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[drawsblood]

// username: joric

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[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.]

[drawsblood]

[ He nods quietly before he looks back over his shoulder. ]

Think I'll head back and start making preparations. I have some requests to put in with Viveca. Are you staying out here?

[deaddrop]

I figured I'd go for a run.

[She has to use all this excess energy somehow, and she'd hate to lose her edge.]

See you around?

[drawsblood]

Yes. I will see you.

[ With that said he nods his head to her in farewell and heads back. ]