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[drawsblood]

// username: joric

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[deaddrop]

Maybe for next Christmas?

[Very much teasing. Who knows if they'll even be here in six more months?]

I be you'll make a really neat fish.

[Also kind of joking, but in a gentle way.]

[drawsblood]

Yes. By that time I'll have more people to give gifts to.

[ A pause. ]

Unless they leave or this whole thing ends. Not the best thing to think about.

[deaddrop]

I think for the time being it makes the most sense for us to assume we'll still be here. If not... [Natasha shrugs as she pauses, considering her words.] Plans change. I'd still rather make them.

[drawsblood]

[ He nods slowly, considering her point. ]

I suppose it doesn't hurt to be optimistic. You'll be the first person I make something for, since you inspired the idea.

[deaddrop]

I'll take the blame for that one, sure.

[Natasha's not sure she'd call herself an optimist, but she does know something about not giving into despair.]

If I take up knitting, we can make it a trade.

[drawsblood]

Sounds good to me.

[ Who knows? He might even wear it. One shouldn't let something warm go to waste just because of how it looks. ]

It will be nice to have more activities to do in these quiet moments.

[deaddrop]

It will be. And as boring as they are... to keep getting quiet moments.

[Since they don't know how long they'll last.]

[drawsblood]

What, you don't like battles while flying in space or storming a castle where a man transforms into a dragon?

[ Just to recall a few things he's been through. ]

[deaddrop]

I guess they must have gotten boring since that's just an average Tuesday around here.

[Ironically, though there may be some truth to it. Not that it's boring, but it's a little more commonplace than one would expect.]

[drawsblood]

I hate to break it to you, but I doubt knitting will be a step up from that.

[ He gives her a bit of a smirk since obviously he's joking around. ]

But I suppose it's not a bad thing to fill our days with activities so we don't go mad while waiting for another mission to start.

[deaddrop]

It's either that or try to guess what the next mission is going to be.

[Knitting is probably better.]

Who knows? Might be somewhere cold.

[drawsblood]

[ Natasha, you just said the magic word. His eyes positively light up. ]

I'm hoping it is! I will be in my element and can have a good laugh at the rest of you feeling it.

[deaddrop]

I'm Russian. You think I can't handle a little cold?

[She might had defected, but that doesn't mean she doesn't take a little offense at that.]

We'll see whose coat I steal when we're all snow and ice now.

[drawsblood]

[ He gives her a look that suggests "You serious?" ]

I'd have to know what Russian even is before I can answer that.

[ He's not from Earth, after all. ]

Not mine. I won't even need one.

[deaddrop]

A person from Russia—known for long cold winters.

[Not something she expected him to know, but all the same.]

So I can expect you walking around outside in the snow in nothing but a henley? Maybe a flannel.

[drawsblood]

Ah.

[ Now that he has the context it makes sense. ]

That's right. If it's blizzard conditions I wouldn't risk it and I'd bring a coat, but most of the time I won't feel it for a good while.

[deaddrop]

So I see you're going for thirst tap again.

[Teasingly.]

We'll get you out there chopping wood. You'll attract a crowd.

[drawsblood]

You're going to have to refresh my memory on what that means.

[ If he's ever even been told before. ]

Better me out there than someone who'd freeze to death in the attempt.

[deaddrop]

It's when you get people's attention by being sexy. If the rest of us are bundled up and you're rolling up your sleeves?

[Distracting.]

[drawsblood]

Such a strange phrase for it, but I understand now.

[ He shrugs. ]

What can I say? The cold doesn't bother me.

[ Let it goooo, let it goooo... ]

[deaddrop]

The kids are very good at coming up with strange ways to say things. Part of their charm.

[She will kindly not sing at him, but she will have that song stuck in her head later.]

[drawsblood]

I guess so.

[ Darn youths! ]

Now I'm going to be disappointed if the next mission is not at such a place. And everyone else will be too if they can't see me chop wood.

[deaddrop]

Probably shouldn't spread it around too much, hm? That way they don't know what they're missing out on.

[She winks at him, playful.]

[drawsblood]

You're right. It wouldn't be fair to do that to them.

[ It's punctuated with a laugh. There are some people here where he feels his old self returning when he interacts with them. Before the rage, when he was just a simple soldier drinking and playing cards at the tavern. Natasha is one of those people who brings it out in him. ]

Well, whatever it is I hope to see you around during it.

[deaddrop]

I think that should be doable.

[She can't swear, of course, but there's usually an opportunity.]