cuddlecity | ballerina, you must have seen her

CHARACTERS: Natasha Romanoff + anyone
LOCATIONS: various
WARNINGS: sexy widow antics? idk
SUMMARY: using this for the end of October + November. open starters in the body and closed starters in the comments.

shopping; end of october

[ Halloween isn't something Natasha has ever been able to really celebrate. Not in her youth and only by osmosis when she was older. She knew of it, of course. Later got to enjoy horror movie marathons and candy, was familiar with the parties and costumes. Even indulged in buying some decorations to conspicuously place on Nick's desk. But it was always something surprisingly distant from her even during the month of.

In Cadelle, she wanted to change it up a little bit. While the fliers for the ball were everywhere, she decided it would be better to stay in this time. She went to plenty of parties in Eudio and was still adjusting to being in this new place. Instead of going dress shopping, she let the date for the ball come and go and bought candy to donate to Helping Hands before deciding yes, she would be getting a pumpkin to carve up.

The main problem: how to tell which one was the best? Some were pretty wide. There were a few tall ones. She has a few out on the floor of the store in front of her, arms crossed, and staring down at them with the same kind of intensity she has when trying to figure out an opponent. This was serious, okay.

(Even if she already knew she might just get a second one if she messes up the first one.) ]

sucker punch; there at least once a week

[ Whether she is practicing on a punching bag or doing exercises with weights, Natasha makes it a habit to go to Sucker Punch often. It's one of the few ways she can get out the restless energy inside her and also keeps her skills sharp. Even in a place like this, getting lax with her fighting is unacceptable.

With buds in her ears, music blasting, she'll go at it for hours. It may take getting in the line of fire of her practice swings but if anyone wants a friendly match, she's your woman. ]

more to be added later

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ On the night of the ball, Natasha makes it a point to get home before Matt so she can get everything set up. Candles, a good spread courtesy of Wok and Roll take out, and just the right music set to play on her ipod and the speakers attached. She just finishes up getting herself ready - hair down, silk nightgown on, and the smallest hint of perfume (she doesn't need much for him) - when she hears the keys in the lock.

She breaks into a little sprint to get to the player and presses the 'play' button after he walks in. ]

Welcome home, Counselor.

[A ball really did sound like a fun night for social types. He had meant to talk to her about it. Honestly. But now that they're here, here together just coming home to one another and getting something to eat on the go or both of them attempting to construct a dish was an appealing option. Just as he's coming up the hallway he pauses.

The wafting smell of wax, of....good food. It peaks his interest. Key in the door and he hears the whisper sound of silk on skin.

Not even through the threshold and he's got a smile on his face that no other person here can pull out of him.]

Good evening, Special Agent.

[ Being able to live with a significant other was definitely not a luxury Natasha had ever been able to experience. Maybe as a cover but that's what it had been. Pretend, fake. This was real. Having someone to come home to, being able to laugh and "struggle" in the kitchen, sharing a bathroom for different reasons. All those mundane things people take for granted.

And having a little night like this? Straight out of the movies. ]

Ah, ex-special agent, now.

[ She was pretty much a fugitive back in her world. But she doesn't let those thoughts stop her from coming over and helping Matt out of his suit jacket. ]

[The little thrill of coming home and knowing that she is there has not faded. Matt hopes that it never does. There's a ring of promise on his finger and her own. And the weight of it and the way it clinks against his cane, it just keeps the glow in his heart extending and spreading.

This is his life. And it does feel a lot like the fiction.]

Ah. Well, I think that you wear the title well. Current or former.

[Is there anything she doesn't wear well? Matt sets his cane aside and his glasses are slipping down his nose as he tilts his head down to give her a kiss of hello. Taking off his coat is a little hard but he manages one arm and then the other. Now that is gone he can wrap them around her.]

Would you prefer teacher?

[ Since they weren't able to work together yet, Natasha felt setting aside one day of the week for them was pretty deserved. A night for some drinks, movies, and dancing. Clubs were pretty annoying for her overall so she would show up at Gaby's apartment, booze in one hand and the movie selection in the other.

Tonight was horror movies, keeping with the theme of the month. ]

[ SO REAL TALK

gaby doesn't get halloween/samhain. the us soldiers had brought the halloween tradition after the war, but the trick or treating never really caught on -- mostly because st. martinstag is in the beginning of november -- so all the chatter about halloween and spooky things goes right over her head.

but also, she likes scary movies so when she sweeps open the door and spots the movie, which looks appropriately horror, a smile breaks across her expression. ]

I made dinner. [ and buy made she means bought pre-made at a restaurant because nah. ]

[There are some places that Vasquez is still discovering in town, seeing as he always thinks he's going to explore and then instead, he spends all his time at the bars. There are just so many of them and they're all very inviting, plus he actually needs to be working and so he's been spending time with that, too. This gym place, where people go to fight and exercise has him intrigued, even if he shows up and isn't wearing anything resembling a proper outfit.

Still, he doesn't need to be dressed in strange short-pants and torn shirts to notice the redhead punching at a bag in a way that would win a bar brawl in minutes. Watching with appreciation, he tips his head to one side and can't help but be reminded of Emma Cullen, sniggering under his breath as he remembers their first meeting and how poorly that would go over here.]

You ever try that with real people?

[He doesn't know if she'll hear him, but he stands in her sight and waves to get her attention, arching a brow and gesturing to the bag in front of her.]

[ Picking out the right pumpkin is serious business.

If only Felicity really knew how. In the past, she'd just grabbed one and then made a beeline for one of those small and plastic pumpkin carving kits from a convenience store. Then she'd complain in agony as her fingers hurt from all that pressure trying to drive a small knife into such thick pumpkin skin.

Maybe this time it'll be different. Cadelle seems perfectly tailored to happiness in certain ways. Why not in the ways of the pumpkin. ]

Are you supposed to pick these based on how they sound?

[ She asks the red-haired woman adjacent to her, also looking through the big display of any-sized pumpkins at the store. Felicity already has one picked up, and is knocking on it and trying to hear the sound. ]

ballerina, you must have seen her

for matt;

for matt;

no subject

no subject

for gaby;

no subject

punch it

shopping