Natasha Romanoff doesn't want to kill you (butwewill) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2021-07-28 09:09:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !log, ~2021 july, ~~~ natasha romanoff (butwewill), ~~~~ darcy lewis (tasergoddess) |
Who: Natasha Romanoff + Darcy Lewis
When: Backdated to last week
Where: The Red Pepper
What: Talks about rings and weddings
Warnings: None
Status: Closed | Complete
Now that things were as settled as they ever were in Madison Valley, Darcy finally dragged Natasha out so they could look at engagement rings and she could report back to Steve on what Darcy liked. The thought of getting engaged still made Darcy exceptionally nervous, but she knew that she’d put this off long enough. She also figured it was a good excuse to check in with Nat after the whole ‘alternate Madison’ thing. It was something she’d been through multiple times and knew could be difficult to process after the fact.
They decided to grab lunch before heading to the jewelry stores and, once they were seated in a booth at the Red Pepper, waiting for their orders, Darcy said, “So… you okay after your unexpected trip?”
***
Natasha took a sip from her iced tea as she sat back in her booth and let her eyes shift from the doors to Darcy. At the question, she gave a faint smile, then nodded. “I am. It was...strange, obviously. But I got through it in one piece. Did you run into that version of me while she was here, in this Madison Valley?” she asked.
It was a testament to how many strange things she’d done and seen in her years since leaving Budapest with Clint that ended up in an alternate city that was falling apart and full of despair? Just wasn’t as unusual as it seemed.
***
“No, honestly, I mostly stayed home or at work,” Darcy admitted. “With Wanda missing and Clint telling Steve that you were acting strange, it seemed like the best option, especially with the kids.” Once upon a time, she might have gone out and gotten involved, but she was actually something resembling a responsible adult these days and made choices that were more well thought out and less impulsive.
She was glad she hadn’t ended up in that other version of the town though. “Did you run into me? Or even know if I was there at all?” Given the little bits she’d heard, she probably didn’t want to actually know what happened to her alternate universe counterpart and yet, she couldn’t not ask.
***
“That’s probably for the best,” Natasha said quietly. Things had been hard in that other world and while she was fine with going somewhere else...she wasn’t too thrilled with what she’d had to do. Killing someone with Steve’s face, and then with Vala’s? Natasha had to work some of that out for herself.
“I’m pretty sure you weren’t there, actually. I did a little research on their network, and it looked like people had just started showing up roughly a year ago. There weren’t nearly as many refugees there as there are here….which is a good thing, since there were no outside shipments of any kind.”
***
Darcy winced. They’d dealt with that here for a week or so a couple years ago when the countdown clock happened and it had nearly caused panic. The idea of going an entire year without supplies coming in was horrifying. “Jesus, no wonder people were ruthless,” she said. She wasn’t sure if Steve had talked to Natasha about the shield showing up covered in blood, so she didn’t say anything about it.
“I’m glad you’re back and okay,” she said. “Here’s hoping the dome gives us a break for a while.”
***
“They thought they had good reason to be. Maybe if they’d all banded together for survival, things wouldn’t have gotten quite that bad.” But then again….considering what she’d seen and heard there, Natasha wasn’t quite so sure. Honestly, she wasn’t sure if this had been better or worse than what happened last year, when they’d all lived different lives and had returned here with new memories. Maybe this was a little better.
Her lips quirked into a small smile, and Tasha’s eyes lifted to meet Darcy’s at that. “Careful, or you’ll jinx us.”
***
After being here for going on eight years, Darcy didn’t fear jinxing anything. She was well aware that there was no rhyme or reason to the whims of the dome. Now that she had her PhD, it was even more frustrating that nothing about this place followed the laws of physics, but there wasn’t much she could do about it.
“The dome’s gonna dome,” she said with a shrug. “And people are going to people, I guess.” It was disappointing that the new arrivals in that other Madison didn’t band together, but she supposed that things would have gone much different here if all deliveries had stopped.
***
“I suppose you’re right.” Natasha had only been in town for a little over a year, and she still felt like she was adjusting to this...new dynamic. But she’d get through it, somehow, and took another sip of her drink as the server started walking back with their appetizer.
She waited until they were alone again, then picked up a mozzarella stick. “This particular event...it may take some people a little longer to deal with what happened than others. Even those who’ve been here a while.” Like Wanda.
***
That didn’t sound good at all, but Darcy refrained from asking questions. Steve had said he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know and she certainly didn’t want to find out something and then have to keep it from him.
“I’m glad you’re back,” she said again. “Because I’ve been putting off this ring thing for too long and I don’t want Steve getting antsy about it.” She could deal with her personal anxiety over the thought of getting married on her own.
***
Natasha nibbled on the mozzarella stick as her eyes lifted to Darcy, and she smiled at the change in conversation.
“Have you thought much about what kind of ring you’re looking for?” She asked. “Large small - diamond or a different stone?”
***
“Nothing too flashy or big,” Darcy said immediately without even needing to take a moment to think about it. She didn’t wear much jewelry anyway and that definitely wasn’t her style. “I’d be okay with a different stone, but I think Steve wants to go traditional so a diamond is fine. Though if you can sway him towards a lab created one, that would be nice.” No blood diamonds for her, thanks.
She dipped a mozzarella stick in the marinara sauce they provided before adding, “I want to make him pick the actual ring. So I’ll show you some general styles I like, but I’m not looking for The One.”
***
“Absolutely,” Natasha replied as she finished off her first stick, then reached for a second. “Lab diamonds are certainly better than the alternative. I wasn’t sure if you’d want that or a birth stone or something of that nature.”
She was honored to be included in this process, and while she certainly knew her jewelry and stones - choosing an engagement ring was a little beyond her. Still, the fact that Steve and Darcy trusted her to help out meant a lot.
“But if you do find the one, you’ll let me know?”
***
Darcy nodded. “I will,” she said. She kind of hoped she wouldn’t though. She didn’t want to have any major expectations when Steve finally proposed for real. It felt weird to be so matter of fact about such a huge life changing event that was impending.
The mozzarella sticks were good, but Darcy didn’t want to eat too many since she was looking forward to her sandwich. Besides, if she was going to need to wear a wedding dress at some point in the near future, she shouldn’t eat too much.
***
Natasha had time to eat a second stick just before their food arrived, and she let things drift into silence again as they started their main courses. When they were both close to being finished, she looked back over at Darcy.
“Have you made many other plans for the wedding yet, or are you waiting until the engagement is official?”
***
Somehow, the question caught Darcy off guard and she stared at her friend for a long moment, on the verge of asking “what wedding”. She put the rest of her sandwich down on her plate. “Uh… honestly? I haven’t even really processed the fact that there is going to be a wedding,” she admitted. That sounded so bad, but it was the truth.
It was rare that something left Darcy speechless and Natasha had managed it.
***
Natasha gave a small smile as she studied her friend, taking a bite in the meantime as she waited for Darcy to catch up. Once she’d spoken, she washed down her food with a sip of tea, then gave her a slightly admonishing look.
“You’re looking at rings, Darcy, and it isn’t for a promise ring. The moment this becomes public, you’re going to start getting questions like that. You should figure out your response for when that time comes,” she told her gently. It was why she’d asked the question, to help her get into the mindset.
***
Of course she was right and Darcy had the decency to look ashamed. Steve was an amazing man. The kind of man most girls dreamed of marrying. She shouldn’t have any hesitations about taking this step. It wasn’t Steve she had hesitations about though, it was herself. That was something she was going to have to work on. And fast.
“You’re right,” she said. “It just all feels so huge.” Considering she’d gone through a pregnancy and had a five year old, it might sound silly that she was hedging on marriage. It somehow made sense in her brain though.
***
“Well, it is huge. You’re choosing to make a vow to spend the rest of your life with someone - or as long as you’re both in Madison Valley,” she pointed out. While Natasha would never consider that for herself, of course, she wasn’t going to stand in someone else’s way of taking that step.
“You should really think more about it and stop hiding from the fact that this is happening.”
***
“I will,” Darcy said softly. Their server came by then with their check and asked if she wanted a box for the rest of her sandwich. She shook her head and reached for the bill. Natasha was doing her a favor today, so she was buying.
She smiled at her friend. “Okay, enough of me being a disaster. Let’s go look at rings.”