14521/Supplies for the Voyage

Supplies for the Voyage
Date of Scene:	23 August 2022
Location:	Monaco
Synopsis:	Natasha and Alexander buy clothes for the trip back to the United States. And a yacht.
Cast of Characters:	Phobos, Black Widow (Romanoff)

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Phobos has posed:
    To some Monaco is known as the world's marketplace.
    A small sovereign nation on the French Riviera, only the Vatican is smaller when one considers. Yet it is visited by the rich from all countries of the world. It is a place where if an individual has enough money they can purchase almost anything in the world. And often they do.
    Which might have been why after the mission against the Hydra base Alexander and Natasha went there. A chance to create multiple different intelligence blips on agency radars through various means, but also a way to send the Quinjet back and acquire new transportation that won't be quite as conspicuous. Nor as fast, to be fair.
    Which is why the pair landed and Alexander immediately contacted some of the bankers who have looked after the Aaron Collection of Antiques as well as some of the investments for the family's long term outlook. It took only a little bit of time for them to get the identities proven, passwords given, biometrics read and afterward...
    The world of Monaco opened up before them.
    First was a visit to a fashion boutique to secure clothes. Considering it was a weekend of marine races there was a certain requirement to the choice in clothing. For Alexander that meant tan and white colors in main. White shoes, white pants, a tan vest, perhaps a tan sweater. A fashionable hat was also recommended being a Vancy wide brim hat in green that gave nice shade from the sun.
    From there it was off to Construction Navale de Bordeaux where they were treated well and shown the currently available sailing yachts that had been built. Only two were available, a CNB 66 and a CNB 88, the difference in price being... appreciable. At first the man who spoke to Alexander had been cold and dismissive, but when they pinged his credit it became... a different story.
    So when they had departed Construction Navale de Bordeaux they had had a fair share of drinks of Opus One champagne, and tasted some succulent freshly cooked prawns, and were proud new owners of the CNB 88 which came with a rather nifty owner's manual...
    That as Natasha was walking into the next shop he had his nose buried in rather deeply.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"I still think the CNB 66 would have worked just fine for us," Natasha said as they walked into the next shop. This one was a clothing store. For though they had been in a clothing store, Natasha had focused mainly on an outfit to replace the rather sad looking outfit she had. Nothing like an ill fitting Hydra uniform to make first impression. It might have been a part of their challenge until Alexander was proven to be who he was.

Yet, she was not going to spend all his father's hard-earned money without shopping around a bit. It wasn't that she was looking for something cheaper. That really didn't seem to exist here. It was more she wanted what she wanted and that first boutique had not been to her tastes although she had purchased a pair of linen pants in white with a nice pink blouse to go with it. A pair of loafers on her feet that were comfortable since they likely would be walking around a bit.

As they wandered through the shop, she picked up random items here or there, hanging them off her left index finger. She would be trying everything on before they left.

"We should get a grocery order setup. Enough to get us to England then we can pickup up enough to get over the Atlantic."

Phobos has posed:
    "But this one has a spare guest room and an outdoor... saloon?" Alexander offers in reply as he continues to walk, looking terribly fashionable in those whites and tans, a pair of sunglasses being taken off and put in the pocket of his tan sweater. His eyebrows rise as he continues to read the manual.
    Though his lips twist as he glances up at her, "You know, in case we need to entertain." Though he continues to walk along with her in her wake, not really paying attention to what she's buying. "Pierre said that they arrange supply for the first voyage, so we should be good to England at least, though should decide where we want to put to port up there." Pierre being the snooty seller, though he proved friendly enough at the end considering he perhaps made quite a good bit of money on commission.
    "Though if you had anything in particular you wanted..." His words trailed off as he turned the page of the owner's manual and his eyebrows rose. "Oh, it has radar."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"But of course it does." The sarcasm is fairly dripping from her tone. Because if it didn't have radar after costing that much money, then they certainly were going to need to return it immediately. She wrinkled her nose at mention of Pierre because she had not enjoyed dealing with the man. Though he was very good at kissing up once he saw they were serious and Alexander did indeed have that much money. Then one would think he was their best friend. When in truth, he just was going to get a huge commission out of that sale.

"Nothing specific. We could have MREs and it would be fine." She pursed her lips as she added another hanger to her finger. "I take that back. If we are going to have a luxury yacht, those would never do. Though there needs to be some good quality vodka."

She motioned toward the fitting room, letting him know that she was going to try on the clothes. Which left him in the little sitting area outside with his manual.

Phobos has posed:
    As she motioned he looked up and for a moment had to shift his brain back into the here and now, blinking a few times. Then his lips parted and he said, "Oh yeah, sure. I'll be here." And with that he takes a step forward and then glances at the bank of rather nicely cushioned seats for the partners of shoppers. He settles into it and proceeds to read from the manual some more.
    Though he does look up after a moment to give the place a once over, realizing where they are. "Oh, hnh. Clothes." Since they apparently need more.
    But then he raises his voice loud enough she can hear him in her little cubicle area. "There's a little list of the supplies they give us, a week of fresh food from our departure date, then they fill the freezer with meats and veggies, so about three weeks of normalish food and two months of emergency food."
    He glances at the small slip of paper with its elegant two-toned color plan. "A bottle of champagne, the wine chiller is filled with local wine, and... no vodka." He slips the paper into the back of the owner's manual.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Then we obviously need to return it immediately or they need to make good on our request," came her voice from the nearby fitting area. There were sales people around to assist with fittings and the like. Natasha stepped out a moment later wearing a little black dress. There was a matching pair of black stilleto heels.

She paused to consider her reflection then looked over at Alexander to see if he had an opinion. Or was even looking up from the manual at this point. "Honestly, I'm sure we can find some good vodka to stock ourselves. I'm just kidding about returning the yacht."

Phobos has posed:
    "I think I love the yacht." Alexander's voice rises, just a tad sheepish. But then he looks up with that wry grin only to see her in the black dress and his eyes widen a little. "That... is a nice dress."
    He straightens up and then closes the owner's manual, deciding to pay more attention to the moment in front of him. Besides there'll be plenty of time to read the manual... while they're sailing.
    "And I love you, you look really nice." He extends a hand to reach for hers, just for a small squeeze before he tilts his head. "We should probably get some swim suits too, while we're here."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Just in case we need to entertain of course," Natasha says with a playful smirk, motioning to the dress. Because that obviously is not really needed for a sailing trip. But one can always usse more little black dresses.

"I love you, Alexander," she said softly, giving him a soft smile.

"I have a few suits already in there to try on," she admitted. "Although we could always just stay naked the entire time." She squeezed his hand as she smiled. "Though that might cause a stir at the port so yes, bathing suits. I know you went a little wild in that first shop so I thought you might've already picked one or three?"

Phobos has posed:
    When she said those three words back he couldn't help but smile and lower his eyes a little, then looking up sidelong toward her with a hooded gaze that had no small amount of warmth. He took a breath, managed not to sigh dreamily about the woman before him and said, "I picked up a few things. But... nothing very flattering. More like what I normally wear. You pick out some stuff for both of us, I trust your taste better than I trust mine."
    That said he grins and squeezes her hand again before he sits back in the chair, crossing his leg over his knee and looking thoughtful for a moment before he adds, "Also I think my dad's going to give me like..." He holds up a hand with thumb and forefinger perhaps a few inches apart, "A little bit of crap for. You know. Buying a yacht."
    He chews on his lower lip for a moment then adds, "We may have to sail around the world until he cools down some."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
That has her pausing. "Would he have less of a fit for two mil instead?" she asked although she was pretty sure the answer would remain the same. "And can't he teleport and stuff? Like, onto the boat in the middle of the ocean or something?" Suddenly this didn't sound nearly as much fun.

She did turn and wander off into the fitting room. This time when she came out, she was wearing a cute little pair of shorts and a white and blue top that had a little anchor on it. Very cliche for sailing. There were a pair of white deck shoes on her feet. She considered herself in the mirror, eyeing that the shorts showed the scar on her left thigh. But she wasn't going to rush off to change into longer ones. It was what it was. Alexander loved her, scars and all.

She turned to look at him for approval. "You're good with a speedo, right?" was the question she asked out of the blue. If he was looking, there was laughter in her green eyes as she tried not to smile at him.

Phobos has posed:
    "Nah," Alexander says with a wry grin then raises his voice so she can hear him as she changes. "He has to have been somewhere before to teleport, so we're safe, though once he's been on board he'll be able to I think..." Though he scritches his chin, "But with it moving around all the time might be difficult, hm. I'll have to ask him."
    That said he looks up when she emerges with the shorts and the blue top with an anchor and he laughs, shaking his head. "If you get that I am totally getting one of those little black captain hats."
    But then she smacks him in the face with that latter question, "Speedo?" A pause, then he shrugs with a smile, "I mean... if it's just us. Sure."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Mmmhmm. You'll look sexy in it." She considered him a moment. "Green. No, I think blue. Or black. We'll see. You may have to try a few on," she warns. She looks at her little outfit again. White with blue stripes. That little anchor on the left breast. "We'll have to find you a hat."

Which means she's getting that one. She heads off into the dressing room again. "If that's the case, we never let him see the yacht he bought. Although that probably will annoy him more, won't it? I mean, this didn't put him in financial difficulties, right?" Because if so, she would have to stop shopping right now.

She stepped out in the bathing suit. Two piece, bright red, string bikini that had very little material. Just enough to cover the bits to be legal. Most places. The back was a thong style so perhaps not so legal in some places. But in Monaco and likely most of Europe? She'd be fine. "Or perhaps a matching red to this for yours?"

Phobos has posed:
    "I like black," He offers in way of helping guide her on the speedo purchase, though his twisted smirk might seem to indicate he might be just as happy with perhaps... not a speedo?
    Then she disappears once again into the changing room and he leeeeans over to sneak a peek at the manual, flipping through it a little as he leaves it on the side table, but then as she speaks ot him he answers, "No. Put it this way..." Alexander then closes the book and turns to face the changing room again.
    "He collected trophies and plunder over... about three thousand years. Saved them on Olympus but also in his temples and various places that he held some affection for over the years." He folds his arms over his chest and looks at the door as he can barely see her shadow beneath it, sometimes one of her shoes or a foot.
    "Then a hundred and some years ago he actually joined the world, took some of his spoils and sold them, created collections, invested. And when he was done he had about... I think 87 million dollars in 1911."
    But then when she emerges in that... staggeringly small swim suit his eyes widen and he suddenly stops talking. A few moments pass as he blinks rapidly. Then clears his throat and answers her as he can with, "M'sorry what now?"

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
She turns around in front of the mirror, considering herself from several angles. Lifting a fit up a little and bending the knee, considering. She adjusted the top a little bit then turned around to look at him. And watched as he just stared. Then blinked. Then cleared his throat.

"So this goes on the yes pile," she murmured as she grinned at him. "Good to know. We were discussing how your father has enough that this yacht--and shopping trip--aren't going to put him in the poor house?" she offered.

But then she turned around away from him again. Taking far longer to look at her image in the mirror, far too long to consider. And he would realize she was doing it on purpose to tease the hell out of him.

Phobos has posed:
    "Yeah, that's... yeah." He shakes his head a little and murmurs, "But anyways..." Alexander lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck as he looks a little down and to the side, but can't help as the wicked half-smile settles on his features when he looks back to her and lets his eyes linger.
    Then his gaze narrows as he looks up at her, nose crinkling as he keys in on what she's doing and he passes judgment, "You are being bad." Not that he minds, though. Just letting her know her current status of badness.
    "So..." He murmurs, using the power of /MATH/ to focus his mind. "After he did that, which was him taking just... what was convenient for him, not even scratching the surface of like, his deeper troves or vaults. He got that first investment and now just from his investments and letting things appreciate and even with everything he's bought..."
    A tilt of his head is given as he looks to the side, then back toward Natasha as he says gently, "About half a billion in the account I accessed today."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
Now it was her turn to blink. Because Natasha had not expected nearly that much to be involved. "Seems I should be talking to him about investments instead of my current broker," Natasha murmured. "Though admittedly I started with far less so I can't really complain."

It was hard to even conceive of having that sort of money. Yet, his father lived a comfortable but not extravagent life. Suburbs instead of a mansion or estate. Working when he could just live off the interest he earned alone in what was likely multiple accounts. He just still presented himself as a working man.

"Yes, I am being bad. And you love every second of it," she told him with a smile before finally wandering off to the dressing room again. "So it's not that he doens't have the money, he just doesn't like to spend it? I mean, I know he's done some extravagent spending on certain things." Like their bunker under the house. The many safehouses he maintained. "But he seems to live a rather humble life outwardly."

This time when she came out, she was in a pretty pale blue sundress. She considered it in the mirror and wrinkled her nose a little. It was pretty enough but it just didn't quite look like her.

Phobos has posed:
    "Well," Alexander settles in smiling at her as she confesses to her badness, but he accepts it. After all he knew she was bad when he met her. "I think he views things like... if it could give some advantage or benefit down the line. Or if it holds some memory for him, I've seen him pay for things like that. But luxury?"
    Shaking his head, "He doesn't care too much about luxury." Then his brow furrows, "Well, actually... he paid a lot for that grill? If you remember it. So I think it depends. But still that had like a purpose."
    There's a pause as he looks thoughtful, then out she walked in that sundress and he met her gaze even as she wrinkled her nose at the dress in the mirror. "That looks good, it makes you seem like... the Natasha Next Door." Which has him grinning a little more.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Yeah, that's what's weird about it."

Because she knew she was far from that sort of gal. Considering they had recently laid waste to an entire Hydra base, he was aware of that as well. She considered her reflection for a moment. It was pretty. It just felt like it should be on another person. Perhaps a Natasha who had lived life as a normal person. Instead of an agent from the Red Room.

"That grill cost as much as some small cars," Natasha noted as she glanced back at him. "So it needs to have a purpose, then he'll be okay with it. Thus we just have to come up with a damn good reason we needed the newer, bigger model that was more expensive. We can try to find another base to raid for equipment, claim we needed the extra storage space?"

She wouldn't buy that either but it was an amusing thought. But then she turned and looked at him, putting her hand on her midriff as she showed a little anxiety, showing off the dress. "Yes or no on the dress? I lean to no."

Phobos has posed:
    "Clearly we needed the radar to watch for enemy agents," Alexander says with a solemn nod as if indeed that would help them on their journey. But he seems to leave those thoughts by the way side as he rises to his feet and walks over to her, stepping behind her as she looks in the mirror and considers the dress once again.
    "I like you in any dress, to be fair." His hands slip around her waist and draw her close, then his lip curls up as he rests his head on her shoulder, looking at her reflection and those beautiful eyes before he adds quietly. "To be fair, I like you out of them even more."
    And that said he kisses her softly on the cheek giving her a gentle hug before he straightens up, "C'mon, pick some stuff out for me." And with that they continue their little buying trip.