?
<Vic> It depends. Do we have anything better to do?
*** Iron_Man (iron_man@ironman.starksolutions.com) has joined channel #avengers
*** Mode change "+o Iron_Man" on channel #avengers by AESOP
<Vic> Greetings, Iron Man.
<Iron_Man> Hey, guys. You okay?
<GypsyGirl> Mostly, yes. Shouldn't we be?
* Iron_Man sighs.
<GypsyGirl> Is Carol all right?
<Iron_Man> She had passed out on her apartment floor. Alcohol and
medicines. A *lot* of both.
<GypsyGirl> Oh my god!
<Iron_Man> She's stable now. I got her to the ER in time, and they got
everything under control, so I thought I'd head back home, let you
guys know.
* GypsyGirl closes her eyes.
<Vic> Wanda?
<Iron_Man> She'll be all right, Wanda.
<GypsyGirl> This time. =(
<Iron_Man> It's a hard road to walk, I know from experience.
<Iron_Man> This could happen again.
* GypsyGirl bites her lip. "We could've HELPED her. Kept her SAFE, if
we hadn't driven her away from the Avengers... If she dies, it'll be
OUR fault for abandoning her..."
<Iron_Man> And if she survives, it'll be purely on her own strength,
and she'll keep triumphing against the temptations to come without
needing anyone to babysit for her. If we keep coddling her, she'll
always rely on us. And we can't be there for her always.
<Iron_Man> Wanda?
<GypsyGirl> Yes?
<Iron_Man> She'll be all right. Trust me on this.
<GypsyGirl> *sigh*
<GypsyGirl> I worry about her a lot. We're -- or used to be, at least --
best friends... Are you going to go visit her?
<Iron_Man> Of course.
<GypsyGirl> Tell her I was worried, and that I care, and that I'll
call her as soon as I can?
<Iron_Man> Will do. You gonna be okay?

Wanda gasped slightly in surprise as she felt a hand, strong and sure,
place  itself  onto  her  shoulder.  She turned her head to see Vision
standing there, mute, expressionless like a statue.

It  didn't  matter that he didn't smile, that he didn't offer words of
support,  that  he  didn't  pull  her  up  from  the chair and hug her
tightly.   The  very  fact  that  he  had  bothered to ascend from the
sub-basement -- where he dwelled most of the time -- all the way up to
the living quarters on the second floor where her room was, just to be
with her, was enough to tell her that he cared.  He wanted to ease her
pain, and in desiring that, did so.

She turned her eyes back onto the computer screen, her fingers tapping
out a few words slowly.

<GypsyGirl> I'll be all right. I'm okay, promise. Good night.
*** Signoff: GypsyGirl (Quit: Sometimes the obvious way of being there
for someone -- can be the wrong way.)