( natasha approaches the pool party much as she approaches everything - with suspicion. she's been here long enough to know that nothing is as it appears on face value.. and that has her hesitating longer than necessary in front of the bracelets, as though unsure what to take. in the end, she grabs an it's complicated one. can she explain why it's complicated? not exactly, and she's not interested in trying, but it feels like the most benign choice without giving any more information away than she's willing to. 'single' feels like an invitation. if the house stays par the course, she won't need there to be one.

after picking up a bracelet and a drink, however, she'll slip into the hot tub and linger there, sipping and eavesdropping casually on a few of the nearby conversations. it's easy to prop herself on the side that faces the pool, resting her arms on the tile with her drink between them. the stupid bracelet seems to stand out like a beacon, but if she's bothered? she doesn't show it.

as someone swims closer: )

Recommend a drink? This one isn't doing it for me. ( hey, it's a party! she's going to enjoy herself regardless. )

( this is the mistake she keeps making -

and in spite of herself, natasha isn't sure how to stop making it (or if she wants to). she wanders away from the crowd, she finds herself in the orbit of someone else and something else - and the impulse just overtakes her. it's happened before in this house. she ought to know better. but her impulse for privacy is something she can't stifle and maybe better it's happening here, with the other person shining under the full moon.

pressing herself full flush against them, she draws the person closer under the tiki lamp (tacky, or normally she'd think), gnawing at her lower lip. the body paint (if they have it) or maybe it's the glow from the moon and the lights.. regardless, she hesitates before leaning in, eyelashes brushing the tops of her cheeks as she presses her mouth against the line of their neck, then a bit higher, nipping the spot below their ear.

at least this time there's no frenzy. she's .. not in control, no, but she's not out of it. drugged. i must be drugged. )

The longer I'm here, the more I forget about home.

( the words spill out, completely unintended and unwarranted by the situation - and unfortunately, not during the explosion of the fireworks show. startled, natasha glances at her companion, brow furrowed. was it intentional? was it something she'd even acknowledged to herself yet? home was .. shit, maybe, particularly the last five years. but it's still home, she's still got a job to do.

being in some creepy house shouldn't change that.

shuddering in a way that has nothing to do with the chill, she stares back up at the fireworks. they seem to dance in front of her eyes and natasha blinks a few times. are they .. mocking her? there's one that looks just like a bow and arrow (clint?), another that could be a shield. heart beating in her throat, her hands close into fists. )

I already told you, I'm not interested and -

( protests don't seem to matter in this case; natasha is pulled forward to much cheering and excitement, and even she stops short of fighting. the last time she'd fought something the house insisted on, she'd ended up with a collar around her neck - and that had just been for a dress code violation. the ceremony might be ... stupid, provincial. but it couldn't be harmful, right?

famous last words (or thoughts, in this case).

an hour later, she peeks at the person she's currently tied to, eyes narrowed in frustration. natasha taps one foot, trying not to show her annoyance but feeling stretched to her limit. )

What do you mean it won't come off?

( all prompts are OTA, feel free to take one and run with it or hit me up on plurk at iothe / DM me if you have questions! i'm also happy to put up specific top-levels, or a custom starter along the lines of anything above, just let me know. )