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

[outstandingbalance]

"You didn't know," she shrugs, leaning in just a little, her voice lowering conspiratorially. "Besides, you're here. That's something. Unless you were planning to leave me here?"

[specifiercity]

"Of course not," he says, equally as conspiratorial. He picks up his whiskey, swirling it around in the glass thoughtfully for a moment before he leans in, inviting her to take away whatever she wants from what he's about to say. "I'll stick around as long as the birthday girl wants me to."

[outstandingbalance]

"You sure about that? Seems like every time I think I'm going to spend the night with you... something comes up." He's smart. She figures he'll catch the invitation in her statement. She also figures he'll notice the backdoor.

[specifiercity]

"Not for lack of trying on my part," Arthur says with another laugh. He's not trying to pin it all on her, but that one time still sticks in his mind as a particularly embarrassing moment.

[outstandingbalance]

"I can't deny that." Natasha smiles faintly, not exactly embarrassed, and not exactly trying to deflect the blame. If she'd been honest with him, perhaps they wouldn't have ended quite so poorly. They had both had reasons not to tell the truth, though. "No surprises tonight, I promise."

[specifiercity]

He smiles like he's charmed by that, taking another sip before he speaks again. "You shouldn't keep promises you can't keep," he tells her, "but I'm sure if we work together we can at least minimize the possibility of surprises."

[outstandingbalance]

"I wouldn't make a whole lot of promises if I followed that rule." She doesn't make too many promises as it is—for that very reason. "I intend to keep it. That has to count for something."