Alas, they put their foot down on many customizations.
[He watches as she goes to settle in comfortably before he moves to join her. He pours them both the tea, his eyes trailing over towards her.]
I still say that this is more... preferable to my previous cell. You would think though, as comfortable as my current accommodations are, I would feel less... boxed in. Restless.
[But that is hardly the case. Quite the opposite, in fact.]
I suppose I should find something to entertain myself with while I'm here.
I would prefer a home to a cell, yes. And that's having experienced both.
[ Natalia accepts the tea and brings it upwards to sniff. She nods, apparently with approval, but waits to drink from the mug just yet. She does, however, playfully gaze through the delicate steam's display at Zemo. ]
If you're researching hobbies, I could teach you how to dance?
[ She daintily sips to test the temperature of the tea. ]
The saying is an old and tiresome one, but the justice system here is utterly deplorable and broken. You certainly deserve severe levels of punishment for the shit you pulled, however you're still a person. You used to be a few someones' person.
[ Natalia subtly looks to see if the Baron still wears his wedding band. ]
I have had over eighty years to master such things, so I had better be.
[The wedding band is gone, but it hardly stops Zemo from unconsciously brushing a finger over where it used to rest, expression growing somber for a moment. His family will never be an easy topic, he thinks.]
You're one of the few who seem to care about that part of the story. Most focus on the evils... [He pauses, shrugging his shoulders.] Necessary as they may have been, I am hardly proud of the blood or pain I caused.
[But it had been for a good cause, in his opinion.
He lets out a soft chuckle at the reminder, ducking his head.]
I would hope so, yes. Although I am not certain offering to dance with me is quite a punishment of any kind.
[ Natalia hesitates, breath held in the process, before she shifts forward on the sigh and angles in such a fashion as to gain Zemo's attention, Zemo's gaze. ]
Most think themselves better while ignoring their own darkness.
[ Read: this Black Widow is familiar with his treatment. Is empathetic and still trying to right wrongs caused a lifetime ago.
She straightens to take another drink and then sets the cup aside. ]
Have you considered it a ploy? Maybe I need a way to entertain myself, maybe it's a deliberate means to secure more time spent together? So many variables to consider, my dear Baron. I could already be concocting restrictions and requirements for our lessons. There may even be a riding crop involved.
[ Possibly not, but whatever gets the image of punishments in his head. ]
[No one knows what they're capable of until they've been put in a situation that calls for drastic decisions. But there's a soft smile given at the empathy, and it's clear that it's returned. He's read up on the Widow quite a bit after all...
And she will treat him like someone deserving of respect. How can he complain about this company at all?]
You hardly have to devise plans if you want to spend time with me, lyubimaya.
[Ah-- there's a spark of interest. Curiosity at the suggestion.] So you are devising punishments, are you? Quite... interesting ones at that. I do not think I would be... opposed to the Black Widow's correction, in true.
[ Her pupils dilate for a fraction when he speaks to her in Russian, at the particular word he has chosen, but Natalia hastily recovers with a tut. ]
Do you say that to all of the agents who babysit you, umnyashka?
[ It would hardly matter, confident as Nat is that she excels where others try, that this is merely for the sake of fun. ]
Possibly, if such things interest the dear Baron. Possibly more if they don't. Either way, do you want to learn a particular style of dance? I see no reason not to start with some basics tonight.
Hmm. I suppose I could extend a modicum of mercy. For as long as it remains beneficial.
[ There's a ghost of a smirk sent Zemo's way.
Natalia drinks more of the tea before setting the pretty thing aside. She gracefully rises and the lace slides along curves before settling, clinging. ]
Unless you just so happen to have any of Yann Tiersen's work, may I connect my device somewhere? Assuming you would want to start now, of course.
[ Perhaps Zemo wanted to finish his tea or dine beforehand, perhaps he'd been working on something. ]
[He is fine with starting now. There isn't anything pressing, and even if he is out of his cell, there is still a certain.... mindnumbing redundancy to confinement still. Just a bigger space to roam.
He would welcome anything new.]
I am not allowed much, but an old friend of mine managed to bring me a player, some old vinyls that were dear to me. Yann Tiersen was among them, if you would rather that.
[ 'An old friend' piques her curiosity, and with an interested -- ] Oh? [ Talia raises both brows at him before turning her attention to their surroundings and seeking out said player. ]
My former butler. He's been with me since I was a child. Practically family. It isn't anything nefarious, if you were wondering. [But he is the only person that Zemo has left after the loss of his family... surely she will not begrudge him that, will she?]
Figured we could have a visual reference.
[ She moves into the room with the fireplace, choosing the sofa facing it and elegantly lowering onto the patterned surface.
Raising her voice to be heard, Natalia calls out -- ]
I take it they aren't allowing you to make any alterations to the place?
[ Some of the decor doesn't seem to fit the Baron, after all. Nevermind that this is meant as a jail, that Zemo isn't remaining here for always. ]
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[He watches as she goes to settle in comfortably before he moves to join her. He pours them both the tea, his eyes trailing over towards her.]
I still say that this is more... preferable to my previous cell. You would think though, as comfortable as my current accommodations are, I would feel less... boxed in. Restless.
[But that is hardly the case. Quite the opposite, in fact.]
I suppose I should find something to entertain myself with while I'm here.
no subject
[ Natalia accepts the tea and brings it upwards to sniff. She nods, apparently with approval, but waits to drink from the mug just yet. She does, however, playfully gaze through the delicate steam's display at Zemo. ]
If you're researching hobbies, I could teach you how to dance?
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[There's a pleasant smile as he meets her gaze, a bit of curiosity underneath it.]
I would enjoy that very much, Natalia. I have no doubt that you would be quite a teacher in that regard.
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The saying is an old and tiresome one, but the justice system here is utterly deplorable and broken. You certainly deserve severe levels of punishment for the shit you pulled, however you're still a person. You used to be a few someones' person.
[ Natalia subtly looks to see if the Baron still wears his wedding band. ]
I have had over eighty years to master such things, so I had better be.
no subject
You're one of the few who seem to care about that part of the story. Most focus on the evils... [He pauses, shrugging his shoulders.] Necessary as they may have been, I am hardly proud of the blood or pain I caused.
[But it had been for a good cause, in his opinion.
He lets out a soft chuckle at the reminder, ducking his head.]
I would hope so, yes. Although I am not certain offering to dance with me is quite a punishment of any kind.
no subject
Most think themselves better while ignoring their own darkness.
[ Read: this Black Widow is familiar with his treatment. Is empathetic and still trying to right wrongs caused a lifetime ago.
She straightens to take another drink and then sets the cup aside. ]
Have you considered it a ploy? Maybe I need a way to entertain myself, maybe it's a deliberate means to secure more time spent together? So many variables to consider, my dear Baron. I could already be concocting restrictions and requirements for our lessons. There may even be a riding crop involved.
[ Possibly not, but whatever gets the image of punishments in his head. ]
no subject
[No one knows what they're capable of until they've been put in a situation that calls for drastic decisions. But there's a soft smile given at the empathy, and it's clear that it's returned. He's read up on the Widow quite a bit after all...
And she will treat him like someone deserving of respect. How can he complain about this company at all?]
You hardly have to devise plans if you want to spend time with me, lyubimaya.
[Ah-- there's a spark of interest. Curiosity at the suggestion.] So you are devising punishments, are you? Quite... interesting ones at that. I do not think I would be... opposed to the Black Widow's correction, in true.
Hover translation
Do you say that to all of the agents who babysit you, umnyashka?
[ It would hardly matter, confident as Nat is that she excels where others try, that this is merely for the sake of fun. ]
Possibly, if such things interest the dear Baron. Possibly more if they don't. Either way, do you want to learn a particular style of dance? I see no reason not to start with some basics tonight.
no subject
[He smiles pleasantly, eyes glinting with mischief for a moment before he considers her next question.]
Something slow, I think. Have mercy... It has been a very long time since I have had the opportunity to even entertain the idea of dancing.
no subject
[ There's a ghost of a smirk sent Zemo's way.
Natalia drinks more of the tea before setting the pretty thing aside. She gracefully rises and the lace slides along curves before settling, clinging. ]
Unless you just so happen to have any of Yann Tiersen's work, may I connect my device somewhere? Assuming you would want to start now, of course.
[ Perhaps Zemo wanted to finish his tea or dine beforehand, perhaps he'd been working on something. ]
no subject
[He is fine with starting now. There isn't anything pressing, and even if he is out of his cell, there is still a certain.... mindnumbing redundancy to confinement still. Just a bigger space to roam.
He would welcome anything new.]
I am not allowed much, but an old friend of mine managed to bring me a player, some old vinyls that were dear to me. Yann Tiersen was among them, if you would rather that.
no subject
no subject