bionicstaringmachine

[ from here ]

Yeah and no, if I'm bein' honest.

[ And that's what she's asking for, he thinks: his honesty. He might have an idea she was looking for a reaction, kind of when she mentioned being topless not all that long ago, but he also knows she's not gonna push him past any boundaries he's not comfortable with.

Just like he's not gonna do something that he thinks might go past her own personal boundaries. He's gonna check first, even if it's not with the actual words of "is this okay?" because he's never gonna want to impose himself on her, not even accidentally. ]

I didn't know you could improve something like that. [ They had things that were marketed for massaging back in his time that turned out could be used in other ways and he has eyes, along with access to the internet. He just never thought of being able to fix and improve a sex toy like that, all with the knowledge she already had. ] And I think I might owe you that dinner.

Good.

[That he's being honest. And it's not really that she's looking for a reaction. Even if there is a piece of her that relishes the opportunity to get him a little flustered. Mostly, she's pretty sure that this is a way of reminding him that she is interested in him in more than just a friendly way.]

You can pretty much always improve something like that.
Oh yeah? Got a craving for something?

[Yes, that is double entendre.]

You'd know if it were too much. I'd probably take a bit longer to respond to you.

[ Because he'd be struggling with what to say, how to say it and right now his only issue is not knowing what's the appropriate way to be feeling. He knows she's interested in him in more than a friendly way, she knows he's interested in her in more than a friendly way. But he knows there's a holding pattern in place because it's been a while.

Even if he's had thoughts about her that go further than the place they're settled at for now. And, he has to hope that if she's making improvements to her vibrator, that she might've been thinking about him too. ]

How? You take it all apart and add something to it, to improve it?
Yeah, I'm hungrier than I thought I'd be, this time of night. And it ain't for Borscht.

You can take as long as you want.

[To reply, or to indicate that he's ready to move them past the game of flirting. Either way, she's not going anywhere. This is sort of a novelty for her, but in a good way. Most of her relationships are better defined as "relationships." There's a certain amount of...emotional and personal honesty that's never been easy for her. But she's trying with him, because she can tell that this means something to both of them.

Even if her thoughts have also definitely strayed beyond the place they've settled at.]

More or less. It has different pulse patterns now.
Those late night cravings can be killer. But it's never a bad time to get some Russian.

[She's not even sorry.]

I dunno, I was always told it was bad manners to keep someone waiting like that.

[ If he means for a response or to go further with things, it's not easy to tell but the statement counts for both, when it comes down to it. His situation might be different from how it would've been doing this dance before, but even he knows when there's a point where he's gotta make a move and see where things go, rather than take too much time. ]

And I'm guessing they're not close to the ones that were already part of it.
They can. And I don't have anywhere near me to get some, unless you know a place. Doesn't have to be delivery.

[ They might both know the place he can get some Russian but his response is his way of saying she doesn't have to be sorry, they both know what they're doing here. ]

I could see that. But in this instance, the person waiting has already expressed that there's no time frame. So you're in the clear.
We do live in a very "instant" society now, but I'm old enough to remember early wireless communication. I'm comfortable with different paces.

[The dance they're in now is definitely in a bit of a holding pattern, but she doesn't mind it. It feels more...anticipatory than impatient. There's a part of her that's almost savoring it, this space where they're just slowly being drawn closer and closer together.]

It only had two "on" settings before, so five is definitely an improvement.

[The way he phrases that is so well worded that she finds herself smiling again as her eyes skim along the screen.]

Look at you. That was smooth as hell.
I'll make sure we both get our fill when you get your Russian.

[Okay, Natasha, that might be a little more akin to setting a brush fire than lighting a match. So to soften it a bit.]

There is an actual Russian restaurant here I love though. They're not open late night, but I'll send you the pin for it so you can drop by one day. Tell them you know me. They'll give you extra pelmeni.

Still doesn't mean I like keeping you waiting for too long.
At least you're not waiting on letters that could take a few weeks or more to arrive. That's gotta be worse.

[ He's never looked at any of this as impatience but...he also knows if he's been thinking about the moves ( even just kissing her, something he's thought of, he can push through the holding pattern to do ) it's bringing it to a point where those thoughts become action and is hopefully worth it in the end. Eventually he won't be stuck in his thoughts and he'll just act, but he wonders when that day will be. ]

Sounds a helluva lot more than just some slight improvements.

[ While he always knew she was capable and could do a lot more than fight her way out of a tough spot, knowing that kind of improvement was made impresses him. Just like how her response to his statement about where to get Russian only serves to turn him on more and while it's just him and Alpine in his apartment, he's wetting his lips and looking around for a moment, while focusing on the idea of how they'll get their fill. ]

Even if it takes all night? You know I've got an appetite.

[ He's not some schmuck coming in off the street, trying to give her a line so whether or not it's smooth, it doesn't matter. He means it, every word of it, even if he's grateful for the way she tries to soften the blaze that's trying to take hold between them. ]

I'm not gonna turn down a suggestion for a place to get actual food, even if it's not open late at night. I can get there during business hours and see what you like about the place.

Waiting that long for letters must have been a real test of patience.
But maybe try thinking of it this way. It's less that you're keeping me waiting and more that we're waiting until the right moment.

[Which is to say - he's definitely not the only one thinking about the moves. And text messages like these are partially a way to dip their toes in the water. To let him know that her interest is holding steady, and so he can feel confident when it's time to take the next step.]

I'm only being a little bit modest.

[Natasha isn't one to downplay her skills - or to overestimate them, really. She knows that she's capable and she appreciates that he recognizes it.

And then his next question as her letting out a low chuckle, delighted by the way it clearly illustrates that he's very much tuned in to this moment. And make no mistake - he's not the only one feeling the potential that's sizzling under the surface.]

Especially if it takes all night.

[Okay, maybe just a few more matches onto the fire. She's no super soldier but she does relish the possibilities inherent in him being one.]

You'll be able to clock it right away. I'll look forward to your review.

That's a thing the modern era's good for, being able to communicate whenever we want.
Waiting for the right moment, yeah. I like that. And it's not gonna take forever to get there.

[ He thinks it's worth pointing that out since while he's not rushing over there to turn this from just talking about wanting to go further in all this, it doesn't mean he's never going to act and make a move. Or let her make a move, whichever comes first. ]

You don't have to be with me. You know I appreciate you showing off what you can do.

[ He'll recognize her capability without fail any moment he's witness to it and maybe he might not understand some of the things she can do - like this, being able to make a technical improvement to her vibrator - but it doesn't make it any less impressive or interesting. ]

Good, because I'm planning on it taking all night.

[ It's a promise without saying the word and even if he hasn't been with anyone in a long damn time, he knows it takes a lot to tire him out. He's old, he can feel every bit of his age sometimes, but he knows he's not doing this with half measures. ]

I'll make sure it's more than just 'the food was good', with it being a place you love.

Is this the first time you admitted something the modern era's good for?
I know. We'll find the right moment.

[Or engineer it. She's pretty confident neither of them will be able to withstand many more late night teasing texts.

She wonders if he knows how rare it is for someone to openly appreciate her skills. Historically, people - especially men that have been interested in her - are more likely to describe her as intimidating. Which she by and large has always considered their problem. It's unaccountably nice to not have to think about it with him.]

Guess I'll have to show off more often, then.
Like by telling you I'll give you a run for your money when you're following through on those plans.

[It's a little bit of a deflection, but she knows she'll find the right time to express that more in depth thought about appreciation to him. And besides, it gave her an opportunity to keep escalating that flirtatious back and forth.]

Maybe you could start moonlighting as a food critic.

Maybe it's the first time it's managed to prove it's good for something without making it more complicated than it's worth.
Probably sooner than we think it's gonna be.

[ He might have been out of practice for several decades, but he's still a man underneath all the other bullshit. A man with a very real attraction to a smart, beautiful woman that he's had a fair amount of dirty thoughts about while also realizing he gives a damn about her more than just a friend and occasional..co-worker? co-conspirator at times? so he doesn't plan on letting this take so long that he realizes he's missed an opportunity. ]

I can appreciate it, you showing off.
Guess that means you're not gonna take it easy on me.

[ And he likes that. Not just the flirtatious back and forth, but the fact she plans on challenging him and making the wait that it takes to get there worth it. ]

Only if they take reviews from grumpy old food critics.

Guess these modern times were bound to get something right sooner or later.
You might be right about that one.

[No, she's positive that he's right about that one. She's just going to haul off and plant one on him one day and it's only going to escalate from there.]

Good to know.
Because I'm never going to take it easy on you.

[Oh, there is absolutely a sense of promise behind the flirtatious back and forth.]

The only two requirements to become a food critic are that you're grumpy and old.

Sooner or later. There's other stuff that's not all bad, but this is the first one.
I'm not making any promises on how right I am, but I know I am.

[ If she doesn't decide to plant one on him, he knows it'll come to a point where he'll be closing that gap himself. He could see them both deciding to go for it when the moment's right and that's not a bad possibility from where he's standing. ]

Guess whenever these plans happen, we're gonna have to cancel anything we've got goin' on the next day.

[ If she's not taking it easy on him and he plans on it taking all night anyway, why rush off for anything the following day unless it's something to do with the end of the world? ]

Are food critics the same as the people with food blogs? I've seen some that don't look grumpy or old.

Anything else make the top three?
Could say you're approaching 99%.

[There is something to be said for meeting in the middle. And for the absolute certain knowledge that they've got the same level of excitement simmering underneath the surface.]

Sounds like you're inviting me to spend the day lying around.

[Which is...oddly sweet. And extremely appealing. She can think of much worse ways to spend the day after they enact their plans.]

There's some overlap, but they're mostly two different subsets of food enthusiasts.

The food. Having more options is nice. I don't hate the internet.
I was gonna say 91%.

[ He didn't want to pretend he was completely right, he thinks that was a lower number that sounds plausible still while letting her know the excitement he feels is real, he's just preoccupied with finding the moment. ]

Yeah, I guess I am. I can't think of much I'd wanna do the next day.

[ He might also like the idea of either being there in her place after or having her at his, not rushing to get to anything unless they had to. Maybe they'd get bored, maybe they wouldn't. ]

I don't know anything about having a blog, guess I'm gonna become a food critic.

Being able to order food on the internet really makes up for some of its shortcomings.
Feeling modest?

[She gets what he's driving at, but she also appreciates and even enjoys when they keep things light like this. The moment will come to get a bit deeper.]

Sounds like a pretty good day to me.

[And like a pretty normal day. Which is quite appealing, especially if she gets to spend the day with him.]

You sure?
I could teach you how to blog.

I don't like having to scroll through a recipe if I feel like cooking. I don't wanna read about someone's dog when I'm trying to figure out what ingredients I need for it. Being able to order food helps when that happens.
I can be modest.

[ And for as much as they know it'll all come to a head eventually, he hates the idea of setting expectations too high on when it will be. Being light about it, it helps. ]

It's not jumping out of a plane without a 'chute, but it's something.

[ Natasha has quickly become one of his favorite people to spend time with - for a different reason than the other people he spends time with - so he considers time spent with her as something to look forward to as it is, but in this scenario he doesn't see why he'd want to do anything else unless it's the end of the world happening. ]

Alright, how do you teach that kind of thing?

I've got a great browser extension for you. It skips through the story right down to the recipe. I'll add it for you.

[If that sounds suspiciously like she might be planning to hack his phone so she can add a helpful browser extension, it's because she is.]

We know where to get a plane if it comes to it.

[Something tells her that it won't. But it stays in the vein of keeping things light.]

I hear they offer classes down at the senior center.

inbox.

tfln continuation — 07/05/2024 — @brushpass.

sorry not sorry bucky!

good, because this squirming is much deserved!

okay but the way i cackled at "and it ain't for borscht"

you're welcome, i'll be here all week! and ty google for coming in clutch on russian dishes

google forever has the backs of people doing spontaneous character research

it really does. without it i would've been like rly what is something russian that's not vodka??

lmao this realness

i love them your honor

same i am guilty on all charges

I STILL LOVE THEM YOUR HONOR, EVEN TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE FACT

ladies and gentlemen of the jury, SAME

good because NOW i am back and ready for them to continue being menaces

the menacing cannot and will not be tamed!

THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE, because if it is tamed then he's wondering when she got swapped lmao

lmao it's just a sudden surprise skrull au

LMFAO DON'T YOU THREATEN THAT!

😈