View source for 13543/Avengers The Movie: 3..2..1.. Action

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2021/06/23
|Location=The Fourth Season Restaurant, NYC
|Synopsis=Avengers The Movie! It's happening! Natasha and Alexander meet the starlet who will be playing Nat in the film.
|Cast of Characters=9664,93
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Fourth Season is a fine dining establishment that has a place of some prominence in Manhattan. It is a beautiful rooftop dining establishment in the Financial District of the city that sees every table reserved well in advance, every service sold out, and every meal a wonderful exhibition of the chef's talent. It's a place that only a few people can get a table at on short notice and is also a place where black ties are often required...<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But for some of the cultural elite that just isn't so. Say if a famous actress of some renown had her assistant give a call to the establishment and asked for a table for three this evening, well she could very well get it. Depending on how much money her last film made, of course. And if she didn't feel like getting dressed up or wanted some privacy well there was always the function rooms that were not always engaged. Still. It would take some shuffling.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet in the end it would allow the Hollywood starlet and her guests to come to the Fourth Season, to be seated without waiting, and for them to have relative privacy off in the corner of one of those function rooms where they can speak freely and enjoy themselves.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the weird tension in the room.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Which was, perhaps, broken in part by Alexander Aaron's voice offering in a tone that reinforces the smile on his handsome features, "Thank you for the invitation, this is very kind of you."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not dressed in a black tie affair, still the young Agent cleaned up rather well. A collarless grey shirt, black dress pants, a silver watch, cuff-links even, a pair of black leather shoes but with that he seems rather well put together for the evening, eschewing his usual fare of over-sized clothes and his lazy aesthetic. Now... he looks actually rather well presentable.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>"Oh, it's my pleasure!" gushed the young blonde woman sitting in the nearby seat. She was wearing a designer dress that probably cost more than an entire year's salary for Alexander. It was one of those cut down to there and all the way up to there. Showing off far more skin than was strictly necessary. Lesli-for that was her name--gave a bright smile to both of them as she simply bubbled with excitement. She felt the spelling made her name edgier. Which it may have been at some point but then she always signed with a little heart for the dot on the i which made it less so. <br><br>The other guest at the table was Natasha. She wore the ever classic little-black-dress. Falling to just above her knee but with a demure neckline, though it did follow the curves of her body and looked quite nice. Hers was actually designer as well, though not nearly on the level as the starlet. <br><br>"I just had to get some time in, to learn more about the role. I mean I get to play /the/ Black Widow!" She lets out a little squee noise. "Couldn't you just die?"<br><br>Natasha considered the woman. "Couldn't you?" she said back in the same sort of tone. Though Alexander knew her well enough to realize she might not be entirely kidding. "It's nice that the studio wants to make a movie about the team but just curious why the interest in spending time outside work?"<br><br>Lesli waved that off as nothing. "Because how can I be you if I don't know how you are when you aren't you?"<br><br>Because that made sense.<br><br>The blonde turned her is back to Alexander, putting her hand on his arm with an easy familiarity. "And you must know all the details, being the man in her life. Tell me something delicious that will help me play her properly?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Natasha might well notice the shell-shocked aspect in Alexander's eyes. Not from being awestruck, or there basking in the woman's fame, or even at having a brush with someone who had been in movies. He wasn't exactly an individual that was up on pop culture and his upbringing didn't have a strong penchant for media. Which left him taking this woman before him on her own merits.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And she seemed... very strange.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But he was there with her and Natasha, and he was nothing if not polite. So when she turned to him and asked him he returned the smile and gave a gentle uncurling of his hand. "I'm sure someone with your background has gained a good insight from reading her public bio and release. Maybe a better idea is if you tell us how you think you should play her and then we go from there?"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh now that might not fly, it was presumptuous and curious and seeing if the actress had done her homework. It might well draw some measure of ire considering he didn't hop to to be all wide-eyed and do whatever she wished just because she asked.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then again Natasha might well tell that what he's doing... is playing rodeo clown and trying to distract the actress at least somewhat. So that his significant other does not have to endure it herself.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>"Press releases are propaganda," Lesli stated, making a little bit of a face. "Trust me, I know!" Considering that sort of thing was a huge part of her life as an actress. She wasn't one of the best actresses out there. She wouldn't be winning any sort of awards for her acting prowess. But she was pretty and she did act adequately, thus she was popular with the public and studios. She brought in a certain demographic, which was all that was needed. This was her first major role in a film. <br><br>"I want to learn the truth behind the press." She looked over to Natasha and Alexander as she waved a hand in the air. A server was there immediately, having been told to cater to the VIP's every wish and they had no other tables assigned until she left. "Champagne. Something expensive." And that was as detailed as the order would get. The server rushed off to fulfill the request.<br><br>Lesli considered the question now. "Well, you're a spy. And you're a fighter. So I figure that femme fatale, double entendre sort of manner fits. Like, when you are sitting around with the team, you have a knife in hand peeling an apple sort of visual, to show how badass you are."<br><br>Natasha picked up her water glass and sipped. While she could keep her expression however she wanted, from all her training, she had almost laughed at that one. Because apparently the death of fruit by flaying off it's skin with a knife made someone deadly. This was going to be a long few days.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The actress probably has no way of reading Alexander to the level that Natasha can. She's learned of his tells, the small idiosyncracies of his expressions, the way he chooses his words. When they speak they can likely get so much without words. So she can tell that Alexander is... taking his time considering his own for the actress.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though thankfully he is saved with the approach of the server who gets a smile and nod of thanks which gives him a moment or two before his attention returns to Lesli. "I think that might've been more she was hungry for an apple."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As he says that his smile is playful, gentle, not quite teasing. But perhaps trying to angle the conversation in another direction. "I think..." He takes a moment to look at Nat as if getting her permission to relay his thoughts and unless stopped he does so.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That Agent Romanoff tends to present an air of professionalism. Control. Her accomplishments speak for themselves, so she doesn't really... affect an air like that?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>"Really?" Lesli seemed surprised as she looks from one to the other, not understanding this concept at all. She was from a world of make-believe. There were certain things required to make a woman seem tough. Tropes perhaps but things she had come to understand in her years on film. She looked to Natasha as though awaiting verification. <br><br>Setting down her water glass, Natasha gave a brief nod, her smile still friendly despite the fact this woman had no idea what she was getting into here. "I'm just a person, like anyone else. I'm part of a team of extraordinary individuals. I'm not trying to impress them, or anyone really. I just am trying to do my job to help keep people safe."<br><br>Which had Lesli beaming as she reached for her clutch purse, pulling out a little notepad and flipping it open then digging again until she found a pen. With a little floofy puffball on the top of it that wiggled around as she scribbled her notes. "That's good. I'm going to get them to add that." Then she set the pen back down atop the notepad. <br><br>"From the little I've seen of the script, they have--a lot of action stuff. Is that really what you do?" Then a glance from Natasha to Alexander. "I mean do you have like ninjas and stuff breaking into your house? Do you two live together? Do you have to be saved by her?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A small beautifully baked roll is taken up from the center of the table and Alexander casually pulls it apart as the two women speak together for a bit. He doesn't volunteer anything about their living situation, nor the details of what goes on. But he does speak to what is on the record that this actress might have access to. Which, to be fair, isn't a huge amount.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We both work in the same place." He smiles, not clarifying if he means Avengers support, or SHIELD, or even something with StarkTech. Instead he offers this tidbit that might help give some insight to the actress.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We met there, during a training exercise. Agent Romanoff was part of that exercise and during it she put me down pretty soundly." A small fib perhaps. Not exactly answering what the actress asked, but he smiles a little as he conveys it perhaps in a way that gives her at least /some/ insight.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But yes, she is very good. I hope you are doing a lot of training to get up to speed or have a good stuntwoman."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>"No ninjas breaking into the house," Natasha stated simply. "The whole point is to not let them learn where you live. So they don't come attack." She grins a little as the server returns. She's silent while they go through the ceremony of opening the bottle then pouring a glass for each person at the table before placing the flutes next to their plates.<br><br>"Oh that makes sense," Lesli agreed, making a quick note on her paper again. Then she looked back to Alexander.<br><br>"So she beats you up?" Then she giggled. "Not like in a bad way but like at work? So are you a hero too?" Because Alexander just got even more interesting if he was.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh no," Alexander says as he meets Lesli's eyes and his smile is easily given. Natasha has seen him around in various locales, various haunts, has traveled with him across the world, and she's learned about those looks. There's always something to be said within them. Right now he's giving her the cute gaze. The 'Oh I'm nothing special' gaze, but it's twinned with that smile and the silent invitation for her to look deeper. To perhaps see those golden flecks deep deep in those irises. If she didn't know better she might think he was trying to charm her.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Which also might be why he slightly eases his foot to rest against Natasha's as he draws attention somewhat toward himself, diving in the way of the Hollywood bull and waving red flags to get its attention.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm not a hero. We just work in some of the same places and it's important to be trained to handle anything." He shoots a glance at his paramour, then looks back to the actress.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We started out arguing some, but then we also started talking some too, and found out we had a lot in common." Which might be an over-simplification. But it's likely as much depth as the actress will get.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>Arguing? Natasha had to grin at that explanation. It wasn't exactly a lie but it obviously didn't share the full details either. Well played honestly. She gave him a little smile, pressing her foot against his under the table.<br><br>Lesli was rapt now. "You help the heroes though. In some way! That's amazing." She waved over the server again, giving everyone time to order something for their dinner, before she continued.<br><br>"I will be doing some of my own stunts. I do cross fit so I'm really in good shape." Because cross-fit is everything. "But the crazy stuff I have a great stuntwoman. I mean I'm not going to be swinging on lines from building to building and some of the other crazy stuff."<br><br>Natasha shrugged. "It isn't that hard. When you are with me tomorrow, I can show you some things." <br><br>She apparently just walked on water by the way Lesli was looking at her. "That would be great! To see you in action. Don't think I'll be doing it but would love to see the real thing."<br><br>Then she looked at Alexander. "Since you work in the same circles, you going to be there too?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's way more mundane than amazing," Alexander's smile is still so darn easy-going, like some surfer that grew up and carried some of his mannerisms into the office. He shoots a grin sidelong at Natasha as he murmurs, "Sometimes they need something carried from one place or another." <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then he looks back to Lesli, "Or they need some light filing done." There, sufficiently dull. "But yah, I would pay a lot of attention when you're with her out and about." Doing the crazy stuff.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though then he's asked by the actress if he's going to be there. Which hs him straightening up a bit as he takes a bite of that roll. His pale eyebrows climb as he tilts his head in Natasha's direction, then shakes his head as he looks back to Lesli. "I hadn't planned on it. Though..." <br>A glance is given to Nat as he seems about to offer some small tidbit. "Agent Romanoff and I still train together sometimes. Now and again." Which might be an understatement.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>"Oh." He did the filing. Suddenly he became far less exciting with that simple sentence. Fighting and ninjas and Avengers was one thing. Doing the filing? So much more --normal.<br><br>"I'll show you as much as I can, certainly," Natasha offered. <br><br>Then Alexander added the rest which had Lesli perking back up again. "Can I see? Just like a fly on the wall, you'll never even know I'm there! Just watch the two of you doing some training and get a feel for it?"<br><br>Which had Natasha giving a glance to Alexander, that hint of a smirk and giving him the option here.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm..." Alexander takes a glance to the side at Natasha and sees that hint of a smirk which earns her a slight widening of his eyes as if to ask of her silently, 'really? you're gonna do this to me?'<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shaking his head he looks back to the actress and says, "I'm sure you'd have a better experience if..." He tries to come up with an option, an idea, then says. "If perhaps you'd like her to spar with someone that's a known quantity, like one of your trainers or the stunt choreographer you have for the movie? So both of you can get something out of it."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There, that was a logical reason, perfectly agreeable and acceptable.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But then his lip twists and he sets his own verbal trap for Natasha as he adds, "Though if you want to see how it is that two people in a relationship train together, I could see that as being an appeal."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>"Well it is insight into her that has nothing to do with the Avengers. It's like a peek behind the curtain when meeting the Wizard, y'know?" Lesli said as she took a sip of her champagne. "Although wait, that was more disappointing so no, not like that. Like something totally not like that."<br><br>Natasha grinned over at Alexander, enjoying this perhaps a little too much. At least he only had to deal tonight, honestly. He didn't have days of this so Natasha felt it was fair.<br><br>"I do think it would be great if you would meet the trainers and stunt choreographers," Lesli said to Natasha. "I'm not so sure watching you two fight will help though," she adds as she looks between them. "I mean, I'm sure you take it easy on each other. More like dancing than really fighting. I want to see real fighting."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You're probably right," Alexander says as he nods slowly, as if heaving a great mental sigh and acknowledging the truh in the actress' words. "And it gets worse since she just can't keep her hands to herself, so yeah."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At that he lightly nudges Natasha's foot as if to tell her, 'so there' even though his expression remains so utterly at ease and seemingly offering nothing but the truth. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But really, Natasha..." For the first time he uses her first name as he looks sidelong at her and smiles. "Is a deep and passionate woman, she keeps to herself, she focuses on the task at hand. And she performs at an amazing level. I'm just lucky she chose to look my way."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though, at a glance, one might imagine the rather obvious reason someone would look his way is that he's... a fairly handsome young man with a rather well-trained physique considering how those fine clothes hug the contours of his form. And at that same glance he might seem a bit younger than her. What five years? In Hollywood that's nothing.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>"Well you're hot. So not hard to figure out why she looked," Lesli said as the server arrived with their meals. They were each served properly from the correct side and everything looked as perfect as one would expect from such an establishment.<br><br>"Don't get me wrong. You probably have great attributes. I mean you are nice and seem smart and stuff." From her limited exposure. "But looking good is always a plus, especially where I work."<br><br>Since so much was based on looks in Hollywood. <br><br>Natasha gave him a soft smile, brushing his leg with her foot briefly in her way of showing affection without everyone seeing. Then she turned toward her food, preparing to taste her steak.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When she mentions the levels of peoples' hawtness, Alexander responds with one of those casual quick quips that she knows him for as he replies without thinking, "Good genetics."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Which might well make someone who knows exactly what those genetics are to heave a laugh unsummoned and unsuspecting. Though luckily he presses on before it becomes a thing.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Thank you though for commenting on the likelihood of my great attributes." The way he says those words, it might almost be playful, or suggestive. Though also on some level he's offering his own form of commentary right back at her. Then, typical of someone in their line of business, Alexander turns things back toward poor Lesli especially now that food is here, it might be easy to distract her.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So how did you get into this line of work, Lesli? Pure aesthetics or did you have inspiration?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>"I loved going to the movies when I was a kid," Lesli offered, not picking up this might be some sort of trick question. She doesn't look for an undercurrent in things. She's more a surface kind of gal. <br><br>"Most light stuff but then I figured hey, I can do that. Then I saw some of the old classics and realized I wanted to be taken seriously as an actress." Then she grins a little, giving a shrug. "Only I realized I would never by Meryl Streep. I'm good, I'm not great. But I'm still learning."<br><br>At least she wasn't completely unawares. "So I take what I can. I get a lot of roles based on my appearance, moreso than my acting chops. And I'm okay with that. Hopefully I can get better as time passes and then start getting more serious roles."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well," Alexander gains a moment with that single word given, a verbal pause to allow the participants an instant of reflection. He looks over towards Natasha, then back toward Lesli. "I remember reading about Olivier, an interview he did ages ago."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The casual mention of Olivier might shed some light onto the fact that Alexander isn't exactly empty of cultural knowledge, and knows a little bit at least. "And he was asked what was the most challenging role he ever faced. And he answered that the most challenging role he ever had was whatever the one he was dealing with at the time."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Natasha can likely see what he's doing, the faint subtext there as he aims her to perhaps look at who she's going to play and perhaps focus on that instead of 'better roles' down the way. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then he grins and sits up, taking a bite of his potatoes, chewing for a time, then murmuring after he swallows. "But I bet you guys will get along famously tomorrow." He glances over at Natasha and crinkles his nose playfully. Perhaps now glad he's not going to be out and about with them.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:93|Natasha Romanoff (93)}} has posed:'''<br>Action wasn't exactly a serious role. Even Natasha got that. She had no doubts this entire movie was going to be more based on action than drama. It was the sort of fit for what superheroes were. Although it would be nice if Lesli was able to lend it maybe a little depth. If that was possible.<br><br>Natasha nodded. "We'll get into things as much as possible. I'll give you insight into how I approach things, what it is I actually do. How to work as a team, with such individuals as make up the Avengers. We'll throw in action stuff for you to try. Give you the full experience."<br><br>And hopefully no supervillains actually attacked while doing so because that would be complicated.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:9664|Phobos (9664)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sounds like you guys got it figured out." Then with a care-free smile, Alexander asks easily enough. "So what's a good dessert here?" Since Michelin star meals are plenty fine, but sugar is sugar.<br> <br>
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