Crick Crack (Natasha/Anis)

"When you have more than one romantic partner" Anis replied, all matter-of-factly. The restaurant looked nice, which was always good because Anis didn't have a lot of money. Between the kidnapping, and the rescue, and the torture, and the new kidnapping, and the recovery, she hadn't had a lot of time to work on getting finances sorted.

"Mmm! Big, Scottish, good at punching! We met in the training ground and she was nice so I said she was my girlfriend now and she agreed. Then we went to see Doctor Siobhan and get a shower. It was a nice day"

"I know what Polygamy is, pumpkin, I was just a little confused about why ya mentioned it just now."

They would finally arrive at the restaurant. There was a public area that allowed most to sit outside and experience the bright city-lit view, while the inside was filled with humble furnishings and comfortable booths to sit in. Turning back to her, she motioned as though posing a question as to which one she wanted to enter first.

"Sounds like ya had a real blast that day. Hope everythin' works out for ya on that front. Now, then, inside or outside?"

"Ohh, you were doing that thing people do when they just say a word and hope the other person infers all the details from that" Anis would state, pondering for a few seconds how to broach the new subject now it had become less obvious.

"You are taking me for lunch and asking about my girlfriend. So, you want to join in with the whole relationship thing, no?" Anis would ask, wordlessly taking a seat outside so as to not detract from the conversation at hand.

"Negative, pumpkin. I took you out to lunch so I could learn more about ya."

Natasha cocked her head to the side in visible confusion as she assumed a seat at the table. At first, she questioned her mental capacity concerning the battlefield, but now, she was questioning her mental capacity in social interaction. Ordering a sweet tea for herself, she lightly sipped from the straw as she leaned against her chair.

"I ain't lookin' for love right now, sugar. No Polygamy. No mingling with young ladies. Nothin'. Just lunch with a friend."

Anis, upon the waiter's arrival, would order a 'Ssssssmall drink. Of coke' and then slink back, as if barely avoiding a very awkward situation. And then look back to Nat with a bright grin. Metaphorically bright now her Blut was done, but still.

"We are friends? This is great, I love this pace of friendship! Unless it carries onwards and we stop being friends just as quickly. Then I do not like this pace of friendship" she'd exclaim, taking her coke once offered and sipping at it.

"Have you ever looked for love?" came a sudden question, perking up as if flipping the tables on Nat's grand plan to learn more about Anis.

"I reckon this pace is off to an awkward start, but hey, nothin' we can't fix with some more conversation - preferably the kind that doesn't involve polygamy with two lovebirds."

Natasha exhaled softly as she offered a playful shrug. She was a friendly woman by nature. There were limited options for earning a place on her naughty list. Anis was undoubtedly an interesting cookie, but that was fine. She was a little quirkier than others. Nothing she couldn't work past, right? Requesting a refill on her beverage, Natasha pondered Anis's question for a moment. Then, she answered it without missing a beat.

"I did. Ages ago. Found a nice husband, thought of buildin' a family and livin' the American Housewife's ideal dream, but then tragedy struck and it all fell apart. Ain't entertained the idea in years ever since then."

"Awkward is what you make it" Anis would state, with a surprisingly insightful tone. And then blowing bubbles like a kid in her drink. Nat would tell her abridged tale of woe, and the bubbles stopped as Anis thought about Sofia and what could have been if she didn't turn out to be a psycho bitch who sold Anis to the Demons to be used however they wanted. And they were a very creative bunch.

"You should" Anis replied, speaking with a more emotionally thick tone than before. Eyes glimmering with the past, as if doing her best not to tear up. "It hurts, whatever the reason, when you part from someone you love. But you shouldn't let that parting hold you back from the future. Not with me, if the previous offer made you think that was where I was going with this. But, be open to the possibilities"

"Trust me, sweetheart, I never entertained the thought to begin with."

Natasha chortled softly as the waitress finally brought their respective meals. She would hand Anis whatever she ordered, while Natasha happily received the classic combo of burgers and fries. Picking up the burger with one hand and biting into it, she'd casually shrugged her shoulders as she quietly reflected on her words. Objectively speaking, she wasn't exactly hankering to rush into another relationship. There was too much going on to consider it right now.

""Maybe love'll find me one day, maybe it won't. Either way, I'm more than happy with my current way of life right now.'

Anis got a small salad, because she was unsure who was paying for this and didn't really have money to be eating out. It was quickly devoured like a black hole, and then Anis was back to staring at Nat.

"That's gotta be nice. Not, that I'm not happy with where I am. It's certainly the best I've been in a long time. But it's also good to be better than what you are. I wonder if there is a philosophy of mountain vs valley" Anis would go off on a tangent, pondering the pros and cons of getting better vs being happy where you were.

"Ain't nothin' wrong with improvin', I reckon. You can be satisfied where you are in life and still want to do better. Just depends on the catalyst that continuously has ya wantin' to take the next stride."

Natasha commented softly, generously biting into her burger as she leaned against the chair. Ordering an actual meal for Anis - since she would be paying the bill - she finished what remained of her own, washing away any remnants with the chilling flavor of sweet tea.

"I'm payin' the bill if yer feelin' anxious about ordering somethin', sweetheart."