seemed easier than just waiting around to die; (OPEN)

[assassinat]

Who| Nat and YOU!
What| Another newcomer and the fronts she puts on
Where| District 8 floor, shopping area, wherever else
When| With the rest of the newbies
Warnings/Notes| #comics (N/A)

Whoever her abductors were, they were good enough to capture the Black Widow without it being a part of her plan and therefore in doing so have earned themselves her temporary cooperation. It isn't that she wants to rebel (because she does), but there were more important matters to tend to other than pointlessly question those who will deny her significant answers. That and she's had decades of experience when it came to asking questions: these goons aren't going to tell her what she needs to know.

The next best thing is to experience it herself. The first chance she gets to peel away from the other tributes and those watching her, Natasha takes it and explores to her heart's content. If there's something or someone out there she needs to find, she'll be sure to do it before entering a death arena.

      ➊ (DISTRICT 8 FLOOR)
Natasha's time here is minimal. Just enough to memorize faces, to pick apart those who might seem familiar and those who aren't, and to identify who may be trouble later on. There's no hint to what her skill set may be when she's around others, choosing instead to feign ignorance and charm others with a smile that shows her discomfort. The role she plays today is that of a scared woman, who has just been ripped from an everyday life to participate in a bloodbath. A woman who is petrified of death, but attempts to face it with a brave face.

It's a flimsy mask and Natasha already fears something may slip through the cracks. Her thoughts are elsewhere, but she remains focused on her role until she leaves the Training Center building.

      ➋ (SHOPPING)
It isn't so out of character for a woman to take up retail therapy when something devastating happens to her, so Natasha lingers in this area for a good amount of time. There's a lot to take in, but more importantly the people are vocal with their conversations so there's plenty of information to be found. This is what she thrives on, the good honest speculation is more reliable than any book she can request at the Training Center.

There's also no harm in looking at what's for sale either. What better way to understand the culture than to look over the absurd things they value?

      ➌ (OPEN)
OOC | Have an idea or already coordinated something with me? Feel free to hit me up with anything.

Comments

[assassinat]

Reaching out to take his hand with her own, she makes the novice mistakes intentionally. Nothing to brace herself with or to help him much to his feet; he'll have to do most of the work. All the same it meant he could pull her down easily, but she's already got a plan for escape in her mind if it came to that.

"Something like that." Natasha responds casually, thinking little of the clothing. She hasn't figured out how things work in this world, that clothing like this is more of a rarity than anything else.

"Come now, easy does it."

[carsassian]

He takes her hand, pulling himself to his feet with only minimal effort. "Ah-- Thank you, my dear. You are very kind."

The exchange is carefully casual on both ends. For Garak's part, it's a combination of accounting for human social procedures while trying to feel her out. For Natasha... Well, he can't say just yet, but he thinks he might have an idea. A vague one, but it's a start.

"I should apologize for almost running you over just now." He dusts himself off before fixing her with an almost rueful smile. There's something equally careful, equally studied, about the way the expression works its way across his reptilian features. "May I treat you to something? They have coffee here, if I'm not mistaken."

[assassinat]

Her first coffee date. There's an egomaniac here that just might be envious of the amount of game she's radiating if this happened to her before him, but for what purpose is he asking? Manners?

Maybe otherworldly gentleman really enjoyed coffee.

"If you insist." All she knows is no one in her position would really turn him down, so the smile is met with one of her own as relief spreads across her face. "It has been a long day so a cup would do the trick."

The treat would be any additional information she can get out of this guy over a table.

[carsassian]

"Splendid!" He clasps his hands together as if everything is decided even though in truth he hasn't the slightest idea of where to go from here. It's more a matter of coaxing her out to see if his suspicions will confirm themselves. Thus far, she hasn't managed to disappoint.

"My name is Garak, by the way. Usually my introductions are not so terribly inauspicious." Again he extends his hand, though this time, now that they're both up right and he's only slightly looming over her (she's slightly tall for a human woman, he notes), it's in greeting rather than distress. "If you don't have anything that's absolutely calling to you to buy, we can be on our way. I spotted a sidewalk cafe a block back that looked very alluring."

[assassinat]

As much as she rather prefer a location she can recall from memory, there's no way she can fault him for that. The day has been a blur so overlooking something as commonplace as a cafe rests squarely on her shoulders as Natasha realizes she can't recall much in the way of luxuries. Has she only been keeping track of necessities?

Then again, coffee is necessary for most people to function with.

"Natasha." Her neck is craned upwards, seemingly so focused on looking him in the eyes that she 'misses' his hand. Fumbling nervously, she brings back to take his with a nervous grip. "And no, I was just looking. I don't have any money on me anyway."

Typical of someone who was in too much of a hurry to leave. "Sorry, it's a lot to take in. Are you--?" Human, no. Natasha knows the answer to that, but she has to ask.

[carsassian]

"My people are from a planet in the far reaches of the Alpha Quadrant," he explains, easily deducing the question from the conflicted expression begging its way into her eyes. It's a question that's been popular enough since his arrival, and was a popular enough topic of discussion for him back on Deep Space Nine. Though it could be construed as offensive, that clearly isn't the way he takes it. It's simply something people ask about, it's simply something people don't know how to ask about. "And the Alpha Quadrant, as I'm told that isn't a term prevalent here, is the overall area of the galaxy we are in right now. Assuming that this is Earth, of course."

He moves quickly, navigating them through the busy shop and back onto the equally busy street. "We call ourselves Cardassians, and though we superficially resemble your species, there are numerous differences. For one, I am cold blooded, and I understand that you are not. At any rate, I've lived amongst humans for many years, most of whom were unfamiliar with my people If you have any questions, you don't need bother feeling self-conscious about them.

It's lovely to meet you, by the way, Natasha. That's a Russian name, isn't it?" He pauses momentarily to allow her to confirm, deny, qualify, or extrapolate. "And please forgive me, if I become too familiar with my choice of conversations. Cardassians just love to talk, and sometimes I can find myself carried away, far past typical Human courtesy."

[assassinat]

Clever for a being that's not of this world to pinpoint the exact country her name originates from. A chatty being at that. Aliens and superhumans go hand-in-hand these days, but it never made it any easier for her to believe they cared about their planet. At the end of the day, Earth is just another resource coveted by the vermin destroying it.

"It's all right, I'm just a bit distracted." Natasha murmurs as she keeps up with him, her thoughts only as far as safe as possible. "Yes, the name is Russian."

Her shoulders stiffen in preparation to hear Natalia next. Only one person calls her that here, she'll have to not show any reaction when it comes forth.

"Are you sure this is Earth? Aliens could have swept us all away to another planet."

[carsassian]

Fortunately for her, Garak's knowledge of Russian comes from Bashir's stupidly little spy-fi holosuit programs and no real digging. He knows Natasha because every Russian femme fatale is named Natasha, but its etymology and diminutives are things he's never bothered considering at great length.

He considers her question for a moment, thin lips appearing to purse pensively as he does. "That's a fair point, but they do refer to this place as Earth. I'm quite accustomed to human settlers staking out their territory on foreign worlds, but --and you'll forgive me for saying this-- your people have a certain adulation for your planet that I would find it hard to replicate."

Which isn't to say that he doesn't feel the same way about Cardassia, or that he wouldn't expect a Vulcan to feel the same way about Vulcan. There's just something about a homeworld.

In the time they'e been talking, they've crossed the street, and then made a corner. Quickly enough, a picturesque little sidewalk cafe comes into view ahead of them.

"No, I think that this is Earth. The question is what universe, and when exactly we're supposed to be."

[assassinat]

"What universe? When?" Letting her voice rise with confusion only a bit, she maintains her conscientious demeanor while appearing stricken by his words. "I'm afraid I don't follow."

It isn't necessarily far from the truth. Traveling through time and alternate universes was better left to the superheroes whose efforts wouldn't be impeded from a lack of knowledge whereas Natasha herself would feel a crippling anxiety over the unknown. If this was an alternate Earth...

Then why doesn't she recognize it any? Looking up towards the sky, her eyes squint as she stares on and on, careful to not run into anything.

"My people are also selfish and believe themselves to be the center of the universe no matter where they are." She adds as a casual after thought to the topic of Earth and whether or not they are currently residing on it. "So Earth is where humans feel the most human."