natalia "natasha" romanova ✦ black widow (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
redhourglass) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
asgardeventide2013-09-10 10:43 am
redhourglass) wrote in asgardeventide2013-09-10 10:43 am
seventh bite | anon text / action | backdated day 323
[ most of the time, natasha could keep her guilt to a bare minimum. she could tell herself, "i didn't know" or "i was a pawn," and maybe that would get her through the day. maybe she could say that her life was worth it because she was atoning for her debts through her work with SHIELD, saving lives one life at a time. her ledger might be dripping red, but there would be enough time; with her expanded lifespan, she would have the rest of whatever time she had left to pay back those she'd hurt.
today, however, it was unbearable. she'd heard rumors about the apple trees around the city and never one to trust the word of others, she'd thought to try it herself. it had only taken a bite before the apple had dropped out of her hand and she'd fled, into the shadows of an alley, up a roof, and somewhere safe.
somewhere dark. somewhere high.
that was earlier. it's now evening and she's sitting at a bar, swirling a liquid in her drink that smells to high heaven and certainly does not look like water. to those that know her, she's looking more morose than usual, hard lines in her face softened to something that resembles grief. ]
if you did something so horrible that you hurt many people, but you spent the rest of your life paying for it,
how long would you have to pay before it was undone?
[ anonymous red text makes an appearance on the network. natasha swirls her glass. the world is quiet. ]
today, however, it was unbearable. she'd heard rumors about the apple trees around the city and never one to trust the word of others, she'd thought to try it herself. it had only taken a bite before the apple had dropped out of her hand and she'd fled, into the shadows of an alley, up a roof, and somewhere safe.
somewhere dark. somewhere high.
that was earlier. it's now evening and she's sitting at a bar, swirling a liquid in her drink that smells to high heaven and certainly does not look like water. to those that know her, she's looking more morose than usual, hard lines in her face softened to something that resembles grief. ]
if you did something so horrible that you hurt many people, but you spent the rest of your life paying for it,
how long would you have to pay before it was undone?
[ anonymous red text makes an appearance on the network. natasha swirls her glass. the world is quiet. ]
ooc: my late contribution to the Fruits of Our Labor Event! feel free to respond to natasha in person (action) or on the network!
action.
You can't sit at a bar and not drink anything.
Re: action.
[ he's considering if he can get away with ordering a beer. spoilers: it is a bad idea ]
action.
The first time you go into a bar and actually have a drink, it'll be abundantly clear you haven't been in one before. Practice.
Re: action.
How can they tell?
action.
If you were going to order a drink right now, how would you do it?
Re: action.
Ask what's tapped....?
action.
In a place like this? Not even close.
Re: action.
[ he hops onto the stool, glad he got the tiny smile at least. he'll keep up the bar talk for a little bit. ]
What are you having?
action.
Me? You don't want to know. [ a beat. ] It's a drink called a White Russian. Vodka, coffee liquor and light cream.
[ the irony of the name is not lost on her. and in her case, tonight, it's more vodka and liquor than cream. ]
Re: action.
[ He doesn't actually know what vodka tastes like, but hey, coffee and cream!
..he also doesn't know she's Russian, or her real name. He doesn't know much about her, really. But he's still worried, and sitting beside her for that. ]
action.
[ definitely not in the quantity that she's having it, too. ]
When you're old enough, you should try it. [ she can't bring herself to offer any more than that, however, by way of conversation. ]
Re: action.
[ He waves to the bartender, who is all the way down at the other end... and holds up two fingers and gestures to Natasha's drink. 'I'll have what she's having, and get her another.' The guy starts making them. ]
Guess you'll just have to tell me what's wrong instead.
action.
Don't eat the apples.
[ short enough, vague enough. ]
Re: action.
Too late. What color did you get?
action.
Green. Seemed harmless enough at the time. I was aiming for a gift from home. What about you?
Re: action.
[ The drinks come and he puts the money down on the bar, but doesn't reach for his glass because it's actually Natasha's glass. He's not stupid, after all. ]
action.
[ she eyes him for a moment, ready to smack his hand should he reach for the drink, then relaxing and sliding it over to herself so that she can line them up in front of her. ]
Re: action.
[ Connor watches Natasha line up her drinks, wondering if he's going to wind up carrying her home tonight. ]
action.
Not exactly a keepsake for a kid.
Re: action.
action.
[ you know. in her eighties but still enjoying her youth. if it can be said that she's enjoying it right now. ]
Why wouldn't your dad ever let you use it?
Re: action.
[ Maybe if he's honest, she'll open up a bit more? Connor doesn't know what to make of Shadhika, which he knows isn't her real name. He knows she hasn't really told him anything, but lets him hang around anyway. ]
action.
And now?
Re: action.
You're not. What did green do?
no subject
Something that feels a lot like guilt, apparently. I can't quantify it for you right now.