Like tae bo? Booty boot camp?

[outstandingbalance]

Who: Natasha & others, maybe you?
What: Making friends, getting drinks and dinner, running errands and punching somebody without breaking your thumb.
Where: Around
When: Early March
Warnings: Nothing planned, will update as needed.



Delight's Bar - Open

It's easy to end up at the bar, especially when there's not much else to do. Not much structure and no immediate threats.

She's hungry or she's antsy, or she just doesn't feel like being on her own, even if she's not one to admit it. If she wanted to eat alone—if she wanted to drink alone—she would have stayed in.

The practical outcome is that here she is, scanning the room for someone else who looks like they might be looking for the right company.

Scavenging Shops - Open

She can also be found hunting for supplies. She has a few things in mind. Clothes, if she can find them. Food. Furnishings for her temporary home here. What she'd most like to find are weapons that aren't linked to Rage. She knows better than to hope for bullets, but garroting wire? She might get that lucky.

Self-Defense - Connor

"You ready?" Natasha asks, giving Connor an assessing glance. He's fit enough, but he doesn't strike her as a fighter. Maybe he'll surprise her, though. She knows better than most people that how dangerous someone looks rarely has anything to do with what they're actually capable of.

Still... it would be a surprise.

"Let me know if you're not, because once we get started I'm not going easy on you."

Sparring - Matt

"Any ground rules we should get out of the way before we get started?" Natasha asks lightly, stretching her shoulder as she glances over Matt.

"No weapons, nothing below the belt...?"

It's a suggestion more than a boundary. Natasha isn't too worried about limitations. It's a sparring match, and while she doesn't necessarily know what Matt's capable of, she does know what she can do. She's confident in her ability not to get in over her head, and she's comfortable tapping out if she has to.

"Or did you have something else in mind?"

A Trip to Delight's Temple - Jade

Natasha waits on the road for Jade to show up, arms crossed casually over her chest as she keeps an eye open for the girl. She'd agreed to go with her to Delight's Temple. So far, she hasn't been to any of the temples, preferring to keep her distance, but there's no real reason holding her back.

And if anyone ever seemed to need some moral support, it's Jade.

Walk in the Woods - Amos

A lot of people have their own workout routines in the cave. Makes sense, after all. People don't give up on that—both because it makes sense to keep in shape in Hadriel, but also because it's comforting to go through the familiar motions.

At least, Natasha finds it comforting.

She's on her morning jog through the orchard when she spots someone a figure she knows going through poses, slowing as she approaches and finally coming to a stop as she gives him a curious once over.

"Yoga?"

Wildcard

Choose your own adventure!

Comments

scavenging

[wipedclean]

[Scavenging is a good way to keep busy. It's the easiest way to help out that doesn't involve killing things. Because, look. If Bucky can avoid killing stuff for a while, he will.

Accompanying Natasha was something of a happy accident. He'd run into her a few shops back, and they'd been going in the same general direction. It would've been ridiculous to try to avoid her from there on out. And two sets of highly trained eyes were better than one.]

So. [Making conversation. It's difficult.] You figure anything out interesting about our captors, Ms. Black Widow? [Because if there's anyone who can, it'd be a Widow.]

[outstandingbalance]

I've found out they don't know a whole lot humans.

[She says it with a snort an a wry turn of her lips. You don't have to be a master spy to realize that, but it still bears repeating.]

Other than that, it's an ongoing project.

[And one she's still considering how to approach.]

My normal methods don't work as well here.

[wipedclean]

[He hums, a sort of amused acknowledgement without any true laughter and only the faintest hint of a smile. Yeah, that first part he knew pretty well already, even when he was having trouble understanding humanity himself.]

Yeah, I don't imagine they do. Unless you use them on the other people here.

[He considers that.]

Which could be helpful, I guess, if people try to pull shit.

[outstandingbalance]

[And Natasha would be lying if she said she hadn't considered that as well. Instead she hums noncommittally as she shifts aside some empty crates to investigate whether there might be anything more promising underneath.]

I suppose I could always try to get close to the gods the same way, but... so far, hasn't seemed worth the risk.

[Which also doesn't rule it out entirely.]

For now, observation only.

[On both counts.]

[wipedclean]

[He nods.]

Makes sense.

[He's quiet for a bit, then he sighs.]

I'm still figuring out what it is I should be doing around here. Jumping back into what I was doing before seems... ill-advised.

[iustitiae]

"I mean, I'm not," he says quickly, "but I do want to learn."

He's just also really sure Natasha could kill him with her bare hands, so, like, that's a hard thing to be ready for.

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha laughs at that, not surprised but it's a good attitude to have. Realistic. She almost feels sorry for what she's going to put him through. Almost.

"In that case, lesson one. Show me how you make a fist."

[iustitiae]

"Is that not, like, an intuitive thing?" He balls his hand into a fist and looks at it like what could I possibly be messing up here.

[outstandingbalance]

"That depends on how much you like your bones in one piece." Natasha says it with a slight smile. Up to him, really. Then she takes his hand, moving his thumb so it's tucked a little further back from his second knuckle. "At least it wasn't inside your hand... Like this. Then line up with your wrist. When you go to throw a punch, try to hit with your first two knuckles here.."

She demonstrates by holding his fist against the palm of her left hand so the knuckles of his first and second finger hit first. She's simplifying this a lot, but it's not like she figures Connor's about to become a martial artist.

"I want you to picture a line from your shoulder, down your arm, ending here. the fewer kinks in the line, the more power gets from here," said patting his shoulder. For as distant as she can be, Natasha isn't all that shy in people's space. "To here." Touching his hand again.

"That make sense?"

[fourthsaken]

[Jade meets Natasha at the agreed upon spot, looking nervous and unsure. She'd been avoiding the temples too, but between the promise of a way to get fabric and some anonymous advice she was given, she figures it's time to give them a chance. At least, she thinks, Delight isn't the worst one she could try approaching first.

But she's still nervous. She waves awkwardly when she spots Natasha, relived that she'd agreed to accompany Jade. There's a journal tucked under one of her arms and she tries to smile at Natasha, tries to make it seem like this whole outing is not big deal.

It is definitely a big deal.]

Hi. Uh, sorry if I kept you waiting...

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha returns the smile, making it look easier even if she's not sure it actually is.]

I haven't been here long. Don't worry about it.

[She tilts her head toward the road ahead of them.]

Have everything you need?

[fourthsaken]

[Jade nods, clutching her journal in her hands. She doesn't feel ready, but she can't back out of going to the temple now, not when Natasha is there to join her.]

I think so? It's not like I was supposed to bring anything except happy memories.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha shrugs. She's not the one making the deal with the god.

She's also not sure that everything Jade needs and everything she's supposed to bring for Delight are exactly the same.]

Have those in mind, then?

sparring

[devilsavocado]

"My dad showed me how to box, those rules sound pretty standard."

Matt shrugs. For a blind guy, he sure seems comfortable in his gym gear, shifting his weight side to side in a stretch. Then again, he's never gone hand-to-hand with an Avenger. Foggy would kill him if he found out. The thought makes him smirk.

"I guess I should mention you don't have to go easy on me." He did say he'd start telling people more, about his powers. Subtly. Or not-so-subtly. Natasha should figure it out soon enough. "Been doing this for a while. Should be fun."

[outstandingbalance]

"Matt," Natasha's tone is faux offended, archness not entirely disguising humor. "Do I really strike you as the kind of woman who goes easy on people?"

Maybe not hard. This is sparring. Natasha's not interested in making this too serious. At the same time, she figures Matt knows what he's signing on for. She wouldn't have agreed to this if she didn't.

She's not entirely sure how he thinks he's going to make up for his disadvantages, but that doesn't mean she doesn't figure he's got something in mind.

Whatever it is, judging by his expression, he really is expecting to enjoy this.

"Whenever you're ready."

[devilsavocado]

"I wouldn't blame you." Matt shrugs, still smirking. He's looking forward to this, but he's also quite used to being underestimated.

He rolls his shoulders, adjusting his glasses mostly to make sure they don't slide off his face. His gaze falls somewhere to the right of Natasha's face, but his senses are totally trained on her. He'll 'see' her coming no matter what.

"Hope I'm not too rusty." He says, foregoing all preamble and aiming a punch to her shoulder. Might as well get this secret stuff out of the way, even if he doesn't have to look where he's throwing his punches.

[outstandingbalance]

"I'm sure you'll do fine." She says it even as she dodges. Natasha knows better than to watch his eyeline for signs of what he might be planning. Even sighted opponents knew better than to telegraph their intentions that way, and in Matt's case it would just be a distraction. If she could see his eyes at all, behind his dark glasses.

Her heartbeat is steady and her footfalls light as she dodges, and she follows up with a quick kick aimed at his ankle. The counterattack might seem like holding back, despite what she said, but in reality it's more of an experiment, gauging how he reacts and where his skill level really is.

Only one way to know for sure.

Walk in the Woods

[amos_moses]

Amos doesn't pause, moving slowly out of downward dog to the mountain pose, breathing out a deep breath before looking up at Natasha and grinning. "Yup. Gotta stay flexible, don'tchya know."

He rolls his shoulders as he steps off the little mat he'd found to use as a place marker. "Out for a walk, then, Miss Natasha?" he queries, as one of the jabberjays nearby screams out a cussword.

Amos blinks, glancing after the bird. "Well, someone in this cave has a filthy mouth."

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha glances at the bird, arching an eyebrow. She imagines the bird learned that language somewhere. "He's not the only one, either," she remarks dryly, shaking her head.

"Just getting some air. As much as you can get fresh air underground—I like to keep moving." She tilts her head then, looking him over. It would be an overstatement to claim she was impressed, but she is assessing. "Seems like you know what I'm talking about. Your form's not bad."

[amos_moses]

Amos chuckles. "Thank you! I'm rusty, it's been a few months. Figured now is good a time as any to catch up again, since when I get back home it'll be straight back to a combat zone." He wrinkles his nose. Fighting zombies is not his favorite thing in the world to do.

"But yeah, I know whatchya mean. I can do yoga an' parkour all by myself, so I figure might as well."

[outstandingbalance]

"Parkour, yoga, combat—you're a man of many talents, aren't you?" She keeps any irony out of her tone as she says it. She's not lying. That's a lot for one person, and she respects it.

Plus, she prefers when she can keep other people talking about themselves. It saves her having to lie.

It's usually a very effective strategy.

"Any other skills I should know about?"

Bar

[hornrims]

Richie has always been a punctual person. After agreeing to meet Natasha at the bar he doesn't take long to leave. Yet before doing so he checks his appearance, smoothing his hair and straightening his tie. Just as important as showing up on time to a designated meeting was a professional appearance.

While he drinks, he's not the type to get drunk unless something has gone seriously wrong. Overall he hasn't had much use for Delight and especially not her bar, and this would be his first time setting foot within in place since arriving to the city.

He's not impressed.

When Natasha arrives he won't be hard to miss. Richie is indeed wearing a tie just as promised, and he also sits perfectly upright on a stool which seems undersized for his tall and bulky frame. Hands rest folded on the bar, signaling through body language that he has no desire to pass the time conversing with a total stranger.

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha doesn't leave him waiting. She isn't one to drink to get drunk, but she does know the value in being where people do. Good place to meet people. Better place to keep an eye on people. Either way, she's spent a lot of time quietly nursing a couple of drinks here, and she walks in with the confidence that comes from knowing a place.

She spots him at the bar and strolls up.

Luckily, Natasha is used to hanging out with guys much bigger than she is. Looking up at people isn't exactly new to her. She offers her hand to shake without missing a beat, the image of professionalism.

"Mr. Gecko?"

[hornrims]

"Ms. Romanoff I presume."

Richie is not above references, even and especially if they are no longer in fashion. When they do come, most fall out of his mouth without a second thought. He stands as he would for any meeting, giving the newcomer proper attention. He takes her hand with a firm shake and immediately after hoists himself back on the stool. She can seat herself, he doesn't have to wait.

"Or since you do the whole mysterious thing, am I not supposed to know you're here?"

[outstandingbalance]

"If I didn't want you to know I was here, you wouldn't." She smiles as she says it, her voice warm in an impersonal way. Like her handshake, firm, confident, and perfectly professional.

She sits only seconds behind him.

"I'm not really that mysterious, though." That's not how this works. Or maybe it is. She might not be in the best position to judge. "Just... let's say I have a hard time opening up to people. Not that uncommon."