blackhourglass | Open Post

[Natasha enjoyed her little alcove of space. It was rare that she let anyone into it but those she trusted implicitly. It was her safe space, but she knew that Pietro would feel better here than he would out in some lousy American bar. They were great for certain meetings, but knocking back shots and flirting a little was better this way for the pair of them.

Hearing the door sound, Nat uncurled herself and set the book aside. Opening it with a swing and a smile, she leaned up against the side. ]

Nice of you to finally make it. Come on in.

[She had a more pithy line waiting on her lips, but remembering that English wasn't his first language made it less likely he'd understand it. She could switch languages, but Nat figured that if they were going to be here, it was best to practice English. Although, she imagined that as the night wore on and the alcohol grew heavy, they might switch back and forth-- simply because of ease. That was the joy of being able to speak so many languages for her job, it all came naturally, even while drunk.]

I always arrive just in time.

[He does offer out the bottle of vodka he got.]

Not as high quality but still good I should hope.

I imagine you're never late. [There's a lightness to her tone that borders on a laugh. It's a stupid joke, but she couldn't help herself. He did set himself up for it. Taking the bottle from him, she thanks him and puts it in the freezer next to the one she already has there.

Pulling out what she has, she grabs it and a couple of shot glasses to take over to the couch. It's pretty cozy and she's got some old campy comedy on, because she lives for stupid movies that make her laugh and sometimes cry. It's easier than all the seriousness that life comes with most the time. ]

Your alcohol will be our back up bottle. I'm sure it'll come in handy, knowing how well we can drink. I bet your metabolism does wonders with alcohol, huh? Come, have a seat, relax. Let's get a few shots down and then we can figure out what to talk about.

That is... not entirely true. But even when I am late I am in time.

[He just isn't late very often.]

Do you think we would have need for it?

[He is happy to sit next to her, and happier to take a glass.]

I have not had much to drink since... everything.

I have no idea. I don't know how much drinking we'll be doing.

[She pours them both out shots, and takes the first set with a raised toast and then pours them another. ]

I tend to drink now and then. I have a fairly high tolerance. A glass a wine is usually something I enjoy most evenings that I'm at home. I guess I have a few things that I treat myself to since coming here to the states.

I suppose we will see how my tolerance is. Might not have a good answer for a while.

[Leaning in closer, she ran a hand along the back of the couch and softly through the hair at the base of his neck with a smile.]

It could be a while. Good thing I don't think we're in a rush.

[Well now that was a very forward touch. He grins and leans into those fingers.]

I will try not to be. But rushing is part of what I do.

[It was indeed. Good thing she doesn't think that he minds by the look on his face and the way he leans into it. She takes another shot, and pours more.]

Good. Then I don't have to pretend to go slow for you.

[Not that Natasha is a person to put on a show for anyone. She's more than happy to show her hand from the start.]

[Pietro smiles and takes his own shot. It burns just right and he closes his eyes to hum in pleasure.]

Never would imagine the famed Black Widow would feel she needs to slow down for me.

[There's a quick laugh, and Natasha drops her hand to his shoulder to rest-- folding her arm in comfortably as she sits closer. ]

I'm not that famous. I'm really like any other woman when it comes down to it. I like to sit and cuddle by my fireplace and drink good vodka. Can't get a much better evening than that.

You are that famous in some circles. Like the ones who changed me and my sister. You and the others like you, very talked about. And the Soldier too. Like threats. Baseless ones apparently.

[Nat knows how she's spoken of, and she doesn't need reminders of that from the people she invites into her home for drinks. It's almost a little strange to hear it from Pietro. Perhaps he wasn't flirting with her earlier. Sitting against the arm of the couch, she settles in for drinking instead of flirting.

The last thing she wants is to hear about herself. She feels enough guilt over her life. She is what she is, and that's all there is to it. Taking up her shot, she drinks it back and pours another.]

Feel like watching a movie then Pietro? Any kind of genre you like to watch in particular?

[He supposes he said something wrong. That is a mistake. He will figure out how to fix it.]

I do not know. I think explosions and action does not translate well. It is... stressful. What sort of movies do you prefer?

[It's just hard to be reminded of the lives she takes, and has taken. She knows who she is, and would rather live in the simple world in her time off. It's hard enough to face the guilt of her past and how it sits heavy around her often enough. Times like this were made for levity, and living away from that.

She was hoping for a night with a friend at least-- so that is what she's aiming for now. Nothing wrong there. ]

I do a lot of stupid comedy, honestly. Things that make me laugh for all kinds of reasons. I watch a little bit of smouldering romance too, but I doubt you prefer that.

Now that is quite the assumption. Smoldering romance is its own delight. It is about the joy of life and the comfort of another.

[He thinks for a moment as he downs more vodka.]

And has less of those, oh what is the word... Comedic falls? The comedy where people are bumping into each other.

That's true. I don't really go for the comedic fails type of comedy, but if you want the hot romance. We can go for it. I am all about other people's dreams and desires.

[She smiles and flips through the channels to see what might be interesting for them to watch. ]

Let's see, there's a lot to choose from and I have no idea what you might like. There's some with strippers like Magic Mike, there's a BDSM classic like 50 shades of Gray, there's the old school thriller Basic Instinct, then there's one that's hard to describe, but it's heartwrenching, Call me by your Name. There's a million more. Those are only a start. Do you want me to go on?

I suppose now I am being encouraged to ask what that little burst of letters there means. I am not, though, seeking 'heartwrenching'. Drinking does not make me tear up much, but once I start, I do not stop.

Wanda says I am not a 'pretty crier'.

Ah, the terms stand for Bondage, Discipline, Sadism and Masochism. It's pretty much about a kink about Dominance and Submission. They start out all about sex and a certain kink and then fall in love when they're in a contract and aren't supposed to.

[She grins at his admission of not being a pretty crier, and glances over to look at his eyes.]

I don't think many people are pretty criers, but you have eyes that would turn dark and might look nice with a sheen. Don't let movies stop you from crying if you're ever in need of it.

[Pietro goggles at that. There's a term for it? He just stares for a moment.]

And why would someone think a contract would protect them from emotions? Emotions cannot be controlled. That sounds foolish.

[As for the crying, he nods in agreement because it makes a lot of sense.]

[There's a wide grin on her face. That was the point of the movie, but it's not the point of D/s as far as she knows. She's not really one to deal with emotions or relationships, considering her stance on the whole thing. It's an interesting take, even if it's a backwards showing of how most of those contracts work from what she's heard.]

From what I know, that's just how the movie does it. I think it's merely for entertainment. You know, to get lonely housewives something to fantasize over, or bored avengers. I think most people in those type of contracts trust first and set them up for a variety of reasons, emotions or not. Many are already in relationships and those that aren't do it for a sort of gratification, a release they need for one reason or another. I've never done much beyond a little bondage. I'd try things, I'd try most anything if I had a partner that I trust, but I don't know about it enough to talk about it.

[At least he agrees with her suggestion about crying. Everyone is different, and why hide when in the company of someone trusted. Natasha doesn't trust many, but she's beginning to find a semblance of relaxation here. ]

I do not know if I could trust someone to tie me up.

[There's this flicker of fear across his face. Should make sense, given he'd been a test subject more or less. So he didn't want to feel trapped again. It would be bad he thought.]

I tied them up. I don't think I'd let anyone tie me up either. I like to be in control of things. I am interested in a lot, but I don't know if I'd ever trust anyone enough to do them with.

[She reaches out at the look in his eyes and runs a soothing hand along his back and then moves to run the back of her fingers across his cheekbone. She was a test subject in a way as well. Her mind and body had been a plaything for exploitation. The fact that she used her body still to get information showed how deeply embedded the training had gone. She was free in many ways, but there were still parts that would never leave-- like some of the memories they'd given her, that she knew now weren't hers, but still settled across her brain and lingered there like any other part of her past. It was disturbing, but she'd grown used to it.]

No one will do anything to you anymore unless you allow them.

Now that is reasonable.

[Pietro offered with a nod. Because her history would mean that she had to give herself up in a way that would be hard for people like them.]

You believe that? I do not believe it.

I mean, I've been tied up to get information, but that was work and I could easily get out. I allowed myself to be captured and was in complete control of everything. They were offering up all the information because they thought they were going to kill me. That's different.

[Work and sex were often in the same category, but sexual bondage and allowing someone to capture her in order to gain information was different. She was always in complete control then. Never again would she allow anyone else to own her life.]

I can't promise you won't be attacked as part of the avengers. That's our job, but you have control of your life. It's the one thing I know, and have had since I was pulled out of Russia and the Red Room. Clint saved me. I set all my own rules.

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