OPEN RP

[glaza]

action ✦ prose ✦ text ✦ aus ✦ etc

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[glaza]

[ Anya gives a delighted gasp at the news and tries to follow him out to the water. She doesn't go in it but she takes his boots in her little hands and bounces at the edge of the waves. ]

Fish! Fish! Fresh fish from the ocean!

[ She runs back over to her mother as he emerges from the water, taking his boots with her as she squeals. ]

He got them! He got them!

[endlesswar]

[Treading back to the fire is a little slower than it should be. It is cold below the waist. Sand clings to his feet.]

And now we've got to fry them up.

[Impaling them first. Frank makes no move to take his boots from the little one. If they make her happy, that's what counts.]

[glaza]

[ She's in the process of walking them over to him after he impales the fish and sets them over the fire. ]

Who taught you that?

[ Eyes bright like the stars starting to blink into life above them. ]

[endlesswar]

The people who live here on the island. They much of what comes from the sea.

[He keeps a wary eye on their dinner as the fire leaps and crackles.]

They have spears, arrows and nets. And sometimes, sometimes they use just their hands.

[Case in point. He gives a nod of thanks to the little one.]

Add some fire and a man will never go hungry.

[glaza]

[ She grins wide at him, ]

My Papa said the same thing. He taught Mommy how to make a fire. How to cook animals. He rode a horse, too. Do you know how to ride a horse?

[endlesswar]

He sounds like a wise man.

[Frank's smile stays warm and gentle.]

I do know how. Right now I don't own one. Do know how to ride, little one?

[He reaches to pull one of the kabobs from the fire to examine it. Soon.]

[glaza]

I miss him a lot. Mommy does, too.

[ Natasha had been watching the fire as they talked of Clint. Eventually, her eyes drift out to the ocean. What she can still see of it in the quickly fading light. ]

He was going to teach me how to ride but...He got sick.

[endlesswar]

[And now here they are. Mother and child on the other side of the world to meet with their new patriarch. He will come by daylight no doubt, especially if his bride won't be there. Frank slowly rotates the fish.]

I'm sure he misses you both very much.

[A father without a family is equally bleak. He pulls out another of the fish. This one is done.]

Careful now, child. It's very, very hot.

[The fire crackles and sends a ring of light around them. In the darkness is the ocean, and just beyond their tiny camp looms the piano.]

[glaza]

[ Anya's face pinches with a frown, ]

How do you know that?

[ Her face takes on an even more serious face as she comes closer to carefully take the fish on the stick. Small hands hold on and she blows on the meat, like she was told to with all hot things. ]

[endlesswar]

Call it a guess.

[His smile is meant to tie the matter up with a bow. No need to trouble the both of them with his own burdens. Perhaps he's wrong. Maybe there was no love in one marriage and now this arrangement that's taken them to the other side of the world?]

Misses?

[A piece of fish is offered to Natasha first before he makes an attempt to eat.]

[glaza]

You don't sound like you're guessing!

[ She blows some more on her fish, still watching him like a hawk.

Natasha looks at the offered fish and shakes her head again before looking back out at the ocean. The memory of Clint seemed to stomp down on any appetite she could've had. That keeps happening in the months after his death. She wonders especially if she agreed to all this too soon. None of it feels right. ]

[endlesswar]

[Lying isn't a virtue. And lying to children, that seems even more of a sin. So he merely gives her a shrug.

His refused offering is stick in the sand upright between them. No sense in letting it go to waste, perhaps she will change her mind in time. The silence cut by the crackle or chatter of the little girl, Natasha's thoughts are unknown to them completely.]

There is more if you're hungry.

[To both mother and daughter.]

[glaza]

[ Anya huffs at the shrug and chews one her fish while pouting but quickly becomes distracted by the taste of it and quickly consumes it. She reaches out her hands when he mentions there's more. ]

Please!

[ Natasha continues to look out at the ocean, her expression somber and closed off. ]

[endlesswar]

[Frank reaches forward to pull it out for her. Being close to the fire, he'd hate for harm to come to her.]

There now.

[His eyes fall to Natasha.]

Ma'am. Anything I can get you?

[glaza]

[ Natasha doesn't respond, she didn't hear him. Anya takes a break from blowing on her fish to yell out for her mother and Natasha's head jerks toward the child, brow furrowed in surprise.

The child points to Frank and her mother looks to the man again, waiting. ]

[endlesswar]

[Before he can kindly ask the child to leave her mother be, Anya has Natasha's attention. Frank looks at her from across the campfire.]

...is there anything I can get you or do for you? I'm to watch you until morning.

[Until her husband and his men come to fetch them.]

[glaza]

[ Natasha's mouth presses into a thin line and she snaps at Anya to looks at her and translate as she signs to Frank.

The little girl says: ]

"Why do you keep asking me that?"

[endlesswar]

[The way her hands move is rapid and solid. She knows her own mind and thoughts.]

I'm trying to give comfort to an uncomfortable situation. It's my duty.

[glaza]

[ She signs again and Anya speaks around a mouthful of fish, ]

"Why is that your duty?"

[endlesswar]

Your husband owns a great portion of land and I'm in his employment.

[The way the shadows go in the firelight it is like her hands are made of light and cut the shadows. It's only the contrast between her dark clothes and pale skin.]

[glaza]

[ She frowns some more, ]

"What kind of man is my husband?"

[endlesswar]

He is a business man. Slow to smile. Once one is in his favor, it is a pleasing place to be.

[Which is all true.]

I did not know he had a need or want for a wife.

[glaza]

[ She arches a brow at that. Not exactly something she wants to hear but good to know. ]

"How long have you known him?"

[endlesswar]

Four years or so now. I did business at sea with him at first and come to spend my days on land.

[Not a big detail but still one. It's a working relationship he's painting.]

[glaza]

[ She pauses for a moment, considering her daughter before signing, ]

"What is your..."

[ Anya squints and Natasha uses a different word. ]

"...thought of him?"