13610/Putting the Arr into R&R

Putting the Arr into R&R
Date of Scene:	11 July 2021
Location:	The Manhattan Docks East River
Synopsis:	The boat trip begins
Cast of Characters:	Phobos, Black Widow (Romanoff)

---

Phobos has posed:
    They were cool with it. Really. At least they tried to be. They had no idea that Natasha could read the body language of them well enough to read each reticent movement, and each tell that showed the tension replete in their manner. But for normal people dealing with the abnormal they were handling it well. Maybe it was because she was the Black Widow. Or, to be fair, it could just be it's like having the boss along on a road trip. She was that high up in the organization. But, like many things, liquor made it a little easier.
    As the eighty foot yacht made its slow way out of the harbor and past the many many white and blue civilian vessels, Kelso had been the first to break out the booze and to hand beers to those inclined. Though it was to Natasha he first offered some of the craft beer he brought along once he came up from below decks.
    "If you're going to be coming with us to this thing, I am /not/ calling you Agent Romanoff all weekend." He had that jovial smile as he stepped toward her, wearing a big Hawaiian shirt and loose beige shorts, not even to mention the black and white flip flops on his feet. "So do you prefer Natasha, or Nat? Tosh? Shieldo Supremo?"
    When everyone had arrived there had been grins and greetings and laughs, and they included Natasha in it too. Bill Nelson was wearing white pants and a white jacket, he even had a captain's hat on, which was where he went, up on the top deck on the bridge and where he stayed for now. Shannon, Candace, and Laura (Kelso's newly acquired girlfriend/not-girlfriend) all had retired to change into their bathing suits downstairs and if Natasha had joined them they all took a bit longer than she had as there was some small amount of gossip to be shared.
    Yet it left Nat and Kelso up there alone for the moment for now, what with Alexander going downstairs to change as well.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"I wouldn't expect you to," Natasha said simply. "Natasha is fine." Since Nat was something sort of reserved for those she was closer to. Perhaps in time Alexander's group of friends would get there but, for now? The longer version allowed enough familiarity.

She feared it was going to be a long trip. They weren't comfortable. She'd seen it as soon as they arrived at the boat, standing on the docks with their couple of duffle bags containing their belongings. She'd been worried about this. But maybe spending a few days, they would start to realize she was a person too. After all, Alexander wasn't with her because she was Agent Romanoff. It was because she was Natasha.

When she had headed up onto deck after changing, ahead of everyone else since she was rather used to the quick change thing, she had a few minutes alone just enjoying the sea breeze. The forward motion of the vessel added to that air flow and it was lovely.

She had been just removing her cover-up, planning to settle into one of the loungers set up on deck, when Kelso had arrived. The cover remained on, for the moment. She accepted the beer with a smile.

"Thank you." She took a small sip, giving a nod of approval before looking to him again. "This is quite good. But as for me, I'm just Natasha this trip. I know it may be difficult but just pretend I'm like anyone else."

Phobos has posed:
    "Geez," Kelso says as he drops into one of the lounging chairs that fold out from the side of the deck, comfortable but a little dated in decor. "Makes it hard to do that when you say, 'just pretend I'm like anyone else'." She's read his file, knows his type, the deflect with humor type. And how he deals with discomfort. Either he withdraws fully, or he goes at it full on. And looks like she's getting the straight on treatment today.
    He uses a handy-dandy hip bottle opener and clicks the cap off his beer, then takes a sip. "Though, me and the others had a talk the other day. About how for other people when we're around them, it's sort of similar. Like when I went back to my family in Wisconsin, and they treated me like something all out there because I was working with SHIELD." He isn't looking at her as he talks, but he gestures with the beer bottle a little.
    "The others felt the same sort of way they mentioned. And then we realized maybe that makes us like you in a microcosm sort of way. At least in this one like... small cross-sample of data."
    He finally stops talking, however. Then blinks a few times as he realizes what he just said. Then bites his lower lip and adds, "If I'm being too all. Me-like, let me know. I can temper the Kelso level of activity with more beer."
    As he says that, however, the door to below decks opens and several of the others wander on up, Laura and Shannon leading the way with Candace trailing as she calls out, "The boys will be right up, they were talking about something boring."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
Natasha had settled down on her lounger, cradling the beer in one hand and then resting it atop her bare knee. It was cold, condensation starting to drip down already due to the warmth outside. It was quite a difference to the warmth of her skin but not uncomfortably so.

"I wouldn't normally say that but I don't usually get asked if I should go by Shieldo Supremo either. Kind of lets me know that your viewpoint about me may not be 'just another person'," she says with a bit of a grin.

She leans back into her lounger, scooting back into it and still holding that beer though more at her side now. "Being part of SHIELD, having to keep all the secrets? You're starting to see it. People do treat you differently. As you learn to read people better, you'll be able to see other things too. So enjoy it while you can being new and more celebrity in your family circles." That sounded...far more ominous than she had meant to.

AS the other ladies arrived, she had to grin. "I suspect they do that just to get us out of the room then change it back to the good stuff."

Phobos has posed:
    She had met the others, and Laura had been introduced to her on the docks. Poor girl likely had no idea who Natasha was but she was a bit meek on her own simply because the other gals were rather attractive and she was more cute. Though cute in the way of the tomboy girl in an 80s high school romance who would pull off her glasses and shake out her pony tail at the end of the movie to be revealed as super pretty. Still, in this august company, she smiled and kept a bit to the back. Though she did waggle her fingers at Natasha as she walked over and settled on the railing of the ship beside Kelso.
    The other gals all grabbed up chairs and took advantage of the beers being given out. It was a curious observation of human behaviour, the dynamic that developed. Kelso and Natasha were out there chatting, and it was clear by his body language and choice of seat that he deferred to her. All the others did as well, though perhaps not consciously. Just the small conversational circle formed with Natasha as the hub. An interesting exercise in dynamics.
    "Oh Rick was just asking something work related," Shannon told Natasha, making a face herself. The crew were all SHIELD agents or contractors, except for Candace but she had been brought into the fold by Nelson telling her and their relationship growing a little stronger and longer term.
    Then Candace smirked, "And Alex was doing his whole, 'I know nussink!' act." Which amused her and caused some smiles to come to the fore.
    The others were dressed for a trip on the boat. The young women had bathing suits on but Candace had a pair of jean cut off shorts that she wore over them. Shannon had a nice ethereal little drape over her shoulders and around her waist that gave this phantom hint of a dress. Laura was in a t-shirt and guy's swim trunks but they fit her well.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
And as they gathered and she picked up that dynamic, Natasha didn't let on she was noticing it. It was these moments that had her realizing they were very much not seeing her as just one of them.

This had been a bad idea.

But she was going to keep playing her role and pretending it was. For Alexander. Because she loved him and wanted him to be happy. Having his friends and her together? it made him happy. It was worth it.

She remained with her cover on, not bothering to slip it off for now and just enjoying the company. then she picked up on what Candace was saying, giving that imitation of Alexander. "I'm hoping this was his German bad accent and not his Russian one?"

Phobos has posed:
    Which instantly hooks Candace, "He does accents?" Apparently she was making some joke, but the idea of the young blond SHIELD agent affecting an accent seems to intrigue and amuse her, which filters to the others as they get wry smiles.
    Kelso pipes up from his seat, "Well he did pretty well on the infiltration exercises, got good ratings in fieldwork." Which has him looking around for support from the others only to find Shannon giving him a few nods, the others weren't exactly in the know on the matter.
    But as quick as it was noted, it's lost as the civilian woman who just so happened to be dating Nelson smiles, "You look amazing, by the way, Natasha. You have to share your secrets with me some time." For some that might sound a bit catty, but the former assassin can tell that Candace doesn't have the guile to be quite that way, she's a very open book sort. Especially to someone of her skills.
    "Well I can tell you what it isn't." Shannon says as she looks across the way at Natasha. For a moment there's a hint of tension there, but then Alex's only female squaddie clears her throat and says. "It's not Crossfit, or Adkin's, or Veganism. Otherwise she woulda tried to convert all of us by now."
    Which gets a few laughs as they nod.
    Yet she can tell they're all around her, curious about her, listening, trying to be normal. But it's not entirely normal. Yet one might reflect and realize... is this perhaps how Thor feels when he's at court? A social setting where all those around pay attention and take their cues from another?

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Yes, Alexander does well at the infiltration exercises and has done well on assignments. But there are times he finds amusement doing purposefully bad accents." At least she's pretty sure they are on purpose. "So I wondered if this was one of those moments." Since she wasn't present to know for herself.

At the compliment from Candace, she gave a genuine smile. "Thank you." Then Shannon threw her information in there and she had to laugh along with the others. Because it is so utterly true.

"No secret. I let myself splurge a couple of times a month but mostly try to eat healthy. Mainly I spend most of my spare time working out in some way." Sparring, dancing, whatever. Course, having a super soldier serum helped. She wasn't going to mention that. Or suggest it.

Phobos has posed:
    "Hah!" Comes from Kelso at first, but then the others join in a little at the idea of Alexander doing horrible accents. Perhaps not due to the thing in and of itself, but perhaps having insight into some small embarrassing thing that he shares with Natasha and that she just told them. Clearly she's a veritable social gold mine.
    "What do you splurge on?" This coming from Shannon who looks... entirely surprised and a little curious as she asks. A question that's on their minds as several of the others give a few nods wanting to know what the Black Widow considers splurging or what she indulges in .
    Though at that moment from belowdecks Alexander emerges, taking the steps one at a time with a few thumps of his footsteps, a hand guiding him on the railing. "Hey guys," He offers greeting.
    "Hey man, beer?" Kelso is Johnny-on-the-spot with that offer, holding up one of the craft bottles in hand.
    "Sure," The Olympian grins and claps his hands together asking for it to be thrown to him. The next instant a beer bottle soars over their heads and into the young man's hands as he cracks it open and takes a sip.
    And just like the others, Alexander even joins in her orbit, but he takes up a place beside her, hand resting on her shouldre and around her back, giving a gentle squeeze. "How's it going? Everyone being nice? I was thinking of going up and spelling Nelson for a bit, let him come down and mingle." Though as he says that he quirks an eyebrow just for Nat asking her the silent question of, 'you ok?'

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
Before she can answer, Alexander has joined them. When he puts a hand on her shoulder, she reaches up her own hand to cover his. Just a moment of intimacy. Then she let her hand fall back to her lap, taking a sip of her beer. She glanced up at him as she lowered the bottle, giving the tinieset smile to let him know she was fine.

Then she turned back to the others to answer. "Big Belly Burger." There it was. Her dark sin. "Fully loaded, fries and a milkshake." She doesn't mention spending a few hours in the gym to make up for it but she generally did. Or maybe that was just her thinking she did. She really spent the same amount of time working out in some way no matter if she had a big burger or not.

Phobos has posed:
    The confession gains her a moment of silence, then some nervous laughter from Laura who covers her mouth as if she spoke in church. Then Kelso laughs a little more vibrantly as he says, "I /love/ Big Belly, man. Have you tried it Ogre style? They slap two burgers and three slices of cheese on it."
    Which has Laura giggling all over again.
    Then Shannon lifts her voice, "I love Easter chocolate." She says as she looks around at the crowd of relatively rather physically fit individuals. "I'll go into the stores the day after and buy it on sale and dole it out to myself over the year when I've been 'good.'"
    "What's this?" Rick says as he walks up behind Shannon and mirrors Alexander's posture, taking up place at her side and resting a hand on the redheaded woman's shoulder.
    "I confessed to my Easter obsession, you missed it."
    "Seriously? Wow."
    But Alexander says casually, "I have no idea what you people are talking about, I am perfect in all ways and never transgress." He even goes so far as to sniff affectedly. But then he kisses Natasha's cheek before he says, "I'm gonna check on Nelson, be good."
    With that he starts up the small ladder leading to the bridge above them.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
When Kelso mentions Ogre style, Natasha stares at him a long moment. She was about to say something when the confession comes from Shannon about her Easter chocolate obsession.

Her admission does get a nod from her, as though she was imparting the greatest of wisdom about buying it after the day when it was on sale. "Starburst jelly beans." Because that is when she splurged and got a couple of extra bags of that sugary goodness to have around. "I understand."

Then Alexander added about his perfection, getting a little chuckle from Natasha as she tilted her cheek up for that kiss. "Alright," though she's a tad disappointed he ran away so quickly.

She takes a sip of her beer again, considering taking off her wrap to enjoy the sun a bit more but opting against it for now. She did glance back to Kelso to ask that question though. "Is that an off menu thing? I've never seen it listed. May have to try that next time."

Phobos has posed:
    "Totally off the menu, just mention it to them though. It's an open secret, they had some webverts about it to be all subtle." Which has the larger agent grinning crookedly.
    "Ok fine you twisted my arm!" Alexander's voice is heard from the bridge upstairs as he leans out the back window and looks down toward them, "I eat peanut butter and banana sandwiches that have been deep fried and covered with powdered sugar!"
    Shocking words, reacted to with such dismay as some of the women look on at each other aghast, but there's some giggling and laughing. Though Natasha may know this fact, but /only/ if she had ventured to take a bite of that deep-fried sandwich he got and gave her half wrapped in aluminum that night when she came by the Magic Box. If not then she will not have tasted such bliss.
    Nelson though, finally puts in an appearance as he descends from the bridge and yells up toward Alex, "Get back to the helm, you slacker, or I'll have you keelhauled!"
    Which causes Natasha's boyfriend to disappear abruptly back to his duty.