Backdated to 22 November

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha's never much been the sort to celebrate her birthdays. Wasn't even when she was alive and aging. Call it the result of not having anyone to celebrate with. Family had all died when she was young, and growing up in thin times, in and out of orphanages and boarding schools, there weren't many people interested in splurging to buy her presents or take her out to dinner. She could count the number of birthday parties she's had in her whole like—seventy-eight years today—on one hand and still have fingers leftover.

She's not sure why she's thinking of it at all this year. Maybe just because there's been so many changes. New city. New allegiances. New friends, maybe. New life, maybe.

Maybe she just didn't actually expect to live to see this one after she fled Russia.

Whatever it is, Natasha goes out drinking tonight with purpose, making the rounds and her regular bars and drinking a toast at each of them. Sometimes she drinks them to herself. Sometimes she drinks them to the people who didn't make it this far. If, along the way, she runs into anyone she knows? In the event that happens, they might find themselves with a bottle of beer or a glass of whiskey being set in front of them, a silent invitation to join her for this round.

If she doesn't, then she has her drink alone and moves on.

Comments

[freelife]

Evie always worried they made her look like someone you wanted to take less-seriously.

"If you insist," she accuses, with a nod of her head. She holds up the glass for a cheers.

"I have something for you."

[outstandingbalance]

"For me? You didn't need to do that." Natasha huffs, not quite sighing. Her lips twitch. Perhaps it's because this is far from the first glass of whiskey Natasha has had tonight, or perhaps it's another kind of warmth that touches her at the realization that her friend cares enough to give her a gift, but there's a little softness in the expression. "Also, if you wanted to know when my birthday was, you could have asked."

[freelife]

She shakes her head. "Least I could do."

She drinks, and laughs, before holding out a rather small square box, pulled out from her jacket.

"I wouldn't open it here." Inside, Natasha will find two small chakrams, a fine silk cloth wrapped around part of the blade. One of Evie's favorite weapons, aside from her kukuri. She's not really good at what you give people you care about other than give them weapons. So forgive her.

[outstandingbalance]

"I'll save it for when I get home then." She smiles softly, looking over the box with some affection. The fact that Evie got her anything at all is surprising, warming even. It's been a rare occurrence in her life.

"You can watch, if you want to come back with me."

[freelife]

"I'd love to. I think I may owe you an explanation." She nods towards the gift.

[outstandingbalance]

"Oh?" Her brows rise at that, teasing. "Should I be worried?"

[freelife]

"Perhaps," she says, giving her a roguish wink. Just a nice gift from one assassin to another.

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha sets the the box down on the bar, beside her glass, and rests her fingertips on the rim. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I didn't realize you were a gifter, though."

[freelife]

"I believe in showing people that you care about them, on occasion." Life was, generally speaking, too short not to.

"Besides, I'm hoping I'll get something out of it, too, I will admit."

[outstandingbalance]

"Is that so?" Natasha perks, her tone teasing. "Well, between the gift and the drink, I'd say you're about a meal shy of getting me to put out. Or another drink."

[freelife]

Evie ducks her head, laughing. At least, she thinks she's laughing- regardless, she's blushing but hopefully no one can see it in the low light of the bar. That would be embarrassing.

"Well I was going to offer to buy the next round regardless." She takes a drink of her whiskey. Yeah, okay, she needed that.

[outstandingbalance]

"Well in that case," Natasha says, humor still warm in her voice as she raises her glass again. She doesn't blush, but Natasha's fairly unflappable in that respect.

"What did you have in mind?"

[freelife]

She gestures towards her with her left hand, her right still holding the glass.

"Whatever you wanted. It is your birthday, after all."

[outstandingbalance]

"Does it still count when you don't really get older?" She smiles, bowing her head slightly. "I'm not sure I still get to call it a birthday."

[freelife]

"I like to think so. You're still not-dead. It's still another year since your birth." They just didn't age physically, anymore.

[outstandingbalance]

"Some people would disagree," Natasha says, though her voice is light. She's already had enjoy alcohol to feel it. Not enough to be drunk or maudlin, but still enough to seem a little more open than she would normally.

And that doe mean she's drank a lot.

"On the other hand, if it's an excuse to get people to buy me drinks..."

[freelife]

"Then your drinks are on me the rest of the night." She's not as drunk, nowhere near feeling it yet, but Natasha's openness is infectious.

[outstandingbalance]

"Careful what you offer. I might just take you up on it." Her smile is more honest than normal, though. "Let's take it one drink at a time, see how it goes."

[freelife]

"Likewise," she finds herself saying, and finishes the drink. "Alright, but I suppose I'll have to catch up." She orders a round of three shots for herself. "I'm feeling a little left-out"

[outstandingbalance]

"I suppose I can slow down for a couple of rounds. As long as you're working to catch up." She smiles, her lashes dropping coyly. "I'm only gonna wait so long."

[freelife]

"Oh, in that case, just watch." It's a reckless move, but Evie downs one shot right after the other, then signals the bartender for another round. Her throat hurts, a little more than she'll let on, even for a vampire. But she remains on both feet, if not for a small cough.

"It's been some time since I've done that."

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha laughs, surprised and in some way flattered by Evie's display. Somehow, she hadn't expected her friend to be quite so up to her challenge. "When was the last time?"

She takes another drink herself.

"Maybe it's been too long."

[freelife]

"Hell if I know-" she takes a look at the next three shots lined up. She can do it.

"Probably the last time I saw Jacob." She looks at Natasha. "Shall I?"

[outstandingbalance]

"Oh, be my guest." She leans on the bar, amusement written in the narrowing of her eyes. "I'd say that should make us about even."

[freelife]

"Done." She grins, and takes the next three shots in quick succession. This time, they hurt less, and when she's swallowed the last, Evie taps the bar and turns to Natasha. There's a lightness in the back of her head, a blurring at the edges of her vision. That's seven drinks, six of them in the last three minutes. Even for a vampire, that's tough.

"Yes- yes I think that does."